Our good friends, Ted and Donna, had to evacuate The Woodlands due to no electricity. They came to Red Oak Ranch in their RV on Tuesday. They came over yesterday, and we sat around and got caught up on news. Then we went out to eat at a wine bar that has authentic German food. It was pretty good (or at least mine was: Huhn Paprikish).
We came back to our house and watched TV and chatted awhile. Donna and I surfed my cruise agent booking engine for a cruise that she's already booked on. If I become a Commodore with the cruiseline, then I qualify for a reduced rate. So Donna thinks I need to go to school and graduate!!
And guess what? That's exactly what I've been doing ALL DAY today!! There are SO many courses to take -- sheesh!! And every one of them is a minimum of 30 minutes with a maximum of 55 minutes...and it ain't easy!! I have to take a LOT of notes just to pass the 20 question tests (I feel like I've wasted so much paper today!).
Donna, I'm trying!!!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
War Zone!!
Here's a great British news article about what it's like here in the Houston area.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1055660/After-storm-Floating-coffins-prowling-alligators-amid-Hurricane-Ikes-7bn-trail-destruction.html
Our local newsreporters that are in the "war zone" are reporting LOTS of alligators and snakes!!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1055660/After-storm-Floating-coffins-prowling-alligators-amid-Hurricane-Ikes-7bn-trail-destruction.html
Our local newsreporters that are in the "war zone" are reporting LOTS of alligators and snakes!!
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Ike's Angry Aftermath...
Poor Houston!!! It looks like a war zone. The devastation is ... devastating!
There are so many people without electricity... estimated at 2 million right now & expected to get higher. The estimate is that service won't be restored for 2-3 weeks for some areas.
Phone service is iffy. Some landlines work, others don't. Cell phone service depends on the provider one uses. We have both our land & cell phones working.
We've been very, very lucky & blessed through all this. I just knew with certainty that we'd lose power & Internet connectivity. But that's never happened, thank God. Jim heard 2 transformers blow up somewhere in the neighborhood, but it didn't affect us.
The winds got stronger & stronger around midnight; by 2 a.m. they were howling and coming in massive gusts. I got up at 4:30 a.m. and it was still bad, and had been raining. It's still raining now, sometimes harder than at other times. The winds aren't as bad now as they've been. I'm hoping the worst is over. I'm just so glad to be on the "clean" side (less tornadic activity). My prayers are with & for the people who've suffered damages & been displaced by all this.
J-Me, JRSon & JC are here with us now. JRSon's parent's house lost power at 5:30 a.m. They said no one got any rest or sleep last night -- it was too loud and noisy with everyone there (his sister & her family {husband & 2 kids, ages 5 & 10}). And JC kept getting passed around -- she couldn't get any quality sleep. After a few hours, the house was beginning to get too warm inside, so they made the decision to come here to an air conditioned house & some quiet. I fed them, and right now, they're all 3 napping in our guest room. I'm just so happy to have them with us!!
J-Me was supposed to go back to work on Monday, but I'd imagine that's going to change...depends on how much damage there is to the school, if there's electricity, etc. Some families might have evacuated, and won't return for a few days either. J-Me's neighborhood has no electricity either (they've talked to their next-door neighbor). I was supposed to begin babysitting on Monday for them, but we'll just play it by ear, and take it day-to-day.
Jim's brother called this morning to check on us. He & his wife & oldest daughter are at their youngest daughter & her husband's house in Houston. They have a generator so have A/C and lights. We can't get in touch with Jim's sister in Sugarland -- no phone service, landline or her cell phone service. Jim's on the phone now with his sister's oldest daughter (on her cell phone) who lives in Katy, TX (west of Houston). They have no electricity. She said one of the nieces went to Sugarland to check on the rest of the family & their all fine, no electricity.
And Jim just called friends of ours that live one street over from his mother. There's no electricity. They said their son works for one of the electric providers & his company isn't letting them go to work until Sunday.
