Here, on the Oregon coast, the real storm blew in very early this morning, although last night, when we got home from our fly fishing club's Holiday Dinner, there was serious wind blowing rain, making the trip down and across the creek and then up the hill to the house seem longer than it is. I'm totally tired of parking just off the road at the end of our driveway and carrying everything across and up the hill; last night, I had to make two trips. I now am keeping raingear and knee boots in the car at all times--this morning the creek is starting to creep across the driveway. Again. It's only been a month, and I'm already tired of not being able to use our driveway...probably won't be able to until late March, if last year was a fine example. We did luck out on the drive home last night, about 45 miles straight up the coast from Newport, as it was only raining lightly most of the way. I usually let our dog out via the front deck, but all the furniture had been blown across it, blocking the stairs, plus the wind at the front of the house was fierce, so I offered him a chance to go out via the dining room door...but he said he thought he'd hold it until we build him an inside bathroom, like that damned cat has! I took him to the far back door, where the house protects that part of the yard from the worst of the wind, and he did reluctantly go out, but was back very quickly. He hates going out when it's this wet, but he does love getting toweled off once he's back inside. My car is parked just off the road and my boat and trailer are now parked at a friend's house so nothing will be trapped when the creek starts flowing over the driveway. If this storm ever quits and the nearby river drops, I'd like to go crabbing in the bay. When rivers are high, the crabs move out into the ocean to avoid too much fresh water, so it won't be any time real soon! I should fill bird feeders, but not until there's a break in the storm.