[ Note: Two previous entries, including some pretty photos and the "Ike FAQ" are gone from the index for now. I don't ever delete entries, it is due to an interaction between a corrupt database file and an upgrade of the bloggin' software (the ever-marvellous Sandvox). The pictures should still be available here. ]
Tuesday
West Bay Point, from my seawall, at Ike's peak in the Keys, Tuesday
So yeah, Friday, they told us that a hellstorm was going to cut the Seven Mile Bridge. The implications were obvious: Limited water (FKAA would activate a desalination plant, but we'd still only have so much water to go around), rationed or zero electricity, and homes that were only reachable by ferry or plane, if they still existed. We made plans to leave Saturday night.
Thankfully, the situation improved.
Like nearly everyone else Sunday morning, we found ourselves in violation of the evacuation order, which itself was lifted Monday. Today is the day of the big show, and with only 40mph wind, it isn't getting rave reviews. My home, however, is a cave devoid of sunlight, with all windows covered by storm shutters. I look forward to removing them tomorrow and refilling the hot tub.
Saturday
Yes, I did get the hot tub scrubbed out and refilled, and pulled down most of the storm shutters because I was going mad from the darkness. And I've restarted the Nutri-System (today is Day Two) and fitness regime. It's hard to maintain a high level of discipline like I used to, after a big move. In your new place, you don't know where the hell to find everything, and you have yet to form the routines that keep it in good shape. Most of that is over now, which paved the way to get back on track with the fitness stuff. Still worth noting, I do not have the EFX machine as it is still in Orlando, but I do have a jump rope.
Aside from working, I'm still emptying boxes and putting things up (3 boxes remain of the original 30+), and the computer network has finally expanded to include nearly every room in the house, without using wires between rooms. This was a bit challenging because many devices (Xbox, Apple IIGS, Xbox 360, etc) are wireline-only, at least unless you spend dough on wireless adaptors. Instead of paying a few hundred for that, I used old Linksys wireless access points running the fabulous dd-wrt firmware to act as wireless bridges to link small wired networks.
Anyway, I've got to go make the most of this Saturday, and I hope you do too.
-Chris