 |
RE: [RC] [RC] I'm suprised there aren't more endurance riders in FL.... - Howard BramhallOne of the few benefits of the local television weather forecasts and the weather channel is they do seem to give you plenty of advanced notice that these things are coming. First thing I do is stock up on beer, canned food, hay, horse feed, and anything else that won't spoil for awhile. My motor home was in the shop for this last one so I did try and plan for the worst, hope for the best. Lots of ice and coolers were on standby for that almost certain loss of power. It came, like it always does, but did not last nearly as long as Frances.I even tried to put my Mother-in-Law into a special needs shelter before Jeanne hit. The woman absolutely refused to go even after I promised that one of us (not me) would stay with her at the shelter for as long as she was there (my daughter, Jennifer, was the first to volunteer for this duty). My Mother-in-Law(there's an oldies but goodies type of song, playing inside my head, that runs everytime I say those three words) informed me that if she couldn't stay with us she was going to ride it out, alone, in her mobile home. Part of me actually applauded her anti-authority stand here even if it did seem to be a bit suicidal. Alas, tempted as much as I was to call her bluff (which probably was not one), she, again, stayed with us during a hurricane, making it a grand total of 11 days, 7 hours, and 22 minutes of Mother-in-Law quality time, inside my house, during this 2004 hurricane season. Since, normally, she only spends one night a year with us (Christmas eve), we just covered 11 years worth of over night time together in a two month period. If not for those three days she spent in the hospital during the last one, it would have been even more. For those of you who wonder why Florida has recently become an unpleasant expereince for me, this may be the answer. I am hoping that this is a freak year but, somehow, when they say that the Atlantic ocean temps are getting warmer each and every year, this may be the beginning of the end of Florida as we now know it. Now that oil is over 50 bucks a barrel it might be about time that the American consumer starts acting. We have so much power; we could be the ones to change the world if only we would demand that very change. And the time remaining for that type of action will soon be winding down to "this choice is no longer available." The final damage has already been done. It will become something we should have done, but were too content with the way things are now to bother trying to change a thing. By then, we'll all be out of time. That time seems to be approaching sooner than anyone expected. One of the reasons why you see some of the nuts down here stay in their homes during these storms, even on those barrier islands, is that those in charge won't let them back to check on their property, days after the hurricane blows through. They close the bridges, impose curfews, intentionally shut off power, and, heavens to Betsy, prohibit the sale of alcholic beverages. All of these experiences, combined, can drive a person to drink, and, when you discover you have a desire to quench this thirst, you find that's not even possible. It can kind of drive you crazy. This is why, after that first hurricane experience, when the next one hits, quite a few of them don't leave at all. It's quite sad, really. IF I still had my boat I'd run them to their place via the ocean, with a cooler full of beer floating atop a life raft, as they snorkle in to be onshore. After the fires of 98, I understand the burning need to know if your house is still there. cya, Howard -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Original Message Follows---- From: "Patti Pankiewicz-Fuchs" <scubagirl817@xxxxxxxxxxx> To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [RC] I'm suprised there aren't more endurance riders in FL.... Date: Tue, 28 Sep 2004 11:58:41 -0400 But we will perservere.... power was out for 11 days last go around and I'm thinking it'll be the same at least this time. I shan't complain though as I've got window a/c units and a generator to run them, and we're stocked up on beer. Howard! They sell beer in your county? Our county was dry for a week and half after Frances and who knows for how long this time. Now if I can only ride!!! I was planning for a late December coming out LD for my still very green mare (she was broke last March)....if we start riding again (she's only been ridden a couple times over the last two months....vacation..heat...then hurricanes) next week do ya'll think it's still doable?? Patti (wind-blown, but unlike Howard, still lovin' Florida) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----Original Message Follows---- From: "Patti Pankiewicz-Fuchs" <scubagirl817@xxxxxxxxxxx> To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [RC] I'm suprised there aren't more endurance riders in FL.... Date: Tue, 28 Sep 2004 11:58:41 -0400 _________________________________________________________________ Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today - it's FREE! http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/ --- Begin Message ---
|