Tuesday Night Back to Normal: T.I. Whatever You Like and Katy Perry Hot N' Cold

What a ride we did on the stock market, huh? Why bailout fat cats? Shouldn't they go down and suffer? We didn't beg for a bailout of Enron or WorldCom did we? Why Wall Street, just because they have been floated up to their eyeballs writing checks their ego couldn't cash?

So the market will suffer a bit. If you don't live on credit and have smart diversified investments, this is nothing different than September 17, 2001. Look forward to the great recovery.

Think about the stereotypes: Wall Street are rich republicans? Than why are the Democrats trying to push this through?

Anyway, music of the now, leader of the ringtones and all-around awesome, T.I. Whatever You Like:



Katy Perry Hot N Cold (I'm not a big fan of her first two songs they just seem trendy but not catchy. This one is catchy)

Congress Should Be Voted out in Total!

My friend has entered the world of blogging:

Well.... The "Bailout" was voted down today and the market crashed. Many of you are thinking that it is only going to get worse, and it likely will. But that does not mean that we need to have our elected officials vote for a piece of legislation that no one liked, including most of Congress. This bill did not even have the support of 95 Democrats, what does their leadership think of that. This bill was loaded with lots of extras, that we don't have the money for! How can Congress try to pass a "Bailout" and have members from both sides try to add on special interest "crap". This is insane. The Republican's have a plan that will hold Wall Street, not Main Street, responsible for their own bailout. Cut capital gains taxes, eliminate the death tax, and so on. But it is not likely Speaker Pelosi will allow it to the floor.

As your representatives come home to ask you to re-elect them to serve you in Washington, remember that they are there to serve themselves. Ask them how it is that many of them arrive in Washington making a good, but not great salary for the job they do, and almost always end up rich? They like to hear themselves talk, take special interest dollars and give us programs that help no one. There are lots of people to blame, including us. We put them on the Hill and we can take them off. It is not a retirement community, it is an American community. So as soon as your representative stops listening to you and your other like minded neighbors, what ever your views are, send them packing.

We need to have people in Washington who care about the Country and not their image. "We the People" are going to get more of this unless "We" get them out of there. We need to vote new ideas, not Obamadeas, into Washington that will actually work for all Americans. Let these self-important fools know that they are not the gods they think they are. They are ruining our country and they have to be voted out before this will stop. Keep burning up the phone lines and filling the mailboxes on Capitol Hill.

not bad for a first post!

The Tree in Question is Gone

I will post details after I have collected the cost of removing the tree.

Sunday Cat Post

Isn't she the happiest cat in the cat land?

Sunday Morning

It's just like old times! My first normal Sunday in over two weeks. What's a normal Sunday? Drinking coffee, watching last night's Saturday Night Live, waiting for Football. Cowboys are on today, yeehaw!

New music I am listening to includes Kanye West, Jenny Lewis and The Killers.

Now I'm watching Kill Bill Vol. I. What a great movie. Will work out later.

What do you like to do on a Sunday?

Observations after a Hurricane

Things you don't think about, in no particular order:

Burnt matches everywhere, thus candle wax everywhere

When you leave the garage up the night of the hurricane with neighbors and friends for a couple of hours, you get a lot of dust in the garage.

Subsequently, dust everywhere in the house from tracking

When your indoor cat becomes an outdoor cat, your cat brings the outdoor inside

Flashlights everywhere, along with half empty bags of chips

Dust and leaves, did I mention the dust and leaves? Think about it, the balcony and the garage were my outdoor home for three days. Think about the tracking in and out

I missed a lot of new TV

Flashing Lights/4 way stop sign: When you are next to a truck or van, which is normal in houston, wait for them to set the pick than follow. That is the only way to proceed without getting slammed.

Think about this: Schools that are opened are not enforcing the dress code. Why? Because the kids are in homes with no power, or relocated, so they don't have clean appropriate clothes to wear to school. How sad is that?

I went to work this week and workers had their kids with them. It was just normal/weird. No school, no power, no babysitters meant you see 5 year olds running around your hallway and on your elevator and that is normal. I don't mean they were unsupervised, they were very polite. It was just take your kids to school day all week.

I drove by my other neighborhood tonight: Multiple lights indoor and outdoor on, then I got closer to my block. Dark outside (no streetlights) but lights on in houses here and there. I turned off the radio, and rolled down the window, and there it was: the hum of generators.

You don't forget the hum of generators once you hear it. My old house is still without power and they are living on a generator. Thank gosh for the cold front it is very pleasant right now.

Hum of the Generator. Should've been the title of the post.

I'MMMMMMMMMMMMM HOOOOOOOOMMMEEE!

YAY! A neighbor called at 2pm and report was lights on our street! I confirmed with another neighbor. Ironically I had just driven to Cypress to checkout and fetch the cat and drove all the way to the Woodlands at lunch time. It was a 2 hour trip /60 mile trip.

