We are out of town and even though there is "wi-fi" at this condo...well, not so much. This is the first time I've been able to connect and I'm not taking time to upload pictures today.
We went fishing yesterday out in the bay, but didn't catch anything we could keep. I caught nothing at all. I started to wonder if my bait had fish repellant on it.
Anyway, we will be home Friday...or Saturday. We are leaving here on Thursday and heading north, but I wanted to stop in Salado.
It is sort of nice to not blog for a while and also to not watch tv very much while everything with the stock market is going so badly. I'll deal with it all this weekend. Right now, I'm going for another cup of coffee and to get my book. I got sunburnedpretty bad on my chest yesterday. Must have forgot to put the factor 30 on that part.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
Wind out of my sails...Blogger left me luffing today.
I was all fired up to attack the whole finacial mess, the debate debacle, and the Sarah Palin interview just total scared the heck out of me, and Blogger/Google messed me up when I couldn't sign in. Apparently there was something about the password and user name not matching, even though they have been the same all along. There is something inherently wrong when the thought of losing my blog outweighs all the freakishly scary issues above. When I have regained my composure and got the wind back in my sails...I'll be back.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Those were the days...
In these days of financial uncertainty I've started thinking of meals we used to eat when the kids were little and we were living our personal mini depression trying to make it on my husband's salary and save something for our future. Someone brought up spam the other day. Not the kind of spam email we all know, but the canned kind that sends shivers up the spines of most people my age.
Spam is a processed meat that comes in a can that had a key to open it. I think it has a pop key now. Then you dumped out the meat onto a plate to make your own special recipe or slice cold and serve as a sandwich. Spam helped many people through World War II. It was being developed by Jay Hormel during the Depression, but it was World War II that cemented its place in American culture. After WWII when the soldiers came home they brought the Spam habit back with them to those on the home front. My step father was very much a fan of the canned stuff after he came back from the war. We ate it fried, baked, and my all time favorite...spam and mashed potatoes. I did a google search and couldn't find a recipe for it, though. That was about the only way I liked Spam and when my kids were growing up and we had to feed a family of five with not all that much money it stretched our dollar. That is when they learned that Spam was not all bad. My youngest still makes Spam and potatoes as a comfort food when she is sick. All I remember about the recipe is to make a big bunch of mashed potatoes and then you mash the Spam with a potato masher separately until it is broken up then I then mixed the Spam into the potatoes with a hand held mixer. I really liked it.
In these days of healthful living I'm sure the fat content would be enough to send most sensible people into a paroxysm of fat fear, and well it should. There are 15 grams of fat and 6 grams of sat fat. For those of you who long for the recipe for the Spam with cloves and the little lines cut in it like a ham, I'm sure they have it here at the Spam website.
There is a recipe and picture on the Wikipedia website from a magazine in 1945 for a Spam upside down pie. The whole article on Wikipedia about Spam is pretty interesting. In some areas Treet and other canned meat products are called the "poor people Spam". My kids shared their stories about spam and potatoes and other Spam recipes with their friends and that starts a whole trip down memory lane for all of them about how their mothers cooked Spam when they were growing up. If you have a good Spam story, I'd love to hear it.
I understand Spam has become very expensive. I bought a couple of cans back after 9/11 for my "shelter in place" stock, but it has been thrown out now. The expiration date came and went and thank goodness we didn't ever need it. There is probably some in Galveston these days. They are getting to go back today, but I'm not sure there is electricity. That's ok if they have Spam.
There was one food from WWII that I totally despised and it was canned corned beef hash. I thought at the time it looked like dog food and some times I wasn't sure it wasn't. That was another of my step father's things. He would open the can on both ends and push it out onto a plate. The he would cut it in slices, like some people do cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving, and fry it up. Then he would put an over easy egg on top of it and that would be breakfast. It grossed me out and that was a LONG time before that word had been coined, and someone probably did just because of corned beef hash. I just googled corn beef hash and found a guy that actually liked it when he was little. There were all kinds of helpful hints in his comments about how to "doctor it up some". I would be a happy woman if I never have to even see a can of corned beef hash again. Oh...this is it...made by Armour.
My oldest daughter told me about when she and her friends would tell their "poor days" stories about how and what they cooked to make ends meet until payday. Those were the days when they were in college or just out of school, and were up and coming professionals. I had some really good round steak recipes that were passed on to my children so they could survive. So did other mothers, apparently. Anyway, my daughter and her friends decided to have a round steak cook off, but when they checked around at the grocery stores they found that round steaks have become so expensive they decided to called it off. Now and then they still have a "Bring Your Own Steak" night like they used to. It allows them to get together without spending a fortune entertaining. They spend their money on other things these days.
My son is a really good cook, as well as, being a very good engineer. He can make a some really good pinto beans to go with his brisket or ribs. There isn't a dish much better than a pot of red beans and cornbread. Cornbread with some canned or fresh corn and some jalapenos is delicious. In the summer some sliced tomatoes and banana peppers are good on the side.
Spam is a processed meat that comes in a can that had a key to open it. I think it has a pop key now. Then you dumped out the meat onto a plate to make your own special recipe or slice cold and serve as a sandwich. Spam helped many people through World War II. It was being developed by Jay Hormel during the Depression, but it was World War II that cemented its place in American culture. After WWII when the soldiers came home they brought the Spam habit back with them to those on the home front. My step father was very much a fan of the canned stuff after he came back from the war. We ate it fried, baked, and my all time favorite...spam and mashed potatoes. I did a google search and couldn't find a recipe for it, though. That was about the only way I liked Spam and when my kids were growing up and we had to feed a family of five with not all that much money it stretched our dollar. That is when they learned that Spam was not all bad. My youngest still makes Spam and potatoes as a comfort food when she is sick. All I remember about the recipe is to make a big bunch of mashed potatoes and then you mash the Spam with a potato masher separately until it is broken up then I then mixed the Spam into the potatoes with a hand held mixer. I really liked it.
In these days of healthful living I'm sure the fat content would be enough to send most sensible people into a paroxysm of fat fear, and well it should. There are 15 grams of fat and 6 grams of sat fat. For those of you who long for the recipe for the Spam with cloves and the little lines cut in it like a ham, I'm sure they have it here at the Spam website.
