Ivan update

[trof]

We are OK.
Our house is OK.
Ivan's a sissy.
OK, not really.
We no longer live in Bay FOREST Estates.
We now live in Bay MEADOWS Estates.
More accurately Bay Big Holes In The Ground Estates.
The FOREST part is goners.
The Bay part is now back in its usual location. Ivan kicked it up about 8 1/2 feet higher than normal for a while. Happily our house is 9' above mean high tide. Whew.
The aluminum framed screened porch we added on a few years ago (and didn't like a month later) was destroyed by blown over trees. There are two big clumps of five oak trees leaning against the back roof of the house, but don't appear to have penetrated.
<Just in: My storm clean up guy, roofer, and Jack of All Trades was up there and says "no holes, and no shingles gone.">

I can see three 6' high root balls from the back windows. There are four or five in the front yard. Good sized oaks. The tree roots that were slowly ripping up part of our driveway will never be a problem again. From the way the trees are lying I can tell you that the killing winds came directly out of the southeast. Most of the dock is gone, but the pilings are still there, so rebuilding will be relatively easy.

We weathered the storm at our cousins' farm in Gainestown, Alabama, about 70 miles north (as the crow flies) of here. Lost power and phone around 1 a.m. Thursday. I think the house is 100 years old, or better, and it was as solid as a rock. They knew how to build 'em back then. We actually enjoyed the reunion with cousins and kin we hadn't seen in a while. Lots of cooking, eating, talking, and a wee bit of drinking :toast: going on. I can now make coffee using a Mr. Coffee without the benefit of electricity. It's a gift.

We got power back on at home last night. Spent the previous two nights in a motel a little closer to Foley. Air conditioning is a wonderful thing.

Thanks for all the messages, prayers, and good karma.
trof and Miz t.

[supernova]

1. Hey you!

Glad to hear from you, trof. We were all wondering how you fared.

Sounds like good news in your camp. :toast: :D :hi:

[readmylips]

2. Good, you're OK...now you got that Miss America hotty...

to help you clear out the mess. Hotty from Alabama must be a bush repig and will campaign for him.

[Droopy]

3. I'm glad you came through it okay, trof

And I'm glad that your house withstood Ivan. Losing a house and all the contents would be a nightmare. Here's yo you :toast: and may you never experience anything like this again.

[Bossy Monkey]

4. I like your attitude

Glad you came through relatively unscathed.