Let's Get Current ... Well, Almost

Well, here we are.  I was getting pretty tired right before the power went out and the only thing that was keeping me awake was the fact that I wanted to be able to say that I stood outside with Ike.  Luckily, I had my rain gear from hunting and was ale to wear that while I stood outside in the wind and rain to feel the power of the storm.  The winds just kept getting stronger and stronger, but I never really felt in danger.  My only fear was the roof blowing off and the house taking water during the storm.  

I was enjoying the "breezy" weather, but eventually, Ramona had enough of my storm watch, and instructed me that it was time for me to come in.  I think she was afraid I was going to blow away, so I complied with her "request" (I'm not real sure she was giving me an option, but I like to think I had a choice).  I couldn't believe it, but it was actually louder inside than it was outside.  Outside, you just heard the wind blowing in the trees, and howling, but inside it was a constant howl/roar as it blew over the chimney and whistled through the door jam.  I didn't sleep a wink, not because I was afraid or nervous, but because every time I got close to drifting off, another 80-90 mph "gust" came through making way too much noise.

The next day (actually later the same day) at around 7:30 or 8:00 am I told Ramona that I had to go sleep for a little while because I was exhausted.  I've stayed up a lot longer than 24 hours before, but I felt like I had been up for 2 days.  It's amazing how all of that nervous energy just wipes you out.  I slept for a whole 3 hours!!!

Ramona and Karsen were being so quiet while I was napping, and I knew it had to be hard, so I got up thinking I might be able to start cleaning things up.  Wrong!!  Ike was a little bigger than expected and we were still feeling hurricane force gusts in the early afternoon.  It rained all day long, but we did take a trip around town to see what kind of a punch Ike had.  Let's just say, if Ike had seen "the shirt" he would not have been very happy.  After seeing some of the damage, I think someone may have heard a little worse shirts or signs up.

We were without power for 4 solid days.  It didn't bother me as much, and I think I have those lovely days on various deer leases to thank for that.  My dad and I have stayed in some pretty rough deer "camps", ad as a child, I didn't really take naps during the day, so you learn how to deal with the boredom.  Karsen, of course, had no problems with no electricity, but he did get a little grumpy when he was forced to take a nap while "glistening" in the light.  I believe that if you refrain from using the word sweat around people when they are baking in the heat, that their attitude is slightly better.  

It never really got that hot after the cold front came in, but the second night was rough as far as sleep.  I awoke between 5:30 and 6:00 am everyday, which is something that I have not done since, well, ever.  Flash (dog) enjoyed the power outage.  He is an Italian Greyhound and they do not have an ounce of fat on their body.  He was actually able to sleep on top of a blanket instead of buried underneath multiple layers.  He has since returned to his shivering and burrowing.  Ramona is thrilled to have a/c once again, and I am really enjoying walking into a room, hitting a light switch, and actually seeing a change take place in the level of light in the room.

I still have not taken the time to get the pictures from the camera onto the computer, but don't worry, they are coming.

We Are Back!!!

We finally got power last night around 6:00 pm, but didn't realize it until 9:00 pm.  I know what you might be thinking, and to quiet your fears, no, we were not the family sitting in the dark with all the light switches off, a/c off, and all electrical appliances unplugged.  We were actually out enjoying the cold a/c from the truck while driving around admiring those who had power.  I have so much to write, but I know so many of you are feverishly checking this blog at all hours, so I am taking a little time right now to make a small post.  I was actually trying to post a blog when our power went out for good at 3:35 am on Saturday morning, so I will be including that blog in this post.  I am sorry, kind of, but you will have to wait in anticipation for the next entry which will include many of the emotions and activities that were occurring on Saturday.  It will be good, and it will include pictures.  If I can find the software to add video from our camera it will include that as well.  Thanks you all for your thoughts and prayers during this event, and I hope you enjoy our featured presentation:

Saturday Morning @ approximately 3:30 am:

