Me? A goofball? What?, originally uploaded by estacey.

[Don't bother; those jokes have already been made.]

I'm always intrigued by the little crabs at the marina hanging out on all the ladders, but I never bothered trying to catch one, thinking I'd be unsuccessful. As I proved yesterday, not so! I caught two. One was a little pincher, but only for a few seconds, then he chilled, as you can see in the picture. Very neat little creatures.



I also saw an Atlantic spadefish right there in the marina.. The kind that kissed me once diving! Very cool. I tried to give it crackers but it was not at all interested.

I was so happy I went sailing yesterday.. We weren't even going to bother trying, with Wilma looming, but then the landfall date changed to Monday so we figured we'd give it a shot. And hey, good call; we had a lovely day on the water.. even had the drama of getting GROUNDED and having a nice Frenchman on a pleasure cruise with his dog tow us out to deeper water. Then we went to Shuckers and stayed long past our welcome but had a very good time.

I realized something yesterday - that it's an absolute tragedy that I didn't grow up in Florida. I am absolutely happiest at the seashore.. Not like here so much, but down in the Keys, where you look over as you're laying out and see a ghost crab has emerged from a hole right by your towel. Or where you can find conchs in the shallows. I get somewhat the same experience there at the marina, where I can find crabs and snails, spot fish and manatees in the water, spoil some marina-dwelling cats, then share my food with the ducks and vultures. To use one of my most favorite expressions, I would've been happy as a clam to grow up here. You know, to have been here at an age where it would have been socially acceptable/normal of me to catch some scurrying little crabs. Ahh, to dream..

Anyway, now it's time to go hunker down at home. It's okay; I have my hurricane supplies this time: Pria bars, water, batteries, and crossword puzzles. I plan big.

It turns out that the "abandoned" apartment where Mamacat's mama (and her babies) live is not actually abandoned at all; Alli and I went there Friday to feed the cats and there was a light on! Scary stuff; the place is like a packrat's hovel. So I don't think I'll be drilling up a tarp there as originally planned. The storm is going to be a one, from what I hear, so I hope the cats can just find a place to hide away.. There isn't much I can do but hope. :(

Anyone who's reading this, you can go ahead and say a little prayer for me. Not for my safety; I'll be fine. But for me to keep my power as long as possible. You never know how much you cherish your power until it's off!

¶ 5:31 PM