posted September 15, 2004 04:56 PM              

I've also taught him to slow his own breathing down. But the doc said eventually, the disease will catch up to him, congenital heart failure. So heart meds every day, plus he has fluid in his lungs, and he takes something for that too. I wouldn't be going on and on about this right now, but he's been an angel in my life. I have no idea how long he'll fight this to keep me from worrying. It could be a year or more, or, it could be tomorrow, I don't have a clue. And you know how the power of prayer works so.

He's still doing progressively better each day, although it's very slow, but it's also good news. He's been my psychologist for so many years now, I guess I can do my best to be his now.

Well, since Ivan moved to the west of you, just remember that there are some very long rain bands on the east side, even after the eye has passed. Wind has not been bad at all to this point, don't know if what to expect because it's so huge. But I'll let you know - do weather updates FOR YOU NOW... but so you may have an idea of what to expect. To you I say, stay calm and don't rush or be in a hurry. For Meg I say, she's gonna be the kind who loves hurricanes mom.

posted September 17, 2004 07:26 PM              

We're back down in Ft Rucker - it doesn't seem to have been hit all that badly.
I've only seen a few big trees down, signs missing, and branches around.
The oddest thing so far: A couple of hundred gnats squashed against our side door. O_o
Everything here seems to be fine, and I'm glad that you and brave pooch weathered (bad unintended pun) the storm fine.

posted September 23, 2004 03:07 PM              

At least this one's only supposed to hit as a Cat 2 or so...
Well, that's something.

posted September 23, 2004 04:38 PM              

I've mentioned here that the people in Central Florida have acquired an INSANE sense of humor because of all this. You either laugh or cry... but I'm so serious. During the first two hurricanes, everyone was panicking and incredibly mean to each other.

Now everyone's standing in line to buy bottled water, either stoned or drunk. A sort of a "whatever will be will be" attitude. People will laugh at anything now. So, hearing of this 4th one, we just LAUGH OUR F'ING HEADS OFF!!!!

Thousands of people in Florida still have not recovered from the other hurricanes, and many are still displaced having lost everything. One guy who lives in a trailer by the east coast said, he put all his stuff in boxes, put them in a storage facility, and drove to Orlando. Then he had to get all the boxes out and take them back home. He said on the radio, he's glad most of it is still in boxes!!

And so many of us are keeping some or all of our boarding or shutters up.

The lesson people in Florida have learned is, mother earth is in control, not us. (I think that's one of the reasons why I like hurricanes so much - although we're experiencing some major hurricane fatigue right now.)

Prox -
Don't think you're off the hook! I heard one computer model has the hurricane crossing the state to the Gulf coast and going north towards Georgia!!

And Ivan is officially THE strongest hurricane in HISTORY. Even more than Andrew (not based on monetary measurements, rather, how long it stayed Category 5).

posted September 25, 2004 08:48 PM              

About 50% of the people who agreed to evacuate barrier islands and mobile homes before, are refusing to evacuate this time. Not good.

AND we are going to be in the right quadrant of the hurricane again, and we've had two tornadoes already.

Here we go again ...

posted September 25, 2004 10:26 PM              

AstroJunkie....know what you mean about the Hurricane exhaustion...rather strange to describe...just tiring!!!! I grew up here in Florida and have never felt this way-although this is the least stressed I have been of the four hurricanes. Have all my supplies in case it crosses over here to SW Florida...Thank God for gas stoves!!

I snuggled in tonight-made a fresh batch of Beignet dough for the AM Breakfast-what more could a gal ask for...(well, maybe one more thing-LOL)!!!

Hope everyone else stays safe...Orlando is in the red zone...hang in there!!

posted September 25, 2004 11:44 PM              

But when it crosses over the state and into the Gulf, guess who's gonna get hit AGAIN... Prox & Family.

So funny how some are saying, this feels like the movie "Ground Hog Day".

Where I am is a tad more north than where you see the word "Orlando" on the map. Winds are getting stronger, mostly gusts that come out of no where, but one of the things Central Florida has that I never had to worry about in South Fl is tornadoes.

At least I am calmer this time because I've been proven that my home is sturdy enough to deal with this, although maybe not the wood fence I had to take chase to, and lasso back into my backyard during the first hurricane.