There is a recipe and picture on the Wikipedia website from a magazine in 1945 for a Spam upside down pie. The whole article on Wikipedia about Spam is pretty interesting. In some areas Treet and other canned meat products are called the "poor people Spam". My kids shared their stories about spam and potatoes and other Spam recipes with their friends and that starts a whole trip down memory lane for all of them about how their mothers cooked Spam when they were growing up. If you have a good Spam story, I'd love to hear it.
I understand Spam has become very expensive. I bought a couple of cans back after 9/11 for my "shelter in place" stock, but it has been thrown out now. The expiration date came and went and thank goodness we didn't ever need it. There is probably some in Galveston these days. They are getting to go back today, but I'm not sure there is electricity. That's ok if they have Spam.
There was one food from WWII that I totally despised and it was canned corned beef hash. I thought at the time it looked like dog food and some times I wasn't sure it wasn't. That was another of my step father's things. He would open the can on both ends and push it out onto a plate. The he would cut it in slices, like some people do cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving, and fry it up. Then he would put an over easy egg on top of it and that would be breakfast. It grossed me out and that was a LONG time before that word had been coined, and someone probably did just because of corned beef hash. I just googled corn beef hash and found a guy that actually liked it when he was little. There were all kinds of helpful hints in his comments about how to "doctor it up some". I would be a happy woman if I never have to even see a can of corned beef hash again. Oh...this is it...made by Armour.
My oldest daughter told me about when she and her friends would tell their "poor days" stories about how and what they cooked to make ends meet until payday. Those were the days when they were in college or just out of school, and were up and coming professionals. I had some really good round steak recipes that were passed on to my children so they could survive. So did other mothers, apparently. Anyway, my daughter and her friends decided to have a round steak cook off, but when they checked around at the grocery stores they found that round steaks have become so expensive they decided to called it off. Now and then they still have a "Bring Your Own Steak" night like they used to. It allows them to get together without spending a fortune entertaining. They spend their money on other things these days.
My son is a really good cook, as well as, being a very good engineer. He can make a some really good pinto beans to go with his brisket or ribs. There isn't a dish much better than a pot of red beans and cornbread. Cornbread with some canned or fresh corn and some jalapenos is delicious. In the summer some sliced tomatoes and banana peppers are good on the side.
Monday, September 22, 2008
The visit from the foundation guys
The foundation guys came and repaired the thing again. They have to come about every couple of years to make adjustments. The fun of living in Texas on heavy clay soil that expands and dries up like crazy is that you get to know your foundation guys. Ours are just the nicest ones. They even bring their own microwave to heat their lunch. The first time I saw them plugging it in out on the patio I was sort of surprised, but thought well of their ingenuity. They were probably pretty impressed today because since they were here last we had an electric plug put on the front porch. Bless their hearts we hadn't put all the cushions on the patio furniture so they would be comfy on their lunch break. I really do like these guys. They only speak Spanish and mine isn't that great so pretty much I just listen to them giving each other a hard time. They cleaned up after themselves, both the foundation work stuff and lunch stuff, and left the flower beds looking better than before they came. I guess there is a silver lining to most everything.
My poor husband...after a while he decided to go down to get the sticker for his license plates. He had just left a little while when the nurse that goes over to check on his mom called to give me the medicine information. Then in about five minutes his dad called to say the riding lawn mower had just come all to pieces and he just didn't know what to do. It is real heavy and all and he didn't know where all the pieces had gone. He was just all adither about it and since he had a heart attack a few years ago he isn't supposed to lift much of anything. Anyway then he told me that lawn mower is real heavy and all. I knew I couldn't leave the fondation guys here alone and couldn't get hubby on his cell that won't stay one for some weird reason. Anyway after he got home I gave him the bad news about the lawn mower. It couldn't stay in the vacant lot because it probably wouldn't have been there for long. So he went over and took care of it all. He is a saint.
I threw the poor guy a curve ball today by telling him that either going to Port Aransas or coming home I would like to go by Salado. That left him thunderstuck because it wasn't in the "original plan" and Salado is like way over there by San Marcos and he is probably wondering what on earth do I want to buy now. Or is it that I want to eat at the Inn there? The Inn doesn't have a menu and they have the oldest waitresses anywhere to tell you what is on the menu and you better get it right. I've wondered if the waitstaff has always worked there or if they hire retired ladies for this work. We have stopped there many times and the staff has always been on the older side, but the visits were so far apart that I didn't know if they were the same ones or not. Maybe, if hubby gets too upset with me I can get a job there. They do have very pretty blue water carafes for the table. The food is good. I have no idea why he wouldn't want to stop. It isn't out of the way at all....if we come home up I35 through Austin and all. We need to go that way anyhow just to see what has changed in that area. However, I do like going the back roads and Hico has a great gas station. And you can buy Dublin Dr. Peppers there without having to actually go the extra 20 miles on to Dublin. I think we will go down on the back roads and home on the interstate.
I'm still loving the new cast on method and have stopped many times today to cast on some yarn. It is the long tail cast on or the double cast on and I feel so smart now that I know it. However, I thought I'd forgotten for one panic stricken moment, but got it back.
Young pretty Charlise Theron is on the Tonight show and is pretty funny singing Freddy Mercury songs while drinking a margarita and getting Jay Leno to sing the bass part.
I'll get back to posting pictures soon....oh heck...here..not too much work.
more animals
My poor husband...after a while he decided to go down to get the sticker for his license plates. He had just left a little while when the nurse that goes over to check on his mom called to give me the medicine information. Then in about five minutes his dad called to say the riding lawn mower had just come all to pieces and he just didn't know what to do. It is real heavy and all and he didn't know where all the pieces had gone. He was just all adither about it and since he had a heart attack a few years ago he isn't supposed to lift much of anything. Anyway then he told me that lawn mower is real heavy and all. I knew I couldn't leave the fondation guys here alone and couldn't get hubby on his cell that won't stay one for some weird reason. Anyway after he got home I gave him the bad news about the lawn mower. It couldn't stay in the vacant lot because it probably wouldn't have been there for long. So he went over and took care of it all. He is a saint.
