According to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) at 10 am this morning, the center of tropical storm "EGAY" was approximately 860 kilometers east of northern Luzon (which is where I am) at a speed of about 11 kph as it moves westward. It is intensifying and may turn into a full-blown typhoon by the time it reaches here. If it does, it will be our first typhoon of the year.

We're already getting heavy rain from the outskirts of the storm, off and on. The center isn't expected to arrive until after the weekend. When it does arrive, I expect to suffer from even more power outages than normal. Luckily, the temperature is staying relatively cool and should stay that way until after the storm passes. I have enough food and water stocked up to weather the storm, so to speak. Electricity — now that's something I'm going to have to deal with. I will be buying a generator in a few months, but that doesn't help me now. Municipal water — I'll be getting a gravity tank later on as well. Again, it doesn't help me now.

The bottom line: If I don't respond to email or comments within a 24-hour period, assume the worst.