Ike

While I don't live in Florida, I am close to the coast where Ike is expected to make landfall. Actually, I've vacationed exactly where Ike is expected to make landfall. That was a pretty sobering thought. Despite my distance from the coast, we are still expected to get 80-110 mph winds and 8-10 inches of rain. Right now everything is "expected" so my hope is that we get the unexpected things.

Yesterday on my way home (which by the way usually takes me 25-30 minutes on a good day took me 2 hours as we all creeped along at 12 mph) there were cars on either side of me packed to the windows with clothes and boxes and personal belongings. I knew these people were heading to safety but it was certainly an eye opener. I could only imagine how they must have felt having to leave (many areas it was mandatory) their home knowing that the likelihood of returning to it in the same state were very slim. My heart went out to these people.

After listening to many news reports, I decided to stay put and weather out whatever Ike dishes out at home. I've taken all the precautions that I could take to make sure that I'm as safe as possible at home. The only concern I have is that my back patio usually collects water as I'm right next to a gutter drain. On a normal rainy day it comes about half way up my patio, so I'm worried that it might come and rise up to the back door. Taking my mom's advice (finally!) I went and bought some big bags of potting soil and put one on the outside and put a rolled up towel and the other bag of potting soil against the inside of the door. We could call it a make shift sand bag! Otherwise, I have my battery operated lantern, my battery operated radio, plenty of water, and some food that doesn't require refrigeration...just in case.

While I am all the way cautious and want to be smart about this, a little part of me is excited to experience a hurricane. That sounds completely loony toony doesn't it?! Anyway, I am going to unplug my computer and cover it up to keep it from getting fried. I will update about how I weathered this storm as soon as I can!

Please just keep everyone who has been or will be effected by Ike in your thoughts and prayers!

Frightful Weather

Remember that holiday song, "Oh the weather outside is frightful..."? Well, the weather here is pretty darn frightful! All weekend long the temperatures have hovered around the forties. There was even snow on Thanksgiving in my hometown! We weren't there (we were at my grandparents' house) but according to the television there was 4-6 inches of the white stuff. I love that! What I'm not loving is all the wet and cold weather that followed me home today. It is currently 40 and the rain hasn't let up all afternoon. Now I know what you Northern readers are thinking...what a wimp. True, but remember that I'm from Texas! I say that like it explains so much.

Anyway, I had big plans of getting home early in the afternoon and getting a jump start on getting my Christmas decorations up. Unfortunately, I've pushed that back until tomorrow. Getting to sleep last night was a chore and staying that way was even harder. Plus, the wet weather has brought on a runny nose and sore throat. When I got home I crawled under the heavy covers and took a nice long nap. I'm still excited about getting my tree put up and decorations out, but I think I'll just start fresh tomorrow.

Thanksgiving was great! The food was plentiful and delicious. I even snagged a Glad container of dressing to bring home! But, of course it wouldn't be a holiday without a little misadventure in the kitchen. In my family, my Mimi, Mom, and I are the only ones that like sweet potatoes. I volunteered to get them ready for the oven. I know how to smash and stir in ingredients. I just wasn't too sure about the recipe. I added some of this and some of that and covered them with mini marshmallows. Sounds fine right? Something terrible happened in the oven. When we pulled them out, the marshmallows were a little too brown and the potatoes were a horrible sludge brownish black. Not wanting to write them off completely, I tried them. The tasted great, but boy were they terrible to look at! My Mimi said, "Steffany your potatoes look like heck!" and that was the nicest thing that was said! I'm still puzzled by what went so wrong, but even if they weren't the most eye catching thing on the table at least they tasted okay!

I hope that everyone had a Thanksgiving that was just as wonderful as mine turned out to be!

I'm Still Waiting...

There is a saying in Texas that goes something like this, "If you don't like the weather wait five minutes and it'll change." Well, I'm still waiting and it's still raining! I love the smell of rain (before and after it comes), I don't have to water and I have a lush (and by that I mean practically taking over the house!) green lawn, and it's helping out with the water shortage. But seriously...doesn't it ever stop?

For readers not from Texas, let me just say that this is not normal August weather in Texas. Normally it's a scorching triple digit number and H.O.T (my friend Gela says it has more power if you spell it out). Currently it's pouring and around 76 outside. I shouldn't be complaining but I have selfish reasons for wanting it to let up. I'm going to the beach next week and I'd like the sunny days over these wet ones. Perhaps Mother Nature is getting it out of her system now instead of next week!

In other news....y'all stay tuned...I'm getting a new blog! Okay, it's not really new but the look of it is about to change. Lindsay over at Splatdesigns (an incredibly patient woman...and those of you who know me know what she was dealing with!) has put the final touches on the new template. The last step is to get it uploaded on here. I'm excited!

Also, if you haven't already skip down to the previous post and check out the pictures from Mexico! I'm sorry that the caption goes by so quickly. I'll fiddle with photobucket and see if I can slow it down a little.

Stay dry out there!

Rain Rain Go Away

I've always heard that if you didn't like the weather in Texas to just wait a minute and it would change. Well, I've waited but there has been no change. You'd think we were living in some tropical rain forest with all the daily rain and humidity that we have going on. When you look at a 5-7 day outlook forecast all you see is the little thunder cloud and rain symbol. The rain seriously messed with me while I was hauling in my luggage and stuff from home. And with it so overcast all day long I've gotten practically no where on the sun I was hoping to get before the cruise. Any other summer and I'd be toasted to a crisp! Where has the normal summer weather gone?!

I know I shouldn't be complaining too hard because a lot of areas needed the rain. But good grief, you'd think they'd have had enough by now! Also, I guess the rain isn't all bad...it has kept the temperatures in the manageable range. Normally by now we're hovering around the triple digits. I think I saw that it was 78 when I was out yesterday around noon.

Anyway, while I'm sure people have enjoyed the rain (hey...no more spending money on watering the grass!) I think it's time for us to spread the wealth...say with our Northern friends. (Linda that was just for you!) So, rain rain GO AWAY!