Hi Kathryn,

My friend rescues/rehabs pigeons- that's where I know her from. She _did_ say she was afraid her 8th floor!!! apartment was going to flood.

I love the WSD 2100. I think I am going to name her Lava. I got her all polished up for her racing debut tomorrow. It took me a while to adjust from MTB to road bike, but I am very comfortable with her now.

Wow, seven days. We lost power I think three times here because of hurricanes last summer, but only three or four days at a time. Luckily most of them came over the weekend. I didn't have to go to work- they just made volunteers stay at the hospital the whole duration. I think the worst is not having running water. I have a big container to store it in this year. And we have a grill now. Last year we ate at the neighbors who had a grill or at the one restaurant that stayed open the whole time. It was an adventure. I was so scared the first time, with Charley, but then I just became numb. I live in a mobile home. It stood up to the winds well. I was afraid my big trees were going to fall on the bedroom, so I wouldn't sleep in there. I can't imagine living on the coast...

Last year, FEMA reimbursed people for generators, but you had to have the cash to buy one in the first place, and be able to find one. I tried to buy a room AC this week- impossible to just go to the store and get one.

Oh- when I said "she's going to her first race" I meant the bike, not my friend in Miami. I am going to a sprint tri in Crystal River. But I swim like a bag of rocks, so it's going to be...interesting. I hope to make up many places on the bike, only to lose them again on the run.

Nanci