So Long Gustav.. Hello Hanna

As Gustav moved into the interior of the region affected and becomes a flooding event we look west towards the east at Hanna.

Do not think I am minimizing the damage and destruction Gustav wrought for Louisiana and expect to see damage reports similar to what Wilma in South Florida brought. Power outages, trees down, minimal damage to roof tops and structures. Already heard Natchez is without power tonight far inland. It is a massive area and the power grid will go down in areas and take longer to put back together. Hopefully... the levees held and the flooding was minimal. Crops will be lost. I heard tobacco shacks were blown away and that crop has suffered losses. More to come. Understand in some of the bayou towns homes are not well built and there will be severe damage in some places.

As for Hanna Miamians are acting cool, laid back and a bit too prosaic about the coming storm. We no longer freak at being in the 5 day cone and only pay attention it seems to the 3 day cone. Windy and rainy is in the forecast for later this week as well as next week if Ike comes through as forecast.

There is a beautiful breeze tonight in Miami and light passing showers. But, the breeze is constant and a look at the local weather and you can see Hanna lingering too long in the Bahamas or just to the east of the Bahamas. She shows up in the Florida satellite imagery as way too close yet no one is worried as she has stalled and is meandering around waiting for her ride out of town. Yet, many believe we will see her up close and personal, feel her breath, watch her dance a bit and possibly watch her spin away up the coastline for a hit further up the road.

We'll see.

Went out to dinner at the Famous Deli in Aventura. I heard the older waitress with a heavy accent ask the cook about Hanna. I swear it went like this but with a heavy, old European accent with Bronx overtones.

"So did you hear, we're getting Hanna?"

"Whose Hanna?" the cook replied.

"A hurricane, didn't ya hear there 's a hurricane coming!" said the waitress.

"A hurricane named Hanna?" the cook asked in shock.

"Yeah, she's coming!" the waitress insisted.

They both looked out the window... it was raining.

"I don't think we're getting her." the cook proclaimed.

"We are, I heard it on the news!' the waitress said insistently.

I giggled... my friend giggled. Another waitress looked over and said and asked her if she was SURE... and then they both stared outside at the rain slamming against the windows.

Everyone eating nearby just kept on eating.

There you go... news straight from Miami on Hanna!

Pray the death toll is low from Gustav and that Hanna doesn't do much harm wherever she goes later this week.

Or Ike...

Or Josephine...

Sigh... life in the tropics, surely makes you lose your mind if you don't live life with a sense of humor.

Sweet dreams Bobbi