Humberto coming through

We are fixing to get our second tropical storm of the summer - Humberto. (We had Erin last month.) They are talking about 10 inches of rain tonight through tomorrow morning, so flash flooding is definitely a concern - especially in the Medical Center. I got a few emails at work today about when the floodgates will be lowered, and we'll surely be checking the BayouCam! Tomorrow morning's clinics have already been canceled so I won't have any blood samples to process. Looks like I may get an unscheduled day off mañana.

UPDATE: Humberto actually strengthened into a hurricane and veered east, missing us in Houston but hitting Southeast Texas (again) [Beaumont Enterprise photo galleries]. Scary how it went from nothing to hurricane in 24 hours! Good news is the emergency planners are now reconsidering their schemes that assumed a three day advance warning for evacuations. Hopefully they'll organize some shelters like they have in Florida, where there's no way to flee inland.

Hot hot hot

After the rainiest July in over 40 years kept things releatively cool here in Houston, the brutal heat of summer has finally set in.

101ºF now. I don't think I'll be spending any time outdoors today. And my plan to start commuting by bicycle may be delayed a bit. :P

Seepage in my Jeepage

Looking up at the ceiling of my Jeep during last week's rainstorms.

Well, it looks like ten years is gonna be the limit on the convertible top of my Jeep. Not bad considering it never enjoyed the luxury of covered parking.

My first car had a top
that lasted only five years.

Pretty soon the usefulness of the top will decrease to the point that it's not worth it anymore . . . then I'll remove it and put up the "bikini top" which is really only a shade over the front seat. The neighborhood stray cats will be able to come and go as they please. I've caught one of them sleeping on the roof several times [must like ragtops - I've seen the same cat on a neighbor's Wrangler, too], and once when I left the window unzipped I was surprised by one jumping out as I approached. The Jeep is designed to be hosed out, so other than the comfort factor there shouldn't be any problems with "going topless." :P

Winter arrives

Photo: Steve Ueckert, Houston Chronicle

Our first sustained cold front blew into town this morning. I'm sure my hair looked much like this lady's. It's currently 39 degrees, which is pretty cold for the Gulf Coast. Last night I was running the A/C. Tonight - the 'lectric blanket. :)

Good day at work today. Our collaborator came in from the DC area last night (she got blamed for bringing the frio) and figured out why my blood processing wasn't yielding as many cells as it should. I was setting the digital centrifuge speed control on rpm's instead of g's. (D'oh! Foiled by high-tech controls - at least with a good ol' knob ya can't screw up this way.) The luminex experiments are going down this weekend. It's still exciting since I haven't done it yet. Probably be bitching about it within a few months. :P

In other news, the Rice Owls are going to the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl!!! And Coach Todd Graham received C-USA football coach of the year honors. Congratulations, y'all deserve it!

Anybody wanna go to N'awlins for the game Dec. 22nd?

Forgotten Storm

Today's the first anniversary of Hurrican Rita, the disaster that seems to be largely forgotten by the national media. Not so here at "ground zero."

Beaumont Enterprise coverage
Houston Chronicle article

There's still alot of work to be done.


I'm heading to Houston today to spend my first night in my new place. [The electricity was turned on early.] Big ups to Al and his friends Jon & Duc for unloading the truck for me! Naturally we rolled Penske (and passed a broken-down U-Haul on I-10).



This may be my last post for awhile . . . let's see how long it takes for me to get cable internet set up in my new place. I don't yet know what the computer situation at work will be; maybe I'll post from there if I get my own machine or at least a semi-private one. I've already uploaded 223 photos this month anyway!

Road trip pics - day two

Check out my road trip photoset GTT: Gone to Texas. Here's a few from day two (Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania to Knoxville, Tennessee).




Leaving Wilkes-Barre on I-81.


The sign says "FOG AREA."





Below: crossing the Mason-Dixon line into Maryland. Of course we let out a rebel yell. :P


We stopped at the Green Valley Book Fair in Virginia on Evan's recommendation. It's a great place to stretch your legs and pick up some really cheap books!










What is up with all the personalized license plates in Virginia??? Notice the "Spandex is a priviledge, not a right" sticker here on Joe Durt's vehicle in the book fair lot.


What we bought.


The Penske started running hot in the mountains, but it never overheated or died, unlike the three or four broken-down U-Hauls we passed over the course of the journey.

Scenes from Virginia:










Checking the forecast at the Tennessee welcome center.


Day two mileage.

Chillin'

It's a cool and sunny 72º here in Boston today. The A/C's off and the windows open - you better believe I'm enjoying it while I can. The heat and humidity of the Gulf awaits . . .

Snow day

Today we had our first big snowstorm of the year. Last night I lucked out and squeezed into a spot on Queensbury St (not an "emergency snow artery"). Today around one o'clock I decided to go start clearing snowdrifts out from around my Jeep before it got completely buried. I may still have to take public transportation to work tomorrow anyway, depending on how much more snow falls (it's still coming down as I type). An old guy came up to me while I was shoveling and told me the mayor said to just leave the cars parked wherever they are for the next 48 hours. "But he's sitting all cozy in his Beacon Hill Apahtment, though," he added.






















Evan and I went into Canestaro's for a pizza after the shoveling.








The wind has blasted snow onto the bricks!

Another warm day here

Evan and I went to the Breakfast Club diner (a Phantom Gourmet hidden jewel, and deservedly so) this morning and to see "Munich" this afternoon at the Loews Boston Common. Good, thought-provoking movie.

To kill some time before it started, we went over to the Frog Pond in hopes of getting some pics of falling skaters.













And look what's arriving next month!