The main problem was a couple of trees that went down.
This one was an "Old Growth" tree that was a couple of hundred years old. It was top heavy and had a lot of rot in it so it was ripped out by the roots. It blocked off Carroll St. Yuppies were all over it taking photos.
The wife went to Long Island on Saturday to try and convince her Mom and Dad to come to our house. They refused to budge. She went with her cousin who went to see her Mom who is Lisa's Aunt (her Mom's sister). Three of the sisters live within two blocks of each other along with one of the cousins. This cousin had a generator and had power so they were able to go and get a hot meal and be in a warm spot. But they insisted on going home to sleep. They couldn't convince them to come back to the city.
A funny thing happened. Just as they were about to drive away the power came back in Lisa's parent's house. But her Aunt is another story. The power line for her block is still on the ground. The big backlog is not the power company by the tree removal guys who have to get the ground cleared so the lines can be re-strung. So she is looking at another couple of days to a week.
I ran around and put together a "Care" package for them. Bottled Water. Soups. Cheeses. Bread. Milk. Sauce. Macaroni. All the essentials. At least they have plenty to eat and drink.
But damn are they stubborn.
29 comments:
A friend of mine on Long Island got wiped out....and then he had to go to Thailand on business.
Good to see the neighborhood holding on.
Troop - when the roots are in the air like that the cause is wet soil and wind. The tree may or may not have rot, but clearly the soil failed to hold the tree up.
I have been around millions of trees knocked down by hurricanes and sawed a few in my time - trust me on this.
To verify your guess as to the age of that tree, return when it is cut and count the growth rings. My money is on 100-150 years max.
In other news, no one has heard from my son who lives in Jersey City. I am not concerned yet, but might become so in a few days if I still don't hear from him.
Someone counted and said there were 206. I don't know if that is true but that is what I was told.
I wouldn't be worried Sixty. There are a lot of cell towers that are out. If he has Verizon he is fucked. They are not working at all.
I will say a prayer for him though. I am sure he is fine.
Thank you Trooper - you are a kind man.
Don't worry. I am sure he is ok. Lots of people have been out of touch because communications are all screwed.
Lisa's cousin who went with her to the Island is high up in the NYU communications department. The kids there and their families are going nuts because they can't get in touch with each other. Cells run out of juice and the power is just getting back on line. Towers are out.
I am sure you will hear from him soon.
I am hoping he is able to find enough food, heat and water to survive. In Jersey I get the sense that that fat fuck Christie is getting the lion's share.
Maybe I should gas up my saw and drive up his way. Nah, not only am I non-union, I am anti-union.
Gas will be a problem. They ran out of it today. You might not even make it to Jersey. Or worse. Be stuck there.
Oh, a country boy will survive. I could make it up there and go all Mad Max on those Joisey FFs.
Or I can stay home and talk all big on a blog, watching the Giants BLOW A FUCKING LEAD, eat, drink and be merry. That is much simpler and allows me to save my ammo for more important things.
WTF is up with the Gints, Troop?
Just so we are clear, that is an enormous f'n tree. And 200+ years is definitely old. Very old for an area that has been inhabited as long as Brooklyn. I was going to say "civilized", but you know...
Not to get all technical, but I think the only place in the east that wasn't logged was what is now the Joyce Kilmer National Forest here in NC. I haven't been, but I hear the trees are real big there.
Nothing compares with the old growth redwoods out DBQ's way - westerners always get a chuckle about what we consider a big tree here in the east. And the redwoods are small compared to the Sequoias. I am fortunate to have seen stands of both redwoods and sequoias - they are spectacular.
Yooge, as the Donald would say.
Hey Troop, roll a slice of that tree home and I will turn a bowl out of it for you, okay? Okay!
It is sad when an old tree dies or is uprooted. I'm still grieving for my dead pie cherry tree** I'm also fuming about the wanton murder of beautiful, functional shade trees that were at least 50 years old that were cut down so that the Space Shuttle could pass through the street. Terrible. What a waste.