I threw the poor guy a curve ball today by telling him that either going to Port Aransas or coming home I would like to go by Salado. That left him thunderstuck because it wasn't in the "original plan" and Salado is like way over there by San Marcos and he is probably wondering what on earth do I want to buy now. Or is it that I want to eat at the Inn there? The Inn doesn't have a menu and they have the oldest waitresses anywhere to tell you what is on the menu and you better get it right. I've wondered if the waitstaff has always worked there or if they hire retired ladies for this work. We have stopped there many times and the staff has always been on the older side, but the visits were so far apart that I didn't know if they were the same ones or not. Maybe, if hubby gets too upset with me I can get a job there. They do have very pretty blue water carafes for the table. The food is good. I have no idea why he wouldn't want to stop. It isn't out of the way at all....if we come home up I35 through Austin and all. We need to go that way anyhow just to see what has changed in that area. However, I do like going the back roads and Hico has a great gas station. And you can buy Dublin Dr. Peppers there without having to actually go the extra 20 miles on to Dublin. I think we will go down on the back roads and home on the interstate.
I'm still loving the new cast on method and have stopped many times today to cast on some yarn. It is the long tail cast on or the double cast on and I feel so smart now that I know it. However, I thought I'd forgotten for one panic stricken moment, but got it back.
Young pretty Charlise Theron is on the Tonight show and is pretty funny singing Freddy Mercury songs while drinking a margarita and getting Jay Leno to sing the bass part.
I'll get back to posting pictures soon....oh heck...here..not too much work.
more animals
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Knitting breakthrough
Oh my gosh...I had a knitting breakthrough tonight!! While reading Crazy Aunt Purl the other day she referenced the Knitting Help.com website. Naturally I had to look and watched a video about a better way to cast on. It looked complicated and later I tried it to no avail. It was a dismal failure on all counts. Even my husband tried helping me and actually while I was watching him it started to make sense, but we couldn't figure it out. I emailed one of my friends for help and she thanked me for showing her such a cool site and would show it to her Needlework Group, thank you. She offered no help whatsoever or even to put me in contact with one of her Needlework Group friends from the Woman's Club. On my own again I tried it off and on for most of this past week, and for some reason tonight it came together and is the coolest thing in my world right now. I love it! It is so much neater and how about this...after you cast on this way you have already knitted the first row! Now that is one cool stitch! It is such fun when a learning process happens and all the cylinders click in place and you have that Aha! moment....and it actually works. That is wonderful.
Oh...I'm watching the Emmys and Oh My...Mary Tyler Moore certainly needs to come to grips with the fact that she can no longer wear sleeveless clothing. A shawl or something would go a long way to covering her emaciated arms. It might be from diabetes or age, but good gravy, cover up, Mare.
Curtain hanging progresses and room cleaning continues. There is a snag with some sheers that I want to go behind some tab tops, and we will have to see. One rod didn't come in and actually the way it was worded in the Penny's catalogue I thought the one I bought was the only one. Alas, not so. Sixty more dollars and it was mine.....and no shipping. Got an email this afternoon saying it had shipped. So, if it gets here in time so I can hang the ones it is for maybe all will be well for a while.
The foundation guys are coming...again...in the morning. Hopefully they can get it to last this time.
Oh...I'm watching the Emmys and Oh My...Mary Tyler Moore certainly needs to come to grips with the fact that she can no longer wear sleeveless clothing. A shawl or something would go a long way to covering her emaciated arms. It might be from diabetes or age, but good gravy, cover up, Mare.
Curtain hanging progresses and room cleaning continues. There is a snag with some sheers that I want to go behind some tab tops, and we will have to see. One rod didn't come in and actually the way it was worded in the Penny's catalogue I thought the one I bought was the only one. Alas, not so. Sixty more dollars and it was mine.....and no shipping. Got an email this afternoon saying it had shipped. So, if it gets here in time so I can hang the ones it is for maybe all will be well for a while.
The foundation guys are coming...again...in the morning. Hopefully they can get it to last this time.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Not much new
We have been busy with fall housecleaning, I guess. We bought some new drapes and before we get them hung we've started cleaning so they will look their best...in case I decide they need to go back. Wish we could get the rooms painted and new flooring, too.. but I'm not seeing moving al the furniture in my future. I could hardly walk this evening from overdoing today.
We are going to the beach not this next week, but the next for some fishing and hanging out. Our condo is right on the beach and hubby thinks surf fishing will be just the ticket...walk right out from the room and fish. I can sit on the deck and watch him.
Since the kids around Galveston seem to be ok all of a sudden I'm starting to crash a little. We were all so tense for so long we are finally relaxing some. My creative side is concerned with drapes and the throw I'm knitting now and there just isn't anything for writing at this time.
We are going to the beach not this next week, but the next for some fishing and hanging out. Our condo is right on the beach and hubby thinks surf fishing will be just the ticket...walk right out from the room and fish. I can sit on the deck and watch him.
Since the kids around Galveston seem to be ok all of a sudden I'm starting to crash a little. We were all so tense for so long we are finally relaxing some. My creative side is concerned with drapes and the throw I'm knitting now and there just isn't anything for writing at this time.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Small comforts
I've been busy as a birdog all day, but wanted to let you know that my daughter's office is ok, too. She called as she was driving to Kemah and was telling me how terrible it was all the way there with boats on the side of the roads and all. The destruction is so tragic. When she got to her office there was mud all the way up to the top of the steps, but none had gotten inside and the upstairs was ok as well. She has been so very lucky this time, and I think she knows it in a big way.
The friend with the boat still has it. The one boat that could have gone to the bottom or up on the roads and nobody would have cared is still afloat and she is back in it. Another friend had gone back to his home and left to get something and then the authorities wouldn't let him back into his sub division. He was telling them "See my cat in the window??" We aren't sure if they let him go back in to get the cat or not, but surely they did.
