BLESSED BE

(Super Storm Sandy, storm stories, BOOKS, and beaches galore)

*Full Moon, August 11, 2025* — calm before the storm!

Hello beautiful friends. It is a very humid yet chillier day here in Pennsylvania as my family and close friends in my collection of readers would know. Last night it rained and thunderstormed (heavily I might add) and the heat seems to have disappeared for what looks like is going to be a welcome long while. I’ve been keeping an eye on the weather all summer through the Weather Channel app on my phone. There’s a category 5 Hurricane out there too in the Atlantic and it’s going to be pretty bad for North Carolina I hear with the bands of rain protruding into that area. It’s definitely that season, where the Atlantic waters start churning up some nasty storms. I just hope we never see another Super Storm Sandy.

Sandy was a hurricane-like storm that was catastrophic to a lot of the coastline on the East Coast of the States. I remember waiting and watching what we could of the news (until the power was out) about Sandy. I also remember beforehand, the night before, when I was staying overnight at my parent’s house (Mom was still alive then in 2012) -- and we were just listening. Not only to the sounds of nature and it’s promises of this scary ass storm coming… but I remember too that the stupid Giants won the world series the night before.

( I thought how fortunate at the time that we were that the Phillies just didn’t make it into the World Series (baseball, MLB baseball for those not familiar—sorry I have to remember a few of you subscribers (you rock by the way!) aren’t from the States)—The Phillies are my favorite Major League Baseball team and it’s based outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA which I am nearby (15 miles to be precise!)—I remember the 3^rd night of Sandy well. Well, vividly is more like it. Also, the Phillies most winningest year of ALL of EVER and they didn’t even MAKE IT into the World Series. Bite me Phillies! HA!)

The power had already been out for 2 days and my MOM, my aunt Alice and I had been using book lights that we burned out eventually to just read at my parent’s home because what else was there to do? (I’ll ask my Dad later but I think he was working on something to do with Math, in fact I am sure of it! But he was attached to the news too as we were all huddling in the living room—I had my own apartment at the time, but had come to my parent’s house to ride out the storm).

The third night was the worst of it. The howling winds were insane. At one point it sounded like a train was coming through my windows. I was terrified. I tried to sleep but I couldn’t, but back then I struggled with sleep as it was… I don’t remember too much rain. But I do remember my MOM and aunt Alice and I praying, praying, praying, praying, praying that the shore house in Sea Isle, New Jersey, USA wouldn’t get hit. My parent’s house was/IS beach front property. It was worrisome to say the least.

Fortunately, the EYE of the storm went over Sea Isle and we missed the strong rains and winds that came through. But my goodness the northern parts of New Jersey and New York! Coney Island area especially, this all got hit so hard! An entire boardwalk Ferris wheel and rollercoaster were out in the Atlantic Ocean, in the aftermath!

I remember the stories later on and the marks on the walls of where the water came up. I mean don’t get me wrong. There was a hell of a lot of destruction, but we all took a deep breath and said that “Oh it could have been worse!” ... There were some crazy people who stayed because it was their life’s belongings and work, they didn’t want to leave any of it behind. There was a restaurant owner who owned Mildred’s which was a restaurant on the coast of Strathmere, New Jersey, USA which is just above Sea Isle and a place my family loved to dine at. The owners of that restaurant stayed behind, and that restaurant is in the dunes of Strathmere beach. If you have ever driven through Strathmere (maybe to get to Uncle Bill’s (a famous pancake house or restaurant if you want to call it whatever you want—up and down the coast of the Jersey Shore… )or what not…) but yeah, if you have ever driven through there you know it’s basically a small road (that’s it!) and not very wide, maybe 1000 steps across, a half a mile that is. So yeah, Strathmere got hit HARD. But these people survived it. They would tell us stories later about how the water was up to the top of the STOP sign. That’s like 8 feet of water. Once they were there, they were there. They didn’t evacuate and weren’t planning to. Also- they didn’t lose their cable?!?!? But they DID lose POWER.

The EVACUATION orders were nuts too. Those ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT ARE LIKE DEMANDS are so scary. MANDATORY EVACUATION will begin… these were the words I heard at 9am on a Saturday morning in 2012, in October. OH WOW. Remembering these things, these memories, it takes my breath away.

