The elusive "Typhoon days"

Ok, so the biggest typhoon in five years hit Taiwan this week and Kaohsiung finally got it's long awaited "Typhoon day!" We finally got a day off work because of a natural disaster!!! Earthquakes are common, but are unpredictable, so you can't issue a preventitive closure for that. But Typhoons, now that's a different story, they are big, huge windy and wet, this one was over 500km wide and Taiwan is about 400km, so you couldn't miss this one. Kaohsiung is protected by a mountain range, typhoons and mountains don't get along so well, the mountains take the wind right out of them, and, in doing so, causes the typhoon to release all it's water which washes away all the mountain roads and mountainside as revenge. So, Kaohsiung never gets typhoon days because by the time the typhoon crosses the mountain, it's just a wee rainstorm.
Well, make one big enough and voila! I have a day off work.

So, I am now in a city where everything is closed (almost), what the heck am I supposed to do? Well, the Taiwanese go and get water and supplies before the typhoon. But, foreigners are plain crazy and senseless in the Taiwanese eyes (although because we are white, this makes us wise and stuff... never understood this), so what do we do? We organise "typhoon parties!" The Taiwanese huddle up with families. Foreigners don't have families here, so we group together. One foreigner is crazy enough, get enough of 'em together and you have yourself a bonified nuthouse! So, what is the best thing to do since it's deemed to dangerous to drive the 5 blocks to work? We organise a rugby game in the park! Unfortunately, it fell through, but in keeping with the spirit our party (Big Paul, Nick, Theressa, Sandra and I) went to the park to play in the puddles. On our way there we saw tons of flying sheet metal (don't worry, I had on my motorcycle glasses to protect my eyes from the huge sheets of sheet metal). Paul and I decided to play in the water, so we designated the less adventurous to be on camera detail. Paul and I did huge belly slides on the grass (about 6 inches below the water) and slid about 8 feet each try. Mmy first try gave me a good mouth and nosefull of water (but I had my glasses on). The girls got scared and left, Nick got cold, so they left, Paul and I decided to stay... untill the flying tree almost clipped us. We got some good video journeying across our vast neibhourhood. We saw more flying branches, courigated metal, fallen scooters, busted windows, fallen trees, blowing signs. So, we went to the shady convinient store and bought vodka, orange juice, mango juice and Coca-cola. The glory of Taiwan is than convenient store prices are the same as the grocery store's, the shady place is often cheaper. So, we returned with our "supplies" and watched a movie and stuff. This is Monday night, tomorrow might be a Typhoon day also... we must find other ways to kill ourselves. Overall typhoons suck, we get paid $40 compensation, but we miss out on about $175 of lost wages. Secondly, the weather sucks (I know, that's why it's called a Typhoon day) so it's not like we can go to the beach or anything.

Maybe I can get packed for my trip to Thailand on Saturday, maybe I can make up travel plans... nah, that would require foresight.