Okay...so here's some good information:

If you browse with Firefox/Mozilla, it will "restore session" if it closes by itself.  That means all the windows you had open will pop back open right where you were.  Which is why I switched to Mozilla the first time my computer went out this morning.

Power backups are a nice tool.  I just realized I don't have one.  Now, it's really nice not to have that hectic, emergency alarm noise going off every time the power flicks on and off, but still...SAVE OFTEN!

We are having gale-force winds here, with gusts up to 60-70 m.p.h.  And boy does it feel like it.  The wind has vaporized our trash can (wouldn't you believe it, it's trash day!)  I saw the trash man out my back window and though...wth?  It's trash day?  You gotta be kidding.  I did NOT rush down to put out my bins, though.  For obvious reasons.  Last time we had winds like this, it was also trash day.  All the cans for the whole street were down at the end of the court, and we had to try and figure out which one was ours.  Inevitably, doing my best, I managed to get someone else's can.  Who was actually, I think, annoyed.  Dude, it's a trash can...I did my best.  ?  In any case, our wonderful housemate/housekeeper had put out the recycling, bless her heart.  I have no idea where it is.  Probably on the next street down...

We also lost a tree.  And I'm really sad about it.  It was lovely, fluffy & green.  It housed countless birds, who dangerously made their nests on lower branches until the neighborhood cat started picking them off.  We watched the baby birds hatch.  It provided privacy, shade, and a beautiful backdrop for some of my internet photos.  *Sigh.*  Alas.  There's another tree scraping against my window now that nearly blew over in a previous windstorm and the previous owner of the house bolted it to the eaves.  I'm hoping not to have to chain-saw that one too, though I think my neighbor would be glad.  He's wanted me to get rid of it since the day we moved in.  Again...privacy and shade.  Things you REALLY appreciate in California!!

Our weak little California trees aren't made for this stuff!  They didn't grow up in these adverse conditions.  Yikes!  I'd been wanting to plant a redwood in the yard, well, now I know where it can go.  *sigh*

It's 10:21, and Hip Baby is supposed to be open for business.  I am afraid to take the car over the overpass to take my daughter to school.  Is that silly?  I just get this idea that we'll just be blown right off.  I can't imagine I'd have any customers to come to the shop and be annoyed that I'm not open.  Will I?  Some desperate baby-gift-shopper?  On lunch to come by and look for that perfect baby gift that s/he needs today, gift-wrapped?  Do you think anyone will be annoyed if I'm not open?  I just can't imagine going out there....  (sheesh, I wouldn't last 5 minutes anywhere in the midwest!  lol)

I'll stay a little while longer.  Just type and play with my photos and work on my website.  Here, inside, where it's cozy and dry (for now).  And I will SAVE OFTEN!!