Mark-Yver

Mark's MacGyver Moment...it came in handy. During Ike, our evaculation home lost power. After a day, all our cell phones had only a little charge left in them. We had an extra car battery and Mark remembered we had an inverter with us...which normally the boys used to play their playstation game in the car. Before long, we had a charging station...and even watched a little TV! Craig asked me "Where does this guy come up with all this stuff?" I don't know, but I like handy men...especially this one!

Hurrication...in Spring

Our Hurrication --

The model home is very nice and we hear things don't flood around here! Thank you Supreme Builders.

We decided to set up the utility room as our evacuation area. Dianna has been cooking...that's how she is dealing with her stress. Tonight we are having stew..with no garlic and carrots...those were left behind.

We found three garages to put our cars in...that way the wonderful looking tall pine trees will not fall on them. There are some beautiful clusters of pine trees across the street...usually a great neighbor, but not when hurricane force winds are predicted.

Things do not look good for us. We would like it to move east of Galveston Bay. The current path will only push water into the bay, which will cause flooding for us.

Derek has a friend that is staying. (What!?????) He sent us this picture of our Dairy Queen, which the boys frequently went to with Papa. It is really close to the bay, right north of the Kemah bridge. No blizzards there!

We continue to get prerecorded messages from the city....not good....if their predictions are correct we will have water in our second floor.

Exiting to make room for Ike

WE DON’T LIKE IKE…

Well, today we got the word….mandatory evacuation in our zip code. We started moving the lawn furniture and plants into the garage and shed. Derek is very excited that school has canceled classes for Thursday and Friday. (Don’t tell him, but he will have to make up the days…and the work.)

Mark had a little more work to complete on the upstairs dormer. Derek and Cody helped 3 “ole widow ladies” move their belongings in. (Mom gave them that name.)

We really missed having Craig around to help us. He is staying in College Station, although they have canceled classes on Friday. He is only about one hour away, so we are hoping he will come for a little visit.

After Mark worked for a few hours at his paying job, we began boarding up the windows, hauling stuff upstairs and piling things into the van and Honda for our great escape. We put Mark’s truck into a parking garage on an interior spot…with lots of other folks. We loaded its cab up with photo albums and family quilts, things we didn’t need to take with us to survive.

Our 90 year old neighbor reminisced of Carla in ’62, both his and our homes were about a foot from taking in water. Since the ‘hood’ has subsided at least that much since then, we might not be as lucky. So the closer it is to us, the fiercer the wind, but fewer surges. It’s a give and take. We shall see.

We left home about 4:30 p.m. and had very little traffic. I think most people are listening to the officials and not leaving town. Most are being told to hunker down.

Now we are at a model home in Spring Cypress (north I 45). The house is about 3500 sq ft with gas appliances…so if we lose power, we can still cook. We brought our TV; therefore we can watch the news…with rabbit ears. It’s a 5 bedroom house. This time it is Mom, Derek, Mark and Dianna and the dogs Rosa and Nelli. Rosa doesn’t know what to think about all this! Connie and her family have gone on a previously planned fishing trip in east Texas (??????) Connie would have rather joined us, but Perry’s plans prevailed.

Brenda, you know those hurricane lamps you gave to us…well we brought one with us!

Tomorrow we check out the town, although we hear things will close about noon. I’m sure we will find a few items we did not bring with us…

That is all from here for now. Please pray for a weakening storm!

College Station Apartment

Today, we dropped Craig off at his college apartment. Two bedrooms are up front, then a nice common area...kitchen, dining, and living...and the remaining two rooms past that. The guys have already equipped the living room with a TV, gaming system & stereo (go figure).

My, how times have changed since we were in college, and even since Craig's freshman year! Each of the four boys have their own bedroom and bath, and he has more private room this year than he shared with another student in McInnis last year.

Craig was able to get his wall decorations up, computer functioning, and his bedroom TV operational. For the next few days, he will be getting his Playstation connected (of course).

I sure hope he finds time to study!

We really enjoyed having him home! He will be missed.

Day 2 San Antonio

Yesterday, our evening planned, included dinner prior to the Ghost Hunt, we dined at the Liberty Bar...the building has a slight lean to it, the results of a flood in the ‘20s. We enjoyed some very yummy food.

We met the ghost hunter folks just across the road from the Alamo. Of course, we had to take our picture in front of the Alamo first!

Once we had our entire ghost hunting equipment…laser thermal readers, magnetic meter and dousing rod, we were ready to go. Just to let you know, we were 4 of about 40 people, so we aren’t the only weird ones! I can’t say we saw any ghosts, but we did see some nice architectural interests and back roads we would have never looked for. It was a nice tour of the downtown area.

Yesterday, our evening planned, included dinner prior to the Ghost Hunt, we dined at the Liberty Bar...the building has a slight lean to it, the results of a flood in the ‘20s. We enjoyed some very yummy food.

We met the ghost hunter folks just across the road from the Alamo. Of course, we had to take our picture in front of the Alamo first!

Once we had our entire ghost hunting equipment…laser thermal readers, magnetic meter and dousing rod, we were ready to go. Just to let you know, we were 4 of about 40 people, so we aren’t the only weird ones! I can’t say we saw any ghosts, but we did see some nice architectural interests and back roads we would have never looked for. It was a nice tour of the downtown area.

Today we went to SeaWorld. We had a nice time. It wasn’t too crowded and the temperature was acceptable. Craig and Derek were in charge of guiding us through the park. We all agreed to not ride the Steel Eel rollercoaster. I think Mark and I have lived too long to enjoy them and the boys are too chicken. Connie, remembers how we would ride them over and over again with Lane! The boys did ride the White Shark (without us). It is one of those rollercoasters that let your feet dangle while it twists and turns. They aren’t riding it again. Finally, they boys enjoyed getting splashed by Shamu and petting the dolphins.

Now we are back at the hotel, but will be heading back to the park to see the Shamu show at night!!!

San Antonio Day 1

We checked out both rest stops on I10 between Houston and San Antonio....what a nice upgrade from the ones of 1970's. They now have 2 sets of woman's andmen's restroom....if one is out of order, you still have another option.

Heck, you can bring you laptop into the air conditioned room and connect to the internet! (I guess that is our tax money at work.) When I told the boys we were going to eat "here"...the rest stop just west of Columbus....Craig said "Here?????". At that moment I knew that I had failed to train him in the true Barnes way. Remember how we ALWAYS ate out of the ice crest on our road trips?

We pulled in and sat at a nicely shaded table with a great breeze and pulled out our plug-in ice crest, supplied by the Liberty's. The menu choice was left over tuna salad or a turkey sandwich...you have to make your own sandwich. I think the boys enjoyed it over a fast food resturant, for a change.

On the way into the San Antonio, we stopped at Ruben's Homemade Tamalas. We purchased 3 dozen. These will go into the plug in ice crest when they cool off. Now we are at a low budget, but clean hotel. A low budget hotel will get you freebreakfast and free internet. Craig is taking a nap. We are headed to the pool here in a few minutes.

When I told the boys I bought my bathing suit, they smurked...I don't think I will put it on. Tonight's high lites are dinner at the Liberty Bar and then the Ghost tour....the Ghost tour sounds WEIRD! They will give us Ghostbuster equipment. My first thought was...too weird, no way. My next thought was...this may be a memory maker, likeRoswell, NM. We are going for it. Oh, and back to the rest stops...I was the only one that checked out BOTH rest stop between Houston and San Antonio..too much ice tea.