The Library

[Frybabe]

The Library Our library  is open 24/7; the welcome mat is always out. Do come in from daily chores and spend some time with us.

Barb, I am wondering if you have ever run across the lawyer, J. Patrick Sutton, in your real estate dealings. He wrote a very good, very interesting SciFi series called Tales from the Arm & Bar. a few years back.

I was looking to see if he has written novels recently and ran across his business website and blog. His web blogs are actually quite readable and devoid of a lot of incomprehensible legalize. His practice is probably keeping him from or slowing him down from publishing any more books. I hope that when he retires from law practice that he gets back to writing novels. His series really impressed me.

[PatH]

Hats, I'm sure you can change your vote right up to the deadline.

[BarbStAubrey]

Sure, as Pat says, change your vote Hats - does another choice tickle your fancy? If so go for it - and since there are so few of us it may be wise to have a second choice that way we should have a book that folks will agree on if not their first choice possibly their second choice.

[BarbStAubrey]

Frybabe - missed your post - saw the heading and not the post - anyhow I had not personally come across him but looked on Amazon and it appears he wrote several novels that sound good and I was able to download one free and two for 99 cents each - they appear to be part of two separate trilogies.

whahoo it is raining - raining like there is no tomorrow - tra la - this time of year to get that kind of rain usually means the end of the high heat and dry - do not know the exact number but for sure over 60 and if we reached 70 I do not know but close - that would be 70 days of triple digits temps this summer - the last few weeks without any rain was really bleaching out everything - the deer were at everyone's AC condensation outlet every night just for some water - and rather than compost I was throwing everything in the back for them to eat - there was no new grass shoots anywhere and they cannot live on just the shrubbery leaves.

I've decided to read all four books and today delivered was Behemoth and the Dublin book - the Architecture book is on its way and the English Boy's School was back-ordered - both that arrived are hefty books that I cannot wait to get into - they each start out as page turners. 

[BarbStAubrey]

Oh yes - I'm thinking we need to extend the vote one more day since this is a long weekend and hats thought she may want to change her vote - so please check your vote and if you have not offered two a first and a second vote please - as of now we do have one book with two votes - so please let's be sure...

[BarbStAubrey]

Ok it is a toss  up between 2 books - had I been voting it would have been 3 books we would be dickering over however, as much as I would enjoy reading and discussing Dublin when it arrived I realized it was a huge undertaking - more than even the Michener books - just the story line is 10 pages shy of 800 pages - this is a 10 week undertaking and so sorry - not only did it get one vote but it would have been a marathon discussion.

The two books we are now considering Behemoth: the History of The Factory and The Making of The Modern World. 326 pages and although 7 chapters the first two can easily be combined - glancing over the book it appears factories brought with them the requirement for electricity therefore swaths of areas and entire nations were strung with electric wiring - the problem of labor gave birth to the concept of women in the workplace. This need was also satisfied by the immigrant worker - the rise of unions - factories influenced the arts - the Soviet Union was organized like a giant factory - and then came the giant size factories in China and Viet Nam - there is some discussion of the imbalance of white color versus blue color workers and the manufacturing of technology.

Reminds me of when we read books like Girls of Atomic City or on the historical political front for WWII when we read, Those Angry Days

The second book that also received two votes is, The Architect's Apprentice - My copy has not arrived yet to give us more than what we can all read on various web sites about the story. We do go back in time to the sixteenth century in Turkey when it was the center of the Ottoman Empire - The Ottomans achieved the highest level architecture in their lands. No building since has matched these buildings of vast inner spaces held by seemingly weightless yet massive domes, and achieving perfect harmony between inner and outer spaces.

There are two era's of Architecture during the 16th century and each gave us magnificent buildings like the Blue Mosque, although completed just a couple of years after in 1609 the building of the mosque took place mostly in the 16th century.

I'm thinking the book will open us to learning more about the Ottoman Empire and its influence that is also the home of the Byzantine side of the Christian church - the 16th century would be 6 to 7 centuries after the Crusades used the area as a jumping off point for Northern Africa and it is where the Byzantine Architecture influenced Southern Spain. Today we no longer elevate Turkey as a huge player on the world stage but there was a time which is the time that this book is centered when Turkey gave the world some incredible architecture that students still marvel at and believe their education is not complete till they have seen these marvels.

