The Guild 8-22-2004 Surviving Hurricane Charley

[BigWaveBetty]

It's a wonderful morning!

[Iowa Granny]

Incredible photos. Glad you're back. Thanks to alerting HLL as to your well being. It took a load off of everybody's mind.

[Fintan]

 

Just glad you & yours are well!!!

[BigWaveBetty]

Thanks for worrying about us. I called HLL right after we surveyed the neighborhood and I couldn't believe we didn't end up with a tree on our house. One family had two 30 foot oaks on their home!

[BigWaveBetty]

Awwwww, those are beautiful. Thanks Fintan!

[Timeout]

Oh, BWB, those pictures are so sad. When Hurricane Frederick hit Mobile in '79 it was months before all the trees and debris had been picked up. When it was all over we realized even the "light" in town looked different...the loss of trees made a profound impact on the look of the city. My parents lost 17 trees in their yard alone! 6 were undamaged.

It was surreal to drive down streets formerly lined with majestic oaks...streets which now looked like a just-built subdivision. Everyone agreed that it was the loss of the trees that hurt the most. It was very tempting to plant fast-growing trees, but they have shallow roots and would be susceptible to future storms. The city replanted all the oaks on the streets and supplemented with crepe myrtles to fill in while the oaks grew. Twenty five years later those streets are once again shaded by admittedly younger oak branches. Mixed with the crepe myrtles, they look beautiful. Moral: Plant trees NOW!

Glad you're all OK and have your power back. Thanks for the post. J.

[NautiNurse]

Great to see you are getting things back to functional. Awe inspiring photos. The sound of chainsaws is a welcome one, for sure.

We dodged the big bullet here, and are doing all that we can to assist with the recovery efforts for our neighbors south and east. Take care, and let me know if there is anything I can do.

[BigWaveBetty]

All those downed trees are sad (unfortunately the wind didn't get that scraggly pine tree my neighbor planted right next to our fence!) and I haven't had a chance to drive through many areas like Winter Park where I grew up to see what damage was done.

I wish I owned a nursery about now ;-) there will be furious planting going on around no doubt!

Props to Stewart! What time is he playing today?

[BigWaveBetty]

Thanks NautiNurse. The best sound of all was the beeping from my appliances that accompanies the power being restored. All the neighbors were hooping, hollering and setting off fireworks. I hooped and hollered too. :-)

It's been so hot! Luckily Sat. and Sun. of last week were overcast and cooler but later in the week the temp was 97.

All the neighbors are helping the older folks in the hood and we just about have everything cleaned up. Our county has already been by with the pick 'em up crane to remove the large tree debris. I love Seminole County.

[Timeout]

He goes off at 2:40 Eastern. Coverage begins on CBS at 2:30.

I think the lightning got my cable Friday night. My TV reception is covered with snow-like little white dots...unfortunately I'm trying to follow one particular little white dot after every tee shot! Very frustrating.

My broadband connection is also erratic. I may not be able to post much this afternoon. It seems OK for the moment.

USA Today has a very nice article.

Stewart Cink pumps his fist after making birdie on the 18th hole during the third round. Cink holds a five-shot lead.

[BigWaveBetty]

Kerry "helps" a lady over a mud puddle during his visit to Charlotte County.

[BigWaveBetty]

Thanks for the info! I'll be watching and crossing my fingers for Stewart.

Ugh on your cable problems! After being without any for more than a week I can say, "I feel your pain!" Hopefully it will behave during Stewart's play.

[dukeman]

Hey, is Kerry trying to find more rich women? :-)

Glad to hear you're okay there near Orlando. Your area may have been the most surprised of all. I live in Sarasota County about 30 miles up the road from Punta Gorda/Port Charlotte. We thought it was coming to us.

Living without electricity really stinks, doesn't it?

[quantim]

Here's another view.  Just the thought of Kerry touching...let's just say it's a stomach turner.

[MaeWest]

So glad you're back and everyone in your family is well. Great pics - wow, that must have been an amazing experience.

[MaeWest]

..let's just say it's a stomach turner

Now we know why TaRayZuh is always cringing.

BTW, does anyone else think of Bela Lugosi when they hear TaaaRaaaaayZuh speak. "I ammm Count Drrrrrrracula. I vaaant to drrrrink yourrrr blooood." (Get those 'drag and trill' accents working, folks.)

[BigWaveBetty]

Stinks doesn't begin to cover it! I had bought a bunch of food thinking it might skirt us and since Grandpa was coming to stay who knew how long... I went out Friday afternoon and bought 80 lbs. of ice. Mr. B chuckled at me but by Saturday afternoon he thought I was the smartest wife on the block. I'm guessing all total I threw out about 300 dollars worth of food.

Did the storm get you at all? Boy it's hot here, but it must be unbearable down in Sarasota County.

[BigWaveBetty]

Thanks Mae, I'm so glad to be back.

It was quite an experience.

By Tuesday evening we got tired of no tellie and bought a small tv with an antenna. What was one of the first things I saw?! Kofi Annan unveiling this plaque with the names of the 22 UN victims of the bombing of United Nations headquarters in Baghdad.

How many people in the Sudan are being starved and murdered??!!!!! But this the UN has time and money for. Blech!

[BigWaveBetty]

The poor woman got a hug too.

Ewwwww, skin crawling, must look away!

Wonder where Teresa was, too busy to come and comfort the little people?