The track is leaning back to the east, so if it holds we’ll probably be spared most of Fay’s oomph. Older sister is right in the thick of things again though (this will be their first storm since Katrina – not that this will/could be anything approaching that). Just in case there’s a Charlie like shift in track, public schools, the courts, and most local and state offices are closed tomorrow in Pinellas County.

I just got done rounding up and stowing the loose stuff outside. I’m thinking we’ll skip boarding up the windows this time. I’m usually a bit of a worrier, but even I’m feeling a little complacent this time around.

Would you believe me if I told you the two day forecast track doesn’t bother me either? Personally, this forecast seems like the worst one yet, and not just because it’s 48 hours out. As most residents of the gulf coast will tell you (many of us are amateur meteorologists), the northeast quadrant of the storm is typically the worst.

In any case, we’re now officially under a hurricane watch.

You’d think we’d have this down by now, but state emergency managers seem to have been a disorganized mess this weekend. First, they announced this morning that schools would be closed in the bay area tomorrow and Tuesday. Then they announced later this morning there was a mistake, and school officials were still meeting – presumably to make a decision. Then they announced schools would open as planned. Hillsborough and Pasco County schools open tomorrow, but Pinellas schools aren’t scheduled to open until Tuesday.

I’ve gotta tell you, that sounds awfully optimistic.

Image from the National Hurricane Center.

In some ways 2004 was a rotten year. We were peppered with hurricanes and tropical storms, Cheryl had to stay home on bed rest due to an at risk pregnancy, and to top it off… Bush won a second term that November.

Sitting around waiting for the 11am, 5pm, and 11pm updates from the National Hurricane Center brings back some memories – but not all bad though.

A very pregnant Cheryl checks for an update on the trusty old eMac on September 5th, 2004.

After a string of storms that September, Adam was born on the thirtieth. He was a month early, but as healthy as you could hope. He caught up quick and hasn’t looked back.

Cheryl thinks I’m nuts (what else is new), but I’d forgotten how soon Adam was born after the storms passed through.

That was one wild year.