Pic Of The Day - 08.16.15 - The Beginning Of The End

I took a nap and was awakened by the sound of thunder. It was all OK until the power went out around Richmond & Kirby. It stayed out for about an hour and The Calvinator and I took the steps up and down so that he could go for a stroll.

The power came back on and then went off again. This time it was for about 15 minutes. It messed up my evening because I couldn't cook or watch Big Brother.

It also brought back memories of Hurricane Ike.

Blogging Tropical Storm Bill - II

So...there hasn't been much to post about TS Bill. So...here are some entertaining videos. Let's begin with John Fenoglio from local ABC affiliate KTRK-Channel 13.

Earlier today, while waiting for TS Bill, John revealed that he has a fear of snakes (who doesn't) and roaches.



When then made me think of this from several years ago.



When then made me think of Geraldo during Hurricane Ike



When then made me think of Jeff Ranieri who thought a rat was a porcupine. Oy vey!



And just because...

Blogging Tropical Storm Bill

So...there isn't much to report from The Calvinator's Crib. We've been here since last night when storm preparations for TS Bill began. Due to the concern of power outages and possible flooding, the elevators in the building were disabled at 8:00PM last night. That made for a difficult walk this morning for The Calvinator. He's not big on stairs and stairwells so four flights of stairs is not his cup of tea.

The problem with these storms is that it is difficult to predict their path and intensity. Houston is on the dirty side of TS Bill but so far the rain has been intermittent and bearable. However, that could change later in the day.

My office was closed today and this is definitely a case of better safe than sorry. This has also been a good dry run on getting prepared for a hurricane.

We may have been accused of overreacting but if you lived in Houston during TS Allison or Hurricane Ike, you'd understand why we are a bit gun shy.
And yes, TS Bill made landfall around 11:45AM around Matagorda Island. Now it is time to deal with the remnants which could include tornadoes.

This is the best meme I found about TS Bill.
I lifted it from Alan's Facebook page.

If anything significant happens with TS Bill, I'll do another post but otherwise, this may be all I have to say about TS Bill.

In Case You Missed This...

Students at Kilgore High School pulled a stunt on their classmates, faculty and staff and filmed the prank.  I myself would have been a bit skeptical about the odd looking tree.  Just sayin'.  Also, I don't know which is scarier, the tree or the some of the sweaters?

But nothing is as funny as this clip from NBC affiliate KXAS:

 or this of Geraldo Rivera in Galveston waiting for Hurricane Ike:
 

Happy National Dog Day!

It was late in the afternoon when I realized that August 26 is National Dog Day.  A big WOOF to all of the dog lovers and dog caregivers out there.  And a double-big WOOF to all of the canines who provide companionship to us humans.

Readers of this blog know that The Calvinator holds a very special place in my heart.  Through an odd series of circumstances, I took ownership of him in Spring of 2004.  At the time, I didn't have time to be a dog owner.  You see...

I had a job that required me to travel during the week and sometimes on the weekends.  I was presented with the options of him going to a shelter, going to live with my parents in Ft. Worth, or him becoming my pet.  At this point in Calvin's life, he had already had two owners which did not include his foster parents.

This dog is so full of love I couldn't have him start all over again.  Plus, his second owner had changed his name from Eddie to Calvin.  So...there I was with a new companion.  He had major separation anxiety issues but I soon learned the value of a Kong, Cheez Whiz and peanut butter.  And just for good measure, throw in Frosty Paws.

The first time I left him with my parents for an extended period of time, I was told he sat my the front door waiting for me to return.  He soon attached himself to my dad because this was the person who would feed him, take him for walks and let him hang out outside.  Calvin isn't dumb.

When my dad died in November of 2011, there was one night that I couldn't find him in my parent's house.  It's not a big house and I know where Calvin likes to hang out.  He was asleep by my dad's closet.  I still tear up and get a lump in my throat when I think of that night.

The previous year in November, my mom's sugar level had dropped to a dangerous level during the night.  I was awakened by my dad trying to figure out what was wrong.  When I realized the severity of the situation and that we would have to call an ambulance, I picked up Calvin and put him a room with Frex and shut the door.  They knew something was wrong but never barked or whimpered while their was chaos in the house. 

One of my biggest regrets was bringing him back to Houston in September of 2005.  He had been with my parents in Fort Worth while I was traveling.  I returned from the trip and immediately drove to pick him up.  While I was en route, I received information that a major hurricane was heading toward the upper Gulf Coast of Texas.  I should have left him in Fort Worth because a few days later he and I became a part of history.  We participated in the evacuation of  Houston.  It was the first time so many people tried to leave at the same time and it created major gridlock.  What is normally a 5 hour drive took 27 hours.  Calvin was a trooper.  So...

