Hey Charlie, that was fun.

[archive_Ulter]

I just sat through my first Hurricane. Winds of about 100 mph according to the news here blew through Orlando over the last hour. It's not over but the eye is gone by. The screen enclosure that goes over the pool is missing the south wall but that's all the damage I can see. If you ever have a chance to be in a Hurricane I recommmend it. You can't get that kind of excitement at BlockBuster. There were morons downtown opening their car doors only to watch them blow down the street when they did.

"Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school." -Albert Einstein

[Sorgon]

I am from Orlando as well and my family said it hit pretty hard. They have two huge oak trees down in their front yard. No power, no land phone lines. I know Ulter you live closer to UCF, my parents live my the old Navy Base which is now the Baldwin Park area. I guess we know that you will be having fun this weekend cleaning after the storm. Hope things aren't too bad for you in the morning.

[archive_Ulter]

23 uprooted palm trees. 5 on cars
4 lamp posts
1 mazda miata upside down
tons of lumber that roofers were smart enough to leave on the roofs of new contruction is spread over a 3 block area on top of cars and through the windows of finished homes.

This is just what I can see on my street.

"Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school." -Albert Einstein

[Curious George]

Wow. I called my mother and haven't gotten an answer yet. I'm glad everyone is okay. If you get a chance, take a couple of pictures of the carnage to send. I would love to see what a hurricane can do to the car and trees.

Take Good Care,

Cg

[SteelPreacher]

Glad everyone is alright, and AF is safe and sound! http://anabolicfitness.infopop.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

I can make you a celebrity overnight.

Winners see problems as just another way to prove themselves! D.T.

[archive_Bjaarki]

I have to admit, boss, that I was worried about you, Ula and Michael when I learned the stormtrack was crossing Orlando. I didn't know how your were going to pile everything into your McLaren if you had to evacuate. Glad the damage to your palace was minimal.

Time to move to Jersey, wouldn't you say, big guy? Or at least, next time there's a hurricane, send your gear collection to me and IronGod for safekeeping. God forbid a hurricane force wind should break open your stash box. You wouldn't want hundreds of Omnas strewn all down your street, now would you?

Just trying to be helpful .....

[archive_Mickey]

We were scared here in Tampa until about an hour before it hit.

All signs pointed it towards a direct hit in Tampa Bay yet at the last minute it turned. It was pretty intense here for a while and I'm glad that we didn't get the full effect. I feel bad for the people South of us because they didn't really properly prepare because it wasn't supposed to hit them.

Ulter, I am glad everything is ok with you. There was so real damage done down the coast. I can't believe guys would leave wood on the roof of the house with storm coming.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="**-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> Time to move to Jersey, wouldn't you say, big guy? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I think I am taking that advice and moving back to NJ. Florida just isn't all its cracked up to be now that I have lived here (outside of school) for the past year.

"Come on, get serious!" Arnold in Pumping Iron

[Big Dave]

I weathered the storm down at South Beach, then I drove back up to Tampa just about the time the eye was past the Ft. Myers area. Driving through there on 75 was kind of creepy. There was no light on the horizon like there was for Sarasota just north of the hurricanes path. The gas stations just south of Port Charlotte and Ft Myers were packed even though there were trees down in the streets to get there. I didn't understand until later that the gas stations were the first signs of electrical power for someone leaving the damage area. I saw a tractor trailor turned over and four car pileup scattered on the median and shoulder. Huge traffic signs were pushed over, some of them on the highway. Through the path of the hurricane there were trees and branches lined all along the road. The state workers must have started working on it the minute the hurricane passed. The most memorable sight was undoubtably the 10 - 15 rescue vehicles, mostly ambulances, driving across Alligator Alley with all of their lights flashing.

[archive_Ulter]

The houses are all fine except for the occasional missing shingle or broken window. The devastation is to the trees, cars parked outside and all the pool enclosures. It looks like a hurricane came through here. Because we're in a new development the power and cable are underground so we're some of the lucky few with power. The transformers that usually blow up from lightning are still there.
We sat out last night as Charlie came by because we have a protected "lanai" which is like a concrete room where you can sit with only one side open. Perfect for hurricane viewing. There are a lot of pissed off screen enclosure owners like me who were told they would withstand a hurricane up to Cat 3. NOT! Some of them are blown right to ground and down the block.
My stash was in a metal gun box chained around my waist and duck taped to me.

Yeah, I still can't believe those idiots left work early because a hurricane was coming and left the 2x4's on the roofs. That's like throwing bullets in the fireplace.

"Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school." -Albert Einstein

[archive_Ulter]

This truck was blown on to the top of a liquor store that then collapsed.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/media/photo/2004-08/13815995.jpg

"Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school." -Albert Einstein

[Monster]

Damn.
That reminds me of a tornado I was in a few years back, its actually when I first met Curious George!

