wren

An interesting tidbit of news, in case you have not heard. Jeanne made landfall within exactly 2 miles of where Frances came in. OK statistics people. What are the odds of that happening? I venture to say they are astronomical.

MarthaT

It's over!!!
Here in Orlando I have power.Yeah! Lot's of people don't. On the way to work this am there were lots of trees down and traffic lights out but still doesn't look as bad as after Charley.
I'm sure people on the coast Daytona Beach on down have it must worse.
The wind just lasted so long I thought it would never be over.
Thankfully there are no more storms out there in the Atlantic and I hope it stays that way.

Shanna

Is this the new "normal?" Life at Jupiter Florida is not much worse than after Frances except there are a lot more lines down. We were on the south eye-wall so had no calm, just 8pm to 5am full of battering, howling winds and torrential rain. My friends and I didn't sleep much before 5 and at first light stepped outside to inspect what was very little damage. One guest went back to her house in Stuart where the damage is no worse but still daunting. She'll have weeks - again -without power. I got home to no damage. I think I must live in a cone of protection. As I pulled into the courtyard, a full rainbow appeared in the sky before me. Getting out of my car, I said, Hark! What is that I hear? Air conditioning units running. Too, too lucky!! Today, it seems that autumn has arrived. The air is cooler, the sky clear and somehow higher, the sun rising more to the south, shadows longer. The quiet is less deafening than after Frances - or are we just getting used to it all? I count my blessings - ice, safe water, a roof over my head, my beloved cats annoyed but unharmed. Another: Italy in 12 days. Thanks to all for your prayers. Please keep them coming for those who weren't so lucky. And thanks to those exhausted people who form the many recovery crews and to everyone who goes back to work today so we can get groceries or mail, allowing us to act like life is normal again.

OO

Shanna, I'm glad to read you came out of this one unscathed. That's wonderful.

Croque_Madame...how is your house?? It sounds as if you'll be dealing with this for some time to come...carpet pads out, maybe carpet too, hopefully not drywall. I can't imagine it. Have you thought about looking at real estate in Paris? I think I'm only half kidding. I look forward to hearing all about the Great Bike Escapade when you return. Your trip reports are the best, and that will be a special one.

Good luck getting done what needs doing with your house beforehand, then don't look back. Don't look at any news where an "H" word is mentioned while you are over there.

I wish I'd talked to our trees as you talked to yours, telling them to be strong. A chainsaw is attacking my big Podocarpus as I write. Ouch...hurts me too. They hope by trimming it it will survive. There is no way to pull it up straight again. That was where I hung all my orchids. It was once so pretty here. And...it <i>will</i> be again.

Have a wonderful trip...and remember...no looking back at FL. We'll be right here when you get back. We are finished with storms. That was it.

sward030

Well, that was fun. The storm went north of us but we still got quite a beating. The only damage was my house sprung a couple of leaks. Well at least the power is back on now so I can start planning my next trip. London I think.

Croque_Madame, yes, the pressure change causes my head to fill with liquid and feel like it is going to split. This one went through quickly enough that it was not bad. Francis was awful in that it stayed around for hours.