I heard once again that you are in for another round. Man-oh-Man! Please check in with this post as soon as you are able, and let us know you are OK. We will be anxious until we know.
[ September 02, 2004, 07:59 AM: Message edited by: Rick Beisiegel ]
""Good judgment comes from experience; and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" - Will Rogers Posts: 3487 | From: Beautiful Newaygo, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2003
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I'm flying into Tampa tomorrow afternoon. Hopefully, Francis will stay away long enough for me to get in. My flight out is Sunday morning and that may be a problem. I've never experienced a hurricane, so this may be a new adventure.
Making airline reservations at the last minute is an adventure in itself. Not only is it expensive, you have to take some very unusual routes. I'm leaving Austin, Texas, then flying to Chicago to change planes and then back down to Tampa. Oh well, it will add to my frequent flyer miles.
-------------------- Chapman Sign Studio Temple, Texas chapmanstudio@sbcglobal.net Posts: 6306 | From: Temple, Texas, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Hiya Ray, I think it would be a good idea to follow Myra's advice. Delay your trip if at all possible. If this storm gets upgraded to a cat. 5, and slams into Florida, you do not want to be there. You've already seen the damage of a cat. 4. There have been only 2 category 5 hurricanes to hit the continental United States. If this one goes that way, the damage will be worse than any of us has probably ever seen. My prayers go out to you and all the Letterheads that have been suffering lately.
Sincerely,
Checkers
-------------------- a.k.a. Brian Born www.CheckersCustom.com Harrisburg, Pa Work Smart, Play Hard Posts: 3775 | From: Harrisburg, Pa. U.S.A. | Registered: Nov 1998
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Raymond, please take Myra's advice. Being Louisiana born and raised, and being old enough to have experienced a few storms, I would opt to stay home.
This is a very large storm and will be devastating not only to areas within the eye, but for miles around it. Being stuck in a strange town would be the least of my worries.
This is the third confirmation, you know God's word, so pray about this trip before proceeding.
-------------------- Kathy Joiner River Road Graphics 41628 River Road Ponchatoula, La.70454
Old enough to know better...Too young to resist. Posts: 1891 | From: Ponchatoula, LA | Registered: Nov 2000
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KNHC 021436 TCPAT1 BULLETIN HURRICANE FRANCES ADVISORY NUMBER 35 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 11 AM AST THU SEP 02 2004
...DANGEROUS HURRICANE FRANCES HEADING FOR FLORIDA...HURRICANE WARNINGS ISSUED...
AT 11 AM AST...1500Z...A HURRICANE WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE EAST COAST OF FLORIDA FROM FLORIDA CITY NORTHWARD TO FLAGLER BEACH...INCLUDING LAKE OKEECHOBEE.
AT 11 AM AST...1500Z...A TROPICAL STORM WARNING AND A HURRICANE WATCH ARE IN EFFECT FOR THE MIDDLE AND UPPER FLORIDA KEYS FROM SOUTH OF FLORIDA CITY TO THE SEVEN MILE BRIDGE INCLUDING FLORIDA BAY.
A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ALL THE BAHAMAS.
AT 11 AM AST...AST THE HURRICANE WARNING FOR THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED.
A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS. PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION.
AT 11 AM AST...1500Z...THE EYE OF HURRICANE FRANCES WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 23.4 NORTH...LONGITUDE 73.9 WEST OR ABOUT 55 MILES...90 KM...SOUTHEAST OF SAN SALVADOR...AND 450 MILES... 725 KM...EAST- SOUTHEAST OF THE LOWER FLORIDA EAST COAST.
FRANCES IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 13 MPH...20 KM/HR. THIS GENERAL MOTION WITH A TURN TO THE NORTHWEST AND A DECREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS. ON THIS TRACK...THE CORE OF HURRICANE FRANCES WILL BE MOVING NEAR OR OVER THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
FRANCES REMAINS A DANGEROUS CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE SCALE WITH MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS NEAR 145 MPH...230 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SOME FLUCTUATIONS IN INTENSITY ARE EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 80 MILES...130 KM... FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 185 MILES...295 KM. SAN SALVADOR IN THE BAHAMAS IS CURRENTLY REPORTING 63 MPH...102 KM/HR.
ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 939 MB...27.73 INCHES.
STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 6 TO 14 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS... ALONG WITH LARGE AND DANGEROUS BATTERING WAVES...CAN BE EXPECTED NEAR THE EYE OF FRANCES ON THE WEST SIDE OF ELEUTHERA ISLAND...AND ON THE NORTH SIDE OF GRAND BAHAMA ISLAND. STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 4 TO 6 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS CAN BE EXPECTED ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE OTHER ISLANDS OF THE BAHAMAS.
RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 5 TO 10 INCHES...LOCALLY AS HIGH AS 20 INCHES... ARE POSSIBLE IN ASSOCIATION WITH FRANCES.
SWELLS GENERATED BY FRANCES WILL BE AFFECTING PORTIONS OF THE SOUTHEASTERN COAST OF THE UNITED STATES. THESE SWELLS COULD CAUSE DANGEROUS SURF AND RIP CURRENTS.
REPEATING THE 11 AM AST POSITION...23.4 N... 73.9 W. MOVEMENT TOWARD...WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 13 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...145 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE... 939 MB.
FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.
AN INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT 2 PM AST FOLLOWED BY THE NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY AT 5 PM AST.
nuf said?
Cher.
[ September 02, 2004, 01:05 PM: Message edited by: Cheryl Lucas ]
-------------------- Co-Host: SANDCASTLE Panel Jam 'a Dixie Letterhead Reunion' Fort Myers, Florida
Cheryl Lucas a/k/a "Shag" on mIRC Vital Signs & Graphics, Etc. Cape Coral, Florida 239-574-4713 VSignsNgraphics@aol.com Posts: 987 | From: Cape Coral, FL USA | Registered: Aug 2000
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Florida is on track for a major walloping. I hope everyone there takes this seriously. The way the TV weather people "cry wolf" by hyping every storm into a potential disaster, there is the danger of becoming complacent.
Remember what H. Andrew did, and that was down south of Miami, with less population and less waterfront development. If this thing whacks a area like Ft Lauderdale to Daytona, it will get some ugly. What scares me about Florida is that unlike most of the East Coast, there is no "high ground" to speak of.
-------------------- "A wise man concerns himself with the truth, not with what people believe." - Aristotle
Cam Bortz Finest Kind Signs Pondside Iron works 256 S. Broad St. Pawcatuck, Ct. 06379 "Award winning Signs since 1988" Posts: 3051 | From: Pawcatuck,Connecticut USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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We'll so far I'm waiting for my sister who is evacuated from West Palm area. The roads are parking lots around Daytona Beach. We are halfway finished boarding up. Just helped my dad put up more boards.
They said it is going ashore farther south (of course they don't really have a clue). Our county has already ordered evacuations on the coastal side. We're 20 miles from the beach here. They are asking those who aren't under mandatory evacuations to stay home so the others can get off the roads in time. I guess that's what we're going to do.
That's about all I know for now. Seems a large majority of Florida will be affected somehow.
No one can figure out where to evacuate to!!
Hang on folks!
-------------------- Amy Brown Life Skills 101 Private Address Posts: 3502 | From: Lake Helen, FL, USA | Registered: Feb 2001
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Our weathermen here, aren't telling us much, too early to tell. Saying, they'll know more by 5pm today. They've given us no tracking images as yet, just the big 'cone' that scopes nearly the entire state of Florida. Saying, it could hit anywhere from 'here to here.' Though I have heard them mention there is potential for Frances to make landfall near Melbourn. (Pat Neve)
I tried calling the Ducketts, (Pat & Bobbie King) who live in a mobile home park, in Pompano Beach. Bobbie's Mother lives there too. Left a message on their recorder, asking if they've decided to fly the coop! No word yet...
Spoke with Don Coplen, a few moments ago. He's busy, boxing, bagging and toting his posessions into a Mother-in-Law's quarters, on his property. The only area that survived Charley! (dry) He, hasn't yet decided the rest of the plan.
