so expensive.....
My birthday is on Saturday and mother nature has promised us Hell on earth in Rita's embrace. She is due to grace our shores on Saturday. It appears that playing with Florida has excited her so much that she plans a much greater party for us.
We are on the right side of her eye-wall, so will bear the brunt of her wrath. We are expecting manditory evac in the next day or so. Already the stores are out of water and batteries, and several gas stations have run out of gas. We were not lucky enough to get any water. We have no money with witch to board the house up, and no renter's insurance. Couldn't afford it and never really believed we'd need it. Hindsight.
But, we are trying to borrow enough to take our two cars and drive out in the direction of NewMexico. If we are lucky we will have enough for a hotel as well. Can't imagine sleeping in our vehicles. Ugh.
Now is a time I wish we didn't have such huge dogs. Only 2 kennels fit in my van...Perhaps we should leave our pregnant boxer home, as she is worth the least of the three? Decisions we never dreamed we'd have to be making. Guess who gets to drive the van with my husband's reaking beasties? Me...my van, don't you know. Seems the bigger they are...the harder they smell. 
I have no choice about taking the kennels..the boxer is finishing her heat cycle (after being bred)and our male DDB is going nuts. On top of that DDB's in their youth have very strong, distructive jaws...they would litterally eat my van. Did you see Turner & Hootch - it was not much of a fabrication. We do not really intend to leave any dogs behind...perhaps we'll figure something out.
I am lucky enough to have under 20 snakes, so will be packing them up too. My rat colonies will have to stay and the bunny, although I may try to take a trio of my blue rats...they were an anomoly and are so pretty.
We may well lose all of our clothing, furniture, computers, and personal treasured effects, and possible our rented home...but, we will keep most our critters. 16 years of aquiring stuff, could possibly all be gone on my Birthday. Can anyone think of a better present? My husband always said I was jinxed. If not for bad luck, I'd have no luck...I think I am beginning to believe him, at least I will if we lose everything on my Birthday.
At least this is hitting before our weather cools, so no one is ovulating or gravid. That is a blessing.
The most ironic thing is that my phone has been ringing off the hook this morning offering me sub jobs, since teachers are calling in right and left in order to evacuate. Now I'm getting the calls and now I cannot take them. I too have to start gathering what meager possessions we will be able to take with us (hardly no room after all the critters). Perhaps they will decide to close the schools tomorrow when they realize how understaffed they will be today.
Ironic too that many families, students, and teachers have fled here to avoid disaster only to be kicked with it again.
For all you, like us, who are about to be encircled in Rita's tangible enbrace...I wish you all the best...and godspeed.
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Delusions of Grandeur feed the EGO...
