Our Florida Friends----Hurricane Irma

[BillyB]

Good job Gator. You sent the family off to safety, held the fort, and took on the bitch. You've earned some tough guy points with the wife.

[Anotherkiwi]

Good job Gator. You sent the family off to safety, held the fort, and took on the bitch. You've earned some tough guy points with the wife.

Who cares?  All that matters, really, is that he and his family are safe - as are, hopefully, all the other members (such as Alex) who live in areas affected by Irma.

[BillyB]

Who cares? 

His family cares. His actions will be judged. Weak and stupid men don't do to well with women. One reason his family is safe is because of wise decisions. Another option is risks their lives to go looting the local businesses like some people in the video upthread. Got to get a few pairs of Air Jordans to out run the hurricane.

[BdHvA]

I understand from two live aboard sailors who winter in St. Maarten and one from the US Virgin Islands (the Leeward Islands) that there is a large scale evacuation to Florida from these northern Caribbean Islands post Irma. Most of the sailors move far south to remove themselves from the danger of hurricanes. One is now ferrying to those in need supplies to St.Maarten, simple stuff nails, etc. Seems primitive but often this is how things work in the Carib.

It seems the devastation is far worse that what is being seen on the media.

[Gator]

Good job Gator. You sent the family off to safety, held the fort, and took on the bitch. You've earned some tough guy points with the wife.

This introduces an issue that maybe merits more discussion.  She gave me zero tough guy points. 

As the storm approached, she was not behaving in her normal manner, claiming if she stayed she would die.  She was not kidding.   It affected her 18-yo son who felt like he was going to die too.  She is an intuitive thinker (makes decisions based on feelings and emotions rather than analysis of facts), and so is her son. Perhaps this is more of a woman thing because essentially all my friends here in Tampa have remarked how their wives were freaking out.  Not all, as some wives rolled up their sleeves.

Part of her reaction is that she has no experience with hurricanes.  Also she has had  bad experiences with perilous episodes in Russia (husband getting shot by assassin).  She was thinking Irma was worse than anything in Russia.

I asked her to leave Wednesday, as I had found her a hotel in Georgia, from where she could go somewhere else if the storm moved in her direction.  She declined but changed her mind on Friday when her 28-yo daughter started to freak out too. 

Instead of tough guy points, I received negative points, as she asserted  a "real Russian man" would have driven his family to safety rather than delegating it to the stepdaughter's husband.   Also, she said she should never have been put in a position to worry about me when the storm hit Tampa.  Not understanding the NOAA reports, She kept insisting I spend the night in an interior walk-in closet.

The storm has passed, she has returned but this episode will have lingering affects that will stress our relationship.   

[jone]

Gator,

You know how much I like you.  But I can absolutely see her point as you have described her feelings.  She does not understand what there was to be gained by your staying there.  And in a time of stress she needs you near her.  While we, as men, might look at the situation as one of defiance to the elements, the women do not want to stress over their men unless it is an absolute necessity.

Reading the above account, prior to your post, I was wondering how she would feel.

[fathertime]

This introduces an issue that maybe merits more discussion.  She gave me zero tough guy points. 

As the storm approached, she was not behaving in her normal manner, claiming if she stayed she would die.  She was not kidding.   It affected her 18-yo son who felt like he was going to die too.  She is an intuitive thinker (makes decisions based on feelings and emotions rather than analysis of facts), and so is her son. Perhaps this is more of a woman thing because essentially all my friends here in Tampa have remarked how their wives were freaking out.  Not all, as some wives rolled up their sleeves.

Part of her reaction is that she has no experience with hurricanes.  Also she has had  bad experiences with perilous episodes in Russia (husband getting shot by assassin).  She was thinking Irma was worse than anything in Russia.

I asked her to leave Wednesday, as I had found her a hotel in Georgia, from where she could go somewhere else if the storm moved in her direction.  She declined but changed her mind on Friday when her 28-yo daughter started to freak out too. 

Instead of tough guy points, I received negative points, as she asserted  a "real Russian man" would have driven his family to safety rather than delegating it to the stepdaughter's husband.   Also, she said she should never have been put in a position to worry about me when the storm hit Tampa.  Not understanding the NOAA reports, She kept insisting I spend the night in an interior walk-in closet.

The storm has passed, she has returned but this episode will have lingering affects that will stress our relationship.

Interesting....yeah that wasn't a good call by you on this one.  I would have likely wanted to stay in the house too, but allowing the wife to go off with kids just looks very bad.  In her mind it could be a seminal event and you were not present.  That may be how she sees it.    Hopefully for your sake, she forgives and forgets.  Figuring out how to facilitate that will be your challenge.










Fathertime! 

[GQBlues]

Very likely the coverage of hurricane Harvey's destructive aftermath didn't help. Then you had the ensuing barrage of Irma's path of destruction along the Caribbean being blasted in the news 24/7 right after must've added to her angst, too.

My wife was glued to Irma's reporting in the beginning, too. But by Friday morning, she was exhausted by the coverage.

Storm surge! Storm surge! The new 'normal'.

Interesting to ponder how my wife would've reacted to this had we lived in Florida. I've witness her react under stressful condition before, but not to a weeklong saturation.

[SANDRO43]

The storm has passed, she has returned but this episode will have lingering affects that will stress our relationship.

Phil, did you try the excuse that your home needed a resident guard against possible looters ?

[BillyB]

The storm has passed, she has returned but this episode will have lingering affects that will stress our relationship.

I guess it's safe to say hurricanes damage not only lives and property, but relationships. Hopefully after her nerves calm down, things will be back to normal.

Phil, did you try the excuse that your home needed a resident guard against possible looters ?

