Tropical Storm Fay

I know we have several friends on here in Florida and with Fay potentially headed your way I just wanted to say, stay safe and stay dry! Our thoughts will be with you all. With any luck it will either drift away or at least stay weak! Take care.

I am here in St. Petersburg on central west Florida coast; could be a direct hit but hopefully just some wind and rain.

Best of luck John!

Bob,
thanks for the good wishes. We're in Orlando which, we learned a few years ago, doesn't exempt us from Hurricanes -- three of them tracked right over our home. We're still tweaking some of those repairs.

Today's mission is to clear the pool deck of any objects that could become projectiles and make sure we have enough batteries for the flashlights and enough food for the dogs. And then we'll just have to see what Ms Fay decides to do.

Depending on conditions, I'll try to get some photos. I may need scuba gear .

Jim

Good luck Jim. I know the feeling about being inland doesn't mean much. We had our butts kicked a few years back with Fran. I lost over 50 trees, majority of them over 80 feet tall. It was a real mess! By the way, I'm a certified Master Diver with lots of gear if needed!

Well, so far the storm has been a real plus to our part of Florida. Humidity is way down, has not rained for 30 hours, temperature is comfortable, wind is not bad, etc.

I am sure my tune will change in a couple days as the storm slowly tracks north and we begin to get wet.

John,
right now (7:30 am Wed) Fay is located just off the Melbourne coast due East of us and we're getting some gusts but the rain has lightened up for the first time in 12 hours. Just had the guys outside and they took advantage of the lull in rain to contribute to our new retail product, Puppy Poop Garden Fertilizer.

One thing that Fay did do was show me where my roof is leaking after all the repairs from the last 3 Hurricanes. We needed a long-term period of rain for me to be able to trace the leak along the rafters to the point source. Now, I need to have some dry, non-windy weather to repair it but at least I know what and where.

Other than that, Fay has deposited some 4 inches of new water in the pool and helped offset some drought conditions here in Central Florida so not all bad. BTW, did you notice that Fay was Annie's middle name? I guess she wanted to send us a reminder that her spirit is still with us.

Unless Fay turns due West (unlikely but still possible) I don't think you're going to get any of her destructive qualities. Looks like you guys dodged another one. Let's hope your good fortune continues.

Take care,

Jim

My wife is flying into Jacksonville Beach tomorrow to see her Dad. My son is graduating from Infantry school at Fort Benning GA on Friday and will be going to Jacksonville Beach on Saturday.

David,
Fay should be gone by then. Or at least downgraded to a Tropical Depression if she hasn't made it to the Gulf.

Things might be a bit soggy up that way but nothing more than that. Hope the flight is good.

Jim

PS How's the shoulder?

Jim & John, happy to hear you are doing well. Fay could have been a real mess!

Jim;

Yes, as soon as I heard about the storm's name I thought about Annie Fay; yes, I think her spirit is very much alive among us all.

Fay is one of those storms that could truly do anything. This afternoon I heard it was stalled just off the Cape; models have it going north or northwest or north-northwest, etc. If it drifts just a bit east it will hit the very warm gulf stream and strengthen. It is one of the few storms that developed an eye over land-becoming more organized as it crossed south Florida near the lake. I have lived in the hurricane belt my entire life, save a couple years in school and a year in Russia. Because of the storm, our weather in St. Pete has been the best except for heavy cloud cover-the storm is sucking up all the moisture, humidity and dropping our temps almost 20 degrees. My prayers are with everyone in the path and being affected by the forces.

John,
well, at 7:45 am, Fay is stalled just off-shore at Daytona Beach. Winds are up to 60 mph and she's picking up more moisture from the ocean.

The clouds overhead here in Orlando are now moving from due West to due East and it's still raining. I've not seen sunlight in over 72 hours and my eyes look like an owl's. The dogs start to dog-paddle as they head out the door to go potty. There is no pool deck: just a lake with a really deep center.

Actually, we've been very fortunate -- I'd estimate we've gotten about 7 inches of rain but some parts of the east coast of Florida have received over 25 inches and more to come. Forecast is for Fay to move "slowly" across the state toward the Gulf over the next day or so. I think SLOWLY is the operative word with Ms Fay.

I managed to get Rowdy and Sundance out for short walks yesterday between rain bands. But we've had enough. It can stop now. Hope it all stays to your North as it traverses the state.

Jim

Jim;

I feel for you and your family; these storms can be very difficult to those of us with animals. My Chester does not like to get wet and does not like rain; he will go out if forced via a lead.

I heard this morning that 30 inches of rain had fell in some places, wow that is one mega-ton of water.

How does your Golden like the rain, I would think he would want to go swimming?

Best to all in the path.

John,
the Golden, Crash, just deals with the wet. He goes out, putzes about and then comes in when called. He and I go out for the newspaper every morning (that used to be Annie Fay's job) and he's delighted.

Some of the Rotties hate getting their feet wet so I have to coax them a bit. But Rowdy, Cassidy and Sundance love to walk in the rain (I do NOT) so that's what we've been doing. Right now, winds are high and rain is banding in and out. Fay is moving -- slowly -- across the state just North of us and we're still getting a lot of Tropical Storm activity. The kids are dealing. Linda and I need to see some sun soon. Ms Fay has definitely overstayed her welcome.

Jim

Well, at 7:45 am Fay was sitting over Gainesville on its walk (6 mph) across the state on its way to the Gulf. We're still getting TS winds and lots of rain. Last night, I sat out on the lanei and watched the trees sway on the golf course. So far, no major damage around here but parts of Central Florida are under water. Bob, send the scuba gear!

This has been a long week. We've been under Fay's influence since Monday and it looks like it will be another 24 hours before we're out from under her "spell". I have some roof repairs to get to before the next one arrives, probably next week. Welcome to Hurricane season in Florida. Hope everyone elsewhere is dry and healthy.

Treading water in Florida,

Jim

Jim/John, sorry to hear about the soaking you guys are getting. Hopefully Fay will move out soon and you guys can dry out. Hang in there and we'll be thinking of you all.

I was "walking" my basset Chester this morning at 4 am, looks like the storm has passed and we could be back so semi-normal weather here in St. Petersburg; hopefully this will give Jim time to dry out and repair his roof.

John,
the sun has been out here, too. I'll try to mow the hay today and get onto the roof tomorrow. But don't be fooled: they're saying showers and thunder storms later today.

Jim

Quote:

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John,
But don't be fooled: they're saying showers and thunder storms later today.

Jim

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This is Florida, that is the daily forecast.