Metropolitan Diary: Hurricane Sandy vs. Mother-in-Law We live in the suburbs of New York City, so we are dependent on cars and pray that trees don't fall on our electric wires. Following are some of the more interesting conversations I had with my visiting mother-in-law and mother the week of Hurricane Sandy. Monday: Mother-in-law (3 p.m. and the winds and rain are picking up): "I think I'll get a cake to celebrate." Not sure what. Tuesday: Mother-in-law: "I really need a manicure. Do you think any of the nail salons are open? Wednesday: Mother-in-law to brother in Florida: "I want to change my flight home. Can you see if you can find me a flight from La Guardia on Delta for today or tomorrow? Thursday: Like everybody else in the library, my husband was charging his laptop and phone. In walks my mother with an unusual charger. With a sigh of relief, she hands it to my husband and asks him to plug it in. When he quizzically asks her what it's for, she answers, "It's for my rechargeable vacuum." I guess everybody has priorities.