Earthquake!

So, I just experienced my first earthquake! We'd just finished a big Italian dinner and some lip-synching to Aretha Franklin.. and the floor started shaking! Vanessa said, "Is that the dishwasher?" And I said, "No! It's an EARTHQUAKE!!!" with a giant grin on my face. Stuff around the room was shaking visibly, and it felt to me like standing up while the school bus is in motion. It only lasted about a minute.

I was elated, but Vanessa kind of freaked out. She shot downstairs and looked out the front door, where she met our neighbor, Caty, who was in a bath robe, hair towel, and face mask. She was getting ready to attend an event, and looked a little nervous that she'd get caught in a catastrophe in that state! I sat at the top of the stairs while they talked, and Caty told us that our building survived the big earthquakes in 1906 and 1989 because we're on bedrock. So unless the neighborhood catches fire or the whole peninsula falls into the ocean, I think we'll be okay. My favorite quote of the month, by Caty: "This is California, girls! Ride it!" We love her.

I was so excited because I've been psyched out several times every day trying to figure out if the shaking I'm feeling is a little tremor or just my heart turning over like it's prone to do. Of course, I've been paying acute attention to these things, being new here and aware of SF's reputation, and it didn't help to read that the area experiences over 10,000 minor earthquakes every year. Most times when I think I feel a tremor, I'm laying in bed waking up, and I feel the mattress shake (as if Vanessa's moving slightly, but I'm actually alone). So it was somewhat climactic to know that an earthquake was DEFINITELY happening and to confirm my suspicions. I didn't feel scared at all, it was just a new experience and it was pretty exciting.

According to AP: "The quake had a preliminary magnitude of 5.6 and struck shortly after 8 p.m., about 9 miles northeast of San Jose, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Residents reported feeling the quake, which lasted about a minute, as far east as Sacramento and as far north as Sonoma in California wine country."