Earthquake, Big Brother and Butterfly
by Jenners • 08/24/2011 • Cool Photos, Mr. Jenners, Randomosity • 82 Comments
Earthquake. You’ve probably heard about the earthquake that rattled the East Coast yesterday. Let me tell you, it was WILD!!! It lasted a good 30 seconds or so here in New Jersey, and our house really felt like it was moving. Unable to believe it was really an earthquake, Mr. Jenners sent me to the neighbors to see if they felt it too … he thought perhaps our house was spontaneously falling into a sinkhole or something! The fact that the epicenter was in Virginia and we felt it so strongly in New Jersey amazed me. I was convinced it was centered in our town. Once again, I am in awe of Mother Nature.
My Own Personal Big Brother. Those of you who fixate on small details may wonder what Mr. Jenners was doing home in the early afternoon yesterday. Well, because his company was acquired by another company last year, he is now able to work from home most days of the week. It has been quite the adjustment as we are now BOTH home all day together. My free-wheeling “let’s take a break from the housework and blog/read” days are over as Mr. Jenners has a habit of quietly sneaking around the house and spying observing me. I’ll be mopping the floor and suddenly he’ll appear behind me and scare the crap out of me. It is nerve-wracking. It’s like I’m living in Orwell’s 1984, with Mr. Jenners assuming the role of Big Brother. (Too bad I don’t weigh what I did in 1984!!) On the plus side, he has taken over cooking dinner (though I’m responsible for side dishes). As I DETEST cooking, this has been wonderful. And I’m not ashamed to admit that he cooks better than me. Still, I cannot lie … I’m looking forward to the days when he has to go into the office.
Mr. Jenners Photo of the Week. Mr. Jenners got a new camera not too long ago and has been taking some really awesome photos. I thought I’d start sharing one of his photos each week, starting ….. right….NOW.
A monarch butterfly on our butterfly bush.
Wow, that earthquake must have been so scary for you guys. I have grown up here in Earthquake Country (California) and lived through the 1989 7.2 quake and they still scare me no matter how small. You guys got a good size shaker. Those are the ones that definitely get our attention even out here where we are all “used” to the earth shaking!
It was quite a new experience for us East Coasters. You just don’t expect an earthquake here so it was pretty freaky. I felt one earthquake before (in San Diego last year) and thought that would be my one experience.
Super late commenting! I have the opposite when my husband works from home. He sits down at his desk and I never see him all day. You might think that we would eat lunch together or something but no. I will eventually hear him rummaging in the kitchen and then he takes something back to his desk and eats there. If I want to talk to him on those days, I have to go find him! I thought it was annoying but now I’m glad he doesn’t sneak up on me.
If we could just get them together and get them to be a little more like the other, we’d have the perfect work-at-home husband!
Earthquakes are quite unnerving huh? I have felt about 5 in the last two years- there has been tons more- those were just the ones big enough to notice. Yea, as much as I love having Eric around I would not want him home all of the time.
Earthquakes are unnerving … especially when they happen in a place where you don’t expect them to happen. In a way, it was really kind of fascinating. It would stop being fascinating if stuff got damaged or people got hurt though.
Same here, went out to Walgreens for ice and candles and people are running aorund like chickens with their heads cut off…yikes. Putting gas in my car was a whole nother headache. Stay safe!
It turned out to be a big nothing (at least around here). We were all ready and then it was just like a regular storm.
p.s ready for the hurricane??
Yeah … we went to the grocery store to get some water and bread and it was INSANE … the shelves were getting emptied and the grocery store said they were closing tomorrow at 6PM. I wonder what will happen.
Pretty photo by Mr. Jenners!
I was sitting on my rolly chair at work, when it started to sway. At first I thought I was having some type of dizzy spell, then I thought it was a passing train. But then texts and phone calls from friends and family started coming in about the earthquake. Funny thing is, only certain people in my office felt it. It depended on where you were at the moment.
We felt it so strongly in our house but my son, who was at camp, barely felt it. Odd. And now this hurricane is coming. It feels like we switched places with California AND Florida! What is up with that!?
Big Brother has a great eye for photography – that monarch is gorgeous!
We felt the earthquake up here, too — I thought there was a raccoon in the walls of the house!
Wow … it did travel far. Isn’t that crazy how far away the earthquake was felt? And I wish Big Brother would limit his sight for photos and not my housekeeping deficiencies.
