Stacey Sixlets

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Hurricane Sandy - "Frankenstorm"

We were very blessed to have only lost power for about 10 hours or so. The wind picked up significant'y over Monday. It started to get a little stormy Sunday night/Monday morning but nothing bad. Monday night about 8pm our power went out. It came back on around 6 or maybe 7 am Tuesday morning. (School was canceled Monday, Tuesday and Today). Much of Freeport has been without power for a few days and about a third of Freeport is still flooded. It was fascinating, sad and a bit scary to head south from our building and run into fallen trees, broken power lines, emergency vehicles, gas venting and then, the water. We live on Merrick Rd., near the intersection of Long Beach Ave, and West Merrick Rd. If you look on google maps, just about 2/3 of a mile south from us, the ocean came up almost to Ray st. (below Atlantic Ave.). Some of our friends evacuated and came back to, at the very least, flooded basements. Some fires went up along the Nautical mile, about a mile south of us, and because the hydrants were underwater it was about impossible to fight them. Some homes were completely destroyed in Long Beach, Rockaways and Queens. The power went out just across the street from us. Along our street, power was restored pretty quickly and fallen trees were cut up fast. I can tell the city in general was well prepared for the storm.
Update* School has been canceled for the whole week. Maybe they'll start again on Monday.

We don't have many pictures. Here are a few. They really don't do justice to show all that happened.

Saturday, October 27, 2012

This is sad and horrifying.

I have never written a post that was of a political or military nature. So here's the first and I probably wont do another for a long time!
I am horrified at the Obama administration. I never cared about it to begin with but now with the reports in about what transpired in Libya, I can't believe Marines were told not only to not interfere with the attack on the consulate but to stand down, three times. Many more lives could have been spared. Four men were killed: 2 Former Navy Seals, Glen Doherty, 42, and Tyrone Woods, 41, Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and Sean Smith, an information officer for the State Department. Yesterday Richard and I listened to the heroic end of Mr. Woods life. After the third plea to go help their fellow Americans was denied, Woods disobeyed orders and was instrumental in saving about 30 people. He was found dead on his machine gun.

Here's a link: http://foxnewsinsider.com/2012/10/26/i-do-not-appreciate-cowardice-and-i-do-not-appreciate-lies-father-of-former-navy-seal-killed-in-libya-attack-reacts-to-learning-his-son-disobeyed-orders-to-save-fellow-americans/

Woods' father is amazing in his what appears to be genuine forgiveness for the officials who allowed the attack to go on for seven hours. From what I remember, there were soldiers about an hour away who could've helped. The administration knew from emails that the situation had been getting worse and help and additional aid was requested several times. The administration knew in real time what happened and when. This is what I'm understanding. I can't believe it.
Today as I finished a walk/jog coming home, I was not able to cross the street for several minutes because a HUGE processional for a fallen police officer was passing our building. It seemed every rescue vehicle and then some from Nassau County were there to honor the officer. I've thought about the respect due to those who put their lives on the line and genuinely work for a safer country.
I'm sad that lives are lost. This could have been a vastly different situation and outcome. I'm so grateful for our soldiers and officers who fight for freedom and justice.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Updates to older posts!

I updated "My 2nd half..." and "we got in our car.." with pics!

Florida Ecosafaris 8/30

A little gator (really, its there).

Oh yeah, we ain't scared.

About to go down the Rattlesnake (zipline roller coaster): Ok, maybe a little scared.

That coaster was AWESOME! We rode it twice.

The ice cold water they had was very much desired. It was HOT.

The Rattlesnake - one of a kind

We walked up the stairs in the middle several times that day. It was high (68 ft. I think). Definitely got my exercise in for that day (or two or three).