Toe Tricks

I got Matt a new trick handle for his birthday, and we have been practicing!


Of course Matt learns faster than I do :(, but he can get backwards, and then return forward.

Astros Play in Milwaukee

Matt and I had tickets to the Houston Astros game against the Cubs (during Ike time). They were scheduled for Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and up until Friday afternoon they hadn't made any announcement about what was going to happen. Now the Judge of Houston had already made an announcment THURSDAY that no one was supposed to go to work tomorrow that wasn't crucial, that Ike was going to hit, and hit hard. I guess I assumed that baseball did not fall under "crucial jobs" but I checked what was going to happen to the Astros right up until I lost power late Friday night. We all know that I am not a serious fan, but they are the home team, and they were on a 14/15 game winning streak and not out of the wild card race (we all remember the Rockies pulled out a miracle last year, so I was not counting the Astros out). Anyway, Ike came, I lost power along with 3 MILLION other people, and not sweating to death became a priority to me (while cleaning up a huge disaster because the priority for everyone else).

Sunday Matt and I found out that the Astros had moved to the Brewers stadium to play the Cubs (but don't worry, the Astros were the home team...) and had lost. I didn't think this was very fair - I mean not only had I lost my tickets, but people around here couldn't even listen or know the game was being played! Every radio station was playing 24/7 coverage of Ike - not the baseball game. Now I am not the die-hard fans that are blaming those two losses on their failure to make the playoffs, but it does seem a little unfair to the players. (If Matt told me he had to leave Saturday to go play baseball I woulda tied him to a chair and refused). I mean the airport was closed, they had to charter a plane willing to fly!

So today the MLB commissioner took out a full page ad "apologizing" to the Astros fans. It sounds like when I used to say "I'm sorry" and my mom would always prompt for "sorry for what". Needless to say the apology did not win over the Astros fans. I am siding with the fans on this one, Bud and the MLB screwed up.

Here is the article link: http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/The-Astros-are-not-letting-go-of-this-beef-with-?urn=mlb,109538

"Selig says he "regret(s) the frustration the Astros and their fans felt about playing two games in Milwaukee" and explains the complications of squeezing the games into a shortened end-of-the-season schedule but stops short of apologizing or answering why the the games couldn't be played in non-MLB stadiums that were closer to the Houston area than at "Wrigley North." "

Back in Houston

Matt and I drove back to Houston yesterday. The drive went fairly well. At one rest stop a church group was handing out bag lunches, it was really nice. Everyone at the rest stop was returning from being evacuated and really appreciated a lunch. The lines for fast food around here wrap around the block - and I have yet to see them go down. We are back up and running with everything, so we are really lucky. There are still no stop lights around us (missing completely, not from lack of power) so driving is a mess. Just staying here and hanging out.

Tourists in San Antonio

Matt and I drove to San Antonio today (about 50 minutes from here) to be tourists. Turns out the rest of Houston was also being tourists, or stranded there for (ever?). The big electric signs over the highway read "Do not go to Houston or Beaumont - no gas on route". We went to the Alamo because it is so famous, but after half hour Matt and I were done with history. But we did see everything walking around.

We then walked down to the river walk, which was very pretty. We had lunch on the river.

We walked along the river walk and took a picture of the mexican restaurant with all the colorful umbrellas because it was on all the postcards, so I figured it must be cool.

We sat down at the outdoor theatre where they were going to play Miss Congeniality tonight. We watched the little tour boats go by, which were full (probably unusual for a Monday after labor day). There were also a large number of school age children around, which I can only assume were from Houston).

On the way out we drove past the Alamodome just so I could say I saw it, I am not too impressed. (If this driveby counts, I also saw the UT Longhorns stadium in Austin).

We then came back and played with my kitties, the dogs, and the alpacas before eating up more of our ex-freezer food. Good trip so far - love the shower the best :)

Life on the Alpaca Farm

So Matt and I are hanging out in Blanco, Texas with the Backles. They have 18 alpacas, and here are pictures!


They also have a llama to keep the one male company.

And Matt's favorite... a gator! We have been driving it around their property. We even saw a fawn run, it was small but quick!
It is actually quite cool tonight, a nice break from the heat. We talked to our neighbor back home and she said there is still no power, but I think Matt will have to go back to work on Wednesday, so we will be headed back to no power tomorrow :( But, the news at least said that the water pressure is back, so hopefully that is true.

Bye Ike, Bye Houston

Matt and I survived last night, we grilled burgers and beans outside and played phase ten by candlelight. It was pitch dark by 7:30pm and by 9 we were bored and went to bed. I woke up in the middle of the night with rain POURing down - I had survived a hurricane the night before and was still in awe of how much rain was pouring down. I went around and shut all the windows, which made me downright miserable when I finally woke up in the morning (no air, no windows, and HOT). Matt and I called the Backles in Blanco, Texas and decided to take up their hospitality. We packed up ourselves, my cats, and our fridge and peaced out of Houston.

So we are enjoying air, running water, and cold food for a few days here. Shell is closed Monday and Tuesday.

Post ike Saturday night

Well it is hot. Hot hot hot. Today we woke up at ten - best sleep was
seven am til ten. Within the hour we were bored. Matt was complaining
about not watching the game and I was complaining about not watching
the news to see the pictures.

Afternoon we drove within a mile from us and we were very surprised by
all the damaged stuff - go check out the flicker link. The lines for
cvs were insane!! Mcdonalds line was down the street!!!

Anyway we tailgated with burgers beans and the car radio and now we
are playing phase ten by candlelight. It is HOT.

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