We’ve had some rainy moments here on Siesta Key but that’s about it, thank God.  Let’s pray for all those in Cuba and the northern Gulf coast that Hurricane Gustav has and will tragically effect.

After a bit of rain this morning, I headed to Lido Key with my husband.  I just figured with Siesta Key’s sandbar, the waves (if any) wouldn’t be that exciting.  Just north of the public beach parking lot, at the northern most lifeguard stand, we parked and headed out.  There were about 2 dozen surfers in one spot waiting for the best wave to ride in on.  The waves were large but were crashing close to shore.  Farther north you could see them crashing out away from the coastline.

My husband was body surfing and had a great time.  I stood by beachcombing.  The waves were coming in so fast one after another that when I’d spot a cool shell it was swept out faster than I could reach for it.  Nonetheless, I did get a few little specimens and an awesome chunk of coral that looks like someones arthritic hand.  The wind picked up and the loose sand started blasting the backs of my legs.   I had to stand firmly bracing myself in the wind.  Lesson learned: even if its not sunny, wear sunglasses on the beach during high wind or don’t wear your contacts.  We stayed about an hour.

Later in the day we had a big gust of wind from the south with torrential rain.  The power went out around 5pm but was restored before 6pm.  Yeah Florida Power & Light!  I called FPL to report the outtage.  What an awesome automated system.  They knew who I was from my phone I called on (its good to have a fully charged cell phone when there’s a hurricane nearby), they estimated when power would be restored and even called me back to say what exactly had caused the outtage.  Cool!

I’m a coastal person.  I’ve lived on the Atlantic coast (Surfside Beach SC), Baltimore MD (hung out in Ocean City and Annapolis in my youth), and the Gulf coast (Mobile AL, Houston TX and now Siesta Key).  I’ve evacuated for many many hurricanes and tropical storms.  No matter what anyone says about it, I still enjoy this over being inland.  With a hurricane, you know what’s coming, and you can leave.  You can take responsibility for your self and your property by properly insuring and protecting it otherwise.  Our inland life (though brief) brings back memories of ice storms, blizzards, hiding in closets during tornado warnings, and stressing over whether the next earthquake would be in your community.  For me, the coast is where I want to be, whatever the weather.

Here comes another band of heavy rain.  Gotta go.