Delay of the Sail Away

The effects of Gustav are already being felt here in Houston, just not the wind and water kind of effects yet. The 5-day cruise to Mexico we were supposed to be on Monday afternoon has now been shortened and delayed by Carnival. It is now departing Wednesday afternoon for 3 days and cruises to nowhere. We get half off the cruise refunded and a 50% discount on another cruise with Carnival by the end of 2009. So not bad, we can still cancel outright and get a full refund but we think we will go and at least have a couple days to relax on the boat.

For reference, we are not boarding up the house and evacuating unless this thing turns sharply in the next 12-20hrs and heads for Houston. The model concensus has been directed at NOLA for a couple days now and we are going to work on the assumption that its right. Pretty much most of Houston is also working on this assumption as no evacuations are in progress from here.

Pre-Gustav Bathroom Status

Tonight I finished installing the new cabinets in the master bath remodel. I figured I should take some pictures to document the status just in case Gustav comes along and makes all my work pointless. I doubt that will happen but who knows, we are still in the "Cone of Death" as Aaron calls it. The list of new items in the bathroom are paint (walls, trim, and ceiling), cabinets, toilet, mirrors, light fixtures, towel racks and hooks, and the under-sink plumbing. Left to do: vanity top and sinks (sitting in the garage, John can help this weekend), the shower door, and hang the mirrors.

John is Officially Headed Home!!

In fact, he is just past Gainesville, FL almost to I-10, which makes him about 12hrs away right now. YAY!! The 6 months on construction is officially at an end.

Gustav is My Least Favorite Thing

ARGH! This TS/hurricane is making my mad. The models shifted Gustav back to the west this morning on its projected path which means Houston is well within the "Cone of Uncertainty." First, I don't want Gustav anywhere near Houston seeing how its our house that acts as a minor windbreak and/or rain spounge for something like this.

Second, we are supposed to be enjoying John's week off from work! Namely, by taking a cruise departing from Galveston terminal and this sucker is getting in the way! I just hope this doesn't turn out to be lesson learned for why one should buy into the trip insurance rip-off.

John's Last and Final ETH (we hope)

After a long and fabulous weekend of partying for Erin's Bridal Shower and Bachelorette party, it only gets better by being topped off with news that John is really coming home. John's last day at work in FL is OFFICIALLY Friday, which means he will drive home and be back to Houston sometime Saturday. YAY!!!

As for our plans, he will get all of next week off from work, least they can do seeing how he's work 6 or 7 day weeks for 6 months. Since our anniversary is the weekdend after this one, we just booked a quick last minute cruise out of Galveston... only to have a hurricane form less than 24hr later. We'll find out what this means as the situation develops. Technically, our honeymoon cruise also involved a hurricane so it's only right that the anniversary does too in some resepects. Gustav looks to be a biggie though so who knows right now.

Humble Pie, Often Served on the Floor

Best fight video ever!! Just watch it, it needs no explanation.

U-S-A!! U-S-A!!

The US women defeated arch-rival Brazil in the Gold Medal Matchup this morning 1-0 in OT!!! This is a huge win for a young US team, a team that has been without their leading gola scorer Abby Wambauch with a broken leg for the whole tourney. Brazil was looking hungry in the second half, but the US defense held them off. Then just a few minutes into OT, Carli Lloyd scored on a great shot which remainded the only goal of the game!

I am also super happy that the MER tagup this morning was on the loops instead of in the conference room since OT started at the same time as the meeting. I was not looking forward to having to leave the streaming video on my computer just for the tagup. I don't know why we got to do it on the loops, but I sure am glad!

Tropical Storm Fay and Face Book

Well, as I sit here in West Palm Beach, FL, I find myself thinking "Is that all you've got?".
TS Fay didn't hit FL nearly as hard as some people thought. Winds gusted to about 65 mph and we've received about 10" of rain, but no major damage to report. There were 2 tornadoes that went through my town this morning but no fatalities, just a busted roof on a Shell station and some tore up horse stables.

The other day Amira (Nujoud's younger sister) invited Nujoud and I to join Face Book. I was surprised to see just how many people found me in such a short period of time. I re-connected with many people I served with in the Navy. Some of those people I wish would've just stayed hidden but you get the bad with the good, right? I'm still on track for an August 29th release date from this project in FL, which would be awesome because that means I'll be home for Labor Day weekend.

Not Confusing At All

There has been a lot of road construction around the space center as this area grows, but a year or so ago they changed the name on the original road to JSC from NASA Road 1 to NASA Parkway. Amoung others I disliked the name change, it had been NASA Road 1 since the space center was first built.

