Mom and Oqi hanging out at UH-Downtown overlook Nov 19,2005
Friday, November 25, 2005
Sunday, November 13, 2005
Thursday, October 13, 2005
New Houston Evacuation Plan
Just released!
New Houston Evacuation Plan
Maybe this will help the congestion problems next time!
Hispanics use I-10 West to San Antonio.
Cajuns use I-10 East to Lafayette.
Rednecks use 59 North to East Texas.
Republicans fly Continental to Washington DC.
Yankees and Democrats use 45 South to Galveston.
Longhorns use 290 West to Austin.
Aggies use 610 Loop.
New Houston Evacuation Plan
Maybe this will help the congestion problems next time!
Hispanics use I-10 West to San Antonio.
Cajuns use I-10 East to Lafayette.
Rednecks use 59 North to East Texas.
Republicans fly Continental to Washington DC.
Yankees and Democrats use 45 South to Galveston.
Longhorns use 290 West to Austin.
Aggies use 610 Loop.
Saturday, September 24, 2005
Running from Rita
Well, now Oqidaun and I find ourselves refugees from Hurricane Rita. On Wednesday, we decided to leave as all predictions had the storm coming ashore around Galveston. With high winds and rains expected, we thought it would be better if we went someplace where there would be dryer weather.
On Wednesday, the university decided it would shut down. Of course, the students knew well in advance of the faculty! The official closing came at noon. We thought about going to see Oqi’s brother in Fort Worth, but since the hurricane would probably track north, I didn’t like that idea. Plus, everyone and their dog was going to Dallas, and I45 was a parking lot. I decided we should go to West Texas, up by Lubbock to Oqi’s folks house.
The university wanted us to backup our computers and unplug everything. So, it was nearly 3 by the time I got out of there. Then I spent about an hour driving around trying to find some gasoline. I went to about 6 places on the way home, but there were really long lines around those stores with gas. There were also many stations out of gas altogether. I got lucky and found a Diamond Shamrock with a short line, and gas. I only had to wait behind two other people, and gas was only 2.80 for premium!
Oqi had spent the day taking photos of our stuff, and securing the house. When I got home, I finished some e-mail, put a few things up high, and moved some research documents out of my office area. By 5:15 pm we were on the road.
The trip from our house to New Braunfels normally takes about 2 ½ to 3 hours depending on traffic, weather, and how many times I have to go to the bathroom. Traffic Wednesday, however, was backed up all the way to Columbus, about 90 miles from Houston. Some of this was normal rush hour traffic, but much of it was evacuees heading west toward San Antonio or Austin. It took us 4 hours to get to Columbus. After that, it was smooth sailing, just very busy. Our neighbor said it took her son 23 hours to get to New Braunfels, and he left a few hours after we did. But he lives in Clear Lake, and I’m sure much of that time was getting north on 45 to the beltway. It only took us 7 hours to make a 3 hour trip.
We stopped at my folks house for a little while, but I was pretty exhausted. We were on our way to West Texas, and that was another seven to 9 hours. We also had our three dogs, and cat. This was the first trip for the kitty in about 3 years, and cats normally don’t travel well. The dogs love to ride in the car, so they were no problem. The cat stayed in his travel crate for 16 hours without a break. He didn’t soil himself, which I would have done in his shoes, and he only expressed anger a couple of times. But really, we had no way of letting him out for a potty break.
In San Angelo, we ran into some folk from Corpus Christi. They left Wednesday night because at that time it still wasn’t clear if Rita would hit the Corpus or Galveston area. They were headed to Amarillo because that was the only place they could find a hotel that would take their 8 cats and four dogs. And we thought we had it bad! All along the way we passed by motels—normally empty—that were full due to people from all along the Texas Gulf Coast fleeing the hurricane. When we stopped for gas, convenience store employees told us about how busy they had been all day long.
We finally rolled into Oqi’s folks house at 9:30 am, 16 hours after we left home! We did spend an hour in New Braunfels, but that was one hell of a trip, and I slept much of Thursday.
Friday we went to Lubbock to Texas Tech. I saw a couple of old professors, and did some much needed research at the library and Southwest Collection. Then Oqi got bad news from her mom. The water well pump went out! So, we left Houston because of fear of water, and in West Texas ran out of water. Ironic.
Luckily, the pump was fixed Saturday morning, so we didn’t stay stinky long.
On Wednesday, the university decided it would shut down. Of course, the students knew well in advance of the faculty! The official closing came at noon. We thought about going to see Oqi’s brother in Fort Worth, but since the hurricane would probably track north, I didn’t like that idea. Plus, everyone and their dog was going to Dallas, and I45 was a parking lot. I decided we should go to West Texas, up by Lubbock to Oqi’s folks house.
