GIRDING FOR ERNESTO

So now the weather shmexperts are telling us that  Tropical Storm Hurricane Tropical Storm Ernesto, which was originally going to strike Guam or someplace, is now probably going to strike us, which makes us wonder what kind of forecasting technology they are using. In any event, here in South Florida we have gone into Panic Consumption Mode. After dropping the little blogette off at school, this blog went to wait in a line to buy gasoline, then another line to get cash from the ATM machine, then to the supermarket, which was jammed with anxious consumers who are grabbing pretty much everything they can find on the shelves, including dead cockroaches. Many vital supplies are already gone. To cite one chilling example: All they had left was low-fat Cheez-Its. Yes. It is a nightmare.

I heard many people on cell phones talking to loved ones at home who did not seem to understand the gravity of the situation ("No, listen, I'm, telling you there IS no Starkist packed in water! Only Starkist packed in oil!"). Canned tuna is one of the things we South Floridians always buy in preparation for hurricanes. We never actually eat it, but we have canned-tuna collections dating back to 1983.

All the white bread is gone. I heard two moms, each pushing a shopping cart containing enough food to feed Belgium for a month, discussing this:

MOM ONE: My kids will NOT eat anything but white bread.

MOM TWO: Just get the seven-grain and toast it. They can't tell if it's toasted.

MOM ONE: You think they're that stupid?

MOM TWO: Mine are.

Anyway, this blog is home now, girding for Ernesto. We will try to keep you informed, at least as long as our beer supplies hold out.

Comments

[Siouxie]

Whewwwww I made it back alive after Publix!! All set now...got extra vino just in case :)

oh wait...THE BLEACH!!!

dangit...

[kitten]

and, Siouxie, don't forget the Playgirl. You know, in case you have to light a fire...

[southerngirl]

I have a generator, and I have beer. I am completely ready for a hurricane.

best wishes to all you Floridians out there - maybe next time it'll be me needin' em.

[Lisa Bisa Fo Fisa]

crossgirl-Good point about the red wine!

[estrogen centrale]

Because the company I work for reacts with the speed of a crippled tortoise, I am sitting at work in Miami-Dade County, eating lunch at my desk, praying that there is gas at maybe $2.99, once they let us out of here. I got the groceries yesterday. Pretty sure that there will be no work tomorrow, as the schools are going to be closed.

[Siouxie]

hmmm oh yeah, kitten...to light a fire...good thinking!

[Wurm42]

South Floridians: Home Despot may be out of plywood, but if they still have quick-dry cement, you may still have time to build one of these.

[bert]

Keyskindagirl,
just remember, it could be worse. You could have to actually drink FEMA beer.

[blurk]

Keyskindagirl,
What kind of beer, exactly, would that be?

I don't guess I've ever heard of it.

[amy]

here on guam everyone knows that you stock up on beer and doritos for during the storm - and we always have a can of spam for emergencies. regards to all from typhoon alley.

[amy]

here on guam everyone knows that you stock up on beer and doritos for during the storm - and we always have a can of spam for emergencies. regards to all from typhoon alley.

[Lisa Bisa Fo Fisa]

amy-Here ya go.

[Rahnia]

Over here in Mississippi, we're just hoping that Ernesto doesn't turn into a huge hurricane and batter the Gulf Coast once again. We would not be happy about that turn of events. I'm thinking Louisiana wouldn't be either. Come to think of it, I don't even think we're prepared to handle a Tropical Storm.

[ldyadiva]

We went to work this morning so that we could put up the steel shutters and move all the office equipment to the top of the desks and cover everything with plastic sheets. Then they let you go out into the world to find gas & groceries so that after all that you are too tired to batten down your house. Enough drinks later, you don't care what blows away.

[NewLoneStarGirl]

Lived in Miami for 21 years and just moved to Texas before 2006 Hurricane Season. We're not out of hurricane alley but we can breathe, for now. Good luck to everyone there, be safe.

[jonro]

which makes us wonder what kind of forecasting technology they are using.

The Doppler Radar Magic 8 Ball?

[O. the U(manity)]

Girding Hunkerers wbagnfa ... um ... hurricane party band?

Hunkering Girders?

[island107]

We don't put hurricane shutters up (I'm in South Florida). If our neighbor puts them up, we know there's not going to be a hurricane.

Hey, I just read there's two Okies out there. I'm a former Okie, too. Did you-all used to have tornado drills in school, where you got on your knees in the hallway and put your head down? Do they still do that in Oklahoma?

[Stevie W]

GIRDING FOR ERNESTO.

Sounds like a low-budget gay porn flick to me.

[Patricia Chang]

My son lives in Orlando. His apartment is in the Lake Eola Historic District, which was hit hard by Charlie and Frances. He told me today he was doing his "Ernesto shopping." At first, I thought he was shopping for a new friend, then realized he meant Ernesto the sometimes hurricane,sometimes tropical storm. He has been spared any damage from hurricanes, thus far. But, with global warming and rising sea levels, he may have ocean views sooner than he thinks. I live in Indiana. We have tornadoes pretty much from March to September. We dont name them. I watched one once from my Aunt Rilla's back porch. We all went in the house when it got close, and she played "Rock of Ages" on the piano. The wind swooshed under the house and the living room rug raised up off the floor. I thought that was neat. The old privy in back of the house was blown down, but that was all the damage there was to the farm. The twister went on to tear down barns, a school, and a filling station. My son will tape his windows. I guess that will make him feel better. As for me, I wish he would come home to Indiana, but he's seen Paree. Good luck to you all.

[Parched in TX]

Well folks, we here in the "Dallas" part of Texas have seen 3 days of rain in 5 months. A Rainy Monday was a blessing, since on July 4th we only got "spit upon"....

We'd welcome your lil' ol' storm in these heah parts, 'cuz we be parched!!