My youngest daughter's bf is back in Baltimore...the land of hot showers and clean sheets and electricity. He slept in this morning before going to work and was so grateful for the small comforts in life. Heck, it is nearly air conditioned outside up there. The weather is very pleasant. One thing that has made it possible for the people in the Houston/Galveston area to keep their sanity during this is there was a big cool front that came through a day or so after Ike. Thank you, God.
The friend with the boat still has it. The one boat that could have gone to the bottom or up on the roads and nobody would have cared is still afloat and she is back in it. Another friend had gone back to his home and left to get something and then the authorities wouldn't let him back into his sub division. He was telling them "See my cat in the window??" We aren't sure if they let him go back in to get the cat or not, but surely they did.
My youngest daughter's bf is back in Baltimore...the land of hot showers and clean sheets and electricity. He slept in this morning before going to work and was so grateful for the small comforts in life. Heck, it is nearly air conditioned outside up there. The weather is very pleasant. One thing that has made it possible for the people in the Houston/Galveston area to keep their sanity during this is there was a big cool front that came through a day or so after Ike. Thank you, God.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
The kids are home!
Our refugee kids are back at their house....they have no electricity, no water, but the land line phone works. Nobody is sure about the natural gas yet. Mainly because when my daughter called to let me know she had gotten home ok she said she couldn't talk because she had to save the battery on her cell. My dil called a while ago asking me if I was supposed to call everyone. I told her I wasn't told to because she was going to be calling people. Anyway, my dil was pulling my leg because they had called her on the land line and had a chat. The water nearly got up into the pool and if it had been a little higher than that it would have gotten into the house, but the good news is that the roof leak that had been fixed right before all this happened didn't leak. YAY!
She did say there was a lot of damage down there and it will be a good long while before it is back to "normal".
Thanks to all of you who have followed along with this saga and prayed for her. It worked.
She did say there was a lot of damage down there and it will be a good long while before it is back to "normal".
Thanks to all of you who have followed along with this saga and prayed for her. It worked.
*HUGS TO ALL OF YOU*
The Alter Ego
I think my alter ego's name meaning is much more than my real name. I'm not quite as wild and crazy as this indicates, but maybe more when I was younger. One wild thing is when asked that question....Beatles or Stones...well, always The Rolling Stones. What Amberstar Means |
 You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are spirited and boisterous. You're always up to something. |
Will try to get the Ruby Tuesday up in a few minutes.
My Real Name is somewhat different and probably a little more like me, but
that is the other side of me, ya know.
What Linda Means |
You are relaxed, chill, and very likely to go with the flow. You are light hearted and accepting. You don't get worked up easily. Well adjusted and incredibly happy, many people wonder what your secret to life is. You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing. You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long. You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start. You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people. You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts. You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals. You are balanced, orderly, and organized. You like your ducks in a row. You are powerful and competent, especially in the workplace. People can see you as stubborn and headstrong. You definitely have a dominant personality. You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality. |
Both of these say the name has a Type A personality...and that is sometimes so very true. It is time to get busy around here....right after getting Ruby Tuesday up.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Black Monday
Since I changed the background it sort of freaked me out when I stopped by my own blog just now. Not sure how long it will take to get used to it.
News from the kids is that there is no news. They have been looking for a generator for two days, but didn't call tonight to say whether they did or not. There is no electrictity, water or much of anything down there, but I so understand the need to get home.
Hope everyone is doing well. I've ordered a bunch of drapes and am anxiously awaiting them. Had hoped to paint and get carpet first, but oh well.
Anyone have a black Monday on the stock market today. So much depressing news all at once...I just don't know. This is worse than it has been in the past 100 years, what Alan Greenspan said today. That is worse than the depression and that is depressing as all get out. We bought dry beans at the store today....a good bunch of them.
I'd planned to putting this up on Halloween, but it just cracked me up.
News from the kids is that there is no news. They have been looking for a generator for two days, but didn't call tonight to say whether they did or not. There is no electrictity, water or much of anything down there, but I so understand the need to get home.
Hope everyone is doing well. I've ordered a bunch of drapes and am anxiously awaiting them. Had hoped to paint and get carpet first, but oh well.
Anyone have a black Monday on the stock market today. So much depressing news all at once...I just don't know. This is worse than it has been in the past 100 years, what Alan Greenspan said today. That is worse than the depression and that is depressing as all get out. We bought dry beans at the store today....a good bunch of them.
I'd planned to putting this up on Halloween, but it just cracked me up.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Picking up the pieces
We just got home from our son's house for dinner and visiting with our daughter and fiance. It was a mixed grill dinner of the meat they grabbed from the freezer before they fled Hurricane Ike on Thursday morning. They were pretty sure the electricity would go out and the food would spoil. So, we enjoyed their steak, chicken, and pork that had been frozen in the giant ice chest until tonight. And our grandson made brownies for dessert. It was all delicious and we even put some ice cream, and some of the spray whipped cream stuf, and a cherry on top.
It seems they, my daughter and bf from the Kemah Galveston area will have a home when they get back and it seems like her office is ok. It is in Kemah and it probably didn't get water in it, because the storm surge was less than expected and topped out at about 15 feet at the house on Galveston Bay. The friend who drove over to check the office out couldn't get to it, but said it looked intact. Her next door neighbor called to tell her the only thing she could tell about the house is that there is a tree that has fallen over the fence. Hopefully it will be ok. It took nearly two years to get it built. There is a curfew from yesterday until Monday sometime in the area where they live. The damage in the Houston, Alvin, Galveston area, and the whole area is incredible. Even Brennan's in Houston burned down last night during the storm. Yesterday I'd watched the storm coverage so much that when a reporter said there were cars parked in the cruise ship parking lots I wondered what sort of surreal cruise that would have been with a hurricane the size of the Gulf of Mexico in the Gulf for a week and no car or severely damaged car when you got back to the dock. I cannot even imagine what on earth that would even be like. The ships come back in on Sunday morning. My guess is they won't be leaving again Sunday evening, but I could be wrong. There was someone trying to check into a hotel in Houston and was outraged when he couldn't because of flooding. His outrage stemmed from the fact that it hadn't even rained there yet...how could it be flooding!? The hurricane was still in Galveston then and it was hours before the eyewall came across. The storm surge was causing water to back up into that area. Last we saw he was trying to get his truck out of the flooded parking lot.
