Sunday, August 17, 2008

Here we go again?!!

It's hurricane season once again...not that it hasn't been hurricane season since May, but we have our first possibility of a storm that may be hitting us this week. When warnings were issued in past years, I just kinda smirked and thought, "Whatever" because nothing substantial ever happened...but then we had the infamous (at least in FL) 2004 hurricane season. We had 5 hurricanes that hit us that year, Charley, Jeanne, Ivan, Bonnie, and Frances......Awful! We got the most damage from Charley and Frances...debris everywhere, we lost our fence, neighbors had trees uprooted and worst of all (in my opinion) was no electricity for 5 days. 5 days+ no AC+ Florida in August= miserable!! You start off thinking, "oh it's not too bad, we'll be just fine", but by the 3rd and 4th day, you are a stark, raving mad woman with crazy hair, crazy eyes, crazy everything. I remember after Katrina hit New Orleans seeing a mom with a baby being interviewed the first day, she was chipper, all ready to go for this adventure. They found her 5 days later, and she was that aforementioned crazed woman. I remember thinking, "I know just what you're feeling sister!"

(do you see how Ivan and Jeanne actually left and then came back again?! WTF!!!)

The shortages are another thing that sucks...gas starts going before the storm hits because people stockpile for their cars, generators, and who knows what else. So the stations that still have gas after the storm have lines for miles. No big deal right?! Wrong! because of debris fields and the fact the ports where the gas come in are closed, gas deliveries may be a week or two out. Does your state ever have plywood shortages?! Florida does...everyone becomes a madman trying to get plywood to board up their windows...Florida looks pretty ugly preparing for a storm! And the big ticket item, GENERATORS...the neighborhood fills with the sound of constantly running motors from these God-sends!! But good luck finding these little beauties prior to or after a storm...We got our generator (finally) after Frances hit. The kids and I had escaped to Delaware. My sister flew into Orlando to come get us (isn't she awesome?!); she was probably one of 3 people flying into Orlando at that time!!! Up in Delaware, I started calling all around to find a generator to drive back down to Florida. The response at all the stores, "we are all out of generators" - Whaat?! "we've had to ship them all down to Florida". After pleading my case (using my seemingly permanent crazed-woman mannerisms) I tracked one down in Philadelphia. It was so worth it!! We actually wanted more hurricanes to hit so we could use that bad boy!!

Since our hurricane season from Hell, the local news goes ape shit if there is something brewing off the Canary Islands (yes, I now know where the hurricanes originate from, I know what NOAA stands for and I have their website as a "favorite" on my computer", I've gotten to know Jim Cantore from the weather channel and if he says something is coming, I believe it!!, I get the joke, "If Jim Cantore is reporting from your home town, you better leave"). So currently, we have Tropical Storm Fay (that's right tropical storm) that's right about at Cuba and our governor, has called a state of emergency for Florida...Huh?! It's not even scheduled to tickle the toes of Florida until Tuesday...but a state of emergency now?! Nothing like freaking out the natives!!! The news is eating it up...we have flashes underneath all programming letting us know the current statistics of the tropical storm. It is predicted we will feel the results of the storm on Wednesday...I always look forward to returning to my days as a mad woman; however, I do need a new fence :)



I'll leave you with a little joke that Cameron told me today that seems appropriate:

Knock, Knock

Who's there?

Wayne

Wayne Who?

Wayne, Wayne, go away!

14 comments:

Hippie Family... said...

cute joke.. and funny thing about Charlie (y) that's my pop and my aunt and bro both live in florida and said the same thing... he hit hard..

Frizzy said...

Cute joke. Even cuter when you're not going to be in the thick of such weather. Stay safe. I can see you do a pretty good job of keeping your sense of humor in tact. That's a hard thing to do when your home and even family are being threatened all the time. I don't think I could do it. You'll be in our prayers.

Rhea said...

Cute Wayne joke. lol

Your hurricane map from 2004 was hilarious and horrible at the same time. I can't believe some of those hurricanes turned and came BACK. Talk about a nightmare. I've never had to deal with one, or gas shortages or any of that stuff, and I cannot imagine how horrible it would be. UGH. I go nuts if I lose electricty for an hour or two.

Good luck, hope Faye doesn't visit!!

Jennifer said...

OMG--that's so scary! I feel for you--we don't live in hurricane territory--but we had a terrble (not a tornado, but close) storm about a year ago. It knocked down trees, our fence, etc. We were w/out power and phone (no Internets!!) for days.

I hope all those storms steer clear of you!!

Unknown said...

Oh girlie... I feel for you.. Being a Texas girl been there, done that. Remember me telling you about Hurricane Alicia? Mmmm hmmm... Could be worse, you could be 42 & 9 months preggers.
Saying my prayers for you!
Love you! T

Anonymous said...

I can't imagine living in hurricane country. I'm too much of a worrier.

Jen said...

That is so scary. I will be thinking about you and hoping that you are alright. Hopefully, the only thing you will have to deal with is where to get your new fence.

Keys to the Magic Travel said...

We get a similar thing here if there is a possibility of snow or ice. Because it doesn't happen that often. But the entire town goes crazy. Buying milk and toilet paper. And generators. About 5-6 years ago, we had a horrible ice storm, where we had no power for 4 day. Four days of below freezing weather. It was awful. And we didn't have enough sense to get a hotel.

but...anyway...stay safe...and maybe Faye will find a new course...

(but hopefully, some part of her will make her way to the Atlanta area. We DESPERATELY need the rain...)

Keys to the Magic Travel said...

We get a similar thing here if there is a possibility of snow or ice. Because it doesn't happen that often. But the entire town goes crazy. Buying milk and toilet paper. And generators. About 5-6 years ago, we had a horrible ice storm, where we had no power for 4 day. Four days of below freezing weather. It was awful. And we didn't have enough sense to get a hotel.

but...anyway...stay safe...and maybe Faye will find a new course...

(but hopefully, some part of her will make her way to the Atlanta area. We DESPERATELY need the rain...)

Keys to the Magic Travel said...

Comment so nice, it published twice :-)

Unknown said...

I don't know how Florida people do it. I could not live with the hurricanes (at least it is better than tornadoes, you have some warning with a hurricane). We had Isabelle's effects when we lived in Delaware and losing power for 24 hours was horrible. Not to mention thinking the house was coming down the whole night with the wind. I can't imagine what it is like being in the true storm. Florida is always the one place dh and I refuse to move to.
Stay safe no matter tropical storm or hurricane!

lemonologie said...

I guess it's that time of year again. Just when the gas prices were beginning to go down somewhat. Stay safe! BTW - what a cute joke!

Anonymous said...

Not fun.
I hope you and your stay safe.
Oh, and the joke is so cute!

candela :):) said...

ohqepetete@live.com.ar :D add to MSN as we speak :D