So, in conclusion of this Super Storm Sandy remembrance ritual, please keep your thoughts on the people and ANIMALS of North Carolina, USA. I am praying that there aren’t as many STUPID people as usual who leave their animals behind, and I pray that the people who do EVACUATE ahead of the storm, they (and their animals) have a safe place to go. Thinking of North Carolina, USA right now. I’m really glad my best friend Tim moved from there to Clearwater, Florida, USA and isn’t dealing with this right now. But his family is there. Thinking of them! I hope to GODDESS that all these people get out of there and EVACUATE the coastline in time.

I just hope and pray, especially since we still have 2.5 months left of this, that a Super Storm doesn’t form again and hit us hard again. Thirteen years later, we have rebuilt. Of course. Time and life go on, without the storm. It is not a constant. But yeah… lucky number thirteen. JFC.

I just worry about everything and anything, and I think a lot. A LOT. Overthinker right here. It will happen again someday—the question is when? And what will be the destruction this time. The power was out at the shore condos for like a month or something, I forget exactly. I guess I could ask my Dad, but the Super Storm did take out the entire electrical system which had to be rebuilt for the high rise. I also blame the storm in 2012 for the never cease to fail elevators in the South Tower. Don’t ask, it’s not that interesting a story, but I hope never to get stuck in there again. Here’s hoping and praying and let’s all knock on wood for that one!

*You can see the TOWERS in this DAY PIC in Sea Isle City, NJ, USA*

WHAT I HAVE BEEN READING:

I just finished book #100 of 2025. It was excellent. It is pictured below. I discovered this writer on a whim when I saw her “Dark Corners” book at Walgreens near my home. I picked it up, started it the next day and have not regretted it. Since that book, I also read “The Night Swim” by Goldin as well as this one. I have “The Escape Room” which I will read within the next 2 weeks, so that’s the last I have of hers, which will be tough to finish as I’ll be sad and waiting for her next book. It better not be a Gillian Flynn thing where there are NONE after that because then, I’ll be even more depressed.

*STAY AWAKE— so glad I’ve FOUND this author!*

***I think I already discussed in my last blog post the next 3 books***

Megan Abbott is another one I recently got into (what’s with all these writer’s named Megan?) and I read her book “Give Me Your Hand” which blew me away it was so good, so well written. These authors must have really tight outlines!

I tried another new author named Kate White who was once the editor in chief of Cosmopolitan magazine here in the States. Tough job! Now she is writing thrillers and I read “The Secrets You Keep” as my first one of hers and there will be more in my future, I’m sure. She is available on Kindle Unlimited which is a membership that pays for itself. Seriously, at least with me. I have never used Audible and probably won’t until my arthritis in my hands makes it literally impossible to hold a book. So that I can’t attest to, but KU is great.

John Marrs knows what he’s doing. ‘Nuff said. I read his book “The Stranger in Her House” which was really good with lots of twists and turns and whiplash galore.

I attempted to read “All The Other Mothers Hate Me” by Sarah Harman—waste of time, don’t bother. It was supposed to be a thriller but the book bored the living crap out of me.

I then had my Paul Tremblay moment (I was supposed to meet him this last weekend, but it didn’t happen because I wanted to get home to check on Hope as we had been out at a 40^th birthday party for our dear friend on Saturday all day). I read his short story Full Bloom then I read “Horror Movie” a novel by him (finally!) and it was beyond EXCELLENT. Old school Stephen King meets new school horror Joe Hill twisted in with some psychological thriller vibes. If you read it—I relate to the character “Cleo” a little more than I am comfortable with if that says anything.

I read a Mary Kubica (who I adore, one of my recent favs!) book called “She’s Not Sorry” and that did not let me down. As though it could.

Next up! Another Megan, but this time Megan Miranda’s release from last year, although I have her latest as someone sold it from their Book of the Month subscription on Poshmark and I got it super cheap and EARLY! The title I am about to start later today is called “The Last to Vanish”… can’t wait because she is so great too. Very atmospheric which I love and have been told my fiction is written in that vibe and essence too.

*I love this pic of US!*

THANKS SO MUCH FOR READING!

I adore and am grateful to have each and every one of my readers and subscribers. You’re the best! <3 Not sure when I am going to release some fiction, but it’s coming soon, maybe even this week. KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED. And read it fast, because it won’t be FREE for long.

-xoxo-

LWB*

*Your Weekly Dose Of HOPE!*