Ok did some more research. Any opions on running a seperate new 220 breaker. 10 gauge wire to an outlet for the generator to plug into. then ONLY with the main off, I can run selected cirtuits at a time.?

Don't mean to be mean, but...you sound like an accident waiting to kill a lineman...
Until you get a qualified electrician to do the wiring properly (and in many areas, it must be inspected by the utiltiy company), I'd suggest you only use the generator for things you can plug into it directly...like a refrigerator, lamps, etc. Anything that must go through your electric box, and is not adequately wired, could kill a line worker...
I'm sure if you are without electricity, even for days, you could work with heavy duty extension cords and plug directly into the generator, so nothing goes into the house electrical system, and into some guy's body up a pole somewhere.
You are talking electrocution here!
Good luck in the storm.

Thanks, that is where I have been steered towards. With the clock ticking I'll call an electriian in a few months when this blows over and we need it for winter ice storms again. last thing I want to do is zap a lineman just doing there job.

I don't know anything about them except the warning to NOT try and connect it to your house circuits whatever that means

I found a really good article on this subject at popularmechanics.com You can hook up an auxiliary panel with a manual switch to change from 'on the grid' to generator. They say the extra panel is about $100, and I guess you could either have an electrician set it up or do it yourself and have an electrician inspect it. A little late for Isabel, but might be handy for next time ;)

ps: it's kind of a long url, you can also go to popularmechanics.com and just search for 'installing a backup generator'

Here is a link that might be useful: Installing a backup generator

I am in the process of hooking mine up.
Here are photos of the meter base and the optional generator breaker that I had installed when we built the house. I will make a cable to go from the generator to the outside breaker box. The cable will hook up to the 30 amp double breaker on the right side.

Here is a link that might be useful: Generator transfer breaker at meter base

Right now, you find a place to set the generator up OUTSIDE where it will be protected from the weather and you figure out how to get an extension cord from the outdoors to inside the house and still be able to close the house up.

Also, buy a heavy chain and lock and find something immovable to chain that generator to, so it doesn't walk off to power the fridge of someone who didn't plan ahead like you did.