Abandoned Car Count: 1
Car Accident Count: 1
Traffic Light Out Count: 2
Big Tree Down Count: 0

Was sent home from work early yesterday, mostly because I work with a bunch of wimps but they are as not as wimpy as the Congress. Parked the Hydrogen Powered Hacker Jeep in my ultra-cool garage (Jeep still clears the door by inches) and hiked across the complex to my apartment.

Rain was just starting, but otherwise things were boring, so I opened windows and enjoyed the comfortable air. Wind was picking up from the north, but my apartment is on the leeward side, so I just got a good show.

Before turning in I was sure to close windows and metal blinds. Then around 10:45 the storm woke me up. Rain beating on windows, etc. Tried to get back to sleep but power flashed a few times. Not the whole apartment, just the circut with the UPS and TV. Happened a few times, so the UPS beeping kept me from sleeping very well. The only interweb outage that I had was my firewall not being on the UPS. Also heard a thud outside. Was a potted pepper plant, so made sure to move the two that were not zip-tied to the railing into the calm corner of balcony.

Was hearing on the radio all of the flooded places and power outages, etc.

Got some sleep, woke up to calmness with tree bits allover the vista outside of my windows. Traffic lights, street lights, lights in Reston Town Center towers, my lights all looked okay. Made some coffee, continued to listen to radio about all of the damage but nothing near me, though that does not mean much as they are so ghetto (DC) centered around here and I am 20+ miles out.

Only thing out of sorts was the water when I took a shower. Pressure was way low.

Seems that I do live in the right place. On the way to work I did not have to go far to find dead traffic lights. The one at Fairfax County Parkway (Rt. 7100 for those following along on Mapquest) and Dulles Toll Road was out. Had already decided to take Dulles Toll and Rt. 28 to work, this just confirmed that my plans were proper.

The only abandoned car that I saw was on the toll road and a cop was with it with his lights on. Only debris on the toll road were big truck tire chunks, or "alligators", but otherwise it was fine. Exit toll both had some damage, but it was fine otherwise and working :( Was able to unload some pennies there.

South on Rt. 28 was fine except for the first traffic light being out. Cones were up blocking the left turn lane so, in typical idiot fashion, there were several cars trying to turn from the left "through" lane and generally screwing up everybody else.

Made it to Westfields fine, all other lights were working but there were two cars with a fender-bender on the other side of the intersection.

Now here at the office and the only other person from my group here is my immediate boss. Oh well.