This page was last updated 11/22/2006 .

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August 28 - Sunday

Went for a run.  Mean't to do 8 miles, but at mile 7.5 the road was blocked off due to a very serious accident and the police wouldn't let anyone through.  By the time I turned around and took another route home, I had run 12 miles.  Guess I'm ready for that half ironman I decided to sign up for next May.  Melissa and I hung out, had brunch, watched another movie and then headed back to the lab trying to catch up after losing two hurricane days.  I've been working really hard in the lab preparing for an important conference in November.  It's still looking good for me to get to Minnesota over the Oct 1 anniversary and then to take some serious time off around the holidays to take care of house maintenance projects and finally packing up Joel's things.  

August 27 - Saturday

Back to the lab today.  No damage.  Went to church after work, great as always.  One lab-mate (Melissa) lives alone in Ft Lauderdale and had been with out power since the storm.  I invited her out to the house to stay with me and we watched movies while the kittens tried their best to be the center of attention.

 August 26 - Friday

Wow, a day with nothing to do.  Hurricane is gone into the Gulf and left behind a pretty good mess.  I didn't really have any damage except a few leaks in my roof.  News is saying everyone should stay off the roads because of down power lines and debris.  I slept all day.  A much needed break.

August 25 - Thursday

Got up really early to hit the grocery store and gas station in prep for the storm.  Had to be at the lab right away to waterproof, move equipment etc.  Got off the beach just as the winds started really picking up.  Spent the afternoon and night watching the storm blow through.  I never lost power so I could see that it took a southward turn at the last minute and ended up flooding Miami instead of Ft Lauderdale.  I think my Guardian Angel was up there and had something to do with it.  The way that Joel landscaped our back yard keeps most of the wind away from the house.  The shrubs are so tall and think that my plastic patio furniture didn't even move!  He takes care of me to this day!

August 24 - Wednesday

Nothing going on to journal about lately.  Just work out and work in the lab.  I really don't have any meaningful insights into how I'm feeling right now because I'm so busy and I just don't have time to feel anything.  That will probably come back to haunt me in the future, but at least I'm aware of this interruption in my grieving.  But, as the fall approaches I feel the powerful memories of two years ago coming back.  It was during this time that things really started to go wrong for Joel.  I think about it all the time, but I'm able to function through it this year.  Last year it brought me to a halt.  

I did get to spend the day on a 210 ft Coast Guard Cutter, the Valiant.  I was invited along by a friend of Joel's to take the opportunity to present an update on our species identification work to some folks from the Coast Guard that are involved in fisheries law enforcement.  By the time we got off the ship that afternoon, we got word that Hurricane Katrina was headed right for Ft Lauderdale.  Even though a cat 1 storm, it took every one by surprise.

It is my parents' wedding anniversary today.  I think it's 41 years or something.  Wow.  Mom's doing much better right now.