but thankfully the sky wasn't tumbling down. Ah, but yes, southern California is rightfully known for its propensity for earthquakes. Some roll and sway, some slam you up and down, sounding like a train blasting down the tracks. Today's was a rolling quake.

That one today came in the middle of a work day and mostly what I felt was annoyance at being interrupted in the middle of an important set of analyses. I refused to leave my desk and go outside. Going outside was a waste of time, I said. "Stop it! Enough, already!" I said, and, by golly, it ceased its rocking and rolling a few seconds later.

The truth of the matter is that I'm scared of earthquakes, afraid in a way that hurricanes can't match. But the 6.9 Northridge earthquake, the epicenter of which was only a mile from my home, set the bar for me. If it ain't worse than that one, I'm not interested.

I have been told that scolding the quake and demanding that it stop now! is a good way to deal with it from a psychological standpoint. It certainly worked for me. While everyone else was chattering nervously and phoning family and friends, I just went back to work, mostly unflapped.

About 30 minutes later, I decided to call my husband, to see if he had taken his lunch pills (a daily reminder). He did not answer the landline and he did not answer his cell phone, which went to voice mail every time I called. I was finally concerned enough to get in my car and take my lunch hour to drive home (work is 30 minutes from home each way).

It hadn't occurred to him that I might call (though I do so every day) and that I might be worried if he didn't answer (has he fallen down? has some illness come upon him?), at least that's what he said. He was busy surfing the web (though it didn't cross his mind to send me an email).

Needless to say, I was not pleased that he was in la-la land mentally, but was fine physically. He never has had much of a sense of empathy, so what did I expect? That he would call to reassure me he was ok--or to find out if I was ok? Perish the thought! My thanks to the three friends who did call to check.

Another day in paradise....