Kevin's Watch

To all of our Watchbrothers and sisters in FL - please take care and be safe. Sorry you're about to experience one of the worst 1-2 punches in history.

Don

As I type this from Tampa, FL. we are starting to ready our offices for the storm. We've boarded up some of the windows and there is tape on all of the rest. The storm track runs just to the east of our area so we will certainly get some rain and high winds but you never really know where a Hurricane will go. It might decide to run us over. Here's hoping it weakens and poses no real threat to anyone. Good luck fellow Floridians

Stay safe Tom, and all the rest in Florida. We love you.

My son and I have closed up and evacuated our home, one mile from the beach (a mandatory evacuation zone), and are hunkering down at my mom's, waiting to see when and where this storm will hit.

Foamy and her dad are up in MA, getting her settled at college. My son and I were supposed to join them up there, but our Friday afternoon flight was cancelled.

All you other Floridians, stay safe!!

Francis... Never did like the name much...

Good luck to everyone! I hope you're alright.

Good luck everyone! Wish you all the best.

I was supposed to have flown down to Orlando today for a vacation, but that's put off till another time.

Be well all of you down there.

Two things about Francis:


FRANCIS: "The name's Francis Sawyer, but everybody calls me Psycho. Anyone calls me Francis, and I'll kill you."

JOHN CANDY: 'Oooooohhhh.'

FRANCIS: "You just made the list buddy. Also, I don't like no one touching my stuff. If I find any of you guys in my stuff, I'll kill you. And I don't like no one touching me. Any of you homos touch me, and I'll kill you."

SERGEANT HULKA: "Lighten up FRANCIS!!!"

Stripes 1981



The other thing: Take a look at www.weather.com/newscenter/tropical/




Do you see anything wrong with this picture? How many hurricanes begin shifting north, then go back west? Answer: Not very many. Here's what I'm thinking. The weather people, NOAA, had authorities permit the biggest evacuation in state history and 2.5 million people left their homes. Now the storm is tracking north and instead of warning Georgia & the Carolinas to brace for a possible Category IV hurricane as it strengthens while it passes east of Florida, they are holding to their guns and saying that the hurricane will make a rare S-curve and come back for a direct Florida hit... just because they want it too...


My guess is that this thing misses Florida almost entirely. Hey, by past history, I have a 50/50 chance.

CNN just announced that Francis has been downgraded to a Category II. Here's hoping that it continues to weaken.

Good Luck to everybody in the US, even people in New York or Chicago or Seattle or wherever you are!

Now I am so very glad I live in Scotland

Could get a foot of rain, heavy winds and tornados--now at 90mph--come on Francy wimp out!

Last hurricane to hit NM: 0 Last tornado: well some little ones every now and then scattered around the state-never one in Santa Fe or Albq, Last earthquake over 4.7: 0, Last Volcanic eruption: 1 million years+ ago, Last tidal wave or flood:

Last A-bomb test: 1941, I think. Last major shipment of nuclear waste through town: last week. Any illegal uranium or plutonium leakage or dumping: all the time, I'm sure. Number of (disarmed-thank gods!) nuclear warheads stored in the bowels of a small mountian right next to town: 2000+

Prime U.S. target for a smart terrorist: Los Alamos Nat'l Labs--for many, many reasons not just nuclear or satellite research and developement... (every state has it's hazards, I guess )

Zef, I think gingivitis and staring too long at your monitor has cause not only cranial hemmoraging, but delusional paranoia. Francis, which has lightened up a bit, is heading pretty much where it was predicted to. It is going slower, though. THat means we might see 2 feet of rain, as opposed to danlo's 1 foot estimate. Tampa won't see the worst of it, thank goodness. Still, I think it's gonna cost me a gig tomorrow.

Hey, I had a 50/50 chance by past history.

Frances has hung around way too long.

Go away, Frances, you've worn out your welcome!

I'm still at my mom's, where we are getting lots of rain and tropical storm force winds as the storm moves across the state farther north. Downgraded to a category 1, now.

I was supposed to fly north for the 3-day weekend, to see friends and visit Foamy's college. Instead, I've been stuck in the house all weekend, going stir-crazy.

Oh, well, at least my mom hasn't lost electrical power - my house did (I haven't been back yet, though, to see what's going on there).

Prayers and well wishes for all and your families.

Thanks guys for all your prayers and thoughts. I have made it through with a minimum of damage to the house, and somehow the power stayed on most of the day. I still have to check the roof tomorrow, but I think it's fine, as evidenced by the dry carpet in the house. My folks have my oldest son, and will bring him back tomorrow; hopefully late enough not to cut into my looooong awaited daytime chat.

ANyway, I'm sure we'll hear from Tom, Ms Mary, Foamy, Lord Absinth and the rest in the next few days.

I hope you guys will be alright.

dANdeLION wrote:Thanks guys for all your prayers and thoughts. I have made it through with a minimum of damage to the house, and somehow the power stayed on most of the day. I still have to check the roof tomorrow, but I think it's fine, as evidenced by the dry carpet in the house. My folks have my oldest son, and will bring him back tomorrow; hopefully late enough not to cut into my looooong awaited daytime chat.

ANyway, I'm sure we'll hear from Tom, Ms Mary, Foamy, Lord Absinth and the rest in the next few days.

Good to hear dAN!