Hurricane Charley
None of us believed really that a hurricane would make it this far inland. Thursday it didn't really occur to me that we would be closed on Friday, until another co-worker mentioned it.
Friday morning it was supposed to hit Tampa; by Friday afternoon we heard it was coming straight towards us. I felt pretty safe, living in an older apartment complex. As I mentioned to June earlier that day, if we had leased any of the newer apartments, I would have made my way to her place. Especially, for those who know the area, the places on Bennett. Plywood I tell you, I plywood.
John and I watched the last DVD of Monk's first season in the mid afternoon; the local news channels were requesting that everyone be off of the road by 2PM. By 5:30 - 6PM, I was bored out of my mind. Random calls had been made through out the day and all that was left was to wait.
By 9PM we still had power and heard via Channel 9 that the winds were expected to hit up to 80MPH. We had moved everything off of the porch, filled the bath tub with water and continued to wait.
John and I went out onto the porch as we heard the wind begin to pick up. OUr upstairs neighbors were also outside and we simultaneously "ooohhh"ed and "ahhh"ed at the spectacle Nature brought us. The sky would light up randomly in blues and greens.
As the wind continued to pick up, you could see the trees begin to sway horizontally. Leaves were dancing, along with other various debris. It looked as if they were in the military charging onto the unsuspecting enemy. We saw a squirrel dart from the tree and scurry underneath John's truck.
A loud crash, followed by bright flashes, startled me. I opened the porch door preparing to go back inside. Everything went black. No more contact with the ongoing storm via the news.
The air smelled like Christmas. A fresh pine aroma wafted through. With each new branch that was pulled off of the trees, the smell grew stronger.
For a moment, I closed my eyes and allowed the remaining senses to engulf the smells, sounds, and sensations. With the brisk wind and pine aroma, I almost believed it was the middle of December.
After the power went out, we shortly returned in doors, realizing that we hadn't eaten dinner. By candlelight, we made tuna sandwiches and then eventually dozed to the sounds of the wind quietening down.
Upon waking Saturday morning, I saw a beautiful rainbow. I woke John up and we gazed outside our porch once more. Only now we were taking in the site of massive debris and humidity.
* * *
It's Sunday morning now. We still don't have power at the apartments and the upstair neighbor said that she heard it would be about three days. I haven't been able to get in touch with my parents or June, but know that the downfall of only having cell phones as a tool of communications leaves the risks of lost towers and a low battery. I'm sure they are okay.
I'm keeping my ears open this afternoon regarding the school systems. I don't know if they will be opened or closed tomorrow.
The Airport and South side of Orlando seems to have gotten the worse of it in the greater Orlando area. The upstairs neighbor works at the International Airport, and when she went there on Saturday she informed me that some of the planes were flipped over. John's aunt and uncle are in a hotel because of a busted water source -- they were told to expect to have electricity and water back on in five days.
We're over at John's parents...one of the lucky ones who have electricity. They've offered their home until our power gets turned back on. Let me tell you that I have never appreciated air conditioning as much as I did Saturday evening. I am also excited to take a nice long shower this morning after breakfast.
Friday morning it was supposed to hit Tampa; by Friday afternoon we heard it was coming straight towards us. I felt pretty safe, living in an older apartment complex. As I mentioned to June earlier that day, if we had leased any of the newer apartments, I would have made my way to her place. Especially, for those who know the area, the places on Bennett. Plywood I tell you, I plywood.
John and I watched the last DVD of Monk's first season in the mid afternoon; the local news channels were requesting that everyone be off of the road by 2PM. By 5:30 - 6PM, I was bored out of my mind. Random calls had been made through out the day and all that was left was to wait.
By 9PM we still had power and heard via Channel 9 that the winds were expected to hit up to 80MPH. We had moved everything off of the porch, filled the bath tub with water and continued to wait.
John and I went out onto the porch as we heard the wind begin to pick up. OUr upstairs neighbors were also outside and we simultaneously "ooohhh"ed and "ahhh"ed at the spectacle Nature brought us. The sky would light up randomly in blues and greens.
As the wind continued to pick up, you could see the trees begin to sway horizontally. Leaves were dancing, along with other various debris. It looked as if they were in the military charging onto the unsuspecting enemy. We saw a squirrel dart from the tree and scurry underneath John's truck.
A loud crash, followed by bright flashes, startled me. I opened the porch door preparing to go back inside. Everything went black. No more contact with the ongoing storm via the news.
The air smelled like Christmas. A fresh pine aroma wafted through. With each new branch that was pulled off of the trees, the smell grew stronger.
For a moment, I closed my eyes and allowed the remaining senses to engulf the smells, sounds, and sensations. With the brisk wind and pine aroma, I almost believed it was the middle of December.
After the power went out, we shortly returned in doors, realizing that we hadn't eaten dinner. By candlelight, we made tuna sandwiches and then eventually dozed to the sounds of the wind quietening down.
Upon waking Saturday morning, I saw a beautiful rainbow. I woke John up and we gazed outside our porch once more. Only now we were taking in the site of massive debris and humidity.
* * *
It's Sunday morning now. We still don't have power at the apartments and the upstair neighbor said that she heard it would be about three days. I haven't been able to get in touch with my parents or June, but know that the downfall of only having cell phones as a tool of communications leaves the risks of lost towers and a low battery. I'm sure they are okay.
I'm keeping my ears open this afternoon regarding the school systems. I don't know if they will be opened or closed tomorrow.
The Airport and South side of Orlando seems to have gotten the worse of it in the greater Orlando area. The upstairs neighbor works at the International Airport, and when she went there on Saturday she informed me that some of the planes were flipped over. John's aunt and uncle are in a hotel because of a busted water source -- they were told to expect to have electricity and water back on in five days.
We're over at John's parents...one of the lucky ones who have electricity. They've offered their home until our power gets turned back on. Let me tell you that I have never appreciated air conditioning as much as I did Saturday evening. I am also excited to take a nice long shower this morning after breakfast.