It's The Earth Moved Monday, MKF! 9/23/02

[BoredNow99]

Now stop it. I know what you're thinking.

I experienced my first earthquake last night. Apparently it was one of the biggest England's ever seen, measuring 4.8 on the Richter scale.

I know, I know - it's a tiddler in comparison to what most of you have experienced. But I guess I'm like Riley in Doomed, all excited by my first quake.

So I thought maybe Kittens could share their experiences of natural phenomena and make me realise this really wasn't that big a deal

Or else, y'know, just make innuendos and talk about sex

Happy Monday, Kittens!

[QuOS]

I understand the excitement , I've only ever felt one earthquake myself. It's odd, isn't it? 'cause, you know, I prefer my ground to be of the unmoving variety.
Oh, and <insert 'earth moving' sex joke here>

[sweetmisery21]

Quite a few years ago there was an earthquake in Oregon in the very early hours. It wasn't very big though, but it could be felt. However, I managed to sleep through it and didn't know about it until my mom woke me up afterwards to tell me about it.

Just a couple years ago, there was one in Washington which was pretty strong since it caused damage. Anyways, people said they could feel it in parts of Oregon, but once again not me.

Don't worry though, if I had actually felt an earthquake, I know I'd be excited too.

[SJ]

Yeah the earthquake was felt over large area of the UK. It was pretty scary stuff.

[mollyig]

Apparently there was an earthquake here in Ireland a few years ago, but I managed to sleep through it. I thought my family were winding me up the next morning until I saw the news. A big crack appeared in a wall in my neighbour's house, and she invited everyone on the road in to have a look - most exciting! [img:1f7fc16368]http://homepage.eircom.net/~mollyig/wink2.gif[/img:1f7fc16368]

[relativegirl]

Huh. I didn't even know England had earthquakes. But Emma, you left out critical information -- how long did it last?

Um, I'm talking about the earthquake here.

The biggest and longest earthquake I was ever in was the Northridge quake in 1994. It was 6.7 on the richter scale and it lasted 20 something seconds -- twice as long as the average female orgasm.

It was actually quite frightening. Um, the [i:0ba5c3c7de] earthquake[/i:0ba5c3c7de] that is.

Everything in my apt fell down. All the bookcases, pictures, every glass and plate in all my cupboards. The refigerator even toppled over. We immediately lost all electricity (the quake hit at 4-something a.m.). I'd never seen Los Angeles in total darkness before. It was actually very eerie because you could hear frightened crying people out in the streets long before you could see them. I live close enough to the ocean that we had fog in the streets which made everything that much darker and more disturbing. We had aftershocks in the 4s for weeks and weeks so you could never fully relax before everything would start shaking again.

Here's hoping that's the biggest one I'll ever be in.

[Bagheera]

QuOS: You would be describing the Newcastle Earthquake I assume; was it in 1990? I felt it too, except I was working at my desk in Sydney in a 7-storey building, 150km away. All I remember was a boom that shook the building, then nothing. Not long after, news of the 'quake and the casualties started coming through. Now I live in Our Town too. Funny how these things go.

[Hair Annoyed]

No earthquakes here in Georgia, but I have experienced a tornado. The event itself wasn't such a big deal since it passed over us, but there was alot of damage afterwards. There were trees with the top half twisted off, the bottom half looking like a corkscrew and the the top half landing in someone's house. There was a billboard blown apart and scattered over a 2 mile area. But that was just on the outskirts of the damage area. In particular, I remember driving down a dirt road with my sisters to look at the damage. At the first bend in the road there had been a trailer, but in its place was a scattering of debris. Everything that had been inside was now outside including the washer and dryer and refridgerator. In fact there was no inside or outside. The pine trees on the other side of the road looked like Christmas trees because they had this pink tinsel like stuff hanging from every branch. As we passed we saw that this was the pink fiberglass insulation that had been in the walls of the trailer. There were clothes everywere and children's toys too. It was like the big bad wolf had come and blown their "house" down. We had to turn back because the road became impassable, so I don't know what further devastation might have occured. And I don't know what became of that particular family, but 5 people did die in the storm. It made me wish trailers were illegal.

[QuOS]

Yep, it was the Newcastle earthquake in 1989. I had no idea what was going on, and I later found that there were lots of interesting new cracks in the walls and roof.

[DestruktorMel]

Went through the Northridge quake here in So. Cal what? um...10 years ago? I can't remember. Scared the crap out of me. I had gone through a few other pretty big ones, but nothing like that. I remember we didn't have water or gas for about 4 days where I live. Hope to leave CA before we have another big one.

