Ike, I hear Beaumont is lovely this time of year...

[ninanevermore]

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Now that Corpus Christie is in the clear, and Hurricane Ike is currently projected to travel right over my house, I would like to point out to him that the good people of Port Arthur and Beaumont, Texas are very experienced at living through hurricanes, where as the people around me are not.

You see, Ike, I have some issues with you making a direct hit on Galveston Island: I have never visited Moody Gardens, and I really want to. If you wash away that amusement spot, as well as The Strand (where the locals hold Texas' Mardi Gras celebration and the Dickens on The Strand festival at Christmas), I will be very put out indeed. I'm fond of the island, even though the gulf waves are more murky rather than blue* and the whole place tends to smell a little like dead fish. I've got good memories of Galveston, and I'd like to add some more good memories of it in the coming years

As for this thing about your eye passing right over my house 100 miles inland, I'm not pleased about that one bit. You are projected to be a Category 3 storm by the time you make landfall as I try to sleep tonight, and there is a good chance your winds will still be hurricane force when they reach me. My husband says there is no need to board up the windows, but I sure would be happier if we did. As far as we know, the airport is still making him come in tonight, which means I will be weathering the storm alone with an almost 4 year old child.

Seriously, Ike, consider Beaumont. Please?



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*The muddy color of the sea water in Galveston is not the result of pollution, like many people suppose, but silt from Mississippi River further up the coast. The waters get clear again as you move toward South Texas. The water in Galveston is polluted from ships that sail into the Port of Houston dumping their ick into it, but that pollution takes the form of the occasional tar ball on the beach. Don't touch a tar ball if you see one, wondering "Gee, what is that round black thing in the sand?" If you do, you will never get that stuff off of you. I learned this the hard way, on a day when the story of Brer Fox, Brer Rabbit and the Tar Baby took on a whole new meaning for me.

Comments

[ithoughtsheknew.livejournal.com]

Beaumont???? NOOOOOO! My parents refused to leave and, it's just as well. They'd be stuck in traffic trying to come north to us in Lufkin.
My sister and her family in Conroe are staying too. It's crazy. The storm took that turn and it left so many with so little time to make decisions, other than hunker down.
With Rita we were without power for 5 miserable days. Sarah was 2 and she was a real trouper during the entire affair. Now, being 5, I'm pretty sure things will be different.
Where are you? Good luck...hunker down. I've got to get to the bank then finish up some washes and clean out Sarah's blow up pool. We're going to fill it up once the storm passes. It'll be a nice relief from the heat if/when we lose electricity.
Wow...I can't believe what we're getting ready to go through.

[neanahe.livejournal.com]

I'm just north of Tomball, which is just to the Northwest of Houston. I'm about 20 miles west of I-45, and in the same county as your sister in Conroe.

If those of this far inland all tried to flee, it would be like the Rita exodus all over again. None of us would get very far, and we'd all end up weathering the storm in our cars stuck on the freeway, which would be far more dangerous than sheltering in our houses. We're better off staying where we are.

There are a lot of trees outside of my bedroom. I'm thinking of sleeping in the living room tonight, where the roof is far less likely to collapse on me.

Okay, I admit it - I'm spooked. :P

[ithoughtsheknew.livejournal.com]

I just finished washing out Sarah's 10'X5' blow up swimming pool. We plan on filling it up once the storm is over. We'll have some relief from the heat and humidity as well as serving as a bathtub. Without electricity we can't use too much water...our sewer plant system won't work.
This is all just crazy. ::shakes head::

[hermes-wade.livejournal.com]

Nope, sorry, my family lives there, although they DID manage to get out...still, they suffered through Rita and the area is JUST recovering economically again. So, no, I have to block that wish. Sorry, kiddo.

[neanahe.livejournal.com]

I'm wishing what's in my owns best interest. No offense to your kin, but better them than me.

They are on the dirty side of the storm as it is; they are not out of the woods on this.

[simplecity2htwn.livejournal.com]

Beaumont! Beaumont!! Beaumont!!!

[trillsie.livejournal.com]

OT...I *love* the icon!

[neanahe.livejournal.com]

I'm doing my best to send it there.

I do hate my house, but I'd just as soon it not collapse while I'm inside of it.

[simplecity2htwn.livejournal.com]

For months, I've been saying how all my neighbors AND I need to replace our fences. As I was cleaning up my yard today, all I could think was how the withered fence slats will make perfect missiles when the wind picks up. Fun I tell ya!

Good luck my Nordic-descendant friend!

[neanahe.livejournal.com]

Good luck to you, too, and stay safe.

If you haven't checked yet, if you hover your mouse over your zip on the City of Houston website and it will tell you how high of a sustained wind to expect. I'm looking at 84 mph. Heck, I drive that fast: how bad could it be? Go here: http://www.houstonhidefromthewind.org/

[trillsie.livejournal.com]

I'll take it just disappearing.

Stay safe and keep us updated.

Us in the north are worried.

[neanahe.livejournal.com]

I'd love for it to just disappear, but that doesn't seem likely at this point. I'm afraid we're in for a taste of what Cuba just got.

If you don't get an update for awhile, it could be that I'm without power. When Alicia hit the city in 1983, my family went 2 weeks without electricity. When every power line in an area this large is down, it takes a while to get them all back up. Areas with hospitals, government offices and business districts are first priority, and those of us on the outskirts are last.

I'll update when I can. Hopefully, it will tomorrow with me saying, "Hey, it went to Beaumont! Damn, I'm good!"

On the up side, Jeff just heard that the airport is shut down for the next 48 hours, so I won't be alone. He gets to stay here with me. He wasn't looking forward to riding out the storm in an airplane terminal, and possibly being stranded there for a few days.

[trillsie.livejournal.com]

I lived in Dallas when Alicia hit. I remember that one.

I'm glad Jeff will be with you.

Again, you're in my thoughts. I pray all is well. I'm keeping tabs on Ike and not really liking what I'm seeing.

[neanahe.livejournal.com]

A last-minute downgrade to a tropical storm would make me happy. Rain is nice.

[trillsie.livejournal.com]

oh that would be nice!!

[basketcaselady.livejournal.com]

I vote for earthquakes.

[neanahe.livejournal.com]

I'm starting to see your point of view on this.

[jenelycam.livejournal.com]

Aw...Nina... Stay safe!! *thinks positive stay away from Nina's house thoughts*

[neanahe.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the positive thoughts, and I'll do my best to stay safe. I'm more worried about tornadoes this thing may spawn than anything else. My house can survive 84 mph winds and some rain, but with a tornado, all bets are off. It's going to be an interesting night, to say the least.