I hadn't realized how many people we have gotten to know down there in the years since she first moved to Houston about 25 years ago. Some of her friends were not so lucky and have lost a lot. All are alive and that is what counts. However, one was sort of hoping her boat might not make it. She has been living on it for a few years now and broke her leg a while back on the thing. I think she doesn't love it as much as she used to when she bought it in Florida and sailed it back to the Houston yacht club. They have some really fine friends down in that area. It is a good friend who will drive to several cities to let you know your, the bf's, parent's home is ok, your office is ok and that he couldn't get into the area where they live to check on the house. That is a real good friend. He is living without water, electricity and basic services while home to board up his house, but he is going down the street tonight to his neighbor's house who has a generator so he can charge his cell phone. I hope he takes some of the 10 pounds of steak he is going to have to throw away and share it with the generator guy. He is working in Baltimore right now and will be flying back on Monday. He is leaving the boards up on his house until hurricane season is over in November. He may be a son in law one day, too. My youngest daughter is pretty much in love with him. He is a really good friends with my older daughter and her bf, Robert.
I haven't heard anything from my friend, PJ who lives on Galveston island, in a couple of days. Her mom has a dialup connection and it is very slow, so it limits her time online. My prayers are with them that their home is still there. She is a realtor so works from home, but there is a corporate office where she checks in and they send her paycheck. Hope it is ok. Hope her husband's job is ok, too.
There was a statement from the cities that it would be probably a month until the electricity is back on down there. There is a widespread outage of power, water, and we think maybe gas. The kids are going to pick up a generator here if they can find one at Sam's or Costco or one of the home repair stores tomorrow. He has an RV they can actually live in until basic services are restored, if their neighbor from hell doesn't kick up too much of a stink about it all. I'd not like to live without electricity, meaning a/c, in Galveston for any length of time at all, ever. It can get pretty cool down there, but not in September or October and even Thanksgiving is iffy about the cool part. It has been cool when I've been down there, but it must have been in winter or something.
I don't know how she will operate her business though without water and/or electricity. I know this, she will make it work somehow. She always has made the absolute best out of every situation. My hat is off to you, kid.
It seems they, my daughter and bf from the Kemah Galveston area will have a home when they get back and it seems like her office is ok. It is in Kemah and it probably didn't get water in it, because the storm surge was less than expected and topped out at about 15 feet at the house on Galveston Bay. The friend who drove over to check the office out couldn't get to it, but said it looked intact. Her next door neighbor called to tell her the only thing she could tell about the house is that there is a tree that has fallen over the fence. Hopefully it will be ok. It took nearly two years to get it built. There is a curfew from yesterday until Monday sometime in the area where they live. The damage in the Houston, Alvin, Galveston area, and the whole area is incredible. Even Brennan's in Houston burned down last night during the storm. Yesterday I'd watched the storm coverage so much that when a reporter said there were cars parked in the cruise ship parking lots I wondered what sort of surreal cruise that would have been with a hurricane the size of the Gulf of Mexico in the Gulf for a week and no car or severely damaged car when you got back to the dock. I cannot even imagine what on earth that would even be like. The ships come back in on Sunday morning. My guess is they won't be leaving again Sunday evening, but I could be wrong. There was someone trying to check into a hotel in Houston and was outraged when he couldn't because of flooding. His outrage stemmed from the fact that it hadn't even rained there yet...how could it be flooding!? The hurricane was still in Galveston then and it was hours before the eyewall came across. The storm surge was causing water to back up into that area. Last we saw he was trying to get his truck out of the flooded parking lot.
I hadn't realized how many people we have gotten to know down there in the years since she first moved to Houston about 25 years ago. Some of her friends were not so lucky and have lost a lot. All are alive and that is what counts. However, one was sort of hoping her boat might not make it. She has been living on it for a few years now and broke her leg a while back on the thing. I think she doesn't love it as much as she used to when she bought it in Florida and sailed it back to the Houston yacht club. They have some really fine friends down in that area. It is a good friend who will drive to several cities to let you know your, the bf's, parent's home is ok, your office is ok and that he couldn't get into the area where they live to check on the house. That is a real good friend. He is living without water, electricity and basic services while home to board up his house, but he is going down the street tonight to his neighbor's house who has a generator so he can charge his cell phone. I hope he takes some of the 10 pounds of steak he is going to have to throw away and share it with the generator guy. He is working in Baltimore right now and will be flying back on Monday. He is leaving the boards up on his house until hurricane season is over in November. He may be a son in law one day, too. My youngest daughter is pretty much in love with him. He is a really good friends with my older daughter and her bf, Robert.
I haven't heard anything from my friend, PJ who lives on Galveston island, in a couple of days. Her mom has a dialup connection and it is very slow, so it limits her time online. My prayers are with them that their home is still there. She is a realtor so works from home, but there is a corporate office where she checks in and they send her paycheck. Hope it is ok. Hope her husband's job is ok, too.
There was a statement from the cities that it would be probably a month until the electricity is back on down there. There is a widespread outage of power, water, and we think maybe gas. The kids are going to pick up a generator here if they can find one at Sam's or Costco or one of the home repair stores tomorrow. He has an RV they can actually live in until basic services are restored, if their neighbor from hell doesn't kick up too much of a stink about it all. I'd not like to live without electricity, meaning a/c, in Galveston for any length of time at all, ever. It can get pretty cool down there, but not in September or October and even Thanksgiving is iffy about the cool part. It has been cool when I've been down there, but it must have been in winter or something.
I don't know how she will operate her business though without water and/or electricity. I know this, she will make it work somehow. She always has made the absolute best out of every situation. My hat is off to you, kid.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Ike...what can I say
I wouldn't plan a trip now. They are expecting the entire island to be underwater. At 10am there was already water in The Strand area and coming up over the sea wall. At 11am there are people on rooftops on Bolivar Pennisula. The hurricane isn't making landfall until about 11pm tonight. There is much more information and awesome pictures on KHOU the Houston tv station. The usual idiots are on the Galveston Island seawall playing with the surf....when the newsguy just said he nearly got swept away just a few minutes ago. Crystal Beach is under water. A friend of our's mother and brother have homes there. I'm sure they are up here with him now.