Oh my Jenners – having (MY) Mr. Jenners checking up on me would certainly cramp my style. I detest cooking and cleaning as well. HIGH 5 girlfriend!
High 5! My (lax housekeeping lotso reading) lifestyle is definitely being cramped.
We felt the earthquake here too! Are you getting ready for the hurricane? You New Jersey…ers…have CRAZY WEATHER!!
I feel the Same. Way. when Brian works from home. I am always soo grumpy afterwards- can’t believe you are having to deal with it full time!
And awesome picture of the butterfly Mr. Jenners!
We are preparing for the hurricane. I can’t decide if all the hoopla is justified or we’ll just have a big rainstorm. The grocery store was CRAZY today. No bread on the shelves and everyone is buying water. It isn’t usually like this back here … I don’t know what is going on!!
i hear that retired husbands can drive wives crazy. “you know,
if you load the forks in the back and the glasses on the side, the
dishwasher will do a better job.” i would probably say, “you
know, if you’d go back to the office, i might not punch you!”
I feel like he is retired in a way by having him around all day. At least he has to actually work most of the day or I’d really lose it.
Thank goodness MPW can cook, otherwise we would be out of luck. When I lived on my own I survived on cereal and frozen pizza. Also, MPW is obsessed with his camera. We recently went on a trip and in 3 days he took over 600 pictures. Boys and their toys, eh?
In college, I lived on pizza and noodles. And I was really skinny!!!
And we went to NYC for two days and came back with 1200 photos. INSANE! In some ways, digital photography leads to excess. I’m trying to be vigilant about deleting photos that aren’t really worth saving or we’ll use all our computer space.
LOL – Mr Jenners should be working and not spying… er, I mean… observing!
That butterfly photo is just fabulous!
Well, he is working (talking on a phone call) and then seems to just appear behind me seconds later. Eerie!
I am very fixated on the details of your life but somehow did not pick up on Mr Jenners being home when he shouldn’t be. I’m sorry. Bloggin/reading should definitely take precedence over mopping.
I did not feel the earthquake but my Jason works on the 20th floor and everyone there thought they’d been hit by a plane. Scary.
I was in LA after the Northridge quake in 94 and I felt a 5+ aftershock. It was strange for a midwest girl
I was thinking that the poor folks in NYC and Washington DC probably thought “terrorist attack” before “earthquake” — probably anyone in a major city thought something besides earthquake. It was so odd.
I live south of Chicago, and we had an earthquake at night. I totally woke up, felt it, thought I was dreaming, and went back to sleep. It wasn’t until the next morning that I found out my shaking bed, rattling windows, banging noises dream wasn’t a dream at all.
Pretty freaky to find out that your dream was real, I imagine.
The earthquake was amazing!! And here I thought the next big one on this side of the continent would be near me on the New Madrid Fault!
Welcome to my world. My husband has always worked out of the house. Togetherness. Ha!
Great photo!! Mr Jenners is talented.
Togetherness is overrated I think!! I mean, if he never goes away, how can I miss him.
And I guess NJ is really getting into natural disasters … now we are due to get hit by Hurricane Irene. Oy vey!
Once you get over being scared, earthquakes are pretty fascinating.
I’m looking forwad to photos from Mr Jenners – IIRC he has a good eye.
I thought it was very interesting and kind of exciting. As long as no one gets hurt, I wouldn’t mind experiencing another.
And your compliment means a lot coming from such a gifted photographer like yourself. I’ll be sure to let Mr. Jenners know!
Mr Jenners always does a great job with his photos! Love it!
I wondered if you felt the quake – bet it was weird.
You may not know that my husband doesn’t have an office. Now it’s been this way since I’ve known him so I’m used to it but he doesn’t work a normal week. He may be home everyday, all day, or he may be gone for several days and nights. On average, until recently I guess, he was gone 4-7 hours 2 days a week, gone one overnight and home Thurs-Sun – lately this sucks he’s been gone so much. So I can totally relate to looking forward to having those moments alone in the house.
Your compliment on his photos means a lot. I’ll try to convey that to him!
And that is quite an unusual schedule your husband has … sounds like you adjusted to having him around though. I suppose I’ll get there one day but it is quite an adjustment.
I heard it wasn’t an earthquake afterall–It was all the founding fathers and past presidents rolling over simultaneously in their graves.