The one good thing was, my sister stayed with us that night for the first time in a loooong time, and when we went back to her apartment the next day to pick up her cats, it was a wreck. And her mirrors had fallen on to her bed, so she probably would have been seriously injured had she been home. Her cats still haven't recovered from it. Every time a truck passes, they run under the bed

[themagicpixie]

I too felt the earthquake in England last night. At the moment I'm in Nottingham, studying to become a lawyer. Last night about 12.30am I think, I was getting ready to go to bed when I felt the whole room shake, not too violently but fairly hard and for quite a little while. I thought it was a neighbour throwing their stuff around or having their stereo maybe turned up a little too loud (student accommodation, eh?) but then I heard two girls from my corridor exclaiming outside (!), so I went outside too.

"Felt like an earthquake" one girl said, "been to LA and there were quakes there..."
"Me too", said the other, but...
"An earthquake... in England?" I said. "Nah..."
"In Nottingham?" the second girl said. "Doubtful..."

I turned the radio on but no-one was saying anything about a quake, so I went to bed and tried not to worry about the structural engineering of our building - had that been a gentle gust of wind or something, blowing the building about?!

I put the radio on today when I got up and it was the top news on Radio 1 (a national radio station in England) - earthquake in the Midlands and Wales.

Oooh. Exciting. We don't usually get them over here at all (famous last words)

[tommo]

Oh was that what it was? I felt it too. Weird. See, my parents were asleep and I was just about to go to bed as well and then stuff started shaking. But honestly, I thought it was nothing. Well there you go.

I think I prefer the other kind of earth moving. Y'know, the sweaty naked screaming aloud kind of...

Oh. I'm one of those kittens who makes an innuendo out of everything, aren't I? Hmm. I must stop that. Though I have to say, when I saw the title of today's thread, I was expecting to hear all of Emma's sordid sex stories.

Ah well. Maybe next time eh?

[infinitelight]

I was clever enough to move out of Southern California in time to avoid Northridge in '94. I think I paid my dues in 92/3 what with riots, mudslides, floods and fires.

I eagerly await the sordid sex stories. Aw, g'wan.

[themagicpixie]

Yes... did anyone's mad passionate love-making coincide with the earthquake?! That would have been very cool...

[tommo]

Not at 12.30 on a Sunday night, I'm sure. And y'know, we're British. Even if we have had sex, we wouldn't talk about it.

[themagicpixie]

Ahem, too right Tommo. What was I thinking? *cough* I was tucked up with me cocoa at 12.30am.

Sex? I might've spilt me cocoa... earthquake nearly achieved that.

[BoredNow99]

[quote:c791725789][b:c791725789][i:c791725789]Quote:[/i:c791725789][/b:c791725789]

---

when I saw the title of today's thread, I was expecting to hear all of Emma's sordid sex stories.

---

[/quote:c791725789]

I have no sordid sex stories. I'm the sweet and innocent kind.
Honest.

[barnabasvamp]

Not soo bored now are ya?
I was born and raised in Southern California, everything we owned was either held down by velcro, or on a shelf with a lip so it would'nt fall off when the walls shook.

Wait!!! I know you must have felt the "earth move" at least once before? If not, you haven't been with the right "woman" .(forgive me- I couldn't resist)

[Tulipp]

Well, hmmm...natural phenomena or sordid sex stories....

Well, last night...No, just kidding. I had a headache last night. Still do, in fact.

So no earthquakes for me, but I was living in Missoula, Montana in the early 80's when Mt. Saint Helens erupted, and even though it was many miles away, our entire town was covered by inches of gray volcanic ash; the air was thick with it. It was eerie, but not much more.

All it meant to me as a kid, of course, was that I had to wear a little surgical mask and the schools were closed for a week.
Interesting topic, Emma.

Edited because earthquakes aren't great, but topics are.

[GigglesNSwing]

We occassionally get earthquakes in NJ but they are so mild and infrequent that most people are not even aware that we get them. I felt one almost 20 years ago early in the morning.
I felt the bed shake for a few minutes. It was pretty amazing. A few minutes takes a long time when your bed is shaking!

[MaClayMagic]

The earthquake that hit had it's epicentre in Dudley we heard today. That is about 5 minutes from where I live. The quake hit at 12.54 this morning and yes, for us in the Midlands the earth moved, the sirens went off and the dogs barked bloody murder! We were all out in our pj's standing in the road going "What the hell was that!" No Hellmouth opened thankfully, just lots of shattered nerves and ones waiting for the aftershocks to start. What excitement in the Midlands! My Kansas born partner thought it wonderful, makes a change from the rain she has been telling everyone about constantly! She doesn't want it again though, one night of unearthly bed shaking is more than enough unless you're floating at the time!

