Suki, oh my. Can't your dad get into some AC? Has he contacted the Red Cross?

Has anyone heard from Scarlett, the Yankee, Pup and the gecko?

Maybe her electric is down. I didn't think there was that much storm in Jax. But could be. Or maybe she's just getting life in order after this crazy batch of weather.

Scarlett? Are you OK? Let us hear from you!

OO? Where's OO?

Oh Suki, you must be so distressed. Hang in there and we'll all say a prayer for you.

I'm also wondering where OO is. Hope she checks in soon.

I finally heard from my sisters-in-law on the east coast. They were going to come over to stay with us but changed their minds. The SIL who lives in Palm Bay is fine and had no damage. However, my other SIL took a direct hit. Their house is fine but their office was completely destroyed. They kept all the essential items at their house, otherwide it's a complete loss.

I'm concerned about Scarlett and OO too. I always check this thread first thing in the morning to see if they've been heard from - let's hope there is good news soon from both of them.

We got it all night last night and have been under a tornado watch for the past 36 hours.

Jacksonville may still be getting remnants of the storm because of its erratic path.

They said on the news last night that Hillsborough county still has the most power outages on the west coast. I know OO must have access to a computer at the hotel, but that's probably the last thing on her mind right now. I'm guessing that Scarlett must be without power also.

This storm is making me nuts--I just realized that the posts I thought had disappeared from another thread were here. Too many hurricane posts to keep up with.

I'm back and safe, but it's been an ordeal.

Like most everyone in the Tampa area, we thought the worst was over Sunday evening when the wind finally began to die down as Frances passed, practically over us. At 3:30 Monday morning, however, we awoke to the sounds of those grape-sized nut/berry things from the Podocarpus tree next to our front door flying into the walls and glass doors, with wind as strong as it had been before, and increasing. We lost power sporadically during the night Sunday into pre-dawn Monday, setting off our alarm system each time it happened!

Monday morning at 7 power went out for good. Two hours later we also lost our phones. Neither were restored until last night, Tuesday, during the night. 40 something hours with no air conditioning in super humid post storm conditions, no lights, no hot water, limited water, and no phones.

We had a hotel FULL of guests: evacuees from the east coast of FL who had arrived Wednesday and Thursday, Red Cross workers who had been with us since Hurricane Charley, a number of locals who had lost power Sunday and had come to escape the heat of their homes, and normal guests, here to "enjoy" Labor Day Weekend. All of these people had to be evacuated into a town whose hotel inventory was overwhelmed as it was. Most of the Melbourne/Vero Beach area folks just headed home but the rest were dispersed to competitors in the area who still had power. :(

This portion of the storm, the backside, lasted from about 3:30 Monday morning until 2 Monday afternoon--stalled again over the Gulf after moving offshore. Our damage was primarily to landscaping, miscellaneous trees (only one of which was a palm), and water damage to two out of 3 of our restaurants from water blowing through the south facing double doors. The water in the bay rose with an unanticipated storm surge. I was startled as my DH, heading back to the hotel Monday morning to deal with evacuating the guests, took off his shoes and socks and rolled up his pants to exit our back door. Water had come out of the bay fed creek behind us, flooding the back of the casita area, while at the same time the front section of casitas lining the bay had waves breaking at their patio walls.

Our dock and boardwalk were both underwater and sustained damage in the wave action from the south wind that blew all the water back up into the bay (which had been emptied of water in the north wind portion of the storm the previous day). Both ends of the dock are gone and it now has a new "hump" in the middle, mimicking the hump in the bridges that cross from Tampa to Pinellas county. Copycat dock. At this point we aren't sure of the extent of structural damage there.

Within 15 minutes of losing power in the hotel all the humidity that was in the air condensed on the marble lobby floors creating a virtual skating rink that could only be traversed with the greatest of care--and so many of the guests were elderly people from the east coast--a real nightmare. Guests were fed cold breakfasts, sandwiches were made and put out with cookies on trays for the guests to take with them on their new adventure, whatever direction that might be.

