Storm

First, I do not bemoan any of the preparatory work we did yesterday. If nothing else, we cleaned off the back deck, something much needing done. So that's said.

Hurricane Charlie took a sharp turn yesterday morning, after parking (sort of) over the Straight and rather warm water for a bit following the crossing of Cuba. It strengthened from a Category 2 to a Category 4 storm before landfall, then made it's turn, and crossed the shoreline at Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte, a bit north of Fort Myers. Then it rolled diagonally across the state to cross the Atlantic shore in Flagler County, still a Category 1 storm. In the process, it went right across Kissimmee, Orlando, Sanford, Deltona, and other points.

And people say hurricanes die when they make landfall...

Tampa missed the bullet, because the bullet was re-aimed. It still clobbered our extended family. Haven't checked the answering machine, will try calling down there in a bit if we don't hear from them. I expect phone service to be spotty, power to still be very spotty, and cell phone service to be debateable.

So until we do hear, no news is no news.