We have equal votes to both books - can we break the tie please - Let's give ourselves till tomorrow evening, Tuesday, September 4,  to make our choice.   

[PatH]

It's a toss up for me too, but my library has all the books, so I'll get whatever is chosen, and try to be a better participant this time.

[BarbStAubrey]

It is a difficult choice isn't Pat - the more I think of the impact factories have on our society and the national scene with all the faults it is overwhelming - comparing a nation that industrialized to a nation that stayed agrarian where the benefit to nature is the agrarian lifestyle that lack of education and poverty and lack of advanced machinery and technology keeps the average citizen in a frightful state of ignorance and sustenance living - It would be I guess like comparing Mexico to the US or many of the African nations to Europe - the agrarian nations today are made to be a romantic place to live till the awareness sets in of the lack of medical facilities and school rooms much less cooking every day, meal after meal on an open fire -

I visited villages while hiking the interior of Mexico and most families live in one room huts with maybe a corrugated tin roof but most either thatched or built into the hillside generations ago by the great grandparents or further back than that. Summer, Winter, Spring and Fall there is a small fire in the corner that cannot be allowed to go out with many a baby or small child having fallen into the fire. The water comes from the river or creek where they have built their house and in that flow of water they drink, bath, wash clothing and the animals saunter in and out. Every winter a member of the family becomes really ill since the floors are all packed earth that absorb the moisture from the rain - and these were not just pockets of poverty - this was typical, with the only places that resemble a town that we could recognize are the larger cities - most places on the map in Mexico are these undeveloped villages.

So with all our woes about factory life and its pitfalls our needs and desire for change is on a whole different level. If nothing else out of the factory system we have schools where as, in places like Mexico, granted the Government requires all collage student who plan on teaching to teach for one year in these rural schools however, there is one rural school that services kids who walk daily up to 15 miles one way and who cannot get to school in winter for the lack of any paved roads. (Roads - another advancement required by a factory system)

Just remembering all that makes me consider this book with new eyes - thinking about it I do not know of any member of my family for generations ever worked in a factory - interesting - so my knowledge of life around a factory is limited - oh wait I guess although an engineer my ex worked in a factory as a while collar employee - he was with IBM - the others were an organ builder, house painter, high school teacher, early auto mechanic, firemen, brick layer, restaurateurs, book printer - even my mother in her late years worked in a newspaper printer's office. They were inclined I guess to be craftsmen rather than assembly line workers.

The craftsmen today do not have high paying jobs were as there was a time when various factories paid good money for skilled assembly line workers. I remember the early years of his job as an engineer my ex made far less money then those working on the line.  I bet we all have stories of how work was defined and our experience or lack of with a factory. That will be fun to hear about.

The other selection has equally an interesting tale - not only becoming better acquainted with some of the world's treasure built 100s of years ago but having a closer look at the Ottoman Empire - seems to me some of these buildings were early Christian and Byzantine Christian places of worship where as someplace along the way in history they were made mosques -

Is it the 16th century when Byzantium faded and Islam took over affecting the way of life - I do remember it is in my lifetime that Constantinople had a name change - the sixteenth century would be 300 years since Rumi was alive writing his masterful poetry - I am not sure but I think some of his poetry is inscribed as decoration on buildings in what is now Turkey. It would be exciting learning all that Turkey was and see if we can see traces of that culture in the Turkey of today -

Seems to me this is essentially an agrarian nation that did not embrace the factory culture - but then the factories really only became a way of production in the very very late eighteenth century in England with the weaving lofts. Did the Huguenots, who escaped to England have weaving lofts in France do you know or was that the first group work set up for them as well? 

What a choice - let's get started -

Looks like either book is found in most libraries - I just like getting a used  copy from Amazon - sure it fills up my house but then I like going back and reviewing certain sentences or ideas -

Even though there are only a few of us left - I'm excited - cannot wait...         

[youetb]

Hello all,   Last year I joined in with Barchester towers while taking Latin 101. I did leave both, long story, back now I hope to participate in book club as well. I have registered again in Latin.
I live in sunny So. CA.
Not sure about either book, I try to tag along.

[BarbStAubrey]

thanks youetb - yes, we have heard from several that they find the Latin classes to be demanding - hope you do peek in and please just a word or two really helps to keep folks going - now that we are so few it ends up being only a couple of voices and that is difficult - even if you have not kept up just a word or two is so gratifying.