But can certainly understand the fatigue. I have not had to evacuate, and I'm fatigued. And ironically, it is the people who are not so wealthy who live in these mobile homes and asked to evacuate who have been incurring the most UNEXPECTED expenses (money they simply don't have). Makes you go hmmmmmm....

posted September 25, 2004 11:58 PM              

If they evacuate, they'll be paying a lot in gas (if there is any left), and if they have no where familiar to go inland, they have to pay for a hotel at $40 + per night, and sometimes for many many nights or weeks because BY LAW you cannot return to your home until conditions are safe.

They'll say, look... if you live in a barrier island, the causeway will be closing before the hurricane. So there is no way for anyone to get OUT, and there is no way to get BACK until conditions are safe enough. And then there is always the one a-hole who stays, but rescue crews cannot go help.

Many businesses close down for long periods due to problems with electricty or computers or structure damage. Employees are screwed, and so is the business. The Orlando Int'l Airport has been closed for many hours now, so think of all that, the inconvenience and/or loss of revenue.

Also costly is health-related. After a hurricane it is extremely humid, so, people who walk outside only to find all kinds of messes pass out from heat exhaustion, or people dying from carbon dioxide poisening from generators they are supposed to run outside and away from open windows. Or people will leave their candles burning and then fall asleep, causing their house to burn down.

People who cannot afford tree cutting specialists, or get put on the LONG waiting lists, go out and buy chain saws they've never used in their life! Use your imagination there.

Accidents from traffic signals down. And some people are going to be paying their insurance company MULTIPLE deductibles. Businesses which need to deliver goods such as truck drivers, air carriers, etc. Everything becomes chaotic for them.

There is NO END. If you really stop to think about it, you'll understand, it's MUCH MUCH MUCH more than just a few hours of inconvenience.

posted September 26, 2004 12:55 AM              

I still have electricity, but the lights have flickered a few times, causing the a/c to turn off and/or shutting down my computer momentarily.

Wind gusts are getting stronger and lasting longer. I'm hoping hurricane just keeps staying on that westardly path, and not nudge any further north.

posted September 26, 2004 05:46 AM              

From the very detailed live local news coverage here, I know that Melbourne got hit the worst, and just a few miles away is where they were just hit with Frances 3 weeks ago! Therefore, as soon as the sun comes up, I'm sure there will be more incredible live coverage and assessments to be made - an insurance NIGHTMARE... because obviously the worst areas will be the ones who took the brunt 3 weeks ago too.

So many square miles of beach completely GONE. So you go to the beach you went to a month ago, and you had maybe 75 yards of sand to the water to decide where you wanted to lie your azz down. Go today, and there is about 10 feet - and oh - that's not including if waves come in or if it's high tide. I'm not kidding. Those miles and miles of beach areas get TONS AND TONS of sand brought in to continue building the beach, or I should say, to hopefully come out even. Yeah, and the people with those nice condo's, houses, or the occasional hotel WILL pay the big bucks to have it brought in. Living out there for 8 years, I literally saw a house on the beach I used to hang out at, get completely eaten up by the ocean, just in those 8 years. It's a huge problem.

posted September 26, 2004 05:57 AM              

Prox - who knows what the F but it's heading towards you according to current tracks...

See? Your little rambling Gemini Mooner got an early start - and I know a Taurus w/Gem Moon including Aries influences and trust me - she's gonna do some rambling. Hurricanes will excite her to no end. She'll be the one girl goofing off at the beach during a hurricane... (OOooops - should I have said that?)

posted September 26, 2004 08:06 AM              

The revenue lost in such a shame. From businesses on down to the personal level...so much lost. I agree with you in the point that the people who can least afford hotel rooms are the folks from the mobile home parks...and not to mention multiple times over! That REALLY bites!

The people who are doing well are probably Publix and Home Depot/Lowes....not to mention generator sales at $700 a pop!!!

Definitely appreciate the electricity as well. A/C can no longer be taken for granted here in Ft Myers!

I think I feel mostly run down and out of routine...for the last 6 weeks...a walk on the now shorter beaches will do everyone some good. (Apres les Hurricanes of course!)

Just want life to calm down...people have been much more friendly in the last two storms vs Charley and Frances. Thank goodness-the testiness in the air was palpable then. The sense of humor-the "Hope we don't lose electricity again" is what I hear the most...

posted September 26, 2004 08:24 AM              

Well ... Winds have been unforgiving and ferocious here at home for many hours now, with NO SIGN of letting up.

