Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Shakey

News from over here. Earthquake! A 5.8, which didn't feel as bad as I would've thought.

I was just sitting at my desk and then everything went wobbly. There was a collective "Uhhhh...guys?" from all of my coworkers, and then we stood up and looked at one another. No one knew what to do. I know this because we each asked, "What do we do?"

I started to crawl under my desk, but then decided I didn't feel like being under there. So I stood back up and thought Doorway? Outside?

After a few seconds, everyone from upstairs had come downstairs so there were 8 of us milling around like a herd of lost lambs.

By the time we decided that, yes, we should go stand outside, the whole quake was over. It probably lasted 15 seconds.

This is the second earthquake I've felt since I moved out here. The last was in October. The short period between these two indicates that California is mere weeks away from breaking free from the mainland and floating gracefully off to sea. I hope we end up being part of Hawaii. Or perhaps we can become our own nation. We won't pay taxes and we can prance around in grass skirts.

One last note on this matter before I get back to work. I went on MSNBC, curious to see what news types had to say about the earthquake. Off to the side of the article I spotted this little menu. It's the third item that gets me.


I mean, really. We all know they occur when the subterranean elves are displeased with their selection of tree roots.

16 comments:

m said...

Those elves are so goddamn sensitive.

Tia said...

i'm embarrassed to say i didn't even feel the earthquake because i was too busy texting. heh.

devin said...

ScienceDaily (Apr. 15, 2008) — "California has more than a 99% chance of having a magnitude 6.7 or larger earthquake within the next 30 years, according scientists using a new model to determine the probability of big quakes.


The likelihood of a major quake of magnitude 7.5 or greater in the next 30 years is 46%-and such a quake is most likely to occur in the southern half of the state."

This is why I'm buying a gun.

Rahul said...

When California becomes its own nation I would like to be PResident. Except we''ll call it Prime minitser because it sounds more regal.

Free Orange juice for Everyone!

that will be my platform.

Hollywood Sucker said...

mindy- I know! Effing elfin babies.

tia- really? ha. I wouldn't have if I was just lying down or something. But I was trying to type so I was like...hey, what gives?

devin- That won't solve anything. In the apocalypse, everyone has guns. And the aliens' are bigger.

rs27- You're on the right track. But remember the old adage, "You catch more flies with booze than with orange juice."

Anonymous said...

I can't believe I missed it! Had I been in LA instead of Albuquerque (where I now am), I would have experienced my first ever earthquake. Part of me is kinda disappointed.

Felicia said...

The first quake I felt I was shopping in L.A. Everyone started running and I was more concerned about getting the shoe in my correct size so I just stood there. Glad you're OK!

Katelin said...

my office had the exact same reaction, haha. we all forgot what we were supposed to do in an earthquake and then were all too lazy to get under desks. luckily it wasn't too bad here, just some swaying.

Unknown said...

My first earthquake in LA. How fun. Well, I can report the E! building where I work swayed to and fro, while Seacrest's sexuality was jolted, just a tad.

Hollywood Sucker said...

phil- Aw, well I hope you make it back for "The Big One." Conversely, I hope I'm not here for it.

Felicia- Yeah I was busy trying to close my IM windows, lest I be knocked unconscious by a falling object and someone discovers my conversation with Devin about my boobs.

Katelin- I failed to mention in my story that the only reason we decided to go outside was because we noticed the people in the building across the street had gone outside. Useless, all of us.

Corinne- Glad to hear it's still intact.

nicole antoinette said...

I too hope we become part of Hawaii, if for no other reason than I've never been and it would be great blog fodder.

saratogajean said...

Glad you made it through ok. As a kid in CA we had to bring an "earthquake survival" bag on the first day of school with a flashlight, batteries, a change of clothes, and some other stuff I forget, but also we had to bring snacks. I went to 1st grade everyday praying for an earthquake, so I could dive into my Kudos bar and yogurt covered raisins.

Unknown said...

This is yet another reason why I live in NY and not CA.

JenBun said...

I didn't even FEEL it!!

Then, all of a sudden, my friends were calling me and asking if I was okay... I was like, um, yeah? Thanks?

Then Funny Man called (I guess cell service was cut for a little bit), and he lives right by you, so he told me what happened. You must've felt it more up there. Our fish got all sloshed around, at his house!

I will be happy if California becomes an island, though! I like floating.

Anonymous said...

Seeing as how the quake was harmless, it was kind of fun in a perverse way.

I'm all for breaking off, too. Oh, but I'm afraid of wearing a grass skirt. Sounds itchy.

Peter said...

See, I would not be a fan of the earth moving under my feet.