Alive

[sereneorange]

blot nudged me and reminded me I had not updated. We are alive. We are fine. Our power went out about 11:30 or so Friday night. I fell asleep for about an hour or so, then woke up while the storm was at a particularly nasty part. I was in awe of the beauty and terror of such a strong storm. When the window pushed back on my face and hands that were pressed against it, I took off running back to my room, got under my blanket and stayed awake a few more hours listening for the tornadoes I was just sure were coming.

Fortunately, there was no funnel cloud for me. Unfortunately, one of our trees fell and ripped the drop line from our house. The tree landed on our pergola and cracked it. Also, our large tree that is the home to the squirrels and birds was half leaning as well. The roots were pulling up out of the dirt. I really like that tree. It is covered in big leafy vines. I called a couple of tree companies, but there was a lot of not showing and not calling back. I get that it was freakishly busy, but a call saying, "We cannot make it" would have been cool. Karen caught our lawn guy at the neighbor's house and asked him if he could clear the trees. He did our tree trimming last year. He cut down and hauled away the two trees, and cut down a stump that was in the backyard already. The price was pretty good as well.

Our yard is now ugly. I really liked that tree. Now the squirrels are climbing up the tall palm trees in the front yard and making a mess in the yard while they make new nests or something. I hope that is what they are doing. Otherwise, they are just up there tearing apart my trees.

I called the insurance company and FEMA, but haven't heard from either. I am at goodnightnowgo's house doing laundry and using her laptop to handle various business. My mother met me Wednesday evening and lent us a small battery powered television. It was great to be able to see the news. It was the first look I got at the rest of Texas. Galveston and other coastal cities are such devastating messes. We are so fortunate. The money is tight, but we didn't take on any water, the roof is only missing a few shingles, and even though the power is out, the weather took a turn for the beautiful a day or so after Ike. The evenings are in the low 60's with highs in the mid 80's. It is pleasant weather if you have to be without electricity.

We were waiting for Centerpoint to come and fix the line ( I called and reported a line down) but they haven't showed up. My mother saw in the paper this morning that it is our responsibility (there was a confusion since when she called an electrician a few days ago, they said they don't do that, centerpoint does). My mother gave her electrician another call and they should be out this afternoon or tomorrow. My neighbors next to me and behind me have power, but not across the street. I am nervous about being in that part of the yard or having Con over there because the line laying in the yard is attached to a live line, but it isn't sparking or anything. It was even laying in water for a while. Karen's friend said that maybe it was fine because it wasn't attached and didn't complete the circuit. I don't know. Still makes me nervous. I will be glad to have power back and be able to read at night, have AC, cold milk and ice. I had to throw out a lot of food, but on the upside, the fridge got a good scrubbing that it desperately needed. I know all this is costing a lot, but I am thinking the light bill should be pretty light. this month, right?

My parent's house did well. Their fence did not.

So that is my update. We are all fine. Minimal damage to the house compared to a lot of other people.

I do not ever care to go through that again. Ike was a big scary bastard.