Still at the Stone Mountain Inn

Remember the nice sunny picture of the courtyard yesterday? If not, I will refresh your memory.



Well, unfortunately we woke up to rain this morning. And it is STILL raining. It is foggy. It is nasty. Now this is what the courtyard looks like.



Even the wildlife has gone into hiding. So, no climbing the mountain today. No going up in the gondola. (There is no point-the mountain is fogged in!) Not even riding the train or Duck Boats. What did we do? We went to WalMart. Hey, it's a brand new Walmart! Mr. Snowbird only brought 1 pair of long pants with him and he didn't figure that he could wear the same pair for the next 3 days. (Actually I figured that but I'll give him the credit.) So, with the weather the way it is, we went shopping. Luckily, tomorrow is supposed to be sunny and low 70's. Not the typical Scottish weather we are having today. So, here I am playing on the 'pooter, watching my soaps, etc. We're going to another of our favorite restaurants tonight so that will at least be one good thing happening today.

How Cool is That??

Cool Fact #1--We have AIR CONDITIONING!!! Of course they are saying on the news that we are supposed to start cooling off around here this week, but if 88 degrees down from 90 is cooling off, then I'm glad I have a new AC.

Cool Fact #2--We got a letter today from the Doubletree Guest Suites in Lake Buena Vista at WDW. That's where we stayed when we stopped at Disney World on the way down here. Apparently every week they have a drawing from guests who have answered their survey and they give the winner 2 free nights in their hotel! And the winner for the week of Sept. 9th was US!! Yay. I very rarely win anything and this is great. We loved that hotel. And now that WDW is letting you in free on your birthday, we may just have return to WDW in January.

Cool Fact #3--I had a "girl's day out" with my friend,Diana today. We went to Gulf Coast Shopping Center and did some serious shopping then went to lunch at PF Changs China Bistro. Oh YUM! Best chinese food I've ever had. Anyway, on the way home, I was stopped at the stop light the corner of Summerlin and McGregor and saw a turtle in the middle of the street. Now if you know that intersection, there are cars turning every which way. So I put my blinkers on, got out of the car and started waving my arms at traffic to stop. I got to the turtle and found that it was a Florida Softshell. Not the most gentle turtle in the world. The thing to do is take them in the direction they are headed. When I reached down to pick him up, he took off running--and I do mean running--back the way he came from across 3 lanes of traffic! I didn't know a turtle could run like that. So here I am, chasing him across the street clapping my hands at him and trying to stop traffic. Horns are honking etc but finally a guy came running up to help me and we got him back up on the grass. When I got back in the car I realized that my finger was bleeding. It was just a tiny cut and I don't know how I got it but I think I got clipped by one of Mr. Turtle's toenails. Anyway, this guy is not a potential patient--at least yet--so, I'm talking about him. That is the second turtle I've saved from certain doom this year already. More than I've done in the 10 years we have lived here.

So there you have my cool facts for the day.

Did I Mention?

Did I mention that it's Hot?

Did I mention that it's HUMID?

Did I mention that our air conditioner is on the FRITZ?

I have thought for several days now that our air conditioner wasn't keeping it real cool in here but at least a little air was coming out. So this morning when I discovered that it was cooler in the Florida room--which has no AC--than it was in the house, we thought it time to call an a.c. repairman. He said that the coils were frozen up and he couldn't do anything until they thawed so he will be back tomorrow. So, here we sit with fans going, windows open and sweat pouring!! Thank goodness we are going out to eat with our friends tonight so we will have air conditioning. We are going to a "Half Way to St. Patricks Day Party". Should be fun. Better than sitting in a HOT HOUSE!

Fay, Fay Went Away--Yay!

