And now Frances?! This isn't fair!

[Me&DappledDuo]

Well, Frances is bearing down on East Central FL. And where do I live? East Central FL. We haven't recovered from Charley yet! There are people without roofs, cut down trees lining the streets, some areas haven't had garbage pickup YET, and parts are here are STILL without power!

So... since it worked for Mississippi last time... PLEASE wish Frances away! It's pretty much futile- there's NOTHING out there to redirect her right now. But it's worth a try, right? :tears:

[doxunzX3]

Just sending a few good thoughts and prayers your way!:pray: :fainty: Wow how much more are you guys going to have to put up with down that way! Keep yourself safe and the doxies too!:comfort:

[blueyezz74]

I heard last night that Frances is coming your way!

What is it this year with all the Hurricanes hitting FL? Hopefully Frances fizzles out and gets downgraded!

:rayz: :rayz: :rayz: to all the FL people!!!

[dutchman]

Let's just hope this Frances isn't as stubborn or have the kick of the famous movie Frances (Frances the talking mule, Frans in the Army, etc.).

[quavec]

prayers :pray: and rayz:rayz: :rayz: heading your way!

GO AWAY FRANCES! (think that might have scared her?)

Anyway, I have been keeping an eye out for her and futily hoping a nice cold front will come by and take the steam out of her sails for you. Looks like Florida and the lower east coast are gonna get the poop knocked out of them. If any of you want to bunk down at our place w/your pups, come on over. I highly discourage this tho since I live VERY close to the water and we are usually the ones to get a mandatory evac.

Please stay safe and keep us updated on what and/or where you will be going/doing!

[yolanda]

You are spared. As long as the aftermath misses me (hehehe) I still have standing water in my back area beacuse of TS Gstone.

:D :D

[kpm_tex]

Merry suggests getting all those dachshunds and other dogies down there to start barking to scare the hurricane away!!!

http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Sep/2004911153805956364212.jpg

[SirOliversMom]

:rayz: :rayz: :rayz: :rayz: Here's wishing a big ol Canadian cold wind knocks the sails out of that storm. Good luck! Please be safe.

[Orchid Crazy]

I was hoping he/she would die down since it went from a 4 to a 3, but I saw this morning it went back up to a 4. Prayers go out to all Florida residents.

Hey Chrissie, you can always come visit us up in CT, it's been beautiful here lately. But then you have to allow my crew to come visit you - haha!!! You know what they say about payback...

Looks like my sis in GA may be feeling the results of this one as well.

[Lilaminallover]

:raz::raz::raz::raz: to keep frances away! please get out of there now before all the roads are blocked, oh and if your neighbor left animals behind please take them or let somebody know.THANKS! anyways take care and be careful!:flower:
(((muttering)))stupid hurricanes,stupid destruction, stupid winds,stupid water:devil: :fierce:
oh am i still typing....oops,...HIII:o

[Me&DappledDuo]

Oh, Frances isn't as much of a danger to us as she is a pain in the rear. New construction in FL is AMAZINGLY tough- we all live in stucco covered cinder blocks- which is something other states don't see much! :)

We had 115-120 MPH winds when Charley came to visit- and RIGHT NOW... if she stays on her current track... we should see 100MPH winds at most. We didn't even lose a shingle with the last one- so I don't want to push our luck too much- but at least we're all getting prepared. There is truly NO safer place to be than a cinder block construction with NO big trees around. The pups and I- and yes, even that rotten ex 'o mine- will be just fine.

And... because I DO learn... I went shopping. I have a whole variety of delicious foods that will survive a lack of refridgeration. And... NO PEANUT BUTTER! :lol:

One of my favorite guys in the world- who also happens to be one of my many "bosses"- has offered me and the puppers room in their cabin up in Tennessee, where he and his family will hole up. He has daughters my age- and they are SO much fun to be around- but I think I'll be too nervous to go away and enjoy myself. :scared:

So- like a true Floridian- I'm going to ride Frances out. I DO hope that the people on the coast and the people with mobile homes are already making plans, though!

[blueyezz74]

Yeah, you won't have suffer through Peanut Butter sandwiches this time!!! :D

[kpm_tex]

Hope you stocked up on can goods since last time... make sure the gas grill has a full tank too!! Oh.. and GO GAS UP THE CAR!

[juliette]

Check list..

1) food (sounds like you've already dealt with that)
2) GAS!
3) cash money! (ATMS get knocked out fast)
4) candles
5) a couple of good books

and most importantly....

6) three warm pupper bodies to snuggle with as Frances blows away at you.

