I want to beat him with the keyboard he used to write the email.

Wow, TR, you do look like Diana.

GC

Up here in Iowa I've been a little behind on the news and stuff. Just read that Charlie made landfall as a category 4 myself.

I'm worried along with the rest of you. Sounds like a really bad storm. Prayers to all MB's in the storm's path. They have so much going on in their lives already.

LL

All is well in Pinellas County (Tampa Bay area). We've barely even had any rain, though I suspect we'll get some of the outer-bands still. Thankfully not as bad as they predicted here but I feel for those south of here.

Hmmmm. Glad it missed Pinellas - I looked it up on the map, and was hoping most of it would miss you, and Tampa.

I am going to assume that the rest have evacuated or have no power.

Still praying.

Most evacuation orders for this area (West of US 19) have been lifted but I suspect that most people will probably stay away until tomorrow.

There were planned power outages by the power company, but I believe power was either turned back on or never shut off to begin with.

I believe Treereich said she went to stay with friends, but if it was TO Orlando she went..hmm..not sure. Didn't look like a good place to be. But she might live there and went somewhere else for the storm, not sure. I suspect we will not hear from her until tomorrow.

She lives in Orlando, and went somewhere else. She was worried about 60 to 70 mph winds. Apparently her WH needed to be with OW, instead of helping his family. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.

All is well here....WH came here all day (from 1pm to about 9pm) and we watched movies all day.

It barely even rained. I am still glad we took the precautions we needed to take. I feel for the people who were south of us in the Venice, Ft. Myers, Punta Gorda, Sarasota area. The whole time they were projecting a direct Tampa Bay hit, so I do not know how prepared those folks were.

I hate to celebrate it missing us, when it pounded my fellow Floridians.

Pray that the damage was not too significant!

Thanks for the prayers you sent my way for me and my family. It was appreciated!

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by graycloud:
<strong> ...Wow, TR, you do look like Diana.

GC </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Hey GC,
I thought the same!!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

That TR is cute! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" /> I'll bet the OW looks like a dog. re: The better the BS looks the worse the OW looks..... LOL!!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="images/icons/tongue.gif" />

L.

How's everyone doing? Now we have to worry about the Carolinas.

Anyone here yet? Still very worried. I have been watching the whole thing on TV today. Looks very grim.

believer: I, too, am a bit concerned. It just gets worse and worse with every hour passing as I watch the news reports about the D & D. I posted a new thread about TreeReich. I hope I am completely wrong, but I actually think she evacuated right into the path. (Original reports were Tampa...'cept it moved alot more east than they thought.) I hope I'm wrong. Either way, I know there's fog...but there's also just common human consideration. Tree's H is a D1CK--unless, but some miracle, he came through at the last moment. (And I would have absolutely no problem saying that to his face--justification foe me writing it.)

Me? (Besides having a real SH1@@Y weekend,) found out yesterday one of my uncle's passed. <img border="0" alt="[Teary]" title="" src="graemlins/teary.gif" /> Only problem? My Aunt lives in Boston; I'm in NY. Battening down my hatches now, only to travel with it up to Boston. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="images/icons/mad.gif" />

TreeReich lives in Orlando. She was going to stay with a girlfriend. Hope she went the right direction. I can tell you right now, her WH didn't come thru at the last minute. He would rather be with OW, than save his family.

The funny thing is, I haven't been angry with my WH until this happened to TR. Now I think I will go over to his house and throw rocks at him.

Hey you guys!!! Thanks for all the prayers!

We (H, kids and I) are in center of the state, got hit pretty hard, but are ok!!!

We lost power around 7 pm Friday night, and have only gotten it back within the last couple of hours. Water was out, and lots of people don't have phones either. Some areas are 3 days to 2 weeks out before they get power!!! And, that's not the hardes hit areas!!!

Keep praying for those who haven't posted in yet - they'll need it!!! It's really tough to go without the AC in this Florida heat, but no water or phones, can drive ya nuts!!! We aint in the "good old days" anymore - we're all softies!!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" />

OK, anybody else out there able to post in and let us know you're ok??

Still praying for you all!!