To quote Barry Manilow "Looks like we made it". Fay never became a full fledged hurricane before it hit land south of Naples, Florida which is about 40 miles south of Sanibel. Apparently, unlike most tropical storms, it gained strength as it crossed across land. It could actually become a hurricane once it hits the Atlantic. Stay safe Linda!! But, as for Sanibel, no flooding, no power loss and no wind damage. Yay! According to Tootie on Sanibel Toot's Lazy Days, there is this shield that was set up around and over Sanibel after Hurricane Charley so we are now protected from future hurricanes. Oh, if that were only true!

CROW came through unscathed and was taking in lots of patients today. My friend, Diana, was driving all over Ft. Myers picking them up and delivering them to the hospital. Would you believe that they have 32 baby raccoons??

So, it looks like we don't have to make a mad dash to Sanibel to pick up debris this week. We can go see our son and family this weekend and then WAIT for Bob the Builder to reappear and do what he was hired to do!

Anyway, I can't tell you how happy I am that we dodged this bullet.

Fay, Fay, Go Away

Unfortunately, it doesn't look like she is going to go away. She has decided that Lee County and Sanibel look like a great place to spend a few hours. Sanibel is under a Voluntary evacuation right now and I would bet dollars to donuts (don't you just love that expression?) that it will go to mandatory in a few hours. But, I hope that is enough time to get everyone off of Captiva and Sanibel as landfall is supposed to be tomorrow morning. I would not want to be there if there is a storm surge. A surge back in the 20's was like 10 feet high. Not good when you live in a trailer that is about that high. Anyway, my friend, Diana, who lives in Ft. Myers and Gordon who called to tell me that our place was shut up and locked up will hopefully keep us informed of what is happening. Keep checking back for more information as I get it.

We've Been Coned!!! And Other Stuff

These are three words that any Floridian--or anyone who lives on the Gulf or Atlantic Coast--hate to hear. This means that you are in the path of a Tropical Storm or Hurricane. Look at the map above. See where it says 8 AM Tue. That's Sanibel!!! UGH. Right now Fay is still a Tropical Storm and we are hoping and praying that it stays that way or even drops off to a Tropical Depression. But it doesn't look good. We have already gotten the 2nd advisory email from the City of Sanibel and Governor Crist has already declared a State of Emergency due to the threat of a storm!

It was 4 years ago last Wednesday that another hurricane, Charley, took this same path and hit Sanibel as a Category 4. We were in Scotland at the time and had no idea what was happening aside of what we saw on the BBC. Sanibel and Captiva are just now getting back to "normal" as far as vegetation goes. The city has spent tons of money planting new trees. Businesses are back on their feet. To make it worse, this has been the best Turtle Nesting Season in a long time. If we get a storm--even a Tropical Storm, it could wipe out most of the nests. So, I called Gordon today. Gordon is the new CROW intern and is living in our place this summer. He was working so I left a message telling him to bring everything inside, put stuff in the Florida Room up on blocks, shut the door between the trailer and Florida Room and get the heck out of there! I'm just hoping we don't have to make a mad rush down to Florida next week. I would much rather take a leisurely drive down stopping at Disney World on the way.

