Waste $3,000 on gas in your life men? Just ask for directions already!

Dashboard confessionals....I'm lost!

No, I am not picking on men. This is also not some sexist, free beer kinda MTV show. And it’s no longer the punchline for comedians on late night TV. It’s the scientific truth.

According to a study by the British insurance company, Sheila’s Wheels men travel more than 276 extra miles every year because they do not want to stop and ask for directions. Women? Ok we’re still bad. We travel 256 more miles than necessary.

Twenty-six percent of men will wait half an hour before asking and a cool 12% will NEVER ask for directions. And don’t try and say women wouldn’t ask. According to the study 74% of women have no worries about asking and 37% pulling-over as soon as they are lost to ask. Seriously? What is the problem men?

Well the problem might spring between male and female partners this weekend on one of the most traveled holidays of the year – Labour Day. Check out my Labour Day suggestions.

According to AAA – the American Automobile Association – the number of Americans traveling this Labor Day holiday weekend will increase 9.9 percent from 2009, with approximately 34.4 million travelers taking a trip at least 50 miles away from home.

Last year, 31.3 million Americans traveled during the Labor Day holiday.

It may be all the more traveled in cars this year thanks to “Hurricane” Earl and “Tropical Storm” Fiona.

Why the quotation marks? Because these pansy storms disrupted the entire West Coast of the United States, cancelled or changed numerous flights and then didn’t have the decency to actually be storms.

Come on Earl?!

Earl caused minor damage along the East Coast and mostly just increased the surf. The trusty weather women and men still got dressed in their parkas. Fiona? She left me with a wet lawn this morning in Bermuda, but that was about it.

So not only are these storms liable for upsetting the LAST weekend of the summer (I had a friend who was supposed to land today), but they also managed to make me pull-in all of my outdoor furniture, turn over tables, and close all the shutters! That’s a lot of work. Where do I file my complaint?

A storm is a brewin’

Storm clouds are approaching

The wind has picked-up and more importantly South Shore in Bermuda is growing its waves as we speak, or write or blog or you get it.

Colin is a comin’ and, no, that’s not a dig at your Colin buds (or Bermuda’s own Collie Buddz). It’s a Tropical Storm and it seems to have my island in its sights.

For most that means heading inside. For most that means taking in the furniture, bunking down and hoping for the best.

Not your thing? Are you looking for the storms? Well Warren Faidley does just that. A storm chaser he also offers tours!

Yep you looking for a vacation with a kick? A trip with a tornado? He’s your man and book before September and you can save $1,000.

You’re not sure what kind of storm you want to find? Don’t worry he offers the gamut:

1: Springtime storm chases and tornado chasing in Tornado Alley — you ride with Warren!

2: Chase convoy — you drive your own car or rental vehicle as part of Warren’s chase convoy during the springtime
tornado chase season.

3: Executive Monsoon Safari and Photography Adventures during the July summer thunderstorm season in
Tucson, Arizona.

4: Executive customized chases, education and extended storm chasing during and after the normal chase seasons.

Here’s his site.

Call me crazy….no wait call him crazy, but that sounds like the last kind of holiday I would go on. But hey that’s me and that’s not you. So check it out, but not before, if you’re in Bermuda you get prepared for Colin.

What does Colin require? He’s a demanding quest. These storms are. Ugh. Give me this or I will blow your house down. Buy this or I will take out your lights. Seriously, so rude.

Luckily Bermuda’s houses are pretty prepared for the weather. A roof might go in the worst of winds, but rarely does a house go down completely. What does knock Bermudians out is the lack of electricity which means then no water.

Why? because we catch water off our roofs and it is stored in tanks under our homes. Electricity out = no water pump.

So prep one: fill your tub and other containers with water.

Prep two: buy gas for the BBQ or coals so eating isn’t a problem.

Prep three: ice and a cooler for food. I don’t think Colin’s going to be bad, but if electricity goes out food could go bad.

Finally prep four: buy canned food, food for pets and any prescriptions necessary for the next few days! Storms are tricky things and one never does know.

For more info check-out the Government’s Emergency Measures website. and right now www.weather.bm is saying Colin’s only blowing at 45 mph.

We can handle that Bermuda so hunker down, buy your food/beer/wine and we will get through this!