We just had an earthquake!

Between 5.8 and 6.0 on the Richter scale. I thought I was back in California. The last time this happened was July 10 somewhere in Maryland. This was felt as far as New York City, in fact up and down the eastern seaboard. I'm located in Northern Virginia. They said thousands of people are streaming out of the Capitol Building, Washington DC and the Pentagon is being evacuated, 35,000 people in there according to the news lady. Epicenter between Charlottesville and Richmond, in a rural town called Mineral, Virginia which is about 40 miles northwest of Richmond, VA. They are saying on the news that it came in two waves, shook the Capitol for about 32 seconds, chandeliers were swinging. JFK has been shut down in NY.

When our house started shaking I couldn't figure out what was going on at first as this is so rare. Lots of things went on in my head and then I knew this was an earthquake, as it put me right back to the ones I experienced when we lived in California. I have never felt a quake in the 20 years I have lived here, though have felt much stronger shakes on the west coast. Nothing fell off the shelves today, and back then all those years ago I remember my kitchen cupboard doors swinging and banging back and forth, and listening to collectibles falling off the shelves and smashing on the floor. One happened as I was walking down the stairs and it was like being in one of those fairground fun houses as they started swaying from side to side and I held on to the rail to stop myself from falling down the stairs. Hope everyone is okay but it sounds like this was not as bad as it could have been. Cell phones aren't working but TV is on and cable. Getting word to Gregg via Twitter - thank you Twitter.

Just heard that there are evacuations as far as Canada. Concern that the Washington Monument is tilting but I do not know how factual this is. I am sure all the buildings are going to be checked for damage but knowing what our friends in Japan had to deal with and are still dealing with, this sounds pretty mild in comparison. I think people were a little weirded out for obvious reasons. Police officer warning people not to use the subways because of aftershocks.

First half hour of the news is always iffy, so many reports coming in.

This will tell you something about it if you click here.

I'm sure a lot of you are keeping an eye on Hurricane Irene and now I'm back to the news on Libya. There is a lot going on in the world right now. Stay safe everyone.

Added note at 7:05 p.m. Sitting here and all is well but the strangest thing, I have the windows open and I hear no birds up in the trees.