But they have also been bldg a bypass about half a mile south of the road from the highway to the space center, since NASA Road 1 (or "Parkway") is so heavily travelled and always jammed. Well the bypass is open and I drove by it today running errands and what do I see but the "new" name for the bypass: NASA Road 1 !!

No kidding, that's not going to be confusing to name a new road the exact same thing as the old but still in existance road of similar direction and everything but only half a mile away. I think I am more annoyed because I might have to actually start using the NASA Parkway icky name just to distiquish. Maybe not, maybe if you ask me for directions you will just have to figure out which one I am referring to on your own.

Revised John ETH

Every time John's supposed "estimate" of when he will be coming home gets to about a week away, it moves out another week. The latest data is that he will be working at the jobsite until at least Aug 29th. So if you want to keep score, this is ETH number 4, one fore each week in August startin gon the 8th. Awesome.

So maybe he will be home in time for Labor Day weekend, then again there might be just another week.

Curling and Coutry-Western Gangsta Rap

What a weekend!

Friday night I went curling for the first time. I've always enjoyed watching curling when its on TV in the winter O's and now I actually went and tried it out. It is really fun in a laid back sort of way. I scored a point with my very first curling rock ever, so I think that bodes well for me and the sport shoudl I ever go again.

Then Saturday night we went out for a belated Aaron birthday outing to McGonigal's Mucky Duck. Great bar and good irish food, but more importantly they are known for their live music. The Asylum Street Spankers from Austin were playing and they were great. They are kinda a humor based band but they have really good singers and musicians. My personal favorite song was the country western-gangsta rap song "Hick Hop". Great night out for music. I also really liked the song "Breathin'" which was like and old blues tune.

34 miles of pipe are in the ground....now what?

It has been a long time since my last contribution to this blog so here it goes. As many of you know I am still in West Palm Beach, FL overseeing the installation of 34 additional miles to our natural gas pipeline. This gas line will feed the new FP&L (Florida Power and Light) plant being constructed by Zachry, the company John Wilke works for. Up until this morning I really thought I would be starting my drive back to Houston either the 15th or 16th. Now that is in jeopardy. Upon completion of laying the pipe, a hydrostatic test is done to ensure the line's integrity. The pipeline failed it's first attempt miserably, but then passed a 2nd hydro test this morning. How could this have happened? Good question, and that's why my boss is on a plane as we speak. A logical theory is that we were experiencing a very strong temperature gradient, due to various sections of pipe being buried at varying depths ranging anywhere's from 3-30 feet, and the pipe just needed more time to allow temps and pressures to stabilize. Experts have told us that what we experienced is not uncommon, but the problem is proving a temperature gradient was the cause and not a slow leak that may not exist at lower pressures but then rear it's ugly head at test pressure (2220 psig). Needless to say, this "little" problem does nothing to facilitate my return to Houston. The 15th / 16th is still possible, just less likely.

Something else happened yesterday that hadn't happened in over 5 years. I got a speeding ticket!!! 10 over. Really? 10 over? come on, your sheriff buddy just passed me and you let him through. Oh well, I just completed the 4 hour online course to make sure it doesn't go on my driving record and keeps my insurance rates from going up. Even with the reciprocity rule between states, there's a good chance the FL ticket wouldn't get connected to my TX insurance policy but I'm not taking any chances. 5 months and no tickets. Then with less than 2 weeks left in the state I get slapped for 10 over in a 55mph zone. Whatever.

I sure am glad that Nujoud is re-doing our bathroom. I really hate painting. My goal is for her to have it finished before I get home so all I have to do is enjoy the fruits of her labor. We still need to hunt for a shower door replacement but other than that all the hardware is either installed or on its way to Home Depot for pick-up.

Yo! Where's my Gurt?

I went grocery shopping yesterday and one of the things I frequently eat is yogurt, plain, fat-free, and good, often with fresh fruit mixed in. I usually buy the individual serving containers so they can stay sealed and won't go bad like a large container will before I can finish it.

When I got them I thought they seemed small. I got home and still had one in the fridge, sure 'nough, they are now only 6 Oz!!! vs. the original 8 oz. So lame, here's is your grocery costs rising, smaller packages, same price. I'd rather pay more and get a real 8 oz serving personally.

But what was especially annoying, was the "New Creamier Recipie" advertised on the package. I was skeptical to start and once I opened it, it really was just more "watery" and instead of having some firmness like yogurt should. It seemed like their cost cutting has just thinned out the yogurt and now the quality suffers. So I guess I will be finishing these and then finding a new brand, Lucerne just lost a yogurt customer.

Mirror, Mirror, On the Wall...

Tonight I finished grouting the mirrors for the bathroom remodel, work completed courtesy of the "hurrication" day. I think I will have to call this my Edouard-ian style mirror. The grout is still drying in these pictures and will actually be bone color when dry as opposed to the beige it is wet. These will go up over the bathroom vanity, that is when the vanity arrives and gets installed at least.

