Thanks to Bill for updating all y'all yesterday (see, I'm starting to pick up the local lingo here, except that it should actually be New Yorkese, not redneck).

I've a lot to tell, but not a lot of time to tell it, because we still don't have power, or internet. I'm posting this from Patricia's trailer at the Tri-Rail project, which obviously had higher priority for power restoration. Much of Boca Raton remains without electricity. As Bill said, the house is fine. We have telephone and water, but no power. I hooked up a power converter from the car to the DSL modem, and we don't have connectivity to the net, else I'd be blogging from home via the car battery.

We lucked out, because the storm both weakened and hit north of us, eliminating any risk of flooding from the surge. We have a few shrubs broken, but are otherwise unscathed. However, we will keep most of the shutters and plywood up until we see what the ultimate disposition of Ivan will be.

In short, we dodged a bullet, but we may not be so lucky next time, and our hearts go out to those who were hit much harder to the north.

Much more when we get power and bandwidth.

Glad to hear you're doing okay. Here's hoping your luck holds.

Whew! Glad to hear it from the horse's, er, the Rand's mouth. ;-p

Congratulations! Hope Ivan gets itself lost.

I was in Melbourne Beach for Frances. I have some photos and a small video compilation here:

http://home.earthlink.net/~flektonez1/frances/

Glad to know you survived, Rand. Hope your house isn't too damaged.

I guess you've kept up enough to know that we've got another one that might be on the way?

Here in Tampa Hurricane Charley just missed us, Frances gave us a wicked soak & no power for 3 days. I'm hoping Ivan will dissipate its large self over the gulf somewhere far away from people, but its too soon to tell.