We still have power, although it has gone off about 4 times since my last post.  The news is now saying the eye may miss Houston as it has taken a Northern turn.  If this is what happens, we should miss the strongest winds.  I stood outside for a good 10-15 minutes earlier just admiring the winds.  We had some pretty good gusts while I was out there, and the trees were starting to bend a bit.  I kept hearing a sound that sounded like brakes on a car as you ease off of them at a stop light waiting for it to turn green.  I also witnessed the howling of the wind as it rushes over the houses and through the trees.  The rain has arrived and the news shows that we have received .25 inches, but other places have already received 2.5+ inches in Houston.  They are estimating 10 hours of rain left for Houston before Ike moves on to greener pastures.  The strongest winds should be here within an hour.  Ramona and Karsen have moved to the living room with me.  I moved a mattress in for us to sleep on.  Storm is moving at 10 mph.  I'll continue to post for as long as I have power.

Just had our second power blip.  Centerpoint energy said they now have 1,300,000 customers without power (2.25 million people) out of 2 million customers (4.5 million people).  Another energy company has 100,000 without power.  We are getting into it now, but still aren't at Hurricane status.  The news has registered 50+ mph gusts out in Tomball and sustained winds of mid 40s.  75 mph wind gusts for the University of Houston.  

Wind is picking up some more.  Galveston is entering the eye and they had gusts of 120 mph.  I missed the sustained winds in Galveston.  Brennan's Restaurant in Houston caught on fire and burnt to the ground.  They believe it was a transformer that started the fire.  I just heard another transformer blow out here.  I heard one to the South about an hour ago and this one was to the North.  Ramona and Karsen are sleeping like babies, while I keep watch.  It's more of a not wanting to miss something, but once we lose power, I will probably just lay down and try to catch some sleep.  Our power finally flashed for the first time about 30 minutes ago, but was only out for about 5 seconds.  Pretty good gust just now.  You can hear it blowing over the chimney.  I will post later if we still have power, but I want to get his posted so ya'll know we are still OK at 1:21 am.

It's getting closer ...

Winds are picking up.  The rain is starting to fall.  I was just outside and it is kind of neat to hear the wind and watch it blow down the street.  It's similar to watching "the wave" at a sporting event as the trees each bend over one at a time.  I would guess that our gusts are now around 50+ and sustained around 40.  For those from Houston, Bob Allen (sports guy) is actually out in the element like a low man on the totem pole.  He actually volunteered to go out and work for them tonight.  

My camera does not have a night vision setting, so my videos are pointless, and I also can't find the software for converting the movie files.   will look online and see what I find.  Here is one more picture that I took earlier (probably around 9:30 or 10:00).

I am going for the "Raging Redneck" look.  How am I doing?  Yes that is a "homemade" shirt.

Update: 11:41 pm Channel 13 just lost power and are now on generator power.  They are showing a shot of the seawall, and Ike is definitely flexing his muscles with the waves.

I'm a Man, but ...

There is definitely a nervous anticipation. I was in Hurricane Alicia, but I don't remember a thing. I experienced some high winds in Lubbock (50-70+ mph gusts), but I've never been in 70+mph sustained winds. Compound that nervous energy with the fact that it is 8:13 pm and it is dark outside. We are under a Tornado warning currently. The entire east side of the storm is under a Tornado warning.  

Hearing the wind outside is kinda eerie. The best thing I can compare it to is being alone in the dark walking to your hunting spot, but you forgot your gun. You've got your knife, and you've got your flashlight, but no fire power.

Bissonett has lost power. Channel 13 has a mobile crew driving around. The guy just said an estimated 4,000 are powerless. The first power line pole has fallen, so it will be here shortly. They said as many as 2,000,000 people could be without power in the morning. Man I hope we don't have to use the generator, but who knows.

I took a video earlier, and will attempt to take videos throughout the night, but who knows how they will turn out. I don't anticipate getting too much sleep tonight, so if nothing else, maybe you all will have something to read in the morning. Continue to keep us, and all of those people that are in the path of this storm in your thoughts and prayers.

