Good morning all.  44 here this morn.  Have watched Ian some, remember Kitty's previous home there,

though don't think we visited that area back in the 60s.  I have a high school classmate lives there. 

We had rain on and off again all day yesterday.  I did manage to get some outdoor things done.  Supposed

to be gone today, just looked at the forecast and didn't see any rain. 

Something happened to my Baja exhaust while taking care of everyone's garbage, probably the donut on the

rear of the catalytic blew out.  Have another used one I can try.  I mostly use the Monte Carlo SS or when wife

and I travel we use her newer car so the Baja sits most of the time except for Winter.  A donut came with the

new exhaust but had a small leak when installed.

Got my hugh beam up with it's rotor, with some help from two winches, backhoe, and my grandson.  We

managed to not damage any elements, they can still be bought but get expensive.  Already had to use 150

feet of coax transmission cable and 150 feet of 8 conductor rotor cable.  Also, spent $54 on a part inside the

rotor to repair it, used part. 

We are working on getting wife's cataract surgeries.  She had lasic surgery in the past and has a astigmatism so

still going to be $6k for what the insurance won't cover.  After that she has a hearing problem so have to see to

that.  She's still healthier than me with my diabetes and all that goes with it, also my aortic aneurysm.  The medical

industry is everywhere here just waiting for us.  Places where there used to be auto dealerships and other stores

are now medical clinics.  Guess it's the most profitable while us baby boomers sift through, then after will be all the

2 child families and many of these clinics will be vacant.  Last time I went in for a blood test I was there about 20

minutes before the clinic opened, by 7 AM there were about 30 or 40 people behind me in line.  Nothing like what

the Army puts you through but still a long wait. 

Glad you get to travel to see your friends Susan.  It's about 1 3/4 hours back to the town I grew up in where the

farm is.  Seems like every friend and relative I have back there has severe medical problems, much worse than me.

I usually only see my brother because he needs help to live.  Sometimes I stop to see someone else briefly.  Hope

you enjoy your time with them. 

Enjoy the day all, finally a sunny day with no rain.

Ernie.

Dear Kitty,

I think Ocean Spirit was very much with you and Brian.  The pictures are quite devastating of Sanibel and now cut off from the mainland.  Prayers to all of the people who stayed ~

Enjoyed a lovely lunch with longtime friends.  The three hour drive back and forth I didn't enjoy so much.  75 mph and construction!

Take care.  (( ))  Susan

Hi Ernie and Paul.

I sent Miss Kitty a separate note.  A balmy 56 degrees here by Lake Erie.  Fall is definitely here.  I miss the 70 degree days.  Need to have a few days to cut back my plants......not fun to do it in the Spring of the year.

Ernie, HHI is just an abbreviation for Hilton Head Island in South Carolina.  I stupidly signed up to look at a time share to gain 15,000 Hilton credit points.  We will drive down and spend four days and three nights.  That is IF, Hilton Head is not crushed by the ongoing hurricane.

We will see.

((hugs))  Susan

Enjoy HHI, Susan.  I looked at a time share in Nassau for a free stay years ago. I think when Atlantis was being built. It wasn't bad. About 2 hours of sales pitches a day. Not like they constantly bothered you.

I like 70 but I like this weather also. If it could stay in the 50s until Thanksgiving, it would be nice. 

Good morning all.  I've seen some of Ian on the news, glad to not be in it.  We were wiped out by a

tornado May 3, 1983.  Took us until end of August to move out of our truck camper into a modular.

We borrowed the camper from a relative, there isn't all that help when it's a hand full of families

displaced.  Red Cross brought sandwiches while we rebuilt and bought us a couple dressers and single

beds for the kids after we built a basement and put a modular on it.  In the widespread disasters they

complain they are still living in a supplied mobile home 9 years later.  We got a Small business Disaster

loan but only for the damage, got another loan and the insurance money, along with some help from

the church.  A tornado is hit and miss especially in the northeast.  At the time of the tornado the SBA

said we could borrow to rebuild or move but when we finally get the insurance company to pay SBA

didn't really want to help us.  Our insurance money was only around $13k.  Red Cross did pay for us to live

in a motel for the rest of the week after the tornado.  I had to spent the nights in the car at our residence

because our home was open.  No fun no matter what kind of disaster.  Feel bad for the families in the

hurricane path and we are certain to have more.

Don't know if Kitty is working on the jigsaw puzzles with Brian.  Brian probably trying to fit some outdoor things

in before the temperatures completely drop out. 

I talked with some time share people with brother in law down in Myrtle Beach to get tickets to the Dolly Parton

Wild West Show or something like that.  When they said the offer was only good for that day, they lost me and that's

what I told them.  Think that was 13 years ago.  These days all I hear is ads about getting out of time shares on the

radio. 

Heading down to the farm in a few hours, think it's supposed to be 50 degrees around 10.  I will take the dogs up

through the woods for their walk after my exercise session.  The Turmeric Root caplets and chewing on cinnomon

sticks has dropped my glucose 20 units for now.  So great, it's hard to get good readings without the synthetic

prescriptions.  I was on those for 7 years and your readings keep drifting upward closer and closer to insulin injections.

I'm hitting around 110 for now, much better than 130.  You guys are regulated below 100, like I used to be. 

Beam antenna and rotor are up and working.  Subaru repairs are done. 

Have a great day all, we are supposed to be slightly brushed by Ian's rain tomorrow morning.  Lucky this high just

moved in to keep Ian at bay.  If that rainy low we've had the last 3 days was still here we probably would have gotten

many inches of rain. 

Ernie.

Happy smoke free October....fall is always followed by winter....not bad unless you have to go out....

I much prefer Fall over the ice and snow In the Winter!  Have you heard how Your home fared in the storm?  All so very sad!

Good morning all.  Cloudy days here but not raining and no hurricane winds.  Was strange how

the switch was thrown between Summer and Fall but may get warm again.  Our furnace has come

on a few nights.  Purposely turned it on the first night to make sure was working right.  Thursday is

supposed to be around 72 but just the one day here.

Didn't get much done yesterday.  Talked to the guy on the radio that I was supposed to meet at the

hamfest.  We didn't manage to find each other.

We never have to go out in snowstorms anymore.  Get stuff before the storm if we need anything.

Last job I had they didn't care if you were late digging yourself out anyway.

Hope everyone is doing well.

Ernie

Hi Paul,

I'm hoping the presentation will be only two hours long.  I have NO idea what I was thinking when they called about adding15,000 points to my Hilton card.  Have no idea why I agreed to such a thing.....but it is over and done and it will be a short but nice get away.  We have each been to HHI (in our previous lives) so we are familiar.  Summertime is brutal down there....so many people.  It will be nice just to have the island quiet.  We will probably do Coligny shopping and Sea Pines.

Lovely outside.  Just finished hours of Fall gardening chores.  I hate to do it but far better than to leave it until Spring.

Susan

I hope you enjoy the trip, Susan. A good change of pace.

Ernie, your comments reminded me that every time there is a storm the news shows long lines of people buying shovels, salt, etc.  I never understood why people living in a house don't have a shovel. 

A rainy few day but not like the people suffering down south are getting.