We chained our doors shut--hotels don't have locking front doors as theoretically you never lock them. Closed for business. :(

Monday was a loooong day, hot and sticky after the storm abated, and stressful. Our stress was broken with relief Monday evening after driving down to Gulfport and finding our boat had made it through without a scratch. The boat beside us rubbed up and down on the piling in the wave and wind action, and amazingly cut a piling with a 5 inch diameter to half that diameter. It looks as if wind got into our furled jib and we may have some sail repairs, but that's it. Before we lost power I'd seen picturs of marinas in other areas and couldn't even think about what we'd find...but finding her not only whole, but unscratched, brightened our moods considerably. Cd...if you are reading this..we bought the snubbers your husband mentioned after Charley passed...$200 worth of rubber but I think that was what got us through this in such great shape.

Tampa traffic was a mess yesterday. Traffic lights are out all over town, but the police dept was doing an admirable job at all the larger intersections, keeping things moving.

I spent the day yesterday helping the managing committee strip linens, and clear out the trash left behind in rooms by the guests. Imagine what happens to food stuff and dirty diapers in 90 degree heat, humidity, and total darkness! Grim. You knew a room a baby had been in the second the door was opened. :( I gained a whole new appreciation for our housekeeping dept, I'll tell you. Creepy ick left behind...yuck, and what HARD work...yet we weren't doing a fraction of what they do daily. We stripped beds only and picked up towels, put out used glassware...we didn't remake beds, clean bathrooms, tabletops, vacuum, restock towels or glasses etc. I don't know how they do it for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week!

Today all housekeeping will be trying to put it back together again quickly enough that we can begin accepting guests by noon, but some of the baby rooms will be in DNR for a while.

That's it. NO MORE! We are so grateful to have our power now...just a taste of what those poor folks from Charley are still dealing with. I can't imagine it. And there are still plenty in town without power so we consider ourselves very very lucky, both in that respect and the limited damage.

I got out and took some pictures after it had passed...not too dramatic by then, but it shows a bit of what we had here and a bit of what will be entailed in putting the property back together again. www.worldisround.com/articles/73306/index.html

I just had an email from Scarlett's daughter, checking on us. They too lost power, got it back last night but still don't have their internet/cable connection up. They are OK...messy yard and spoiled food but otherwise unscathed. Good deal--it sounds as if we were all lucky.

Is everyone accounted for??

OO, thanks for the report on both you and Scarlett. I figured we hadn't heard from you both due to power outages.

I'm so glad to hear that "Beach Music" weathered Frances ok, but sorry to hear about the mess at the hotel and to your dock. Hopefully things will get back to normal quickly.

Thanks for checking in and updating us. I hope this is the last of it for this season.

<b><font color="blue">HELLO IVAN!</font></b> :-(

WOW OO, that looked pretty awful! It is interesting to hear how hotel personnel react to a crisis...I bet you all are EXHAUSTED! I think you need a VACATION!

Statia...I e'd you this morning. Did you get any parts of Ivan? I feel so <u>out of it</u>! Hope you are in the clear.

AAFrequentFlyer...<b>NO</b>.

Judy, we never go on vacation during hurricane season for JUST this reason (and you're right, we need one now--this is mentally exhausting). Too big a risk...if a hurricane is anywhere near us we'd have to cancel. We are scheduled to fly out of here Wednesday though, for a memorial service in Dallas. We have a 6:50 AM flight and it will be cutting it so close as to whether or not we'll know if we can leave. Right now, I'd say we've just lost a fair amount of money. $100 per ticket from the airline, BUT Orbitz charges $30 per ticket themselves, so $130 pp on tickets that only cost $250 pp to begin with. I eyed that trip insurance as I made the reservations, then thought it'd be impossible to be threatened by another storm so soon. My bad.

OO, I don't have access to my other email right now, so I'll get it when I get home.

We were very fortunate with Ivan, as we were with Frances. After trimming all our trees back on Monday, he continued westward far enough south not to affect us. I just hope he stears clear of both Florida and the rest of the Gulf Coast, as well. Our sister ABC Dutch islands are getting ready to get hammered by Ivan, however.

I pray that the rest of the season is quiet for all of our sakes.

