Don't mess with God, for He is short tempered and has an itchy trigger finger.

As I may have mentioned, I've given up the booze for lent, at least in part so I can look smug and self-righteous but also because cutting out alcohol tends to have positive effects on the D-plan diet.
On Monday night we were having a friend for tea, and so I was planning on going to the shop to buy some booze-substitute (Schloer, or Ame). However, as I considered leaving the house it came on to rain and hail Very heavily. Then the thunder started.
Strolling into the kitchen, I observed that I had been planning to go out to buy some booze-substitute, but given the weather I thought instead...

At that precise moment, lighting grounded somewhere within twenty yards of the house. I'm not joking; I have never in my entire life been so close to a lightning strike. The flash and the thunder were simultaneous, the lights flickered, and the answerphone hasn't worked since. It must have hit the power cables outside the house: the thunder was deafening, coupled with everything going white for a moment.
An astonishing moment.
Especially when you consider that the words I had been about to utter were: "...I'll break my promise to God and have some booze."
I know an omen when I see one (and when it knocks out the electrics), and so I stuck to water instead.

The thought later struck me that the lightning might instead have been an omen from Thor indicating his approval of me sinking a few pints, so I'll consider that if this ever happens again.
It does beg the question of which Deity was talking. If God had a fight with Thor, who would win?

Do I have a saving throw against M16s?

godzuki sums up Iraq here

Oh, and puddingcat is thinking of having some t-shirts printed. I think she should just buy them from here