Good luck with the “big brother”–I hope it doesn’t keep you away from the blog-o-sphere toooo much.
and that is a spectacular photo.
I love your take on the earthquake!!!
Hi Jen,
They’re lovely.
Glad to know you’re ok. How did the little one react?
Beautiful picture, now that Mr Jenners is at home he can take more.
The Little One says he “just felt a little dizzy.” He was at camp and I drove over there to check on him because I couldn’t reach them on the phone. He took it in stride!
Jim is addicted to freecell solitaire, so this keeps him in his lair most of the time. However, from time to time I have (YES, I HAVE ACTUALLY DONE THIS) closed him off inside his office with that blue painter’s tape (like masking tape but does no wall damage). Just criss-cross over the door. He’ll get the hint – heh.
I love the term “lair.” It implies a certain sense of evil and sneakiness that I think implies to both of our “beloveds.” : )
As long as Mr. Jenners does not insist that 2+2=5, I think you’ll survive.
I’ve never felt an earthquake and I’d be fine if I never did. But I have seen some amazing sink hole photos from around the world so those I do fear.
Lovely butterfly, too.
Geez … now I’m going to have to add “sinkholes” to my list of fears/worries!
The earthquake was felt in Grand Rapids, MI (not by me, but by others). My husband loves to cook and is pretty good at it, so I enjoy a summer off from cooking. I usually take over during the school year since he working all day.
That is amazing that it was felt in Michigan!!! It must be so different from the West Coast for it to travel and be felt so far away. Enjoy your summer off from cooking!
Your story about Big Brother reminded me of that episide where Lucy and Ricky move to the country and he has the week off. He follows Lucy around the house all day and drives her batty. You’re like modern day Lucy and Ricky!
What kind of camera did he get?
Well if we are Lucy and Ricky, I want to live that chocolate factory episode! And he got the latest version of the Canon Rebel — a T-something or other.
You make me laugh. Actually, your description of Mr. Jenners makes me laugh. In his behalf, I must say though he does take some nice pictures.
Well, the photos don’t quite make up for sneaking up and scaring me!! : )
I didn’t find out about the earthquake until my kids got home from school and told me. I am sort of cocooned here in the house, and don’t often turn on the tv or radio. Also, Mr. Jenners needs to stop spying on you! When my husband was out of work for awhile, we both just sat companionably on the sofa doing our own thing, but I admit that it did make me feel a bit nervous for him to see me being lazy. He would sometimes gently suggest I fold some laundry or get the floor swept, and I never liked it! I was glad when he finally scored a job and had to be at the office because I wasn’t being watched or monitored anymore. Even if it was only light monitoring, I did not like it! I do, however, really like that picture of the butterfly!
There is something unnerving about having him see what I do (and don’t do). I do think there can be such a thing as too much togetherness.
We felt nothing in our house, although my neighbours claim they did? I know of what you speak with the “loss” of freedom. When my husband retired I damn near died every time he sneaked up on me. I quickly found him a job. He’s been working ever since. Really messes with your reading time. On the other hand if he’s going to be taking wonderful pictures like that, hmmmmmm.
But he could take photos like that after getting home from work, right?? : )
It was crazy in MD! My daughter and I were both upstairs when it started. I knew what it was right away and the house was shaking so violently that I was afraid it was going to come down. Thankfully it was over fairly quickly, though it felt like it lasted longer than it did.
I felt like it lasted a long time too. I was amazed how much I felt our house move and shake. Our car in the driveway was rocking back and forth too. I said “I think this is an earthquake” but it seemed so wrong. Glad you were OK … you were a lot close to it than we are!
I would go crazy if my husband was at home every day (I know that sounds terrible but it’s true). As a firefighter, he works 24 hour shifts every third day – so I’ve gotten very used to this kind of schedule and once he retires it will be a big adjustment. When he’s home, he likes to have my undivided attention and I’m more of a do-my-own thing kind of person.
I think I would freak out if I ever felt an earthquake. Glad you guys are okay!
I guess you guys will have a HUGE adjustment when he retires. I imagine that it is stressful to have him in that job though!
Now you know what it is like to have a retired husband, although Mr. J should be “working” when he is home and not checking up on you all day. Personally, I think spouses should live in a duplex with visiting rights when both mutually agree. None of this in your face crap all day.
Mr. J’s photography efforts are really great – I love the crisp butterfl y against the muted background.
