New York:
It's been hours now. I'm sitting in front of my window in the living room over looking Broadway. The otherwise beautiful road is a mess, the wet leaves are all over.
The winds have only got stronger since morning. Their drumbeats are all I hear.
There's more rain and plenty more wind.
The streets lights are swaying dangerously and so are the traffic lights which hang in the centre of the road.
The sight may be scary for the occasional driver passing by.
Thunder and lightening strikes but there's nothing beyond that except the church bell occasionally. It's all quiet and that's killing.
The sound and fury is on the outside. At home, the cable is down, windows are shut and there's no one to talk to.
I can't afford to be on the phone just in case there's a power cut. I need the phone battery for as long as possible. Both my iPad and phone are constantly on charge.
A friend called to say 'Maybe you should just gather some of your documents, passport, certificates, put them in some kind of water proof bag and keep it by you, it's just to be prepared for the worst.' I haven't done that and I won't.
I am watching out for the school deans' updates on mail and on the school website, for anything I need to do. The last mail said school is officially closed on Tuesday and should there be a need to plaster windows, we will be informed.
The point is, even if it was time to plaster the windows, I won't be able to do that because I don't have any plaster. Fingers crossed.
It's the Halloween weekend and Sandy scared the wits out of us.
In the midst of all the chaos that Sandy is causing, I see an amazing amount of calm in the city, maybe with everyone in doors, it's expected. Yes, there is the tree that's fallen down, the roads look like they haven't been swept for weeks, I did see a police car drag away a smashed taxi but beyond that I think the city is behaving responsibly.