Monday, September 1, 2008

Lessons learned from Katrina & a giveaway!

We have spent the weekend getting ready for Gustav. After Katrina and being without power for 6 days, we know we have to be prepared even though we may not get much bad weather from this storm.

My son, a graduate student in New Orleans, is safe at home. We are so thankful for that!
We filled our freezer full of ice for ice chests.
All things that can be charged are charged.
I bought this nice radio with a cd player at a yard sale on Saturday. The batteries cost more than the player, which I paid $7.00 for!
We have plenty of food that doesn't have to be refrigerated! Lots of junk...but some healthy stuff too!

And we have the flashlights and candles handy!
There has been so much hustle and bustle around town. Lots of folks from out of town are here and were shopping in Walmart, Lowes and Sam's Club for supplies. All area hotels are full and the Red Cross shelters are full. Our town has always been a destination point for hurricane evacuees.

I feel so bad that so many have to leave their homes. I can't imagine what that must feel like. Hopefully, Gustav won't be as bad as Katrina was! But, I'm so glad they chose not to stay and take a chance.


If I don't post or comment on your blog, you'll know that our power went out! It's already started raining here...just a waiting game at this point.

For great coverage of the storm on the internet check out www.nola.com
They update constantly!

Oh...I almost forgot. This is my 100th post! I want to thank those of you who have commented on my posts and are reading my blog. It amazes me that anyone thinks my life and what I have to say about it would be worth reading. So, I am going to have a giveaway. I don't know what it will be yet, but leave a comment on my blog this week and your name will go in a drawing for the giveaway!
Thanks for stopping by! Happy Labor Day!

55 comments:

Bo said...

Just a quick note to say you and your family will be remembered in my prayers as well as all others in Gustav's path. Hang tight!
;-) Bo

SmilingSally said...

We have already been praying for those in the path, and we will continue to do so.

Careful with the candles. Don't leave them burning without someone being in the room; we don't want a fire.

Congratulations on your 100th. Of course I want to come visit; you have a nice blog and a nice life!

Blogger said...

Hi Diane!

Stay safe, it looks like you are pretty well prepared, but it's no fun to lose power, that is for sure, I hope you won't!!!

I am having a giveaway, too...come on over and enter it:)

Congratulations on 100 posts!!

Bella

Anonymous said...

Diane, I just realized you are in the path of Gustav. I will send up prayers for you and your family. My dh said it is hitting right now. It looks like you are prepared.

Congratulations on your 100th post Diane. It sure slipped up on me. Because of the knee surgery I have yet to send the book to my winner. I will try to get my dh to send it tomorrow. sigh.

Hang tight in that storm...Love Jeanne

Dawn said...

Diane I hope you don't loose power. That's no fun! I've been there! You look well prepared. I've got the news on now listening to the news about Gustav. It's looking very windy and rainy!

Congratulations on your 100th post! I'm having a give away too in honor of my 300th!

take care,
Dawn

Missy Wertz said...

Diane, I hope that you do not to use any of your supplies. And I hope we get some rain from Gustav. :)

Anonymous said...

Congrats on your 100th post. Please be safe and dry in the upcoming days. Prayers are with you and all the others in the path of Gustav.

Debb

Sue said...

Congratulations on your 100th post! I enjoy visiting you EVERY day. Hope you are completely safe from any damage from Gustav.

nikkicrumpet said...

You're smart to be so prepared. Hopefully the news will continue to be good. They said this morning that it was slowing down and it looks as though it won't have the power they were worried it would. Great news!!! Hope that continues. Take care, we'll be thinking of all of you in it's path!

pammiejo said...

Good luck with Gustav. It looks like it won't be as bad as it originally looked like - so we'll hope for everyone that that is the case! Enter me in your drawing - 100 posts - it's worthy! I enjoy them all! PAM

Marie said...

It certainly looks as if you are prepared!! PLEASE be safe and check in when you can.

bj said...

Oh, Diane...I am so glad you are getting prepared and ready to ride out any bad weather that reaches you. They are predicting this storm could be worse than Katrina.
Oh, please stay safe and let us hear from you right away so we will KNOW you are ok.
Prayers and blessings and love,
bj

Jon said...