[Tara22]

wow! I have yet to experience one...
they sound kinda freaky...

[Grimaldi]

i've been through a few earthquakes, usually end up sleeping through them.

[Tsia]

I think I probably slept through the English earthquake :$. I'm not entirely sure it was felt around East Anglia - although everybody was talking about it at school. We're no longer safe! LOL.

[Zahir al Daoud]

I moved to Florida at age six. By the time I graduated from university and left, I'd been through twelve hurricanes (for the record--I count myself as having been "in" a hurricane if it knocked over a tree near me). After that, the earthquakes I felt since moving to LA (about three so far) have failed to frighten me. The first--fairly late at night--did freak my cat, and annoyed me since it set off every single car alarm for blocks. And a few weeks after she moved up here, my fiancee pretty much had a panic attack after her first quake (minor, lasting maybe three seconds). Rushed downstairs to her appartment at something like Mach 4!

I still think hurricanes are more impressive--like slow motion atomic explosions (minus the heat and radiation).

[birdblue]

ooo I slept through it, but my family informed me that we could feel it slightly even down here in London, so I'm imagining it was deifnately something if it stretched from notts to down here in the south

[oneyedchicklet]

Hey Giggles,
We had an earthquake here in NJ about 3 months ago. It wasn't that big but it was still quite obvious that it was an earthquake. It was very early in the morning. I was alone so I know it wasn't the earth moving in the good mindblowing orgasm way. We've had quite a few earthquakes in NJ. Nothing compared to California and not much to write home about. As a matter of fact, they are more like earthshivers not even shakes. But an earthquake by any other name is still an earthquake and scarey just the same.

Love to All,
Barb

[The Big I T]

Been through lots of good earthquakes when I lived in Alaska -- particularly liked the one where I could see the ground off in the distance start rolling toward me in very large waves before passing under me and sending me way way up and then down down down. Kind of like a rollercoaster ride. But not as friendly. Or fun.

Then there was the hurricane when I lived in Florida.

And the tornadoes when I was in Colorado. And another time trying to get the hell off the highway while being chased by one while driving through Texas.

Oh...and a volcano eruption, also when I was in Alaska. Mt. Spur going kablooey and a big huge gigantic dark cloud forming and then passing overhead, leaving a "snowfall" of ash several inches deep. Very very bad for breathing things...and car finishes.

Oooh...and ice fog. In Alaska, too. I think that counts. The kind where every inhalation is laced with sharp, jagged, frigid bits of crystalline lung death. And yes, you can actually see the air twinkling around you. Of course, smarter people don't actually go out in that stuff.

[birdblue]

lol the good old bbc has already published some of the publics opinions of the earthqauke... god we're so british!

"It was a very British earthquake" - well i coulda told you that!

'I thought "This is the end..." and was very disturbed, while my partner said "Why don't you have a look on the BBC website? If something dreadful has happened they will report it within minutes."'

'After a heavy weekend, my girlfriend and I were heavily asleep when the earthquake struck. I remember waking up but soon returned to sleep. In the morning we discussed it in bed and both agreed it was the washing machine.'

'I've never been so terrified... I called the police but they said there was nothing they could do... Why do I pay my taxes????' - God! someone always has to bring taxes into it!

'The quake has torn a hole in my back garden... I'd always wanted a pond, but never dreamt it would come about this way!'

'I promised my partner a night of passion, but alas fell asleep after doing some overtime at work... but praise the Lord, at least he made the earth move for her. '

'I still think you're all making it up! '

'Watching John Wayne film on TV. The whole room moved to and fro for about 15-20 seconds. Never slept afterwards as husband down at Builth Wells at a sheep sale. '

'I am amazed that people were actually awoken by the one in Britain, you must be very light sleepers.'
Philip, USA

'I had headphones on whilst writing some music. I missed the whole event and would have remained oblivious had it not been for this website. '

'I thought it was my husband twitching in his sleep.'
or even odder...
'I thought it was my cat jumping onto my bed - she usually makes the bed shake.'

Dan in Birmingham said: "That was so much fun. I understand earthquakes can be and have been very dangerous and upsetting to many, but that was excellent."

"I have experienced an earthquake before but it was a long time ago, in West Bromwich."

[Medic4]

Boy does this bring back memories! I grew up in Southern California, and I think I lost track of all the earthquakes we had.

But I moved away shortly after the big Northridge one about eight or nine years ago.

Thing is, now I'm in Texas.....no earthquakes, but plenty of tornados! I think I'd rather have the earthquakes every once and a while than tornados every spring!