Hunkering Down

Four million people. One million of those evacuated, three million told to stay and the majority are now told by the same mayor who told us to stay, and the media, that we’re fools to do so. All the while, the media is doing it’s usual ratings-booster, standing on breaking piers on the Galveston shoreline and predicting the worst. Only thing is the skies are clear and they’re out there in polo shirts, hair barely ruffling in the breeze (not in full foul-weather gear holding the inside-out umbrella).

New Orleans invites the three million of us to share fewer than 15,000 hotel rooms for full price or Mayor Nagin’s hurricane “special,” whatever that might be. Never mind that we took in hundreds of thousands from Katrina for free and many are still here.

I was unable to get into the grocery store early yesterday morning, or get gasoline but did stock up on dog food. Luckily my favorite specialty store was open and though I couldn’t buy fresh meats, we certainly have enough food in the freezer, refrigerator and pantry to weather the next 36 hours. Hail to the Cheese!!!

Yesterday while Jim was out running his errands I made a large fruit salad with a whole pineapple, half a dulcinea watermelon, and apples. I’ll add the grapes and strawberries just prior to serving. Jim got a patch kit for the air mattress (Zoe popped it a couple of years ago) just in case we have to sleep out in the hallway. He also got 70# of ice so we can keep food from spoiling in case the power goes out.

Right now Ike is a Cat. 2 storm but may intensify to a Cat. 3 before slamming into Galveston and inland. In the morning I’ll do a final inventory before deciding if we need to go out one more time for supplies. Jim filled 32 gallons of water from the tap and we have a few gallons for drinking, plus filtered water and ice from the frig, if it’s working.

There’s nothing we can do if the windows break, as we’re not allowed to board them (not that we could, being on the 4th floor). I’ll clear out papers from the office (looking out at my precious view of downtown) and perhaps even move them and critical papers to the trunk of the car. We’ll probably move electronics to the master closet or laundry room, away from the windows, depending upon projected wind speed and what Jim advises. We’re charging everything right now so we have three cell phones and five batteries, three laptops (one from work) and one server. All for two people, my goodness! One would think Zoe (the dog) knows how to type and text!

I’m at that very desk, a 1920’s English oak gate leg table overlooking my adopted city 1/4 mile away and wondering what the next 12-24 hours will bring. There is a shelter next door at the recreation center but a lot of people seem to be sticking it out at the lofts and we do have one 6-burner gas range in the demo kitchen that we can take over if need be and have a pot luck or party.

One more load of laundry, run the dishwasher, papers, car (keep prime spots in garage). We’ll make a list of final prep then settle in. Jim wants a proper hobby so went to the bookstore looking at sailing books yesterday! If he suggests Galveston this weekend, he’s crazy! He’s already said he wants to spend the weekend shopping for a car. In a hurricane. Even Wal-Mart is closing tomorrow!

As for Zoe, she’s blissfully unaware. Yesterday she spent 1/2 hour sniffing around and didn’t “complete” her morning constitutional. She doesn’t know that today and tomorrow she’s going to get awfully wet out there if she doesn’t do her business post haste. I envy that sense of present-only, as she’s not the one up at the computer at all hours worrying.

Since Jim will have cabin fever within an hour or two of being sequestered perhaps we can go out on the bridge next door in full gear and get a photo or two… Take care and wish everyone from Louisiana to the Texas coast well. Dee