Seriously, lots of hope that it turns out to sea and doesn't effect you!

Cheers
J

[soph & li mom]

did you remember to get some turkey for Dutch?:dog:


I have to say I have an attachment to the little man and his siblings even though we have yet to meet... He just looks to darn much like the Sopher for me not to!

Take care through Frances and we will all be waiting to hear that you are all safe when it is done.

[Lilaminallover]

hey good luck and be safe!go to a shelter that allowes dogs!dont stay behind, the weather channel said that if you stay behind for this one,then leave the name and phone number of a relative to call to let them know what happend to you.:( please be careful and take this very seriously! it could turn to a cat 5 at anytime. :raz: for everyones safety! and :hugs2: please keep us updated if and when you can, but dont stay behind just to do it,we can wait a couple of days!

[TessieMom]

If wishes can make it so, we are wishing! The problem is the post-El Nino cycle... so it is a high hurricane late season.

[Patt]

I do hope Frances weakened before she got to you. Sending positive thoughts your way. Hey, I know our taxes are a little high but doesn't CA sound better with each storm? :pray: :pray:

[alfina]

One of the way they are projecting it's path, it could actually hit Gainesville. I doubt it but people here are getting ready. Just like they did for every hurricane that NEVER was even a threat to us! Water,batteries, generators are being eliminated from the store shelves. Boy, retail must love Gainesville population!

Chrissy, I an glad you leaned your lesson and won't be starving!

[Heide]

I sure hope it weakens.
You all cannot take another hit. Still so much destruction from the last one.
As I said before, you and the kids are always welcome here.
Just load yourselves up and come on.
Sending Mega Rayz your way:rayz: :rayz: :rayz: :rayz: :rayz:

[quavec]

Olga~ I have heard it is always better to be prepared and then have a bunch of extra batteries than not have them at all. Let's hope that is the case w/you! I hate that these things have to "hit" anywhere but even more so now that I "know" people all over the world :crying: How far away are you from the projected path?

[Me&DappledDuo]

Olga, I hate to say it- but this is a BIG storm. Unless those "GO AWAY, FRANCES!" rayz work a miracle- you're going to get SOME of it. :(

[Kim H.]

:yeahfine: What fun. At least we are all prepared from last time... plywood already cut to screw over windows, cash, etc., OH! - and the most important part -

A GENERATOR!! which my kind father-in-law has wired into the house circuit for us so we will be able to use refrigerator, microwave, fans, TV, etc. (not air conditioner - too much power).

Oh, and we also still have the father-in-law himself... and the mother-in-law. Welcome to Florida! This week's entertainment will be, "Watching a Category 4 Hurricane.":yeahfine: :yeahfine:

My Angel is not going to like this. She gets nervous when her routine changes.

Safety rayz for all fellow Floridians (and residents of other states) who are in the storm's path. :rayz::rayz::rayz:

[juliette]

My goodness you folks are getting clobbered this year! We're thinking about you all and will be anxiously awaiting to see you all check in with us!!

:rayz: :rayz: :rayz:

[hlblyfilly]

Sending many rays and prayers for all the Fl and GA members. We're coordinating a massive bark session to try to scare away de poison drops! Hang in dere, snuggle up wid de babies, and our best to all!

[Anatresia]

I sincerely hope that all of our Florida members will be safe (and their houses, too) in this storm. It is too soon for you to have to deal with this again and I feel for you.
As for the rest of us, the Farmer's Almanac is not predicting a very nice winter, either. This has been a bad hurricane season, a bad summer, and to top it off, I heard that prediction, too.

Rayz for you guys down there.

[quavec]

Whoo hoo! Heard the good news Frances is a Cat 3:bounce: Okay Okay, I know that is still bad, but it shows our go away hurricane rayz do work (a little)! Call me an optimist but I see this as a good sign!

[blueyezz74]

This morning on the news they were comparing Frances to Hugo that hit us 5 years ago. I don't think Hugo hit FL but I know it hit us really bad. It took me 4 hours to drive home from work because of road flooding, bridges washed away and down trees. My uncle lives on Long Beach Island in NJ and the whole island was flooded right through to the bay and he stayed on the island! Crazy old man! LOL His is like the captain that goes down with the ship. He never leaves!

I wish all of you FL people well!!!!

Does anyone else remember Hugo? Babajay, you live near me sorta, did it affect you much?