Edit: 8:59 pm - Centerpoint Energy just said that the count is up to 250,000 without power and they feel like it will be 1,000,000 before all is said and done. 7,000 people are coming in from all over the country to help restore power after the storm, but they feel like it will be 2-3 weeks before they get all of the power restored.

Well ...

The news casters are getting a little crazy going to every single press conference available from the city Galveston, to Austin, then to Galveston County, so I figured it was time to go hangout outside for a bit.  

There is not very much wind on the street level, but the trees are moving a little bit, and it is, what most forecasters might call, overcast.  When you look at the clouds, you can tell they are moving, so I know there is some wind up there.  

The outer-bands are brushing Galveston, but They have not seen Hurricane force winds yet.  Last I heard, the Gulf was 18' above its normal level, and the seawall is 18' tall, so you know what that means.  They have showed a few shots of the water slamming the top of the seawall and cresting over the wall.  I heard a report that the strand was flooded this morning at 10:00 am.  The flooding was caused by the storm surge without any rain water, so once it starts raining, Galveston Island could be totally under water with just buildings and houses sticking out of the water.  They have had two fires that they could not get to because of flooding.  One was a house fire, and the other was a "boat storage facility", whatever that is.  I have heard of marina's , but I have never heard of a "boat storage facility", so your guess is as good as mine. 

The eye of the Hurricane is now 65 miles wide, and if the eye gets smaller, the wind speeds will increase, so there is still possibility of a Cat 3 or higher.  Galveston Bay is supposed to see a storm surge of 17'-22', but we shouldn't see an inch of storm surge where we are.

Weatherman just said the storm is not going to take a Rita turn, so they are pretty certain Houston is going to get Hurricane winds.  The wind speeds are now 110 mph (Cat 2).  If they hit 111 mph, it will be Category 3.  The storm surge with Ike is equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane, and they say this is because of the massive size of this storm.  I think I heard them say that Ike has tropical storm winds extending to a radius of 250 miles.  That means the storm is 500 miles wide.  Looking at a map, that is the distance from Houston to Lubbock.

They just showed a clip of I-10 near Uvalde (east side of Houston Greens Bayou) and the hotel parking lot is completely flooded.  Water from Greens Bayou has flooded an entire hotel parking lot, and once again, this is not from any rain.  The Houston Ship channel is several feet above normal.  All from Tidal Surge.

We just had a nice wind gust here, but it is pretty calm still.  When the video camera finishes charging look for live video updates!!!

I took Aunt Vic's advice and went to the seawall to snap a picture.  To my surprise there was a guy surfing, and the wave also carried a measuring stick that showed just how tall it was.

*Disclaimer: I did not take this picture, but "borrowed" it from the internet.  I don't want anybody trying to claim royalties from my new fancy blog.

Edit: On another note ...

As you all know, I graduated from Texas Tech University and follow Red Raider Football.  I found this picture on a Texas Tech message board that I frequent adn thought I would share it with you all.  It appears Ike's cousin made an appearance.

They are supposed to play football there tomorrow against SMU.  It is Field Turf under the water, so if they can get the water pumped out, it won't be a mud hole.  Looks more like they might hold a swim meet instead.

Edit 2: I just read that the Lubbock Fire Department drove a fire truck or two onto the field and pumped the water off of the field.  They got 10" of rain yesterday.  The game will be played on schedule.  Hopefully we have TV down here after Ike blows through.  If you care to watch, it will be on FSN I believe at 6:00 pm.

It Sure is Humid

Earlier it was like a humid day in Lubbock.  Felt like about 80-90% humidity with about a 20 mph breeze.  The breeze is constant, but it is not as strong, but the humidity is still here.  

