Oh, isn't THIS just ducky.

Yesterday we were told to evacuate.  So where am I?  Near Pitsburgh, Pennsylvania, at some stupid church, along with at least a hundred other folks who were also told to get out.  We had to leave because of Hurricane Irene, who is currently churning up the Carolina Coast ... and she's headed our way.  New Jersey is in the direct line of fire from this hurricane.

Guess they expect things to be bad once Irene does hit, but I'm worried.  Very worried.  I don't know how our home will fare during the storm: and it's weakened considerably, but where we live ain't the best.  We just got here not even three hours ago, and I'm dog-tired: I've been up for the past two days.  No sleep at all.

My momma told me maybe once this is over, I could write a new rap song about Hurricane Irene.  Guess she was trying to lighten the mood, but I didn't find it funny.  I'm too upset about leaving my friends and my home in general.  I didn't want to leave; I wanted to see what it was like to be stuck right in the middle of the hurricane.  I've probably been in a few, but I wanted to experience Irene in all her fury.  Go body-surfing in the waves.  Feel the rain whipping at my skin or the strong, hurricane/gale-force winds slapping my face and rushing through my hair.  Think that would be rather cool.  Yet the Mons said no, so here I sit ...

Waaaah!  

Well, if there's one good thing about being here, at least we don't have to worry about losing power or getting flooded ... I'm just wondering how our place back in Jersey will fare the hurricane, even though she is not nearly as strong as she used to be, but still ... a hurricane, no, ANY hurricane, can do a lot od damage or cause a lot of heartache ....

And now that I think about this, it was six years ago yesterday when Hurricane Katrina tried to decimate New Orleans, Louisiana, and Biloxi, Mississippi ... and have the rest of the Gulf Coast for dessert.  The only difference between Hurricane Katrina verses Hurricane Irene is this:  Katrina was a lot stronger; she was a Category 4 storm when she slammed into Mississippi and Louisiana; Irene, on the other hand, is only a Category 1.  She isn't nearly as strong, so the damage shouldn't be nearly as great as it was during Katrina.

I'm just glad I have my Moms and my brothers (Chil and Radar; real names are LaBonte' and Creel) and my sisters (ShyGirl, Rica, and Tay-Tay; their real names are ShaVonne, Rosica, and Taylor) with me.  It would have been a lot worse if they weren't here with me or if we were stuck in Jersey, unable to get out.  If something were to happen to my family, I don't think I could ever forgive myself.

Oh, and another good thing about being here: we have a place to sleep and we will have food in our bellies if we get hungry.  And Moms brought plenty of toys to keep the little kids entertained while I can amuse myself with my music, my MP3 player, some of my books, and my GameBoy hand-held game.  So that part about being evacuated is good.  At least I have some things to keep me focused.  And of course, the best thing of all: I have my family with me.  :)

So maybe this hurricane, this bitch named Irene, is a good thing, a blessing in disquise.  Maybe it will draw our family closer ... stranger things have happened, as they say ...

Well, I'm gonna try to get some sleep.  I am getting really stupid.  I'm beyond exhausted; I can barely keep my eyes open.  I feel like I could sleep for a week ... until later, this is RD saying peace out; I'm outta here!  Pray that our home is okay once the hurricane passes ... I would greatly appreciate it!  Thanks in advance!

~Razzle-Dazzle.  :(

~To be continued.~