Ivan Satellite Map

Well, here we go again. We're all in a watch and wait situation here. Atlanta will be getting its fair share of rain and wind again in the next few days. But I'll take that over having to face Ivan like my parents and mother-in-law Bennie will in Birmingham and Mobile, respectively. The storm appears to be shifting to the north-east a bit, which is good for Bennie and likely my parents, too. But that doesn't mean it won't get hellish in both places over the next 24 hours. I'm not sure what to expect. Flooding is going to be a big issue. Watching scenes from Mobile on CNN right now is down right scary. You might as well be standing in a damn wind tunnel.

I'm also flipping over to the Weather Channel and seeing some fool reporter stand out there about to get blown away in Biloxi, MS. He's absolutely insane! I mean it is the Weather Channel! It isn't like regular prime time news trying to get ratings! You would think they of all stations would be a little more intelligent about sending their reporters out into the path of an oncoming storm! Geesh!

On the flip side I can almost understand the thrill of wanting to be there. Nevermind that being "in the middle of it all" will likely kill you. It's already killed at least one person in Florida tonight. But I can understand the fascination with storms in my own twisted way. No pun intended. The power of Mother Nature in action leaves me in awe. I can remember back in my school days in Birmingham when we'd have tornado warnings and the sirens would sound off and we were all shuffled toward an inner hallway of the building. I was always one of the last ones in because I wanted to see the sky as it kind of turned this dark grey-green and you could almost feel this calm before the rain started really pouring in and the wind really began to pick up. I never, knock on wood, ended up having to experience a tornado first hand. I wouldn't go as far to say that my interest in storms is equal to that of storm chasers, though. That's just a bit much for me.

http://www.stormchaser.com/

I suppose I'll try to do some of my homework now. I seriously doubt that I'll retain much information, though. Every 10 minutes I'll be looking up to see how things look in Mobile. And then I get to worry as it heads to Birmingham. I don't think that it will be as bad there, but even we have been given warnings of potential 40-50 mph winds here in the next day or so. Michael and I have already stocked up on batteries, a lesson learned from Frances' moodiness. We were lucky not to lose power like most of the people I know did then, but we figured that it is best not to take chances the second time around. California has spoiled me. I only had to worry about earthquakes then. Out of the frying pan and back into the fire again.