Three years later when Hurricane Ike started heading toward us, I decided to stay in Houston and hunker down.  When the hurricane made landfall we were housebound.  He wasn't able to go outside for about 17 hours.  I stayed awake through most of the storm and had carved out a bunker in one of the closets.  I kept him by my side the entire time and he actually slept through most of it. 

We were fortunate that we were only without power for about 6 days.  It was long enough and an inconvenience but once again, he was a trooper.

Compared to humans, dogs have a short lifespan.  I thought I was going to lose him last Fall when he became very ill.  I'll never be ready for the day when I have to say goodbye to him but I know that he knows I love him and will always look out for him.  I hope in the afterlife we end up together because it's hard to imagine an eternal afterlife without my closest companion.

Today on Facebook I asked, "Have you hugged a dog today?"  Guess what I'm doing when I get home tonight?

Hello Old Friend!

Good news! Brennan's of Houston is re-opening on February 16, 2010. I have missed you. Here is the full story as reported by Houston Chronicle.

No longer blackened, Brennan's is back
By GREG MORAGO
HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Feb. 10, 2010, 9:12PM

Alex Brennan-Martin is an anxious man this week. Don't get him wrong: he's thrilled — no, beyond ecstatic — that Brennan's of Houston will reopen Tuesday.

But the official comeback of one of the city's most beloved restaurants, destroyed in fire during Hurricane Ike in September 2008, has the usually unflappable restaurateur a tad apprehensive.

“It's exciting, but it's without a doubt nerve wracking too,” Brennan-Martin said Wednesday, explaining that the look of the iconic restaurant might be surprising to diners who have made Brennan's one of the city's top tables since it opened 43 years ago.

“Folks don't necessarily like change. We have definitely changed some things but we've tried to stay as true to the spirit of the rooms as we could be. We've tried to save the best and restore the best of the building and improve areas that, frankly, needed improvement.”

After 17 months of work — a difficult, emotional restoration that also included replacing a 40-year-old oak tree that was destroyed in the fire — Brennan's is ready to begin partying again. Perhaps it's fitting that the reopening is on Mardi Gras; Brennan's fans are undoubtedly ready to let the beads and feathers fly.

“It has been an incredible struggle. It's also been joyous in that so many of our customers and employees have stayed in touch over all this time. It does the heart good.”

James Koonce, the restaurant's “wine guy” also continues to work for Brennan's from home and currently is helping reconstruct the wine list. Koonce and his daughter, Katherine, then 4, were both severely burned in the fire that ravaged the restaurant.

“Although it's still a very long road, they're both doing much better,” Brennan-Martin said.

Opening night will mostly be for the restaurant's devoted group of loyalists. “There's a list of folks who have asked for the first night. We are full with that,” Brennan-Martin said. “We will open as much as possible to guests after that.”

Brennan's is accepting reservations beginning Feb. 17 but don't be surprised if the book already seems full. The restaurant is controlling reservations while it gets back in the gumbo groove. “We'll be ramping up” reservations as the staff gets its sea legs, Brennan-Martin said. “We can't wait to welcome back all of our friends.”

“The general look and feel and spirit of the place will evoke the best of Louisiana and New Orleans and maybe take a step or two forward at the same time,” Brennan-Martin said.

So too will the food. Executive chef Danny Trace, a veteran of the Commander's Palace family of restaurants, is ready to serve up Brennan's Texas Creole fare. “While the fish pecan, turtle soup and Bananas Foster will be identical, some dishes will have his flair to it. Without a doubt there will be a glimmer of some of his coastal influences in it.”

One thing Brennan-Martin isn't anxious about is his staff. Of the roughly 120 to 130 employees, about half are returning workers, he said.

Nervousness aside, Brennan-Martin sounds like a man who is more than ready to resume what he loves doing; to return home.

“I just want to get back to being a restaurateur,” he said. “The music to my ears is always when I hear a customer say ‘Thanks, I had a great time and we'll be back.' If there's one thing I'm looking forward to hearing, that's probably it.”

He'll only have to wait until Tuesday.

T 'n T (This and That for June 13, 2009)

OK. So let's sort of catch up with what's on my mind. I don't have much of one left so this won't take very long. HA!

1. Today has to have been the hottest day of the year (so far). I went running this morning at Memorial Park and before I left I think I heard the man on the telly say it was 87% humidity and 78 degrees at 7:00a.m. This afternoon it reached 95 degrees. OK peeps. It doesn't get this hot in Houston in June! Maybe in August! What circle of Dante's Hell am I in? Just askin'.