I'm just waiting for the big tree in my front yard to start flying down the street, the trunk itself has been rocking back and forth ... I think the driveway is holding it down! Good thing I couldn't afford to get all those roots cut!

Latest photo :::

posted September 26, 2004 08:43 AM              

Yeah, we are totally on the same page there. For anyone who is not here, it would be IMPOSSIBLE for them to really relate to this, you know?

It's like - I don't know - feeling like you are on Gilligan's Island during a neverending hurricane when you could really bite into a nice filet mignon and use a hot shower.

A gust of wind just came through on top of the constant winds, and it literally took my breath away. This weather makes you take shorter breaths!

I love the radio station I'm listening to, people from all over Central Florida are asked to call in and give their location and personal accounts, describing the weather patterns, etc., which is EXTREMELY helpful if you are the next in line in the storm. Also gives you some comfort being able to listen to all kinds of people experiencing the same thing you are - and you know you're not the only dork.

But it's true, Florida is completely devastated financially. There's still another hurricane, like you said, and how much do you wanna bet there's gonna be more?

Ahhhh! For me? I'm happy with a hammock and a nap.

posted September 26, 2004 09:45 AM              

Hope your tree stays put...I am not sure which is worse...paying to take care of the roots in the ground when it topples over or paying for a driveway that has a huge crater from the tree pulling it up as it tries to hold on for it's life!!??!!

Pretty crazy...the now bald beatiful palm trees are now MORE BALD...is that possible?? To be more bald I mean?? Poor Trees...the Big Stately Oaks...reduced to broken arms, pulled out of the ground, roots drying out in the unforgiving heat...too big to move so they lay there...panting their last breaths of life...so sad.

I had nearly 30 tree stumps ground in my yard due to the Huricane Charley...luckily I got a guy to do it for really cheap...he was over from Miami...just picking up additional cash work....a $2500-plus job for $350.

Tampa I hope is somewhat prepared from Frances...hard to tell...not sure what the feelings are up there....

My Fence has held up-Yippeeee!!! Smiles for small pleasures these days...Be Safe my Friends!

posted September 26, 2004 10:35 AM              

Yep, the Megster did get an early start today - but being what I'm convinced is the best baby in the world, she just quietly babbled and played in her crib for what seems like a while. When I went in at 8 AM, she was wide awake and pulling on this little bug clip-on rumble-thing.
All yesterday and so far today she hasn't quit talking (even to a greater extent than usual). Jason asked, "Does she do this *all* day?"
Yep.
Yep, she does.

I can't believe that ya'll are going through another hurricane this season, though its a good thing that Floridians have started to take it as almost a little bit humorous. Some meteorologist on CNN said that this is that start of a 25-year-or-so upswing in Hurricane activity; I hope for FL's sake that he was just blowing smoke.

I went to bed last night thinking that this one was going to skirt ya'll and head up the east coast, only to find out upon waking that it's ploughed through the central part of the state and is going to skirt us (but, given the track record, I wouldn't be surprised if it went further into the Gulf than predicted and hit Bamie straight on ).

posted September 26, 2004 04:58 PM              

Yes, the old Oaks got cleared away by nature. Florida soil has a lot of sand in it
and some trees roots here are shallow, especially the Oak which I don't think feels quite a home in sand.

As for the hurricane covering the entire state, well, probably the only reason why that image is not so common is because of those STUPID little red hurricane cartoon things which is really only a marker of where the EYE is expected to land. That and a for a bunch of other reasons, I would make some sweeping changes in the way weather like this is reported. Other reasons, undue panic and/or weather reporters being too smug.

Thanks Prox -
Glad you woke up in time! Thanks for mentioning pooch Capt'n Spunky. Up until a few days ago, he had stopped eating completely for 4 days. Well, I took him to the hospital and they gave him a shot of an intestinal antibiotic, and it must have worked.

Last night he had a Capt'n crisis, he has to urinate really really bad, I open the back door and try to get him to go outside to do his thing. His eyes and entire body starts getting PELTED with winds and rain, and he runs back inside before accomplishing anything. He's funny that way.

Hurricane force gusts still frequent, with no sign of letting up. To me, this is worse than all of them because it's taking SO long to pass.

Latest hurricane snap :::

posted September 26, 2004 05:15 PM              

This used to be an inground swimming pool in Satellite Beach, which is just south of Cocoa Beach, and just north of Melbourne, and the same coast running along Patrick's Airforce Base :::