Good Morning, Gustav

Here we are again, sleeping with CNN on, and waking up to the sounds of a tornado warning. In Santa Rosa County, Florida, we are outside of the "cone" but that doesn't mean that the impact of this enormous storm aren't felt from here.

The sun is rising over the gulf, and the blue-green waters have been transformed into nothing but frothy foam for at least a mile out. Last night, our attempt to walk the beach was met with light rain, and stinging sand spraying on screaming kids. We are currently on alert, as the news has been interrupted twice with emergency signals warning of tornadoes, and directions on how to escape them. Kevin had to convince me not to move the sleeping children between us into the jacuzzi tub.

It is not until today that I've allowed myself to think about how our home might be affected, if we might have a home to return to, how my friends will be affected, and when our lives might return to normal. The reality that I'm "unhireable" in my current state is obvious. If this storm plays up to the hype, our lives could be dramatically different afterwards. I don't fully know what that means.