READY for FALL here in MS!!!

It's TIME for FALL & I'm very excited for the weather to be transitioning here. It's still humid & HOT during the day, but mornings & evenings are quite cool. I MISS HOME in the North, SO Much! Would love to move back into our house in Phila, PA one day... Although it's a row house in the city & would be quite small to try to manage with my business... :)

Ross left for Guam 2 weeks ago & we have another 2 weeks to go. He actually flew into a Typhoon over Japan & spent quite a few days there b/c their plane broke. They brake a lot as they have really been used heavily in the hurricane's this year. They are very careful not to fly when this happens. He is so far away & cannot call home, we skyped for the first time last night. His flight days are approx. 11-12 hours at a time. They are doing a Navy mission on Typhoons with the scientists & even had a visit from National Geographic! So, he does not get enough sleep it sounds, but it's really a great experience.

Business is very much slowing b/c of the economy. I am going to look for a P/T job over on the AF Base this morning. It's been a while since I've updated here & wanted to take a moment to write in & keep in touch. I'm advertising in my first Family & Children's Gulf Coast Magazine, I hope it will be worth it. I signed up for an entire year!

Thanks for continuing to keep up with me; shop & share my site, PLEASE

Smiles & Miles of HUGS!
Bon

Back from Gustav, Watching Hurricane IKE!

THANKS for keeping up here~ I'm doing my best to keep my blog updated, although coming back home there was A LOT to take care of. ... It never ends, huh? We are both home safe & sound, just for the weekend, then Ross leaves for Guam for 3 weeks on Monday.

As for how we weathered Gustav... We had a tree down in the back yard & a little moisture issue where the baseboard pulled away from the wall in our dining room. Very minor & we felt very good about this being IT. I'm headed now to make dinner & go to have it on the base with Ross as he is working until Midnight for all of the storms out there, the guys are working additional hours & planes are coming in later tonight. Someone has to be there for taking the calls, etc.

I will update after the first of next week... I've been busy trying to complete current orders & try to be in the clear & ahead! :) Seems impossible~ Although I am SO GRATEFUL for every order! :) Thanks for your business & support along the way here! I may be looking for a part time job as the economy is making it very difficult to make this work for the hours I put in are hardly worth the profit & outcome. SAD, but true!~ I do hope that things will pick up & I will not have to do that, but I'm getting ready for that reality too.

Blessings to you all~
Bonnie

Gustav is slowing & dropping winds & rain tonight!!!

UPDATE, Monday Evening~
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Thanks for all of your concerns & kind e-mails, phone calls, etc! It has meant so much to me! I'm holding off on going home tomorrow, I've heard that everything should be ok at our house, the never lost power 6 miles north of where our home is. I'm assuming I could have stayed, but better safe than sorry! I am glad I left, but the traffic is the worst part in returning... I'm going to probably leave on Wednesday morning. I will NOT be driving tired & SO very sleepy again~ How dangerous that drive was coming here as I left at 11:30 PM~ I just wanted to get out of there! Unfortunately there are always more storms coming this time of year... There are always the unknowns. I'm not good at dealing with that reality! Too many historic storms these days!!!
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Ross will be headed out to Guam for 3 weeks with a Navy mission. This will happen when he returns from this mission. This is simply part of this job, we both signed up for it, really! Prior to leaving, I experienced a lot of tension between couples & what to do, where to go... how to deal with certain details, etc. To me, this is the very hardest part in dealing with these storms, so much inconsistency & turmoil in relationships... What a learning experience this has been for me as it's all new to me. I ended up having to make most of the decisions as Ross was away, doing his job. Moving the Larger items was not going to happen.
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Friday was my B-day & I spent it packing up & preparing to leave, Thursday I had a biopsy on my thyroid which I still have yet to find out the results of that. It was a bit unpleasant, especially considering the stress & circumstances, having to go in there & just suck it up & be strong. It was not so bad... I just knew it had to be done & did not make it an option. Hopefully it will all be ok, I am taking a higher dose of Synthroid & have felt a big difference, it may need even more adjustments. I will continue to keep you updated, but may not write again until I am home safe & sound.
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Thanks Again~
Bonnie

Hurricane Gustav Touches Down at Cat 2 in LA, Monday!

It's about noon here on Monday~ Heavy Winds & Damage & the start of the eye of the storm is approaching LA! Looks like Coastal MS will be getting a lot of flooding which was expected. Our home is at 15 ft above flood level. They expect it to be at least at that where we are located. Currently I've heard Pasqugoula has crested to 9 ft. which is 2 towns East of us, maybe 20 miles. Ross flew last night again & sounded exhausted, he called me about 1 hour ago b/f going to sleep. He must really be having to do a lot of laundry b/c he left expecting to only be gone for the weekend & he's into the 2nd week now. These hurricanes keep everyone so busy, stressed & tired!

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This Storm is fierce like most any major hurricane. We're all praying & hoping for the best here at this hotel & every other evacuation place, no doubt! The stories I've been hearing about are HUGE~ so many of these residence are from LA who have been through Katrina & had to rebuild & now they are getting hit again. I just got in from being outside & taking Misty for a run across & down the busy street. I am NOT a runner & did not go too far!~ There are too many animals here at the hotel, LOTS of dogs... I worry about the traffic with our 7 month old puppy who wants to listen but gets so easily distracted & is starting to be so protective. Playing frisbee near a main road is just a little too risky, I wanted to so bad though. She loves frisbee & needed the exercise & is now sleeping beside me here as I'm working. I'm afraid we'll be running in the rain later. :)~

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I took some photos of our hotel place & of course I have about 45 photos of our house for insurance purposes, what a hassle here. Missing work, etc. Thank goodness for laptops & so much more like the Weather Channel. I will do my best to keep you all updated here. Kitties are happy & lounging around as you can see, Stevie Ray is our all white kitty about 4 months old & named after the famous guitar guy by my husband, of course! I left with photos, clothes a few top fabrics, laptop, camera & Ross's heirloom guitar. It's actually a beautiful hotel, great accomodations here at the Hyatt Place in Hoover, AL. It's about 5 hours away & the winds are blowing outside, clouds look even furocious here. Hope you are enjoying the weather where you are! :) It's got to be better than what anyone who decided to not evacuate is experiencing.

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Thanks for your prayers, e-mails & support!

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:) Bon & the gang!