The "Tome" on Dublin starts out engaging us from the get go - I would have enjoy talking about the book - maybe another time when we have more time - it would make a perfect Spring or Summer read when we do not have the holiday season breathing down our neck so that we find by mid November our minds are on the holidays and I'm thinking Dublin was so rich from ancient stories forward that it may take all of 10 weeks to do it justice. Only after my copy arrived did I have any idea - but the idea of looking into the history and pre-history of Ireland is still very appealing.

I do think the two books we are considering have lots to offer and for me it is a toss up - either could pull me in. I hope that someone can break the tie.

[hats]

Barb and all, I have been afraid to vote. Not sure I can attend all discussions with comments. I know the voting deadline has passed. This is a pretend vote. 1. Princes Of Ireland by Edward Rutherford, 2. Old School by Tobias Wolff
There is quite a contrast in the length of each book. Isn't that funny? Well, I'm waiting anxiously to see what is the nomination. Hi PatH, bellamarie and Frybabe. I might have more to babble about but I will wait until later or another day. Thanks for putting my User name in small letters. I like it best that way.
Oh, I had forgotten Ginny wrote about looking over the discussion, Remains Of The Day by K. Ishiguro

[BarbStAubrey]

Oh I forgot hats about Remains of the Day although, I think Ginny wants to do that - she has some new insight - looks like no one is breaking the tie and so I will make a choice.

OK this is what I think - we were all over the place on voting - Still have not received the copy I ordered of The Architect's Apprentice: I'm thinking that is what we should go with - I've been reading Behemoth A History of The Factory and The Making of The Modern World - and yes, it is fascinating  putting together why we are who we are because Factory Life changed us as a nation - however, there are no characters - We like stories with Characters that we can relate to or not and The Architect's Apprentice: has characters - it is historical so it passes that test and it is not a story driven by family struggle as victims of history. Both men and women can equally relate to the story.

We have not read together a book centered in this part of the world in recent years - I believe the last was, My Name is Red - We were always going to do a book written by Salman Rushdie and never did get to it - this one should not be as intense of a modern story written by Rushdie. 

Elif Shafak is an award-winning novelist and from the comments left on various websites we will be touching on far more than Architecture.  The boy and his elephant are an important part of the story.

The story is broken into 4 sections and so if the page numbers work and the scenes work we can do a section a week - By starting in mid-September we will have completed reading by mid-October. So let's shoot for the 17th of September as our starting date.

We will open a pre-discussion mid week around the 12th or 13th. It appears that there is included a bit about the author and some quotes that will set us in the mood for the story. We may want to include information about the Ottoman struggles and historical leaders of the time  - what was going on in the Ottoman Empire while Henry and his daughter, Elizabeth were whacking off heads, enforcing a new religion in Britain.   

The Architect's Apprentice: A Novel by Elif Shafak
Start Date - Monday, September 17

[Frybabe]

Okay by me Barb.

PS: Perfect timing. I just put it on hold at the library. The only copy the system has is due back on the 13th.

[Jonathan]

So. We're sailing to Byzantium? How romantic!

[bellamarie]

I will be sitting this one out.  You all enjoy! 

[hats]

I am sitting this one out too. Will try and read bits of the discussion.

[BarbStAubrey]

Good luck with your other bookclubs Bellamarie - sorry hats - you may want to peek in - this should be a good one.

[PatH]

Sounds good. I'll get my copy.

[hats]

Will try.

[bellamarie]

Barb, I only have one other online book club.  I missed their last book, due to my plumbing issues.  I'm trying to get my flower beds back together before Fall arrives.  I have to redo the entire front yard.  As much as I love gardening, this is proving to be a real task, deciding what to plant after my huge bush was removed.  I keep thinking of the little engine that could..... I think I can, I think I can, I think I can....

I may check with my library and see if they have Old School, and read it when I can find the time. Between the gardening, and the grandkid's sports beginning, (volleyball, cross country and soccer,) along with my CCD classes beginning tonight, I am wondering when that will be.  Possibly before falling asleep each night. Phew I need a vacation!

[BarbStAubrey]

Yes, it was difficult this time with everyone having to give and not get their favorite - but at least there are now a group of books to read that may not have been on your list -

My copy still has not arrived - I'm anxious - thanks goodness I ordered these before we had voted. The difference between a $2 used copy and a new, two day delivery copy at $24.87 was significant or even the kindle at $13.99 and so the wait...

