Dear Journal~

Ronee' Le-Anne Reaux writing.  We are sitting here at Denney's in Beaumont, Texas, where we are going to get our grub faces on.  We've been on the road since 12:00, after we got out of church, and we're famished.  

Michael and I are headed west.  We are going to Albuquerque, New Mexico, for a vacation.  We also left our home in Lafayette, Louisiana, because (almost) Hurricane Isaac is bearing down on the Gulf Coast states, and we didn't want to be directly in his path, so we packed up some stuff and are now well clear out of harm's way.  Right now, the further we get away from Louisiana, the better, especially in case Isaac should happen to change his mind and pay Lafayette an unexpected visit.  I don't want to be there if that were to happen!

We will be back in Louisiana probably next Sunday or Monday.  Hopefully there won't be too much in the way of damage or destruction; I will have to keep the Gulf Coast states in my prayers, especially since WE happen to live in one of the states: Lousiana!

We are currently waiting for our food.  Michael ordered a Grand Slam breaksfast; as for me, I ordered a hamburger with onions, pickles, cheese, and tomatoes.  We love Denney's; we try to eat there whenever we can.  They have great service and food that is out of this world!

Anyway, back to Isaac.

Isaac is now a strong tropical storm with winds sustained at 60 miles an hour as it nears the Florida Keys; it's then scheduled to make a beeline for just east of New Orleans (Grand Isle, Louisiana in the direct path) and head northward from there, then swing east towards the Eastern seaboard.  By then the storm will be noticeably weaker, but it will still be capable of putting down torrential tropical downpours and flooding if the storm decides to stall or move slower than planned.

Hurricanes are nothing to mess with.  I was in Hurricane Andrew; i've also been in the remnants of Rita, Ike, and Lee, the most recent 'cane/tropical storm; that one hit last year.  They can be scary, especially if the power dies and if they spawn tornadoes or extreme, catastrophic flooding.  I know what they can do; since I live near the Gulf Coast, we residents have to be hurricane ready and prepare when there's even a chance of the storm sticking its nose into the Gulf somewhere.  You don't know what they can do; like tornadoes, 'canes can be so unpredictable.

Michael has been in the remnants of Lee, but he ain't seen nothin' yet.  I was in Andrew, which was a Cat-5 storm, with winds howling well over 200 miles an hour.  The walls of the shelter we were at were bowing in and out; it was like they were actually breathing.  The winds screamed; it sounded like a thousand banshees wailling right outside the structure.  I was just a little kid then, but I remember how terrified I was; I will never forget it as long as I shall live!

I know if Michael were in a hurricane, especially a bad one, that he would probably have a cow!  He doesn't care for storms either!  LOL

When we are in New Mexico, we plan on going to the Albuquerque Balloon Festival, which is one of the top 100 festivals in the United States.  I think that would be cool seeing all these hot air balloons rising into the air at once; boy, talk about a photo op!  I would also love to take a ride in a hot air balloon; I think that would be so neat just gliding above the trees with nothing but the winds steering or guiding your balloon along!  I bet it would be so peaceful up there!

Well, I hate to go, but our food just came; it looks scrumptious!  I will write in here again, hopefully before the wedding on September 16th, or before we go to Israel for our honeymoon! I cannot wait; I'm getting so excited!!  Pray that we have continued safe travels as we motor westward and pray that our wedding (and our trip to Israel) go without a hitch!  Also, above all, pray for the Gulf Coast states and the people in the path of Isaac; pray there isn't too much in the way of loss of life or catastrophic damage!  I would greatly appreciate it; thanks in advance!

Take care and God bless!  

~Love, your friend, Ronee' Le-Anne (soon to be Stinkowitz)!  :)