It's pronounced 'eye-gor.'

“You must be Igor." No, it's pronounced 'eye-gor.'

“But they told me it was "ee-gor."
Well, they were wrong then, weren't they?
                                   --Young Frankenstein
(Thanks to Adrienne for the pic!)

Warwick Long Bay Friday Afternoon

It's probably wrong to be excited about an approaching hurricane, but there are not a lot of times when we actually experience the true fury of Nature.  We may not want to, but it will certainly be an experience.  We don't wish any ill  fortune to anyone, of course, but we are a little bit excited and a little bit nervous.  Since we moved here there have been two hurricane warnings, both downgraded to Tropical Storms and both of which never really arrived.  We were beginning to think Bermudians are just overly dramatic. 

Hurricane Igor will be here Sunday night and all reports are calling it a monster.  Of course it is, it's called Igor, for Heaven's sake. I wonder who at the National Hurricane Centre had the brilliant idea of naming a hurricane Igor?  Have they not heard of self-fulfilling prophecy?   It is supposed to be a direct hit and is large and slow-moving and so has a longer period of time to wreak havoc. 



Warwick Long Bay Friday afternoon



We've been watching  the Bermuda Weather Service for updates.  It doesn't just show temperature, pollen count and Humidex, it shows how high the seas are inside and outside the reef and wind speed. On Saturday, by the way, they are forecast to be 4-7 feet inside the reef and 20-40 feet outside the reef.  Hmmmmm.  40 feet???? 
We live only a short walk away from Elbow Beach so we went to the beach a couple of days ago for a swim.  The ocean was just beginning to feel the effects of the approaching storm so we cut our swim short as the  waves got bigger and more unpredictable.  The sand here is pink, beautiful and very fine--almost like flour. When you are tumbled in a wave close to shore, the sand invades every part of you--even parts you haven't seen or been aware of in some time. For days sand leeches out of your pores and ... elsewhere.

Information is everywhere on how to properly prepare for Igor.  Most of it involves such practical tips as:  turn off all electronics, close the shutters, move all outdoor furniture, keep the water drain on the roof clear, fill the bathtub with water, turn off the toilet.  Turn off the toilet?  It operates on an electric pump, so if power goes off, the toilet can continue to run and drain the water supply.  We must have a bucket and rope to lower into the water tank, of course.  The best preparations involve the Hurricane Party.  Although everyone is certainly taking it seriously, there is also a festive air.  Bermudians have been through this before and know to anticipate perhaps weeks without power.  Groups gather at the home of those with a generator, a barbecue, or a gas (propane) stove.  Nowhere, however, have they  given information on how to do one's hair without power. School has already been cancelled for Monday and Tuesday. This is good because being on a scooter in high winds is scary, and my hair without a hair dryer may be even scarier! 

All in all we are as prepared as we can be.  We are on high ground so we won't experience serious flooding, but are likely to have water come in through the windows and doors.  Andre  has been fastening windows, moving furniture, blocking likely sources of flooding.  I have been buying ice, diet coke, Swizzle Mix and Dark Rum.  We all have a part to play.