Saturday, October 08, 2011

hobgoblin of little minds


I may not be a hypocrite, but I can certainly be inconsistent.


I complain about the manner in which newspapers create a false impression of the crime rate in Mexico by emphasizing stories of violence.  And, here I am, right here on stage in front of your eyes, riding the same one trick pony.


There are a lot of things happening in this part of Mexico other than Tropical Storm (soon-to-be Hurricane) Jova.  But charging bulls do have a way of focusing one’s attention.


I went to town this morning to fill up the truck’s gasoline tank and to buy some water and batteries.  I also stopped by the bank to get pesos from the ATM while it is still working.


Other than the bank (where it appeared every tourist in town had the same ATM idea), Melaque looks as it does on every rainy Saturday.


There were the usual buses disgorging the Guadalajara tourists with their blown-up float toys.  Tourists that muttered about the early morning rain during their day at the beach.


And unlike the news reports we saw from the American East Coast when Hurricane Irene headed in for a visit, there were no Irwin Allen crowds stripping Oxxo shelves bare. Other than two teenagers who were far too intent on imagining their first child, I was the sole customer in our Oxxo.


Few seemed to even be aware that a hurricane may be on the way.  And those who were simply laughed about it. 


Of course, they may have a better sense of this whole thing than I do.  Pessimists love maps like the one at the top of this post.  It makes the hurricane look like a rogue train heading down a set track.


Of course, we all know that weather will have its own way.  And nothing could better exhibit that fact than the map that pops up when I click on the alternative model option.




No longer do we have a train.  Instead, it looks like a decision tree in the United States Senate.


I am ready if we get a glancing blow.  If it looks as if we are about to get the Full Monty from Jova, I have an alternative plan.


My blogger chum Calypso would say: “STAY TUNED.” 


Who knows where my next post will be written.  Even in that, I am not consistent.

37 comments:

Lludwick2568 said...

Steve, I hope the hero in you has been tamed after leaving the states.  This is not something to debate out of the way, nor something the Bible tells us to do "Stand firm".  Rather be wise!

Angelina North said...

I just read in tomzap that you are from Salem, wow it made me smile, some relatives live there.

Anyway, I don´t get to meet to many people from Salem, not here in Barra.
Saludos...

Angelina North said...

I just read in tomzap that you are from Salem, wow it made me smile, some relatives live there.

Anyway, I don´t get to meet to many people from Salem, not here in Barra.
Saludos...

Steve Cotton said...

Your admonition reminds me of one of my favorite stories from Genesis.  The Israelites are leaving Egypt and approaching the Red Sea when they see the Egyptian army pursuing them.  They panic.  Moses begins to pray for deliverance, and God responds with practical advice: "Get moving."  If the time comes for moving, I will.

Felipe Zapata said...

Other than two teenagers who were far too intent on imagining their first child...Good one.

Steve Cotton said...

I rather liked it myself.

sparks said...

If I was going to head for the hills I think a downtown Colima hotel would be my choice.   Just think of the blogging material if you survive a direct hit

Steve Cotton said...

I have already started drafting.

jennifer rose said...

Webcam, please?

Steve Cotton said...

That would have been a good idea.  Unfortunately, I do not have one available.  If I use the one on my laptop, it might be a short broadcast.

Jonna said...

It does look like you have a line of storms coming at you.  Here's hoping they are all a miss, and if they aren't... head inland my friend.  Riding out a hurricane on the beach is a highly overrated exercise that even the young should avoid.  

1st Mate said...

I'm glad you have a plan. I hope, too, that you already have the things you care most about ready to grab. We caught just one of the edges of Georgette last year and had a meter of water throughout the house. Boy, was I taken by surprise! 

Steve Cotton said...

Living on the laguna is my biggest concern.  It would not take my water to result in some rather nasty flooding.

Steve Cotton said...

No heroics in this household.

Kim G said...

I'll second that.  LOL

Kim G
Boston, MA

Kim G said...

