Rub the widest face of the pearl against the edge of a tooth. Grittiness accompanies a genuine article.

I just learned that from a Raymond Chandler short story!

I hope your living spaces remained dry.

They did, thank you. We live on the second floor, so flooding even from heavy rain is not an issue, but we weren't sure if the power would go out. It does occasionally for no more reason than that it feels like it.