So our luck seems to have run out in Houston. Ike's intensity sent sea levels to incredible heights while he was still hours away from landfall. He is currently barreling toward us, with disaster on all sides along the way.
I grew up in Texas City, just on the mainland next to Galveston. My family first tried to tell me they would be riding the storm out in Texas City. I was forced to throw a small baby fit, which they only patronized...and then leave them with pure disgust..."You're only hearing what you want to hear, there's nothing I can do about that. Fine." Then I pulled the triple Lindy. I called in a favor from my brother in New York.
He left the art opening he was attending long enough to give them a pretty stern talking to. His initial response back to me was that he was unsuccessful, but I had a feeling my mom would stew over it for a bit. He's quite a force to be reckoned with. I was right, she called me back by about 10pm to tell me that my dad had agreed to head to my house first thing in the morning.
I was still a little uncertain if they were just appeasing me again, or if they would actually come. I finally received a phone call at about 8am when they were already on their way. Much to my relief. By then I had several friends who were very concerned and I was able to send out the all clear to everyone.
So now here we sit...My dad has a handgun because "People are idiots in Houston." And not only does he have it with him, but several times I have had to spin the thing around because he has it pointing toward my guests' heads on my countertop. Now, he's pointing it around and acting like he's shooting.
My mom is wandering around the house finding eleventy billion things for my dad to do. He can change this light bulb, he can clean the lint system in the dryer, he can carry the trash to the dumpster for the 4th time today. All the while, she has cooked 4 meals and set out about 5 snacks throughout the day. We've checked the stations on the radios 3 times and have talked about flashlights through four different cycles.
I do not have a seat in my living room to sit on. Instead I'm sitting at the kitchen table singing my blues. Did I mentioned she brought an Aunt and a cousin with them? It's better than the 8 people she originally intended to bring. Instead the others stayed in texas city and now i'm worried about them.
My friends offered to let me stay with them at their house while mine was taken over. Had I taken them up on the offer, I would be a few blocks away from Anderson Cooper right now. Seriously, he's downtown right now.
I've already jumped up a degree of difficulty on Guitar Hero and I set up domains and accounts for a new business venture. This is going to be a long night....
