Hurricane Ike by the Numbers

Ike was a category 2 storm.

Number of lives lost 51. (not counting the unknowen lives that were swept away in Galveston)
Number of homes without power 2 million.
Number of bruises on my legs from clean up 6.
Number of days without power 11.
Number of days with no phones 5.
Number of generators 2.
Number of portable AC units 2.
Number of gallons of gas for the generators approx 300.
Number of windows lost 1.
Number of trees lost 2.
Number of times the carbon monoxide detector went off 2.
Number of garbage bags filled (at least) 20.
Number of Gilmore Girls episodes watched 12.

Number of trees on our home 0
Number of cars totaled 0
Number of friends and family lost 0
Number of friends and family without a home 0
Number of days without water 0

Number of times I was thankful it wasn't so hot COUNTLESS
Number of times my brother made us laugh COUNTLESS
Number of times my mom did a flashlight check COUNTLESS
Number of times I thanked God we were safe COUNTLESS
Number of times my Dad had to check the generators COUNTLESS
Number of times our neighbors thanked us for the help COUNTLESS
Number of times I was thankful for the Carbon Monoxide detector COUNTLESS
Number of times I was thankful we were prepared COUNTLESS
Number of times I was thankful for my family COUNTLESS
Number of times my mom fussed at the boys for not finishing their drinks COUNTLESS
Number of times my dad tried to make us go to bed early and we ignored him COUNTLESS

Two T-Shirt Weekend

I had a fairly eventful weekend this week. It was in fact a two t-shirt weekend, let me explain.

Friday-
I volunteered at the Veggie Tales live show that was being held at Sugar Creek Baptist Church. The Veggie Tales are an awesome christian program for kids. The local christian radio station was in need of volunteers so I signed up to help in any way I could. At first I handed out program flyers to all the parents and children as they were entering the sanctuary, and this was so much fun. I got to see how excited these little kids were to see Bob and Larry. I never would have guessed how happy a giant tomato and cucumber could make children. Then I watched a little of the show before heading to help at the merchandise table. Man, did those parents buy a lot of stuff for their kids. We sold out of almost everything. At the end of the night the merchandise guy gave me a CD of Veggie Tales songs and a free t-shirt. The whole night was tons of fun and I was glad I got to help out. That was free t-shirt #1.

Saturday-
I have been wanting to get re-certified in my CPR training, and my friend Amber found online that Methodist Hospital and the Red Cross were doing a CPR/AED training day for only $10. I thought that was super cheap so we signed up. So I spent my Saturday afternoon doing CPR compressions on a dummy and learning how to properly shock peoples' hearts. (FYI- they changed the CPR compression ratio to 30 compressions for every 2 rescue breaths, and man you get really tired. Also they changed the location of where to properly thrust someone when they are choking.) Anyways, after all my CPR practice and passing my test I was once again a certified CPR giver. And then on our way out they gave us a goody bag with a free t-shirt in it! That made it the second t-shirt of the weekend.

I love t-shirts and I love them even more when they are FREE! I am in need of t-shirts that do not have sorority or fraternity letters on them, or some sort of Greek function on them; while I love my sorority I feel I am a little too old to be wearing date dash and crush t-shirts. But I am not too old however to sport my pink Veggie Tales t-shirt or my Methodist Hospital Community Heart Day t-shirt!

As well as my 2 t-shirt weekend, I was suppose to have my phone interview with Teach for America tonight at 10:50 pm central time. But it is now 11:26 pm and I have yet to receive a call. It is very strange because in all my other dealings with Teach for America they have been super punctual and on top of things. Oh well, I will just email them and reschedule like the website says to do or who knows maybe they will still call. They are lucky I am a night owl or I would be mad.

Wordless Wednesday

It's about time!

I just got my power back on!!!

After 11 days of NO power, it is about time it came back on. I thought I was going to lose my mind!

We Survived

Everyone is ok.

House is ok.

Still no power.

