My Warm Fuzzy Poker Friends

When you have some sort of disaster… sms, pins and internet via blackberry really comes in handy.  Since Hurricane Ike hit Houston… I’ve received many supportive messages from friends and readers.  For example, Eric Morris of Bluff Magazine and the Entities have checked on us several times.  Joe Sebok sent some well wishes along with a mental hug, my PokerListings Run-Good Challengers were excited I missed the registration I was safe and Dr. Pauly (who is not related to Dr. Pepper) sent me a sweet message and a new nickname. And of course all of my friends from high school whom I met in real life.

My blackberry allowed me to stay in touch with family despite the hurricane causing the largest internet outage in the history of the internet which is not a long history.

So, the latest is… we have water, electricity and we are safe.  My husband’s business on the oth er hand… not so great.  Part of the roof came off, the 15ft bay doors blew in, half the side of the building has a crease along the outside from bending in half and that’s because the wind blew the nuts so hard they came unscrewed.  Yep, I just wrote that outloud and it was not a pun because I’m not a perve (like some other poker bloggers) but I am married to someone and friends with people who will totally say something about the previous sentence. OK, I’ll be honest…I wrote nuts when it should have been bolts.  Crazy.

Seriously though, while his business is a mess… we are grateful to be alive since we have heard some horrific rumors of a particular small coastal town.  I just can’t even post what I’ve heard, as it’s too disturbing.

Electricity Doesn’t Like Ike

Thank you to everyone who has been checking in with me during Hurricane Ike.   Dear Centerpoint, we have electricity.

I know living a couple hundred yards from Mayor Bill White has nothing to do with the restoration but it’s funny to say it out loud.

Now, if we could do something about those gunshots my mom heard last night in the Greenway Plaza area.

Houston, We Have a Problem

OK, so the headline was gay* but seriously… 2 million people in Houston without electricity and Centerpoint is saying it may take 2 – 4 weeks and possibly longer? I’m sure it’s safe to assume the actual translation of 2 – 4 weeks is "It shouldn’t be that long but we’re going to say 2 – 4 weeks to minimize complaining and liability." My translation… it frickin’ sucks. Check out ABC’s Hurricane Ike Updates Blog.

My mom sent me an sms at 2:45am that her view of the city was black but she still had power; however, an hour later her power of Houston was officially gone.  I’m glad I fell asleep because I would have been a nervous wreck had I been awake with the next texts she sent me. 

Wow, sheets of water, oak trees bent in double, things flying in the air and wind is howling.

Transformers are blowing everywhere.  Rocket (OCD Jack Russell) won’t stop barking, he’s a wreck, he needs a pill.

You can not imagine the transformers blowing.  The entire sky is orange & bright blue.

I can hear things ripping but I can’t see anything.

Something is coming off the roof at Greenway.

Happy Hurricane! Swim Fast! Oh, wait that text was from Michalski. 

I touched base with her first thing this morning and she’s fine.  Then I spent some time watching the media coverage.  Why do they always seek out the ugliest parts of town and the most rednecks of rednecks to interview?  I saw a guy on T.V. today who said "My house is gone. Hey baby, if you’re watching this your apartment is fine so we’re gonna move in together! Whoo Hoo!"  Actually, that was pretty funny and he was probably one of the best interviews.  But nothing beats the guy on Fox News falling over last night and it was just as funny when they did the instant replay.  I couldn’t find the clip on You Tube but I did find the one on Geraldo. See below.

* not that there’s anything wrong with that…

Hurricane Ike Hits Galveston + Houston

Although I posted earlier that we were evacuating Houston, my husband decided at 3:30pm to drive back to Houston to get Grandma.  We begged her to evacuate with us but she wouldn’t leave.  So, when the media said Hurricane Ike was headed straight for Houston via Galveston he said he was going to get her and would throw her over his shoulder kicking and screaming.  Of course, with visions of Katrina victims stuck on the road, I panicked.   

I began to sms and pin faster than a starved lab rat to find a solution of meeting her on the west-side of Houston.  Unfortunately, my phone began blowing up with messages like "Tell him not to come, they want everyone off the road!" and "The freeways are going to be shut down, he won’t make it and he will be stuck on the road!" That was when I really panicked.  Oh my, he and Grandma will be stuck on the road when the hurricane hits!

He made it to Houston in record time (possibly without speeding…) and when he walked in the house she asked him "what are you doing here?"  Apparently, she hadn’t been watching the news.  I’m happy to report that hubby and Grandma have made it safely back to Austin; However, my mother would not leave her Central Houston Hi-Rise.*

UPDATE: Just heard Brennan’s Restaurant is on fire! It’s one of my favorites and where we had our rehearsal dinner. And my mom still has power. 

*Dear Looters,

My mother has a gun, she knows how to use her gun, she has used her gun before and she will use it on you. 

** Dear Non-Texans,

Yes, we have guns.  That’s how we roll.

Hurricane Ike Photo NASA

Hurricane Ike Evacuation

We’re finally leaving Houston after hours preparing for Hurricane Ike. Signs out of the yards, machinery to photograph and move indoors, pick up prescriptions and more importantly… packing the Wii games in the car. Whole Foods was rumored to have given away free steaks and fish before Hurricane Rita hit but I didn’t have time to grocery shop.

Since my husband’s woodworking shop is located south of Houston we were worried we would hit serious traffic back into town but instead had smooth sailing. We stopped for some water and 98.7% of the customers were purchasing gas, food, water etc. However, the 1.3% minority, some ganstas, were buying cases of beer. Now, I’m not saying they were ganstas because they were buying cases of beer, I’m saying they were ganstas because they looked like modern gangsters. It’s really too bad the news missed out on that interview because they do such a good job of making Houstonians look like total rednecks.

Last night my husband and I tried to decide whether or not to leave town then or wait until morning. After the infamous Hurricane Rita traffic jam we were concerned we would be stuck on the road for hours with two bored screaming kids. But here we are at 9am driving to Austin without any traffic (see photo) while my children are being entertained by Mike Meyers in “The Cat in the Hat.” Yet, the who-picks-the-next-movie fight is coming. Note to self, call Amy Calistri while in Austin to possibly hook up for poker or coffee.  Second note to self, arrange baby sitting so I can play the PokerListings Run-Good Challenge.

I don’t know what will happen to our properties but I know my family will be safe in Austin or at the very least… relaxed and cool in the AC. My six-year-old can tell you anything you want to know about natural disasters and to make him sit through a hurricane in fear would be tormenting for him. And now, my thoughts linger on the people who chose to stay. I’m confident they will be safe but I hate to think of those dark scary moments when the wind blows and the house rocks. I’m hoping the owners picked up their beautiful horses at the equestrian barns next to my husband’s shop. Thanks for all the good lucks!