2. Today is the 9 month anniversary of Hurricane Ike making landfall and making my life miserable. However, my misery was nothing compared to many others. Nine months later, some people are still in recovery mode. I did hear that Brennan's of Houston will re-open in a few months. Brennan's burned during the hurricane. If there was one defining moment of the storm when I actually wondered if hunkering down was the correct decision, it was when I heard that Brennan's was on fire. A transformer started the fire. I have a utility pole in the front yard that was exploding with a rainbow of colours that night and it really scared me. We are officially in Hurricane Season right now so let's hope it is a quiet one. Just sayin'.

3. Bryan held a fundraiser last night for Annise Parker. Annise is currently City Controller for Houston. She is a candidate for Mayor. I first met Annise in 1997 at a fundraiser when she was running for City Council (At-Large position). I was so impressed with her I told AttyHou we needed to have a fundraiser for and we did and she won and has continued to serve the citizens of Houston.

So now she is running for Mayor. Currently she is the front runner but the election isn't until November and we all know how things can get all crazy. I'm going to do everything I can to help her maintain her lead.

She gave a really good speech last night and energized the crowd. I didn't realize how many people outside of Houston and outside of Texas are keeping an eye on this election. I forget that I live in the 4th largest city in the United States.

Annise is running on her experience and qualifications. She is the most experienced and qualified candidate who happens to be female. I hope that people will look at her experience and her plans for Houston. Regardless of where you live, I hope that you will check out her website and consider making a donation. She mentioned last night that a $5 contribution really does help and it gives you some buy-in to her candidacy.

4. I am going with some friends to see Cabaret on Thursday evening. I debated about going but then I thought, "What good is sitting alone your room?" So I bought a ticket!

Stay cool everybody!

That's the night that lights went out in...

NoRO.

UGH!

So last night I met up with Friend Kevin and Friend for some beverages. I didn't stay out late because I had to get home and work on my costume for this evenings blowout blast Mystery & Fantasy Mardi Gras Party.

My costume never arrived so I channeled Tim Gunn and told myself to "Make it work." So I had everything in place and was ready to rock. The hot glue gun was fired up. I was watching Queen Latifah in Last Holiday. Calvin was dozing on the couch. The project was started. And then IT happened.

The lights went off and then came back on. Then they went off and came back on. Then they went off. This was at approximately 12:35a.m. Rut-ro!

How can I work on my costume in the dark and without a hot glue gun!!!????!!!!

Friend/Neighbor Nina sent me a text message asking if I was still awake. I had called CenterPoint Energy to report the outage. I was told that approximately 2,000 households were without power. I report this to Nina.

While we were on the phone we noticed that a police helicopter was circling the neighborhood with the big spotlight. Our imaginations were running wild.

Nina thought someone had cut the power and was going to rob us.

I told her that someone was probably in a car chase with the police, hit a pole, took out the lights and was now on foot.

And then I thought, maybe it was the glue gun that blew a fuse?

We also slipped into Hurricane mode. I thought maybe I should start eating everything in the refrigerator. And then I thought, maybe I should open an expensive bottle of wine. I didn't do either.

I slept on the couch with Calvin while the CenterPoint crews were working outside. I also called Kevin who had just returned from Denny's. Sounds like he and Keith had a fun time at the diner. At some point I fell asleep.

Around 2:15a.m. the power came back on.

I was too tired to work on the costume again. I restarted the project this morning and then again this afternoon. I think it is finished!

Monday, Monday

It was a busy day at work. I had planned on going to the gym after work but I started getting a headache around 2p and here it is a bit after 8p and I still have the headache. OY!I'm sitting in the quasi-dark living room wondering how Cloris Leachman has been able to survive on Dancing With The Stars.

There is a conspiracy theory circulating that the executives and employees of Fox, NBC & CBS are voting to keep Cloris on the show to ruin it. She is a bit hokey but entertaining.

So I did something on a whim this evening. On my way home I stopped at the USPS post office to drop some items in the box. I remembered that in a few days it will be SFO Gary's birthday. I have not seen SFO Gary in several years and I have not talked to him in several years. I wasn't even sure if SFO Gary was still in SFO. He could be DFW Gary or LAX Gary or MCI Gary for all I know. And if he was still SFO Gary, does he still work at The ______ Hotel?

