The Islands of the Fraternal Order of Moai

The Polynesian dining room did not fare as well!!! But, the tikis are all doing well.

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Sorry, Vince, that really sucks. Glad at least the tikis made it through!

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"Zimbabwe's Shona people believe mermaids are fearsome enchantresses capable of wreaking vengeance on wrongdoers." -- HARARE, Zimbabwe

Holy Hell, Vince.....I've been watching this next system move eastward....Glad you guys made it through. Hmmmmmmmm....I'm moving the bar to the basement.

Chip

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It's not the years, sweetheart...it's the mileage

I hope you and yours fared as well as the tikis!

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A toast to my friends Roger, Rob, and Rugby Matt. Aloha au iā ‘oe.

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You can tell it's good if you light it and a blue flame comes up; that means it's good moonshine and it won't make you go blind.

Glad your tikis were spared. Don't send it this way! But my bar is in the basement, just in case. Better make a lime run.

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justinbird.com

Good to hear the tikis are ok.

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We are still without power, but we are going to be okay. A large pine tree continues to knock on the back door, but I refuse to let it in. Thank God for the structural integrity of a 1960's style ranch house. Had we been in a home that did not have extended eaves, we would have had a large tree IN the dining room.

Just a few blocks away, a mother and her 7-year old son were crushed by a large oak tree. They found them in the child's bed...the mother holding her son. One block over 2 houses are going to be raised because the impacts of trees and wind pushed them off of their foundations. My nephew's daughter's room also got flattened by a large oak tree...she was in their bed with them - luckily. Things are a little rough around here right now.

To add insult to this mess, this was the weekend for my college class reunion...and I am reunion chairman. But, nothing I can't handle!

Have a good weekend everyone and have a drink for me!

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These storms are INTENSE! Holy crap! Some incredible stories coming out of it. Glad the tiki gods spared your home!

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Sorry to hear about all the damage.

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-Don

Mana headed to you for the continued safety of your tikis.

glad to hear you're ok!

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Nasty, Brutish and Short

I'm very happy you and your family are ok. I'll pray for a quick & inexpensive clean up for you and your area.

KukiAme

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"Happiness is a summer breeze, sand between your toes, and your best friend by your side." - Anon

Glad to hear that you and your family weathered the storm. It sounds like you were lucky, given the tragedy and destruction all around you. Best of luck with the cleanup and recovery.

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I will have a Polynesian Pearl Diver, do not spare the rum.

Thank you, Hep...and everyone. This has been an intense few days. Still cleaning up around the house -- awaiting the arrival of a large crane that is going to destroy my front yard (and probably my sprinkler system) to reach the tree on the back of my home.

I also lost a close friend yesterday. Carla was in town for our college class reunion this past weekend. She lived in Upper Arlington in the Columbus area. She suffered an aneurism that also triggered a cardiac arrest. I was with her when she died...without any struggle or pain.

Now I am with my wife at the E.R. after she suffered a panic attack this morning. She is going to be okay.

Sorry for dumping al this on everyone. Typing this out is kind of therapeutic. Just let me expressively vent, I think I'll be alright!

Rest in peace, C-Lou from C-Bus!!!

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Oh my goodness, how awful, Vince. I'm so sorry for the loss of your friend. Please accept my condolences.

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A toast to my friends Roger, Rob, and Rugby Matt. Aloha au iā ‘oe.

Kristiki - thank you so much. I feel like my thread is just one big downer. Carla would be telling me to lighten up just a bit. She is missed already.

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Wow. As if you didn't have enough on your plate already. So sorry to hear about everything, Vince. Mana for better times ahead heading your way!

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You can tell it's good if you light it and a blue flame comes up; that means it's good moonshine and it won't make you go blind.

Vince, I'm so sorry you have so much going on right now, and for the loss of your friend. Hope your wife is feeling a lot better, and that life gets back to normal for you sooner rather than later. All the best.

Vince,

I am sorry to hear about your friend. She must have lived very near me. UA is pretty much in my backyard.

Mana for you, bro.


Ahu

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Where, suddenly staining the blues, delirious 
and slow rhythms under the glowing red of day, 
stronger than alcohol, vaster than our lyrics, 
ferment the red bitters of love! 

I know heavens pierced by lightning, the waterspouts
and undertows and currents: I know night, 
Dawn rising like a nation of doves, 
and I've seen, sometimes, what men only dreamed they saw! 

Vince - sorry to hear the bad news. Condolences for your loss and I hope your wife feels better really soon.

We are here for you, man - be well and see you soon.

Vince, Mana on the way to you. It sounds like you've sure had a tough time recently. Hang in there...

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"Zimbabwe's Shona people believe mermaids are fearsome enchantresses capable of wreaking vengeance on wrongdoers." -- HARARE, Zimbabwe

What an ordeal for you and your wife. You are made of sturdy stuff to still have a good sense of humor. I wish you all speedy recovery and my condolences.

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Tiki and Geeky Fashions
http://www.fashiontramp.etsy.com
http://www.ealoli.com

I'm sending you mana to you and yours. Sorry for your loss of a good friend.
I love big trees, but they were not kind to me last year either.

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Red Palms

I tried to post a response on my Blackberry last night. I guess it did not post...or this is confirmation that my thumbs are far too fat.

Anywho...

THANK YOU, FRATERNAL ORDER OF MOAI, for your words of support, inspiration and concern. I have had limited access to the internet (only able to access via my phone), but I have enjoyed taking an occassional pause from tornado clean-up and funeral planning to hop on the board and read your responses, your PM's and your messages to me via Facebook.

I knew this felt like the right thing to do, when I initially felt the urge to become a member of the FOM. Last night I was trying to find the right place to start my eulogy for my friend Carla. I was too numb to be inspired...at that moment. I grabbed my Blackberry, logged on to this board and read some messages that gave me inspiration and fodder for my memorial to Carla.

C-Lou from C-Bus was very interested in this group. I told her all about the FOM this past Sunday, while we sat around and chatted...just like a Sunday from our college years. She had plans on visiting the site and trying to meet some of the group in the Columbus area. I am heart broken that she never got the chance to connect with the FOM.

This isn't so much about tiki anymore. This is about a network of folks I am so proud to call friends. I hope that this little tornado does not set me back too far. I have been looking forward to seeing everyone in June. I am SO ready for Luau on the Lake!

I can not say it enough...Thank you!

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