Note to future DIY-ers: This is a really inexpensive way to make nice mirrors or frames. I spent around $50 on the tile/grout/glue and $30 for the pair or mirrors from Ikea. So for the whopping price of $80 and some time, I came away with what I think are good looking mirrors that would probably run $100 or more each from a store. Cheaper tile could also be had, but this was the style I was going for in the first place.

What Can Wright Do for You?

It's ARRIVED!!! Here it is, my actual United States Federal Aviation Administration issued Private Pilot's License!! I think I'll have to take this baby out for a spin this weekend!

Taking Donations

I was pointed to an article on this aircraft awhile ago, but my boss Jim just found it and came by to talk to me about it. I would love to be able to buy one of these when they come out in 2010 since they are half the cost of a new Cessna or similar. They sure would be a great way to fly and own your own plane with all the bells and whistles of a new aircraft and better reliability. If you care to help make that happen, I will accept any sizable donation.

www.iconaircraft.com

Edouard Stats

During the night Monday Edouard (which had been making a bee-line for Houston) shifted northward in its track and came ashore east of here over the Sabine Pass area. Good for us, even though we were prepared. With that shift, it pretty much just meant a strong, steady rain for about 4 hours at my place. The statistics for my part of H-town are 2.8 in of rain, wind peak at 21 mph, and peak gust of 37 mph. All in all, nothing much different than any other strong T-storm around here.

So what do you do with a free day off from work while it rains and rains you ask? Why you glue a few thousand tiny tiles on to a pair of mirrors. I guess I can thank Edourd for giving me the time to just sit there and get that mostly done. I still have a small section left to do on the second mirror and then grouting, but they are much closer to being done then they would have otherwise been.

Red Rover, Red Rover, Send Edouard Over

Looks like Edouard spun up from a nothing to a something in about 24hrs and is tracking straight over Galveston/Houston, e.g. me. Since it's so close to land the prediction puts it at either a strong tropical storm (60-73mph winds) or minimal Cat 1 hurricane (75-85 mph). Either way, I am riding out the storm at home with the puppies. I live in a Cat 3 evacutation area, so I am quite comfortable for this one. Given the short notice and limited intensification, I am also not going to get the boards up on the windows, but I don't know anyone that is. I did make one very important hurricane preparation with regard to the garage, see below. Took a little work, but I monkey'd things around enough for this. I am well stocked on water and food and I have a gas stove and, if nothing else, a grill.

JSC and all the contractors shut down at noon today and we will be off tomorrow as well while the storm is at its worst. We'll see how this goes, but I'm ready for you Ed!

Not a Weather Guesser

Here in Houston the weather "forecasting" usually seems to be anything but accurate. The "chance" of rain typically has no bearing on whether or not it will actually rain on YOU. But they must be feeling pretty confident now. Check out Tuesday on our 5-day forecast. I would love for this hurricane to miss us mostly for the humor that they were wrong again.

Dynamite Dynamo

Saturday night I went to the Dynamo MLS soccer game with Melissa and Natalie. Great game, Dynamo won 2-0 over Columbus crew. The Dynamo are the two-time defending MLS Champs and still look great this season currently in second place. I love soccer, but even if you've never played it is a great game to watch and go hang out at.

Highlights of the game were Brian Ching's goal from a great setup 12 yards or so out and the poor Columbus defense. The Columbus keeper was very unhappy with the mistakes his fullbacks were making and that was obvious from the yelling he was doing. Here are a couple pics.

Bathroom Status

Just a quick note on where I've gotten to with the bathroom. I demo'd everythign that had to come out, of course, and then got everything prepped for painting first. I am almost done with painting, still have the trim to go, but I am ever so glad to be done with painting the ceiling as of last night. I'm glad it's just a bathroom but having to hand paint over your head for anything stinks and it had to have two coats to really look good.

As far as "reconstructing" the bathroom, the vanity is on order and is pending arrival. But I do have the new toilet installed already, YAY a working toilet! Tomorrow will be light fixture install. The other item I'm held up waiting for is the art supplies for the mirrors. Since I couldn't find what I wanted, I'll just have to make it. Will post pictures of those when they are done but its going to take me some time to finish them. Also need the materials to arrive so I can match a trim paint color to those.

All in all, its coming along. The vanity pieces should be at Home Depot around the 14th, so I'm still looking at a couple weeks before I can really finish it. It is sucking up most of my time in the evenings working on it though and weekend time too. At least, when not in the software lab for work!! It already looks much better though, I told John it looked better than before when all I had was primer on the walls since anything was an improvement over the floral wallpaper.

No pictures till I'm done.