Postal-

We've had the generator, but after last year swore we would get a larger one, and have it hooked up to the house...but since we are natural born procrastinators (sp?) we still have a small generator. Guess if worse comes to worse, we'll be plugging and unplugging.

At least we will hopefully have something to plug in to!

My thoughts and prayers to the Yucatan penisula. :(

Hi LoveItaly and Postal:

We just arrived this morning but tonight we went out with our neighbors and had a great dinners at Moore's with stone crab claws and we all just really pigged out and ate too0oo much - they were soo good!!

It's beautiful out tonight - not much breeze and everyone is talking about th impending hurricane. Some are even talking of leaving tomorrow morning.

We're going to try to watch the NOAA report and see what they're predicting and go from there. a motel room is reserved for ys on the mainland in Bradenton but we really don';t want to head further north (I hope we don't regret that)

Well, keep saying those prayers cause I'm sure they really help and I'll let you know what this laptop coughs out from our house or motel in the next couple days.

Dear LN, hello! Thank you for your post. I called my niece, no answer, and it was strange because there was no answering machine. Moore's, I love that restaurant.

If you are able to advise what is happening in LBG I would be most appreciative. Take good care of yourselves. My best wishes to you!

For Florida and all the other states who know that there will be hurricanes happening every year, it is amazing that there isn't a plan or route that will get people out in timely manner. These states have growth of population and no planning for mass evacuation and that frustrates me and I don't even live in the South.

No, Stephanie, that is not the case at all. We have good plans in Florida and were shocked that New Orleans waited so late to evacuate. Rest assured that we are pros at this. The interstates get clogged but there's no way around getting everyone out w/o that happening.

We know the ins and outs of hurricanes here in Florida.

Hey, Floridians -- any red tide reports? I was in Treasure Island last week and it was red-free. Yahooo.

Hey Tandoori Girl! Many thoughts and prayers to south and central Florida from north Florida. We are with all of you in spirit.

As far as Jeb is concerned, you can love him or hate him (plenty of reasons for both!), but I will have to give him credit for having our state as prepared as possible for
the hurricanes and the aftermath.

Postal and highbay, we splurged on a whole house generator last summer and it was one of the best things we ever did! During Dennis our power was out for 18 hours but we had everything-lights, tv, computer, and most importantly AIR CONDITIONING! They aren't cheap but so worth it. Highly recommend!

Speaking of red tide, we had it for the first time in my memory in the panhandle recently (Destin area). Showed up after Rita. Fortunately it is pretty much gone.

Stephanie, that is definitely not the case. All towns have detailed plans for getting everyone out of town in a timely matter including reversing traffic patterns on state and local highways.

Can you imagine everyone in your hometown leaving at the same time?

SunshineSue, thanks for your thoughts. For a change, we're on the receiving end down south. I was wondering, how much is a whole house generator? Considering how much I've invested in batteries, coolers, flashlights, etc. it would easily be a downpayment on one.

Actually, I think Jeb is the smart one (of the two).

There is an article in our paper about people in Naples already evacuating. OK, enough already. Those people are way too prepared for my tastes.

Highbay, stay dry. LoveItaly, is that Little Boca? I've not been there. No telling at this point where Wilma will go. She seems to be taking her time.

Our whole house generator was $20,000. A lot of money but our house is big-over 5,000 sq. ft. The generator runs on propane (we do not have city gas in my neighborhood)and will run the house at full capacity for about four days on one tank. But of course we don't do that. We turn off everything that isn't necessary so one tank would last much longer if necessary.

We built our house about 13 years ago and were already using propane for hot water and cooking but we had a larger tank installed when we got the generator.

The generator kicks in within seconds of the power going out. It is also on a maintainence schedule where once a week it turns off our electricity and runs the house for a specified period of time. There is no interuption of power when this occurs.

I do not live in a hurricane-prone area (for FL!) but when there is a major power outage our power is likely to be out for a while. There are only about 25 houses in my neighborhood and we do not connect to any other neighborhoods so we have very low priority for repairs.

There is also no city water in my neighborhood. We all have wells so without electricity we have no water.

One of the nice things is I don't have to keep batteries, water, oil lamps, and all the other hurricane necessities not do I have to go out and buy them while the stores are mobbed.

If you have any other questions, let me know.

Good for you SunshineSue! My inlaws also have one in Asheville. They got it for the snow storms but they've used it when several hurricanes blew through.

I can't remember which one it was but they were without power for almost two weeks in the one that took out parts of I-40 and put Biltmore Village under water.

Go Travel,

The way the weather has been in recent years, who knows, we might need ours for a snow storm before it all over!!!

Hi and hello

Today is beautiful on Longboat Key - it's 90 degrees out there right now and the sun is shining.

We've also got reservations on the mainland if Wilma decides to take that right hand curve and head this way.

The beach is gorgeous - we arrived yesterday early afternoon and there's no signs of Red Tide. To be honest everything looks absolutely beautiful and since my screen just moved (cause I'm using a laptop instead of a desktop I came to GoTravel wish for Wilma to take a scoot around Cuba, Florida and head out to sea. My thoughts exactly!!

I'll try to keep you posted as to what happening in this part of Florida.

Oh LoveItaly - we had dinner at Moore's last night - stone crabs were absolutely marvelous and really tasty but oh boy, the price has really gone up!! It was $65. for the jumbo appetizer and then a salad was extra!! The bill for the four of us was just over $300.!! Bit high....

I'm evecuating to Chicago on Saturday morning :-D

This trip was planned for few weeks anyway. There is not much I can do by staying home anyway (Siesta Key, Sarasota), so I will just enjoy myself in my favorite city up north.

I'm scheduled to return on Monday, but it looks like that maybe a problem.

Regardless when I return, I just hope I will have a home to return to.

I actually thought we were done with any major hurricanes for this year, on this side of Florida, but I guess I was wrong.

Hi LN, your dinner sounded fabulous but prices have gone up haven't they?
I am glad that all is well there. I hope it stays that way.

Tandoori_Girl, I mistyped. I meant LBK, for Long Boat Key. I just hate the thought of another hurricane hitting land.

My prayers are with all of you. I was thinking of Patrick in Naples also, especially with his mother being in a retirement home. Sure hope all of you in Florida will be alright. Best wishes.

SunshineSue...I'm <i><b>so</b></i> jealous. We did price them (I have half the square footage you have), but didn't follow through. :(

I will make it a priority!

TG-You stay dry as well!!!

Gosh, $20,000.

I have decided to pass on the whole house generator. Instead I'm going to buy some hamsters and rig me up something that works just as good with a few rubber bands and one of those whole-head hair-dryers that you sit under with the curlers in your head. I will need a whole messa hamsters but I figure they can propogate to keep the thing going until the electric comes back on.

And then I will sell them on ebay and become a million-ear. It is amazing what the necessity of invention can accomplish, thanks to ebay. Ya'll let me know if you can't live without one.

Tandoori Girl: Stop! You made me laugh - and at work, too!

Did give me an idea for getting some use out of my useless (but beloved) cats.

Tandoori Girl,

Why do you think we bought the generator? We only have one kid still at home and she couldn't manage it by herself. Wish I had thought of converting to hamster power...Great idea!!!