With "Loop Guru", and "Sigur Ros" on the stereo, and the a/c on low - just to take the water out of the already coolish-but-wet air in the shop. It's nearly Fall. I'm coming into my season.

We have one Maple tree that has begun to change colors on the high tips of it's branches, but is an ill tree, and may be headed toward death, not hibernation. It is in a "gray" zone that keeps me from being dead-certain.

My errands had me rushing around two cities this morning, with the final stop (before work) to be a regional business meeting that was SUPPOSED to run from 8:00 a.m. to noon. I made it at 10:30, just as they were all leaving! It was over???? Well, thanks a lot. So, I caught a couple of the "lingerers" (there are ALWAYS Lingerers), who filled me in. One of them, well-intentioned I'm sure, actually said to me: "We wish you could
make it to more meetings!"

Restraint Ronn, RESTRAINT............

Rain continues to crash into the area, from Hurricane Isabel way out over the Atlantic O. It's cooled things down, but people are getting nervous. Issy's a big one, and we're right on the ocean. This morning at Home Depot, I noticed they had an employee full time at the now-popular "portable generator" display.

Pat and I have been lucky. The worst we've had was losing part of a roof (plus some interior water damage) from one hurricane, and about six days of no power. This was a few years ago I think, when we first moved to our current home. When I lived in Norfolk, by pure chance it was in a neighborhood that was nearly "bullet proof" in terms of it's electrical reliability. Heavy snows, hurricanes, or other high winds couldn't bring the area down for more than a few minutes or hours. THAT was great. I know that in other parts of the country, this is a nearly nonexistent problem. In our current neighborhood, it's much more fragile. We've assumed it's because of all the HUGE old trees, which we love. Problem is, trees grow up, get old, become fragile, and eventually return to their roots.

We've talked about having the Maple taken down. NOT a cheap proposition, so we've been ALL talk. Now, with hurricane season in full swing, I'm a little on edge. The Maple is aimed directly at our cars and two roofs on the side of the house. I shouldn't even be talking about it...JINX!

Speaking of "bullet proof" - I was reading the data on all the 2004 cars, and most of the "luxury" car companies (Cadillac, Mercedes...) are offering by-order production models which can now be made small-bomb resistant, and bullet proof (up to 44 magnum - which is SERIOUS handgun level).

My FIRST reaction was "Gee, that's a little on the paranoid side...", and then I actually USED my brain. Certain cars are generally driven by politicians, dignitaries, stars, and wealthy corporate heads. And, it's THESE people most likely to be singled out for ransom, or assassination.

That's not even CLOSE to paranoia.