No kidding! I was in Monterrey, CA in 1989 when the earthquake hit. It was a mess. Our buildings were sectioned off with rubber 'buffers' between them and sustained no damage, but the houses in the local surrounding area were a mess. We lost power for 3 days and had no water either. I was at the Defense Language Institute and we went out and helped the local community. When the quake hit, I was in the military dining facility (mess hall) which was an unbelievably nice one. The eating area was surrounded by glass walls with beautiful views. In the center was a buffet area that had hanging bowls and utensils from the ceiling. I was standing around it when I suddenly felt strange and as if I was going to fall over. Sort of like when you get an inner ear infection. I looked around and everyone else was ok so I quickly sat down. I still remember seeing the ground swaying up and down (appeared to be 'rolling') and the trees bending outside those glass windows. There was no time to go anywhere or do anything except to hold on. I swore then and there that as much as I loved the west, I would never live there again. I spent years living in Oregon and Washington too and I won't go back except to visit! Afterall, some of the most beautiful places in the U.S. are there.

>Actually that sounds like nice weather there in North Carolina, compared to what we are getting out here. I watered my St. Augustine grass in the backyard on Sunday and when I came home from work last night, it was as dry as all git out. (Okay, some Texas slang thrown in here). So, last night, I really gave it quite a soaking. We'll see what it looks like when I get home this afternoon. Anyway, my wife and I are looking to move out of California. I don't know if you heard about the recent earthquake prediction by some highly thought of scientists, but we have been told that we will be hit with an earthquake starting on the Richter scale at about 6.4 up to 8.1 by Spetember 5th of this year. That's a whopper of an earthquake. So, maybe don't have any weather out here, but at least we have other exciting things happening.