I am finding the Behemoth... book a fascinating eye opener - I am seeing the difference between the thinking and problems of rural American compared to cities that have grown up around the factories in their midst and for sure it is easy to see how some cities were hollowed out when the factories closed that was more than a loss of income but a loss of moving forward since thinking was systematically changed over generations of factory life.

[youetb]

Library has my copy.  I'll try 

[Jonathan]

'I will be sitting this one out'...Phew I need a vacation!'

You poor soul, Bellamarie. You do have a lot on your plate. Keep trucking. Drop in, if just to let us know how you're doing.

I've just put a hold on the Shafak book. I'm anticipating a lot with this one. And I'm going to look for Behemoth. You make it sound most interesting, Barb. Without a doubt, industrialism revolutionized the world. For me, the factory was a lot of fun. My first job was in a canning factory in peach season. I was 13. I stayed on for a week or two after school opening. I was thrilled one day, when the foreman came to me and told me to get out of sight. The school inspector was coming around, looking for delinquents. Two summers later, in '44, I was doing my bit in the manufacture of hand grenades. Two summers later, in an auto plant, I was charged with keeping fifty women, sitting at an assembly line, supplied with parts. Going up and down the line getting to know them. What fun. On one occasion I mentioned to the girl at the head of the line that I was going to college in the fall. When I got to the end of the line, the girl said, 'you're going to college in September, so am I.' And that information travelled by word of mouth! In college I learned that it was the factories that won the civil war for the North.
 

[BarbStAubrey]

It arrived - hurray - and am I ever impressed - it is a beautiful book - haven't yet opened the pages I'm just admiring the cover and the feel of the book - a nice size as well - not so big that it does not fit well - I have the hardback - not even sure if the soft back is yet available - this book will be a joy to hold and read...

Aha so Jonathan you were a factory worker - sounds like village life where 15 minutes after an announcement the entire village has heard the news.

Ah yes, I too heard that about the northern factories - shocked to learn that both north and south had their uniforms made in Europe - the south from England and the north equally from England and Belgium and most of their arms were imported from Europe - as to the economics of the war one of the best is to get a copy of, King Cotton diplomacy: Foreign relations of the Confederate States of America – 1959 by Frank Lawrence Owsley - had no idea that southern Cotton at the time was the biggest producer in the world. Depending on that revenue, England, a trading partner did not buy their traditional shipments of cotton so that by the third year the cotton had to be sold at a give away price so the south could feed the people, leaving nothing for the war effort. A part of the war we seldom hear or read about.

youetb - let us know if your library has a copy - when you can peek in - I know you will be busy keeping the Latin going - however, if you have any thoughts please add them - youetb in case you were not following our past discussions the way we do it is to only talk about the pages that we are reading that week - we can talk about anything we have read the week earlier but we do not go ahead - in other words some of us do not even read the entire book but read it section by section as the weeks pages are announced.  Most often there are a few questions in the heading that helps move the conversation however, of late there are so few of us and we seem to get into it without those prompts - so please just share your thoughts

We each read with a different personal history that affect how we read things - so that every thought has validity and to disagree is fine - again, we are individuals with different histories and we each have a different selection of books we have read in our lifetime so of course we will see things someone else may not see or we may have another thought -

The most difficult is to attempt to put ourselves in the mindset of the times the author is placing the story - it is so easy to use today's morality and today's views to explain what is happening in a story that takes place hundreds of years ago. And that is why we often add background information as we research and share what we learn.

Pat looking forward to your thoughts - they are always on point.

And yes, Bellamarie hope your redoing the front garden goes well - photos you have shared of you backgarden only make us aware how lovely the landscaping and gardening is around your home.

Hats hope you too can peek in - your posts are always full of wisdom - I'm thinking this story may have scenes where wisdom can better explain the impact of what is happening.

I'm so glad that there is nothing on TV tonight till 9: our PBS shows Midsummer Murders followed by Father Brown - I love those shows... but till then, after I finish sorting one more bin I can sit back and read The Architect's Apprentice: A Novel by Elif Shafak

[PatH]

Yes, Barb, the paperback is out.  I'll tell you when I get it tonight if it's beautiful, but already your description makes me sorry I didn't go your route.

And the more I think about it, the more pleased I get with the idea of learning more about this corner of history, of which I know almost nothing.

