OK - Update on...............Me!!!

[starfire]

Well, the trip down here from Ga in the UHaul went OK. One incident in the middle of Atlanta made me scream (I NEVER scream). 6 lanes of traffic (12 total), my sister Vickie driving, and this white truck came from nowhere it seemed and almost sideswiped us. It did clip the side view mirror on our truck and bent one of the brackets a bit. I just caught a glimpse of the thing as it did that and let out a yell. My sister was very "cool" and just held the truck steady. So glad it didn't really hit us and knock us into the next lane or something. It could have been horrible, but God was good to us. Neither one of us stopped........how could we in the middle of Atlanta in 6 lanes of traffic. We figured the UHaul place probably wouldn't even notice the bent bracked and besides, I bought the insurance for that kind of thing.

Mom is doing OK, I think. It is a big adjustment for her. Until now, she had always lived in more of less the same area where she was born. She is doing her best and I am trying to make it as easy for her as possible.

Bill is here now. It wouldn't stop raining in upper PA so he gave up on golf and came down. He's finding it extremely hot and humid (this is a surprise??) here. He is doing pretty well except the day after he arrived they dug up the water line to several houses in our cul-de-sac and for about 2 days we had no water and then everything was full of sand. Had quite a time getting things all working properly again. I still haven't used my washer. I'm almost afraid to. Have to try it today though.

Hurricane Wilma took 1/3 to 1/2 of our carport roof but no inside leaks or anything major other than that so I feel very blessed. Mom and I sat it out at Bill's brother's house. It's a concrete block structure and with the windows boarded up we hardly noticed the weather. We were on the outer edge of the storm anyway so it wasn't anything like what others endured.

The worst part was not having water or electricity afterward. Funny thing, my daughter never even lost electricity, but the other side of her street lost theirs for a few days.

The storm was on a Monday and we got electricity back on Friday. A cold front followed the storm so we didn't have the incredible heat to deal with. If we had, I would have gone to my son's house in Pensacola.

There is still a lot I need/want to do with Mom's place and mine too so I do have plenty to keep me busy. I won't have as much time for the "net" now but I'll try to check in here at least once a day.

Those who are "ailing" - please know that I am thinking of you and care very much about how you are doing.

Polly, the hurricane AND moving have really played havoc with my diet but I'm not giving up and I'm doing OK. I think the fatigue is back due to diet, but hopefully it will get better soon. I'll write more about this in a different room.

Those who are doing well - Please know that I am hoping you stay that way!!

Shirley

[MaggieRedwings]

Hi Shirley,

Now that sounds like a very wild trip through Atlanta but the one and only time I drove there it was horrible, so I can appreciate your story. Almost any venture in a U-Haul is a harrowing experience.

Glad to hear that Wilma did not treat you too badly and glad that you are getting settled in and hope that mom adjusts quickly.

Keep the diet going - it does work.

Love, Maggie

[Lucy]

Welcome home, Shirley,

Whew, what an experience! Last year when I visited Atlanta for the very first time on my respite to the north Ga. mountains, I had a difficult time in that crossover situation around I-485 (isn't that the no.?)-- had to get alllll the way across a bunch of busy lanes of traffic in a very short time to make my turnoff to get to Roswell. Think if I'd not been quite so late (musta been about 4 PM then), it mighta been a bit easier, but who knows. Anyway, is that where you were at the time? Just curious.

Anyway, sure glad it wasn't even worse, and also that Wilma didn't bust up to many of your prized possessions, not to mention loved ones. Those block houses must really be strong. What kind of roofs do they put on em? I know that Fla. has some mighty strict rules about construction after Andrew hit a few years ago. Wish we had the hurricane braces/brackets up in the attic here. Hopefully, we'll never need em. I only plan to stay here as long as Mom does.

Like you, don't have as much time to respond right now, but do like to check in to see how our buds are doing whenever possible, so will be interested in what all's going on with you. Do keep in touch when you can.

Yours, Luce

[Liz]

Shirley I was thinking of you & hoping you were safe from harm in that awful storm. It seems almost incredible that this could happen & so many such severe storms one after another. Someone must have been watching over you, with the truck incident as well. You were very lucky I think.

Good to have you back online again.

Love

Liz

[starfire]

Luce,
We were inside the 285 loop around Atlanta. If you are doing I85 or I75 it's better not to bother getting on the loop. Just drive straight through. We didn't have to cross lanes or change lanes (unless we wanted to) going that way. Atlanta traffic is the pits and yes, 4:00 was a bad time to go through there but 5 or 6 would have been worse. Glad you made it OK. My bil's house just has a normal roof I believe. It's an older home, built from concrete blocks covered with stucco. I don't think there is anything special about the roof. I do know it was new last year (before the 2 storms) and it has now made it through 3 of them intact. My daughter lost shingles last year so she put on a new roof and hers didn't sustain any damage this year.

Maggie,
I'm trying very hard to get back into the diet in a major way. My worst weakness seems to be getting really thirsty and wanting to grab an ice cold Root Beer from the fridge.

Liz,
I surely know "someone" is watching over me. Been proven over and over and over.

Love, Shirley

[tex]

Shirley,

Keep some Virgil's Root Beer in the frig. It may not be Paleo, but at least it's free of intolerances for virtually everyone.

Love,
Wayne

[starfire]

Thanks Tex, and I would if I could find some...............I keep looking but no luck so far.

Love, Shirley

[Peggy]

Shirley!!!!!

Welcome home.

I consider myself one of those "doing well" and am so happy to have you back.

Much love and hugz,
Peg

[moremuscle]

Hi and welcome back, Shirley

Sounds like you had a near accident in Atlanta - I would have screamed too and I'm not afraid of driving or traffic. I go to Atlanta every month for business and I have seen a lot of accidents there; just a reminder to stay alert while driving there and try to go with the flow if possible. It helps to know where you are going so you don't have to make sudden lane changes across 4 or 5 lanes to an exit; we usually drive in at night when the traffic has slowed somewhat down; the rush hours are by far the worst. Glad it was the side rear view mirror only!!

It's great to hear that you are being determined about the diet; when the stress calms down I am sure you will be right back on track and the reward will be a higher sense of well being and less fatigue - you've got it!!

Love,
Karen