So I put a dime in the payphone dialed 411 on the Crackberry and asked for The ______ Hotel in San Francisco and when the hotel operator answered I asked for Gary _____ and he put me through to the _______ department. The phone rang and SFO Gary answered. I identified myself, there was a pause and our conversation picked up from where we last left off several years ago.

I kept him on the phone longer than I should have but there was plenty of laughter in the brief conversation. He reminded me of a few things I had forgotten and I blamed it on Ike.

We did laugh about how we met on a Thursday evening at happy hour at a bar in San Francisco. You see...

I went out to Cali-4-NI-A to run The Big Sur Marathon. I went out on Thursday and runnerOne was going to meet me on Friday. The marathon was on Sunday.

So, I'm hanging out with formerly San Francisco now Berkeley Steve and I'm amazed that it really was 2-for-1 happy hour. On our first order we had four drinks between us! Stuff like that hasn't happened in Texas since some time in the late '80s.

So I'm drinking and trying to get my money's worth and I start making friends, like I'm so prone to doing. We decided to leave the bar and go to another bar and we now have an entourage with us. When we get to the next bar more people join us because we are lushes because they want to be a part of the In Group.

I get to talking to this guy named Gary and I tell him in slurred words that I'm in Cali-4-NI-A to run a marathon. So Gary assumes I'm drinking water and he asks if he can have a drink of my water. He drinks it and makes a face and says, "That's not water." I'm cackling and sounding like I'm going to lay an egg laughing and tell him that it is a vodka tonic.

We relived that story this evening and I told him it sure was a good thing he wasn't in a 12-step program that night because I would have derailed his recovery.

Gary and I were supposed to go on a trip to Paris. We never made it. Maybe if he comes to Texas some day, we CAN go to Paris...Texas that it is.

So placing a random call like I did made me think of this Jim Croce song from teenager days. I also realized I need to place more random calls. Enjoy

When it rains it pours

OMG! I made it home and had to change my underwear because I think I pooped in them when I was driving through high water. You see...

This morning I heard that there was going to be some rain today. OK. No big deal. I rode out a hurricane a few weeks ago.

Well...during a meeting this evening I could see that it was getting a bit clouding. There was rumblings of thunder and THEN it started to rain. And rain. And rain. And rain.

The meeting was over and I had a committee meeting. It rained. And rained. And rained. And rained. The lights went out. I immediately started to sweat and told the group that I needed a bottle of Cakebread or Silver Oak and I needed to start eating. I had immediately slipped into post-Ike mode. Does this mean I have Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome? Just askin'.

The streets were flooding but I was in The Cal Mobile. However, even The Cal Mobile was having difficulty. I noticed that people were standing in flood waters and trying to clear the gutters. I'm thinkin' that some Ike debris is still in the streets and that plus the amount of rain was causing the streets to flood.

Cars were stalled. Water was above the curbs. Buses were causing tidal waves and these buses had water coming into them.

I sat in a parking lot for a bit and received advice from AttyHou about some streets that could be possible evacuation routes out of Montrose. I'll be honest with you, I was scared. In a matter of seconds I had already resigned myself to spending the night in The Cal Mobile in a parking lot in Montrose.

I made it back to NoRO but I was so traumatized I had to stop at McDonalds for a Quarter Pounder with cheese and fries.

The rain started around 645p CDT. It is now 930p CDT and it is STILL raining. At least this time the is falling vertically and not horizontally like it did when Ike came to town.

Ramblings Of A Caffeinated Mind 17.2

666
Yesterday's post about Ivana Trump post #666. I'm just sayin'.

Ike update
A month ago many of us were dealing with the aftermath of being bitch slapped by Ike. And like Tina Turner all we asked for was our electricity our name a new normal.

AttyHou and Everyday Italian have put up a new fence so I no longer have a room with a view a view of the swimming pool next door; just like old times. I don't see my neighbors very much anymore. For those few days, we were comrades in arms. ¡Viva la revolución! Misery loves company.

There is still debris in the streets. There are still people missing from Galveston Island and Bolivar Peninsula.

Instead of saying, "Hey! How are you?" the new greeting is, "How long were you without power?"

Instead of talking about plans for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas people are talking about what size generator they're going to buy in anticipation of Hurricane Season 2009.

I guess this is the new normal.

What's In A Name
John Culberson is running for re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives. This morning on the telly I heard one of his commercials. What got my attention is he referred to Hurricane Ike as the storm of the century. Uh...

Ike was a strong Category 2. This is only 2008. Katrina was in 2005. How can Ike be the storm of the century? Just askin'.

Have you ever...?
seen someone who looks like their dog?

Today on my way to LeFittes I was cutting through Midtown and I saw a guy from the gym walking his dog.

