Yikes. Tampa is in big trouble. Cat 5.

Since Sunday night, the storm’s rate of strengthening has reached extreme levels — its intensity leaping from a Category 1 to 5. The storm’s peak winds Monday midday were up to 160 mph, a 70 mph increase in 12 hours.

Yikes. Tampa is in big trouble. Cat 5.

Damn, and it's not even supposed to make landfall until Wednesday, right? Maybe it'll lose intensity by then.

They do expect it to lose steam. At least going to 4 and hopefully 3. But keeping strong all the way across the state including Orlando. The whole middle section of the state will be without power for a while.

Yikes that is scary!! I hope it magically weakens quickly.

They do expect it to lose steam. At least going to 4 and hopefully 3. But keeping strong all the way across the state including Orlando.

Even a 3 going across the entire state is going to be very bad.

Here's hoping everyone can get battened down safely.

Happy Birthday, Jen P!

This weekend I got my Cat People for Harris/Walz sign from the local Democratic Party HQ and put it up in the yard.

Some sanity~ma for my brother needed. I'd ask for health~ma, but really we just need him to take his health seriously for the first time in 69 years. He's lost 25 pounds and is vomiting. He went to the doctor this morning and they have sent him for a bunch of stat scans. He is on the west coast of Florida so I am surprised they even got him in. He falls often, so it could even be a concussion. He has such a long list of issues it is hard to say. He takes 3 meds for diabetes, which in his mind means he can eat as many donuts and those canned sweet coffees as he wants. He has MS, which is mostly in remission, but he falls because he won't use a cane. He chain smokes. Basically, he has zero regard for his body but apparently he was annoyed enough with the recent issues that he went to the doctor this morning without kicking and screaming. He is getting his scans done right now.

Oh, goodness, Laura, that is a lot. I'm glad he went to the doctor, and I hope results are things he's willing to deal with to the extend that's possible. Health and outcomes ~ma his way. Dealing with the sib ~ma yours.

Thanks for the b-day wishes! Went to a nice Italian place for dinner last night with a couple of friends and DH. And I just got a hilarious serenade via Teams Meet, because everyone is out of sync time-wise -- like, they couldn't have done it all in one room together like that if they had tried. Hilarious.

Laura I hope your brother is ok. I am so exhausted. I went home yesterday and ended falling asleep almost immediately...women up for dinner and then was up for awhile before I went to bed.

During the day we usually get 3 trucks and one, the GM truck normally has 800, cases of stuff. Yesterday it was 1396, or something close. Today it's 1234ish. The grocery trucks that are usually 400 or 500 cases are over 800. The back room is crammed full of stuff and it's all we can do to try and keep up with freight.

So much cleaning supplies, candles, it looks like they are sending any flashlights and ice packs and things like that.

I'm so worried for my friends in FL, and for the state in general.

At work, one of my favorite residents has had her cancer come back with a roar.. and she's choosing to go on hospice, which may mean 6 months or so. It's a rational decision, but it's still got me down. In the 5 years I've been there, I've had some of my favorites die, so you think I'd be used to it. But she was there when I started, and has been an almost daily interaction(s) in the most pleasant of ways.

Death sucks. I do not recommend it.