The Storm is Coming! The Storm is Coming!

I've made fun of the typical storm panic preparedness--milk, bread, eggs. I've questioned whether there's some unknown secret that I've not been clued into proving that in the event of an apocalyptic catastrophe will French Toast sustain the survivors? Do I have to bring the sausage and syrup to this party if I'm to be invited? I've also avoided stores just before a storm because of this. I find it mind boggling that people are ready to kill someone for a loaf of bread because they might be stuck in the house for a day or two.

Today, I decided I wanted to bake; and with Irene getting ready to throw all of her fury a couple of hundred miles east of me, I wasn't disappointed when I pulled into the grocery store and found 17 billion people in there. This being the first time in years that I've gone to the grocery store the day of or the day prior to a storm, I discovered that we have a different thought process to storm preparation here in northeastern PA. Our essentials include eggs, cream cheese, butter, whole milk, tasty cakes, cheese, hot dogs, and buns. After I said a quick thanks for the fact that I drink 1% milk, I cursed the world because I needed butter and cream cheese for my icing. Then I had a horrifying thought-what if it turns out that hot dogs are the key to survival?!?! I am so screwed!! I've hated those things since I was a kid.

While I was carrying on like a child about having to stand in line because people feel the need to clog their arteries prior to a storm, I realized I'm probably at least as crazy as the sausage suckers. My big plans the day before Irene shows us we're small and she can kick our asses if she so chooses have been as follows: chinese buffet with friend-√, buy flea drops for the dogs-√, Sheetz MTO for tomorrow-√, pull rug scrubber out and clean sofa and area rug-sofa-√ (area rug not so much), finally craft the perfect oil free carrot cake-(and I add this with a giggle and a spring in my step because I've been trying to do this for a year and always manage to come up with a very flavorful but ridiculously borderline wet cake)√√√√. Basically, my end of times survival kit includes a personal chef, bug free dogs, furniture that smells good, and the ability to play with cake recipes. I might be as crazy as they are, but damn it, while I've got wine, a cake I've cut 1,980 calories out of that kicks ass, and a sofa worthy of face plants (if you know me you KNOW this is important), I just bet I'm a happier shade of crazy.

Now, if I can talk this bitch into not flooding my basement tomorrow...