Chris is "merely" a tropical depression, but we all know that once it tears up Hispaniola and Cuba, it will be over open water (warm) and will likely intensify again. At the moment the weather guessers think it will get only to tropical storm (winds 39 - 74 mph) strength. Let's hope they're guessing right.

At work this afternoon the librarian was trying to get everything off the bottom shelves, which have just recently been filled up again with the stuff that got soaked from Katrina. We also have big plastic sheets on top of all the bookshelves which can be pulled over the whole case to protect against broken windows and wind-driven rain.

And I was processing archives that included hurricane plans written in 1999 and 2000. Basically, they said everybody evacuate for a category 4 or 5. Of course, they didn't say how.

Coming home this afternoon was a study in last-minute delays. I had no problems in New Orleans or on the interstate. But when I got to where the street I use crosses the railroad tracks I could hear the whistle of a freight train. Luckily, it was one of the shorter ones, and soon I was across the tracks. And in another line. The draw bridge was open. That thing is SO slow closing, but it was finally back in place. And that was the end of the delays.

Another IUD.