This guy is about 5'6" and is built like a brick house. He was walking some breed of bulldog. Definitely a pair.

I have been told that if I had blonde hair I would look like Calvin.

Once upon a time there was a tavern restaurant
My longtime friend Kanadian Ken from Kalgary is in town this week. I have not Kanadian Ken in a few years and it is always a pleasure to spend time with him. He is one of those friends that when we see each other we can pick up where we left off no matter how long it has been.

So last night Kanadian Ken from Kalgary gathered the usual suspects for dinner at Cafe A Do Me Adobe on Westheimer. I was at the office until 545P (CDT) and had three things to do before I could arrive at A Do Me Adobe.

I was a bit surprised when I arrived a few minutes late and was able to find parking and easily found my tablemates for the evening. It wasn't crowded at all.

This used to be the place to be seen on a Monday night in Houston. Dead as a door nail I tell ya!

We pondered why this was the situation and none of us could come up with a good answer. The economy? Post-Ike depression? People have a new place to be seen on a Monday and I didn't get the memo? Who knows?

So that is about it bois and gurls. Catch up with you soon!

Pictures post-Ike

Thought you might enjoy looking at some pics. I'll have a few more later but these are a few that I got ready just you!

So...when I purchased The Cal Mobile the intent was to get something that could be loaded up with some of my belongings and it wouldn't be low to the ground and I could evacuate before or after a hurricane. Well, I listened to the city and county officials and didn't evacuate. And even if I wanted to leave after the storm I couldn't because I had a FENCE ON THE CAL MOBILE!!!!

The power went out a bit after 9:00 p.m. on September 12. Here I am on Sunday, September 14 around 4:00 p.m. I was a prisoner of CenterPoint Energy. And yes, that is Cakebread Chardonnay in the glass. I was a prisoner with class and good taste.

On September 21, AttyHou, some neighbors and I decided we needed to finish cleaning up his yard and my yard. I thought it would take a couple of hours. Uh...it took a bit over 5 hours. I had not eaten lunch and I was delirious and started channeling Heidi Klum, Tim Gunn, Michael Kors AND Nina Garcia.

The challenge was to use the debris from Ike and make a couture dress. This is what I came up with.


I want to be on the cover of ELLE Magazine dammit!

My mom told me that she saw a story on the telly about how Houstonians were helping Houstonians post-Ike. Neighbors and strangers reaching out and helping each other. Calvin decided to do his part and join in the recovery and cleanup of Houston.

Calvin opened up a small Bed & Rawhide and invited over Baxter & Tanner who were without power.

They were all a bit pooped out from playing. Here they are relaxing.

And you know how I have a song for everything. While Ike was beating us up this song popped into my head. Yes, even while the house was shaking due to the sustained hurricane winds, rain not falling from the sky but hitting the house sideways, transformers popping outside and wondering if the insanity would ever stop, I thought of Ike and Tina Turner.


It's getting late. I'll have a few more pics for you soon.

blogging Hurricane Ike (part XV)

One of our hangouts in NoRO is Cyclone Anayas (Mexican food). Good Margaritas and good food can always be had there. So it was a bit sad to drive by the other day and see that the roof had been ripped off by Ike. The surprise was that the restaurant was open on Friday night!

It turns out that the staff (managers, waiters and busboys) worked feverishly over the past few days to reopen the restaurant. Yes, the ceiling needs to be reworked but it was good to see familiar faces on Friday night.

There were five of us who gathered for Friday’s meal. One person evacuated to Austin and was stunned when he drove back into Houston and saw the damage. One person still doesn’t have power at his house. The other three (including me) spent most of the past week spending quite a bit of time drinking expensive wine together in the ‘hood.

It was nice to be able to sit down, enjoy a hot meal and frozen adult beverages and relive the madness of Hurricane Ike. The respite is just what I needed.
I began to get a bit sentimental (adult beverages will do that to me) and last night before I passed out fell into a deep slumber on the couch I started humming Umbrella.



For the second night in a row, I have had a post-hurricane dream; not quite a nightmare. The weirdest thing happened though and it wasn’t part of a dream.

Remember I said that I passed out fell into a deep slumber? I was asleep on the couch and woke up around 3:00a.m. When I woke up, KHOU was doing a recap of some Hurricane Ike footage from last week. They were showing reporters in the storm reporting from various locations around Houston. It took me a minute to realize that this was NOT live. THEN, the cable box went dead and the telly didn’t have anything on it! I looked outside to make sure another hurricane wasn’t approaching. Within a few seconds the cable box reset itself and broadcasting resumed. Those few minutes were from The Twilight Zone.

