Life In Florida

And they also seem to love smimming pools! At least once a week I see them on the news dragging one out of a pool that has left it's gate open, after all at least they can't jump, CAN THEY?

The Space Shuttle

You're enjoying your Florida vacation when all of a sudden you hear a sound that is equal to a load explosion. The windows, floors, and walls start shaking and rattling. What's happening? Is it an earthquake? Well, chances are a space shuttle has just re-entered the earth's atmosphere and it's about to land at the Kennedy Space Center. This can be a very scary experience the first time you hear it. People have even been known to call the police to report what sounds like a bomb explosion. Be sure to check out any launch schedules when you might be in Florida. It's a wonderful site to see. Turn on your TV or, depending on where you're at in central Florida, look above your head.

Fire Ants

Fire Ants If you're walking in the sand or grass why is it a good idea to keep your head down? To watch out for fire ants! These ants build their nests in the sand and even the slightest touch can send swarms to your toes, feet, and ankles in seconds. It only takes one or two bites to know why they are called "fire" ants.

LoveBugs

What insects are the most hated despite their name? Lovebugs! These pesty little Love Bugs

bugs are everywhere at certain times of the year. Although they're not harmful to people they can damage the paint on your car if they're not washed off.

Lightening Capital Of The World

lightening Florida is known as the lightening capital of the world. We know how much golfers love their game, but at the first sign of lightening you should seek shelter. Lightening is attracted to many things, including that metal pole in your hand. This also applies to all of our fishermen out there, a fishing pole is nothing more than a lightening rod on open water, in a lightening storm!
Shelter is not under a big tree, these often are the 1st to land a lightening strike.
If you cannot get to shelter crouch down on the ground.Lightening can even come into open windows on a car going down the road!

To avoid death by a flash of lightning, the National Weather Service recommends following the "30/30" rule. When lightning is seen count the time until thunder is heard. If it is 30 seconds or less, seek shelter immediately and stay there for at least 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder is heard.

Typically, people go out and resume activity too quickly and end up getting hit.

Covered picnic shelters, tents, and convertibles even with the roof up are not safe. Rakov said that shelter should be a substantial building such as a home or inside a car with a metal roof.

If neither are available, make yourself as small a target as possible. Never stand near tall trees, metal fences, or water. Metal objects are popular targets of lightning and power lines can conduct lightning surges over large distances.

People can be hurt by lightning even if they are inside. To stay safe, avoid telephones, electrical appliances, and running water. Don’t wash your hands, take a shower, or do laundry during a thunderstorm.

Hurricanes

As you probably know, last year we suffered devastating blows from 4 hurricanes. They all hit

within 30 minutes to an hour from here or directly hit us. This year I am going to try to get some photos up here so you can see what has happened here...Providing I still have power after the storms, last year I had no power for a week. But we have also invested in a generator for our home, to at least have some power. As soon as the power is restored I will load some pics for all of you to look at. Maybe we will get really lucky and nothing will hit us (We are all praying) But the forecast says otherwise already. Hurricane links have already been made for storms as they come this way, and I will write a detailed synopsis of what we go through. Links will be on this page at the left named Hurricanes 1, 2, 3, and I pray no more than that.

NOAA’s 2005 outlook for the tropical eastern North Pacific hurricane season calls for 11-15 tropical storms (average is 15-16), with 6-8 becoming hurricanes (average is 9), and 2-4 becoming major hurricanes (average is 4-5). This outlook reflects the ongoing multi-decadal signal that has been acting to suppress East Pacific hurricane activity since 1995, combined with the expectation of ENSO neutral conditions during much of the season.

This is NOAA’s first operational outlook for the eastern North Pacific hurricane region, which covers the tropical eastern North Pacific east of 140^oW. Prior to this, NOAA issued experimental East Pacific outlooks for both the 2003 and 2004 hurricane seasons. There will be no updates to this outlook.

At any rate, I do not look forward to boarding up our windows, toting all our lawn furniture, kids toys, plants and anything that can fly into the barn. Last year by storm #3, I left everything in the barn until the season ended. So we basically never used the yard after that until I dragged everything back out again.