Trying to reason with hurricane season

It just turned 11 pm. To the far south of me friends, family and Galveston are getting the hell beat out of them by Hurricane Ike.

The Weather Channel is doing their usual live coverage, the reporters on scene in near orgasmic glea as they stand in the wind and dodge flying debree. I know these guys have a job to do, but I secretly route for and loudly cheer when the wind knocks one down and you see his ass roll down the street.

Up here in East Texas, we're boarded up, ice and food laid in, plenty of water and back up plans. Rita was a hard lesson three years ago. Something no one had ever been through and most had ever doubted could happen. I simply point back at history and mathematics. Big storms hit the coast of the eastern Gulf all the time. Just our turn. And if the storm is 300 miles wide and you live 120 miles from water...you can figure it out. Yesterday was madness, the roads packed with evacuees, people running from misery. I didn't run this time. I plan to watch it come, catch a mild buzz from mexican beer and mojitos and let what happens happen.

The wind is gentle right now, maybe 20 miles an hour. In six to seven hours they say it will be 60+ possibly. Last time it came from the NE, the two trees that hit my house falling almost perfectly along the compass lines, parallel in their paths. This time they say it'll be from the south or SE. The south side, the front of my house, has six 100' tall longleaf pines and a cluster of elm and black willow that could hit us again, maybe really do damage this time.

So I shall drink, and I shall wait and watch. Sleep little I think. I don't fear what could happen. It's a big house, solid and my family sleeps knowing we'll be okay. Tomorrow I'll be dragging trees off the road, helping my neighbors, doing what i do. Possibly heading south to help out with family and friends.

To my friends in Houston, stay safe. To those out and about, pray for Galveston and the coast. Theres a town called High Island east of Galveston. I have my doubts it will exist after tonight, just concrete slabs and wreckage.

Despite what Jimmy may have said there is no reasoning with hurricane season. You deal with it as it comes. Then you follow his advice.

Breathe in, breathe out. Move on.

Later...