"I certainly mean you no harm or wish you no further ill will"
I hear ya, and certainly appreciate it. Thanks!
And Scarlette:
"We were lured here under false pretenses" I find myself saying this to my husband when he says he doesn't want to dance. He was John Travolta when we were dating! \/

hibiscushouse and other Floridians,

Natural disasters will literally drive you CRAZY. I know all too well what you are going through right now. Growing up in KS I've spent my share of time huddled in the bathtub with the family, hoping the tornado misses our house. We almost lost our house in the San Diego fires last year. We spent three days at a friends' house on the coast, calling our house every hour or so, thinking that if the answering machine was picking up, maybe our house was still standing. I know what you are going through and it really does alter your sanity. The good part is that it WILL be over, no matter what happens you will have people there to support you, and you will learn a lot about yourself in the process. When the policeman knocked on our door and said "You need to leave your house NOW" it only took a second for me to realize as long as the kids and my DH were in the car, that's all that mattered. Please don't get all upset with people who can't empathize--you have enough to deal with, and it's just not worth it.

I'm watching Ivan's progress and saying prayers for you all in harm's way.

Jocelyn, it would have been familiar to you then, on Monday night, sitting in the bathtub, pup standing there looking at me quizically, while the Yankee stood by with the candle and the radio, waiting for the Tornado alert to be over.

Jocelyn,
Thanks for the empathetic words.
"You need to leave your house NOW"
In my neighborhood, the sheriff usually drives down the street with a bullhorn annoucing the evacuation. But this last one, they didn't even do that.
At this point, I'd like to leave if this comes to us, but I'm just not sure where is a safe place to go. Too many people got stranded on the side of the road without gas as they tried to exit the State. The models aren't absolute, so it's not a sure thing to go into the middle of the State or to the East coast for that matter. If you've been there, you understand the decisions that are being made.
I'm fine with leaving my house. I've already kissed it goodbye a couple of times in the last few years. I've taken my photo's and video tapes and have left. I'm surprised when my home is still available for me to come home to. It's not that. It's safety that I'm concerned about more than anything. For us and all the family I have living near us. And the burden of making the right decisions for my children. People die in these things, and I just want to make sure it's not someone I know and love.
It'll drive you crazy. Please don't tell me this, as I already know. I'm venting, and that's it. The fear of the unknown is taxing. X's 3 in less than a month and it's exhausting.

Soooo may people evacuated to Orlando during Charley....I understand where you are coming from. It is so frustrating NOT knowing where to go. If I could leave the state right now I would. I am an RN and have to work again through this hurricane. (I have worked during Charley and Frances). I guess I need to "tweek" my schedule a little better for hurricane season.

I saw an earlier post from K_999_9 who said it has been very unusual to see 2 hurricanes back to back in FL. - "the likes of which we will probably never see again".
However, I read in the paper yesterday that the hurricane experts have predicted that this is the start of what will be a twenty year cycle of very severe hurricanes in the Atlantic basin. Unfortunately, according to the experts these hurricanes are not considered to be as unexpected as many people think.

Actually, I think the whole world is falling apart and this is just the beginning of the end. HibiscusHouse already sent everyone straight to you-know-where.

You know, right before the storm hit, it was kind of breezy and pleasant. And I loved being in the eye. That was really something. So quiet and yet this swirling mass of madness all around you.

But I don't want to get used to it!!!

Let's hope that the "experts" are wrong with that prediction. I don't even want to think that I have to put up with this kind of weather for the next twenty years.

There are some interesting posts about Ivan on the Carribean board. Lots of people without roofs.

Hello, I've just read all the comments

My husband and I have a flight out tomorrow to Amelia Island (Jacksonville area) tomorrow returning on Monday afternoon. I'm gathering that's not such a smart idea?

You should be fine. Here's the National Weather Service's storm prediction:
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ftp/graphics...IF/100853W.gif

I am just truly amazed at the strength of a hurricane. We had torrential rains and major flooding in Buffalo yesterday as a result of the last hurricane. Do you have any idea how far away Buffalo is from Florida? Incredible. I can't imagine what you poor Floridians are going through.

