Hurricane Gustav

Like the new look of the blog, Robbie.

We have vacillations here about whether to stay or go. We'll probably stay, or at least, I hope Michael stays - to look after the two dogs, two cats, two parakeets, and a beta fish named Sammy. I would like to sit tight and go into survival mode, but I could not live with myself if anything happened to my people.

Another potential, Julia has options of sisters and a cousin (Shelby) that she could evacuate or stay with. Angela said she's welcome. The lady we babysit for said she'd take her too. It's got to be handy to have the nanny with you, right? And Aaron, Michael, and I can weather a cat 3. We've done it before. We know what that's like. We will watch the sky for falling trees. :)

I thought meteorolgists would know something more concrete, today, of where Gustav will land, but now the story is they'll know by Sunday. We have financial considerations through it all. I don't make money when I don't work. Already, that's being taken out of my control - as shows have been cancelled at Snug Harbor - until further notice. They are still going to be open tonight, and maybe tomorrow too, so they can try to sell as much food as they can from the freezer and fridge. What a mess, and a waste, when the city's electricity went out after Katrina. Stinky, stinky. I cannot or don't want to spend money on a hotel too. Bob Breck layed that out to viewers the other day when he advised against panicking unnecessarily and evacuating. He forewarned about the next 4 weeks being very volatile weather out there in the seas, and possibly ("probably" is what I heard) more reasons to evacuate. He was advising people wait to see what's going to happen instead of assuming the worst. We may just get kissed by the wind of Gustav.

On the plus side, in the case of flooding and fires, Michael's working for ServiceMaster now - which does fire and flood restorations. He may be picking up my economic slack. Oh the mixed blessings a storm can bring...

Still vacillating. Sue has graciously welcomed us coming that way. Michael is preparing to stay, and I am still inclined to stay too. Julia is another matter. She is alarmed that I am even considering staying. For days now, I have had to deflect her. She'll have to go. I am sure I will snap in the wind when she starts on me during the forces.

Aaron still wants to stay - though I am sure he'd love to visit with his cousin, Patrick.

The gas supply is already dried up here in Mandeville. I have less than 3/4's of a tank; Michael used up some yesterday to get supplies; soft drinks, more bottled water, shaving cream (?,)and a box of cereal. We have at least two cases of MRE's leftover from after Katrina. The vegetarian burger is their best meal in a package and I am sure there is only one of those left. I'll just eat the shaving cream and down it with water.

They should rename Gustav "The Cone of Uncertainty".

At least you have a plan: eat the shaving cream and down it with water. I'm still trying to figure out what I can do -- I know what I want to do: stay right here.

We are all watching from afar again. Should things take a turn for the worse and ANYONE who wants/needs a place to visit is welcome here. John is leaving on Tuesday for a 3month stint in Texas/New Mexico working on the border fence. Stay safe.

Ray Nagin (mayor of New Orleans) just came on TV saying that this is "the mother of all storms." I couldn't beleive my ears! I thought they had rolled tape of Katrina moments for comparison or something. It sounds just like before Katrina. We are headed to Destin tomorrow sometime very early- we were there for Katrina as well. Elizabeth and Scott are in Ft. Walton tonight and then on to Orlando to stay with Scott's parents tomorrow. Christina and Phil are on the parking lot called I10 headed to Atlanta right now. Mama is at Katie's tonight. They plan to stay but will leave tomorrow if necessary. I still have rooms booked in Niceville, FL if they need them. David is in Slidell staying at his house. That's all the news here- can't beleive this is happening again so soon!!! I thought we had 30 years before we saw another big one.