OK, I just heard from Connie again, and I may have misunderstood or mis-heard her when she was talking about her daughter's house last night. Cell phones--they can make life harder as they make it easier. Anyway, here's what she said about her daughter's house: "porch is laying on the roof with 2x6's thru roof and water leaking into over half the rooms." Not a good situation. They're trying to salvage as much as possible. In the meantime, Connie and Chuck are still at the hotel in Austin, doing their best to "keep Austin weird".

No, I did hear right. Here's further clarification: "the roof of the porch peeled back/flipped over and is laying upside down on the roof of the house."

I just got off the phone with Shirley. Yes, I said phone, as in HOUSE phone! She's home, she's got power, and she's fine, her condo's fine, even the carport is fine! Woo-hoo! The university, where she works, will still be closed tomorrow, so she'll have another day off, but that's fine, too! Yesterday they drove out to her son's house in Sugarland, which is on the market right now, so it's empty, but it had power and was fine also. Lots of fine news from Texas!

I told her that next year, we've gotta do something else to make her birthday memorable. No terrorists. No hurricanes. I'm taking suggestions now. Like, hmmm, how about an eclair eating contest!

Shirley said to be sure and thank y'all for all your great Blundervibes, so Thanks, y'all!

Ceashel,
Thanks sooooo much for thinking of me! I have spent the last few day getting ready for the monster. Securing anything that could have become a missile. As you know Austin remained dry. We were a bit annoyed because we had been told with the two hurricanes before this that we would get the rain. The drought here is very severe. San Antonio & Waco have both had more than their share of rain. 2 hours in either direction

I was worried about the wind. We got neither and I'm okay with that!

Judy, sooo glad your friends and their place are okay!

Sue....Your sister's story just broke my heart!!! Big, big Blunderhugs for them and the cats. Where they found the missing cat just blew me away. I'm so glad there is at least another cat so she isn't alone. So many pets get left behind without a second thought to what they are going through mentally.

DirectTV had a hook up to a local channel in Houston. (KHOU) It's right above the The Weather Channel. I got my first true look at the devistation. It's gut wrenching.

I'm so glad sooo many left. I have to say though, those that stayed didn't think this was something they couldn't ride out because the Catagory. I might have made the same choice. It was a Cat 2, but the reaction was more like a 4. Had they known this was possible, they would have left.

I hope in the future, they let everyone know not to be fooled by a lower catagory.

Something that crossed my mind during all this....The ending of analog signals next year. Many times, my Hubby & I have rode a storm out hunkered down in the hall. When TV, then the power went out, we just whipped out our battery operated TV and were able to continue tracking the storm via radar. After this, it will be radio or nothing. Can't see exactly where it is on the radio. When your hunkered down with a huge dog that doesn't like to be in the house...you need to know how soon your going to be safe.

I'm just glad everyone is okay!!!!

So glad they are doing okay. More prayers & vibes sent their way. Thanks for the update...