Ping Polly

Thank you, Barbara. We're on alert. The shipbuilders, refineries and chemical plants are all batting down the hatches. I imagine the casino barges over on Biloxi/Gulfport bay are getting serious too. The high-level prognosticators are thinking Gustav is taking aim at Gulfport - which will put us on the eastern side of the storm with a 20 ft tide surge coming. Lots of folks still mighty fragile near the coast; they really aren't ready. The gators will be fine, they're rather indifferent to bad weather. Polly

Oh dear....let's hope it fizzles out.

I hope it fizzles out, too. My family lives in Pensacola - they're getting ready for the worse and hoping for the best.

There are quite a few of us in the scope of Hurricane Gustav - there's Kate over near Louisiana, we have a couple in LA and some in Florida. Mostly, we try to prepare to shelter loved ones including grandYorkies who are not so loveable after a couple of weeks. I'm thinking I'll go to the vet tomorrow and ask for a tranquillizer for 8 pound dogs ...and try to figure out how many I'll need to take. Polly

I just read about the possibility yesterday evening. Hope so much that it doesn't come too near you all; or, if it does, that it has weakened. I'll be watching the news regularly to 'check'. . In message , Polly Esther writes

I was listening to the Weather Channel on XM radio this morning. it seems the center of the "path" of Gustuf is New Orleans. Y'all batten down those hatches, grab your stash and QI's and head north!!! Keep safe and smart!

amy inCNY

Head north? Mercy, no, Amy. That's where all the maniacs will be. We tried that a couple of times and the drivers who are hysterical about a storm are much more dangerous than the hurricanes are. You know, hurricanes don't barrel up to the coastline and slam on their brakes. They keep right on going inland and bring tornadoes with them. Polly

Put yourself, family, that new SM, and stash, out of harm/hurricanes way. Good luck, we'er thinking of you. Bonnie, in Middletown, VA, where Fay's left over rain is here.

I agree Polly. Worst storm we ever survived was the traffic heading north. We survived Fay. Over 225 homes damaged in Palm Bay. 18 1/2 inches in our rain gauge for the week. Had a lake in back yard and water over the street in front. No water in house and no wind damage. Lots of friends who have major damage though. Plus a tornado in a development were at least 6 fellow quilters live. All the people OK, not the houses and I guess that's what counts. Now I hear Hannah is heading for us after the first of the week. Time to replenish the food supplies, couldn't leave the house for 5 days and we did just fine. Main effort is not to stock the freezer.

Good luck with Gustauf. Anna Belle in Palm Bay