Tom Joad is doing good, well maybe not good, but OK for sure. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" />

I work as a Fire Lt. in Pinellas County and had to work on Thursday... and fully expected to be held over to work throughout the weekend on hurricane duty.

Before I left for work I asked my WW if we had to evacuate where she planned on taking the kids... and that her and the kids were welcome at my sisters. ( She lives about 2 miles away - high and dry in a non-evacuation zone.) We live on a lake and in a flood zone.

She gave me the typical answer. "I'll take care of it don't you worry" I told her I wanted to know where she was going to take the kids because I would probably be working and wanted to know where they were and that they were safe. She told me that they would be safe and she always made sure they were safe.

I just wanted to know where my family would be at during a hurricane ...is that too much for a reasonable person to understand.

After much prodding she said that she wouldn't be going to my sisters. But she might go to her sister's house in Lakeland 120 miles away. I asked her to leave me directions so I could find my way there when I got off duty. (She has kept her sisters house secret from me and her phone # too until last month)

She said she wouldn't leave a map, that I could just call her for directions. I was a bit perturbed to say the least. Who knew what the phone lines were going to be like, and if she would even answer her phone for that matter.

I never would have imagined my WW trying to keep my family away from me during the hurricane. In an emergency. Not letting me know until the last minute where she was taking them. Not giving me the peace of mind to actually work at the firehouse.

Turned out she took them to her friends house. A friend who is separated from her husband and probably going to divorce. I went there on Friday afternoon with some supplies and stayed till early evening with the family.

When the evacuation order was lifted and we returned home, she told me in that if this happens again, I had better find a different place to go, I was not welcome there.

Can you imagine, that was my wife of 15 years with my two kids telling me that. She also told me I have no say in where the kids go, or the right to know even.

My WW acutally tried to sweep my kids away without telling me where they would be. Not the best situation for me, trapped in a firehouse, with no idea where my family was or if they were safe.

<small>[ August 14, 2004, 09:49 PM: Message edited by: Tom Joad ]</small>

I thank everyone for their prayers. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

YL, TJ! Great to hear you both are OK! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

TJ--I don't envy your line of work; I've *always* respected civli servants as yourself on the front line (cs myself--"desk" job though) and certainly it was even more so escalated since 9/11--knew/knew friends family members that knew many of our finest and bravest that lost their lives. Anyway, goin off track...I'm sure it won't be easy for you in the coming weeks with what you have to deal with ontop of your regular duties.

Keeping all of you in our prayers!

Tom - I've been thinking about you. Knew you were a firefighter, but no idea what part of Florida. These WS's really are something, aren't they? Hard to believe how messed up they are.

Tree Reichs WH left her to evacuate her and son by herself.

Hopefully they will be able to pull their heads out of you know where, and soon!

For everyone else that would like to support - the Salvation Army and Redcross are taking donations by phone.

Hello All,

I am in the Tampa Bay area, and as has been posted before, all is well here.

Re: Orlando...I have a very dear friend who lives there and I did receive a message on my phone this morning. Land lines are down in many areas, and cellular service is sparse. So TreeReich may be fine but simply unable to find a way to communicate, let alone have Internet access.

Think the best. The biggest thing I have heard is that a lot of very large trees were uprooted, causing damage to homes and automobiles.

Keep the faith, all!

YL and ISgirl - Thanks for the update. We all have been watching this mess on TV. Now I see that there is no power a lot of places, no running water, and it is hot.

I sent a small donation to the Florida disaster program. I know we are not supposed to solicit here, but hope others can donate. Although most damage will be covered by insurance, in the meantime money is needed.

Ten years ago, my house burned down. My children and I escaped with only our pajamas. Neighbors, friends, and the RedCross helped us immediately after. More than the material things, I appreciated the thought that others cared. It really changed my outlook from hopeless to hopeful and happy.

Thanks for the prayers. We live in St. pete (flood zone A) so we were one of the first out. We evac'd to ft. Lauderdale.

We had to drive back up I-75 yesterday and Punta Gorda was really ripped up along the interstate....keep them in your prayers.

God Bless