Texas Update

Reiko was able to call and leave me a message today. I called her this past weekend and was able to leave a message on her voicemail, which was better than last week when I got a recording about "Due to the hurricane...." She said they are still without power (over a week) but they are doing fine. She said that Steve was able to acquire a generator and that it had helped some. They are sleeping on the living room floor at night and leaving the windows open. I am sure it has been tough for them, especially without a television and air conditioning. Seth would be going bonkers if he couldn't watch his Garfield or Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. I guess that is when creativity is forced into the picture. I am asking anyone who reads this blog to continue to pray for them and here's hoping they will get power back soon.

How Was Your Day Today?

Rob (to Seth): Hey buddy, how was your day at school today?

Seth: I sat in time out today.

Preschool changes everything. You find out a lot more because your child has become a better communicator. His vocabulary is blossoming. S-C-A-R-Y!!

My Answering Machine

I have found a few minutes to do another Works for Me Wednesday. My answering machine is a wonderful thing. I work in a middle school library and teachers are asking me for things all of the time. I usually have some of these things at home, like old magazines, and I will forget to bring them for teachers to use. So, I call my answering machine at home to remind myself. Sometimes, I will remember that I need to send an email to someone when I am traveling to and from work. So that I won't forget it, I will just call and remind myself on my answering machine. This really does work for me! For other interesting ideas that really work stop by Rocks in My Dryer !

Texas Update

Reiko just called to let us know they were okay. She said that last night was rough and they stayed in a closet underneath their stairs for a while. She said transformers were exploding throughout their neighborhood last night. Winds got up to around 90 mph, they have debris all over their yard, and their neighbor's fence is down. She said that they were expecting wind and rain until late afternoon. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.

Thoughts and Prayers for my Yellow Roses

To anyone who reads my blog--please keep my friends Reiko and Steve Ingram in your prayers. They also have a 3 year old Noah. They live in Spring, TX and could be in Hurricane Ike's path. They had to evacuate 2.5 years ago with Hurricane Rita and chose to stay this time. I spoke with Reiko this afternoon and she said that they had filled up their vehicles and gotten many canned goods. She said that panic was setting in (not necessarily with them) and gas stations were closing down their pumps in a couple of hours. She said her biggest concern was losing power because Noah has asthma and he uses a nebulizer. I will try and post an update on them after the storm passes.

Watch Out for Those Old Lady Names Part II

WELL! I must say that the Atlantic Ocean has really hit the jackpot with tropical entities lately. Right now, a whole family of storms is having some kind of reunion out there. And here we sit in Eastern NC, sticking out like someone's nose on their face, teasing any storm that would approach the southeastern coast. Tropical Storm Hanna (as she is presently) is forecast to come through our state late Friday/early Saturday. According to reports, she will be a hurricane when she decides to visit NC. Hanna is an old lady name. It is a Biblical name that has become very popular with today's parents. It was, in fact, one of my choices if we had a girl. I still like the name Hanna. It is still an old lady name. I about dropped my teeth when I saw what the 'J' name was--Josephine! I could see disaster written all over that one--it ranks right up there with Bertha and Hazel! So, NC could be the target of three storms. IKE is out there in the middle of Hanna and Josephine. We are trying our best to get prepared--I bought more Pull-Ups tonight as well as some paper plates, cups, and bowls (hey, you never know when our water supply might be compromised!). I will try and visit the grocery store tomorrow before panic sets in. It is always better to be safe than sorry.

Then a friend (Thanks Leigh C.!) sent me this:

Yes ma'am, those are some hurricane shoes--high heel flippers, if you will. I don't think I will run right out and grab me a pair of these, but I thought, you know someone will, to be different... I guess it is always good to find humor in all situations even if they could be potentially disasterous.