Believe me, I've lived through some unbelievable snow storms and blizzards. They're bad, but the houses are always left standing after the snow melts!

Buffalogirl: I might even start waxing nostalgic for the Hamburg, NY winters. ;-) Have a picture of my sister with the snow as high as her shoulder (sidewalk plowed). We used to sled on the snow piled at the end of our driveway.

BuffaloGirl, I actually DID go through photos last night of a snowstorm in NY that we walked in with the Pup.
sigh..who would have thought I would wish for those days again?

Thinking Positive Thoughts!! Scarlett

Well BuffaloGirl, you DID choose to live in Buffolo so you knew what a risk you were taking. Sorry, just had to stay that and of course I'm kidding. It just goes to show that none of us ANYWHERE are immune to the forces of mother nature.

I'm feeling pretty grim. I live in Bradenton and just got a call from my daughter's school and they have already decided to close Monday and Tuesday (it's private and didn't close at all during Frances). My sons go to public school, so I'm sure that will be the case for them as well since the schools are used for shelters.

I'm in such a state of denial that I haven't turned on the TV yet today. When I went our to pick up the newspaper this morning, all I could hear was the sound of drills; putting up plywood I'm sure.

I was the victim of price gouging yesterday. I stopped at a gas station during a heavy rain because my windshield wipers stopped working. The guy diagnosed it without looking at it and told me it would cost $200 to repair it. When I told him I wanted to check the price somewhere else he warned me that if I waited too long they might not have the part, which would be bad with "this hurricane headed our way". I then went to the station we always use in our neighborhood; he fixed it in five minutes and charged me $70. I was so proud that I didn't act on impulse by paying the $200 so I called my husband to tell him how wise I had been. He listened, then silence, then told me that would have been covered under our warranty. I hate men (sorry, that was Ivan talking).

Stay safe everyone. You are all in my thoughts and prayers more than ever.

Jayne, that silence thing sounds very familiar...must be genetic! Ahhhhhhhh the sound of drill bits in the morning....how comforting, not!

Jayne, very funny !!

Drill bits were last weeks sound here, this morning and yesterdays was chain saws, that huge tree across the street will take days to remove...and no one has picked up the debris, what will happen with it all when another big wind blows through town?

My sister lives in the Tampa Bay area (Safety Harbor) and is leaving for Kissimmee Sunday. I'm wondering now if she's going far enough She's got two cats who will travel with her and doesn't want to drive too far.

Susan, based on these past two storms, your sister would be wise to sit tight until we know what is going to happen. The only reason people should be evacuated is because they are 1) in a flood zone, 2) in a mobile home or other unsafe structure, or 3) in need of special services (medical, etc). This storm is not supposed to hit the Keys until Monday morning. Her plans could be putting her in the path of the storm rather than the opposite. I guess I'm hurricane-jaded. I think the best case scenario is to have a plan that entails getting out of town as it becomes definite that you are in the path of FLOODING, not necessarily the path of the storm. Safety Harbor has some higher upland areas. If she's in one of these, she should stay put -- unless the storm surge will be higher than her property level. I'm in South Tampa at 15 ft. above sea level. Charley was expected to have a 14 foot surge so I was concerned but I'm holding tight until it become clearer. I can't tell you the number of storms over the decades that have veered at the last minute.

All that said, I think we should realize that for years now we've watched the storms head to the panhandle or to NC or SC. That was their pattern. But now, I think it is our turn and we should anticipate more of these coming our way for the next few years. My apologies to the Florida Chambers of Commerce...

God help me. My Mom's retirement home just called me to inform me that they are definitely evacuating tomorrow morning to a Marriott Hotel in Orlando. Since my mother is on "independent" living and they will have no nurses or aides, I must come pick her up and take care of her myself. Now how am I getting her up my stairs in my townhouse? And what if we also need to evacuate on Sunday? I need a drink bad!