For the past few days, all local media has been warning us New Yorkers of an impending “Frankenstorm,” the meet-up of a winter storm from the west and Hurricane Sandy crossing the Atlantic.  It’s all people are talking about, although those who voice an opinion merely scoff.

Scoff or not, we’re all on grocery lines gathering food and bottled water.  We’re all snarfing up batteries from local hardware stores, Duane Reade, Rite Aid, and CVS.  I happen to own a wind-up flashlight, so I’m feeling pretty smug.

Until I take a walk two blocks east.

To the river.

The storm isn’t actually here yet, but the highway that runs along the east coast of Manhattan, the highway that abuts the East River (the mighty Hudson is on the west side) is in shocking shape.

What used to be the uptown lanes of a highway in a major metropolis has become a kayaking course.

While some are displaying a pre-Halloween, “I ain’t afraid of no storm,” behavior, splashing in shallower water on an elevated portion of the road, I can see that we will probably be indoors for a few days.

We have food, water, batteries, flashlights, candles – must make sure we have art supplies.  To be continued…