Isaac takes its toll on Cayman

Although the storm passed well to the north of us and is giving New Orleans headaches it has had an impact here in Cayman.  We had a tremendous lightning and rain storm that its outer bands kicked up Monday evening  and early Tuesday morning.  During the storm, the college radio tower which is next to Friends Hall was struck by lightning, blowing an electrical box and wiring, and sending a surge through the phone and ethernet lines that were attached to the tower.  The power surge that went through the ethernet cords crossed over to Clayton Strain Hall and the administrative offices frying 10 of our computers in various offices and our lab classroom.  The computers seem to have been impacted almost at random as some are just fine while others will not turn on.  The strike took out our entire phone system, fire and security alarms for two of the three buildings and knocked our radio station out.  The rain has also flooded our campus again re-creating Lake ICCI around Friends Hall and to the east of McLaughlin Hall.  My office was one of the lucky ones as the electronics in it are OK.  This morning we had another powerful band of rain come through and it seems to be lingering for the next couple of days.  Sunday morning was to be our first practice mini triathlon but for now we are going to have to wait and see what the weather allows.

Tropical Storm Watch

Overnight we briefly went on Tropical Storm watch as Isaac headed across Cuba and we found ourselves in its outer cone.   Fortunately, the watch ended shortly after it began as Isaac continued on its path toward Florida and did not take any unusual turns that might have impacted us more.  We have gotten some rain today and thunder from what are likely its very outer bands and we should have a wet weekend. Next Sunday is the first of three practice triathlons on Seven Mile Beach involving a 200 meter swim, a 3 mile bike, and 1 mile run.  This is part of a training series that slowly builds and lets you get used to doing all three as well as the transitions along with building up the distances.  We are both keeping up with our training and trying to develop endurance as much as speed.  Next Saturday is also the first day of football so we are gearing up for celebration of that "national holiday" in our household.  Should be an eventful week.

The Mendoza Line

In baseball there is a term for hitters who are really struggling, its called hitting above the Mendoza line. The Mendoza line is named after a short stop who was a lifetime .215 hitter but it has traditionally now become a description for a hitter who is below .200.  For the past ten years I have been dieting and exercising in a vain attempt to get below 200 pounds and have always viewed that as my own personal Mendoza line only this time the goal is below 200 not above.  Three weeks ago I got a reading of 199.8 on my weekly weigh in.  I wasn't really trusting of it and said that if I got three straight weeks of readings below 200 pounds I would be convinced that I had truly broken through the barrier. Last week was 199 even and this morning 198.6 so it seems the Mendoza line has been broken.  We are still doing active training for the triathlon and that looks like it was the impetus to break through the 200 pound barrier.

Stephanie heads and home and the Storms line up

Stephanie headed home yesterday but not before she got a going away present from her niece, who said her full name yesterday morning getting squeals of delight from her Aunt.  The weather improved dramatically on her last day and since her flight wasn't until early evening, we headed to the beach and she got in some paddle boarding with Katie.  As she leaves, the National Hurricane Center in Miami is warning us about a storm that will become Gordon either later today or tomorrow and track into our general vicinity next week Wednesday.  It looks like it will be similar to Ernesto and just give us a lot of rain and high wave action but we are watching it closely just in case it shifts north and gives us some wind action either as strong tropical storm or weak hurricane.  Meanwhile off the coast of Africa a true monster storm has formed and everyone in the Caribbean is watching that one to see where it goes.  It is August in the tropics and the hurricane shooting gallery is in full force.

Storm Passes, No Taxes and Two more Days with Stephanie

A lot has happened to start this week.  Tropical Storm Ernesto passed to the south of us giving us some high winds and a lot of rain the last two days but no real issues or concerns. Last night after two long weeks of very heated debate the Premier announced that the "Community Enhancement Fee" which was government speak for direct income tax was being withdrawn and was "no longer on the table". We are enjoying our last two full days with Aunt Stephanie who leaves Thursday and used the rainy day yesterday as an excuse to visit the Caybrew Brewery and take a tour.  There have been spots of sunshine that has led to quality beach time for Steph and Arianna. We are hoping that with the storm having passed, these last two days will give us nice tropical weather for Stephanie to enjoy.

Storm Threat Decreases and Mastic Trail

Every track since yesterday afternoon has pushed Ernesto further south and this afternoon we have pretty well shut down hurricane preparations as it looks like it will not impact us at all beyond a little rain.  With storm worry taking a backseat we headed over to the Mastic trail this morning to do some hiking.  Unfortunately, the rain earlier in the week flooded the trail and we only got in about 1/2 mile before we had to turn back.  Still, it was the first time Arianna had done any of the Mastic Trail so Aunt Stephanie got a first with her niece.

Watching Ernesto

Early August has brought with it an unwelcome surprise visitor.  Tropical Storm Ernesto has entered the eastern Caribbean and is now tracking into our neighborhood as a hurricane late Monday/early Tuesday.  The current track puts it about 77 miles south of us which is way too close for comfort.  In the map below we are just above and to the right of the 2 a.m. Tuesday track which has the storm at a low level hurricane.  This weekend is now full on hurricane preparations as we get up the shutters, buy any last minute supplies and get the house ready.  Stephanie is going to get the real tropical experience it would seem.  Unless it blows up into a huge storm we plan to ride it out as the house is more than capable of handling a category 1 or even low level category two hurricane.

A welcome guest and a potentially unwelcome one

Aunt Stephanie arrived on Tuesday and is here for the next week visiting.  She brought Arianna a much bigger "mouse" doll that she has been carrying around ever since.  We also got news that early next week what is now tropical depression five may be in our neighborhood as either Tropical Storm Ernesto or even Hurricane Ernesto so we are keeping a weather eye on that.  Should make for an interesting several days of family and storm watching.