Are hurricane dreams part of the new normal? I hope not.

blogging Hurricane Ike (part XIV)

I need to get focused. I'm losing things: first the phone; then a set of eye glasses; then the charger to the temporary phone. I ran a red light because I have become so accustomed to stopping at an intersection with a blinking red light (or no working lights), making sure it's clear and then going on. I saw a red light, made sure it was clear and then proceeded forward. Oops! It was a working light.

I’m tired. Tonight I really needed to fold laundry that I did prior to Ike but didn’t get around to it. I have laundry that needs to be done but don’t feel like doing it. I need to clean up the garage sale room guest bedroom because I might have powerless friends come and stay with me. I need to get back into a routine…maybe it will be a new routine. (I actually found a Starbucks that was open this morning!)

I really need to catch up on blogs. I feel so disconnected from people. One that I did check was David Dust and his post almost started a flood of tears. It brings back memories from three years ago. You see…

When New Orleans was slammed by Hurricane Katrina, Houston opened its doors and provided shelter and food to the refugees evacuees. And yes, there were those who feel like they wore out their welcome but I remember a song from Catholic school days and part of the lyrics are, “Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do unto me…”

A few weeks later, Hurricane Rita looked like it was heading for Houston and what should have been a 4.5 hour drive to Ft. Worth took 27 hours. As it turned out, the storm turned and went for the Texas/Louisiana border and wiped out cities on both sides of the border.

On the way back from Ft. Worth, I saw a sign just outside of Hempstead that said, “God bless Houston.” When Neil Diamond came to the Bayou City for a concert, he greeted the audience by saying, “Houston, the city with a heart.”

And while Houston didn’t suffer the blow from Ike like Galveston Island or Bolivar Peninsula, there are many people in the 4th largest U.S. city who are trying to get by. So when I saw that David Dust said that Houston is hurting, he is correct. We’re getting by and making do and hopefully the bonds that have been established through this time of inconvenience will remain intact.

Texans are a rare breed. One of my favorite sayings is, “There are two types of people: Texans and those who wish they were Texans.” Another favorite is, “I may not have been born in Texas but I got here as soon as I could.”

Those of us in Houston, Galveston, Port Arthur, Beaumont and the surrounding areas will get through this. Our cowboy boots may be a bit wet and muddy from dealing with Ike but they’ll get dry and we’ll clean them up. Our big hair may be a bit tussled but we’ll find our teasing combs and Aqua Net Hairspray and get our coiffures back in place. And those whose facial enhancements are a bit askew due to the high winds, well a little nip/tuck can be had in the Texas Medical Center. And I know that in some bar in Montrose, a dj is playing Gloria Gaynor's I Will Survive and a choir of bar patrons is singing along...it's just too bad Tina Turner didn't record the song!

I’ve always heard people talk about the new normal after a disaster or tragedy. I now understand.

EPILOGUE: I’m only going to do 1 or 2 more posts about Hurricane Ike. I hope to return to my normal-witty-self and post my str8 up with a twist point of view.

blogging Hurricane Ike (part XIII)

Yesterday morning I received a text message from a neighbor that a utility truck had been spotted in the neighborhood. Please keep in mind that this was the first person from CenterPoint Energy or City of Houston (excluding Houston Police Dept.) that had been spotted in the neighborhood since tropical storm winds stopped on Saturday.

During the afternoon, I received several phone calls from neighbors that the power was on. While I was happy, I also felt sad. You see...

There are six of us in my office. Of the six, four of us now have power and the outlook for the other is not good. It could be next Monday (Sept. 22 or later) before they have power restored...and the storm made landfall on Sept. 13.

I did finish cleaning out the refrigerator and freezer. It was all good for 72 hours but that had passed.

There wasn't much at the grocery store. I was able to supplement my canned goods in the pantry.

I'm dreading Friday or Saturday when I have to start the hunt for gasoline. I'm still fine right now but Friday or Saturday will be the day to fill up. It's really just a matter of finding a place with gasoline and without a long line.

Through all of this I need to tell myself that this has been an inconvenience. There are people (including a guy on our staff) who has lost his home. He has been sleeping in his truck with a gun to protect what is left of his property.

It has been one day at a time for all of us.

I think the one good thing that came out of this is that I was given the opportunity to meet and visit with my neighbors. I don't have any family members in Houston but I am surrounded by a good group of friends and neighbors.

I have not had the opportunity to look at any of the pictures of the destruction that Ike created. I have a feeling it will turn my stomach.

blogging Hurricane Ike (part XII)

Hey folks. I need to make this quick.