Good morning, Diane.

Y'all are good Scouts...certainly prepared for Gustav. I was outraged to go to my storage shed to drag out my portable generator and discovered that it had been STOLEN!! It is the first thing ever stolen from this house and yard ever, and what an untimely loss. I hope the thief gets electrocuted if he tries to use it! Take care and batten down the hatches. Jon at Mississippi Garden on Labor Day

Darlene said...

I am praying for you in the path of Gustav. I know you look well prepared. Hopefully, you will keep power throughout this storm. I am wishing you the best Diane.

bloggin' Chrystal said...

praying that POWER stays on and you won't need all those supplies...pray the same for us in North Louisiana. Our home is filled up with air mattresses and family from Lake Charles and LOTS of wonderful cajun food. I'm so happy my family is safe too! praying for you...Chrystal

Anonymous said...

Stay Safe and my prayers your way.
Diane

Anonymous said...

I've been watching Gustav and wondering how everyone is doing!

Stay safe!

Pat

PS
Congratulations on your 100th Post!

Theresa @ Take A Sentimental Journey said...

I enjoy reading what you post Diane. Your such a pleasant sweet person and you are so loyal about visiting me. Now how could I not love ya !!
Congrats on the 100th post ! Enter me too !
Glad your son is home safe too !

Nola said...

Best of luck as you batten down the hatches in preparation for Gustav. How odd, ya'll dread his arrival, while I can't wait till he gets here! Of course, he will be slow and tired when he reaches north Texas, and all we are hoping for is a good rain! Best of luck, hope you aren't out of power long, if at all.

Cami said...

Mr. Fix It is a meteorologist and we've been praying for you as he keeps me updated. Hang in! If you don't need your supplies you're ready to have a party afterwards. Take care of yourself.

Anonymous said...

Gosh, Diane. Don't those first 100 posts pass quickly? I remember when you first started. You have a wonderful blog, and everyone loves it because you are so incredibly nice.

We are keeping an eye on Gustav updates, and praying that all are safe.

We're keeping a watch on Hanna, too.

Anonymous said...

Just found your blog via Susan @ Moonlight and MAg. - well it looks like it won't be as bad as they expected and I certainly am thankful for that!! I am on to look at the rest of your blog- and oh I would love to be put in for your giveaway!! :) mary

Anonymous said...

Diane, I was just going to pop over to see if you are alright. I am so happy you missed the storm. All's well that ends well. Smile.

Hugs...Jeanne

Unknown said...

well it's a good thing you are prepared, i live in houston, texas and for a while we thought gustav was going to come but i guess not : )

lc_intocable at yahoo dot com

kari and kijsa said...

Stay safe! Have a wonderful Labor Day! Thank you for all your prayers and blessings,
kari & kijsa

Barb said...

Hi Diane,

We are praying for all of you. Please let us know when you have the chance.

hugs,
Barb

Nancy Rosalina said...

Hi Diane, You are in my thoughts and prayers! Congrats on your 100th post! Blessings, Nancy

Margie said...

So glad to see you are prepared for the storm. Hopefully it won't be causing you any power outages. Take care!
Margie

Southern Lady said...

Diane, I hope you and your family are out of harm's way and don't lose your power.

Even though Gustav wasn't as bad as originally thought, it will still have far-reaching repercussions long after its winds have died down.

My heart goes out to those who left their homes and I pray for their safe return home soon.

You take care and keep us posted on things there.

Southern Lady said...

Oh, I forgot to congratulate you on your 100th post -- what a milestone.

I always enjoy your stories and I'm looking forward to your next 100!

Sincerely,

Janie

Anonymous said...

Happy 100! Hope that you are safe through the storm. I just scrolled down at your Katrina pics. I pray that nothing that devastating happens this time. Looks like he's headed towards Texas.

-- Brandi

Julia @ Hooked on Houses said...

Congratulations on your 100th post!!

You seem well prepared for whatever weather may come your way. Hope you don't lose power--at least not for too long. Stay safe! -Julia

Linda said...

