Hurricane Panels

Here they are. Aren't they attractive?? The neighbors (and the homeowner's association) had better get used to them, because these bastards are staying up for a while. Maybe my dad will take them down when he does his Annual Cuss-Like-a-Trucker-Christmas-Light-Hanging Extravaganza (earmuffs, kids!!)

Update 8/19: Ummm, nothing happened. Barely even got any rain. Which is a good thing...

Fay, Fay, Stay Away...

So this will be my first hurricane/tropical storm/tropical whatever. People around here seem pretty unconcerned about it, so I guess I won't panic. My mom, however, has pretty much gone into Defcon-We're-All-Gonna-Die mode. Every candle we own has a lighter in it and is on the kitchen counter. We know where all the flashlights are and they all have fresh batteries. We have enough bottled water to fill a swimming pool out back. The generator has been dug out from the back of the garage. The vehicles have all been gassed up, in case we need to make a hasty retreat to Alabama. And I was informed that we're putting up the hurricane panels on the side windows when she gets home from work tomorrow, which should be super-fun. She and I don't work that well together, so it's shaping up to be BitchFest 2008.

Ten bucks says we just get a good drenching, with no added drama.