Biloxi, MS

I arrived safe and sound in Biloxi yesterday. We spent about a week in St Croix flying KYLE, but the fun had to end. So we headed home. On my flight back, I was asked to fly Kyle's final mission. That meant a 5:30am wake up for me today.

However, Kyle lost a lot of strength, so the National Hurricane Center cancelled my flight. So, I have a free day off. Greg is now making his first ever Jambalaya and watching the Vikings. Next up is watching the Twins play. Lets just hope they win and the White Sox loose, then we'll be in first place and on to the play-offs!

Greg and I head home Tuesday. I can't wait to get home and enjoy fall in MN! We were just wondering what color our leaves were. We really do miss home!

I've posted some new pictures on our Smug Mug page... http://deeann-greg.smugmug.com/. I hope you like them...

Tropical Trash

For all my hurricane hunter friends out there... you know what Tropical Trash is. For those of you who don't know, it is a messy tropical weather system just like the one we are in St Croix to fly. I flew into it 2 days ago, and it was messy. Actually, I didn't fly into it because it was over Haiti, but I did fly around it for 3 hours.

So, I'm in crew rest to fly this storm again tonight. It continues to move Northeasterly, so it shouldn't hit the US, but you never know. Luckily, one of my best girl friends, Tina, is flying with me tonight. So, we get to share weather duties and take turns napping. It's so much better having 2 weather officers on board.

I'll have more pictures soon, but right now it's taking too long to up load them. Maybe tomorrow.

I hope the weather is beautiful where you are!
d

St Croix

Hello All!

Greg and I have made it St Croix, via Key West, FL. We are here to see if we can make anything of the tropical wave over Puerto Rico and Hispanola. Greg flew it yesterday, and I'm off to fly it tomorrow. Nothing was found today, but they think it is because the center was over the Dominican Republic.

Greg and I had the same day off today, so we took a tour of the Cruzan Rum factory. I'll have pictures soon.

It is raining cats and dogs in St Croix though. The roads are flooded, and the sewer system is having a hard time keeping up downtown. Hopefully, the rain will move off tomorrow.

Second Trip in IKE

Well, what a morning! You can see my flight through the eyes of the Weather Cow at http://deeann-greg.smugmug.com/gallery/5954318_DFiJD/1/371193567_ii98Q#371193567_ii98Q. The Weather Cow is owned by a weather guy at a local TV station in Birmingham, AL. He gave me the cow to take on flights with me for a few days. He did a great job!

We had even more media with us today. After the flight, I heard about numerous press results from my previous flight. We were the top news story on YAHOO news... http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080912/ap_on_re_us/eye_of_ike. The weather guy at a local Mobile, AL station submitted this story... http://www.wkrg.com/hurricane/article/hurricane_hunters_in_ike/17939/video/. They were great guys and gals to fly with. I'm going to be interviewed by Fox and Friends tomorrow at 6:30am (central time), via phone. This is just crazy!

It was a messy storm. The hurricane force winds extended over 100 miles from the center. The pressure didn't drop much and the winds barely rose. It had no eyewall with it. It was odd. I just pray for all those in TX and LA!

IKE

Greg and I are now in Biloxi, MS. We have just started our 3 week stint here with a bang. I flew yesterday into IKE, and am getting ready to fly again tonight. Greg is briefing right now to fly into IKE, so we'll pass each other in the night.

Yesterday, it was getting stronger each pass through it. The strongest winds were over 100 miles from the center, which was very strange. It was easy to find, so it made us look good (I flew with another weather officer, Rich). The eye was only 8 miles across, which is small for a hurricane. Here's what it looked like to us...

Then, on the last fix, the eye wall was visible from outside... it is that dark column on the right of the picture below....

On the way home, we saw the most beautiful sunset. The sunrises and sunsets in storms are the most beautiful I've ever seen.

What did you do on Sunday?

So, last Sunday we had the ENTIRE Zurah Shrine Drum Corps over to our house for an end of the parade season BBQ. It was the last day of the Defeat of Jesse James Days, and the day of the Grande Parade. They were at our house at 11:30am, the parade began at 2:00pm, they came back about 4:30 and the eating began!

Greg made pulled pork, hamburgers, chicken, pasta salad, corn and beans. We ran out of everything! We expected 40 people, planned for 50, but had 70! It was so much fun. We can't wait for next year!! Our friend Kari Kennedy comes all the way from Dallas, TX just for this.

The only thing we request from them is that they play a few songs for us in our backyard. It was a blast!!! Check it out!!!