Preparation for a Hurricane
Ok, so a little scary here, as we watch Hurricane Irma predicted to cover the entire state of FL. Doesn't sound like there was any better alternative in FL or Atlanta to go, unless we could have caught one of the flights outa here to the midwest. Honestly, I am just trusting in the Universe to keep us safe.
We did evacuate to an area about 30 minutes West of South Beach. It is called Tamiami/Doral. Left some friends behind who chose to stay in our building on South Beach, even though the garage and building was being locked shut at noon, and the power was also being turned off, as a hurricane precaution. I really wasn't sure where it was best for us to be, but it was important to Caroline for us to ride out the storm with her boyfriend, Chris' family, so without any other definite alternative, I agreed. So, we had to be packed up and out before noon, if we were going to leave. Caroline, Tiffany and I packed the car full as though we weren't going to return for 1 or 2 weeks, as I told them, with Marlaina's chihuahua, Louie, Caroline's cat, Alize and Tiffany's cat, Sammie.
I actually have a conference in Michigan next week, and brought my clothes, media kits, business cards and rate cards that I'll need... Just in case I am not able to return to my home for a while due to the water elevation.
It is so unfortunate that Alexis, 18, my youngest daughter missed the bus from Naples earlier this week that was supposed to bring her to us, so we were all together, but after she missed it, I kept thinking maybe there was a reason, and so her Dad and I agreed that she should just stay in Naples, with him and his mom, and girlfriend. My oldest daughter, Marlaina, 24, now lives in LA, so she is safe.
Loved this shut down boarded up gas station we passed...if you see the message on the boards, it says WE ARE READY!! Which I believe we are...
The above picture is Chris' Grandma, Nelsa, (his Dad's Mom) is just delightful, generous Cuban woman who speaks only spanish, but I'm told she understands English. After we got settled in our respective rooms in her house, we went over and visited Chris' mom, who lives not far away, before she went to work as a nurse in the Baptist Hospital in Kendall. Traffic on the street was very light in Miami today.
The picture above is Caroline and Chris outside his Mom's home, playing with her dog and Marlaina's. The dogs both came back to Nelsa's home to ride out the storm with us.
So, everyone needs a hurricane plan...so our plan is that tomorrow night, we will all stay on the first floor of the house, but if the water gets too high, then we can open the hurricane shutters on the 2nd floor bedroom in the front, and sit on the roof, and wait...we have a ton of water, and food...just trying not to eat it all, and drink all the beer before the power is turned off tomorrow night!!
We all agree that we are ok to drink alcohol tonight, but tomorrow night, in the face of the storm, we want to be completely sober, so that we can best deal with whatever occurs, and make sure that we all survive no matter what consequences arise!
We all will be dressed in long pants and gym shoes and be ready to do whatever we need to survive. Please join us in sending your love and prayers for this storm to pass without too much destruction .
Thank you so much!! xxoo
We did evacuate to an area about 30 minutes West of South Beach. It is called Tamiami/Doral. Left some friends behind who chose to stay in our building on South Beach, even though the garage and building was being locked shut at noon, and the power was also being turned off, as a hurricane precaution. I really wasn't sure where it was best for us to be, but it was important to Caroline for us to ride out the storm with her boyfriend, Chris' family, so without any other definite alternative, I agreed. So, we had to be packed up and out before noon, if we were going to leave. Caroline, Tiffany and I packed the car full as though we weren't going to return for 1 or 2 weeks, as I told them, with Marlaina's chihuahua, Louie, Caroline's cat, Alize and Tiffany's cat, Sammie.
I actually have a conference in Michigan next week, and brought my clothes, media kits, business cards and rate cards that I'll need... Just in case I am not able to return to my home for a while due to the water elevation.
And, so, we were off!
With Caroline, 22, and I sharing the front seat, because the car was jammed full of all the food, water and supplies we'd bought to stay home and endure the storm. Tiffany, 20, (pictured) was driving the Honda Civic that I co-signed with for her last year, (that she has never let me drive)...it's a beautiful car!!
We are just enjoying every moment...what's not to enjoy!?!!
If you stay open and optimistic, this is actually a very exciting time in our lives that I'm sure will be unforgettable, and that we can only learn from!!
Next, we went to Chris' Grandma's house, where we are supposed to sit this storm out. Chris and Caroline have been dating for about 3 years, and Chris is just hilarious, and is making this a much more light-hearted situation. Also met another woman here, named Ana, who is near my age, and lives down the road, but will be sitting this one out with us!! We are all feeling very happy and lucky to have these wonderful people to share this uncertain event!!
Ana and Caroline are making us a shrimp and salmon dinner, while they can!!
I guess Ana knew the seafood would go bad if she left them in her refrigerator when she left her home today, so she brought them to share with us!
We all will be dressed in long pants and gym shoes and be ready to do whatever we need to survive. Please join us in sending your love and prayers for this storm to pass without too much destruction .
Thank you so much!! xxoo
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