"Fluster Cuck"

As Ryan lay on the couch yesterday with a fever, absorbed in cartoons (all rules off when you're sick!), I was upstairs glued to CNN and the images of millions of people going nowhere on the roads out of Houston. Meanwhile, Dana, Mary, Brandi and Cameron, and Ginger & Nana were actually sitting in that mess!! 13 hours after leaving Katy, Dana & the gang finally arrived (late last night), looking and feeling bedraggled, tired, hot, & hungry. Shawn and I listened intently to their stories of driving 6 miles in 6 hours, of people going #1 & #2 behind bushes on the side of the road (anyone need a pee-tree???), people with messages written on their cars ("fluster cuck" was one of my favorites), and even people having to leave their pets who had died of heat stroke on the side of the road. We are so happy that they made it out safely!!

Meanwhile, Ginger and Nana decided to turn around and go towards Corpus, since it looked like the Hurricane had turned farther away from that area. I am immediately struck by the image from the movie, "Indpendence Day", where the science guy and his father are driving into DC amidst a huge evacuation going the opposite way, when the Dad says, "Look millions of people leaving the city, and we're the only schmucks going in!" :) We did receive word last night that they made it safely, and our thoughts and prayers are with them!!!

Courtaney opted to stay in the Houston/Spring area, and we are trying to keep tabs on her and hoping she makes it through this thing safely.

Since it looks like Rita will most likely attack the Port Arthur area, I have been counting and re-counting our blessings that Honey & Pappy were able to make it out safely and relatively quickly!! With Honey being in such a frail position, I simply cannot imagine them making the trip yesterday (they actually got to the lakehouse on Wednesday) without some kind of serious trouble. We are praying that Nanan, Kevin, Becky, and all of Honey & Pappy's friends and family will make it out safely, and that hopefully their homes will not receive too much damage. It looks like Mom and Dad may have some extended house guests!!! :)

Everything at our place is fine, barring any more panic on my part!! Wednesday evening I tried to pick up some extra supplies at the store, only to find that every other resident in Round Rock was doing the same thing!!! I got a little upset when I couldn't find any water, mostly because if we don't have H2O, Jax don't eat!!! I think I just got caught up in the contagious panic-mode that I saw everyone else in, but luckily Nin came to the rescue by securing 6 CASES of water, extra $$$, and a nice big blow up bed for our company. I cannot express how grateful I am to her and Mom and Dad for being there to help us out -- even if nothing comes of this, just knowing that we will be okay is such a wonderful thing. I know we always say that "Family Comes First", and this is just one of those examples of that sentiment!!

Ryan is feeling better this morning, no doubt out of excitement over having house guests, and the fact that she gets to see Honey & Pappy later today when we go to the lake. Much love to everyone, and STAY SAFE!!!!!!