Ike, you useless bitch

I write to you now from my back porch. I estimate gusts up to 40 mph are whipping the trees around, down considerably from the 100 mph we probably experienced around 4 am. It is too dangerous to go out exploring yet, but the porch is sturdy and it's much cooler out here. You see, we have no power - like 3 million others.

I invested in a solid emergency radio and it is feeding us a lot of good info. It is also feeding us a lot of scary stuff - reports of major buildings collapsing, reports of foolhardy evac-ignorers having perished, etc.

We are concentrating on the good. House shell - intact. Water in house - none. Trees down - one, and it fell away from the house. Minor home damage as I have lost some siding, and while my room is in one piece, it might not be too symmetric of a piece.

Bon and I are intact, with lots of supplies. Our vehicles are fine. I have not yet heard from my kids but I expect they will be fine too. I am therefore counting my blessings. This isn't over yet but I think the worst is past, except for the part where the earliest we can expect power back is Monday.

I have only sympathy for the folks up north who are getting a cat 1 storm up their asses. Sorry folks, we did our best to kick its ass but it went and ran off in your direction.

More later, must conserve phone.