“On its current projected track, Sandy could make U.S. landfall on Monday night or Tuesday anywhere between Maryland and southern New England, forecasters said. Rain accumulations of up to 12 inches (30 cm) and heavy snowfall inland are considered likely in some areas.

“This is not a coastal threat alone,” Fugate added, warning of the potential for flooding in Maryland and Pennsylvania, as well as more than 2 feet (0.6 meters) of snow in West Virginia.” (National Weather Service)

We aren’t sure who invited Sandy but his/her (does anyone actually know its sex?) arrival is being anticipated with two distinctly different reactions. The National Weather Service is predicting that Sandy will come ashore on Monday afternoon bringing significant winds and up to 2 inches of rain in the New York City area. On the outer coast of New Jersey and New York, significantly more rain – up to 4 inches – winds up to 70 miles an hour and a storm surge of 5 to 10 feet are expected to cause flooding and potential power outages. People living in low areas along the outer coast are being warned to prepare for evacuation. After hurricane Irene a year ago brought one of the worst storms in recent history caused significant flooding and other damage, these folks are preparing themselves with supplies to ride out the worst. In New York City tonight, people have begun the celebration of Halloween in a way that thumbs its nose at the possible impacts.

So far in New York City there is no rush to the supermarket for food and water to stockpile. Instead, people are roaming the streets in costume, filling the bars and enjoying what here is an adult event, not one for children. Every bar and restaurant is decorated with pumpkins, spider webs and witches. As we walked through Little Italy, NoLita (that is North of Little Italy) and into SoHo (that’s south of Houston), we saw witches, fairies, girls in pajamas drinking vodka from a Dasani water bottle, a red lobster and lots of ghouls and goblins. Superman walked brazenly down 21st with a drink in hand. When asked if he could jump small buildings with a single bound, he showed us the Kryptonite tied to his belt: Hardly a good pickup line for the man of steel. We saw a woman in her ruby slippers right out of the Wizard of Oz being helped down the street: Maybe the 5″ heels were too much? Only in New York City which is seemingly thumbing its nose at what could be a major storm. Maybe they will be more concerned tomorrow although not until after brunch!

State and municipal officials are taking things much more seriously. The City of New York Emergency Management Centre has been activated. MTA has suspended maintenance of the subway system for the day and has warned of system closures. All construction in the City needs to stop and sites secured by 5pm Sunday. When you consider some of these sites are 60 stories or more in the air, the caution is appreciated. In our building, the furniture has been removed from our 16th storey roof patio and tenants have been advised to remove everything from balconies. Preparations are everywhere but the City continues to enjoy the holiday.

Tomorrow we will go uptown to Central Park if the weather permits. Citizens are being advised to stay out of the parks for fear of falling tree limbs so we will have to play it by ear. We are ready.

We have steel cut oats, 4 eggs and lots of snacks, including licorice scotty dogs – remember them? – 6 bottles of wine and 4 bottles of pumpkin beer. And tomorrow we will get a copy of the New York Times which will take us until Friday to read. All is good and we will ride out the storm. And as long as there is a store open, we can always shop.

For those of you in Vancouver, enjoy the rain and cool weather. Here it is still 60 degrees at 11:30 on Saturday nite and tomorrow is expected to be mostly sunny and up to 68 degrees. Hard to believe by Monday nite we may be under water and without power or a means of transportation. Welcome to October in New York City!