Schools, in Naples, closed today at noon, to prepare them as hurricane shelters. A huge concern is people evacuating from the East coast are heading West, to our area. Could become a mad-house if Frances decides to visit us, wouldn't ya say?
After work, I'll start preparing my house and posessions. I know, if we get any wind and rain to speak of, the dry-in, isn't gonna hold up and it will definately be raining inside my house, again. I'm thinking, if the sh*t starts hitting the fan, I'll stay at my neighbor's, across the street.
We're being asked to secure the debris at our roadsides and to bring in the hazzardous waste! Oh dear, this is getting ugly! Antie-Em! Antie-Em!
Cher.
-------------------- Co-Host: SANDCASTLE Panel Jam 'a Dixie Letterhead Reunion' Fort Myers, Florida
Cheryl Lucas a/k/a "Shag" on mIRC Vital Signs & Graphics, Etc. Cape Coral, Florida 239-574-4713 VSignsNgraphics@aol.com Posts: 987 | From: Cape Coral, FL USA | Registered: Aug 2000
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i just saw on the weather channel that if it goes the expected track....it will hit the same inland areas that charley devastated. 2 within a month.....i know that scene....in july 98 we moved here to pcola and was givin 3 hurricanes to welcome us before the yr was out.
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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Looks like a john boat might be the prefered method of travel. How much rain did they say we're getting ? I'm hearing talk of it stalling for 24 hours before exiting between Gainesville and Tampa...that could be alot of water !! And that's a lot of mosquitos if they all don't get blown to Cuba ..
At least we got alot of notice on this one ! Keep the faith....
BTW, anyone who wants to come to Gainesville, can come here if you think it's better than where you are. Bring a paddle and call first....
-------------------- Jeff Ogden 8727 NE 68 Terr. Gainesville FL, 32609 Posts: 2138 | From: 8827 NE 68 Terr Gainesville Fl 32609 | Registered: Aug 2002
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Well it took my sister 12 hours for a normal 3 1/2 hour drive from south Florida. Traffic up here has thinned out pretty good but is thick more north toward Georgia on each coast.
Latest path has it about 50-60 miles south of us so we would still get lower hurricane winds. They are real worried about flooding because it is moving so slow now. Still plenty of time to change it's path.
I'm just sitting here waiting! Trying hard not to break into the junk food we bought for the storm. It's beautiful out now in the calm before the storm!
That's my update for now. Anyone heard from Pat Neve or Pat King yet?
I think Pat King is the closest to the projected path and initial landfall.
-------------------- Amy Brown Life Skills 101 Private Address Posts: 3502 | From: Lake Helen, FL, USA | Registered: Feb 2001
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WHY DON"T Y'ALL MOVE??? GAH!! You could live ANYWHERE else ... in fly over country...(tornados and little stuff like that) OR anywhere North where ALL you have to worry about is a "lil' snow". Go west for goodness sake, where you only have to live thru heat wave, dust storms and drought. I mean, and think about Alaska. It's really big & roomy and you NEVER hear of hurricaines there!!! Or Hawaii...what's a little lava?
LOL. Or how 'bout Alabama . . . for a few days anyway?? I can take a coupl'a people . . .
Call me if you need a place to hold up . . .altho' there was rumors at the diner this mornin' that even WE could get damage . . . . a coupl'a hundred miles inland???? NAH!
PS: Mercy!! . . just listenin' to the radio and the massive traffic movement out'a florida . . 6 wrecks a'redy . . . if y'all come this way . . . take the back roads.
Are you planning to ride out the storm at your house? If so, I'm sure you have a plan for a 'safe place.'
When I finally figured out the wind direction, during Charley, was going clockwise instead of counter-clockwise, I moved the survival essentials into a room on the lee side of the house, where no wind or debris were flying towards us. Mattress, blankets, cell phone, radio, important papers, water, snacks and flashlights.
You might want to fill your bathtub with water, to use later, in the event you lose water service.
Before Charley hit, our electric companies disabled our electric service. At some point during the storm, water came pouring in through light fixtures, ceiling fans and A/C vents. When this happened,I immediately turned off the main electric breaker.
Later on, someone told me, if I noticed the ceiling bowing, to poke a hole there, so the water could drain.
Best of luck to you, and all...