So, my thoughts are with CROW, all of my friends on the island and inland, the 4 legged wildlife who can't escape a flood surge, my neighbors who had a tree through their roof 4 years ago, and my "itty bitty piece of Paradise" in Periwinkle Park.
====================================================================
Neptunesmuse commented in my garage sale post asking how I had done. Let me say, my back is killing me! I was supposed to have the sale open until 4:00 today but by 3:30 when no one had been there in 2 hours, I started tearing it down. It took me 3 hours to put everything away. Luckily Mr. Snowbird said I could store the "leftovers" on the bench in the garage rather than lugging it all up to the barn attic. But, after 2 months, he now has a place to park his car again. I really did quite well combining both sales this summer. Enough that I feel comfortable stopping at WDW on the way south and then going to St. Augustine with my friend, Diana, sometime this winter. Yay! Nepunesmuse asked if I had any memorable customers. I can say nobody pocketed anything without paying for it. I did have one gal that wanted something and said she only had $3 and would I take that. When I asked what the item was marked at she said, "$20.00!" Well, duh, of course I said NO!! I did drop the price to $10 later but come on folks, $3.00??
===================================================================
When we moved into our neighborhood over 30 years ago we were the "young uns" on the block. Of course as time went on, we became older and our neighbors became younger. We had great neighbors next door. A very friendly young couple with two little boys. Unfortunately, he was transferred so they had to sell. We should have known what we were in for when the new buyers put up an 8' high fence around their yard. They had two big dogs which they left out much of the time and these dogs barked at anything that moved! And to top it off, they were about the most unfriendly people you would ever want to meet. About a year ago when a For Sale sign went up, we jumped up and down and cheered. It took a year for the house to sell but sell it did. So now we have new neighbors. And boy are they great. It is soooo nice to look out your kitchen window and have your neighbor smile and wave at you. David, a widower, and his two daughters moved here from the Boston area. Welcome to the neighborhood guys! And, when talking some genealogy today we decided that we just might be long lost cousins!
=====================================================================================
And last but not least, once a year I looked forward to being awakened by a very distinctive sound--that of hot air balloons flying right over the house. We have a Hot Air Balloon Festival in Findlay every summer and on Saturday and Sunday mornings they launch at about 8:00. This year there were about 30 balloons. Unfortunately, I didn't get outside to see them all but I did catch quite a few. Sure beats an alarm clock.
=====================================================================================
And just to warn you--don't fret if I don't blog for a couple of days. We are heading up to Detroit to our friend's house for a couple of days. We are due back Tuesday--the same day that Fay is due to hit Sanibel. Fay, Fay, Stay Away!!!

Didn't I Say "ENOUGH ALREADY" Loud Enough??

Well, for the 3rd time in 2 weeks, the tornado sirens made their appearance last night. It was about 6:15 and I had been watching the TV with the up to date weather radar and knew that we were about to get hit by a storm. I glanced out the window and saw that the sky was getting dark so I was just in the process of shutting down the computer when the power went out. By the time I got downstairs, Mr. Snowbird and Bill (the guy who lives with us) were standing at the front windows watching the rain blowing sideways. It looked like a blizzard--everything was white. Apparently the wind was causing this. By the time I grabbed the radio and a flashlight, it had quit. Only then, did the sirens start. While listening to the radio, the news director, Tom Sheldon (remember him Karen?) said that the warning was for NE Hancock County. This is the same area that was being hit for the third time. I debated about going to the basement but by this time, the sky was brightening up and the sun was peeking out in the west. So, like all of our neighbors, I went out on the porch. A fire truck headed down the street just a block away and a few minutes later, another drove by the house. It soon parked down at the end of the street near Main Street. And, of course, the sirens are on for 3 minutes and off for 2 and on for 3--well, you get the idea. I sincerely doubt that anyone had headed to the basement.

I did see a few branches down in our back yard and a big branch on the back of the garage next door. We have a HUGE Maple tree in our back yard which if it ever decides to give up the ghost will wipe out half the neighborhood!!! Last Friday a tree came down on a house on Main Street just a couple of blocks away. And from pictures in the Courier this AM, other trees came down on houses not to far away from us. But, our trusty maple weathered the storm yet again. Hang in there buddy, I'm rooting for you!

Once the sirens stopped, I decided to take a walk around the neighborhood. I did see that a tree had come down on wires at the end of our street--where the fire engine had stopped. This apparently was the reason the half of our end of town was without power. Lots of branches down but no serious damage that I could see. But, from the way the rain looked earlier--going sideways--I can understand why there were branches and power lines down.

Our power finally came back on about 9:00. Better than our friends in Bowling Green who were without power for 20 hours last Friday and Saturday. We had another storm hit about 1:00 this morning but that seemed to be mostly lightning and not much wind. I guess there were a couple of "unofficial" sightings of a tornado or two in the area but no touchdowns.

