We were lucky with the hurricane. It turned away from us (and the Tampa area) south of us a bit- around 90 minutes or so before we were expecting the first waves to come rolling into our neighborhood. Thank God. In the end, that saved a huge amount of damage and probably lives with it. Category 4 hurricanes are no laughing matter, and it's caused massive damage in the places it did roll through (I got to see some of it up close and personal today) and it's some frightening stuff, let me tell you. My heart goes out to those that lost their homes and/or loved ones (and sadly, there are a lot of those).

It's still early, and reports are still coming in. Some of the very first reports that we got were saying that there was a possibility of hundreds dead where the storm hit, but thankfully those proved highly inaccurate. Right now the official count is sitting at 15, but there are numerous reports that the count near where it hit would go up quite a bit. Several different reporters, interviewing a couple of county officials and one representative at one of the hospitals said that could possibly go up by 100, or more, though one put the number at "hopefully in the dozens." Add that to damage estimates begining at $5 billion (though some are saying $15) and the huge amount of damaged area, and it's pretty bad all the way around. But it could have been much worse.

What's really irritating is the few people who call it a minor storm that didn't do much. Of course they're not living anywhere near the area, and are basically getting their information from people that weren't near the damage... So they think that sums it up. Maybe if they saw the devastation around, or actually had some regard for the lives lost. But to many seem to feel that if it doesn't affect them directly, then it's not a big deal. Try to tell that to the 1000's without homes, schools, businesses, etc, or those that know them, and you'll get a different picture. But then some can't seem to handle anything that might differ with their view of the world- even if it isn't based on reality. They'd rather play video games.

But that's only one storm I've had to deal with, and it turned out to be the easy one. You've seen my talking a bit about it here, or at least alluding to it in some spots. So I'll be a bit more blunt.

I don't know what the heck it is with this one guy, but for the last 2 months he's had some sort of personal thing with me. Seems I can't say anything without having to comment on it, or, better yet, taking cheap shots at me when he could. Tried to talk with him privately about it and got cussed out, shoved off, and treated extremely rudely. Well, that's changed now to outright public bashing, comments about "everyone is talking about you" with no one else talking to me. So either he's lying (which honestly wouldn't shock me) or several people who I thought were friends would rather listen to this guy trash talk me rather than actually talk to me. Even when I've avoided conversations anywhere near him, and haven't really talked in over a week where he would be around, sure enough the first time I make a comment there he is slamming me again. Especially irritating when I was talking about what we were dealing with during the hurricane and the bits of information we were getting as we were getting it. Adn with him nowhere near it, and not having any clue what was going on except second or third hand, he still made it a point to criticise and slam me. Oh, and of course accompanied with another nice, "friendly" email being sure to insult and deride me all the way through.

Talk about a load of garbage. The worst part is, since this guy is "close friends" with most of the others on the staff at this place, it's really pointless for me to say anything as regardless of what it is, or how true it might be, they're not going to pay attention as long as this guy's lips are flapping. To them he can practically do no wrong, and his history of trashing people and inflaming fights, as well as putting of his so called friends over the years means nothing. They just don't see it.

So I quit. I've had it. I can say nothing about anything in this place without him making it his duty to find a way to criticize or attack me with it (and, of course, plead innocent while doing it) and one of them popping in comments that make it look ok, while then telling me that people shouldn't comment the way he is. Funny, I ask if I can respond the way he does, and am told no, people shouldn't do that and to take the high road. Yet he makes the comments and there's this same guy supporting him. Fine. I don't need it.

I'll be honest. It hurts. And it makes me mad- extremely angry, to see this kind of BS. And to see them continuing on. The worst part is, I know my leaving will mean nothing to them, and they still won't see the crap they're pulling on me, won't change it a bit, and won't hesitate to do it to someone else later on. Which is a real pity. But I've dealt with it as long as I can, and far more than I desired to. So goodbye WC. Trust me, at this point, you really won't be missed.