TV NEWS BLAST: 97% of Harris County (Houston's the county seat) is without electricity!! Galveston Island is closed -- no one can come or go without government authorization. 17 structures have collapsed in Galveston. Many fires, too. They're going to go in for rescues now.
They said because of the debris, if they did open Galveston up, no one could get through. There will be a continued curfew: 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for at least 2 more days. (Houston also has this curfew.)
Pray for everyone!!
There are so many people without electricity... estimated at 2 million right now & expected to get higher. The estimate is that service won't be restored for 2-3 weeks for some areas.
Phone service is iffy. Some landlines work, others don't. Cell phone service depends on the provider one uses. We have both our land & cell phones working.
We've been very, very lucky & blessed through all this. I just knew with certainty that we'd lose power & Internet connectivity. But that's never happened, thank God. Jim heard 2 transformers blow up somewhere in the neighborhood, but it didn't affect us.
The winds got stronger & stronger around midnight; by 2 a.m. they were howling and coming in massive gusts. I got up at 4:30 a.m. and it was still bad, and had been raining. It's still raining now, sometimes harder than at other times. The winds aren't as bad now as they've been. I'm hoping the worst is over. I'm just so glad to be on the "clean" side (less tornadic activity). My prayers are with & for the people who've suffered damages & been displaced by all this.
J-Me, JRSon & JC are here with us now. JRSon's parent's house lost power at 5:30 a.m. They said no one got any rest or sleep last night -- it was too loud and noisy with everyone there (his sister & her family {husband & 2 kids, ages 5 & 10}). And JC kept getting passed around -- she couldn't get any quality sleep. After a few hours, the house was beginning to get too warm inside, so they made the decision to come here to an air conditioned house & some quiet. I fed them, and right now, they're all 3 napping in our guest room. I'm just so happy to have them with us!!
J-Me was supposed to go back to work on Monday, but I'd imagine that's going to change...depends on how much damage there is to the school, if there's electricity, etc. Some families might have evacuated, and won't return for a few days either. J-Me's neighborhood has no electricity either (they've talked to their next-door neighbor). I was supposed to begin babysitting on Monday for them, but we'll just play it by ear, and take it day-to-day.
Jim's brother called this morning to check on us. He & his wife & oldest daughter are at their youngest daughter & her husband's house in Houston. They have a generator so have A/C and lights. We can't get in touch with Jim's sister in Sugarland -- no phone service, landline or her cell phone service. Jim's on the phone now with his sister's oldest daughter (on her cell phone) who lives in Katy, TX (west of Houston). They have no electricity. She said one of the nieces went to Sugarland to check on the rest of the family & their all fine, no electricity.
And Jim just called friends of ours that live one street over from his mother. There's no electricity. They said their son works for one of the electric providers & his company isn't letting them go to work until Sunday.
TV NEWS BLAST: 97% of Harris County (Houston's the county seat) is without electricity!! Galveston Island is closed -- no one can come or go without government authorization. 17 structures have collapsed in Galveston. Many fires, too. They're going to go in for rescues now.
They said because of the debris, if they did open Galveston up, no one could get through. There will be a continued curfew: 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for at least 2 more days. (Houston also has this curfew.)
Pray for everyone!!
Friday, September 12, 2008
Hurricane Ike
We're in his way!! The wind is whipping and wild -- 28 mph and 46 mph in H-town...and this is just barely the beginning of what's yet to come, which won't be purty!! The hurricane is just now moving ashore.
No rain yet. It's coming though. At least we're on the "clean" side (west) of him -- hopefully tornadoes won't be a problem around here both before and after he leaves us.
I've just showered, shampooed my hair, got my last load of clothes washing, and the dishes are washing. Did all this before we lose power -- which WILL happen. Lord knows how long it will be before the electric company gets electricity back to us. We lose power periodically for no apparent reason...so this hurricane will really wreak havoc for them! I know they're prepared.