That's why it happened! It's like bringing an umbrella out and it doesn't rain. I did it! I restored the power!


I'm having a very relaxed and peaceful night. Xena didn't complain so much on the ride home, I think she was used to it. I thought of staying the night and transferring her tomorrow, but someone rightfully pointed out that as soon as she walks in the house, and not have another night in a new strange place, it will be worth it.

And they were right! She has been sprawled on the upstairs hardwoods since I got here. The temp was 87 in the house but it is down to 83 in less than an hour.

Tomorrow I hire a maid.

Centerpoint Outages Extended

I was suppose to have power by Thursday according to the outage map. It has been updated and now it says by Sunday.

Seriously, look inside the 610 Loop: the cornerstone of a city is always "inside the loop". It looks like 80 percent of the inner loop will be without power until at LEAST Sunday. That's 17 days post-Ike.

Wow, and we thought New Orleans had problems. They just flooded. How are you going to fix a downed tree and a downed pole and a blown transformer on every street?

Remember my post from the night it happened? It was like watching a fireworks show from the ground up, I said. Wow.

I am bailing the hotel tomorrow. I was going to take the cat home and camp out in the Woodlands at a friends house, but now I think I will bring her with me considering it looks like at least another 5 days without power. That's 5 days of driving back and forth to the cat to check on her.

She's just gotten used to my hotel room. But I am sure the hotel is a bit worried that I haven't had maid service in 5 days.

We are leaving tomorrow no matter what.

Wow. I am eating my words from the Hurricane Ready Post, aren't I?


more animals

Which Wich: Awesome Sandwich Store

Here is a store that is so awesome. The Which Wich. They are a chain in Texas and possibly elsewhere. You walk in , the brown bags are on the wall with labels like "Turkey" "Ham and Cheese" etc.

What a great concept. You check with a sharpie the mustard, cheese, toppings, etc and then write your name on the bag. They put it in line and you wait for them to fill it.

The sandwich I got was great. I got it because I was buying tickets for the ACL festival from the manager and figured I would get some food, considering that I still have no power and am living in a hotel.

Which Wich rules!

Things That Pass in a Hurricane

1. It's okay to talk like a sailor, even at work

2. It's okay to take things from friends and neighbors with a nod
- tampons
- Pretzels
- water
- cold drinks
- garbage bags
- pet food
- long distance calls on the home phone
- internet
- gas tanks
- generators (if they got power back)
- A/C unit (see above)
- guest bedroom (see above)

3. Burping

4. Free food

5. Talking to the guy in line at the gas station behind you and sharing stories

6. Animals in a not pet friendly hotel

7. Hanging out at the corner store just for the A/C

8. Asking your neighbor, "are you cooking breakfast"

9. Loaning your gun to a neighbor

10. Speeding at 90mph like the cops got better things to do than pull you over

I Can See Russia From my House

Saturday Night

At T-Roy's. Who is checking my blog from Winter Park, FL? Just curious. Thanks good night

Saturday Morning

I'm still in the hotel. Last night me and co-worker conamed T-Roy went back to my house to get my cat. The timing was perfect because the tree guy called and was there to get rid of the tree. Because it was not rooted and therefore not safe to cut without reinforcements it cost $500. If it was on the ground as originally it would have cost $200.

The neighbor left another note on my house saying how sorry he was for his poor judgment and error in his ways. The police apparently scared him straight. I plan on collecting half from him.

I'm in my room with Xena who is exploring the place. She is happy and I am happy that she is here.

I'm going to T-Roy's tonight to watch the LSU game and have some pork chops and rice and gravy.

Last night on my street the neighbors had a generator party. They grilled and we all hungout outside and told stories. It felt very normal.

Asshole neighbor Post

Asshole jerkoff neighbor climbed onto my property when I wasn't there and tied the tree to my house. I called the police and they came over. They were really as stunned as me by the turn of events. They really wanted to arrest him and called the DA. Unfortunately he wouldn't take it and the tresspassing wasn't enough. The loser left a note (signed confession) behind and it worked against me because it showed good intent on the neighbor, even thought clearly he as put my property into danger and all surroundings.

My neighbor, from Louisiana who has lived through multiple hurricanes, has never seen anything like this in her life.

Tuesday Post Ike Day 4

Top photo is the before pic. The rest are the after.

Back in my room for the night. We drove 130 miles today all over town checking on residences and office facilities for security and basic support. Our phones don't work at all in the Woodlands. I did a count, there were three of us in the car and between us we had 6 phones and 3 pistolas.

Downtown Houston is a mess. The lights were blinking and there is still shattered glass in the streets but there were crews looking to set up and start cleaning. Our office is open tomorrow. We advised from a safety point of view to give it another day but they want everyone working and making the company money.

We passed a convoy of electrical trucks - Reminded me eerily of my trips to New Orleans everyday after Katrina. The convoy was about 50 trucks and they were from Indiana. Wow.