In 1900 there was a devastating hurricane that covered the entire island and killed almost everyone there. There is much information at this url http://www.1900storm.com/ Clara Barton traveled down to Galveston to set up help and recovery. She was 78 then and was the head of the American Red Cross which was 19 years old at that time. That was her last disaster.
It is going to be very bad for my daughter's home and my friend, PJ's home. However, they both are safe in their respective havens for the moment. The storm surge is expected to be 20 feet or more their areas.
In 1900 there was a devastating hurricane that covered the entire island and killed almost everyone there. There is much information at this url http://www.1900storm.com/ Clara Barton traveled down to Galveston to set up help and recovery. She was 78 then and was the head of the American Red Cross which was 19 years old at that time. That was her last disaster.
It is going to be very bad for my daughter's home and my friend, PJ's home. However, they both are safe in their respective havens for the moment. The storm surge is expected to be 20 feet or more their areas.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
No serenity these days
Well, these days have not been serene at all. Ike is coming right for my daughter's house and for my friend's in Galveston. I don't think there will be a reprieve this time, but I'm still praying there won't be a 20' surge and get their homes. My daughter is up here and my friends from Galveston are on the road somewhere going to her mom's. My daughter is staying with her brother this time. I'm sure that is fun with her four or five cats added into the household 2 cats, one dog, and one 7 year old boy. I can't wait to get down there tomorrow.
We spent the morning pruning trees away from the house and cutting and bundling them, so the trash guys will take it tomorrow. It was hot here today. While we were working on this task my father in law called to ask for help reporting his phone outage. He had gone to his neighbor's house. So, hubby had to stop and go over to check out the deal. I had reported it, as well as, my fil, and I asked for an expedited service call, but was denied because 0f the hurricane. South Texas will need techs down there, but my in laws are 90 and 91 years old. That wasn't a factor to our phone company. My husband took my cell over, but they couldn't figure it out. Maybe soon they will begin to understand they really need more than we can provide.
Anyway, back to it being hot and it was HOT while I was cutting and bundling limbs. Hubs returned just about the time I was about to perish and finished it. After we got everything put away I came in, shucked my clothes and got in a cold shower to cool off. Afterwards I put on a clean nightgown and put a clean sheet over the couch cushions and watched some tv. That is a wonderful way to spend a hot afternoon.
We should know more by this time tomorrow night about Ike and the fate of our family and friends. If you are in the path of Ike, God bless you and protect you.
All this and the memory of all that was lost on 9-11...lives, buildings, planes, hope and a feeling of safety in our own country. I did take a few moments to think and remember that awful day.
We spent the morning pruning trees away from the house and cutting and bundling them, so the trash guys will take it tomorrow. It was hot here today. While we were working on this task my father in law called to ask for help reporting his phone outage. He had gone to his neighbor's house. So, hubby had to stop and go over to check out the deal. I had reported it, as well as, my fil, and I asked for an expedited service call, but was denied because 0f the hurricane. South Texas will need techs down there, but my in laws are 90 and 91 years old. That wasn't a factor to our phone company. My husband took my cell over, but they couldn't figure it out. Maybe soon they will begin to understand they really need more than we can provide.
Anyway, back to it being hot and it was HOT while I was cutting and bundling limbs. Hubs returned just about the time I was about to perish and finished it. After we got everything put away I came in, shucked my clothes and got in a cold shower to cool off. Afterwards I put on a clean nightgown and put a clean sheet over the couch cushions and watched some tv. That is a wonderful way to spend a hot afternoon.
We should know more by this time tomorrow night about Ike and the fate of our family and friends. If you are in the path of Ike, God bless you and protect you.
All this and the memory of all that was lost on 9-11...lives, buildings, planes, hope and a feeling of safety in our own country. I did take a few moments to think and remember that awful day.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Nearly back
We are nearly done setting up all the computers and making sure we have firewalls and anti-virus proggies on them. I'm as stiff as can be from all the tension and decision making and hubby isn't any better. Maybe be back to full time blogging today or tomorrow. I'm finding all sorts of stuff that needs doing around here now that I haven't had my head stuck in a computer for a while. In the middle of everything yesterday I decided the curtains in my computer room needed to go while we had everything moved. Now I don't like the blinds I put up. Hubby is probably going to "moider" me before this is all over. Gotta go...he is doing Q and A again. Oh Lordy.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Ruby Tuesday
Ruby Tuesday...this was taken the night before my birthday and it was a fun night....as you can see by the Vox bottle, a full bowl of tomatoes (my favorite thing) and exotic ginger flowers. The browning bananas..not so exotic.
Our Ruby Tuesday host is Mary, the Teach. On Tuesdays you can post any photo you like (it must be one of your own) that contains the color RED. Your photo can contain lots of RED or a little bit of RED
this was set up to post last week when I nearly forgot about Ruby Tuesday
Monday, September 8, 2008
Should be back soon...
We bought a new desktop today, but we have another one of those deadly dull meetings tonight starting in an hour. We won't have time to finish tonight, but hubby's mother and dad called and they have decided they don't want to go to the farm tomorrow. They were going to check on the cotton crop, but it is raining here now. She didn't think it would be a good thing to try right now while it is raining. Hubby was sort of relieved to say the least.
Take care and know that I am not on the road to perdition in my movie viewing habits.
Plus, I really like my tiger daemon. A LOT.
Take care and know that I am not on the road to perdition in my movie viewing habits.
Plus, I really like my tiger daemon. A LOT.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
out of memory
My desktop computer is on the fritz and I can't dl pictures to my laptop. Something I haven't figured out yet. I did take a picture of my mailbox today, but it is still in the camera.
News from the real world - my cousin and I met for lunch to celebrate our birthdays. Mine is the 24th and hers is the 29th of August. It was a great time to catch up and talk about so much stuff. She is really a fun person to be around. We then went to watch the Cowboy game and meet up with my husband and daughter.
