NAMING HURRICANES

Do you know how hurricanes are named? Six lists of hurricane names have been created for the major ocean basins around the world, and they rotate one each year. Up until 1978, this was a list that contained only female names. Since then, they alternate male and female. Names of hurricanes that are particularly damaging are retired, and replaced. Harvey was replaced with Harold, Irma with Idalia and Maria with Margot.
If you would like to see the list of names, click here.

Unless Dorian turns southward, Key West will not see much weather from the hurricane. We could get some scattered rain and wind, but nothing that will keep me from going to work on Monday. What that means is, I do not get a three day weekend! If anything changes, I will let you know.

WATCHING DORIAN

AUGUST 29, 2019
As many of you know, I live on an island and work at a hardware store. With the threat of a hurricane, comes the panic to prepare for it. It's not known exactly where Hurricane Dorian will go, but it's possible that we will get some weather. The memory of Hurricane IRMA is fresh in our minds, with many vacant lots and a few blue tarps still on roofs.

Today was the day everyone decided it was time to start preparing, just in case. First it was the gas cans flying off the shelf. We have only a handful of one gallon cans left. Generators were very popular this afternoon, with only 3 or 4 left. I'm guessing the hurricane shutters will be the topic of tomorrow.

What are my plans? How have I prepared for a possible hurricane? I treat it like camping, and prepare accordingly. My pantry is full of canned food. I have plenty of water. I have a Luci light which does not need batteries, and I have a combination flashlight/radio/charger that is powered by crank. Again not needing batteries. The only thing I didn't acquire since IRMA is a battery operated fan. I just didn't want to spend the money. Next time the power is out for an extended period of time, I will probably regret that decision.

So, the watch continues, and the murmurs of "Will you evacuate?" are heard. And the answer is NO.

DORIAN

It's storm watching season again. Dorian is out there, and everyone is guessing which way she will go. Will she fizzle or grow into a hurricane? Time will tell.

My gas tank is almost empty, so I will be heading to the gas station to fill up on my way home after work. My pantry is full of canned food, I have my crank radio/flashlight/charger handy, and no I will not leave for a hurricane. So all you people that got mad at me for not leaving for IRMA, I don't want to hear it again. Hopefully, we will not experience a hurricane this year, but in case we do, I will be prepared, and keep everyone updated.

GREEN IGUANA

Dale holding Gomez.

Back in 2010, I traveled to Belize and was introduced to the Iguana. I even visited an iguana hatchery that was established because the population was dwindling due to the use as a food source. They were a very cool looking animal and I enjoyed learning about them, even got to hold one.

Fast forward three years. I relocated to Key West, Florida. Green Iguanas live here too. When you live with them in your backyard, your attitude toward them changes drastically. They are messy and destructive. All they do is eat and poop. They eat all your beautiful flower and poop them back out on your porch. Disgusting. 

They have become so bad, the FWC and the state of Florida has waged war on them. They now encourage homeowner to humanely kill green iguanas on their property. Iguanas have no natural enemy, so the population is exploding.

Yes, you can eat them, but after watching a YouTube video on how to clean one, it just seemed like a lot of work for very little meat. Someone even wrote a cookbook for preparing a meal with iguana meat. I think I will pass. However, if someone else caught, killed, dressed and cooked one, I would eat it! 

There might be a market for the skin... wallets, belts, boots? That might be an interesting new venture!

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