Well, I seem to have my timing down pat in that respect.

       Charley was a non-event in my area. I was out of town on a semi-
business trip when Frances blew through, doing a scattered amount of damage
near my place, nothing that affected me much. During this trip I got word
that my new job had finally come through, which meant moving back to North
Carolina. So my return to Florida was for all of three days.

       Most noticeable during this brief peek was that all the billboards
along I-95 had been taken down, a vast improvement to the state, so
hurricanes aren't all bad. But I managed a few minutes from my schedule for
a last visit to my bug-chasing grounds and a quick photo opportunity:

http://wading-in.net/Tides.jpg

       No, it's not mine, it's shamelessly staged, but a bit startling to
find there all the same. It had initially greeted the storm in a marina 20
miles upriver. The water stays just as shallow as it appears for hundreds
of feet out, so getting it home again should prove to be fun...

       The drive out was scheduled with Ivan's touchdown, but Ivan veered
off west, and now I'm in NC flipping the bird to tropical storms ;-)

       But now you know why I've been pretty quiet on the groups for a
while, too. I know everyone was anxious...

       I agree, a good showing. Bit of emphasis on blue and yellow, though,
curiously enough.

       Still going to be busy this week, but maybe I'll sneak in with
commentary. You guys have been having too easy a time of it ;-)

    - Al.

Too late.