Anyway, when I get the other computer back working like it should I'll try to catch up with all of you picture taking folks. I think I see a usb port on the side of the laptop.
News from the real world - my cousin and I met for lunch to celebrate our birthdays. Mine is the 24th and hers is the 29th of August. It was a great time to catch up and talk about so much stuff. She is really a fun person to be around. We then went to watch the Cowboy game and meet up with my husband and daughter.
Anyway, when I get the other computer back working like it should I'll try to catch up with all of you picture taking folks. I think I see a usb port on the side of the laptop.
The Golden Compass
I rented The Golden Compass last night while hubby and the kid went to the TCU football game and found it to be a pretty good movie. There was so much going around about how it was an "evil" movie when it came out I wasn't sure about seeing it then. I pretty much make up my own mind about what is evil and what isn't and so far this is not. It does make me curious about all those emails that came about the time of the release of this movie. Maybe I'll read all the books to find out. It is science fiction, ya'll.
In the movie all the people who live in that world have a daemon who is their soul on the outside. Which would come in really handy if you wanted to know what kind of person someone was. Nicole Kidman's character, Mrs. Coulter's daemon was not so cute. Even Sam Elliot is in it, and that can't be bad. At the movie website you can find your own Daemon by answering some questions. Above is my personal Daemon, Nicoleus.
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and New Line Cinema are teaming up to bring attention to the plight of polar bears and other creatures affected by global warming. To learn more, go to: www.worldwildlife.org/goldencompass
Saturday, September 6, 2008
I love your blog gift
I'd like to pass this on to five six seven people...it was in the rules when I got it from Kate at Shambles Manor. I'm sure it was. There are so many blogs I like it is hard to pare it down to these and Judy passed hers on to a lot of other people, too.
Melli at Insanity Prevails who welcomed me to the blog world with a bang like she does everything in her life!
Quilly and OC- Quilly has a wonderful blog and OC does, too. They are a fun couple.
Maribeth who has such a nice blog about life, love, and dachshounds. Always a treat to read.
Raven's Nest who has such a wonderful outlook on the world around her and takes the most amazing pictures and always gives more to a challenge than anybody.
Pyewacket Cat-love your blog when you post! I think we may spend too much time playing Scrabble.
Bossy because she is just so funny and I really do love her blog.
Friday, September 5, 2008
I'm up
Yesterday I felt terrible when it was time to get up and all day for that matter. It was probably the deadly boring meeting I'd attended the night before and when I left I saw they had propped open the door of the church allowing every pollen spore in the area inside. I was wondering why my nose was so stopped up during the meeting. Yesterday was lunch with the girls day, too but had to call to tell them I wouldn't be there.
Spent the day resting and surfing the net looking for somewhere we wanted to stay in Port Aransas. It is time for our yearly trip to the coast. Hopefully we will miss the hurricanes that have been so prolific this year. Our trip will be at the end of the month, so we should be ok and we will only be gone about a week. Unlike Melli's three week extravaganza. *so totally envious of her about that* Not that much to do in Port A and I get all the fishing I like done in a day or so. I'm taking a book and some knitting with me while hubby gets his fill of fishing. There is a bird sanctuary down there, I think. I'm pretty sure there is more than fishing. However, it will be a treat to go down to the shrimp boats to get our dinner when they come in. That is a real photo op...the shrimp boats, the gulls, the ocean....yes...taking the camera for sure.
Also, earlier I'd noticed and email from P. Allen Smith and thought it was just the regular newsletter, but it was an invitation to the Garden Home that will be open for view by the public on September 27th and 28th. The days we will be going to Port A. and it is too far to go up to Arkansas and then drive to the Texas coast. So, sorry P. Allen, but we'll have to pass this time. We have been watching the building of the garden home and the surrounding gardens for a long time on tv. It is really something and the gardens are fabulous.
Since I didn't feel like posting yesterday here is an extra post today and if you need a good laugh, try reading through these children's science exam answers
Q: Name the four seasons.
A: Salt, pepper, mustard and vinegar.
Q: Explain one of the processes by which water can be made safe to drink.
A: Flirtation makes water safe to drink because it removes large pollutants like grit, sand, dead sheep and canoeists.
Q: How is dew formed?
A: The sun shines down on the leaves and makes them perspire.
Q: How can you delay milk turning sour? (brilliant, love this!)
A: Keep it in the cow.
Q: What causes the tides in the oceans?
A: The tides are a fight between the Earth and the Moon. All water tends to flow towards the moon, because there is no water on the moon, and nature hates a vacuum. I forget where the sun joins in this fight.
Q: What are steroids?
A: Things for keeping carpets still on the stairs .
Q: What happens to your body as you age?
A: When you get old, so do your bowels and you get intercontinental.
Q: What happens to a boy when he reaches puberty?
A: He says good-bye to his boyhood and looks forward to his adultery.
Q: Name a major disease associated with cigarettes.
A: Premature death.
Q: How are the main parts of the body categorized? ( e.g., abdomen)
A: The body is consisted into three parts -- the brainium, the borax and the abdominal cavity. The brainium contains the brain; the borax contains the heart and lungs, and the abdominal cavity contains the five bowels A, E, I, O, and U.
Q: What is the fibula?
A: A small lie.
Q: What does "varicose" mean?
A: Nearby
Q: Give the meaning of the term "Caesarian Section."
A: The Caesarian Section is a district in Rome
Q: What does the word "benign" mean?
A: Benign is what you will be after you be eight.
Spent the day resting and surfing the net looking for somewhere we wanted to stay in Port Aransas. It is time for our yearly trip to the coast. Hopefully we will miss the hurricanes that have been so prolific this year. Our trip will be at the end of the month, so we should be ok and we will only be gone about a week. Unlike Melli's three week extravaganza. *so totally envious of her about that* Not that much to do in Port A and I get all the fishing I like done in a day or so. I'm taking a book and some knitting with me while hubby gets his fill of fishing. There is a bird sanctuary down there, I think. I'm pretty sure there is more than fishing. However, it will be a treat to go down to the shrimp boats to get our dinner when they come in. That is a real photo op...the shrimp boats, the gulls, the ocean....yes...taking the camera for sure.
