CyberCJH's Blog

Ike is now over Cuba and will move out into the Gulf of Mexico. It’s currently on track to hit southern Texas.

See? I told you if I prepared for the hurricane, it wouldn’t hit us.

Now, do you know what they’ll name the next storm when it forms? No? Well, this post contains a big hint.

written by cybercjh

Last Wednesday, there were 3 storms that could have potentially threatened the Treasure Coast. Hanna, Ike and Josephine.

Hanna turned northwards and slammed into the coast along the border of NC and SC.

Ike is still out there, but is forecast to move into the Gulf of Mexico.

Josephine didn’t even make it half way across the Atlantic before dying out. (Thank you Jackie, the ghost proof-reader.)

Right now, thankfully, there is nothing else going on out there. So I guess now I’m going to have to find something else to blog about.

written by cybercjh

Hurricane Ike has changed course and is no longer forecast to threaten our area.

The forecast for both Tuesday and Wednesday is just a 60% change of showers.

I’m very relieved. But, look where it’s headed!

The people in New Orleans just can’t seem to catch a break. They say bad things come in threes. Is this storm number three since Katrina? I lost count.

written by cybercjh

Ike is moving towards us and is forecast to gain strength. Currently a cat 3 storm, it’s expected to weaken to a cat 2 and then explode into a cat 4 by Monday afternoon.

Preparing for a hurricane is expensive! Of course, I have the tendency to over-prepare. But, that habit sure does make things a lot less stressful when the sh*t finally does hit the fan.

Take a look at the finally tally …

One Time Purchases

• 5,500 Watt Generator + 2 5-gal plastic gas cans $696 (bought in Aug 06)
• 8,000 BTU portable air conditioner $318 (bought in Aug 06)
• Oil funnel & drip pan (to change oil in generator) $6
• 10.7 gal fueling station $131
• 2 5-gal metal gas cans $82
• 2 gas can spouts $31
• NOAA Weather Radio $52
• 2 100-ft 15amp extension cords $145
• 1 2-ft 15amp power block $14

Ongoing Purchases

• 5 qt Pennzoil synthetic oil (for generator) $21
• 30 gal fuel (for generator) $113
• 12 gal drinking water $11
• Nonperishable food $50

Total = $1,670…  Hmm, me thinks that’s a lot of dough.

I guesstimate our generator will use 3/4 gal of fuel per hour powering the portable air conditioner, the refrigerator, the deep freeze and a couple of other things (laptops, DSL modem, router, etc.). We can potentially have enough fuel for about 54 hours of continuous power.

By the way, check out this coooooooool device I picked up. It picks up free AccuWeather and the color of the screen changes depending on the temperature (blue for cold, red for hot). It gives you the current temperature, the UV conditions, the time and the wind speed and direction and the 7 day forecast.

written by cybercjh

We’re watching Ike. HB is watching Hanna. And, HL is probably watching One Life to Live.

Anyway, Ike’s forecast has been downgraded and is not expected to be as strong when it hits the coast of Florida. Take a look at the projected path.

Last night, I went to Hell-Mart to buy some additional gas cans (for gas to power the generator), some more extension cords and oil for the generator. Of course, they didn’t have any gas cans or the type of extension cords I needed. But, they did have the oil. That store never has anything I need.

I ended up patronizing amazon.com despite the fact that I was swearing them off less than 24 hours ago. Yeah, yeah. I’m a hypocrite. But whateva, I do what I want!

Using my Prime membership, I will get these items on Monday.

• 2 5-Gallon Metal Gas Cans (to supplement the 2 we already have)
• A 10.7 Gallon Fueling Station (to make filling the generator tank easier)
• 2 100-Foot 15Amp 125V extension cords
• A 15Amp 12V outdoor power block

We’ll have a total of 30 gallons of fuel which should be enough to run the generator for about 3 to 5 days.

Of course, now that I’ll have all these things, Ike will probably end up hitting New Zealand.

written by cybercjh