One Year Ago Today... Oh, Sandy!

One year ago today, Hurricane Sandy hit the east coast. The devastation was simply mind-blowing. So on this anniversary, I thought I'd give you a look back at my own personal view of the after-effects of one very scary day and one terrifying night...

I've been absent for quite awhile because Hurricane Sandy swooped in and devastated parts of New Jersey! But, wow! We made it. We’re safe. We’re so, so, so, very lucky! Hurricane Sandy hit the New Jersey shore on Monday, October 29th and she was relentless. I’m sure many of you saw the destruction she caused on TV. It’s really heartbreaking. 

this gazebo is from the OTHER side of the lake!!

I live 3 blocks from the shore and 2 blocks from a lake and the Atlantic Ocean actually came up to our front steps!

I had some damage to the third floor studio. . . an entire piece of wall caved in during the height of the storm! 

And it was just me bracing myself against it at the height of the storm with 70mph winds, while I tried to drag a dresser over to keep it from completely caving in! Then we found a neighbor to help us batten down the hatches and as he was putting the last screw in.... Poof! The electricity went out. And stayed out for 11 days. Yes, 11 days. It was cold. I was cranky. It was a whole new world. An Amish life. It was like indoor camping. Not only that but our cellphone towers were knocked out. So there was no way to communicate with friends and loved ones for quite a few days. 

We're back up and running now and I'm trying to catch up on 2 weeks worth of life, work and sleep! I could tell you all the stories I heard, but I'm sure you all saw more than me on the television (that we were without for nearly 2 weeks!). So I'll just let the pictures tell most of the story of our little square mile that is Ocean Grove... which was lucky!

Neighbor's gigantic that did not hit our house!!

Lots of fish on the streets and sidewalks.

End of pier and fishing house gone!

The debris and cars just floated everywhere. This is a few blocks in from the beach.

And so is this!

Bulldozers piled all the sand from the roads back up toward the beach before another Nor'Easter hit only days later!

The boardwalk actually has so many peaks and valleys now... that it looks like a roller coaster. But the funny thing about the shore and the people that live here is that they were walking on it like nothing ever happened. We're just like that. We live at the shore. These things happen. We stay strong and we rebuild. We work together and help each other. Neighbors helping neighbors. And that's the beauty that comes out of something like this. Amen!

Update: So other than the third floor damage you saw in my post, we had flooding in the basement and plenty of roofing issues with the high winds from the hurricane. After lots and lots and lots of conversations with the insurance company and FEMA, all the construction and replacement work has finally been completed. Our tiny town of Ocean Grove is actually back up and running. But I cannot say the same for others. In times of distress we really do help each other and work together... but the point of all this is to remember that's the way it's supposed to be all the time. So let's not forget it. Let's not make it take more disasters to remember. We are all in this thing we call life... together. So let's just help each other out all the time.

Michelle
xoxo

Thoughtful Thursdays: Woodstock 1969!

Torn right from the pages of history... 1969's Woodstock Music Festival has to be one of the most influential events of my entire life. Now, I must confess... I did not attend the festival —as I was only one year old at the time — but once I found out about it, I was hooked!

That August brought over half-a-million people to upstate New York for three days of Peace and Music. From Friday the 15th... spilling over into Monday the 18th... people got along, had a good time, and helped each other out.

So what is it that I LOVE about Woodstock? Let me share...

Everything Wrong Happened. At first, they picked the wrong venue. But they made it work. Then the townspeople kicked them out. But they made it work. They got a new site 27 days out, and it rained 21 of those days. But they made it work. The fence came down the first day. But they made it work.

It Rained. And it rained hard. And no one could escape it. But it really brought everyone together. It was the "great equalizer"... where people realized that we're all in this together. Did you know that after the rain, US military helicopters flew overhead to drop dry blankets and flowers! That's right... I said military and flowers in the same sentence.

There Were People On Drugs. But you know what? Instead of gathering a bunch of police to arrest these people, they planned for it. They called in members of a hog farm commune who were used to dealing with people on LSD, and they worked it out. They even had a Trip Tent where you would go if you had a bad trip. And once you were better, you became the doctor and helped the next person walking in.

They Ran Out Of Food. Because the New York Thruway was shut down (the concertgoers ended up parking all along it), no food trucks could get in. But people shared what they had. They set up free kitchens. Even people in the neighborhood passed out their own food. Everybody worked together to feed each other.

Freedom Of Expression. Whether it was the music, the way people dressed, the homemade flags and signs, or what you had to say... it was certainly expressed at Woodstock. In fact, Max Yasgur — the man whose farm the concert took place upon — was boycotted for letting them have it on his property. But he didn't care. Just because they were hippies, it doesn't mean they didn't have the right to express themselves. 

3 (and-a-half) Days of Peace & Music. People got along. Everyone respected each other. They had a good time. And were creating history. The producers knew it was bigger than anyone could have anticipated... but it was magic. There was harmony. Not only of music... but everybody working together for the common good.

Whenever I get sick of this modern-day rat race... I think of Woodstock. For a couple of days in 1969... they got it right. So on the anniversary of this amazing festival, I encourage all of you to celebrate harmony in your own special way. And if you have time, rent the 3 hour movie... put a blanket down in your living room... grab a bottle of your favorite wine... and just sit back and enjoy the show.

Peace xoxo

6 Months Already! Happy Anniversary To Me!

Wow! I cannot believe that 6 months ago I took a leap of faith from the absolute into the unknown when I left my full-time job as Art Director for Ranger Ink and decided to pursue my own personal art career. So, how the heck is it going?

Well... let's see... 462 tweets tweeted, 23 blog posts written, 4 retail stores carrying my art, 2 craft shows done, 1 Etsy Shop open for business, YouTube channel created, Facebook Page up and "liked", blog look revamped, website updated and expanded... I'm probably forgetting something! And that's just the business stuff!

I've gotten a chance to play... a little. But now that I have a good foundation with the business agenda completed and in the works... I am finally free to play a lot. So now comes the fun part. I'm both excited and nervous! Excited to sit down and be free to let my creativity take its own course... and still nervous about how I'm going to make this really pay off. But right now... I cannot wait to "get to work" every day, I am so very happy with myself and my choices,  and I have plenty of creative ideas to fuel the passion...

Photo credit: By the way, this very sweet good luck sign was made by my BFF Jackie McLaughlin, using lots of Ranger's Stickles and Liquid Pearls! Thanks, girl!