Wow.

That was exhilarating.

Do you ever get the feeling that someone's watching out for you? Even as a non-religious sorta person?

Today, there's 70 mph winds outside, with on and off blustery rain. Occasionally, it got sunny with a few dark clouds on the horizon. Now, I have a dog called Hugo. And like all dogs, he likes walks. So while it was sunny, I decided to take him down on the beach before the weather got too nasty. Had some fun on the beach, yelling over the wind at the tiny jack russel not to stray too far away from me incase he blew away.

I spent a while watching the wind blast the very pebbles along the beach and up against the windbreak, and the seagulls hovering in mid-air, stuck in paralysed flight by the gale.

Then, I felt a few drops of rain on my face as the rainclouds started to blow in again. Both the doggie and I decided to trudge home. We got caught in the storm because the winds were blowing so fast, but we managed to get back to the house safe enough. I walked up the driveway to the front door, felt in my pocket for my keys - When SMASH.

A corner roof-tile, the size of a breeze block, fell off the top of the house and shattered on the ground where I had been standing, literally a few seconds ago. Both the dog and I looked at each other in terrified amazement. At that point I decided it was vitally important that I hurry up and get inside. xD

After inspecting the rubble from the safety of my living room, I felt strangely excited by the experience. If I had spent a few more seconds watching the birds, or fumbled putting Hugo's lead back on ... that tile would have landed square on my head. I'd either be dead or in a coma. I realised how lucky I was just to be alive, and how right now, there may be an alternate reality inhabited by another, fractionally slower Andy ... with a very nasty headache.

I've always said "Some people win the lottery, some people get hit by meteorites," so even though I still haven't found myself a job in the games industry and even though I haven't blundered into a massive fortune that will make the rest of mine and Shadow's life economic bliss ... I'm counting my blessings.

Going to use today wisely. Going to do some artwork. Some 3D stuff for my portfolio. Ya know, worthwhile stuff. All the time, thinking about how I could be on an operating table right now, getting pieces of shattered masonry surgically extracted from my brain.

I hope all you guys have a constructive day as well ... because you never know when your roof might decide to try and KILL YOU. O.o;;;

Take care now.

-=Scifer