Hurricane Ike Play-by-Play

Prologue: After 25 years, the Houston Hurricane Force Field is going to fail us. I'm not quite sure what we are in for, since the last hurricane I went through was Alicia in 1983, when I was like 2 years old. Okay, not really two, but close. Okay not really close, more like 12 years old, but I digress. I remember four things from Alicia: 1. "hunkering down" in my dad's study, 2. watching one of our trees fall over from the winds then get pushed straight back up from the other side of the storm (no lie), 3. watching a roach cling to the trunk of a tree during the winds (yes, very random, but I hate roaches so I tend to remember all encounters with them), and 4. I think my brother slept through the worst part of the storm. Anyway, I hope I'm ready for this one. I'm sure it will be memorable in some way. HOWEVER, I'm still thinking this thing could pull a Rita and not hit us. You never know...

So, according to the news people, anyone staying on Galveston Island faces "certain death." Wow, that is a very strong statement. Based on what I've seen on the news from reporters reporting from the island, alot of people are going to die, because they are just jacking around down there. That must be one short straw that those lucky reporters pull to get to cover hurricanes in the most dangerous areas.

I'll be updating this blog throughout the hurricane as long as I have electricity...

Friday, 7:00 am: Got an hour run in this morning. Lots of runners out today, including Sul Ross and Robyn, who got in 12 miles this morning. It was a smidge breezy. Not too much traffic. The Shell station on Memorial drive apparently thinks the "x" of masking tape they put on their windows is going to help in some way. Yeah, good luck with that.

Friday, 8:30 am: I decided to go to Kroger for the fun of it. To my dismay, everyone was calm. There was no fighting over the last bag of potato chips, no long lines at the registers, just bizarre civility. I got some milk and cereal, and dirty martini mix. Heck, if I'm going to be riding the storm out, I'm going to do it with a martini in hand! Speaking of potato chips, the only items that Kroger appeared to be in danger of running out of were chips and cookies. Apparently, all food items are fat-free and calorie-free during hurricanes! Woo-hoo!

Friday, 9:20 am: In anticipation of losing electricity, I am making some popcorn and cooking some mini-pizzas (see above statement about everything being calorie- and fat-free). I have sterno and plenty of canned food and snack items. I'm also doing laundry and cleaning. At some point, I'm going to need to bring in stuff off of my patio.

Friday, 11:25 am: I have now completed the two most important tasks on my pre-hurricane to-do list: color my hair and shave my legs. Should Ike be the end of the road for me, at least I won't have grays or stubble. Its getting very cloudy outside and winds are picking up just a bit, maybe enough to blow an empty plastic water bottle down the road. I'm not sure if its the endless news reports or the radar of the storm or an eerie sixth sense, but I think its going to get windier as the day progresses...

Friday, 11:45 am: Crap! Just heard on the news that the bayous in the city are not draining like they should be, and we haven't even seen a drop of rain yet. Not good news. I'm a few blocks from Buffalo Bayou. Glad I got flood insurance. And apparently, the illegals people who work construction who may or may not be here legally and who may or may not speak English didn't get the memo that a hurricane is on the way. They are still working on a construction project a couple of blocks from me. I hear nail guns. Or maybe the looting has begun already and those are real guns I hear. I've got mine loaded and ready for use. Just ask my parents what a good shot I am. In case they play dumb, I totally beat them on the shooting portion of the CHL test. Oh yeah, I beat them on the written exam too.

Friday, 1:30 pm: Bye-bye Galveston. You are toast. I'm starting to get a little anxious here inside the loop. The news people are making this thing sound very, very, very scary. Now I'm worried about tornadoes (3rd floor), broken windows (2nd floor) and flooding (1st floor), in addition to looters. Maybe the safest place for me will be on the stairs. I have a headache, which apparently is a sign of pressure change. My cat Millie seems oblivious, as she has been out on the patio all day. I thought animals were supposed to have some sort of sense about coming danger. Maybe I should call one of the news stations and let them know that everything is going to be okay because my cat is not freaking out. Hey, one of the stations once had a "weather dog" so why not take cues from my cat? I'm going to try to take a nap since there will be no sleeping for me tonight. Before I go, one of the reporters on TV just reported that the wind is stronger now than it was two hours ago. Really?? This is what my soap operas have been shelved for? *sigh* And why is it always the rednecks who decide not to evacuate from mandatory evacuation zones? Since they stay, they end up on the news, worldwide, and end up representing the entire city and state. Fabulous. No wonder Houston wasn't named the city with the prettiest people.

Friday, 2:05 pm: I see the sun! Its peeking out! The storm is over, the storm is over! Wait, what? Oh, apparently we still have 12 more hours to go before the eye hits land. I'm bored.

