As Hurricane Isabel approaches the DC area, the federal government has shut down - but what strikes me as bizarre is that the entire Metro subway system is...closed. Maybe I'm spoiled by the New York City subway system, but I can't imagine what would happen here if the MTA decided to close the subway in anticipation of a storm - by the time it reaches DC there's no telling what type of storm it will be. I keep shaking my head about it, trying to figure it out.

I love a good storm as much as the next person. And in fact we had rented an oceanfront cottage just north of Kill Devil Hills when Hurricane Charlie rolled through in 1986 - it was wild riding it out. The wind is so strong the rain feels like tiny little daggers hitting your skin. Hurricane's are very...loud. And then when the eye passes over, it's so quiet you think you've died and gone to heaven. Or at least that's what I thought at 24.