You folks are heroic! What a mess, and what a great attitude during the clean-up. OO, you have my respect and admiration. Glad Scarlett is OK - it will be good to have her back with us.
Up here in Toronto we've had to deal with the odd winter snowstorm, but it's usually more of an inconvenience than anything else. When I start complaining about the weather a few months from now, will somebody please remind me about Frances?

OO, thanks for the report and really glad to know you guys made it through with minimal damage. Also thanks for letting us know about Scarlett. If I hadn't heard anything today I was going to try to phone her on her cell.

Let's hope this is IT for the hurricane season -- you all have suffered ENOUGH.

OO-Bless you guys!

You never realize what true luxuries are until you go through a hurricane.

Ice
Airconditioning
Electricity
A cold drink
Forgetting the Weather Channel exists.

OO--sounds like you should have weathered the storm out on your boat! So glad to hear you're okay but what an ordeal. It makes me realize how lucky I am to only have one yard to clean up. After this storm, I swear I'm going to cut down our Podocarpus trees--that's all I heard all night as well.

My aunt in Macon is still without electricity and has trees down. We still haven't heard a peep from my cousins in Boca and we're very concerned. My sister's office in West Palm is still closed--no one can get to it.

I keep wondering why I feel nauseous. I'm too old to be pregnant so it must be thoughts of Ivan.

OO--if you haven't read &quot;Nickeled and Dimed&quot; you should. You'd get a real kick out of the chapters where the author works in housekeeping!

I had not checked this message since last night. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. Things are starting to get better. My Mom was released from the hospital today, and electricity and phone were restored sometime last night. My sis in Satellite Beach though is a wreck between the damage to her house (which is now getting moldy)and having to take care of things with my parents. FYI for others who might have infirm parents: we have located a nursing home that provides respite care to which they can be evacuated if this happens again.They charge a daily rate and the buildings can withstand winds up to 140 miles an hour. Let's hope we don't need it.

That's good news Suki and good information. My MIL started showing signs of dimensia a few years ago (in her early sixties) and has suddenly started getting worse. She checked her husband in for a &quot;roto-rooter&quot; on his carotid arteries yesterday and then forgot that he'd had the procedure. This is our first experience with this and figuring out what to do is a challenge.

I got an email from a friend in Jupiter, just north of W. Palm Beach today...here's her note...

Hi Everyone,

We are back in our home, safe and sound. Well, almost sound! We are alive and healthy and our home was hit with minimal damage thank goodness. We had about 5 trees blown over-we were able to save 3 of them. 1-1/2 of our fence was blown down and many roof tiles. The doors are kind of hard to close but that is about it. We feel we are very fortunate. We have power, air and water; unlike my sister who lives in Port St. Lucie. No air, electricity, water etc...Her in-laws who live on Hutchinson Island roof caved in and are living with her and her husband and her sister-in-law's home, a huge tree fell through the roof. Not so as fortunate. School is out for the week for repairs and to get the power up and working in all the schools. We are hoping that we make up these days over winter break instead of tagging them onto the last week of school. We will see.

Suki, hang in there. It sounds like some rough times you're going through. Your parents are sooooo lucky to have you. Now hold your breath that this next one passes us by. I'm not sure where to go with this one but I plan to book a hotel somewhere out of the path in case I need it. Maybe you should do the same -- and pray for mercy.

What's happened to Highbay? Anybody know? She must have a weathered-the-storm story to tell. Oh, HighhhhhhhBayyyyy!

<b><i> Hello~
Thank you for the good wishes and all the emails that I found waiting for me today!
I have been reading everyones accounts of the storm and I hope this next one will pass us ALL by.
We lost our power on Saturday night, getting it back yesterday. We did not lose one tree but we did have first row seats to the falling over gently of the huge live oak across the street, right on top of the house next door.
When we were not worrying about windows and trees blowing elsewhere, we were preparing to run to the hall bathroom where we could cower in the dark with pup and a flashlight and listen to the radio telling us how many tornadoes were about to touch down.
Happy to report- none of them touched down.
Power lines were down, there was flooding all around, but we stayed dry and remarkabley cool ( a stucco house &amp; no open windows)
We just got our cable back this afternoon. Phew, talk about severe Fodors withdrawal symptons!
The fridge and freezer had to be emptied and restocked and today the dear Yankee who always knows just what the doctor would order- took me shopping!
Lunch at Bistro Aix in San Marco where they had some flooding but no real damage, and some shoe hunting.
Yes- I was successful :)

I am glad to see everyone is fine, I am reeeeally hoping that Ivan goes on to the West and skips us.. I think Florida has had its quota this year.
My friends are asking me when we will be returning to NY. Good question.
Big hugs everyone, I missed you :)
</i></b>

Big hugs back atcha Miss Scarlett! Glad you and your menagerie are all safe!

