No natural disaster has affected me more than Ms. Rita. While the hurricane itself left little (if any) lasting damage to me, I have become accutely aware of how pathetically dependant I am on Benjy Franklin's magic juice. When we lost power, it wasn't the lack of computers, televisions, or light that bothered me. In fact, it was rather pleasant to be forced to sit around the table for hours conversing over candlelight. What did me in was the lack of AC. I was being cooked alive in 96 degree air. It horrified me to think of the poor people trapped in their attics in New Orleans. Regardless, I've been slightly comforted by the fact that Arequipa has moderate weather. God bless electricians!