Re: Happy Birthday Noreen

Thank you, Donna, and all.  I appreciate it very much.  
 
Have never been through a major hurricane.  We are still a good 10 or  more 
hours away from the storm, storm surge or any rains......and already 90% of  
Galveston is flooded, many of the homes along the beach have serious  damage.  A 
huge fishing pier w/ bait shop and snackbar  that  we've used for fishing has 
already gotten totally destroyed.  All the areas  along the coast of Houston 
and in the bay have already flooded.  This is  all prior to the storm, any 
rains, or storm surge.   The pictures  eirely remind me of NOLA/Katrina, minus 
the people thank goodness. My heart  just breaks for those people that evacuated 
and are watching their homes  get washed into the ocean, and those inland 
that are flooding now already before  the storm even hits.   Houston's storm 
drains drain into the many  Bayous around, which drains into the Bay of Houston.  
Many areas inland are  already showing signs of the Bayous filling, and the 
water coming up through the  storm drains.  People that have been here through 
the major hurricanes of  Houston, Carla in 1961, and Alicia in 1983 say that 
this is similar to what they  saw with the Storm, not hours before. The city of 
Houston and those of  surrounding areas, were preparing for the worst, but now 
they have no idea  what to expect with heavy rains and the storm surge, since 
no one anticipated  all this so early on already.  
 
I'm inland far enough not to feel the storm surge, but close enough to  
definitely feel a significant impact.  The track at this time shows the eye  will 
cross directly over our county, with the city of Houston being on  the dirty 
side. We've taken down every epiphytic orchid, bromeliad and fern  that were not 
totally attached to the trees.  Also took down hanging  baskets, etc. and 
tried to secure the other things as much as possible.   Can't board up all the 
windows because we have too many large plants in  front of many of them, but we 
think they might be protected by the plants  too. Can't bring everything that 
could be a projectile in, will be crowded  enough in here, with 4 dogs, 7 cats 
plus foster kittens, rabbit, and box  turtles, plus hatchlings.  Water 
turtles and fish will have to fend for  themselves....wouldn't be the firs time they 
swam around in areas of the yard  that flooded.   Did build a temp. cage 
inside for the birds in  the outdoor aviary.  Also got trashbags, tarps, buckets, 
and coolers  in preparation of anything that might happen.  We had water come 
up to, and  into the house a bit with 12 inches of rain one time......the rest 
of the  neighborhood flooded since we have Bayous all through the area.  So 
not too  sure about flooding this time, especiallly with the Bay and Bayous 
already  rising.  Not sure what might happen when the rains hit.  So we'll  
see....as they say, hoping for the best, but bracing for the worst.  
 
Dh is outside grilling up my birthday dinner, bless his heart....he said  the 
steaks and Tuna would go bad if we were without power for any length of  
time, so I might as well enjoy it now.  My stomach is a bit in knots, so  not sure 
how much I'll enjoy it, but nonetheless it's a wonderful gesture on his  
part, and it does add a bit of a bright spot to the day.....as do your wishes,  
thanks.  One thing is for sure, it will be a memorable birthday.
 
Big hugs to you all......thanks for your thoughts and prayers!!!!
Noreen
zone 9
Texas Gulf Coast
 
In a message dated 9/12/2008 5:09:59 AM Central Daylight Time,  
gossiper@sbcglobal.net writes:

Happy  Birthday Noreen...

I usually wish the birthday fairy to bring something  special, but I think 
this
time, the fairy needs to keep Ike away from your  home and loved ones....

Have a wonderful day and I hope an enjoyable  one.

Donna







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