FWIW, this is the absolute worst hurricane season I've ever lived through.

Scarlett, you get lots of points in my book for turning post-hurricane stress disorder into a shopping trip. And good for you for finding shoes. I'm so happy there's a silver lining to your 2nd FL hurricane. BTW, the subways in NY are flooded thanks to Frances.

Thank you Miss TG :)

Another sign of things getting back to normal (aside from Scarlett shoe shopping)
A Hummingbird came to my window and had a snack at my red salvia plant !

So glad to see you back Mizz Scarlett. So, was the gecko drunk and disorderly thru all this? :)

welcome back Scarlett!! Good to know all's well nothing like a good shoe hunting expedition :)

Welcome back, Scarlett! My sweetie, who wouldn't know a computer from a hamburger, keeps asking &quot;Have you checked lately to see if Scarlett is OK?&quot; Last night I had to show him how to scroll through the posts - he thought I might have missed something. :)

Awww meesthare! that is SO Sweet!! give that man a big kiss :*

The gekko, still hiding, every once in a while, Pup starts wagging his tail like crazy, so it must come out and say hello, then duck back in to his hiding place. I have noticed some of my emergency chocolates are missing though....

I don't want anyone to think that I am taking any of this too lightly, there are people who have lost their homes, their pets and in some places, their lives in these storms. I would rather be remembered for smiling than for the whining that the dear Yankee had to listen to for the last few days- so do know that I am not being insensitive to the plights of so many people affected by these awful hurricanes and storms.
((L)) Scarlett

Welcome back Scarlett--shoe shopping IS cathartic isn't it?

The gekko story made me laugh again today. We went to the pet store to buy two super duper crates to add to the collection in case we have to evacuate this time. We also stocked up on dog food. My 15-year-old son is in charge of the cats and I asked him if we needed cat food. He said, &quot;No, they'll eat lizards if they get hungry&quot;. I said, &quot;Son, they are inside cats&quot;. Son said, &quot;I know mom, but if Ivan hits us the lizards will probably be IN the house.&quot; EEEEUUUU

Jayne, I was standing in my yard, talking to the neighbor with the tree on her house when out of the shrubs came this tiny little black cat, big green eyes...as friendly as could be, all skinny and tiny. She was wrapping herself all around my ankles :(
I made the lady across the street take her, Pup would have been overjoyed to have a kitten but the Yankee is not thrilled with wild cats in the house :D
He is not that thrilled about the gekkos either but I have convinced him that the gekko will take care of those palmettos that sneak in when the door is opened.
BTW- are those Tree Frogs that come hopping in when a door is opened? so tiny &amp; cute and hard to catch!!

Yes Scarlett, those itty bitty frogs are tree frogs and it's amazing that such a loud sound comes out of such a tiny thing, huh?

I know many people that are annoyed by the sound they make at night, but I absolutely adore it. Sings me right to sleep. (sigh)

Oh my the tree frogs--when I opened our storage shed a few days ago there were LITERALLY thousands of them in there. Guess we know how they passed the time during all this bad weather!

I'm glad the kitty has shelter. Is she going to name him/her Frances?

I like the tree frogs :D
We also have an owl out there lately, making lots of spooky noises late at night.
The kittens name..I named her Ella :)

Ella - Much better karma than Frances!

Yes, and she has a good singing voice :D

The first night we were without power, a tree frog decided to roost on our bedroom window (which was open to get circulating air). I thought I would lose my mind with the noise. It was louder than anything I have heard in a very long time. I whacked the screen with the bottled water that I keep on my night stand. I normally love the sound of nature...but I guess I have my limits.