J-Me and JRSon & baby JC are at his parents house, about 5 miles away...bigger house, more food!! I wish I could see my baby girl though! Jim's 89-y.o. mother is with us. She's very antsy...pacing, having a hard time just sitting still, looking out windows, opening doors...Jim had to finally tell her not to open the doors anymore -- the wind about knocked him down a few minutes ago when he opened the front door.
My brother is "hunkered down" at the state school. I checked on him a little while ago. Another state school was evacuated to his, and so they have double the population there. But he's in the best place, and that's his home & comfort zone.
The news just said that the worst of the hurricane will be from midnight tonight until noon tomorrow. They're experiencing 130 mph winds right now on the east side of the hurricane, and 15-20 foot storm surge. We've been told to expect 120-125 mph winds. Galveston began flooding this morning at 5 a.m. Unbelievably, 20% of the population in the low-lying coastal areas didn't evacuate, even though it was mandatory. The government has now called off all rescue operations -- too dangerous for the rescuers. Those that stayed behind are on their own. There's also a curfew -- anyone out will be arrested (this for the safety of people as well as to stop looters). 250,000 people in H-town are without power right now. They expect 5 million to be without power when it's all over and predict they won't get power back for at least 2-3 weeks!! Holy Moly!!!
This hurricane is being compared to the Galveston hurricane of 1900 which killed 6000 people. That's supposed to be the worst hurricane in history (of Texas). So it's amazing to me that out of all the hurricanes I've lived through, that this will be the worst one I've ever experienced to date. I just hate the damages and inconveniences they cause (no electricity & water).
Please pray for everyone affected by Ike. We'll all need it.
No rain yet. It's coming though. At least we're on the "clean" side (west) of him -- hopefully tornadoes won't be a problem around here both before and after he leaves us.
I've just showered, shampooed my hair, got my last load of clothes washing, and the dishes are washing. Did all this before we lose power -- which WILL happen. Lord knows how long it will be before the electric company gets electricity back to us. We lose power periodically for no apparent reason...so this hurricane will really wreak havoc for them! I know they're prepared.
J-Me and JRSon & baby JC are at his parents house, about 5 miles away...bigger house, more food!! I wish I could see my baby girl though! Jim's 89-y.o. mother is with us. She's very antsy...pacing, having a hard time just sitting still, looking out windows, opening doors...Jim had to finally tell her not to open the doors anymore -- the wind about knocked him down a few minutes ago when he opened the front door.
My brother is "hunkered down" at the state school. I checked on him a little while ago. Another state school was evacuated to his, and so they have double the population there. But he's in the best place, and that's his home & comfort zone.
The news just said that the worst of the hurricane will be from midnight tonight until noon tomorrow. They're experiencing 130 mph winds right now on the east side of the hurricane, and 15-20 foot storm surge. We've been told to expect 120-125 mph winds. Galveston began flooding this morning at 5 a.m. Unbelievably, 20% of the population in the low-lying coastal areas didn't evacuate, even though it was mandatory. The government has now called off all rescue operations -- too dangerous for the rescuers. Those that stayed behind are on their own. There's also a curfew -- anyone out will be arrested (this for the safety of people as well as to stop looters). 250,000 people in H-town are without power right now. They expect 5 million to be without power when it's all over and predict they won't get power back for at least 2-3 weeks!! Holy Moly!!!
This hurricane is being compared to the Galveston hurricane of 1900 which killed 6000 people. That's supposed to be the worst hurricane in history (of Texas). So it's amazing to me that out of all the hurricanes I've lived through, that this will be the worst one I've ever experienced to date. I just hate the damages and inconveniences they cause (no electricity & water).
Please pray for everyone affected by Ike. We'll all need it.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Mexico was wonderful!
Bienvenidos a Mexico!
We had a wonderful 5 days in Mexico.
Our plane ride was uneventful -- it was on a Mexican airline based in Mexico. And the only city in the U.S. they fly to is Austin, TX.
