Hi Sky & All --

I was one of the lucky ones -- my power was off for only 2 days. Today, however, is the first day that I have an internet connection.

I live in a cinderblock apartment building. Even the roof is cinderblock. Altho I don't have storm shutters, my patio screens are flush with the exterior wall of the building -- in other words, the patio is not a projecting balcony. Winds have to blow directly into that patio feet to blow out my sliding doors. The bedroom window also is sheltered by a dormer.

I suffered no damage, except a few tears in the screen. I've never been in a direct hit before. I was visiting Sarasota when Andrew hit, where it was just a bit of wind and heavy rain; and I was in Florida when Katrina hit New Orleans, where I was living last summer.

I could easily have gone without power for longer than the 2 days. I loved the darkness. There was curfew, and so there was no sound of rushing traffic from the nearby turnpike, or people driving in and out of the parking lot. For 2 days, we had no water, because an upturned tree broke the water main -- but no one was sure which upturned tree had done it. That was a pain, because I had to carry a bucket of water up three flights of dark stairs to flush the toilets.

Hoo, boy, did my muscles ache.

I'm sure it was partly stress, too.

My friend lives next door, so it's been like living in a dormitory. We've had more time to spend together. I went nowhere until today, when classes resumed in Boca Raton, about an hour drive from where I live in Broward County.

Yesterday, in a nearby condo apartment complex, 9 thousand people were evicted from their homes and given 2 or 3 hours to remove what they had left of belongings. Roofs that were damaged by Wilma started caving in heavy rains that came yesterday.

Building inspectors are rushing madly all over the county, issuing eviction notices for people who have nowhere to go. Hotels and motels are full of local residents. No, it's not the tragic mess of the Gulf Coast and New Orleans, but it is very uncomfortable, frightening, and costly for many people here.

Debris is everywhere, as Sky said. I wish people would learn not to plant brittle trees that don't belong in this climate. As near as I can tell, the palms, that bend in the strong winds, are still standing.

Many traffic lights are still out, although gas lines are getting shorter. I only had to wait 20 minutes for gas today. This is the first time since Wilma that I've driven. I only left the apartment complex one other time, when my friend next-door asked me to go to a whole foods market with her. I am very self-sufficient, and it seems that I don't need much to be content -- a bit to eat, some fresh water, a flashlight to read by after dark.

I feel very, very blessed to be so snug in my little apartment.

Thank you, good friends, for your kind thoughts and concern. It really makes a nice difference to be missed, especially as I've not been active on the forums for a long time.

Peace and blessings, I hope things start to smooth out for you Sky.