OO

The 4th hurricane in 6 weeks. Two for the west coast, two for the east. Unbelievable.

I was running yesterday in South Tampa and was surprised at the number of people who still have their windows boarded up. Those that have taken the plywood down just piled it near the windows it came from, ready to go back up.

We've left our boat hurricane proofed...the sail damaged in Frances still has to go to the sailmaker. Our dock at the hotel is still missing the front and rear portions and pilings were pulled up creating a hump...the estimates for repairs are just in. You begin to wonder if it's worth putting anything back together again until the season is over!

I'm so glad Scarlett and the Yankee left their boards up! Our best to her DD and the Pup, holding down the fort while Mom and Dad take a break from this, and to all others on the east coast.

Statia...are you still coming??

Statia

Yes, OO, we're still headed to MIA provided the airlines are still flying. We are due to arrive Sunday afternoon, and the circumstances are honestly not looking to be too good around that time. I wonder if we'll be able to drive anywhere to get any business done or just be holed up in the hotel room?

We are just afraid that if we postpone, MIA will end up not having any effects from Jeanne and we would have cancelled for nothing. I hope we're making the right decision.

OO

Welcome home Statia. I'll bet you had a high time last night in St Maarten!

Hopefully by the time you are ready to leave for Miami you'll have a good idea of where Jeanne is headed. If we can count on anything, we can count on the current track changing! We were touch and go for our trip to Dallas last week, deciding the day before that Ivan was going to be enough of a miss that we'd be OK leaving.

Have a safe trip, and if worse comes to worst...head to the spa. When do you get back?

Statia

Yes, OO, hubby and I had a wonderful reunion in St. Maarten last night.

I have to go back to St. Maarten tomorrow night because I have the first flight out to San Juan the next morning. So, I don't think I'll know too much more about Jeanne before I head over there, but will hope for the best.

I already have a spa appointment this week, so if I can't do business, perhaps I can do the spa two days!

I'll be back here on Friday night, so I'll be in touch then, if not before. I'll also be keeping an eye on Jeanne's effect on Tampa, as well. Stay safe!

maryann

Jeanne seems to be an east coast hurricane, so far, and from West Palm Beach northward.

So, here we are in WPB hoping the damage is small and the power outage is short.

Good luck, everyone

PS, all you power guys, come back !!!

Tim_and_Liz

My parents are from Fort Myers Beach but are on a cruise right now. They were supposed to go to Nassau today and return to FLL tomorrow, instead my mother emailed me this morning that they "were hiding behind Cuba" and they get an extra 2 free nights on the cruise-- not returning until Monday.
I told her it's probably good, Alligator Alley will be packed with evacuatees.

OO

Ugh...it doesn't look good, Statia. They are calling for landfall near Vero again around 2 AM. Maybe you can delay your departure a couple of days?

The track has been moved further west into the state as well. DH was scheduled to leave tomorrow for DC, but has cancelled. The hotel has been booked solid by people from the east coast and tropical storm force winds are expected here. Deja vu all over again--we've been this exact route with Frances. We had to toss out all the food from our freezer after 40 hours without power from her--and I just replaced much of it.

Statia

Yeah, OO, after watching TWC this a.m. and seeing that it isn't moving northward at all, we've decided it might be best to try and postpone until next week. I'll keep you updated.

Statia

Well, OO, change of plans again. After talking to friends and suppliers in Miami, they say that it will be business as usual and we should continue with our plans to come in. Guess we'll see what happens.

Can't say I'm thrilled about the thought of landing at MIA tomorrow morning, much less driving around in that storm.

joan

Well, here she comes. My daughter's college (UCF in Orlando) is being evacuated by 9 pm tonight (Sat) and classes cancelled for Monday. Are they evacuating on the east coast yet?

joan

There's still time for Jeanne to turn north. OO let's all get outside and blowwwwww!

OO

Joan, it's hard to get the hang of the empty nest syndrome if she keeps getting evacuated home again, huh?

Statia...geez! You know, so many businesses have been severely impacted with this spate of storms, now no one will back off "business as usual" until the very last moment! Stay safe, and really, I hope you make it out of Puerto Rico. I worry about BTilke too, who was scheduled to fly into Orlando from Paris.

The 11 AM track shifted it west again and increased it to a category 3 now, saying it's possible that it could be a 4 by landfall.

Statia

Yes, everyone blowwwww! Maybe if you all blow hard enough, she'll go back out into the Atlantic.

I've thought of BTilke a few times today, as well. I hope she makes it into Orlando before the storm gets there.

Stay safe everyone!

joan

No, OO, Li'l Miss Independent is spending the 'cane at her roommate's parents home in Orlando! The mom is home alone and the girls are going to board up the windows and stay there... so the nest will remain empty for now (and momma bird worrying 'bout baby bird of course). I invited them all to come here... weird that the beach house is inviting the inlanders for shelter, isn't it?

Thanks for the good wishes, Statia! Best to you too.

cigalechanta

I'm BLOWWWWWwwwwwwwwwing, Statia, wishing you all a safe end to this weather madness.

poochie

I live on the east coast of Fl. and my sister lives on the west coast of Fl. It seems that every week or so we call each other and say "Tag, you're it".

razzledazzle

My gracious you all! We still have that
guestroom if any one is looking to de-
stress! Comes complete with cats, a home gym, TV, patio, and this PC

Many spas are nearby.
Your nerves must be steel and we
admire you all!
Vaya con dios

The R5's

MzPossum

To Statia, OO, and all the rest of you anticipating Jeanne--prayers winging your way! If all this weather(the hurricanes this season and Ivan returning as a TS) wasn't so devistating, it would be absolutly fascinating. What has made conditions so favorable this year for so many storms?!

OO

Orlando airport is closed or closing shortly (forgotten what time they said). I'm so sorry for BTilke. Just what she didn't need. I saw on the Europe board that she doens't have a valid drivers license so she can't even rent a car to get to her mother's.

Statia...wonder if you made it out? Who knows, Miami might be high and dry by tomorrow. Beach weather.

Joan I know you can't be too happy about your DD being in Orlando for this! We spend their youth trying to raise them to be independent, self-sufficient adults...then when we have succeeded...we worry more and wish they weren't quite so independent. I have one too...she worries me to death sometimes...tent camping in Africa, beaching in Mozambique.

What we can at least smile about, is that we're getting real good at the drill. Preparation time for this is about cut in half. We know the jobs that need to be done and do them automatically. And I sure have a spic and span frig and freezer. All the food in there is brand new...no more surprise freezer burn. Oh...and the biceps from carrying the wrought iron patio furniture back and forth, into and out of the house. LOL You'll know Floridians by their ripped arms!

OO

Thanks for good wishes too. Your guest room sounds perfect Razzle5. All the comforts of home, including the cats.

I don't know why there are so many this year, but they all seem to be heading to FL because the Bermuda high is out of place, keeping us from sharing the wealth with states to the north. The storms are tracking along the southern ridge of the high, right into FL. That was the explanation I heard a couple of weeks ago anyway, but don't hold me to it.