Friday, 5:40 pm: I'm back from my little nap. Seems not much has changed. The winds are a little more gusty, but still no rain. The same poor reporters are still out by the beach, getting blown around. I could never do that job. I mean, it would totally mess up my hair! Its hilarious that the reporters "hide" behind the vans to shield themselves from the wind while the cameramen have to stand out in the wind to film, and the picture gets all crooked. I've decided that cameramen have one of the most thankless jobs around. And the same redneck idiots are out there too, doing stupid crap to get on TV. I'm hungry so its time for some pizza! I wonder what's on TV tonight. I hope its more wall-to-wall coverage of the storm! Actually, I plan to catch today's episode of All My Children on SoapNet. That's the best channel ever! Might be the last time I see the show for a while. I can now hear the wind gusts through my attic. Sounds like low thunder. I have not experienced a storm of any magnitude really since I bought my home, so I am anticipating that every little sound is going to freak me out. Perhaps valium and beer would make nice side dishes for my pizza.

Friday, 6:00 pm: Okay, its getting windier. And this is just the start of tropical storm force winds. Great. A quick shout out to Jen Shen who sent me this joke in response to my keen observations about rednecks: You know what Texas tornados and Tennessee divorces have in common? Someone's gonna lose a trailer. Pizza is ready, and The Young and the Restless is on. Yes! Its going to be a great couple of hours of soaps!

Friday, 6:50 pm: Winds are picking up. How surprising. What I wasn't expecting was for the utility poles outside my townhome to already be swaying a bit. Those suckers are falling down at some point tonight, guaranteed. Which direction they fall remains to be seen. I really hope they don't fall into my house. That would suck.

Friday, 7:25 pm: ABC 13 just interviewed a bunch of drunk people hanging out on one of the suspension bridges over 59. I'm laughing big time. The giggles have overcome me, most likely my way of releasing some stress. I just talked with my parents, and my poor mom finds nothing funny about what is going on. I think in about 4 hours I'll agree with her. Speaking of laughing uncontrollably, this is the funniest hurricane-related thing I've seen all day. Too bad I didn't see it live.

Friday, 8:20 pm: Power outages are being reported inland, just outside the loop. I'm surprised, as we are still just experiencing tropical storm winds. I don't have a wind gauge, but its really picking up out there. I see paper flyers and other random stuff blowing around like crazy in the street. I hear the wind in my attic and through the fireplace. I've moved all of my important things, like my purses and select pairs of shoes, to the downstairs bedroom, where I will camp out once the power goes out. I'm not sure there is room in the closet for me if a tornado hits, but my purses, shoes and some clothes will be safe!

Friday, 8:40 pm: Big time lightning is starting. Here it comes...

Friday, 9:10 pm: The streetlights just went out and my lights are starting to dim and flicker. Crud. My silly cat still wants to go out on the patio. Apparently, her sense of danger is gone. I agree with my SIL Kristi...its probably senility since she is 16 years old. Poor kitty, no more outside enjoyment for a while.

Friday, 10:00 pm: Carolyn's Dad (stenographer)- Currently talking to Carolyn on the phone. She's okay, still has electricity, but lost cable and internet. Conditions: continuing wind increases and is starting to rain. One way or another, she will provide updates when possible.

Saturday, 6:00 am: Carolyn's Dad - Have Carolyn on the phone and she is fine. So far, she still has electricity and phone service. Has had a few minor leaks around doors and windows, but nothing serious. She is still experencing high winds and very heavy rain.

Saturday, Play-by-Play Conclusion: Wow. That was a crazy ride last night. First, I hope that my fellow Houstonian readers and runners are okay and fared well. Second, thanks to my dad for posting for me when my cable and internet went out, and thanks to my mom for the endless prayers she sent my way. It was very comforting talking with them at various points through the storm.

Don't hate me, but I never lost electricity. I have absolutely no idea how that happened, and I am apparently one of like 20 people in the entire city who has power. And obviously my cable and internet are working again.

The wind and rain were absolutely fierce. Horizontal, whipping rain and sounds I never knew wind could make. I had some minor leaks around doors and windows, and discovered a small leak in my roof that appears to be wind-caused because I am not missing any shingles. I went up in the attic and put a pot under the drip. Too bad that it didn't occur to me during my first trip up there to put on long sleeves and gloves before I went digging around in the insulation.

It was a long night and even after a brief nap this afternoon, I'm still exhausted. I went for a walk to Memorial and Allen Parkway at Waugh. Completely under water. There are broken windows everywhere and the streets are full of various sizes of tree limbs. Downtown is a disaster, and for those who love Brennan's, sorry, but it was completely destroyed by fire overnight. I have already held a moment of silence for their delicious pralines.

And if you are wondering, my cat Millie is just fine, and yes, she is out on the patio...