Dennis' Blow Job

We're now on the backside of Dennis, and so far, we're hanging on to power. There's still some rain and the wind is whipping at times, meaning tornadoes are still possible. But it looks like Dennis wasn't the scourge Ivan was.

In southern Alabama, people realize it could have been worse. However, no electricity is still no electricity.

Crews lowered the number of outages statewide from 360,000 to about 141,000 Monday. Alabama Power Co. workers were restoring power to some 241,000 customers over a large swath of south and central Alabama. That figure was down to 110,000 Monday. While 825,000 Alabama Power customers lost electricity during Ivan, the company's crews faced a challenge from Dennis, too.

"It's scattered all over the place," said Alabama Power spokeswoman Carrie Kurlander. "We didn't dodge the bullet but we dodged the firing squad. Those are substantial outages."

Don't worry, Carrie, the next shooter is already loading her gun. "Tropical Storm Five," who we will know as Emily by Thursday, is ready to lower her boom in the Caribbean. This one could easily go east or west.

P.S. And to answer your question, FB, most people in the seriously affected areas were told to stay home today unless they are considered essential emergency personnel. Or if they worked at Home Depot. Those of us outside the worst-hit areas put on our rain slickers and strapped bricks to our feet and went to work.