Headlines

These were the headlines on our local paper on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

The aftermath

Just a couple shots from around the complex. Not too earth shattering, pretty much the same kind of damage we had in the last 2.

Still raining

Water filling up in the parking lot with siding floating along.

It was so windy...

The little pond on the side of our building had whitecaps! (The water in the parking lot did, too) At this point in the picture, the pond is already 3-4 feet higher than normal.

Our leaky fan...

More wind and rain

My cute little car is in the lower left corner. These are all taken through our window. At one point Rachel yelled at us for looking out the window so much. She said "gee, the kid has to tell the adults to stay away from the windows!" There were times when the windows and whole house were really shaking...

It has begun...

Took this out the window probably around 7:30-it's hard to see but the siding is starting to fly off the building across the way.

Sunday night rain...

It started raining Sunday night, and of course I had to take a picture.

Preparation time...

What does one do with all the time on your hands while waiting for a hurricane to show up? Well, Sunday night in order to stave off boredom, we decided on a last minute trip to Walgreens (just down the road) for last minute snacks-as if we didn't have enough already. On the way, Rachel decided she wanted to practice parking (she has her drivers test December 7th) and the test site is just down the road. So here she is practicing. They just have to drive around this parking lot for their test and THEY DONT HAVE TO PARRALLEL PARK!!! How easy is that? Man, I wish I could have taken my drivers test in FL :)

Hurricane Update from Kelly's Mom

Talked to Kelly this am (it's her bday) and she wanted everyone to know that she finally had a pumpkin spice latte when she got gas this morning. She says all she wants for her birthday is internet access and phone service!!!!
She's at work today but their office bldg lost it's roof during the storm. Their office was the least flooded and isn't too bad but smells musty yet.
Maybe soon she'll be filling us all in about what's really going on in her world these days.

Hurricane update

Kelly wanted me to let everyone know that they lost power this morning at 7. Water's leaking in through the ceiling and she was eating ice cream (so it wouldn't melt) when she called me this morning (this is her Mom reporting)

Getting Ready

I went over to Audra and Mike's this morning for breakfast. This is Mike putting up their shutters. We're all getting hunkered down. We're off now to run to Walgreens for some last minute junk food-it will probably be the last time we get out of the house for the next 24+ hours. Don't know if when we wake up in the AM if we'll have power, but I'll try to post as much as possible once it all gets going and we still have power. It was sunny all day but now it's gotten cloudy...storms are on the horizon. Tornados possible this evening.

Sunny Sunday Morning

It's sunny this morning, but that probably won't last long! The pond in the background is the highest I've seen it since I've been here, and the hurricane isn't even here yet! We got a lot of rain last night again.

Wilma should speed up today and get to us tomorrow morning and be in and out by late afternoon tomorrow. We're still directly in the path of the center. In our paper this morning it said expect the strength of Frances or Jeanne or slightly worse. We also are officially under a hurricane warning.

It's raining again...

And as of 5:00 we are officially under a hurricane watch. About time!

Hurricane Food

And you thought they were only for camping?

Wilma, Day 4

So she's just hanging out on the Yucatan not moving. Sounds like eventually she'll move again and get moving towards FL. Should be here during the day Monday as maybe a 2. I wish she'd just get here already, this is annoying! Most people will be boarding up today and tomorrow. We're getting some of the outer bands of rain today and tomorrow. We had heavy rains yesterday which flooded the roads around our apartment, which is pretty much par for the course. It doesn't take much rain to flood the street at the entrance. Luckily once it stops raining, it doesn't take too long to drain. Could be a problem if we get a lot of rain during the hurricane. Not a threat to any buildings, it just makes it hard to get in and out of the complex.

Last night we completey rearranged the living room and dining room. We brought the computer out of Lora's bedroom and put it in the little space where the dining room table was and made that kind of a little office. Put the table where the TV was, put the TV where the couch was and moved the couch into the middle of the living room (obviously this is for the benefit of those who have been here and know what I'm talking about). It's made it much more cozy. We had been thinking of moving the computer out here for awhile, we were just trying to figure out how best to do it.

So today and tomorrow it will be just sitting around waiting for this stupid hurricane. We've got a few movies from the library and netflix. Might even have to catch a movie at the theater as well. Can't golf, can't play tennis...might go over and see Audra and see if I can help them put up their shutters.

If there are any significant changes in the forecast, I'll be sure to post them. Not much else to do.

It's Raining Cats and Dogs!