[quavec]

I'm sure anyone in the area has gotten all of the updates, but the email from NOAA that I just received says that she is dying down in intensity but slowing down her speed. Which means it could take longer than predicted to hit land and the longer she sits over the water, the chances of her increasing again are greater. That is what kills me about these things ...the uncertainty. But at least there are all of these different ways to track them before they hit. Imagine what it was like before all of this technology?:eek:

[Me&DappledDuo]

Oh, the waiting and waiting is SICKENING! I got a day and a half off- and there's NOTHING I can do but WAIT. And wait. And wait. ;)

I was JUST thinking that, though- what were things like before satellite imagery and meteorology? It's SUNNY out today- it appears to be a perfect summer afternoon, a little rain here are there, but nothing out of the ordinary.

There's this big wolf lurking out there, though- ready to attack. We'd all be sitting ducks!

And well... when she DOES roll through... it'll be a lot easier ON the ducks... cause we'll be swimming. Our lakes are at capacity- our water table is higher than I've EVER seen. And we're expecting 25" of rain tomorrow. TWENTY FIVE INCHES! That's like an entire WET month's worth! Oh boy... :yeahfine:

[blueyezz74]

Chrissie,
Are you stayng home through this whole thing? The path of Frances looks like it's going to go directly through Orlando!

[Me&DappledDuo]

:D

I know how it must sound to people- but REALLY... the ONLY reasons to evacuate from a hurricane are:
1) You live on the coast. Storm surges mean FLOODING. You can't live in a flooded home. :)

2) You live in a mobile or manufactured home. Neither can withstand much more than an afternoon shower- tropical storm force winds can do them in. :eek:

3) You're a dandy who can't handle a little time without electricity. Heehee... J/K- NONE of us can in the FL summers. :lol:
But if you have a place to go (I ALMOST took my boss up on his offer to camp out in TN... ) and don't need to be around for several days after the storm- then by all means, get out while you can. Unfortunately, I have school and work that will NOT wait for me. It takes days and days to clear the roadways and get gas back into the areas hit- so this is just not an option for me.

Besides- have you SEEN the SIZE of this storm? It could eat the whole blob of SE states in a single gulp! I'd have to run FAR if I were going to run- and it's a little late for that. :D

FL homes, especially NEW homes like mine, are BUILT to hurricane codes. We saw 120 mph winds with Charley- and my house didn't lose a shingle! :)

Cinder block homes are extremely safe. The main danger people faced during Charley was TREES falling on their homes. In this new neighborhood- the trees are still babies! They can't do any damage at all. Debris has thankfully been removed in my neighborhood for over a week now- a benefit of living in a snotty area. We're actually very, very safe here.

There's also SO much uncertainty- though the current track takes it right through Orlando (lucky us), it's a very slow storm- and isn't supposed to even make landfall until late tomorrow. A LOT could happen before then. If it stays on it's current path, we won't see the eye. We're in the very NE portion of Orlando. We WILL get strong winds- and that ugly NE quadrant which likes to birth tornados, though. :eek:

The truth is- there's NOTHING more we can do, but hunker down and wait. And wait. The storm part will suck- but it's the hours... days... even weeks without power looming ahead that really stink! But once again- because this house is in that "nicer" type of neighborhood- our power lines are buried, and we're always a top priority for power companies to get up and running again. So... we'll probably only lose a half a day or so.

Don't WORRY- really. I'm over MY freak-out period. It's out of our control- and we just have to live with that. :hugs2:

[babajay]

didn't do any damage around our area. I remember a really big one when I was a kid - my brother and I loved it (we were stupid) we had a lot of fun climbing through the branches of the huge trees that had been uprooted. Little did we know that the trees had pulled down telephone and power lines as they fell. It's a wonder we weren't electrocuted. My father whacked the both of us and that ended the fun. Kids see catastrophes much differently than adults do. Ah, to be a kid again - just fooling! Barbara. P.S. Stay safe in Florida. Barbara :flower:

[Joyce]

Hi
Hope everyone from Florida is safe. We just talked to our neighbors and everything is ok so far in our neck of the woods. The Villages, Florida. We are trying to figure when we can leave here (Pa) and get back home to Florida before Ivan decides to pay us a visit. Think we will leave Tues. as it is the only day it is supposed to be clear, so we would get one good day of driving and maybe miss the most rain from Frances. Little Dexter is in for some ride. Good thing he likes riding. I must say he is the happiest little doxie I have ever seen. He just loves people sure hope he stays that way. Today three of the neighbors grandchildren came over 12, 16, & 17 they were all on the floor just laughing and rolling around with Dexter, they all wanted to take him home. I guess we will keep him:D even when he is the :devil: dog.
Joyce

[Me&DappledDuo]

Oh! You did NOT speak that *I* name in relation to FL! JOY-CE! :crying:

I think FL may be underwater if you wait too long, though... ;)

[quavec]

http://breakingnews.nypost.com/dynamic/stories/F/FRANCES_MERCHANDISE?SITE=NYNYP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

I saw this and it just boggles my mind the things people will do to make $$ and the people who actually buy it!