We were met at the airport by our private transfers in a brand new Chevy suburban -- really nice. This was the first time I'd ever done this. Before, we've always been part of a mass group of people being dropped off as we passed hotels on the way to ours. This time it was nice being met quickly and then on our way with no delays (waiting for other people, etc.). We had about a 30-minute ride to our resort, Secrets Maroma Beach. It was 30 miles south of Cancun, and 15 miles north of Playa del Carmen.
Our plane ride was uneventful -- it was on a Mexican airline based in Mexico. And the only city in the U.S. they fly to is Austin, TX.
We were met at the airport by our private transfers in a brand new Chevy suburban -- really nice. This was the first time I'd ever done this. Before, we've always been part of a mass group of people being dropped off as we passed hotels on the way to ours. This time it was nice being met quickly and then on our way with no delays (waiting for other people, etc.). We had about a 30-minute ride to our resort, Secrets Maroma Beach. It was 30 miles south of Cancun, and 15 miles north of Playa del Carmen.
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This photo is from the back of the lobby looking toward the Caribbean. This "path" takes you to the beach & pool areas. The red design are actually pools -- about 9 inches deep. The wider it gets, then you'll find a table with 2 chairs sitting in it with a chess board. We actually saw a couple playing chess one day!!The room "towers" are to the left and right. The resort had just opened 4 days before we arrived, so the grass and landscaping aren't finished. Give this resort 6 months, and it'll be in full bloom...and will be just beautiful.
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This is the infinity pool...the view is from the swim up bar (below).+005.jpg)
Behind it are 2 of their 5 restaurants on property. We ate at Oceana and it was the best food I've EVER eaten in Mexico! Our steak was huge and so tender, you could cut it with a fork! It also had 3 huge sauteed shrimp with it. We even ate mussels in a champagne sauce -- 2 plates of them! And the clam chowder and creamed spinach were to die for! It was absolutely heavenly!+258.jpg)
This is the standard room category (all suites). There are also soaking tubs on the patios from the second floor up. The first floor rooms have swim-out pools. We were initially given a first floor room, but it wasn't ready once we got to the room, so we ended up in a 2nd floor room.
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We inspected 2 other Secrets resorts: Silversands and Capri.
Silversands is very contemporary & modern, lots of glass and metal -- not for everyone -- even the general manager said so. I noticed a younger, more lively active crowd there -- very South Beach-ish: mid-20s up, singles, couples, honeymooners.
Capri is very Mediterranean -- the owner is from Italy. Very luxurious; honeymooners, couples, 30s up crowd; celebrating honeymoons, birthdays, annivesaries.
And Maroma Beach is a typical Mexican hacienda-style. Luxurious; honeymooners, couples, a few singles (2 girls or 2 guys), 30's up crowd.
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Below is the beach area. I've NEVER seen grass around a pool or beach area at any resort in Cancun or the Riviera Maya.+067.jpg)
The photo below is the infinity pool at Secrets Silversands.
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Silversands' lobby:+157.jpg)
After we returned from our 2 site inspections, Ann and I were asked by 2 other agents if we'd share a taxi to Valentin Imperial Maya Resort & Spa for a site inspection there. We agreed and were so glad we went. I didn't have my camera with me, but Ann had hers. All those photos are downloaded to my Snapfish account. I wish I had some to post here...but I don't.
Valentin has 7 gourmet restaurants on property. Their French restaurant, L'Alsace, even has chateaubriand on the menu!! (Holy cow!!) The property was amazing and beautiful. We were able to witness baby sea turtles hatching on the beach -- the personnel had scooped them up into 5 gallon buckets to be released after dark back into the sea. Their chances of survival are better at night -- even so, they told us that only about 5 out of 200 survive.
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I have these resorts separated into 4 albums on Snapfish for those of you who'd like to see thes resorts and their amenities. Just email me.
And please don't forget me when you -- or your friends, relatives, co-workers, etc. -- decide to take a vacation!
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Also, please register on my website for the Cruise-a-Day Giveaway. The drawings are over on September 28th. Please refer your friends, family & colleagues, too!! The more people you refer, the more entries you receive in the contest.
GOOD LUCK!!
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