It looks like you've put alot of time and effort into getting prepared. Hopefully Gustav will only sideswipe your area and not cause any real damage.

You and yours are in our thoughts and prayers.

Congratulations on your 100th post. I had mine about a month ago and had alot of fun with a giveaway.

Anonymous said...

Diane,

I'm so glad you are prepared and ready to take on the storm. You couldn't have found that radio at a better time.

Take care,
Gretchen

Gone said...

YIPPEEEEE...congrats on your 100th post!!! Time just flies when we're having fun, doesn't it?

It seems like my 100th post was just a blink of time ago...and now I'm OVER 200!

Jan

Anonymous said...

Hi Diane. Thankyou for coming to say hi, I hope you are ok with the storm. I will be thinking of you and praying that everyone in its path will be ok. Here in Australia, they are keeping us pretty well updated with its progress. We hae storms here, but nothing that bad, we mostly get large bushfires. Any way, I will come back to visit you when things calm down a bit for you. Cheers Debra.

Mya said...

Diane,
I hope you are spared any damamge from the storm. It must be scary to deal with the intense storms of the coast. I always enjoy reading about your life. Take care while riding out the storm.
-Mya

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

I hope was well in your area Diane! Gustav weakened but still packed a punch in many areas it seems.

Congrat on reaching 100 posts already!

Hugs, Pat

Rue said...

I'm so glad you stayed safe from Gustav. We went through Isabel when we lived in VA and although it wasn't Katrina, it was enough to wake us up big time.

Please enter my name too :)

rue

Unknown said...

I hope your family was safe over the weekend! Congrats on 100th post can't wait to see what you are giving a way!

Domestic Goddess..Diva sometimes said...

Congrats on your 100th post! Can't wait to see what the prize will be! ;)

Leslie said...

Just found you from Bless our Nest. Please enter me in your giveaway. I am praying that you didn't have to use any of those items for Gustav! How scary!

Les said...

Hope you and your family are safe!

Yelowflower said...

Tip Junkie has featured your giveaway and that's how I got here. I hope everything is all right where you are, we were spared Gus and Hanna, now we are watching Ike....North Florida. Thanks for the fun and congratulations on your 100th post!

http://yelowflowersgarden.blogspot.com/

Kathleen W. said...

Congrats on your 100th! I was thinking of doing a post like this, even though I don't live along the gulf but it is probably a good idea for all of us to be prepared for an emergency.

Kristen said...

Good job being prepared. It's something we should always be thinking about. Congrats on the 100th post.

Unknown said...

Congrats on your 100th post. I like your blog.

I know what I am going to do today - check my emergency supplies. Thanks for the reminder.

Marlene McGarrity said...

The above post is mine. I am a teacher and I was working on our school website. I forgot to log out.

Unknown said...

Wow, looks like you are well equipped for the storm. I do hope you all fair well anddo not need all of the supplies, but it's better to be safe than sorry. $7. for that radio! Wow, what a deal!
Congratulations on your 100th posting! Woohoo! I am enjoying reading your blog. So glad I stumbled upon it today.
Best wishes, Tammy

The Cascio Whirlwind said...

I live in north LA and just had rain and wind effects from Gustav. We had to cut our beach trip a day early and head home, but thankfully we were lucky and only had a few limbs down at the house. Glad you to were okay!

James and Monica said...

Congrats for being prepared! We in Utah don't go through a lot of things like that, thank goodness. However, our faith teaches us to be prepared for any situation. To have water stored up. Without water, you won't live very long. We also have Food stored up like crazy. Of course a 48 hour kit is right where we can grab it in an emergency. Good luck!!!!!

Kayce said...

It definitely looks as if you were prepared!! Hope everything is okay!

Anonymous said...

Congrats on your 100th post! I found you on Tip Junkie! :) hayleemollerup@yahoo.com
Fun idea to do a give-a-way on your 100th post. THANKS!

Jamie's Precious Peas said...

Glad to have found you using tip junkie!

H. Slaton said...

Found you on tip junkie! Hope Gustav didn't do much to your place!