Wrath of God?

It seems like there's been a giant target over the Washington, DC area lately.  It started with record-breaking heat this summer, and then a wave of major thunderstorms that resulted in two of my neighbors being struck by lightning a block from our house in Arlington a week ago.  The husband is fine, but the wife is still in the hospital with second- and third-degree burns on her hands and arms.  She's doing well, but that must have been a terrifying experience for both of them.

Then there was a 5.8 earthquake on Tuesday.  Yes, an EARTHQUAKE in DC!  Having spent the first 25 years of my life in California -- and experiencing some pretty major quakes -- a 5.8 doesn't seem like that big of a deal.  But even I would have probably been a bit shaken (pun intended) to feel one that big in DC.  Seismic activity like that is extremely rare on the East Coast, so structures aren't built to withstand it.  Heck, half of Virginia is brick.  I'm surprised -- and grateful -- that it didn't cause much damage.

And now, Hurricane Irene is barreling towards the Mid-Atlantic, with the potential for widespread flooding, power outages, and major arboreal carnage.  I'm seeing news reports declaring a state of emergency, major evacuations, transportation shutdowns, and flight cancellations.  Power companies and AAA are already warning their customers that they will probably be overwhelmed by the storm and its aftermath. 

What's next?  A plague of locusts?  Frogs raining from the sky?  Cats and dogs living together?  Whatever or whoever is invoking the Wrath of God, please stop it!  I'd like to have a home to move back to -- and all my friends and neighbors -- when our tour of duty in London is over.  I'm looking at you, Congress...