Things Hurricanes Charley & Frances & Ivan & Jeanne Have Taught Us:

Coffee and frozen pizzas can be made on a BBQ grill.

No matter how many times you flick the switch, lights don't work without
electricity.

Some kids can survive 4 days or longer without a video game controller
in their hand.

He who has the biggest generator wins.

Perhaps grandma buying that "manufactured home" or trailer house down
here wasn't such a good idea . . . even though she didn't like her old one or
the weather in Michigan.

Women can actually survive without doing their hair--you just wish they
weren't around you.

A new method of non-lethal torture--showers without hot water.

There are a lot more stars in the sky than most people thought.

TV is an addiction and the withdrawal symptoms are painful. One day at a
time.

Aluminum siding, while aesthetically pleasing, is definitely not
required.

Some things DO keep the mailman from his appointed rounds.

Telemarketers function no matter what the weather is doing.

Cell phones work when land lines are down, but only as long as the
battery remains charged.

27 of your neighbors are fed from a different transformer than you, and
they are quick to point that out!

If I had a store that sold only ice, chainsaws, gas, and generators...I'd
be rich.

The price of a bag of ice rises 200% after a hurricane.

Tree service companies are under appreciated.

I learned what happens when you make fun of another state's blackout.

Drywall is a compound word, take away the "dry" part and it's worthless.

I can walk a lot farther than I thought.

A ficus tree on the ground looks four times bigger than it did standing
up.

When house hunting, look for closets with lots of leg room.

Water from the shower is much colder than water from the kitchen
sink--and tastes just as bad.

AA, C and D are the only alphabet we need ( batteries ).

The four-way stop is still an ingenious reflection of civility.

Radio can be the best way to watch television.

Chainsaw-wielding men are nothing to be afraid of.

SUVs are the best makeshift tents on the market.

You can use your washing machine as a cooler.

It's your God-given right to sit on your back porch and eat Chinese
take-out by candlelight in your underwear.

We shouldn't complain about "useless" tools in the garage -- we actually
DO need a generator.

You can't spell "priceless" without I-C-E.

Downed power lines make excellent security systems.

Lake Okeechobee can generate waves.

Gasoline is a value at any price.

Cell phones: Breaking up isn't hard to do.

The life blood of any disaster recovery is HOT COFFEE.

The need for your dog to go out and take care of business is inversely
proportional to the severity of the storm.

Candlelight is better than Botox--it takes years off your appearance.

Air Conditioning: BEST! INVENTION! EVER!

Water is a comfort food. But three-day-old Cheetos are, too.

Shadow animals on the wall--still fun.

No matter how hard the wind blows, roadside campaign signs will survive.

You should never admit to having power at your house in the presence of
coworkers or neighbors who do not.

There's a plus to having NOTHING in the refrigerator.

Getting through the day should be an Olympic event.

The movie theater can be a most pleasant place, even if the feature is
Alien vs. Predator.

Buying "plywood futures" in the spring, can make you a millionaire by
the fall.

Somebody's got it worse.

Somebody's got it better too. Obviously, they are getting preferential
treatment.