Also, earlier I'd noticed and email from P. Allen Smith and thought it was just the regular newsletter, but it was an invitation to the Garden Home that will be open for view by the public on September 27th and 28th. The days we will be going to Port A. and it is too far to go up to Arkansas and then drive to the Texas coast. So, sorry P. Allen, but we'll have to pass this time. We have been watching the building of the garden home and the surrounding gardens for a long time on tv. It is really something and the gardens are fabulous.
Since I didn't feel like posting yesterday here is an extra post today and if you need a good laugh, try reading through these children's science exam answers
Q: Name the four seasons.
A: Salt, pepper, mustard and vinegar.
Q: Explain one of the processes by which water can be made safe to drink.
A: Flirtation makes water safe to drink because it removes large pollutants like grit, sand, dead sheep and canoeists.
Q: How is dew formed?
A: The sun shines down on the leaves and makes them perspire.
Q: How can you delay milk turning sour? (brilliant, love this!)
A: Keep it in the cow.
Q: What causes the tides in the oceans?
A: The tides are a fight between the Earth and the Moon. All water tends to flow towards the moon, because there is no water on the moon, and nature hates a vacuum. I forget where the sun joins in this fight.
Q: What are steroids?
A: Things for keeping carpets still on the stairs .
Q: What happens to your body as you age?
A: When you get old, so do your bowels and you get intercontinental.
Q: What happens to a boy when he reaches puberty?
A: He says good-bye to his boyhood and looks forward to his adultery.
Q: Name a major disease associated with cigarettes.
A: Premature death.
Q: How are the main parts of the body categorized? ( e.g., abdomen)
A: The body is consisted into three parts -- the brainium, the borax and the abdominal cavity. The brainium contains the brain; the borax contains the heart and lungs, and the abdominal cavity contains the five bowels A, E, I, O, and U.
Q: What is the fibula?
A: A small lie.
Q: What does "varicose" mean?
A: Nearby
Q: Give the meaning of the term "Caesarian Section."
A: The Caesarian Section is a district in Rome
Q: What does the word "benign" mean?
A: Benign is what you will be after you be eight.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Just for Today Let's...
Smile at a stranger;
listen to someone's heart;
hug a loved one.
Tell someone you're thinking of them.
Drop a coin where a child can find it.
Learn something new then teach it to someone else.
Look a child in the eye and tell them how great they are.
Don't hold a grudge.
Don't be afraid to say, "I'm sorry."
Look beyond the face of a person into their heart.
Make a promise and keep it.
Call someone for no other reason than to just say "hello."
Show kindness to an animal.
Stand up for what you believe in.
Smell the rain,
feel the breeze,
listen to the wind.
Use all your senses to their fullest.
Cherish all your todays."
listen to someone's heart;
hug a loved one.
Tell someone you're thinking of them.
Drop a coin where a child can find it.
Learn something new then teach it to someone else.
Look a child in the eye and tell them how great they are.
Don't hold a grudge.
Don't be afraid to say, "I'm sorry."
Look beyond the face of a person into their heart.
Make a promise and keep it.
Call someone for no other reason than to just say "hello."
Show kindness to an animal.
Stand up for what you believe in.
Smell the rain,
feel the breeze,
listen to the wind.
Use all your senses to their fullest.
Cherish all your todays."
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Our part of Gustav just blew through....
Our part of Hurricane Gustav just blew over us. The wind has been blowing a lot today, but it has been sunny and hot until just a few minutes ago when it started raining like crazy. Ok..it isn't like on the coast, but it was noted up here in the DFW area that it truly was Gustav.
I thought I'd gotten a picture of our neighbor's house across the street where they are putting on a new roof today. The paper wrappers the shingles come in were blowing all the way over into my backyard earlier today. It wasn't on the camera though and I wasn't going back out to snap another one with all the workers looking at me.
You can sort of see the rain in the pool...sort of...trust me it was raining pretty good out there.
The deluge in the backyard was notable, although did not last too long.
On the front porch my wind sock is blowing...showing the wind from the north
I thought I'd gotten a picture of our neighbor's house across the street where they are putting on a new roof today. The paper wrappers the shingles come in were blowing all the way over into my backyard earlier today. It wasn't on the camera though and I wasn't going back out to snap another one with all the workers looking at me.
Thank you, Kate and ramblings and Ruby Tuesday!
Kate over at Shambles Manor in Scotland gave me a fine award today...well, actually yesterday but I just now got over to pick it up. It is sweet and thank you, Kate. She has a fun blog and loves the lol cats, too. I heart her blog, too.
Our Ruby Tuesday host is Mary, the Teach. On Tuesdays you can post any photo you like (it must be one of your own) that contains the color RED. Your photo can contain lots of RED or a little bit of RED and the sweet red heart gift from Kate is going to be my Ruby Red post.
Thanks to all of you who were concerned about my home cleaning and postponing the knitting. The deal is I have to do that or nothing will get done. Between the computer and the neighborhood association and the house and the kids and the in laws and you name it...well, sometimes some funner things have to wait. My daughter came over yesterday to knit with me and she is making progress and learning the heartbreak of the dropped stitch, too. She is developing a real liking for it, I think. I'm glad to have her here visiting and telling what is going on in her life...and some of it is hilarious. Some of the things she was telling me yesterday had me gasping with laughter. She is a hoot and great fun.
Now that hurricane Gustav has moved on it is time to go to UPS and mail a lamp her sister asked me to pick up the other day. I'm debating whether or not ship the glass fridge bottles she admired when she was here. I checked Wal Mart when we were there the other day and they had some that were actually cooler than mine....so I picked up a couple for her. They are great for juice....like tomato juice that you can't leave in the can. Good for when you make iced tea, too. Maybe save it for Christmas instead of sending them now. She has asked for new things that she uses everyday for Christmas. She wants to renew her kitchen gadgets and that works for me. I love buying them, too.
Update PS-The lamp will be going to Houston with her sister. It was going to cost more than the lamp cost to send it UPS.
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