Cloudy with a chance of shaking

Wow. I guess the local newspaper really is incredible at predicting the weather... XD


 

Damn Earthquakes...

My first blog post about me! Wow. I guess I finally have something worth writing about.

I was lounging on the couch, talking on the blog and watching TV when the couch started to roll around and judder.

Small earthquakes aren’t too rare around here, especially in the past few days- I swear there’s been one every ten minutes. In a quake, you Drop, Cover, Hold. I was under the table with my brother in about two seconds flat.

It wasn’t anything big, just a tremor, so I was about to climb out and go back to the couch when there was a massive, gut-wrenching jolt that threw me against the table leg. I could hear crashing, creaking, groaning, booming, things thudding to the floor.  The noise was indescribable. My parents were screaming for my brother and I but it was so loud. I couldn’t do anything except hold on to the table leg and wait for it to finish. But just when I thought it was calming down, a second quake hit. Then a third.

When the shaking finally died down, I stayed under the table for about a minute. Everyone waited with baited breath for the rolling to start again. But it seemed we were okay for now.

The TV was still going, which seemed funny to me. Cupboard doors were flung open and the phone was on the floor. Everything had slid off the coffee table. But thankfully, nothing big had been destroyed.

I raced up to my room to check the damage there. I flung the door open to see that the impossible had occurred. Somehow, my room was even messier than I had left it. And that was saying something.

The bookcase had toppled across my floor, spraying books everywhere and blocking my route to the window. The keyboard slipped off the struts keeping it up. My corkboard had fallen off the wall and was on top of the book case. My closet door was open and clothes had fallen off the hangers.

It’s the kind of thing you never expect to happen to you. Sure, I’d seen pictures of devastation, lived with family members in Christchurch, where tremors were the norm and a full night’s sleep was practically impossible. I’d thought about how it would feel if I were the one whose city was shaking. But it’s impossible to imagine how it really feels. It’s just so surreal. If it were one quake, then I could get on with my life. That would be fine. But the earth didn’t stop shaking for the rest of the day. It’s shaking as I write this. I tried to put the books back on my shelves, but an aftershock hit and they fell right back off.

It turned out that the quake was ‘severe’. It was a 6.8 on the Richter scale, and just 17km deep. Within minutes of the disaster, photographers were in the city centre. The pictures were spread across the internet. The cinema I was supposed to be going to on Saturday had gigantic cracks in it. The waterfront, where Mum and I walk and my friends shop, was ruined. The epic lift in town designed to look like a TARDIS (I know! Fangirl heaven!) was broken, and people had been stuck inside. My local supermarket had isles clogged with debris. The library –my second home- was flooded.

Most of it will be okay. The buildings can be fixed. The mess can be cleaned up (Whenever the tremors stop).  Everything will be back to normal by the end of the year. But it’s still… it just… It’s like the quake shook my world apart. It doesn’t feel real.

Stupid labels

Heh heh :) Just some stupid labels I found.

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Sears hairdryer: Do not use while sleeping. (When am I supposed to dry my hair then? Definitely not when I'm awake. That's just stupid)

Bar of Dial soap: Directions: Use like regular soap. (And that would be how?)

Swann frozen dinners: Serving suggestion: Defrost. (But it's just a suggestion)

Tesco's Tiramisu dessert: (PRINTED ON THE BOTTOM OF THE BOX) Do not turn upside down. (A bit late)

Marks & Spencer Bread Pudding: Product will be hot after heating. (Are you sure? Let's experiment.)

Rowenta iron: Do not iron clothes on body. (But wouldn't that save more time?)(Whose body?)

Boot's Children's cough medicine: Do not drive car or operate machinery. (We could do a lot to reduce the construction accidents if we just kept those 5 year olds off those fork lifts and out of the driving seat)

Nytol sleep aid: Warning: may cause drowsiness. (I would hope!)

Toshiba laptop: Warning: do not microwave. (Microwaved laptop is my favourite food!)

Korean kitchen knife: Warning: keep out of children. (hmm..something must have gotten lost in the translation...)

String of Christmas lights: For indoor or outdoor use only. (As opposed to use in outer space.)

Sainsbury's peanuts: Warning: May contain nuts. (May?)

American Airlines packet of nuts: Instructions: open packet, eat nuts. (somebody got paid big bucks to write this one...)

Swedish chainsaw: Do not attempt to stop chain with your hands. (Raise your hand if you've tried this.)

Child's Superman costume: Wearing of this garment does not enable you to fly. (Does that mean Superman can't really fly? *Breaks down in tears*)

Windex: Do not spray in eyes. (Why not? Let's test)

Toilet Plunger: Caution: Do not use near power lines. (You'd be surprised how many toilets there are around power lines)

Dremel Electric Rotary Tool: This product not intended for use as a dental drill. (It's worth a try...)

Arm & Hammer Scoopable Cat Litter: Safe to use around pets. (Really? I thought cats only go to the toilet right where you have to walk)

Baby Oil: Keep out of reach of children (Anyone else see some difficulties with that?)

Hair Coloring: Do not use as an ice cream topping. (Om nom)(Wait, would that make the ice
cream awesome colours?!!!)

Wet-Nap: Directions: Open packet and use.

Stridex Foaming Face Wash; May contain foam. (Gee, I wonder where they got that idea from)

Bic Lighter; Ignite lighter away from face. (Why? Will I melt?)

