I packed 3 boxes of books tonight. It's way too early to be packing, but I want to get rid of two book shelves and I culled books while starting to clear them.

I also bought a new piece of luggage.

I still have nervous energy to spare and my brain in CONVINCED that today is Friday.

I guess I should go take a shower, have some calm powder in some tea, and put on a meditation podcast to get to sleep.

Tomorrow we do this all again.

I am hoping the hurricane avoids everyone.

I'm so excited for you msbelle. I'm looking forward to pictures of you in your home and also hearing about you in Baltimore.

Exciting, msbelle!!

Sadly, it started pouring rain right around when my birthday party was supposed to start. So although 25+ people had RSVP'd yes (and another 10 or more "Maybe") and I usually get a LOT of people at my parties, this time there was maybe 10 total. Good friends, so that was nice, but still kind of a bummer (especially since I made three dozen cupcakes! And many of the 10 people don't eat gluten or dairy!)

But this weekend will be a big party which I hope will be fun. Nervous.

Definitely do not need anyone to be in a hurricane. Maybe a tornado, those are more precision and could hit a certain resort without damaging much else, in a biblical show of wrath type thing.

I still have nervous energy to spare and my brain in CONVINCED that today is Friday.

It is!

6 AM advisory narrows the hurricane cone pointing it more directly at Mar-a-Lago, or ya know, my house too.

Activity at my homes in NY and FL. DH has gone to pick up #1 son to take him to West Palm Beach for an 8 AM court date. Clearing up a many year old marijuana bust that he previously had ignored but has been hanging out with an arrest warrant. Finally talked him into getting it cleared, at my dime of course. I hope that outstanding warrant being removed from any background checks will make him more employable.

#2 son and spouse arrived back in FL about an hour ago after driving all night from NC. The car they drove to Gatlinburg blew the transmission on the way home in SC. The part they tried to replace didn't work so getting a new transmission. They have a loaner until that happens then they have to drive back to SC to get their car. Fortunately it was under warranty and it isn't costing them anything but vacation time. Smart kids, they bought any hurricane supplies they wanted while still in NC!

DH still doesn't know if he is evacuating. He'll decide today. Main issue is that if he doesn't go now he won't be able to because fuel becomes an issue. As much as I'd like his company here in Otter Lake, I am encouraging him to go to my sister's house in West Florida because she should be fine and it will be easier to get back home when power is restored.

Yeah, I am wound up.

Good luck to all of yours (and everyone else!), Laura! And calming thoughts to you. Actually, calming thoughts to Dorian as well.

I got a "time sensitive" email at 5 last night that will now require consultation and coordination with a bunch of people. What are the odds any of them are around today?? Ugh.

And my weekend dilemma: tomorrow is the best weather day of the weekend (actually, today is, but I'm at work! booo), but it's also the "straight pride parade" and I should go counter-protest. But also I'm not 100% yet from this cold, so maybe lying down (on the beach) is the right call for me???

I'm really worried about my sister in Miami - she's on bedrest after a round of IVF, so her choices are to risk the implantation and evacuate, or stay put and risk whatever damage Dorian does.

Jesse's decision is easy, beach.

Jessica's sister's decision trickier. She has another day to decide. Does she know anyone say in Naples?

She used to work at a women's shelter that was built as a hurricane shelter, so if it starts to look really bad she can evacuate there (still in Miami, but safe). I just know she won't want to.

Beach, Jesse!

That's tricky for your sister, Jessica. Sending good vibes for whatever works best for her.