Early forecasts show Wilma aiming for US Gulf Coast

[TomS]

Not to make a joke of anything, but if you see water up to my roofline and I'm up there, forget the rope. Just throw down some more Bud.

IRA,

Send me your longitude and latitude... If you get a buttload of water, I'll be sure to airdrop you some Bud...

Mike...

First you send down some skim milk for Mrs. IraRat. When Mr. IraRat protests, ask him "So how much is worth to you"? ....

KA-CHING!

Seriously Ira, I'm still interested in seeing The Crab even if it is a work in progress. I agree that we should just wait and see.

[IraRat]

Thursday morning 9AM, and they don't know where this thing is going. So here's the Ira 9AM forecast:

Now down to a Category 4, winds 145mph. It was a Cat 5 yesterday at 175mph, with an eye 30 miles wide.

The eye is now 180 miles wide. Wider area of destruction, even with weaker winds. (145 ain't nothing to sneeze at.)

If its path near the Yucatan peninsula pushes it west over Cancun a bit, or over western Cuba (but they say that's not likely), that will slow it down a bit--giving enough time for the front from the north to come down to push it for a VERY sharp right toward South Florida and me and Woody.

If it passes through the straits there without going over land much, or the eye missing it entirely, it may move quickly enough that the front will NOT make it down in time, meaning that right (eastern) turn will happen much later.

Making this more of a north Florida event, and you guys all know who YOU are. But anyone living on the east coast north of Florida, you're not off the hook either. If it hits north Florida , they "predict" it to scoot all along the east coast up to Massacusetts and towards Tom's beautifully Uniflexed TD and moth.

Anyway, that's what the weather girl on Channel 7 with the big boobs said.

[TomS]

Holy $hit Ira! Her boobs couldn't have been that big. You were paying attention.

BTW -- I gave the Cubby, the hose test this afternoon. It passed with flying colors. I'm ready for anything.

[IraRat]

I gave the Cubby, the hose test this afternoon. It passed with flying colors.

Braggard.

Don't know if you recall about MY major leak, but this past weekend, I sealed it with "roofing rubber" in a tube. It hadn't dried when I returned the next day (takes about a week), but I was just thrilled to see these rather lovely spots of black goop on my gorgeous birch .

Yes, the tarp dragged the crap onto my precious Massacusetts birch.

So, if it's dry here on Saturday, off I go with the oribital sander and some more varnish to try and fix.

[madjack]

...Ira, before you go and try to sand those big ol' globs of goop off, try a sharp chiesl or single sided(for you safety)razor blade and remove as much as possible first...that way you won't load up your sanding discs with loads of goop cr## and risk spreading it to areas uncontaminated by the aforementioned goop cr##
madjack

[cracker39]

Black goop on your birch? You don't suppose that could be divine retribution for......nah...couldn't be.

[mikeschn]

IRA,

I sent you some FEMA equipment in case you get stranded on your roof. It should be arriving in your mail just in time for Wilma. Let me know when you get it!!!

P.S. You can also use it in your teardrop for emergency purposes...

[Chris C]

Heck no, Madjack, a sandblaster would be the quickest way to rid the surface of the black goo.

[Woody]

Try a match and some accellerant

[madjack]

...well I think you all know my solution to such a radical personel problem as gobs of black goop
madjack

[Woody]

Madjack,
No, do tell what is that magical answer

[madjack]

Why shucks Woody, the answer is in my sig, you just................................................
BLOW IT UP

madjack

[IraRat]

I got a lot of it off already with a single-sided blade, but I didn't want to work on it any further until it was 100% dry. It's not a heck of a lot, and most of it will be covered by the tongue box. But it was annoying.

[Chip]

Ira,,, try this in an inconspicous spot,, put a small amount of WD-40 on a soft rag and gentley rub on a gooo spot,,, It is some amazing stuff,,, I use to take asphalt out of clothes and the carpet when I,,, oops,, tracked it in on my boots on the carpet,, and now I hear its good for stiff joints in ya hands,,, GOOOOD STUFF,,, try a little spot, it might save ya a bit of sanding,,,,

chipper

[IraRat]

Chip, that's a great idea. You're right about WD-40.

I don't know how the sealant has dried/cured during the week, but I wish I knew this last week when it was still really gooey. Gonna try it first thing though before doing anything else.