BusterStronghart@Gmail.com

Ft. Lauderdale

The hurricane did not affect us here. Other than some high winds, beach erosion, a very low tide, and moderate surf there is nothing to report.

There was a very strong sideways current in the water, which made it very hard to get out into the deeper surf. Besides me, there were several surfers, mostly teen-age boys, and a few windsurfers who were fl>>>>>>>>ying in and over the ocean. They seemed to leap from white cap to white cap and were really swift--to use a word currently in the news.

Last night, at about 2 A.M. however, the wind and air pressure was such that I could not open the door to my terrace. I am up to 204 lbs and still pretty strong. I thought that perhaps the Misses had locked it, but no, it was the air pressure against it. I could not move it. It was as though it had been welded shut. Not a budge. And remember, we did not get the hurricane--only the edge of a tropical storm.

Maria and I have our hurricane bag ready: Flashlights, water, half the June Atlantic tuna catch, cereal, new batteries, and a battery operated radio (though in these high-rises we can't get AM stations; and I wonder whether there will be any FM stations that will take on hurricane alert news). We also have a week's supply of our medications in a ready bag--and cash.

I had been thinking about some small gold coins with which to bribe the border guards, but the little woman pointed out that it was a hurricane--not a revolution.

I am sure you have read about the hurricane on the West coast of Florida. It was a class four; not as bad as Andrew, but bad. Hope we hear from Hal. I spoke to him yesterday, and he told me that he and Mary were ready and had emptied the pool, as its water could overflow and flood the house.

Hal is packing lobster salad, roast chicken, foie gras and Veuve Clicquot for the duration.

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Good news for Bush fans: this will be good for Bush--there will be a lot of reconstruction hiring--and those figures will show in September-October.

His brother Jeb, has already announced full support from the Florida government, National Guard, extra police, and unnamed programs because, "This is a legitimate purpose of government -- to help in genuine emergencies," ( I may have garbled the quote, as I caught it on the fly, but I am giving you the correct gist.)

I love the action on the McLaughlin report; and tonight Tony Blakely, Editor-in-Chief of the Washington Times, owned by the Reverend Moon, and a very conservative paper, remarked on Governor McCreedy's resignation speech: "this is how far we have come, that the Governor uses sexual victimhood to cover up financial malfeasance."

Yes, we have come a far piece....

Love Mike

Addendum: Pal Hal tells me that he has abandoned his house as they have lost electricity and has taken a suite at the Excalante, a small European type boutique hotel catering to Euro-trash and American Corporate CEO's with pockets full of shareholder cash.