[BarbStAubrey]

this story is starting out with word painting like I have not read in years - Wow - and of course exotic sounding names so that I started to look on youtube and found oodles of stuff about Sinan the famous Architect but more - the life and times of Suleiman and the whole story of his falling in love and finally marrying the girls we in the west call Roxalana, a captured therefore, slave girls from the Ukraine.  Talk about the Medici intrigues in Rome - this has all the earmarks but with so many more happening expressions of new arts and sciences -

There is not only the arts but exploration and land conquest so that the Ottoman Empire is huge.

Found a great site that goes into the detail of exactly how the Sunni and Shiites were developed at the time of the death of Mohammad. Evidently a pact was made among those leaders in the city when Mohammad died but the family that included the son-in-law of Mohammad were preparing his body for burial and did not take the oath - he thought he was the rightful heir which is not what the leaders had decided - this all comes into play during the various wars in the sixteenth century as much as it came into play as we are embroiled in the middle east today.   

So far the way we can divide this up - the story starts with 18 pages that have no section heading - they are riveting but also introduce us to many names and events - so that we have never only dwelled on 18 pages but this time is seems best - then there are 4 sections, however the 3rd section is huge and so dividing that in half will work best - that way we have around 100 pages to read and discuss at a time.   

I have not yet watched but if you are a Prime member with Amazon there are many documentaries and BBC series etc about Suleiman, the Ottoman Empire, the clash between the east and west that happened several 100 years before Suleiman but gives some context to Constantinople and especially the largest domed church in the world that started out as Christian and was turned into a Mosque.

Here is a simple quick history line of the Ottoman Empire

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMpfdpHPNDE

And another quickie giving us a bio of sorts about Sinan our Architect

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8YrijHoDmw

[Jonathan]

Wow! I love your enthusiasm, Barb. And the reader reviews I've seen all rave about an exciting read. I can't wait for the library's hold and have asked my bookseller to get me a copy. I do have a few things in the house and have learned that the architect was also a great army engineer and could design acqueducts and defensive works as well as mosques. As for our hero, the apprentice... I hope he and his elephant don't put the grand Sultan Suleiman and his seraglio into the shade.

Bellamarie, this may be just the getaway you were wishing for.

[Jonathan]

Did you know that Suleiman is an Osmanian version of Soloman. The wise one, of course.

[bellamarie]

Wow!  Sinan, The Grand Architect,compared to the great Michelangelo, aka, The Renaissance Man! 

Michelangeo, At the age of 74, Michelangeo succeeded Antonio da Sangallo the Younger as the architect of St. Peter's Basilica. He transformed the plan so that the western end was finished to his design, as was the dome, with some modification, after his death.  (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelangelo)

Sinan, was responsible for the construction of more than 300 major structures and other more modest projects, such as schools. His apprentices would later design the Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul, Stari Most in Mostar, and help design the Taj Mahal in the Mughal Empire. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mimar_Sinan)

Two great archetects of the 16th Century, one known for his famous Mosques, and one for the famous St. Peter's Basilica.  I am impressed!

Barb and Jonathan, you have piqued my interest.  My library has the book available, I may just have to see what this fuss is all about.  Istanbul, what a vacation that would be. 

My hubby and I completed our redesigning of our front yard, and now all I need to do is add a few Fall perennials to give a touch of color.  Hmmm..... maybe Sinan or Michelangeo could teach me a thing or two, in design, and color.  It's dreadfully cloudy and rainy today.  I just finished watching my favorite college football team Michigan Wolverines play, and found myself looking for something to do, so checked out the video links Barb posted.  I must say, this all seems a bit over my pay grade, as a certain politician once said, but I may waddle through with the rest of you. 

[BarbStAubrey]

So glad your garden in basically in - fall flowers - what a wonderful time for the rich colors of a fall garden - and what an accomplishment for you and your husband - haha just took a bit of replacing pipes under the house to create a new garden - all you can do is laugh after what y'all have gone through and the emptying of your bank account.

As to the Ottoman Empire - who knew - we never studied it in school except a bit on the schism within the Church between Rome and Byzantium which took place long before the Empire was developing - You'll do fine Bellamarie - you always find the connections - this time the connection is not so much between Rome and the Ottoman's but rather the aspects of Islam affecting the Ottomans and the various wars that took place that we never heard about - had no idea that Turkey and Russia are traditional enemies going back to this time in history - the things you learn just reading a novel.