Cher.
-------------------- Co-Host: SANDCASTLE Panel Jam 'a Dixie Letterhead Reunion' Fort Myers, Florida
Cheryl Lucas a/k/a "Shag" on mIRC Vital Signs & Graphics, Etc. Cape Coral, Florida 239-574-4713 VSignsNgraphics@aol.com Posts: 987 | From: Cape Coral, FL USA | Registered: Aug 2000
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Sheila, I visited a friend in Charlotte a few days after Hugo came through. Pittsburgh is 425 miles due north from there. From Morgantown, WV (100 mi. south of Pgh.) there were trees down and most of the lights on the interstate were out clear down to Charlotte. Needless to say, Charlotte was hammered beyond what I ever imagined...
[ September 03, 2004, 12:57 PM: Message edited by: Pete Sharkins ]
-------------------- Pete Sharkins MotoArts Decals and Signs New Kensington, PA motoarts@yahoo.com * All vinyl, all the time * Posts: 138 | From: New Kensington, PA | Registered: Mar 2004
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Yea, our plans are in place for one side of the house. Last time we bunkered we ran a cable line and everything into our bathroom/closet which is the only are without windows. We ended up not needing to be there but were all set (at least until power was lost). I'm kinda starting to second guess if I have enough food though. May make another trip to the store and see if I can scrounge up anything.
You know it's bad when Wal-Mart already closed!!
They did just come by and pick up our piles of debris on the road.
-------------------- Amy Brown Life Skills 101 Private Address Posts: 3502 | From: Lake Helen, FL, USA | Registered: Feb 2001
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I called a friend of mine in Boynton Beach/Lantana. They have been out boarding up houses for family and friends. Bracing for the inevidable. Hang on tight
""Good judgment comes from experience; and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" - Will Rogers Posts: 3487 | From: Beautiful Newaygo, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2003
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Hugo came ashore in McClellanville SC, cut a wide swath through Charlotte NC and caused incredible devastation there, which I saw myself a month later. I was in Charleston for some reason and made a side tour to see. Then Hugo came up through Winston-Salem, and up into the Virginia Bue Ridge Parkway where it still had enough power to take down trees and caused enough devastation to have the Parkway closed for a long time.
I don't know how far all that is, and how the "height" of Fla compared to that path, and how strong Frances will be vs. Hugo. Possibly stronger.
When Hugo came through I had a plane reservation to NYC to go to my cousin's wedding. In the morning I had large tree pieces on my lawn and porch when I would have needed to leave for the airport. I stayed home.
A few weeks before, my city had been hit by 5 simultaeous tornadoes on May 5, I think it was 1985, and had lots of serious damage. One hit my neighborhood.
When I read what Cheryl is saying, with experience now and being in the middle of having lived through that horror, and facing more, my blood just runs cold.
I don't even know why I'm writing this, it has no reason behind it except I worry about Florida and all of you who are there very much. And it's a little cathartic to talk about it for a minute.
And I worry about Raymond, we need him. I suppose Pilots want to live, too. So they won't go up unless they are certain it's OK>
-------------------- Myra A. Grozinger Signs Limited Winston-Salem, NC
signslimited@triad.rr.com Posts: 1244 | From: Winston-Salem, NC USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Right now the winds are down to 105 and they are more worried about the "100 year rain" and flooding than the winds inland because it's moving so slow.
I talked to Nettie yesterday. She is not in the direct path and is on the opposite coast so should be OK, maybe a lot of rain.
We had a limb fall on a powerline already and lost power for two hours!
We'll keep you posted!
Anyone hear from Pat King yet? They are real close to where the eye should make landfall.
-------------------- Amy Brown Life Skills 101 Private Address Posts: 3502 | From: Lake Helen, FL, USA | Registered: Feb 2001
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Seems I am right in the direct path on the west side. They have ordered mandatory evacuation for all trailers and manufactured homes.
My building is block so worst case my roof gets blown off! I doubt that will happen. Gonna be an interesting weekend! I'll try to shoot a good round today if the wind doesnt blow my golf ball back at me.
