The winds are increasing
09/23/2005 07:32 p.m.
I am starting to see a constant breeze where I am.

Galveston is getting sustained winds of about 20 mph now... how much longer before the storms really hit? I'm not sure... I hear planes taking off still, so I guess that's a good sign, yesterday they had said the airport would close at noon local time and it's 2:30 pm local time now.

The waiting, the waiting, we know it's there, I can feel the Gulf moisture in the breeze, now we just wait to see what is going to happen.

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A Reprieve of Sorts
09/23/2005 05:32 p.m.
Well the storm has slowed down, and at this point is showing some weakening.

At this point Houston is still sunny, only very slight breeze from time to time. We aren't expecting any real effects until later this evening or early in the morning hours. So... until the storms start, I'm gonna keep my PC hooked up and post as I can.

It also looks right now like Gavleston and Houston are going to be spared a direct hit, AND that we'll be on the west side, the "clean side" of the storm.

Still, with the storm slowing, we are in store for a lot of rain and some high winds, but this is looking more like an Alicia/Allison scenario for us, not a Katrina scenario.

It's hard to believe that there are still 6 weeks left in the Hurricane season... I'm looking at the next 6 weeks with cautious optimism at the most, very wary. Supplies are hard to come by already, another storm and....?

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Wildlife
09/22/2005 11:11 p.m.
I just saw a squirrel scurry across the back fence... wonder where the rest of them are?

Mark killed 3 (out of 4) small rats in the garage as he was moving things around to make room to put some of the plants, etc. that have been outside. I don't want anything to get launched through my patio door or my double paned windows.

Guess all the animals are looking for a dry place to hide out the weather that's coming.

So many different models of where the storm might go, but I guess no one really knows until it gets here.

I'm more than adequately prepared food and water wise. Nerves? not really, but we'll see how I do when the storms start, thunder scares me, but lightening is worse. I wonder if my car is safe?

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Realistically speaking
09/22/2005 06:15 p.m.
I'm safer where I am now than trying to leave. If I were going to leave I would have needed to leave first thing yesterday morning, but I had to work. I'm still surprised my school district cancelled school today and tomorrow, I guarantee it was due to pressure from local and state government.

People are running out of gas sitting in gridlock, there have been cases of carbon monoxide poisoning on the freeways, heat exhuastion; etc. etc. I am not in a flood plan, my house is more than 75% brick... my car is a 98 Saturn (aka "rubbermaid") If I were to get stuck on the freeways as the storm was coming in, it would be much worse.

I worry for those that are on the freeways now. Part of the reason for the gridlock is that people didn't follow the evacuation plans, they left early, causing a back-up for those further south.

I worry for those that are living in manufactured/trailer homes. there will be huricane force winds as far as 200 miles inland, outer bands are known to produce tornados, I worry for those people who can't get out now because of traffic and no gas.

I don't blame anyone, our local officials have worked quickly and diligently to implement evacuations, even to the point of pissing off evacuees from LA by making them leave the shelters and evacuating them once again into Arkansas.

The way things look right now there is no place in TX from Galveston Bay to the Oklahoma border that will not get some kind of effects from this storm, and now it looks like Lake Charles, LA is gonna get the dirty side.

God watch over us all and keep us safe.
I am currently Calm

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Rita T+/- 36 hours
09/22/2005 04:34 p.m.
The cars are filled up, I have 2 dc/ac converters, I found a case of bottled water at Sam's Club. The bottles are in the freezer, the ice maker has been emptied into coolers so that we can continue to make ice for the next 24 hours.

I have all of the plants sitting outside of the garage as Mark and the boys are clearing some space out there to store stuff.

I have about a dozen rolls of packing tape, 5 foam mattress pads, tonight's homework is to tape all the windows and put up the foam, at least that way if windows get blown out it won't be flying everywhere.

We have plenty of canned goods, jerky, crackers, gatorade, etc. to last for days. God, I hope I don't need it.

My brother and his family are riding it out as well, about 15 miles east of me. He lives near Lake Houston. They have a truck and an SUV as well as a motorcyle. If there is some high water they can still get around, but not major flooding

Mark has his truck, so we could get around some high water but not much.

