... Hurricane Irene has everybody in preparation. The lady in back of me in the supermarket had emergency supplies of fudgesicles and CoolWhip. "You never know when the lights go out if you are going to end up in a three-way and run out of toppings, do you?" I don't know why she was so upset. ... Governor and possible GOP presidential contender Chris Christie has been on TV outlining steps to be taken before and during the storm. That includes photos of Rick Perry at the entrance to the state with warnings to consider him armed and dangerous. ... Sometimes I think there are limits to my Harvard-educated wife’s education. “What are you going to brush your teeth with if the electricity goes out?” “Uh, I think I’ll recharge it before tomorrow or use a toothbrush that doesn’t need electricity.”