Shake, Rattle and Run Like Hell
Well, it finally happened. Last night I experienced my first earthquake. I will entirely admit that it was a very minor quake (3.7) but it was one of the strangest sensations I've had. Keep in mind that I hail from the ever geologically stable area of central Texas so the notion of the earth moving is entirely foreign to me.
So last night I come home from work, get some food in my stomach and am waiting on the couch for Dan to call me to meet for drinks. I start to feel a slight vibration and initially concluded that my dog was scratching himself against the couch below my feet. That was quickly dispelled when the entire couch began to lurch with me on it. So what do I decide to to?? I get up and start running around the room like a chicken with its head cut off. The shaking was quite brief but I'm not entirely sure I had a clue as to what I was doing. I just knew that I needed to move....somewhere. As fast as it began, it ended and I just stood there for a moment to allow myself to phase out of fight or flight mode.
I'm sure all the seasoned bay area residents are snickering at this given that it was really minor and maybe I'll be of that mentality one day but it freaked me out. So I've decided that it's finally time to go buy my earthquake supplies (bottled water, non-perishable goods and xanax for my nerves). If that was minor, I can't imagine what a "big one" must be like.
posted by Nick Natoma @ 5:08 PM
11 Comments:
I grew up in the Bay Area, so I've been through my fair share of quakes (including the '89 Loma Prieta quake, which at magnitude 6.9, was over 1500 times as strong as the 3.7 you felt). Having the earth move under you is really unnatural, and it's something I'll never get used to, or take lightly.
I'm glad you all are ok :)
as with any "big one" just relax and breathe, and some lubricant in the form of a martini works wonders, merry kwanzaa
*snicker, snicker, snicker*
I probably would have crapped myself if I were there... and sober... hehehe... happy holidays!!
and to think I didn't even feel it! I suppose I don't really care about the shaking so much as I don't want to clean up the mess later.
I would so love to feel an earthquake...as long as it wasn't the big one.
happy new year...hope it is not too shakey...
You get used to it :) After a while I'd be on the phone with relatives back East - a quake would hit; and I wouldn't flinch in my conversation. 1) because it didn't phase me, anymore & 2)I knew my family would freak out if I told them that while on the phone with them. Heck one time I slid across the floor in my chair - to the point that the phone was disconnected from the wall. As you can see I'm dating myself with the landline phone statement. I lived in S.F. from about '73-'82. Glad you got through your first tremor.
We just recently had a 6.3 out here in the Pacific ( I live in Maui ) The scary part about that is they say it only takes one a little above a 7.0 to start a tsunami. Yikes! great blog BTW.
All my building did is vibrate in this weird, buzzy sort of way because it's anchored to the solid bedrock of Telegraph Hill. Down where you are, your building is constructed on sand, fill, and possibly the shore of an long-filled lagoon. That's why your couch lurched like it did.
That's what you get for living in a shitty neighborhood. :-P
xo
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