Sometimes I live in the country
Sometimes I live in town
Sometimes I take a great notion
To jump in the river and drown....

Goodnight, Irene
Goodnight, Irene
I'll see you in my dreams

-Huddie Ledbetter

This will be mercifully brief, I promise.

We are hunkering down for what promises to be the most awful storm to hit the northeast in a century or more. I've always thrived on a bit of excitement in my life and Hurricane Irene, scheduled to arrive here in Orange County at about two o'clock tomorrow morning, will more-than-likely fill the prescription.

Regardless of any devastating consequences that may transpire, we can take comfort in the fact that the "GOVERNMENT IS BAD" types who now pollute our national dialogue, particularly those in Irene's path, will be silent - if only for the time being. I have a funny feeling that in the next week or so, a few of these people might even rethink their entire, twisted ideology regarding the very idea of government. Maybe that's wishful thinking on my part. We'll see.

This much is as certain as the rising sun: A lot of us will not be taking our government for granted in the coming days. Here's something else you can bet the farm on: The response will be much more coordinated and intelligent than it was five-years-ago when Katrina made herself known. Any takers?

If you happen to be living in Irene's path take all necessary precautions. Have plenty of food and drinking water at the ready; keep some emergency candles handy - and for the love of Mike! - don't go outside in order to "experience" the storm. A projectile hitting one in the face at ninety-miles-per-hour is not a particularly good thing for one's complexion I would think.

So everybody hunker down, be safe, and we'll report back when it's all over - or the power's back on - whichever comes first.

Cheers!

Tom Degan