Here's what's been going on...

As of right now, I still don't have power at the house. There's probably close to 1.5 million still without power. Up until about 15 minutes ago we had not seen a City of Houston employee, a CenterPoint Energy employee or one of their contractors in the neighborhood. Just got a call that one was spotted not far from the house and they will see what they can do to restore power.

Galveston Island, Bolivar Peninsula, Baytown, League City and other parts of the greater Houston metro area and in bad shape. I feel guilty complaining that I don't have power.

Some friends who have a townhome with windows that open are letting Calvin stay with them during the day. They still don't have power either. I can't keep him in my home because the windows don't open and those that do would give him access to the outside world.

Last night I went for a ride with Calvin and it was interesting to see sections of Shepherd Drive with electricity, some businesses, restaurants and bars that were opened. This is less than 1.5 miles from me and it was like a whole different world.

We did a massive cleanup at work on Tuesday. There are trees that have been uprooted and leaves and branches everywhere. It did make a difference to the appearance of the physical grounds.

Gas lines are long.

Finding a good cup of coffee is difficult.

Grocery lines are long.

I did get a cell phone replacement. Please send me your phone numbers (absolutrunnr77007@yahoo.com) because I lost quite a bit of information.

I feel like I've lost touch with the whole world. Haven't read a paper in days. Haven't watched television in a few days.

As I told my mom, this is one day at a time and yes, things could be worse for me.

Thank you for your well wishes.

-tim "timmy"

blogging Hurricane Ike (part XI)

Hey folks. I need to make this real quick. I'm borrowing a friend's computer at her house.

Storm is worse than we ever thought it be. The house shook for hours and the rain and wind wouldn't stop...this was only a cat. 2.

Power went out at 9:08 a.m. on Friday night and it hasn't been restored YET in my neighborhood.

We're banding together to make the best of it. Neighbors helping neighbors.

A fence landed on my car. Tree was down in the backyard. Trees blocking the street were removed by about 15 of us on Sunday.

Digging into the wine reserves. 2 bottles of Cakebread gone (1 on Saturday and 1 on Sunday). 2 bottle of Silver Oak that I shared with neighbors who cooked my steaks and let have been sharing their generator with me.

Calvin is fine.

I've been sleeping on the floor by the front door because that is the only way to get ventilation into the house at night.

I'm losing my mind.

Work has power (air conditioning) but no internet.

We're keeping an eye out for each other.

Send positive thoughts our way. There are people in Galveston who are worse off than me. I need to count my blessing but it is hard to keep in perspective.

Take care everyone.

blogging Hurricane Ike (part X) (Today's LOL)

My sister and brother-in-law in Ft. Worth just called to check up on me and Calvin. I was told about this footage. OK. I've had 2 Hurricanes and this is too funny not to share!

I did let Calvin out for about 20 minutes. He thinks he is The Lion King.

blogging Hurricane Ike (part IX)

Latest happenings from The Bayou City. Interspersed through all of this are phone calls to and from friends who stayed.

3:30p CDT - Some lady named Vivian on MSNBC says, "Residents of Houston stare down the storm."

3:31p CDT - Based on what Vivian said, I think of that scene from What's Love Got To Do With It when Tina tells Ike she is sick and can't perform and I think he smacks her...maybe I put that in myself...and makes her go out and perform. She goes out and does a great job and the song is appropriate for the scene. Watch the clip.



4:15p CDT - I'm in the other room and hear an annoying voice on the telly and realize it is Steven Dean on Channel 2: Your Education Station.

4:53p CDT - MSNBC is interviewing the Chief Information Officer for the City of Galveston. She says that 40% of the residents didn't evacuate. I think, "WTF!" Don't they know about the storm in 1900 that killed 6,000 people. It is still the worst natural disaster in U.S. history. She also says the City of Galveston personnel are housed at The San Luis Resort. It is a nice hotel.

5:15p CDT - Receive a phone call that Anderson Cooper is downtown. Speculation arises about where he is staying. Hilton Americas? Four Seasons? Hyatt Regency? Based on the damage from Alicia in 1983, Anderson will have good stories to report if Ike keeps on this path. Calvin and I are less than three miles from downtown. Should we drive downtown and go for his evening walk?

5:25p CDT - Decide to take Calvin for his walk in the neighborhood. Cops are already patrolling the 'hood. Saw 2 cop cars. Wind is picking up and clouds are getting darker. Neighborhood parties have already started or are getting started. Also, it is as if there is a dog parade going on. Everyone is out walking their dogs one last time.

