I Mean, the Earth Moved and Everything

Tuesday afternoon, from one end of the East Coast to the other, the earth made its displeasure known. This was my first earthquake - a 5.9 with its epicenter in Washington D.C. making it the most activity that area has known all summer.

At the time, I was at my desk at the day job, diligently surfing the Internet working on an editing job. My screen, my desk, my pictures, basically everything started shaking, putting my world slightly off tilt. All right, all right, more off tilt than usual.

Naturally, I remained calm and composed. Ahem. Actually, I thought I was having vertigo. When I realized it was an earthquake (the shaking floor was a big clue) I kinda enjoyed it. There may have even been a "wheeeeee!!!" (as opposed to a wee).

The quake didn't last long. Or too long, depending on where you were at the moment, I suppose. Honestly, I was more worried when the elevator in Flatiron Building bounced up and down at the 18th floor during RWA Nationals. Big honking drop trumps mildly shaking floor any day.

Because my office is nothing if not responsive to the needs of its employees, we evacuated the building - after the earthquake was over. Yes, there was a concern over aftershocks, but really. Great Adventure gives me more of an aftershock than the actual earthquake and that's without even getting on a ride. Though we definitely had it better than our sister company (as usual) where the leadership apparently went "there was an earthquake? Too much to do, go back to work". One would think the lessons of 9/11 would provide us a better sense of the dangers we face today, or at least inspire a smarter response. But the cocoon remains well padded; I grabbed my mobile, not the Emergency Kit.

Those on the west coast pshawed over the somewhat giddy reaction the east coast had to the earthquake - once we were sure nothing had blown up. For my part, I was pleased to evacuate into such divine weather, the literal calm before the storm as we wait for Hurricane Irene to whack us upside the head on Sunday. I sat on the back gate of my CR-V and guffawed my way through the earthquake tweets. They ran the gauntlet from the "phew we're safe" variety to "the Force is strong in that one" ilk. Below is sample of some that amused me enough to retweet.

The first is by far the best one. It's already gone viral from Twitter to the world. Click on the link. You won't regret it. Assume crash positions. Looks like we're in for a bumpy ride.

@adamjclarkson images of earthquake devastation in Washington, DC bit.ly/rauALk 

@jeffheimbuch MSNBC says the Washington monument is leaning to left. Fox news says its to the right

@86adamlevine Ok. Even GOD is pissed off at Washington now. 

@karianneholt I am going to be SO PISSED if the Mayans were right. 

@pattonoswalt Not to panic anyone in NYC, but a screaming John Cusack just drove by in a limo that was missing a door 

@jasonpinter: As though the publishing industry needed an excuse to drink more. #earthquake 

@kierstenkrum @ least I left the bldg 1st. RT @vickydreiling: Checking Twitter during earthquake? So glad yr priorities are in order - snort 

@71angelajames Me: earthquake was abt 90 miles south of DC & was felt from Canada to SC. Walmart cashier: they must have felt it in DC then? Me: speechless 

@kierstenkrum yup and twitter of course. where would be w/out it? RT @SmartBitches: Stay off the phones y'all. Text instead. 

@kierstenkrum uh you may wanna wait... #earthquake RT @WeronikaJanczuk: CRAZY busy. Movin' back to NYC Sat. morning 

@LAGilman: I don't know, I've read the OT it might qualify RT @Personanondata #Earthquake. Authorities confirm it's not 'terrorist related' 

@amypierpont "Security guards in lobby reading 'in case of emergency' handbook. #ifeelsafenow" 

@kierstenkrum the Force is strong in DC - though not so much in Congress #earthquake 

@katespencer  Right now Ryan Gosling is holding scared New Yorkers and whispering soothing words in their ears. #GosQuake 

@kierstenkrum I'll see your "pffftt 5.9" and raise you a "pshaw hurricane"@Zoe_Archer 

@Lord_Voldemort7 An Earthquake just hit part of the US and Hurricane Irene is still a threat. I will direct you to Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 1... 

@nuttyxander Tweetdeck should really have a "WOAH, SHIT JUST GOT REAL" alarm when tweets suddenly speed up in a certain location. 

@LaurieBLondon 5.9 earthquake hit VA and spread north. Californians are going "what? 5.9? you big babies." #earthquake