Needless to say, I developed lots of infatuations with various cops, firemen, and PSE&G workers—these guys helped us clean up a horrible mess and make repairs, working long hours in mud and muck, and dealing with some not-so-happy Island residents, all while treating us politely and with enormous kindness; also while looking incredibly handsome. My favorite PSE&G guy 
and his crew worked in a watery pit in front of my house for 3 days repairing the gas main that went the length of the Island as well as the pipes that went from the main to my house. I would have cooked these guys a 5-course steak dinner every night if my fridge and stove were up and running.
On day 1, we spent most of the day and night going up and down the street, in more of a daze than anything, checking in with neighbors, assessing the damage. But then we got down to the business of cleaning up and pushed ahead. Late one evening, I came inside and went to the kitchen at the back of my house, and heard a tell-tale sound coming from the basement: ca-click, ca-clack, ca-click, ca-clack.
“Hey! Who’s playing ping pong!!”
“Not us! Nope! We’re down here working on your pipes!”
Cracked me up. So I went down and showed ‘em how the game is played, but I let them keep their clothes on—strip ping pong in the middle of a natural disaster seemed in poor taste.
Look where one of our docks ended up! 
you have been so lucky it wasn't worse, although a nightmare, thank the lord you are all safe
Posted by: lou lou | September 29, 2004 at 03:20 PM
See. In every disaster there is a game of Ping Pong going on.
Tsunami? Ping Pong is somewhere.
Hurricane? Ping Pong
Volcano? Ping Pong
It's there. Waiting.
Posted by: Legomen | September 30, 2004 at 07:15 AM
Maybe Ping Pong is the reason why your basement was spared?
Posted by: Tilesey | September 30, 2004 at 08:51 AM
ha! the luck of the table! :-)
Posted by: em | September 30, 2004 at 09:50 AM
I STILL SAY HE'S UGLY ):
Posted by: Sam | September 30, 2004 at 06:46 PM
OHMYGOSH! I just cought up with everything on your blog, that is a nightmare! so glad you guys are ok :)
Posted by: ags | October 01, 2004 at 09:56 AM
hey, thanks Ags. we're fine! :-)
Posted by: em | October 01, 2004 at 10:04 AM
Glad you're back, ok and only slightly moist, Em.
Is that the infamous Lori with the PSE&G guy? More importantly, is that a coffee mug she's holding? If so, it's HUGE - where can I get one?
Posted by: Em | October 02, 2004 at 05:02 PM
no, that'ts not lori, that's .rz's squeeze. the coffee mug's pretty big yes, but it's not cofee in that mug. ;-)
Posted by: em | October 03, 2004 at 09:29 AM