It's hout and sunny today. Live shots from Galveston show perfect beach weather... it's the calm before the storm.

The squirrells are in hiding, I just saw a pair of doves walking along a limb in the smaller oak tree in the back yard, but otherwise no activity from the wildlife (except the field mouse in the garage; he's totally freaking out with everything getting moved around.)

I've looked around my neighborhood, some people are living, many are staying. Some people have branches from trees on the curbside, as well as garbage. My neighbors on either side of me have left; hopefully they'll make it out. One of them left potted plants out, I'll set those into a protected area later if they haven't come home.

Wind and tornadoes, that's the biggest unknown. Maybe I should go take pictures of the outside of my house and fence, etc., just in case.

I'll check back in later if I can, if we lose power, I'll journal the "old-fashioned" way by candlelight or flash light.

God grant us peace.
I am currently Thoughtfull

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Hurricane Rita
09/22/2005 01:11 a.m.
I just wanted to let everyone know so they aren't worried; the boys and I intend to ride the storm out at home. We are far enough inland and far enough from creeks, rivers, bayous, etc. that flooding isn't a concern.

Keep us and our church in your prayers, as many of our church members (those under 65 at least) intend to stay as well. Evacuation routes are already unbelievably backed up (10-14 hours to get from Galveston to Huntsville, TX a 120 mile trip) and there are still areas between Galveston and Houston that are to be evacuated tomorrow.

God is able! please pray for a hedge of protection around us.


I am currently Tired

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I feel...
09/11/2005 03:02 a.m.
almost beautiful! And for what I spent at the salon, I damn well better!

Ok, so I usually color my own hair, at home, but I never can quite get the grey to cover...so I opted to do it at a salon... $100 forgive me while I gasp!

All of the grey isn't completely covered, but it blends in with the highlights and aren't very noticeable. And maybe the colorist was just trying to make me feel better and get a better tip, but she was surprised at the amount of grey I had... she said I must have started greying young (I started finding grey hairs when I was about 20 or 21!)

After the color, a $43 haircut. It's only been about 4 weeks at the most, I could have gone longer, but I really liked what this particular stylist did for me last time when she "fixed" my cut, so...

By the time I bought the recommended products (they won't guarantee chemical processes without them) it came to just a few cents under $200! Yes, I did have to grab my chest... my credit card fell out of my hand and behind/under the computer terminal... but I walked out of there and through the mall with a big smile on my face and a little extra pep in my step!

Now if only I'd had an appt. with Mara, I might actually have gone into orbit!

Even after having to fuss at my fighting and fueding kids, I am still in a pretty darn good mood!
I am currently Divine

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Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts
09/07/2005 11:52 a.m.
I came across this list of agencies accepting donations for Hurricane Katrina Relief. It's a broader list than I've seen anywhere else. I know some people prefer to give through religious organizations and this list has many of those.

American Red Cross, 800-HELP NOW (435-7669) English, 800-257-7575 Spanish.

- Operation Blessing, 800-436-6348.

- America's Second Harvest, 800-344-8070.

- Adventist Community Services, 800-381-7171.

- Catholic Charities, USA, 703-549-1390.

- Christian Disaster Response, 941-956-5183 or 941-551-9554.

- Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, 800-848-5818.

- Church World Service, 800-297-1516.

- Convoy of Hope, 417-823-8998.

- Lutheran Disaster Response, 800-638-3522.

- Mennonite Disaster Service, 717-859-2210.

- Nazarene Disaster Response, 888-256-5886.

- Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, 800-872-3283.

- Salvation Army, 800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769).

- Southern Baptist Convention - Disaster Relief, 800-462-8657, ext. 6440.

- United Methodist Committee on Relief. 800-554-8583.


If you are unable to contribute funds, please keep this situation in your thoughts and prayers.


I am currently Blessed

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A New Day!
09/03/2005 03:49 p.m.
I don't know what it is, as much as I've been haunted by the media coverage of what's happening in New Orleans, every day I tune back in to see more.

Literally, my dreams are haunted by the images, or by twisted versions of the scenarios played out on TV.

Perhaps tonight my sleep will be more peaceful, my dreams less chaotic. The military's present and has taken control. There were no pictures of rioting!