What I realized though was that when people don't have TV or AC to rely on, they gather out on their front porch and actually talk to their neighbors. I guess I kind of understand now why back in the "good old days" people were a lot friendlier, more neighborly, and a whole lot more trusting.

Anyway, as I said before--Mother Nature, give it a break already. I think the whole country is beginning to feel this way. Geez, I don't even want to think what Hurricane season is going to be like.

OK Mother Nature, Enough Already!!!

As I am writing this, I am listening to tornado sirens going off. They have been going off for at least a half hour now. And they started going off before the TV or the sheriff's office announced a tornado warning. We have been watching all of the local stations with all of their latest weather reports and it didn't even look like we were going to get any rain. Yeah, we got a little rain and a bit of wind but the wind wasn't any worse than it has been all day long. Sooo, the sheriff's office finally breaks in and says that NE Hancock County is under a tornado warning--the same area that got blasted the other night. From the weather radar, the bad weather has gone over us. And, the sirens finally just shut down. The TV said that this storm is moving at 76 mph!! Man, that is a fast moving storm. But, it sounds like NW Ohio (the Toledo area) and SE Michigan are getting pounded. Power out, trees down, power lines down, tornadoes sighted etc. At least, we dodged yet another bullet here in our little corner of the world. Oops, there go the sirens again!

A Rude Awakening

UPDATE: 6:00 PM Saturday. Two confirmed tornadoes touched down last night just miles from us. If you want to see some pictures go here or here. I guess we were, once again, really lucky. Last August we missed the horrible flood by one block.

I have RLS (Restless Leg Syndrome) and some nights I just know it's going to be a bad night so I take a Tylenol PM before I go to bed. Last night was one of those nights. Little did I know that it wouldn't be because of the RLS.

I went to bed about 12:45 and I had just drifted off when I was awakened to a sound I couldn't quite place-probably because I had never heard it before at this time of night. After a few seconds, it dawned on me that it was the local tornado siren. I jumped out of bed and turned on TV immediately. Two channels out of Toledo had their top weather men giving their up to date, Doppler, and whatever else weather reports. It didn't look good. We were under a Tornado Warning until 1:30. So, I ran in and woke Mr. Snowbird, then tried to wake Bill who lives with us. I found he wasn't in his room but was sound (and I do mean sound) asleep on the couch downstairs. Well, I couldn't wake him, so I dashed in and turned on the TV in the family room. Robert Shiels from Channel 11 is saying that some homes in Putnam County, just to our west, had been damaged and emergency vehicles were on their way there. He said that the storm was heading to Findlay and to take cover!! By this time, Bill was up and Mr. Snowbird had gone back to bed! (Storms don't tend to scare him a whole lot!!) Oh well. Anyway, I gather up a radio, flashlight and cell phone and opened the basement door. I sat on the chair just feet away from the door watching TV. I looked outside and it was barely raining with hardly any breeze. From the accounts on TV, it looked like the storm was going north of us and headed to Arcadia and Fostoria. Finally, Robert said that Findlay was all clear. Just as I was about to turn the TV off, they put the warning back up for Hancock. I'm thinking, "Oh great, here we go again." But trusty Robert said that it was for NE Hancock County which is north and past us. So, I decided to go to bed. Just as I laid down, the sirens went off again. I figured this was for the warning that had just gone up. So, I allowed the Tylenol PM to do it's job and went right to sleep.

This morning, there was nothing in the paper, obviously, since it had "gone to bed" before the storms. But the update on The Courier website said that 8 homes and one business in Glandorf, just west of us, were damaged or destroyed and several homes near Arcadia, just northeast of us were destroyed.

When I was teaching, it always seemed like every school around us would get a "snow day" and we would be open for business. We used to joke about there being a dome over Findlay which prevented us from getting bad weather. Well, it looks like the dome worked again last night. Thanks goodness!