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!