Damage report from western Boca Raton... My back is sore, really sore. Oh, and some dead Areca fronds fell down... around 843 of them. Honestly, I'm going to have a hard time claiming I survived a Cat 4 hurricane. Matthew was nothing compared to Francis and Jeanne. Even the three days of Irene were much worse rain than we got from this storm. I'm thankful, don't get me wrong, and even more thankful that it missed Jamaica - our home away from home, but after 11 years of not having to hang the shutters, my back was not entirely up to the task. There were cookies and Advil aplenty yesterday when the last piece of galvanized steel shutter was shoved into the corner of the garage. For those of you, like me, who were spared the ravages of what could have been the storm of our lifetimes, we should wipe away the sweat and hope it's another 11 years before we go through this again. For those of you who lost part or all of your garden, remember - they're just plants and they'll grow back eventually; as long as you're okay and your house is in one piece, say thanks to whoever you thank when miracles happen.

Storm turned north away from the coast last night and spared us the worst. I was fine in Orlando, just a bit of wind and downed tree limbs, etc. Still had power the whole time. Volusia County/Daytona Beach area got the worst, but it was still way better than originally predicted. The winds were less than expected and the core stayed offshore instead of making landfall. Glad it worked out better for everyone!

I live in a 55+ community in Florida and they have canceled all organized activities (including trash collection for tomorrow) until Saturday due to the threat of the weather event. This hurricane won’t affect me. It is simple, I have a sign on my roof. Most people cannot see it, even the missus. Basically, it indicates that “Jim” lives here. Significant weather events just pass by. Every time I move, I bring the sign with me. To show that effective it is, a few moments ago I looked at the weather radar and it showed several of the ‘outer bands’ of this current hurricane approaching the county where I live. The sign did the trick, all dissipated before getting close to my place. The same thing happened with hurricane Hermine in August. We had the hurricane warning in effect and I got a couple of small branches that fell and less than 2” of rain in 24 hours. The sign was working its magic. Are you worried about weather events? You might try a sign on your roof like mine. Although you might need to use my name, I don’t know about that!

Jane, I just recalled another reason that brief tornado only downed the 3 papaya trees and not my banannas. The tallest of the bananas at that time, were only standing at a height of 7 - 7 1/2 ft approx., and growing on the other side of a 6 + ft tall shadow box fence. So the fierce winds were mostly diffused going thru the fence and the few tips over 6 + ft were only gently shuffled around. The 3 papaya trees however, were not the lower-growing Red Ladys, but the normal big skinny guys. My neighbor on the other side of the shadow box fence, ( a different park ) bemoaned the loss of the tall papaya's, said they gave his property " a tropical look I really liked. Will you be replanting more papaya trees like them ? " " Er, no " is all I said. Having only planted them trees a few months earlier ( fastest growing trees I have EVER SEEN,..realize tho they're not really trees. ( smile ) ),..and not having enjoyed eating even ONE,..then the 2 1/2 days labor digging up the roots, sawing the stumps, branches up, hauling it all out to the street for WM to haul off,..naw, no need to dim his rosy impressions ! ( smile ) PS : As a retiree, no need to work more than 3 hours a day in my " plantation " ! have too many other " cool " , stress-free endeavors to occupy my time ! ( smile )