[Me&DappledDuo]

Okay, Frances sucked. This weekend was one of the WORST experiences of my life- that darn storm had me trapped in my house for 4 days! I had almost zero property damage personally (that one baby tree Charley knocked down is down again... but oh well!). But as with any form of humor, SOME people will be offended by this stuff. Not me, personally- but the storm didn't have the same effect on me that it did on others.

Humor can help in these situations. Not everyone is susceptible to it's healing qualities... but many are.

One of the worst things for me during wait for and the aftermath of these storms was having to look at the expressions on everyone's faces! All these people- they all look 2 seconds away from tears. If something dumb like selling a tupperware container of "wind" makes them smile- then okay by me. :(

There IS a fine line, though- we do have to be respectful of the tragedy these storms have brought on this area and its residents. But so far... I don't think the auctions have gotten TOO bad. :)

[blueyezz74]

I just have one question:

How do you collect wind in a tupperware container???? :eek:

[quavec]

I agree Chrissie that humor can really really work wonders. But I honestly am ....... puzzled...that someone actually "thought" to do this. Now, I am sure that this may not be "authentic" air and that many people are out there trying to scam others, but for someone to think this entire thought process through astounds me. And yes, Donna, I too wondered how in the world do you "catch" it in a tupperware bowl?:eek: I hope no one thinks I am making light of the situation however. By no means did I intend to do this. Just simple curiosity at the avenues some may take in getting an extra buck out of situtations.

[kpm_tex]

Hmmmmm.. wonder if my mom can auction off the roof Francis pealed off her home.... "Hey, Maaaa!"

I don't know which is odder... someone how thinks to sell that stuff online... or those who bid on it?

[Kim H.]

I would be happy to send them a Tupperware container full of wind, rain, tree branches, palm tree fronds, and a shingle that fell off my roof... at the amazing price of **NO CHARGE**!!!! Just let me know.:)

So weird. :huh:

[juliette]

Give it a few months and I'll happily ship a COOLER worth of snow and -40 wind to all of you.....

[Anatresia]

Ooh, I can contribute to that snow fund (this is Buffalo, after all!)

Juliette of Toronto- you're not so far from me- remember what it's like to wake up freezing, shower freezing, bundle up in layers upon layers of clothing, go outside freezing, let the car heat up until you're sweating in your layers, go back outside freezing, unpeel the layers and still somehow feel cold all day at work/home???? We're almost there again.... Oh, and add in there somewhere- dressing up in your layers to deposit your scared-of-snow-and-cold wiener dog (dressed up in his red fleece jacket) into the backyard because he won't go out on his own.

I really should move...

[juliette]

Tracy - wait until January or February - I'll post my annual "how to walk two weiners at 5:30 a.m. in -40 degree weather". All of our friends down south will be through hurricane season and be able to laugh at us complaining about a little snow ;)

[quavec]

When we lived in the Memphis area, all three winters we were there had snow and ice! The whole place shut down!:dizzy: I knew how to walk and play in the snow having lived in Maine as a kid but I admit I wasn't too great at the driving part ;) And to me (as a kid), blizzards were the BEST part except having to put on ALL that darn snow gear just to go outside and play!:D And THE SHOVELING OF THE DRIVEWAY! yuck....hated doing that..parents waited until our last winter there to buy a darn snowblower. When we moved to MS, my dad went to trade in the car and the guy wanted to know what the plug was for under the hood. My dad told him it was to plug in the car (do they still have those?) and the sales guy thought he was joking :D

[blueyezz74]

Snow? Oh please don't talk about that yet. The Farmer's Almanac is calling for a wet cold winter here in the Northeast.

I will be shoveling grass so Harley can go pee. We missed out last winter because it didn't snow too much after we got him.

[FOREVER A DAXIE]

You're NOT allowed to speak about Winter!!;) ;)

It gets soooo cold for sooooo loooooong. :crying:

[SirOliversMom]

Oh let's face it Juliette..Alberta's winter has our Ontario winter beat hands down for the cold and the volume of snow. BRRR, Albertan's ideas of moving South is moving to South Ontario! No snow talk yet..I'm soooo not looking forward to putting on boots & coat on top of my nightgown at 6:30am to shovel the back patio...and pick up Oliver to deposit him on snow and MAKE him stay there and potty! UGH.