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 "roto-rooter" 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.