Yeah, just show the wife the videos. Some home and business owners boarded up their windows to protect themselves from looters more than the hurricane.

[BdHvA]

I was asked elsewhere what are accurate resources for information about hurricanes (not women from Slavic nations).

http://www.wunderground.com/cat6/jose-headed-towards-new-england-96l-concern-eastern-caribbean
This is a weather channel type of website but the two leaders have in person expierence with hurricanes. They will balance out the conflicting information and give there two cents based on past history.

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at2+shtml/025822.shtml?hwind120#wcontents
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/cyclones/
These two are just cut and dried using the NOAA metrics and computer models. Well worth studying.

The links are specific to Jose, who seems to be wobbling a fair bit.

[msmob]

Thanks for reliving Irma for us, Phil

I'm sorry to read that this has tested your relationship and hope that  your wife can understand that you sought to care for her and protect your home, while not risking your neck.

[Anotherkiwi]

I was asked elsewhere what are accurate resources for information about hurricanes (not women from Slavic nations).

http://www.wunderground.com/cat6/jose-headed-towards-new-england-96l-concern-eastern-caribbean
This is a weather channel type of website but the two leaders have in person expierence with hurricanes. They will balance out the conflicting information and give there two cents based on past history.

The Cat6 tab is their blog page, and they have dozens of regular posters whose knowledge of the subject is downright scary, apart from the fact that the founder of Weather Underground, Dr. Jeff Masters, flew with the Hurricane Hunters from 1986 to 1990.  The reference page for all hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones is

http://www.wunderground.com/hurricane

It's a pretty amazing site, which I look at all the time.  Unfortunately, at the moment, it's showing that the next storm, which will become Hurricane Maria when it develops a bit further, is set to follow Irma's path almost exactly, although it won't be anywhere near as powerful (yet).  That's small consolation to people in the Leeward Islands, whose lives have already been ripped apart by Irma and Jose.

[2tallbill]

Since Irma showed up...we hear nothing about Harvey anymore.
The next storm on the named list is ...would you believe Lee?

I think Jose is the next tropical storm that they are keeping their eyes on.
Hopefully it doesn't become a himmicane (non sexist term  ).

[Anotherkiwi]

I think Jose is the next tropical storm that they are keeping their eyes on. Hopefully it doesn't become a himmicane (non sexist).

You're well behind the times, Bill.  Jose has already skirted the Leewards, doing more damage to the most northerly islands (such as Barbuda) that had already been hit by Irma, and then did a clockwise loop before starting a northward run directly towards New England and the Maritime provinces of Canada.  It's still a Category 1 hurricane.

[2tallbill]

You're well behind the times, Bill.  Jose has already skirted the Leewards, doing more damage to the most northerly islands (such as Barbuda) that had already been hit by Irma, and then did a clockwise loop before starting a northward run directly towards New England and the Maritime provinces of Canada.  It's still a Category 1 hurricane.

I just posted because I wanted to say "himmicane" 

[BdHvA]

You're well behind the times, Bill.  Jose has already skirted the Leewards, doing more damage to the most northerly islands (such as Barbuda) that had already been hit by Irma, and then did a clockwise loop before starting a northward run directly towards New England and the Maritime provinces of Canada.  It's still a Category 1 hurricane.

As I noted Jose is a bit wobbly and the 'cone' has shifted West to East and back to the West. It is still 3 to 6 days out from a potential landfall, but the damage from the wave action can be in the 100's of millions on the East Coast of America.

[Anotherkiwi]

I just posted because I wanted to say "himmicane"

 

As I noted Jose is a bit wobbly and the 'cone' has shifted West to East and back to the West. It is still 3 to 6 days out from a potential landfall, but the damage from the wave action can be in the 100's of millions on the East Coast of America.

True that.

[Gator]

For those who asked about my wife, she is doing better.  I remind her that she is an independent woman, and has mixed feelings about when she needs a man's support.   She laughed when I told her I stayed to protect her mink coat.   

[Gator]

Here is an interesting graphic showing Irma's tropical wind field extended 600 miles wide as it advanced through Florida.  As the winds around Irma's eye declined in velocity from Category 4 eventually to Category 1, the geographic width of tropical force winds grew. 

Pink:  Hurricane strength winds

Tan:  Tropical storm strength winds  (which flooded Jacksonville)

[Gator]

Do you want to see a hurricane that makes Irma seem like a flea?


The Cassini satellite captured one with the following features:

                       Wind velocity:  300 mph

                       Size:  Twice the size of the Earth

That's one to talk about!!!!

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/short-film-showcase/nasa-saturn-hurricane-vin

[Jumper]

Glad to hear you're ok gator!

I was in Texas, 36 miles from Harveys landfall at rockport -
wife was not thrilled either.

Sounds like your wife will be over it quickly regardless, but next time just fly up near us in chi -town.The Great Lakes ate typically shark and hurricane free.

[BdHvA]

Jose continues to menace the Northern Coastline of the East Coast, but it seems it will be a pass by, Tuesday to Wednesday. Wave hello say goodye. There will be serious coastal erosion issues.

Lee has dissolved into little more than a wet night.

Maria is a big ? and can do major damage as it moves North Westward.

But there is a serious disturbance over Western Africa that unfortunately can become an unpleasant Cape Verde hurricane latter this week.

[Gator]

..... next time just fly up near us in chi -town.The Great Lakes ate typically shark and hurricane free.

 

Chicago may be hurricane free, but the Magnificent Mile is very dangerous to my financial stability. 

[Jumper]

Perhaps it could be! lol
Since that's nearby, I'm forunate that my wife isn't much of a shopper.