6:20p CDT - First bands of Ike hit Galveston even though flooding has already started on Galveston Island.

6:28p CDT - Frank Billingsley reports that Ike is picking up speed and gaining strength.

6:29p CDT - I'm making Calvin nervous so I pour my first Hurricane.

6:32p CDT - Locate my slicker and Salomon Pro Amphib shoes. Calvin thinks we're going for a walk.

6:55p CDT - Calvin realizes we're not going for a walk and passes out (again).

Comment: Miss Ginger Grant...thank you for the offer of the ice. I have plenty.

Question: Can someone tell me why my bathtub is full of water? Seriously. I'm not going to drink it. I have enough water for me and Calvin to last for a LONG time.

Comment: Yesterday, someone told me that I needed to wear maroon and purple today and put an eggplant in my front yard to ward off the storm. I don't have anything maroon. I don't have an eggplant. Should I have bought some baked eggplant from Luby's and put THAT in the front yard? Just askin'.

Stay safe everyone.

EDIT @ 7:36p: Received a phone call from Boston Greg and he was singing part of the lyrics from Tina Turner's Better Be Good To Me
AND I REALLY DON`T SEE
WHY IT`S SO HARD TO BE
GOOD TO ME
AND I DON`T UNDERSTAND
WHAT`S YOUR PLAN
THAT YOU CAN`T
BE GOOD TO ME

Rather appropriate for Ike's approach on Galveston-Houston!

blogging Hurricane Ike (part VIII)

So here is what has sorta been happening today since I last posted.

Intertwined with all of this are phone calls from friend; those of us who stayed and decided to hunker down. Also, replying to e-mails from concerned friends and family members and checking FaceBook.

11:00a.m. CDT - Started doing laundry for two reasons. 1) If I lose power, not sure when I would be able to do laundry again. 2) Need some clean clothes when Anderson Cooper arrives to interview me and Calvin.

11:20a.m. CDT - Decided to run over to Subway because earlier in the day I saw employees waiting to get in. When I stepped outside it was getting breezy and cloudy. Earlier in the day it was calm and sunny. This made me start singing It's Too Late...you know that line, "You were light and breezy and I knew just what to do."

Got to Subway and they were closed but I noticed that Quiznos and Texasadelphia were open so I went to Quiznos to grab my last meal a sandwich. Also noticed that the Shell station on Memorial Drive is out of gas.

11:45a.m. CDT - Took Calvin for a walk. Lots of people out walking their dogs. Noticed that DePelchin Children's Center had secured their picnic tables which had me concerned. PROJECTILES!

1:05p.m. CDT - Cleaned out the bottom of one of the closets in case I need to use it to hide from breaking windows. Did a Hunker Down Drill with Calvin. Had to bribe him with peanut butter. He didn't want to leave the closet.

1:45p.m. CDT - Filled up the bathtub with water but I'm not sure why. Somebody told me to do that so I did.

1:50p.m. CDT - Jessica Willey on KTRK Channel 13 interviewed a guy that had to be rescued from West Beach (Galveston). His name is Joe and Joe said, "That is a nasty fat storm. That pig is huge." I wonder if that pig wears lipstick? Joe also said that where Joe Cantore is that is where the most damage will be. BTW...Joe lost his Corvette and his shoes.

2:04p.m. CDT - Erik Barrajas showed up for work.

2:05p.m. CDT - Break in the clouds and the sun shined. Coincidence?

2:06p.m. CDT - Andy Cerrota is in Freeport.

2:07p.m. CDT - Still looking for Anderson Cooper.

2:15p.m. CDT - Put batteries in portable radio/cd player so that I can play showtunes if I lose power. Found an old Sony Sports Cassette player (remember cassette tapes?) that also has a tv band, radio band and weather band. It still works.

2:25p.m. CDT - Found a fortune cookie and opened it. Fortune for today is He who grabs the last lettuce wrap is the least hungry. Got hungry again and wondered if P.F. Changs is open. Doubt it. They have good lettuce wraps.

2:30p.m. CDT - Water is rising in Galveston Bay. Not a good sign.

2:50p.m. CDT - Saw taped footage of Jeff Ranieri on Galveston Island. He saw a snake that was coiled and guessed it was at least 10 feet. Then he said he saw a porcupine. The MSNBC anchor told him it was a rat. Wondered if Jeff has ever been to a zoo?

3:00p.m. CDT - Michael Chertoff, Director of Homeland Security says 100,000 homes will be damaged by flooding. Let's hope he is wrong.

3:10p.m. CDT - Calvin is still asleep.