In a message dated 00-10-03 12:12:38 EDT, you write:

<<
 As for going out in the calm of a hurricane.. it is incredibly dangerous and
stupid.....  and I would probably be one of the idiots that would do it.
  >>
Uh, that would be me and a lot of other folks a couple of years ago.  We were
vacationing on Sanibel Island when an errant late-season tropical storm(the
remnants of Mitch?) decided to cross right over the island.  The wind was
blowing, the Weather Channel folks were reporting from the beach attired in
full-body rain gear, and we were gleefully skipping out to the massive flats
created by the receding tide and Northeast wind!  And yes, it was worth it
and I would do it again!
Joni