1) Of course the media is focusing on the sexual aspect of Gov. Sanford story. But for me, the most interesting aspect is the whole disappearance and cover-up. Did he REALLY think he could just vanish for 10 days and no one notice? That if he had, and stuck with the Appalachian Trail hiking story, that the media wouldn't have wondered why they couldn't find anyone who actually met him on the trail? Or that he didn't look like he got a tan? It's one thing for your estranged wife and staff not to know - but your security people? What a complete idiot!
2) I was driving around a few days before Sanford he got back from Argentina and was listening to Mike Gallagher, who of course was going out of his way to defend Sanford about "wanting to get away to recharge his batteries" by hiking. That he was a great, moral, Christian, conservative and that is why the "liberal"media was getting all over his case. I wish I could have listened to his show when the truth (and I don't believe that the WHOLE truth is out yet) came out. Wonder how that crow tasted?
3) I am so apathetic about the death of Michael Jackson. He was a freak, a train wreck - someone who makes Brittney Spears look normal. And even if he was found not guilty of sexual contact with a minor, his admitted behavior with young boys was sick. As sick as the parents of these kids allowing them to spend the night with Michael. I never believed that he would actually show up and perform in London, but I didn't think it would be because he died. And with his as freaky as he is sisters, I can only imagine what his funeral will be like.
4) Having our 3rd day of 100 degree days today. Summer is here I guess. At least I'm no longer in Houston (104 there yesterday). All my outdoor activities are now done before 9am and after 8pm. I feel like a shut-in.
So I'm on the phone with C (she was in Shreveport, LA on business) around 7pm when I think I hear the tornado sirens going off. I had just been outside a couple of minutes before and while it was cloudy, no rain and no wind. I walk outside and within 10 seconds, the wind starts blowing at what seems like gale force. I go back inside and turn on the TV radar and this huge red blob is streaking from the west towards the DFW airport (near where we live). Then the rain starts and after about 5 minutes, the wind totally stops. Super calm, weird looking sky. Then the rain and the wind start again and as I'm looking out the back window towards our pool, I see 2 big branches break off from the tree behind us and partially fall into the pool! The picture you see here was taken this morning. Last night, during a lull, I went out and used shears and clippers to cut the branches that were hanging in the pool. Took about 30 minutes and right when I finished, the rain and wind started up again. You can see some of the cut limbs and branches on the right side of the picture.
So when I see the tree limbs in the pool, I call my neighbor, asking if he has a saw. At that point, I didn't know how big/thick the limbs were. As I'm talking to him on the phone, I hear another crash type sound. I run to the front window and a huge part of a tree that is just on his side of our property line is down. This is the 3rd time this spring/summer that part of this tree has broken off during a storm. These pictures were also taken this morning:
The thunder and lightening late last night/early this morning was unreal. It was like a strobe light going off for hours. I was going to start cutting up and cleaning up in the back, but the rain/lightening has started up again. I also have a visit planned with the folks behind us - that tree has been the bane of my existence for years and I'm going to try my best to convince them to cut the damn thing down.
This would be normal for North Dakota in July, but is just completely bizarre for Minneapolis. It's rarely windy here; humidity is typically high from now until fall; and it's never 94 in May.
10:31 The Chronic is reporting 15 foot surge in Galveston so Fran's house ought to be OK.
10:18 am Lost power last night at 11pm. Blogging by generator. Lots of wind and rain but no flooding, some tree limbs and fences down but that appears to be the worst of it. T and B out now on golfcart to assess neighborhood. Todd reports that the big oak in the backyard is down.
10:18 Yes the Hilton seems to have lost it's skin. Weird, but the worst thing that will happen tonight. Bah.
10:15 Bah. We haven't lost power and we won't.
6:40 I'm calling it now. Complete dud.
6:22 I'm now convinced we're looking at a real time Capricorn One. Just heard a report that people needed rescuing in Seabrook and the rescuers couldn't get to them. Seabrook is no more than 10 miles from here and nothing is happening. The rest of the party took off to see how high the bayous and Lake are. Bah.
4:47 Everyone thinks I'm crazy but I'm saying this is a big dud. Eye is bigger than Mama Cass and pressure is rising. Made three bets with three neighbors that we won't lose power. Earlier forecasts (10am) said we'd have 35 mph winds by noon. Didn't happen. Yes, Galveston and the bay are getting storm surge but it doesn't mean anything to us unless it approaches 25 feet, which isn't happening. Bah.
TBA [Dr. Neil video but youtube is being very slow in processing it]
2:03 So far? Most boring hurricane ever.
1:57 You know the difference between Wayne Dolcefino and a troll? Me neither.
Seawall video:
12:53 Just got back from checking on Fran's house in Nassau Bay. Water is over the dock at the Hilton on Clear Lake (see here for fun fact) and about 5 feet above normal on Clear Creek.
11:13 Water turned off in most of Galveston to prevent saltwater contamination.
10:41 Lost 2 persons and a cat, CPCM: 3 humans, 3 dogs, 1 cat, 1 rodent.
10:12 Hurricane video! Behold the cruelty of Mother Nature!
7:52 am Intrepid reporters (blame Dan Rather, more on that sometime later) are showing me that waves are breaking over the west end of the seawall in Galveston, which is about 15 feet high. uh oh. Partly cloudy and calm here.
Galveston is under mandatory evacuation as are we (zip code 77059). We didn't think Ike would get much over a Cat 2 and it looks like that is right. 110-120 mph winds as it hits the coast. I drove around the neighborhood on my new golfcart yesterday afternoon, and it appears that 20% of the neighborhood is staying.
8:09 Current population chez Michael: 5 humans, 3 dogs, 2 cats. Oh, and 1 piggy (did you remember that he is named PJ?).
I would complain about winter hanging on, but it was just too gorgeous today. We got 4-6 inches of snow overnight. This is a huge wooded area by the river where dogs are allowed off leash. Camera battery gave out before I got to the best part, the Mississippi River Gorge where the river runs beneath rocky cliffs. Karma the Dog swam in the river a bit, much to her surprise, when she followed another dog into the water for a stick.