Getting some pretty heavy thunderstorms this afternoon, not really hurricane related, but I'm bored. I'd have posted a picture I took, but again, I can't get it to work. We got some pretty strong storms this morning as well. Not really good for when the hurricane does get here-it doesn't take very strong winds to knock down trees when the ground is saturated. Supposed to have rain showers off and on all weekend and then Wilma sometime on Monday. I've heard all sorts of theories, so who knows when, where and how strong? My guess today, Friday at 2:30 EDT is the eyewall will pass very close to us-maybe slightly to the south (Jupiter area) on Monday early afternoon as a Cat 2 Hurricane. That's my prediction today. We'll see come tuesday how close I am.

Hurricane Wilma Part 3

NO GAS! This is twice since Wednesday they have run completely out, but I think they usually get a shipment on Friday afternoons. I've been trying to post a picture, but our computer at work is really slow and it's just not working. Guess I'll have to wait until I get home.

Wilma has slowed down a bit AGAIN. She's sort of starting to remind me of Frances a bit in that she's taking her own sweet time to get anywhere. Thankfully though, unlike Frances once Wilma gets moving into the Gulf she'll move quickly and get in and out fast. Frances hung around for a few days. It was really annoying, just like it's annoying how they keep pushing back the time for Wilma to reach us. Now they're saying late Monday into Tuesday.

I noticed yesterday some of the businesses in the strip malls along US1 are starting to board up. I'm sure more will over the weekend. I saw a sign down the road from here that says "Wilma, go back to Bedrock!" Funny!
The car is fixed. Had to replace belts and a pulley, but it didn't cost as much as I thought it would, so everything is good.

Hurricane Wilma Part 2

First-to explain the belt photo- that's what broke on my car this morning and I put it there so my mom could see it and help describe it to the garage to because I can't figure out which belt it is- everything seems to be working. Anyway, I'm now just sitting here waiting for AAA to come get it so I can get it fixed. What joy for today!

On to WIlma. She's slowed a bit so it's now not supposed to get here unitl late Sun, early AM Monday. Track is still pretty much over us. That's one thing I hate about hurricanes- you have so much time before it gets here. It's like hurry up and wait!

Lora got water at Publix this morning so we're set on that. The gas station accross the street has gas and has been busy, but no real lines yet today. I think people aren't in as much as a rush now that it's slowed down a bit more. A lot more people filling up gas cans for their generators, etc. today.

Belt

Gratuitous Gracie Shot!

Taken this weekend. I just figured out how to post photos, and I thought you would all like to look at something cuter than a grapefruit.

Texas has nothing on us!

This is a giant grapefruit that Lora brought home today. I think it came off the tree of her boss. I realize it's hard to get an idea from the picture, but trust me it's HUGE!

Hurricane Wilma Part 1.5

Well, the 5:00 updates didn't really change much, the track went slightly south again but it's still too early to get too acurate.

Went to WalMart after work. It was a zoo, of course. They had no water, but they did have batteries! Luckily Lora had to get gas at noon and the gas station had water so she got a few gallons, so we've got a couple. I'll try Publix tomorrow. We did manage to stock up on snacks and other food. One side note that doesn't have anything to do with the hurricane-we needed peppers, we normally get them at the produce market but we won't get there in the next few days so we got some at walmart. Well, their signs are awfully deceptive. We thought it said $1.43/pound- which is a little high but reasonable for walmart. THEY WERE $1.48 A PIECE!!!! So I ended up spending $8 on peppers. At the produce market, they would have been $3. We didn't realize it until after we checked out so I decided to just suffer. There better be gold in them peppers! I already hate that walmart, now I REALLY hate that walmart!

Lora got some battery powered lanterns at Bed Bath and Beyond. They're really cool and will work well. I was sitting there thinking, if we get the hurricane Sunday and we lose power for 3 days or so like last time we'd get electricity back by my birthday! So if any of you asked me now what I want for my birthday, it's electricity!

As long as Wilma weakens as expected once it reaches the gulf, we're staying put. If it doesn't, we're going to leave. Don't know where we'd go, and really it would almost be too late to start out for anywhere, but we'll see!

I noticed that they're taking down some of the stoplights that are just hanging on wires in preparation. There's usually 3 sets, they've removed 2 and left one. I guess they figure if they can save 2 out of 3, that's not bad...

The gas station across the street from the office ran out of gas completly before 1. They did get a shipment in later in the afternoon and then the lines were formed again!

I'll update again in the morning.

Hurricane Wilma Part 1

Just got our 11AM updates. It's a Cat 5 with a pressure of 882 MB-still making it the lowest pressure recorded in an atlantic storm. The latest track map is slightly more unfavorable for us than the previous, this one the center would pass directly over us or slightly to the north...apparently with this storm the worst is to the south of the eye. I don't understand this, because with our other two hurricanes, the strongest was to the north of the eye and I thought it was because of the rotation of the storm, which I thought would be the same. Guess I'll just have to listen to the weather guys and find out.

