Patch Blog: There's Got To Be A Morning After

At least the Santa Ana winds were kind enough to wait until after Cochran was voted off to Redemption Island on Survivor.

Like many Eagle Rockers, we “oohed” at distant palm trees bending under the gusty onslaught, “aahed” at other large trees trembling excitedly like a divorce lawyer at a Kardashian wedding and “aarghed” at every crash of patio furniture from our backyard. At midnight we were on hold with the LADWP as we watched sparks fly from crisscrossing power lines. At 1 a.m., I was helping my neighbors take down a tarp from their car port. At 2 a.m., I was noshing leftover turkey from my dark fridge. At 3 a.m., I lay in bed listening to our 1930s window latches rattling in one ear while my cat Chianti snurred into the other.

This morning I awoke to a symphony of chainsaws, tree trimmers and power tools. By the time I grabbed my trusty flipcam and wandered down my street between Eagle Rock Boulevard and College View, most of the severed limbs of a half dozen trees had been cleared to the side of the street. Fortunately, none of my neighbors experienced major car or property damage and it was reassuring that we were all up and about reviewing the events of last night. (See video.)

I read that winds peaked at 101 mph in Mt. Washington and are expected to kick back up this afternoon/evening, so have your flashlights handy. The National Weather Service says it’s been 10 years since we’ve had this sort of weather and warns that winds at or in excess of 35 mph are likely into Friday morning.

Among the many lessons one learns after Mother Nature decides to let it all hang out, I've learned that when it comes to that hot cup of joe in the morning folks with a gas range (my neighbors) have an advantage over the sad souls with an electric one (us). Thank the Java Gods I have awesome neighbors.