Not sure what kind of nasty weather we will get from Rita. I have heard predictions of high winds and 9-10 inches of rain, and some possible tornadoes. So, if you try to contact me, either by IM or email, I may be delayed in getting back to you as may be out of power and telephone for a few days, depending on how things go. Other than that, should ride out the storm okay. Rob

Good Luck!

If it was me, I would get right out of rita`s path just to be on the safe side.

Not in the path as we are northern Louisana. Just going to feel the fallouts. I agree, if you are anywhere in the projected hit zone - leave!

Battening down can be a better risk than leaving, if you're a good 'battener' and not at ground zero. Very best of luck!

Hi Ockham, we've weathered the fallout from these storms before and were I live is somewhat sheltered anyhow and not prone to flooding or even in the general tornodo runs. But there are no guarentees in life. @Bobasaur, sorry I did not mean to so rudely overlooked your well wishes. Thanks. I'll take all the luck I can get, and good luck double - to help balance out the bad I've been having of late. :O)

No response was necessary so I didin't realize you rudely overlooked them. (grin)

Not necessary perhaps, but polite just the same. And Mom did try to make a proper gentlemen out of me. Poor Mom, she had such high hopes. hehe. Thanks again.

Take care... I lived in Shreveport LA for a few years, but it wasn't this bad a hurricane season then. Good luck.

Thanks. I'm South of Shreveport, about 80 miles, close to the Texas border. We've seen storms hit in the gulf, but generally we do not suffer too badly. Rita though looks to be promising to kick up a bit of a fuss as far as nasty weather. I am mostly concerned over Tornadoes she might spawn. Just a couple years back a good bit of Shreveport got hammered with some Tornadoes following a fairly mild hurricane that hit the gulf. When Katrina hit, we had clear skies and sunny days. In fact, being a bit of a recluse who rarely watches TV, I did not know she had hit until two days after the fact! Just never can tell. Already raining here and Rita is still a good bit from making landfall. Just never can tell. My thoughts and prayers go out to all the others caught in her path, and even more so to those still reeling from Katrina. Seems like this year is going to bring on hard times for many. :O(

Hi, just wanted to let those of you interested know that we made it through Rita okay. Storm came much futher inland than anyone expected and this area got hit pretty hard. Fortunately not a lot of damage to homes or lost of life, but lots of debris. Many without phones, power, water, gas, etc. for days. We fared better than some. No phone or power for a few days, but plenty of water - which was good given it was HOT! most of the week. We also had a backup generator, but gas is in short supply so we had to conserve and only run the gen for short periods. That made it a bit hard on my Mom since she is diabetic, with a heart condition, and still getting over the chemo treatment she recently went through. It still looks like she is not out of the woods there, yet, either as last tests run showed possibly more cancer in her chest. Looks like we will be off to Bailer Reasearch clinic in Dallas with her next in the coming weeks for more test, etc. So I may be out of pocket at times, so those of you trying to reach me please be patient. I will get back to you as quickly as I can.

I tell you its been a year to remember - or forget. We got phones restored on Tue night and power yesterday, so things are now getting back to normal...or well usual.

My special thanks to all of you who kept us in your thoughts and prayers. At times like these it is really needed. In the last few months I have really found myself spread thin and not sure if I am coming or going, so again I really appreciate all those of you who have tried to be an encouragement to me during this difficult time.

I also want to take this time to give those of you who have been wondering about my Poser partner, theMadPainter, and update on her. I wish I could say things had gotten totally better for her, but mostly she is just hanging in there right now. Going through chemo as a follow up to the lung cancer surgery, with some additional tests needed for some other things, but trying to get back to work and get her mind off some of that. I guess she is moving in the right direction, and things are improving. But its a slow process. So, again, please keep her in your thoughs and prayers as well.

Well, truth is I know many of you have your own share of problems as well, so I don't want to drag you down with mine. But some of you do ask from time to time, so I wanted to pass on a little info. Again, I am truly grateful to this community. It is really nice to have friends like this during less than perfect times. A great encouragement to keep plugging away, and not let things drag you down. Thanks again.

Rob