There is a slight lull at the gas station across the street. Earlier there were lines. Can't figure that out, not many of them were filling up cans, and I would think since it's only Wednesday what they put in their tanks will be mostly gone by Saturday...I'm sensing that a lot of people are going to leave with this one. Oh, I just noticed that the station across the street has run out of everything but the ultimate. Seems awfuly early in the game for this to be starting.

We're planning on going to Walmart after work to stock up. Here is my list(thought you all might be interested in knowing what we go through, the whole process and all):

Water (at least 6 gallons, hopefully they aren't out yet)
Bread
Peanut Butter (we're almost out at home, and we ate a lot of it last time)
Batteries (AA and D for flashlights, radios, portable cd player)
New Flashlight (we have 2 small ones, it would be nice to have a little bigger one)
One of those handy lighter things
Candles that don't smell (everyone has the smelly ones around, but we've learned from past experience that having the smelly ones gets sickening after awhile, especially when you're burning everything you have for light...sometimes the different smells don't go together well)

We'll also just get anything that looks good to eat that doesn't need cooking or refrigeration.

We also have been looking at getting one of those small table top gas grills for just these times so we may break down and get one. We've got quite a bit of meat in the freezer right now that we should have a way to cook if need be.

I'll have further updates as they come. If you have questions, just post them in the comments and I'll answer them on the next post.

Some reviews...

But first, hurricane news, again. Wilma may come our way. Hoping it doesn't and it's too early to say anything for sure, but it looks likely that we'll at least get part of her this weekend.

Saw quite a few movies this weekend. Rented Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Very good movie. Obviously aimed at teenagers but any age group will enjoy it. It's about 4 friends who are about 16 or 17 and they all go their seperate ways for the summer but before leaving find this pair of jeans that magically fit each of them- they are all very different sizes and shapes. They decide to get the jeans and share them over the summer. Each get them for a week before sending them on to the next girl. Each girl has good things happen to them when they have the pants (although it's not always immediatley obvious what the pants brought to them). It's a good story and worth renting.

Saw Jodie Foster's Flightplan in the theater finally. It was very good. Pretty suspenseful. While watching it you know somebody on the plane has got to be involved, but you're not quite sure who. I enjoyed the movie, it was a good way to spend the afternoon.

Music- I got Kathy Mattea's new CD (Right Out of Nowhere) when it came out a few weeks ago. It is FABULOUS of course! For those who aren't aware, Kathy's last few albums have not been anything remotley like country- it's more folk/adult contemporary. If you like Celtic music, you should give her last few albums a listen, she is heavily influenced by it, and its very apparent by the songs she chooses. On this album, the title track, Right Outta Nowhere is really good as is the song she wrote on the album, Give it Away.

Martina McBride has a new album out today, Timeless. She has covered about 18 old, classic country songs. The current single off the album is Lynn Anderson's Rose Garden. I remember loving that song as a small child. Martina's version is AWESOME! I absoultely love it, and I rarely like remakes, especially of classics. I'm excited to hear the rest of the album and plan to get it this afternoon.

My fantasy football teams are doing much better since I benched Culpepper. Last week I won both games and this week I split them. Finally it's fun again! What's with those Vikings anyway? They're embarassing! The Gophers could probably beat them handily!

Erik doesn't like when I write about football, he thinks I should write about baseball so here's what I think. I don't care who is in the World Series against the White Sox, I hope they beat them! I'm sort of hoping it's Houston, but St. Louis would be fine, too.

He doesn't like when I write about NASCAR, either, but too bad. Mark Martin is back in the hunt for the championship! Thanks to his win at Kansas and his 5th place finish at Charlotte last week...this could finally be his year. Too bad I didn't renew my ticket on time this year, the Miami season ender sold out way sooner than last. I went to get my ticket the same time as I did last year and they were already sold out. Well, there's always Ebay...

Yes, I'm finally updating my blog...

It's been busy the last few months. I made a trip home to eat cheese curds and go on the road rally and go to a wedding. Stopped at the DOT and saw ERIK (are you satisfied now, your name is in my blog) and Andrea and Joann. Had a nice lunch with Joann and Lisa.

Work has been busy, but now I'm enterting a slow period again. I don't get to be on the computer too much at home, I've got 2 others competing for time and since I have access all day at work, I don't push it.

I've been playing a bit of tennis and golf. Very fun!

Why do the Vikings suck so bad? Unfortunatley, I wound up with Daunte on BOTH of my fantasy teams as my QB. Needless to say, I haven't won a game yet.

One of these days I'll figure out how to post pictures on here.

I've also been totally hooked on this guy's website that details his 16 month trip around the world. It's awesome, he's a great writer and photographer. Check out the slideshow on his site "would you?" it's quite inspiring. Now if only I could figure out a way to make enough money to travel around the world... his site is: http://tblogs.bootsnall.com/theglobaltrip/

Hopefully I'll post again soon!