Don't get me wrong. I don't meant that every tree, twig, leaf and branch is sacrosanct and should never be cut. Thinning forests is a good idea, especially out here in the west, where they have been allowed to grow into dense impenetrable thickets of spindly trees and fire dangerous underbrush.
It seems to me that the roots of trees in the urban areas, covered over by asphalt and concrete, don't have the ability to establish the deep or spreading roots needed to be stable.
Re: Redwoods. My hubby's father had a logging operation back in the 50s and 60s in Humboldt and Trinity Counties. They did log Redwoods, not old growth but damned big trees. My husband's job as a teen working for his dad was to be a choke setter on the huge downed redwoods. He was young, buff and dumb. After that he decided that logging was not a career he wanted to pursue. LOL.
** I think we will severely cut back the cherry tree and see if it sprouts again. If not....sigh.
Hey DBQ, roll a chunk of that cherry tree my way and I will turn a bowl for you. Once it is dead and all, mind you.
I plant trees, tend saplings, nurture trees wherever I go, but I am also a woodworker.
The good news is I live in a forest and other than for safety, never have to cut a tree. Hurricanes, wind storms and ice storms provide me with more wood than I could ever salvage.
I guess what I am saying is "I hear you, DBQ, and I too, love trees." But sometimes I hug them just to see which way they are leaning so I can cut them down.
Ooo - I am a bad guy that way...
DBQ is exactly right. The roots can not get down deep enough for it to stand the wind that hit it with Sandy.
Carroll Gardens has an enormous number of trees. There are four or five on almost every block.
That is why we are so popular with TV film crews.
And I meant "Old Growth" as a relative term.
This tree was around for the Civil War. The Draft Riots. Prohibition.
The Sixties. When Jimmy Carter came to Carroll Park in 1975. Son of Sam. Disco.
A pretty long time when you think about it.
Got that right - I know there are big old trees up there - have seen them. Been to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden - great stuff.
But sometimes I hug them just to see which way they are leaning so I can cut them down. Ooo - I am a bad guy that way...
Lol...Rotten to the core, yet full of quick?
The mental picture of a small child sitting in a large wooden bowl turned by her grandfather has stayed with me, along with the hope that she "floats" and stays safe, she and the father who had the thought and humor to place her there.
My youngest son has a great sense of humor, in addition to being a very talented artist. I sure hope he is doing okay. It might be time for me to lock and load and go see for myself.
Just heard from my son - all is well, if unpowered. He has some connections in Brooklyn, an' you know, dey takes care o' dere own.
Not to get all technical, but I think the only place in the east that wasn't logged was what is now the Joyce Kilmer National Forest here in NC. I haven't been, but I hear the trees are real big there.
Joyce Kilmer is a bit north of me. Spectacular, worth the time if you're ever in the area. An old guy claims he has virgin timberland in our county, but nobody I know has ever seen it. As far as I know, this entire area has been logged, except for Joyce Kilmer.
This tree was cut down last year, I think. Second largest poplar in the U.S. It was getting too old and dangerous to encourage tourists to stand under and marvel. We hiked out to it countless times over the years.
@Sixty, glad to hear your son's okay.
People in NC know how to treat trees.
Thanks, Windy, I was relieved to hear from him. He is still in a tight spot, but someday his power will come back.
That is one big f'n poplar - man, the bowls I could turn out of that sucker!
I go the the NC State Fair almost every year and in one building they have old farm stuff. There are 3 large bowls - the largest is 44" in diameter. They are made from very large poplar trees sometime ago - maybe in the 19th century, back when trees were trees and whatnot.
As for Earth First - my response is - absolutely Earth First. We'll log other planets later! Excelsior!
@Sixty, That's funny. A good friend is the production manager at a lumber mill and he had that bumper sticker on his pick 'em up truck.
Yeah, that slogan did not originate with me, but when it comes to eco-nutjobs (how redundant is that, eh?) it still applies.
Thank God that your son is ok Sixty.
Thanks Troop - his power has come back on and he and his family are now enjoying heat, hot water and light. Ain't Joisey the bee's knees?
Hey - that tree is a perfect metaphor for our country - it lasted 200 years then fell over.
I am not despairing, just sayin'...
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