Im laying in bed and I hear the tornado start to blow... it picks up the house and spins it around, throwing it every which way.
It slams down to the ground. Im sort of sjaken and I climb out of bed. I slowly open the door and step out and I realize that the house did not land where it was pulled up from???

I step out of the door and there in front of me is Curious George and two of his friends!
I walked out of the house, still in my underwear and shook his nervous little hand as his friends all reached in to have their hands shook... it was the start of a good friendship.

I think I have a picture, let me look around.

-------------------------
http://anabolicfitness.infopop.net/2/ws/,s,702093973/office.jpg "I was told that I could listen to the radio at a reasonable volume."

"Trying is the first step towards failure."
http://www.bodo.com/simpsons/zhomerb.gif "Well, you tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is... never try."

[This message was edited by Monster on 08-14-04 at 03:57 PM.]

[Monster]

I found it!
I blurred out both of our faces in the interest of privacy.

http://anabolicfitness.infopop.net/2/ws/,s,702093973/chkbil.jpg

-------------------------
http://anabolicfitness.infopop.net/2/ws/,s,702093973/office.jpg "I was told that I could listen to the radio at a reasonable volume."

"Trying is the first step towards failure."
http://www.bodo.com/simpsons/zhomerb.gif "Well, you tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is... never try."

[archive_Mr. Nobody]

"Now lets take a look at the latest track of Charlie" is all I heard before the lights went out. Then the howling starts. The howling changes into thunder or rumble, then both sounds take turns assaulting my ears. Stressed and nervous and worried about my paralyzed brother in law, I look out the window and see trees bending like rubber toys. The lake in front of us is foaming. It looks like a beach as wave after wave keeps crashing over the boat dock. The blowing resides, and if you look closely you can see a white wall above the water approach. Its the next line of gusty winds. Then it hits again. The trees are bending horizontally....how come they dont brake? Leaves and twiggs are flying everwhere. No rain hits the ground. It gets transformed into a foggy substance at those speeds as it flies horizontally and sprays around. I open the pool door to check the outside. The sky is an angry black. The pool door is very hard to open. As I try to walk down to my boat dock, the wind is pushing on my feet. I lean into it....mumble an "is that all you got, fucker" but turn around as I saw my wife guesture in panic: "What the hell are you doing?" she yells. "I am pissed and its taking too long" I hear myself saying. Then the winds change direction. "Where was the eye?" I am thinking. Then its over. No lights, a cool breeze and trucks with orange lights are everywhere checking the neighborhood. Still no electricity. No sounds, no TV, no video games, no computer, no air mattress for my paralysed brother in law. I have to turn his body every 3 hours through the night or he will get bed sores. It is getting hot. I am sweaty and am starting to smell sour. Where the fuck is the electricity? I doze off, next to my children, my wife, her mother and my dogs all huddles on the living room floor and happy to have weathered the storm. Flickers....then black again, flickers again, 5 times, each time lasting longer and finally I hear the AC kick in. I cranked the bastard to 73 and fix coffee.

We had some breakfast and headed over to my house. I was first. Our street looks awefull. Litter everywhere. No overturned cars though. I finally get to my house and there it is. A tree limb 1' in diamter is leaning on the roof and crap everywhere. My garden shed is still standing but the rear got torn.......Fuck and its only 7:30am. I am tired.

Where is my chainsaw? O yeah in the shed. Lube and fill her up and get to work, no use feeling sorry for yourself and starring at the mess. At least I dont live in a trailer....

Thank you Charlie, that was fun.....
Sincerely
Mr. Nobody

__________________________________________________ _____________________________________

Disclaimer:
Mr. Nobody is presenting fictitious opinions and does in no way, shape or form encourage, use nor condone the use of any illegal substances or the use of legal substances in an illegal manner.
The information discussed is strictly for entertainment purposes only and shall not take the place of qualified medical advice.

[This message was edited by Mr. Nobody on 08-14-04 at 04:39 PM.]

[archive_Ulter]

Everyone I know has power back already. I lost power here for 3 days from an electrical storm so I thought this would be much worse.
The mess here is the same and I've been going with the clean up posse from house to house, but it's raining again so we stopped.
The clean up sucks. The whole thing reminds me of the morning after a great party.

Mr N, I tried to call you when I saw the eye on it's way to you but the phones were all locked up. Then it turned towards me and I just headed out to the lanai. My son got the video camera and took movies. Unfortunately he didn't get it quite right because he has an hour of film of the pool light. He said it was all he could see in the dark. http://anabolicfitness.infopop.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif We left the pool lights on to see the trees better.

