Ever since I saw the news about the tsunami headed for Hawaii at 410 mph, I’ve been trying to reach our friend and Mid-Pacific correspondent Burl Burlingame to see if he has headed for high ground. I’ve tried Twitter twice, and even called what I think is his home number…
Initially, since I heard about this this morning, I was worried that he would still be asleep given the time difference. But now he’s 
certainly up…
I’m thinking he’s probably been called into the office to help cover this, but I don’t know that.
So far, no acknowledgement from Twitter, Facebook, e-mail or either his or my blog. And I just got a recording at the phone number.
I’ll let y’all know if I hear from him.
Meanwhile, in checking Twitter I saw that he had sent me this direct message:
BurlB I may be joining you out on the street: http://www.starbulletin.com/news/20100226_Sign_of_the_times.html
I wrote back that I would same him a space on my corner, but in the meantime ARE YOU ON HIGH GROUND?
(And yeah, that’s kind of an old picture, but that’s what he looked like when I knew him.)
Oh no! I’ve been killed!
Actually, here:
http://www.honoluluagonizer.com/?p=2150
You know, if you’re going to get hit by a tsunami, midday on a Saturday isn’t bad timing.
T-minus two hours and counting….
OMG Thoughts and prayers for Burl!!
This thing is coming in surges. Watching Hilo Bay empty out.
There’s cold beer in the fridge. I should dispose of it.
Watching it empty out–as in parting the Red Sea?
Please be prudent; we like you over here….
Yes, Burl. I think consuming all the beer is the safest thing you can do. Wouldn’t want anything to happen to it.
I only wish I could be there to help.
Kona Longboard Island Lager. Excellent beer.
We totally lucked out. There’s a lot of dramatic tidal surges, but we managed to duck the wall of water that causes so much damage.
I’m going to finish this bottle and go on to my usual Saturday afternoon gig, restoring old airplanes at the aviation museum. The roadblocks are being lifted so travel is possible.
Thanks everybody.
Well, that was a nice drive wasted. The Navy still has Ford Island locked down despite the all-clear. I wonder if Karl Rove is still there?
Glad you are in the clear now, Burl. That IS some excellent beer – and where better to enjoy it?!
Brad – if we were to pick our new mayor based just upon the photo on your front page…I could really fall into Sparklehood. She looks the most intelligent of the whole bunch. Wonder why that is?