Notes from Florida:

Things Charley and Frances taught us:

A tree on the ground looks four times bigger than it did standing up

When house hunting, look for closets with lots of leg room.

Water from the shower is much colder than water from the kitchen sink.

AA, C and D are the only alphabet we need.

The four way stop is still an ingenious reflection of civility.

Radio can be the best way to watch television.

Chainsaw wielding men are nothing to be afraid of.

SUV's are the best makeshift tents on the market.

You can use your washing machine as a cooler.

It's your God given right to sit on your back porch and eat Chinese takeout by candlelight in your underwear.

We shouldn't complain about "useless" tools in the garage - we actually DO need a generator.

You can't spell "priceless" without I-C-E.

Downed power lines make excellent security systems.

Gasoline is a value at any price.

Cell phones: Breaking up isn't hard to do.

The life blood of any disaster recovery is COFFEE!

The need for your dog to go out and take care of business is inversely proportional to the severity of the storm.
Candlelight is better than botox...it takes years off your appearance.

Air Conditioning: BEST INVENTION...EVER.

Water is a comfort food. But 3 day old Cheetos are too.

Shadow animals on the wall: Still fun.

No matter how hard the wind blows roadside campaign signs will survive.

You should never admit to having power at your house in the presence of co-workers or neighbors who do not.

There's a plus to having NOTHING in the refrigerator.

Getting through the day should be an Olympic event.

Somebody's got it worse.

If somebody's got it better, obviously, they are getting preferential treatment.

In the end, it really does take two days to prepare (it everything you need is in stock, checkout lines aren't too long and you have gas in the car); one day to sit through the storm (unless it travels slowly); and two days to clean up (whether it hit you or just came nearby). Recovery is as fast as the time it takes the stores to get in new supplies, FEMA to send cleanup crews around the neighborhood, your power to come back on, and your air conditioning to finally cool temperatures and tempers again. Then...it's time for another!