I never did feel any real sense of danger and that was conveyed to Ula and my son. It was just exciting to see the trees leave the ground. Maybe because of the tornados I've been in back in Chicago and watching garages instantly disappear, literally. http://anabolicfitness.infopop.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

"Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school." -Albert Einstein

[Wood]

I am glad you guys are alright. I know some did not fare so well.

I was in a few tornados in the midwest but they are here and gone in 20 minutes or so. It doesn't last very long.

Hope everything continues well for you

[archive_Ulter]

Thanks Wood.

Yeah that's true. Tornados are gone pretty fast comparatively. The hurricane lasted about 2 hours and the eye took about an hour to pass.

I am one of the lucky ones. My mother's place is trashed, a third of the roof gone and a missing tree. We'll be cleaning up the neighborhood for a month.

These people running things, or not, have me shaking my head in disbelief. There are street light poles blown down with the light covers smashed and the lights inside still getting power and sparking in the rain and no one is going to clean it up until Monday. Some nerve of Charlie to come on the weekend.

"Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school." -Albert Einstein

[Curious George]

Finally talked to my Mother and Gma. They are fine and the house is okay except for some fallen trees and such.

I'm glad Mr N and Ulter's family are okay.

Forces of nature are humbling arn't they? It shows me just how small I really am.

Take Good Care,

Cg

[Pharm Animal]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="**-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Ulter:
This truck was blown on to the top of a liquor store that then collapsed.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>That is the coolest hurricane pic I have ever seen http://anabolicfitness.infopop.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[archive_Mr. Nobody]

thanks guys, yes all in all, what we lived through up here was relatively mild compared to those poor folks down in Punta Gorda. Punta Gorda is (was) a beautiful retirement community, very close nit and quaint. I headed a project down there, it was a cluster of 3 story condos......will find out on Monday if they still stand. My office still stands as well, and on Monday I will tour the town in which I work. By talking to my friends from work, it was hit pretty hard.

No use lamenting, pick up the trash and move on. Oh and my insurance WILL be getting my bills....been paying through the nose in premiums and its time for me to collect.


PS: Yea Ulter no use calling when the big one rolls in, the phones get all jammed up and as you saw the bastard had his own plans on where to play next, which included your back yard, heheh. I have lived through a couple of tropical depressions and storms, but this was my first full fledged hurricane. Been in tornados as well. Tornados are a scare, they come and dissapear quickly but a hurricane gives days of warning, which only serves to get all worked up. And then when the bastard knocks on your door you already are stressed. Lights out, here I come.....And yes as Ulter said, it takes a couple of hours....Big difference

__________________________________________________ _____________________________________

Disclaimer:
Mr. Nobody is presenting fictitious opinions and does in no way, shape or form encourage, use nor condone the use of any illegal substances or the use of legal substances in an illegal manner.
The information discussed is strictly for entertainment purposes only and shall not take the place of qualified medical advice.

[This message was edited by Mr. Nobody on 08-16-04 at 08:24 AM.]

[archive_Mr. Nobody]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="**-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>
Forces of nature are humbling arn't they? It shows me just how small I really am <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Insert mean joke: You need a hurricane to tell you that? Muahahaha

__________________________________________________ _____________________________________

Disclaimer:
Mr. Nobody is presenting fictitious opinions and does in no way, shape or form encourage, use nor condone the use of any illegal substances or the use of legal substances in an illegal manner.
The information discussed is strictly for entertainment purposes only and shall not take the place of qualified medical advice.

[Monster]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="**-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Mr. Nobody:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="**-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>
Forces of nature are humbling arn't they? It shows me just how small I really am <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Insert mean joke: You need a hurricane to tell you that? Muahahaha
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Heh heh heh heh...

-------------------------
http://anabolicfitness.infopop.net/2/ws/,s,702093973/office.jpg "I was told that I could listen to the radio at a reasonable volume."

"Trying is the first step towards failure."
http://www.bodo.com/simpsons/zhomerb.gif "Well, you tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is... never try."

[Pharm Animal]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="**-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Mr. Nobody:
...Oh and my injurance WILL be getting my bills....been paying through the nose in premiums and its time for me to collect.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Fuck yeah, bro...it's only right to be reimbursed if you've been paying high rates. Makes me smile to know you're collecting your check. I dispise insurance companies!

[Curious George]

I kind of walked into that one didn't I?

Take Good Care,

Cg

[archive_Mr. Nobody]

Yes you did, like a sheep stumbling into a shearing
http://ars.sdstate.edu/images/Sheepshr.JPG

__________________________________________________ _____________________________________

Disclaimer:
Mr. Nobody is presenting fictitious opinions and does in no way, shape or form encourage, use nor condone the use of any illegal substances or the use of legal substances in an illegal manner.
The information discussed is strictly for entertainment purposes only and shall not take the place of qualified medical advice.