Still no power at house. No power in Woodlands and they are saying "catastrophic failure" because of the damage to east Texas and Louisiana.

My neighbor will check on the cat tomorrow or I may drive back. Gas lines were everywhere. Why wait two hours for gas? Why didn't you fill up before the hurricane? Is it an obsession? I don't understand that. I do understand the need to fuel generators, I know people who have siphoned gas from there cars for that.

I'm not judging just observing.

Boring pics above not worth captions. My hotel room is huge. Way too big for me I tried to trade it with the co-workers with family and 2 kids, but they are already settled in and don't want to bother to move.

Monday Night - Cypress, TX Hurricane Ike

Well, As I think I have told all of you I am in technically Cypress TX which is really just 25 miles from my house. So that's actually close than the Woodlands.

I'm watching the Cowboy game. Not really happy with it right now in the 4th quarter and we are losing.


Going to watch the game but not happy with it. Will go back to house tomorrow to check in but we have a 0800 briefing.

Good night and thanks for all your texts, calls and well wishes.

I will post pics tomorrow of my neighbor trying to cut down his tree with a hack saw. The more he cut, the more it fell (on his fence) .I wont say anything else for liability purposes.

Goodnight, Ike

I am so bored. I know it is late but no tv and lucky to have internet. For whatever reason I

can't get on Chron or Khou. Maybe too busy.


I had pork and brisket for dinner with some Cajun beans. Me and Jason are new best friends forever. They offered to let me sleep on their floor because they have a generator, but really with the cold front it is 78.6 in my bedroom and will get colder. I sleep with that when I have A/C.

ANyway gotta post because I think battery is almost done. Still listening to the radio with channel 11 on so I think they will be everybody's heroes in the end.

Neighbors are awesome. I'm going to have eggs in the morning. I will probly have to relocate or work in Dallas or Greenspoint tommorow so going to sleep in when i can..

sorry didn't spell check.

good night it has been a good weekend for me considering.

I'm testing I think I can post from my BB really if you don't know your neighbors nothing brings you together like 2 natural disasters in 24 hours

Good night just testing the systEm. I have friends in the woodlands who can't get online have no cell reception. How lucky am I to have all that and you? Hell, I got a post from Italy

Last Pics Pre-Hurricane Party and during

More pics

This should be dead tree next door and down trees in neighborhood.

More pics

I think these are post hurricane. Yes they are lamonte I went over yesterday and gave my nieghbor my 7 gallon jug of water.

More Pics

I can post only 5 at a time.

Pictures post Ike

Some pics not too exciting. The cat is with me in the garage. I 'm powering up my laptop and cell while I watch the news. I really wish they would show football. That would make this seem normal.

The cat in the garage is taking all the attention from the dogs across the street. It's cute that is why there are so many pics but I'm just going to post all. Pics also of Lamonte after the hurricane but that neighborhood takes care of itself and by the time I was there lots of tree branches were already picked up. I didn't take any pics of down trees across the roads but they were everywhere.

Damn White oak Bayou looks high. It stopped raining so I think we are good.

White Oak Bayou

Here's the link to the White Oak Bayou. Watch it for me ok? I'm getting low battery

http://www.hcoem.org/StreamGauge.aspx?G=519

flooding all day. rain rain rain

Two Weeks: No Power, Watch White Oak Bayou

Karma. look at my tree on my neighbors house. Can someone tell me which part I am liable about?

5 million without power

Seriously, I've heard the best and worst. But I think this could be weeks.

I am watching the reverse of an electrical storm. Green lights popping from bottom up. The whole sky lighting up.

Every single transformer in Houston is blown. I am relying on C batteries and one channel. But my Woodlands friends said 5 million out and it could take weeks.
'
look at Baton Rouge.

I am watching a light show from the bottom up.

I can stand on my front porch and not get blown over and barely get rain. The eye is a few minutes away.

Brennan's has burned to the ground. You have eaten there, remember the Shombroan's wedding?

Wind is picking up, wall of eye must be here. saving batteries will check in at daylight.

1222 Friday Night

no power since 1030

everything ok

eye wont pass for 3 hours

i had this great post but it was lost thus the brevity

sux

got a small tv

i am so bored

but i am safe

will blog around 4 or 5

why aren't you answering your phones?

Last minute Pics

I was looking for ice, figuring a couple more bags wouldn't hurt. Plus I drove by my favorite weekend restaurant and they were open (as were all fast food places) so I stopped and had my migas and coffee. Maybe last meal? Will have the leftover turkey tonight before the power goes out (or when it goes out!).

Last minute pics, getting gas and my living room with my furniture patio, grill, and the cat. Don't cats always seek new and high places?

I just heard a stat on the news. According to Census Bureau, 13 million people may be affected by hurricane or TS winds. Wow.

Stormpulse prediction

I really don't believe this but if you click on Houston where I live, it predicts 90 mph winds at 0700 am tomorrow morning. I may get 50-75, but 90? I highly doubt it.