Wed - Jan 10/18

Warmer; but wetter. 60% chance of rain until Saturday. Next week will be down to the 60's F.

The Park Post Office is right next to the MPR at the end of the Lodge. We checked our mailbox for the monthly Electric Bill. It was there. Just above $36.00. (The first $50 is included in the monthly rental). Usually it is about $5; however with the prolonged cold spell we used the Electric Fireplace for heat. We have 2 propane furnaces in the motorhome (most RV's have only 1); but if we run out of propane we would have to move the motorhome to fill up.

The park sells propane so delivery is not an option like in other parks. The park does pick up, refill and deliver propane tanks within the park. This is OK for trailers; however the motorhomes tank is much larger and not portable. Using the electricity to heat is easier than having to pull in the slides, pack everything and move the motorhome to the propane fill-up area for a refill. The cost is probably equivalent to that of using the propane heaters, so electricity it is.

I dropped Charlotte off at the MPB for Crafts. The rain had stopped. I helped her carry in the sewing machine. There was a full house of quilters this morning. By the time I went back out to the car it was raining again. I took the computer (quickly) next door to the Lodge to use the Wi-Fi.

Meetings for residents to fill in a Tornado Evacuation Plan are scheduled in the Lodge for 3 days this week starting at 10 a.m.  Five tables were serving the residents. Soon there was a line at the door.

The "Direct Hit" of the park by a tornado spawned from Hurricane Irma brought the realization that a more involved plan would be required to make sure that all knew where and how to seek shelter.

When the tornado hit in September there where only a few dozen residents to shelter in the 3 buildings. Many RV's are left at the park all year round. A few dozen were totaled and an equal number damaged. Luckily, all the residents there at the time made it to a secure location. At this time of year (peak season) there will be over 800 (along with pets) so it is imperative that everyone have an assigned building and parking area to avoid overcrowding during an emergency.

Those (all volunteers) doing the interviews gave all a detailed information sheet. The committee has done their homework and presented an excellent plan.

There will be a drill on January 26th, at 10 a.m. to validate the new procedures. The "Call Committee" will phone between 8:30 and 9:30 that morning to alert everyone of the pending "Tornado Watch" (drill).

There was a continuous "Buzz" in the room for the next few hours. I departed when Charlotte arrived after her quilting session ended (around noon).

We went to the Office to pay the Electric Bill before returning to the motorhome for lunch. As usual, the staff efficiently had me on my way with a receipt in just a few minutes.

We were only able to eat half of our "Teppanyaki" last night. We both devoured 3 of the 4 S's at the restaurant (Soup, Salad and Shrimp) so today it was just Chicken and the remaining S …Steak. This combo went well with the Rice and Veggies that remained. I don't know why people complain about "Leftovers" as they are often even tastier the second day?

The day was a typical "Florida Rain" event. Sometimes there was a mist, sometimes light rain and every once in a while a total downpour that lasted for less than a minute. It was a good day to just relax, do odd jobs inside the RV and have a nap. I'll blame the nap on the "rain on the roof."(grin)

I went to the MPR to use the Wi-Fi tonight. Last evening most of the folks at the MPR were playing board games. Tonight the two dozen or so folks were all playing cards with a different game at each table.

Wally and Linda (the husband and wife OMS park managers) were at one of the tables. They participate in many of the park events which is the reason why everyone in the park actually knows who they are. At one of the parks (in AZ) the park manager was never seen unless you went and asked to meet in the office. This is just another reason why this park is always "SRO" (Sold Right Out) in the "High Season".

There were only 8 card players left by the time I finished today's blog.