ATTENTION:
Wednesday, Apr. 20, 2005 - 19:16

In addition to being National Poetry Month, it is also Disaster Preparedness Month! To celebrate, the state of Washington will be holding a Statewide Earthquake Drill tomorrow morning. Between 9:45 and 10:00 a.m., everyone is encouraged to imagine that an earthquake is occurring, DROP COVER and HOLD, and then discuss essential earthquake safety actions with loved ones and coworkers.

Remember, the drill is for everyone in Washington state, even visitors, nonresident aliens, foreign diplomats, asylum seekers, and heathens.

If you would like to celebrate but are unable to at the proper time, you may celebrate on another day and time that is more convenient for you. If you would like to celebrate but are not located in Washington, I'm not sure, you might have to get permission from the Emergency Management Division of the Washington Military Department.

Here is a poette to commemorate the event:

DROP COVER HOLD, and do as you are told
there's balloons and party fun, and dancing in the sun
the end of days is near but not for us over here
we're hiding under our desks - they protect us from your mess
so we'll be safe and sound as our buildings hit the ground
with us in them
under our desks!

apples, yogurt, bread, dinner -
chicken?
ice cream, pop
laundry detergent

(The second stanza is my grocery list.)

(I didn't get ice cream, I put it on my list every week but I never get it. Same with pop, except this time I bought three bottles of Jones Soda. Also, I didn't get chicken either, I haven't bought chicken in two years, I don't know why.)

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT (not as important as the Statewide Earthquake Drill announcement): If perchance you wanted to enter the Exciting Spring Writing Contest but were too lazy and lame to do so, you can now, for a limited time only, submit your entry! I have arranged for the other judges to fly in from Reykjavik and Tombouctou this weekend. It's terribly expensive and you're probably worried about that, but don't be, the Foundation will cover it. Submit your entry today and win!