You should note that hurricane forecasting is an exercise in probabilities, and it appears that most of the forecast paths do indeed go through the same cone, which means you are likely to get a fairly good smack.

Usually people think primarily of wind damage from hurricanes, but flooding and storm surge are often more damaging.

I like the idea of the Colima hotel. 

Flee while the weather is still good enough to drive in.

Be safe!

Saludos,

Kim G
Boston, MA
Where we are listening to F complain about the torrential rains in DF.

ANM said...

The time to flee is well before others are fleeing.  My money is on the Colima Hotel where you can sit in the bar, sipping a cognac and typing your blog.  Who knows, the hotel may even have a great bar piano and some guy named Rick.

ANM

Steve Cotton said...

I am glad some of my more Wildesque lines do not go unnoticed.

Steve Cotton said...

The models are really starting to narrow down.  Fortunately, the hurricane has also been downgraded to a category 1.  We will most likely get hit, but not too hard.

Steve Cotton said...

I am counting on a Norwegian émigré named Ilsa -- filled with memories of Paris.

Mike Landfair said...

Keep safe and if you can, give us a feel for what it's like to be inundated by all the rain and wind.

wiley stagg said...

I'm sure you already know, don't go outside its  the flying debris that is the most danger. 

Lauriematherne said...

Having lived most of my life in South Louisiana, I know that hurricanes are not something to take lightly. A Cat 1 can be deceiving as rain can cause tremendous  damage even if the wind speed is not high. I hope you are safe. 

Steve Cotton said...

I suspect the rain will be my biggest concern.  Living on the laguna is a bit like living in the bayous.  The ocean to the south, the laguna to the east, and a flood-prone ditch to the north.  It is a great position to fight off pirates, but not necessarily storms.

Steve Cotton said...

If I am still here when the storm arrives, I am staying inside.

Steve Cotton said...

If I determine it is safe to stay, you will eventually get posts.  After the electricity is restored.  The power tends to go out in any large rainstorm.

Mcotton said...

If the water rises in the Laguna, you may find the crocodile in bed with you.  Or should I say, the crocodile may be found in your bed, but no one knows where you are.

Steve Cotton said...

That is one of the advantages of a three story house.

Steve Cotton said...

The geographical coincidences are sometimes amazing.  When I was planning on moving down, I discovered two retired teachers from Coquille lived here.  But I have no idea who they are now.

Kim G said...

I don't know exactly where your house is, but I did look at the Google map/satellite photo of Melaque, and if you are between the sea and the laguna, you are in a horrible place to "ride out" a hurricane. These are the kinds of places that often simply disappear in hurricanes. You really should get to higher ground before all the roads out are choked with traffic. It's hard to imagine there's a nice 8-lane freeway leading straight out of Melaque.

I think I'm not the only reader beginning to worry about you. 

Better safe than sorry.

Saludos,

Kim G
Boston, MA
Where F says you should leave too!

Mcotton said...

Today is Columbus Day.  You recall the storm we had.  In an earlier message I wrote I said ther winds were 100 to 126 miles per hour. they were 100 to 160 miles per hour.  Physically we came thru it fine, but we were inland.  As I recall one or more persons on the coast died.

It is time to leave. Pack up and get out.  It isn't like you don't have transportation.

Today, the east coast news agencies highlighted Jova, in color and ready to hit Mexico.  When they take the time to mention the west coast it has to be important.

You can write your blog from a safer spot.

NWexican said...

AP is saying that landfall looks like Barra de Navidad; ummm, aint that you? 
R U N !!!!!!!!!!!

Steve Cotton said...

It is me.  But the path appears to be bending a bit northward.  Even so, I am still listening closely to the official evacuation announcements.

Steve Cotton said...

My caution flag is up.

Steve Cotton said...

My location is rather good for the storm surge-flooding part of the storm.  But I am still listening carefully to the announcements.

NWexican said...

God be with you brother.

Steve Cotton said...

That is one constant on which I can depend -- no matter the circumstances.