(no subject)

According to legend, many moons ago a Seminole Indian shaman blessed Tampa Bay, and it has traditionally been spared hurricanes. The last major one hit in 1921, with a bunch of near misses since. Score one more for the shaman, Charley was a miss.

I turned on the television this morning to the Weather Channel mentioning my city's name as a probable hit for Charley's eye. As my suburb has a population of 7500, it was a little unexpected. But, winds blow as they may, and now I'm thinking of friends in Orlando and inland, rather than of my own city.

We got nothing. The max winds were maybe 20mph, I think we got maybe an inch of rain in an afternoon of drizzle. My mandatory evacuation was lifted this evening and I drove home facing the setting sun in the Gulf, cloud bands lit red and blue and purple, with blue sky in between. Boat is fine, the house is fine, I'm doing fine.

Two nights ago, I was lying on my dock, watching the stars and the start of a meteor shower...a late night swim in the pool...happy times. Storm stress was high with a cat-4 barreling down my throat, but now, overall, I have to say life is good.

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Thanks to those who have emailed and text-messaged. I appreciate the thoughts -- all of them.