something different

We had an earthquake at 3:58 this morning.

We've had them before, but never as big as this one. Today's EQ was centered 15 miles from our house and they say it was a 3.8 magnitude. It was enough to get me up and out of bed, hands on the dresser trying to stop the noise from the drawer handles (lovely metal handles, beautiful to look at, make a horrid noise when having an earthquake, especially considering we have 29 handles) waiting for kids to come running. They slept through it. I was not so lucky ... not only did I wake up but I then laid there awake and thought. And thought. And thought some more.

I live in a pretty solid house, slightly wonky, but I know it's gonna last. It can take a beating - rain, hail, wind ... dent the siding, maybe loosen a piece or two, but overall, it'll last. Unless we're staring down tornado warnings, I don't worry.

I was reading some of the news articles about this mornings seismic activity, and while they couldn't seem to agree, the various articles said that the earthquake in Haiti was anywhere between 10,000 to 16,000 to 33,000 times more powerful. I think it was that for every one point increase in magnitude, it is 100 times more powerful. I'm not exact on the science or math for that one, but I seriously cannot even imagine that. 33,000 times more powerful. Crap. Even 10,000 times more powerful. No wonder there's nothing left except rubble.

So, I sit here and think and let my mind run, as it's prone to do, and am reminded once again that I truly am blessed.

Life is good.

I am thankful.