With many of us having our first taste of a rainy fall weekend, time to sit back and enjoy a movie or two - there are oodles of free videos about the Ottoman Empire, the women, their quarters, their protectors, the baths, the Sultans on and on so that learning about this time that few of us have any knowledge about will be easier then reading reams of books. Just sit back with your cup of and bowl of and let them play one after the other...

Evidently this author at present is the most popular author in Turkey and she has received all sorts of awards - this is when I wish I could gobble up a few of her books but then I think, no, I really like reading and being awakened to new thinking and what will be new history and then the twists and turns that make any novel an adventure. 

So glad Bellamarie you will attempt to find the book - it will be fun with you and Jonathan and Pat and Hats and Frybabe and our new reader youetb - who knows maybe one or two others will join us.   

[Jonathan]

So happy, Bellamarie, that you're reconsidering. The book looks very promising, after looking at those links from Barb. I wonder, is Shafak's Aprrentice anything like Kipling's Kim, at the court of the Magnificent Suleiman? An architect's life can be darn interesting. And wouldn't it be wonderful to meet Sultana Roxalana. Have you read The Wilder Shores of Love? It has a great chapter on the Seraglio in the Suleiman court. Some Victorian women felt that love and adventure were synonomous.

[BarbStAubrey]

Hope to have the Pre-Discussion up late Wednesday - the Pre-Discussion heading will include lots of links - mostly for a change to Youtube links so you can sit back, watch and listen rather than fervently read about the time and place we will be entering when we read The Architect's Apprentice.

Some say the story reminds them of A Thousand and One Nights with each tale shared by Jahan over the course of his life. Haven't read enough to make that connection - this is certainly a very different exotic location and historical time then anything we have read for the past few years.

[BarbStAubrey]

trying to figure who among us may be affected by the hurricane - Pat are you still back East although I think you are in Virginia and where you will get lots of rain the brunt seems to be further south - I think Ginny is far enough inland that she too will probably get lots of rain but maybe - do you think the high winds will be an issue?

Thoughts and prayers for everyone - my sister was forced to evacuate from the outer banks and she with her sick dog is  driving to my daughter's - they live in the mountains south of Asheville and east of Hendersonville. They both have been chewing up the airwaves talking to Paul, my son getting advise since he came through Harvey without loosing everything and his work is to rehab dialysis centers and they are not yet half way through the list of clinics that were damaged or filled with mildew after Harvey.

Read recently that the Native Indian population from the far reaches of the north say the earth has shifted - that the polar center has changed and the night sky has stars showing in new locations from the old location. I could see that changing tides and maybe even winds but I still think global warming is making these storms more severe - however, if the earth shifted than that could also affect global warming - hate it when both politics and profit affect truth... then you do not know what to believe.

[Frybabe]

I don't know about everything else, Barb, but the magnetic poles have been shifting. This may be the beginning of another magnetic pole reversal, which was a regular thing in earth's geological history, occurring every 200,000 to 300,000 years. This last one is way, way, overdue if that is the case because the last one was 750,000 years ago, or there abouts. In the meantime, the magnetic poles do wander around a bit.

My youngest sister lives in Wilmington, NC. Since she was supposed to by flying up to Toronto this weekend to meet up with my other sister, she and her husband have prepared the house and are on their way up here for the duration - with their two kitties. She and Sue will be flying out of here instead, so they don't have to cancel all their plans at the last minute. Barb's husband will drive back down to Wilmington as soon as it is clear to do so.

[hats]

Special thoughts to all in the direct path of Hurricane Florence and other storms involved. I think we are too far inland.

[bellamarie]

I have some friends who are evacuating today, and others who will get much rain, but not a direct hit.  Prayers for all in the path of Florence.

[PatH]

I am back east, in Bethesda, Maryland, which is just north of DC.  Current projections put me out of the worst, just in an area of very heavy rainfall, so only the standard danger of falling trees and power outages.

[Frybabe]

We actually have three hurricanes in the Atlantic right now. Isaac is heading straight for the big Caribbean islands and Helene is expected to swing north in mid-Alantic,well away from us.

BTW, it looks like the Wilmington area is expecting 30" of rain or close to it.

[bellamarie]

Pat, good to know you are not near the worst of this hurricane.  Be safe.  I'm watching the news and it sure looks like it will be a powerful one. 

[PatH]

Yes, it hurts just to think of the devastation.