Still no phones.

Sort of cell phones but not really.

Occasional texting abilities.

No cold food.

No gas.

Still sucks.

But we are all safe and we still have a home so that is what matters.

Pray for those who lost their homes and possessions.

More updates and pictures to come.

Pray for Us

Hurricane Ike is coming to Houston with a vengeance.

Pray for the Gulf Coast.

Pray for our home.

Good Ole Ike

OK well it looks like Ike is getting a little scary.

I am over this.

November marks the end of hurricane season and it cannot come quick enough.

Observations from my day as a Houston commuter

1. Getting up at 6am sucks, no matter how much sleep you got.
2. If you have to drive past a high school before the first bell you can add at least 20 minutes to your commute time.
3. Sometimes getting out of the suburbs takes the longest time.
4. The DJs during the 7 am hour on the morning radio shows aren't funny because they are in an awful song-traffic report- song- traffic report pattern.
5. You should have a city of Houston freeway map memorized in order to understand the traffic reports.
6. Traffic reporters shouldn't start a report with a sigh or a grunt. That doesn't make the drive very positive.
7. It is unnecessary to have flashing signs reminding us it is hurricane season. Trust me, we know.
8. You should always reflect on your morning drive during your work training meetings so your blog post is done when you get home.

A month until my birthday

So blog reader people, today marks one month until my birthday (October 8). Thus I have decided to compose a list for you in case you would like to buy me a gift.

There you have it folks, I want a sewing machine, a digital camera, and a dirt bike.

A Moment of Domesticity

I made dinner for myself tonight.

Mashed new potatoes with garlic and butter

Breaded Chicken Tenders

My newest obsession, Propel Water (with caffeine)

I even made brownies!

In a moment of rare domesticity I made myself a real dinner. I cooked it all by myself. I breaded the chicken tenders, mashed the potatoes, and made the brownies (from a box). It may not have been the most healthy of meals, but it was very yummy! It may not be any fancy gourmet type meal but its better than nothing; at least I tried. I am quite proud of myself. But I will be honest, I wish I was cooking for two instead of one. :-)

Mystery- Phil Wickham

Here in the Quiet speak to me now

My ears are open to

Your gentle sweet whispering

Break down the door, come inside

Shine down Your bright light

I need a lamp for my feet, I need a lamp for my feet

I want to hear the thunder of who You are

To be captured inside the wonder of who You areI

want to live I want to breathe

To search out Your heart and all of Your mysteries

You were the first and You'll be the end

Time cannot hold You down

Why save a wretch like me?

No eye has seen, no ear has heard

No heart could fully knowAll of Your mystery

Thoughtful or Thoughtless

So I haven't updated lately with anything of much substance. Lately I have been alternating between having no thoughts in my head and having so many thoughts that they don't make sense.

Thus, I have the only choice of posting silly pictures of my cat. I am afraid if I tried to put on my thoughts out on here right they would come out all random and crazy like. They wouldn't make sense.

So for now you are going to be stuck with my posts that don't amount to much.

No worries though, I still love y'all! =)

Seriously, how much cuter can he get?

Casey in the bottled water package and this isn't the first time he has done this.

Seriously, how cute is he? A little strange, yes. But too cute.

Resurrection- Nicol Sponberg

I'm at a loss for words, there's nothing to say

I sit in silence wondering what led me to this place

How did my heart become so lifeless and cold

Where did the passion go?

When all my efforts seem like chasing wind

I've used up all my strength and there's nothing left to give

I've lost the feeling and I'm numb to the core

I can't fake it anymore.

Here I am at the end I'm in need of resurrection

Only You can take this empty shell and raise it from the dead

What I've lost to the world what seems far beyond redemption

You can take the pieces in Your hand and make me whole again

Who knows...

I don't really have all that much to say.

Just a few updates:

• Internship is good.
• Getting up early blows.
• I have a Teach For America web meeting on Wednesday. That should be interesting...

That's all I got.