I just got back from Tomball (20-30 min one way).  Ramona got a hot tip that they had some gas cans, but I think they were confused about what a gas can was, because when I got there, there were no gas cans.  However, they did have about 7 gas tanks for boats.  I thought about buying one, and siphoning out of it, but they were only 3 gallons and I saw they were $20 a pop.  If i owned a boat that needed a 3 gallon gas tank, I might have bought one, but I decided I would save my $20 and spend it on something more beneficial ... maybe lottery tickets (kidding).

I took a few pictures for your viewing pleasure and will update with more frequency.  

I couldn't find my bull whip, so that stick is going to have to do.

Thank goodness I have Karsen to protect me and he has "the stick"

Neighbor's Palm trees.  We will see if they know how to survive better than the native Pine trees.

A group of native trees

Another group of trees.

When the wind picks up, I plan on taking some videos and trying to get them on here.

We know get you back to your regularly scheduled programming.

Hurricane Ike (2 days out)

Well, you found the "Official" Hurricane Ike blog ... well our official Hurricane Ike Blog.  I will be updating this for as long as I can.  I meant to start last night, but had to get Ramona to help me find the place to blog, so here we are.

Yesterday, the news felt pretty confident that our friend Ike would be cruising through Houston, so I decided to go pull the ol' generator out of the corner and see if it starts.  I was quite confident that it would not start, seeing as it has been sitting for about 7 years here, and probably hasn't been fired up in 14 years.  I searched high and low, but the only gas can we had was a small 1 gallon can that mom bought when she ran out of gas driving the Trans Am.  Well, I went on a search for gas, and passed the first 5 stations because every pump had at least 3 cars in line.  The 6th station that I came to actually had an open pump, but right after I pulled up, it too had lines of cars.

After I got the gas, it was time to try the ol' generator out.  Ramona and Karsen came out for "the big coming out party".  The gas can had a neck and nozzle on it that is like a bendy straw.  I  tried to expand it so that it would be a little easier to pour and I pulled the flexible part off.  The plastic was so old that it was stiff and just pulled apart.  I found a funnel that I had and used that so that I could pour from the can into the generator gas tank.  It was now time to see if it would start, but we all know, anything that requires a pull start is never going to start on the first try.  About the time I am going to give 'er a crank, I hear Ramona say, "Babe.  Is that gas leaking out of it?"  Sure enough the carburetor was leaking gas into the air filter and that was draining on to the ground.

I used a "phone-a-friend" and called Pops.  The guy is amazing.  He was able to not only diagnose the problem, but tell me exactly what I needed to do to fix the problem.  Now I just had to find the parts that I needed.  I tried O'reiley, Auto Zone, Sears, Lowes, and Home Depot.  None fo them carried the parts I needed.  I came back to the house and used our trusty old friend www.google.com and found a lawn mower repair shop that did have the parts.  I got the parts and came home to attempt fixing the generator.  After the carb was cleaned, "rebuilt", and the new fuel lines were run, it was time to once again see if she was going to start.  

I was doubting that it would start, but had a small glimmer of hope.  Ramona and Karsen once again made the short trek from the living room to the garage for the "Grand Opening".  I started to ask for a drum roll or possibly a short hymn from Ramona, but decided to go with a, "You ready?"  

On the first pull we had nothing.  Hope sinks a little.  

Second pull nothing.  

And on the third pull ... We have success!!!

Now it was time to try and find some gas cans.  We called 2 Walmarts, 2 Targets, 2 Lowes, and 3 Home Depots.  The 3rd Home Depot told us they had plenty of gas cans, but no propane tanks.  We weren't asking about propane tanks, but that's good to know.  When we got to the Home Depot(maybe 5 minutes later), there were no gas cans and they had 4 propane tanks, so I am pretty sure that answering the phone was the best job that young lady could get.  We bought extension cords, a siphon hose, a Slim Jim (food not tool) for Ramona, and some Sour Patch Kids (just in case we lose power and need something to eat ... kidding).

So, now we are just waiting, and hoping we don't lose power, but just in case, we are prepared.  I will be posting updates periodically and hopefully will be able to post pictures also.  Check back often for updates and pictures!!!