We have two fine boys here right now. Mr. Moon did indeed get up at 5:00 a.m. to go be with them when their mother went to work. Jessie had everything set up and all he had to do was oversee their breakfast and getting dressed and then he took them to school. By the time I got up he'd already accomplished all of that and had a workout.
And gone to Costco to get gas. The lines were long. People are scared to death of this storm as well they should be. We should be. A lot of folks are evacuating from the west coast of Florida and probably central Florida. Milton is, right now, a category 5 storm which is the highest category there is. It means that the storm has sustained winds of 157 miles per hour or more.
That is terrifying.
There is a lot of belief from those who know that before the storm slams into Florida it's going to get back down to a Cat 3 which is still ridiculously horrifying. There are factors that affect these storms including wind sheer, the temperature of the air and water and all sorts of things I know nothing about but at this moment, all of the forecasts agree that there will be some weakening. They also agree that the storm's power will not much affect us here in the Big Bend and panhandle area of the state but I do believe that most of us are still going to be watching things closely.
Here's the last map Nucatola posted.
Wind speed- 180 mph.
That is outrageous.
That is outrageous.
To all of you who live down in the area where Milton is predicted to hit I say- leave if you can. Think about moving to a shelter before the storm gets there if you can't.
Know that we are holding you in our hearts.
In other storm-related news, by this morning when Vergil talked to Mr. Moon, he'd gotten to the mountain, they'd hauled the generator up to their land with a tractor, and had it hooked up to Vergil's sister's house so they have water, at least. This is all very good news.
Nothing much else to report. I've had a lot of anxiety today. Hurricane season is not a time of peace, especially this year and it's working on me. I told Glen that I felt like if you lit a match near me, I'd go up in flames. Just- that close to the edge. But I'm not OVER the edge and I plan to stay safely on this side of it. I've got my big pot boiling away with chicken thighs, carrots, onion, celery, mushrooms, and green beans and will make the dumplings when the chicken is cooked and taken from the bones. Cooking and doing things like laundry and gardening are, for me, some of the best anti-anxiety remedies there are. I did some stitching today too and that is also helpful. So is being with our beautiful boys. I took them to Publix with me after I picked them up at school and they were so good. We got to see Aunt Lily who gave each of them a beaded bracelet which she makes and keeps for the kids who come into the liquor store with their adult.
And so it goes. And so it is. October 7, 2024, in the year of the hurricanes.
Love...Ms. Moon
These damned hurricanes are rolling in like it's a bowling alley. I hope the weather experts have got it right when they say that Milton will reduce to a Category 3. I hope the brothers enjoyed their chicken and dumplings.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on that, Mr. P. However a cat 3 is still hugely capable of great destruction.
DeleteChicken and dumplings were enjoyed as usual.
We really dodged a huge bullet in South Florida and if I was a praying woman I’d be praying hard for the gulf coast. I have friends in St. Pete that aren’t evacuating since they didn’t flood during Helene. I’m worried big time for them. Hoping for the very best for Virgil and his family. Heartbroken by all the loss. I’d love to see all the money spent on political ads go to recovery efforts instead. We need a hundred more Dolly Partons.
ReplyDeleteXoxo
Barbara
I know someone in St. Pete with the same story- Helene didn't hurt them so this one won't either. Ay!
DeleteI wish we had thousands and thousands of Dolly.
Those wind speeds are horrific, this one's gonna do a lot of damage. The loss this season is simply tragic. Recovery is going to take a long time.
ReplyDeleteThe wind speeds are, from what I've read, about the max our eath can produce. Think about that.
DeleteRecovery is going to takes years.
We have a nephew in Clearwater and I have a dear friend of over 60 years who lives in Naples and whose husband died Friday. Two sons are with her and the other two children arrive today and tomorrow, but what a time! Margaret
ReplyDeleteMy heart breaks for your friend in Naples. My god. Too much.
DeleteThinking of you 🤗
ReplyDeleteI think we'll be okay but thank-you.
DeleteI was talking about Helene with a friend, and just began crying. There will be a lifetime of recovery needed. Glad the generator is installed and running.
ReplyDeleteThose boys are lovely.
Yes! Vergil's even figured out how they can get hot showers. He and another engineer friend up there are getting systems going.
DeleteIt makes me so sad that you cried. You are so empathetic. I just love you.
Horrendous, I have no other words.
ReplyDeleteYep.
DeleteI hope Milton reduces to Category 3 as the experts claim. My thoughts are with you.
ReplyDeleteVirgil is a hero getting the generator in place for his family on the mountain. Traversing collapsed roads and bridges with water levels still high is an amazing feat. The devastation is heartbreaking.
Cat 3 is still capable of horrendous damage. But yes, far better than a Cat 4 or 5.
DeleteVergil is definitely a hero.
I am thinking and worrying about you all.
ReplyDeleteComment above is from Sarcastic Bastard (Sherri)
ReplyDeleteMs. S.B.! I've been thinking and wondering about you so much. Thank you for reaching out. I hope all is well with you and with yours. Much love from me to you.
DeleteAll is well. Glad you all are fine too! I was worried.
DeleteI wonder if people will start moving out of Florida. Eventually the hurricane season will make insurance unaffordable.
ReplyDeleteI would imagine you have a lot of anxiety, rightly so. One hurricane after another, it grinds you down I would think.
Sending hugs and love.
Insurance is already unaffordable in many cases. Or simply not available. I think people will definitely be moving out of the state.
