SURPRISE!

As of 11:30 a.m., Entergy Texas said 386,263 of its 392,960 customers, or 98.3 percent, remained without power. The company, whose vast service area runs around the north and east sides of the Houston area, actually reported an increase in outages from earlier this morning.

- chron.com

on dry land

Departure: Friday, 9:30 PM
Arrival: Saturday, 3:30 AM
Total time: 6 hours
Current location: Houston
Flat tires seen en route: 22
Popped hoods: 2
Makeshift back windows: 2
Giant tire treads on road: 1
Pedestrians on the interstate: 4

The Ford Arena on the west side of Beaumont was full of charter buses in the parking lot. As we made it through Beaumont we saw a police car escorting something like 60 charter buses. Shortly after that was a police car escorting 20 or so vehicles with their hazards on. Followed again by a police car escorting 30 charter buses (we counted that time). It was quite an eerie feeling at 2something in the morning, seeing the ominous hulking shapes of the buses with their lights on, all in uniform despite being different.

Safety and well wishes to all of you.

capitalism

Water may have been flying off the shelves in some places, but Dorignac's certainly was not the place to be if that was on your agenda. It certainly wasn't on ours. My girlfriend and I went to go pick up some liquid dinner on the way home from work and we decided to make the plunge and try the new Absolut Los Angeles.  Being a loyalist (my roommate and I once purchased a case of Absolut New Orleans), the first time I saw it I was unsure of how I felt supporting LA, but the pomegranate and blueberry sounded really appealing (of course we got a bottle of Absolut as back up in case this flavored vodka sucked).  It has a delightful scent and goes down quite smooth.  I am currently enjoying it on the rocks, but I know not everyone is a purist such as myself.  My hoe threw some Sprite in hers, which cuts the vodka taste and makes it a bit more sweet.  Of course the website offers some delicious alternatives, such as cranberry, pomegranate juice and lemon-lime soda to float off to Absolut La La Land.  I give it a thumbs up, though I don't know that I would go out of my way to purchase it.  But in this moment, it's perfect.  And it will be perfect when we're sipping out of the flask when we depart for the Superdome momentarily.  

His name is Gustav

So, everyone's all freaking out and stuff. I really wasn't sweating it, but everyone else's stress is making me anxious! The bartender made me drink a bottle of vodka last night just to escape the insanity! Yesterday ALTR told me that she was leaving at two o'clock today!!

I don't want to deal with the insanity of gridlocked traffic trying to get out of town, so the options are leave early or stay. I don't want to leave if I don't have to. I have been lucky that for the two major evacuations for Ivan and Katrina I a) left early and beat the crowds and b) was actually on my way back to New Orleans (respectively). But, really, a part of me wants to stay, even if Gustav does head our way, simply to see what happens. However, I know both of my roommates will be leaving and I am unarmed and dogless. I did fill my tank up last night and have at least a gallon of water rolling around in the back of my car.

Tulane has cancelled classes and that was always what dictated my staying or going. I'm not a student anymore, so it really should not be the golden rule.

After Katrina you can't really say that anyone is over prepared, but...this is driving me nuts.

Given my indecision, the one sure thing in life right now is that I'm going to the football game tonight and getting loaded. While some clients have cancelled their appointments tomorrow we still have a full day ahead of us and I plan to work through it with a daquiri in hand. Looks like my evacuation buddy may have to be the one driving.

Here is a nice little contraflow map that I stumbled across in the nola.com comments.

Good luck on whatever route you, my friends, chose to take. I'll be at my neighborhood bar slamming the vodka.

/stream of conscious still drunk typing

you're not the boss of me...?

So I got this e-mail in my box this morning regarding my office's hurricane procedures:

Office Procedures Concerning Storm and Office Closings

As we watch the progress of the storm, the following are the firm's guidelines based upon the hurricane's intensity:


Hurricane Category #1:
No excuse for being late. Leave earlier to give extra time to avoid fallen trees and limbs.


Hurricane Category #2:
Due to the horizontal rain, you may wear jeans.


Hurricane Category #3:
Whereas most of the area will be flooded we suggest you avoid wearing open toe sandals when coming to work. Canoes will be provided to get to the building safely without getting wet.


Hurricane Category #4:
More than likely there will be no electricity. Given that, we will have manual typewriters available to all staff members. Please take extra caution and wear water-proof make-up if Category 4 or above.


Hurricane Category #5:
Velcro will be provided to keep you attached to your chairs when the windows blow out. For those that survive, we will have chocolate cake at 3:00 pm in the kitchen.


Have A Nice Day!