I know my last post seemed very hostile, and perhaps it was in part. I can't stand watching innocent people suffer at the hands or because of a group (no matter the size) of maelcontents... the street "thugs" who were terrorizing the streets, the police, etc.

It appears that the right commander is in charge in NO too. He's from the area, he knows the people, he understands them, he has compassion for them.... but he is definitely in charge, he gives commands, and they are followed, by military and civilians alike!

Finally, some sense of law and order, and with that comes the hope and anticipation that the evacuations will be complete shortly and people will receive the help they need.

On another note. My fiance has been in contact with his roomate several times. He sat in his truck on a military base in LA for DAYS waiting for FEMA to make it's decisions. They were having 2 and 3 meetings with the truck drivers etc. but the drivers not only weren't told where to go, they were told they could NOT leave.

There will be some changes in FEMA! Joe said that when Pres. Bush landed at the base he demanded to know WHY the trucks were still just sitting there! He was PISSED according to Joe... not the smiling, jovial presence that was shown by the media.

Granted, ultimately all of the fingers will point to George Bush and his administration. As Pres. most will feel, and probably rightfully so, that he should have been better informed about what was being done, and that as a Federal agency, FEMA is his responsibility... only time will tell the end of the story.

As far as the cities that have taken in the refugees. They are still very overburdened.

Houston laid off hundreds of jailers several months ago and took police off of the streets to man the jails... we don't have the police presence on the streets of Houston to handle our typical problems, add an additional 20-50 thousand people? There have been an increase in the number of residential thefts and break-ins in the area of the Astrodome (I have a co-worker who lives 2 blocks away, her complex had 8 break-ins on Thursday), but so far there hasn't been news of an increase in violent crime... of course our news has been almost solely about the refugees and trying to reunite families that have been separated, giving locations of shelters and agencies, etc.

Well I'm off for now. My church is having a food and clothing drive today and I need to help with the collections etc (not to mention the huge bag of toys and the bigger bag of clothes that my kids have gathered).




I am currently Better

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Warning!!! Opinions Ahead!
09/02/2005 04:50 p.m.
Like many of you I have experienced a wide range of emotions the last few days, but one that is raging right now is Anger! I'm downright PISSED at a number of things.

Let's leave off what the federal government could have or should have done... let's look at people. WE are responsible for our OWN actions!

My heart breaks when I see the mothers holding their babies that are so dehydrated they are near death, dying or expiring in their arms. My heart was torn apart when I saw the woman who handed her two year old child up onto a bus and then was knocked down and pushed back as the bus left with her child on it. I think I'd have lost my mind! The parents who had new born babies in the hosptial and had to evacuate without them, to be separated trying to locate where their children were evacuated to... my heart breaks for them.

I understand and empathize with the people who are taking food, water, diapers... these are necessary for survival, I can even see taking some clothes, but people are taking a lot more than that.

I've heard people say, you don't understand, this is desperation, these people don't have anything... well ok, maybe I don't, but why is it most of the violence is occuring only in New Orelans? Mississippi is facing the same devastation, people are still trapped in neighborhoods with no way out. They are working together trying to care for one another, yet story after story, picture after picture you see rioting, looting, and violence in New Orleans.

The police are having to turn back from helping people because of armed "thugs" in the streets. It's been likened to a war zone... then treat the "thugs" like the enemy. They are prohibited the people with the help from getting to the ones who need and want the help. Eliminate the enemy, and I mean by whatever means necessary, to help the innocent!

Thousands of refugees from New Orleans have been brought to my state, and to my city, and there was no extra security provided! There has already been two men arrested in the Astrodome for raping a woman in the ladies restroom! There has been a rash of break-ins and roberries in the neighborhoods surrounding the Astrodome.

Tensions are only going to rise more! It's time to activate the Texas Guard to provide extra security in the cities that have taken in thousands of refugees. The police forces in these cities aren't equipped to handle the extra load, the emergency services aren't prepared... I have a prediciton... if more security isn't provided in these cities, we will see martial law, not just in New Orleans, but across the Gulf Coast. People aren't going to sit by while some steals everything they've worked for all their lives.

God help us all!
I am currently Pissed Off

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