So this weekend we went to a Bat Mitzvah, in, of all places, Washington, DC. Anyone who
has held a large family affair will sympathize with the hosts.

Our flight from Boston was cancelled and rescheduled twice before Reagan Airport was
opened. While we were waiting in Boston we got a call that the hotel for all the
out-of-towners had no electricity or water, but most of us were rebooked into another.
(That was interesting, since also at our new hotel were the Swedish, North Korean, and
Brazilian Women's World Cup Soccer teams. It made for a few interesting elevator rides!)

Friday evening there was to be a fancy dinner and service at the temple - however there
was no electricity so it was a candlelight buffet on plasticware. Saturday morning was
the main service and reception - again no electricity. The Rabbi opened with "Let There
Be Light!" but no such luck. Fortunately, the DJ for the party had a GenSet, and a good
time was had by all.

Another get-together at the host's house Saturday night - I smuggled a suitcase of ice out
of the hotel for that. By Sunday morning things were close to normal. The Brunch was on
normal plates, but the hotel (the original one) still had no drinking water.

Isabel filled the news, of course. Much of the area lost electricity for extended
periods. The water systems were out for a while, and then needed to be purged before they
were safe for drinking. A few areas lost there gas lines, etc.

The news from Annapolis was that most of the boats in marinas were well prepared and
survived OK, but that a number at anchor (or were they at the moorings?) in front of the
Academy ended up on the Academy grounds. There were large pictures in the papers of the
City Dock area completely under water. The Waterfront Marriot had ferry service to get
its guests ashore!

On the flight back I got a beautiful view of New York from Sandy Hook up through Norwalk.
NY harbor seemed very busy for a Sunday. Boston also was busy - I guess a lot of folks
were taking advantage of the nice weather after the storm.

-jeff