Hasta La Vista Ike, Hello Power!

Well, Ike has left the building ~ so to speak. He is still making messes north of here and still enjoying a good bit of power. And speaking of power...
Ours came back on just about 1/2 an hour ago. The whole family cried out (minus the man) with glee when the lights suddenly came on! Way to go Cleco. Really wonderful timing actually, cause I was just feeling the connection between the window a/c and the extension cord going to the generator, and it was HOT. We were going to have to turn the thing OFF. Oh woe. woe is me. It is absolutely amazing to me how cranky being hot can insight me to get!
On a happier note, it took me a whole 1/2 hour to get to blogging because I put nice fresh, clean sheets and pillowcases on my bed and am blogging right from it this very minute. A little silver lining to being married to a hero called to duty - I have the bed to myself for just a wee bit of time and I am taking advantage of it.
I am thankful that my husband is willing and able to help people in need, even at risk to his own self, and even when they were dumb in the first place. How could I complain at such a blessing?

Ike Update - Selfish Ranting Involved

Still operating on generator power. The electric company is saying that they may have the power back on by late Monday night. Cold showers are awesome. It's getting dark now so we are going to hunker down for the night in the living room with a window a/c unit.

I am feeling pretty selfish and angry at this moment, so you may want to turn your eyes away, or just skip the rest of the post. I just had to say goodbye to my husband who has been deployed to Houston for search and rescue operations. Yes, you read right. My husband had to LEAVE HIS FAMILY and go into HARM'S WAY, in order to find and rescue PEOPLE WHO WERE TOLD TO LEAVE THAT AREA AND DECIDED TO IGNORE THE ORDER.

Thank you very much from Mr. Hero's wife and children who are now without their hero because you didn't feel like evacuating. Awesome. When you see him, tell him I love him.

Obviously I need to get on my knees.

Ike Is Visiting

Just an update to let everyone know that we are doing okay. The cable ~ which is also the internet and the phone went out several hours ago. That was followed by the power going out. My husband discovered that the cable came back into operation a few minutes ago, and we are using generator power for the internet modem, TV and refrigerator. I'm thinking later on we'll be running a window a/c. Geez! It is windy and rainy here and the yards are a mess, but no trees down so far and the water is still at full pressure. If I see anything interesting to take a picture of, I will post them as our internet access allows. So far our cell phones still work.
Ike is massive and is making a massive mess. I guess it should go without saying to pray for those people in its path.

Hurricakes ~ Gustav Update ~ 02 September 2008

Happy to report we lost power for only about 8 hours last night. Up this morning making wheat pancakes for my family (even some to freeze). Gustav was a great storm for practicing the evacuation and preparedness plans that resulted from the absolutely devastating storms of 2005, Hurricane Katrina AND Hurricane Rita. Rita is the storm that was most devastating to our neck of the woods and seems to often get altogether overlooked for the more highly publicized and deeper public outcry over Katrina. Still, there are homes 3 years after Rita with trees smashed directly through the middle of them and others with tarps where roofs should be. I thank the Lord that most people heeded the evacuation orders this time around and pray that they do not become complacent due to the anticlimactic results of Gustav.

And what is up with news people?? They stand out in the storm in cities that are under mandatory evacuations saying things like, "Whoa! Did you SEE that debris fly by?? That is why you should NOT come out of your homes!!", "We are now in a city (which is under mandatory evacuation) that has no power, water, or sewer. PLEASE do not come back here." I would like to suggest stationing unmanned cameras with remote controls around the areas you want to report from and keep the people safely in shelters where they should be. Somehow seeing a person able to stand in hurricane force winds and talk to me about it, makes me feel less inclined to take it seriously.

I am thankful that the worst complaint I can muster for my Gustav experience is that I still cannot go get McDonald's. Come on Ronald - give a girl a McMuffin!

P.S. - My husband would like me to tell you of his harrowing and most dangerous story of how he was outside doing something manly and heroic when a tree came flying at him and he punched it away with his fist. Saving himself and the little old lady behind him.

Gustav update - 01 September 2008

7:46pm and all is well. It has been raining for a few hours and the wind has picked up. It's getting dark outside. I'm going to go take a hot shower now while we still have power.

Gustav's A Comin'

As of now, Gustav is over Cuba and is a category 4. Goodness. Pray that people will be sensible and evacuate where they should.

Gustav's A Comin'

To evacuate or not evacuate. That is the question. We shall see.