Start of the aftermath

Still trying to find out about the damage in my area. A friend saw my apartment complex on TV and said it looked okay, structurally,- so that's reassuring...very glad that I am on the second floor since that area was underwater... it looks like the road (146) that goes by Kemah is completely covered with debris (lumber, boats, etc). I didn't recognize Kemah bridge...I think some of the houses around there might be gone...maybe it was just the camera angle...

Right now we are getting some winds and a lot of rain here in College Station. A tree fell down out front (just missing the power lines!- so we still have power and internet...cozy in the house :) ).

I got a report that a tornado hit in Pearland, and sounds like it damaged/destroyed? one of my girls's house...I'm hoping it just ends up being damaged. But they are safe, thank God. Pray for the McDuffie family.

"Something wicked this way comes..."

So can I just say that I am very glad that I left Houston? Currently the eye of the storm is predicted to pass just to west of where I live...Here's a predict of the storm surge, don't know how much living on the second floor will help with a 20 foot surge (I live in the brown area)...lovely:

On a brighter note, I think I am going to go get a run in right now and then Angie and I are going to go shopping and see the latest Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants movies...Texas A&M is closed for today so she doesn't have to work! Yay!

In College Station...

Thanks for all the calls, texts, and emails...I am safely in College Station. The drive up here was SO much shorter than for Rita (also because I left before they started the mandatory evacuations). But I must state that I do not enjoy traveling with pets...my pets to be exact. Eggs has a cry that has a decibel level you wouldn't believe. And there is nothing like your cat (Eggs, who wasn't in a cage since I couldn't free it from my storage closet) climbing over the back of the seat, over your shoulder and into your lap while you are driving and talking on the phone...and then proceeding to pee on your favorite purse (the cool orange one, that has now been discarded...gotta go buy a new purse now). And then Bacon, who is in his carrier (with the door open and a litter box RIGHT in front of his face) decides to poo. Small quarters and cat poo= watery eyes. So I had to pull off and clean that up. I ended up pulling into Angie and Andrew's place about 2am. And now I am going to bask in the fact that I am still in my pajamas at 11:30 in the morning, getting uninterrupted time to study my Bible, read books, enjoy friends, and just relax- and not WORK. Ah, joy!

Oh bother....

Can I tell you how tired I am of looking at NOAA and Wunderground and Stormpulse websites? I live like 300yds from the water, and with the predicts of a 12-18ft storm surge where it is hitting NOW (meaning it could get worse if the storm heads more east), I've decided to play it safe and head to College Station for the next couple of days. But, I will get to see friends whom I haven't seen in awhile, so that's always fun!

Hmm...

My apartment is too quiet now...

Last day with the fam :(

So today we went to JSC and Monica and John Michael got a super quick tour of MCC (JM likes the stairs...not so much into space right now :)...that will change if I have anything to say about it). Then we fed the ducks, which I think was his favorite part. We breezed in and out of Space Center Houston since hunger and lack of sleep are not a good combination for a little guy. Here are some of my favorite pics from today:

This morning, before trying his first kolache (he's now a big fan of the sausage and cheese)

Ooh, buttons to push in the Apollo mission control room


Feeding the ducks


Feeding himself


The ducks are trying to get me!


Pretending to be Aunt Sissa...

Beach Day

So a couple of random things first:

Today we went into a store and walked by some clothes and John Michael goes "Cute clothes!" and "How cute!"...I must admit this is my and Monica's fault, from our 6 hour Galleria shopping adventure the other day. This boy will need some serious Daddy time when he gets home :)

And my sister thinks I eat too healthy...I am going to take that as a compliment. She needed a junk food fix last night and had to make do with my 100 calorie pack of peanut butter cookies...hehehe...

John Michael has been a bit under the weather the last couple of days...some asthma issues, so we weren't sure if the beach was going to be a good idea. However, he woke up today feeling much better, so after I put in a couple of hours at work this morning, we headed to the beach! The weather was GORGEOUS today, even by Monica's standards :)

Sand!


I love this picture of Monica...


Playing in the sand


This was his cape...he was running around in circles and trying to watch it fly out behind him


Drying off...