This post is more to share my thoughts than anything else.

As we prepare for hurricane Gustav to pound away at us, I can't help but be a little concerned about my book collection.  We'll be in a safe sturdy house; me, my husband, my two children, and my two other babies Lady the dog and Tink the cat.  I do however have to leave my house behind.  It's a faily well built house, it's survived the past 50 years worth of hurricanes, but my trees are also bigger each year as well and they are my main concern for damage.  I'm copying all of our pictures to a back up hard drive right now.  We'll take the important papers and documents with us; however, I'm not going to be able to bring all of my books with me.  I spent years collecting these books, and I can't help but think it's a little shelfish of me to worry about them, but they are my escape.  I know my friends here will understand that; your books become friends.  You enjoy living a little piece of someone else's life for just a little while. 

So, while I say prayers for all my friends and family, and hope that no one suffers too much damage, I will also say a little prayer for my book collection.  Take the pool!  That will be much easier to replace than tring to get all my books back. : )

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday weekend.
Shannon

You and your books will be in my thoughts. I understand completely; you are NOT being selfish!!

My thoughts are with you also.  Hope your books, house and trees survive with no damage.  I'm glad to hear you have your dog and cat with you.  Too many animals get left behind during bad storms.  Good luck.

My thoughts and prayers are with you, your family, and your books, Shannon! :)

My prayers are with you all. 

Vicki

I used to live in a flood area and have had to take measures to protect books/electronics while we leave our home. Your computer and books can rest in rubbermaid bins and will likely be undamaged by any flooding, unless it is severe. It's saved us a time or two. I don't know how much time you have, or how many books, but perhaps you can pick some of your favorites to store this way?

Good luck, I hope you and your neighbor's homes are spared!

I had a dream the other night that something seriously bad was getting ready to happen, so me and a few friends were getting ready to take off to battle whatever the bad thing was (i can't remember that part)  so the first thing i did was take all of my books and dig a huge hole in the ground, and then i built a little bomb shelter in there and coated it with rubber and put all the books in it and sealed it shut and then filled the hole, and then i put a big old gravemarker on the top so that when whatever bad thing was happening was over, i could find my books again.  then after that i bothered with trivial things like firearms and bandages and money and stuff.  i woke up and immediately had to check all my books to make sure they were ok.  being concerned over books and a realistic event, there is nothing wrong with that!  prayers being sent!

You, your family and your book collection are in my prayers!

You, your family, pets, and books along with your house and other worldly possessions are in my prayers. I can't imagine what the people in your area are going through, preparing for this once more. We had major flooding 2 years ago from 2 hurricanes that came up through the Gulf and made it all the way to North Carolina. I know how devastating it can be.

God be with you all.

Shannon,

I don't know where you live but I live in Louisiana, about 30 miles west of Baton Rouge. My thoughts are with you and your books.

Don't feel bad....I thought about the same thing with my books. Y'all stay safe!! God Bless!!

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.  Love the dream, lol!  Thank you also for the idea of putting my books in a plastic container.  I have some old clothes stored in some and they may just have to give up thier resting place to my books. 

I am in Coteau(outskirts of New Iberia), LA.  We don't have water right on us but we aren't for from bayou Teche and Avery Island.  Currently New Iberia and St. Martinville are evacuating, well, recommended evacuation at this point.  It may be mandatory by tomorrow.  There is no gas to be found, at all, any where.  You can't go anywhere unless you know back roads because you'll sit on the highway for hours. 

Off to read for a bit...
Shannon

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I can well-imagine how you must have felt when you wrote this. Best wishes to you....hope all turns out well for you in every way.

Linda

Thank you Marla.  I'll turn on my vacation setting but I do have internet on my phone and had really hoped that it would continue to work.  My PBS books are already boxed up, not stored with my colloction, so I'm confident those won't be affected.

Thank you so much for your concern and prayers.  Ready or not, here it comes.
Shannon

Good luck to Shannon and all who may be effected by the storm.

I'm praying for you too. Stay safe.

Well, it's over. It didn't turn out as bad as 'they' thought it was going to be.  I tried to use the time to veg out and read as much as possible.  We have a lot of broken trees at our house.  The kids trampoline is twisted up but the pool survived.  We had one tree split in half and land on the house but it didn't seem to do any damage, thank God!  Some of our family wasn't so lucky.  An uncle lost the roof of thier trailer, hopefully they will be able to get government help.  I am visiting my parents in Scott. They don't have electricity either but we needed a change of scenery.  Back to work tomorrow and hopefully we'll get the house up and running soon.

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers, your words of encouragement. 
Shannon

I was glad to know you were OK.