Little Ones Baby Lotion: Keep away from children

Komatsu Floodlight; This floodlight is capable of illuminating large areas, even in the dark.
Mattress; Warning: Do not attempt to swallow (Well, I suppose 'attempt' is the crucial word)

Earplugs; These ear plugs are nontoxic, but may interfere with breathing if caught in windpipe

Matches; Caution: Contents may catch fire. (They should stop making flammable matches)

Pepper Spray; Caution: Never aim spray at your own eyes

Rain Gauge; Suitable for outdoor use only. (Unless you have a really leaky ceiling)

RCA Television Remote Control; Not Dishwasher Safe

Pine Mountain Fire Logs Caution: Risk of fire

Triops Fish Food Warning: Not for human consumption (Even for Finnick Odair and Percy Jackson?)

Home Depot Treated Lumber; Do not consume

Road Sign Caution: water on road during rain. (Now there's a surprise)

Silk Soy Milk; Shake well and buy often (Such subtle advertising...)

Air Conditioner; Caution: Avoid dropping air conditioner out of windows.

Slush Puppy Cup; This ice may be cold

Nabisco Easy Cheese ;For best results, remove cap.

Heinz Ketchup Instructions: Put on food

Helmet mounted mirror used by us cyclists: Remember, objects in the mirror are actually behind you

Blanket from Taiwan: not to be used as protection from a tornado

Cardboard windshield sun shade: Warning: Do Not Drive With Sun Shield in Place.

Infant's bathtub: Do not throw baby out with bath water.

Bottle of shampoo for dogs Caution: The contents of this bottle should not be fed to fish.

Curling Iron: Warning: This product can burn eyes.

Hair Dryer; Do not use in shower. (Tip; drying your hair whilst underwater is sort of pointless)

Hand-held Massaging Device; Do not use while sleeping or unconscious.

A toilet at a public sports facility; Recycled flush water unsafe for drinking. (Eww...)

Pair of shin guards made for bicyclists; Shin pads cannot protect any part of the body they do not cover.

Aim-n-Flame fireplace lighter; Do not use near fire, flame, or sparks.

Toner cartridge for a laser printer; Do not eat toner.

13-inch wheel on a wheelbarrow; Not intended for highway use.

Can of self-defense pepper spray; May irritate eyes. (I really, really hope so)

Novelty rock garden set called "Popcorn Rock"; Eating rocks may lead to broken teeth.

A frisbee Warning: May contain small parts.

A toilet bowl cleaning brush; Do not use orally.

A birthday card for a 1 year old; Not suitable for children aged 36 months or less. (Now that's just sad...)

Heated seat cushion; Warning: Do not use on eyes.

Electric Cattle Prod; For use on animals only. (My brother counts, right?)

Can of air freshener; For use by trained personnel only. (What kind of training do you need to spray aerosol?)

Silly Putty; Do not use as ear plugs.

Knife sharpening stone; Warning: knives are sharp! (Hopefully)

Rat Poison; Warning: has been found to cause cancer in laboratory mice.

Portable stroller; Caution: Remove infant before folding for storage. (Ah, babies are pretty foldable.)

Sign at a railroad station; Beware! To touch these wires is instant death. Anyone found doing so will be prosecuted. (*Dies of laughter*)

Package of dice; Not for human consumption.

Shipment of hammers; May be harmful if swallowed.

Manual for an SGI computer; Do not dangle the mouse by its cable or throw the mouse at co-
workers. (You could damage the mouse!)

Box of bottle rockets; Do not put in mouth.

Wrapper of a Fruit Roll-Up snack; Remove plastic before eating.

Small print from car commercial which shows a car in the ocean; Do not drive cars in ocean.

Small print from a car commercial which shows a vehicle "body-surfing" at a concert; Always drive on roads. Not on people.

Bus Stop; No stopping or standing.

Credit card statement; Payment is due by the due date.

Laundromat triple washer; No small children. (But hey, they're so muddy, you can't actually see whether or not they're children)

Instructions on the packaging for a muffin at a 7-11; Remove wrapper, open mouth, insert muffin, eat.

Can of black pepper; Instructions: usage known.
Car Manual; In order to get out of car, open door, get out, lock doors, and then close doors. (Lock doors and then close them? :S Okay...)
Espresso Kettle; The appliance is switched on by setting the on/off switch to the 'on' position.

T.V. manual; Do not pour liquids into your television set. (It makes Discovery Channel sound weird)

Label on a hammer; Caution - Do not use this hammer to strike any solid object

VCR box; Instructional video on hooking up VCR included.

Toilet brush; Do not use for personal hygiene.

Black rubber fishing worm; Not for human consumption.

Furniture Wipes; Do not use for a baby wipe.

Stickers to put on the seat of a potty training toilet; This is not a toy. Stickers require adult supervision.

Lawnmower Warning: When Motor Is Running - The Blade Is Turning (Dun dun duh-dun)

Bottom of a Coca-Cola bottle; Do not open here. (Good idea! Why didn't I think of that?...)

Bottle of bathtub cleaner; For best results, start with clean bathtub before use.

Container of lighter fluid; WARNING: Contents flammable!

Box of household nails; CAUTION! - Do NOT swallow nails! May cause irritation!

Microwave popcorn, packaged so that the directions cannot be read unless you remove the plastic and unfold it; Direction #1: Remove plastic.

Woolite carpet cleaner; Safe for carpets, too!

Box of Frosted Cheerio's The logo, "Tastes so good this box never closes," is located just
underneath another announcement: "To close: place tab here."

Container of salt Warning: High in sodium

Hose Nozzle; Do not spray into electrical outlet