I hate Florida.

[aphisiglovessae]

Well, there''s another huge hurricane heading towards me and my fiance. It may be another Ivan or worse.

My nerves can''t take much more of this, but I''m trying to keep a smile on my face. When I went to gas up my car, I smiled at the person next to me at the pump. He complimented on my smile, and I said "I''m trying to keep smiling despite the situation". When I left he said to keep smiling and be safe. I thanked him and told him to be safe as well, but I don''t know how much longer this smile will last. I have until Saturday to decide whether or not I''m staying in town (any later and I probably won''t get out in time due to traffic). My fiance has to stay at his house to keep his saltwater tank up and running when the storm hits (he lost hundreds of dollars worth of coral after Ivan last year, and his tank was only half the size of his new one back then. Luckily we found a generator yesterday, but he needs to stay to operate it). I hope it goes a little more east, but who knows. I feel really bad for our good friends who are getting married here July 31st. So if you don''t see any activity or anything from me next week, you''ll know why. Wish all of us luck and for those of you who are religious, go ahead and pray. I''ll take anything I can get right now.

Here''s a good link if you guys want to keep tabs on what''s going on:

Hurricane Dennis

 

[IrishEyes]

Oh man, I am so sorry!! I can''t believe the hit Florida has taken in the last two years. It must be terrifying! You are in my thoughts, I hope this all works out, and that you don''t lose anything!! Please try to stay safe!!

 

[ammayernyc]

And to think, my bf asked me this morning (half-seriously) if we could move to Florida.

Stay safe!

 

[moremoremore]

Will be thinking of you guys!!!!

But I want to add that I don''t think it''s worth risking your (his) life if that''s what it comes to for some coral.

 

[MissAva]

I know how you feel, AL will be hit too. I love the area but this weather thing sucks!

 

[aphisiglovessae]

Well, most of the trees that could fall on his house fell on it last year during Ivan. As a result over 1/4 of the house is brand new (he and his father rebuilt it themselves). I know it's not completely safe, but it is probably better than it was. If he needs to go to a shelter just for the storm, I'm sure he will. The coral and fish can probably withstand a day or a few hours worth of no power. However, right after the storm passes is when he'll need to be there (if the power is out). Don't worry moremoremore, he's not going to risk his life for the tank. NO WAY. He'd have to be pretty stupid to do that, and I'd have to slap him for it. Or worse. Maybe after this hurricane I'll get another friend. Last year after Ivan, I rescued a baby squirrel that was orphaned from the storm, and raised him.

 

[aphisiglovessae]

Here he is sleeping in my hand. I bottle fed him (once he got off the bottle I fed him nuts and corn. Walnuts were his favorite!) and he had his own little cage. I named him Little Ivan. My neighbor found him right after the hurricane, crying behind my apartment. I ended up taking care of him because my neighbor owned three cats and they kept trying to eat him.

 

[Kaleigh]

I''ll be thinking of you guys, I know how scary it must be!!!!!

 

[aphisiglovessae]

thanks everyone!

 

[moremoremore]

Then tell him to get the hell out of there!
And HOW cute is your little buddy. What eventually happened to him? (not your BF LOL)

 

[aphisiglovessae]

I'm not really sure. I had him outside in a huge cage for a long time, and he could come and go as he pleased. It protected him from predators but didn't confine him. I think he eventually went home. I really miss him though. I liked playing with him. He loved people, which isn't really a good thing. I especially loved how he used to crawl up my arm and nestle in my hair.

 

[aphisiglovessae]

Well folks, it''s a CAT 4 now...

 

[Blue824]

I''ve taken in my fair share of animals (birds, mice, raccoons) but never a squirrel, that picture is really cute, nice job saving him, even though others probably think of him as a pest!

Hopefully you won''t have as much damage this year. So scary, please stay safe durign the storm!!

 

[Logan Sapphire]

Good luck! I know how you feel about FL- I lived there for 4 years and couldn''t wait to leave.

 

[aphisiglovessae]

OMG, it''s almost a CAT 5.

*starts crying*

 

[aphisiglovessae]

Well, it looks like it''s time for me to start packing. I don''t know if it will definitely come here or what, but it''s one mph below a category 5 and that''s what Andrew was. If you remember, Andrew completely leveled where it hit. So my father called me and requested that I pack everything I can and head home. Home is only Panama City, but I''ll be staying in a concrete and brick 4-story building which is safer than my apartment. How do you guage what''s important in your home? I only have a small car.