-------------------- Bob Stephens Skywatch Signs Zephyrhills, FL
Glad I didn't come to your place!! It's changed so many times who know's what's happening. It looks really cool outside right now. The clouds are flying so fast.
Hang in there Bob!
-------------------- Amy Brown Life Skills 101 Private Address Posts: 3502 | From: Lake Helen, FL, USA | Registered: Feb 2001
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My mother lives in Ft. Pierce (south of Vero) but just came up to Mich. 4 days ago. She is right on the island, so has the ocean on one side and the Indian River on the other. She said that she brought in all patio furniture, had the condo windows boarded up. So she is safe. When Andrew went thru, her island was evacuated but her and my dad rode it out. He is gone so I don't think that she would do it again if she was down there.
My brother is in Wellington, West Palm Beach. Wellington is far enough inland so he isn't concerned. But then he is like my dad and myself...ride it out.
-------------------- Laura Butler Vision Graphics & Sign 4479 Welch Rd Attica, Mi 48412 Posts: 2855 | From: Attica, Mi, USA | Registered: Nov 2000
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I stand properly humbled by the fact that a hurricaine can go where ever it wants to.
I had no recollection that they could come that far inland.
....Was discussin' this post today with someone who lived in Gastonia, South Carolina and they told me about all the damage there from Hugo . . .about 300 miles inland . . . .
-------------------- Signs Sweet Home Alabama
oneshot on chat
"Look like a girl, act like a lady, think like a man, work like a dog" Posts: 5758 | From: "Sweet Home" Alabama | Registered: Mar 2003
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My mother in law is in the top floor of a 4 story condo in West Palm Beach. She is 79 and we just found out that her other 2 daughters who live nearby havn't helped her prepare, so she has not had windows boarded up. My wife encouraged her to bring bedding into her hallway so she will have dry stuff if the sliding glass door off her bedroom gets broken. Linda is pretty scared for her mom & angry that her sisters who live a few miles away did nothing to help her. It sucks to feel helpless when someone you love may need help.
posted
I just heard the news. As the hurricane is lingering off the coast, it is gaining momentum. I have family and friends all over Fla, but, letterheads and families too, and I'll be praying for you guys as you pull through. We are so fortunate here with weather in Illinois. Please be careful and get out while you can. (Doug, as I can sympathize with your Mom-in-law's situation, sorry). At least she'll be safe and away from the area, right? I know how it was when my father decided to live out Hurricane George in the Keys and it was devastating for him, but, he stayed in a concrete building at least. Later, the devastation was the aftermath, getting water and rest, at his elderly age. I feel so sadly for the elderly and young that need the electricity with that heat, and now they have evacuated the hospitals, there is no electric now for 100,000 plus. )
-------------------- Deb Fowler
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible - Walt Disney (1901-1966) Posts: 5373 | From: Loves Park, Illinois | Registered: Aug 1999
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""Good judgment comes from experience; and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" - Will Rogers Posts: 3487 | From: Beautiful Newaygo, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2003
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I remember going through Iniki, very scary, but at least you knew you had no choice but to stay...there were only 50,000 on that island...I can't imagine what can happen with all those in Florida....the waiting is a drag....
-------------------- Rick Chavez Hemet, CA Posts: 1538 | From: Hemet,CA U.S.A. | Registered: Jun 2001
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Im in Central Fla and faired OK on this one... Cant say the same for Charley tho as our place looks like a warzone.I still havent cleaned up from that. I think that Oseola and Polk county got the double whammy.
-------------------- Gary Patrick AmericanAutoGraphics Oviedo,FL Posts: 77 | From: oviedo,fl usa | Registered: Mar 2000
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""Good judgment comes from experience; and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" - Will Rogers Posts: 3487 | From: Beautiful Newaygo, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2003
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Im back online. Power was out for the past 26 hours. For the most part no serious damage. Some water in the shop. The ridge vent on the roof blew off and a small section of my storage trailer is missing some siding.
Its still raining but the strong winds have subsided.
-------------------- Bob Stephens Skywatch Signs Zephyrhills, FL
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I'm thinking, if the sh*t starts hitting the fan, I'll stay at my neighbor's, across the street. 
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they come here too Sheila, but you knew that ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
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