I love your idea of a spouse duplex!!! That is starting to sound good to me. And I guess I’m getting an early glimpse of what retirement might be like! NOT GOOD!
maybe he needs to get out and take more pics and stop looking over your shoulder. lol
I agree!
Growing up in California, I’ve been through my share of earthquakes and they still freak me out!
I would die if my husband worked from home. It totally would feel like Big Brother. I like my alone time during the day.
I love the photo of the butterfly. I’d love to see more of Mr. Jenner’s photos.
I like my alone time during the day too. I’m going to have to get a job outside of the home now!! HAHA! And I’m planning on featuring Mr. Jenners’s photos regularly. He’s been taking some neat ones.
Glad to hear that you guys weren’t too badly affected by the earthquake. I was in shock when I heard that the east coast had one since I’m sure no one ever associated earthquakes with the east coast. It’s pretty much a west coast/Japan/Australia thing, right?
Oddly enough, I have a few friends who fled Japan after the March earthquake and settled themselves in the D.C. area this summer. They believe that they brought the earthquake with them from Japan
So now you know why you guys just had an earthquake!
I know!! You don’t think earthquake and the East Coast of the US but apparently it can happen. Of course, now I know why — it was your friends!! They must have just thought “How is this possible!!!???” I’m sure it was nowhere NEAR what they experienced in Japan though. Just experiencing this small quake made me appreciate in a very small way what you guys have been through.
I’ve found that if I continually call to The Mister in his mancave while I’m puttering (or goofing off, more likely) because I just have to ask him something, or show him something, he gets pretty annoyed after a time, and doesn’t move from his chair.
This works out well for me…unless I REALLY want him to come to me.
Another thing that keeps him in his cave is when I barge in frequently and ask asinine questions (a specialty of mine). He is not likely to come searching for me…so I time my leisure activities accordingly.
When his work assignment is over at the end of October, we’ll both be home all day AGAIN…fingers crossed that he finds another job quickly. I will be in deep mourning for the loss of the “wifely vacations” I’ve had for almost a year while he works out of town.
Thank you for your tips. And I hope he gets another job quickly too … preferably in another town!!
I have Mondays off and I hate it when Hamburger is home, too. (Unless he’s recovering from injuries…that’s okay.) It totally messes with my quiet day home alone.
I know … nothing like unanticipated company to ruin your “alone time.” Hope Hamburger is recovering nicely.
I was at the pool when the earthquake moved my chair. I though my little one was messing with me. Turned around to yell at him and realized he wasnt there. LOL that is a great photo what kind of camera did he get?
Wasn’t that so freaky? I bet the water in the pool was sloshing too! And he got the latest version of the Canon Rebel … Tsomething or other.
Jenners, now you know how we feel here in CA, where the earth shakes and quakes fairly often.
When you’re used to your (relative) freedom, it’s hard to have a hubby at home–even a wonderful one. The photo is beautiful.
I can’t imagine living with that kind of “will there be a quake today” hanging over me. It was so weird because it isn’t anything that I thought would happen back here!
Jason cooks dinner for us here and we’re definitely better off for it!! Love the picture.
We’re better off too. I guess my penchant for cooking everything on high heat led to dry meat. His is much better.
That is a gorgeous photo! I’m glad you guys were okay and that the earthquake wasn’t bigger. I don’t know how you do it – I’d go absolutely crazy if my husband worked from home all the time.
Well, give me time. I might still go crazy. Its only been a few weeks.
apparently it was felt in Toronto too…
It amazed me how far away the quake was felt. There is something about the way the earth is in the East Coast that makes the vibrations travel really far really fast.
What’s so odd about the earthquake is our son lives about 150 miles from the epicenter and he said he didn’t feel a thing. Tell Mr. Jenners to lock himself up in his office during the day!
That is very weird that your son didn’t feel it! I would have thought it would have been so strong down there. Odd. And I’ll have to attach a bell to Mr. Jenners or something so I can leap up from my computer and start looking like I’m cleaning instead of blogging!
We’re so used to earthquakes her on the west coast, but it must have been something to feel it on the east coast! I think you felt it much further away than we would feel them here. I wonder why
I heard that the earth here on the East Coast is different and acts like a “bell” — in that the vibrations travel further and faster. I’m sure there is a more technical, coherent explanation but I’m too lazy to look it up right now.