DeleteYes. The constancy of these storms does indeed grind one done. You got it perfectly.
Tim and I lay in bed last night talking about Hurricane Milton. I said, "Gads. Let's don't ever move to Florida..." and he said, "I have no intentions of it," and then we pinky swore on it.
ReplyDeleteI can imagine why you would feel anxious right now. Glad that Vergil made it to where he needed to be. I love how your family takes care of one another.
No, I can't see you and Tim living in Florida although Tim would probably be relieved to know he could still hunt. And fish for the big fish! Does he fish?
DeleteOur family is a damn good one.
Those boys are so handsome. Great news from Vergil's family and I hope Milton goes nowhere near them. Hurricane season never bothered me until I met blog friends in the USA. We don't have hurricanes where I live.
ReplyDeleteLucky you, Ms. River!
DeleteThose Handsome Boys are getting leggy and Tall as Young Men already! I'm glad you're not in the Path expected for this next catastrophic Hurricane. Still, it has to be unsettling since Weather can only be predicted to be unpredictable really, Mother Nature just does what she will do and there is no winning against it as mere mortals. My Heart goes out to everyone affected, so many are still suffering from the last and most recent one. It will take a long time to recover from such a Historic Weather Event, even just one, let alone more than one in rapid succession! Quite terrifying. I do Hope folks evacuate so no more loss of life and the difficulties of recovery efforts to find those who couldn't or wouldn't get out in time.
ReplyDeleteLots of folks are evacuating. The interstate is jammed with cars heading west. People aren't fooling around with this one.
DeleteJust look at those long limbs on August ! Is he heading to be a very tall man?
ReplyDeleteSo pleased that Milton isn't coming your way. but hope that it doesn't do too much damage elsewhere. Do people have underground shelters?
I think that August may well be a tall man. Levon too, probably.
DeleteWe don't have underground shelters here. Florida is just about entirely on limestone which lies on the aquifer. If you dig, you get water. We've had a few basements in our life here which is very, very rare and they all flooded.
Mr. Moon is something else! So is Vergil. Hope things begin to improve for his family and hope that Milton weakens a lot more before it hits land.
ReplyDeleteIt is going to weaken but how much? They're not predicting anything lower than a Cat 3 which is still too big.
DeleteWe do have some heroes in this family. Good men.
Those boys are so cute. Scared shitless here...
ReplyDeletee- I know you are. I am so worried for you.
DeleteI can't add anything to what you've said about the storm. All we can do is wait.
ReplyDeleteYep.
DeleteSo nervous about the storm. And the people. I'm glad the generator made it to the NC family.
ReplyDeleteI knew Vergil would get one up there.
DeleteIt is absolutely valid to be worried about the people in Milton's path.
Our local and very regional paper published a short video today of a meteorologist from Florida (John Morales on ABC news) who became so visibly emotional while reporting on the wind speed and the amount of water about to come down, he had to stop talking. Here we are in our quiet autumn river valley holding out for you.
ReplyDeleteI did not know that video had made it all over the world. I haven't seen it. I don't think I can handle it. I'm already scared and worried enough for that part of the state.
DeleteThank you for thinking of us in your home so far away.
The waiting for the hurricane must be torture for those in its path. I hope they are able to move to safety. I hope the hurricane will lose power before it gets to people.
ReplyDeleteYes, and yes.
Deleteclimate change migration will certainly be a thing soon enough!
ReplyDeleteIf it isn't already.
DeleteThird hurricane this season to hit Florida and DeSantis refused to take a call from Vice President Harris about planning for the coming hurricane so the Biden administration is working directly with the city officials in the projected affected areas. DeSantis also wiped any concern or mention of climate change from Florida's state laws and energy policies calling it insulating Florida from green zealots. and still people there will vote for republicans that want to dismantle the NOAA and the NWS.
ReplyDeleteglad to hear Virgil is where he needs to be helping his family and those boys are shining.
DeSantis is showing his ass and Republicans are lying their asses off about FEMA funds. It's unbelievable. They are cruel, cruel people.
DeleteThose boys do hold some light, don't they?
Opening your post and seeing that picture of the boys was such a treat
ReplyDeleteI'm glad!
DeleteDearest Mary-So good to speak to you today. Beautiful boys. May you all stay safe, dear ones.
ReplyDeleteIt made my day to talk to you, dear Beth. Thank you so much for checking on us. And you found me!
DeleteDear Mary
ReplyDeleteI am thinking of you all as this terrible hurricane approaches. I hope it passes quickly and that you are all safe and sound. Kind regards. Christina. Xx
Hello, Christina! It's so nice to hear from you! I hope all is well for you and yours. Thank you for getting in touch.
DeleteOh mrs Moon, dearest Mary,
DeleteI didn't think you'd remember me. I read every day but never comment, well hardly ever. I think of you every day and how you helped me. I shall email soon. Take care. Xx
hubby even asked me this morning *how is Ms Moon doing with all these hurricanes*? So....we are thinking of all you Floridians.........Milton looks like it will hit the most populous areas directly...but that you may be out of its direct path. Regardless.....tons of people are going to be affected.....and I do keep watch from here.... sigh.....just too much to fathom
ReplyDeleteSusan M
That's so sweet. I do not THINK we will get much from this storm but one never knows. As Rob Nucatola says, "A little change now can make a big change down the road."
DeleteLots of people evacuating.