The university wanted us to backup our computers and unplug everything. So, it was nearly 3 by the time I got out of there. Then I spent about an hour driving around trying to find some gasoline. I went to about 6 places on the way home, but there were really long lines around those stores with gas. There were also many stations out of gas altogether. I got lucky and found a Diamond Shamrock with a short line, and gas. I only had to wait behind two other people, and gas was only 2.80 for premium!
Oqi had spent the day taking photos of our stuff, and securing the house. When I got home, I finished some e-mail, put a few things up high, and moved some research documents out of my office area. By 5:15 pm we were on the road.
The trip from our house to New Braunfels normally takes about 2 ½ to 3 hours depending on traffic, weather, and how many times I have to go to the bathroom. Traffic Wednesday, however, was backed up all the way to Columbus, about 90 miles from Houston. Some of this was normal rush hour traffic, but much of it was evacuees heading west toward San Antonio or Austin. It took us 4 hours to get to Columbus. After that, it was smooth sailing, just very busy. Our neighbor said it took her son 23 hours to get to New Braunfels, and he left a few hours after we did. But he lives in Clear Lake, and I’m sure much of that time was getting north on 45 to the beltway. It only took us 7 hours to make a 3 hour trip.
We stopped at my folks house for a little while, but I was pretty exhausted. We were on our way to West Texas, and that was another seven to 9 hours. We also had our three dogs, and cat. This was the first trip for the kitty in about 3 years, and cats normally don’t travel well. The dogs love to ride in the car, so they were no problem. The cat stayed in his travel crate for 16 hours without a break. He didn’t soil himself, which I would have done in his shoes, and he only expressed anger a couple of times. But really, we had no way of letting him out for a potty break.
In San Angelo, we ran into some folk from Corpus Christi. They left Wednesday night because at that time it still wasn’t clear if Rita would hit the Corpus or Galveston area. They were headed to Amarillo because that was the only place they could find a hotel that would take their 8 cats and four dogs. And we thought we had it bad! All along the way we passed by motels—normally empty—that were full due to people from all along the Texas Gulf Coast fleeing the hurricane. When we stopped for gas, convenience store employees told us about how busy they had been all day long.
We finally rolled into Oqi’s folks house at 9:30 am, 16 hours after we left home! We did spend an hour in New Braunfels, but that was one hell of a trip, and I slept much of Thursday.
Friday we went to Lubbock to Texas Tech. I saw a couple of old professors, and did some much needed research at the library and Southwest Collection. Then Oqi got bad news from her mom. The water well pump went out! So, we left Houston because of fear of water, and in West Texas ran out of water. Ironic.
Luckily, the pump was fixed Saturday morning, so we didn’t stay stinky long.
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Interesting Revelations about Katrina
My Friend:
The name Katrina means pure. The dictionary defines pure as ... free from adulterants or impurities, free of dirt, defilement, or pollution, containing nothing inappropriate or extraneous. It has been previously stated that Katrina was a cleansing, a washing way for those cities & states that have been known for sin.
Calculated stats indicate that Katrina hit almost 5 years to the date of 9/11. But to be a little more exact it had been 1,814 days since 9/11. Here is what Revelations chapter 18, verses 14-19 (1814) says.
Revelation 18:
14: And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.
15: The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing.
** Merchants are those who supported the sin. **
16: And saying, alas, alas that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!
** Purple & gold (The colors of Mardi Gras) **
17: For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off.
** One hour, about the length of time that Katrina stayed over New Orleans. **
18: And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!
19: And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.
Desolate - Devoid of inhabitants
Devoid - Completely lacking; destitute or empty
Inhabitant - One that inhabits a place, especially as a permanent resident
My Response
Uhhhhhhh. Whomever did this couldn't count! Therefore, I've made some corrections and added a new twist!
The name Katrina is debate. It could mean "pure." Katrina is also traced to the Gaelic form of Katherine and could originate from the goddess Hecate --meaning "distant." Hecate was a goddess of demons and the underworld.
Calculated statistics state that it was almost FOUR years between 9/11/2001 and 8/29/2005. Whoever wrote that should get a better stat calculator! Maybe new batteries!
It was 3 years, 11 months, 18 days. OR 1448 days OR 206 weeks between the two dates.
1 Kings 19 tells of Elijah encountering a storm
Verse 3: Elijah was afraid and fled for his life, going to Beer-sheba of Judah. He left his servant there.
**** There was plenty of Beer in New Orleans****
Verse 11: Then the Lord said, "Go outside and stand on the mountain before the Lord: the Lord will be passing by." A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the Lord--but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake--but the Lord was not in the earthquake
****Hurricanes have high winds****
Verse 18: Yet I will leave seven thousand men in Israel--all those who have not knelt to Baal or kissed him.
****Ba'al meant lord or master, and was though to control clouds and the weather...just as a hurricane controls weather...the people in the Superdome, over 7,000, refused to bow to the storm****
Proverbs 14:4-8 states:
"Where there are no oxen, the crib remains empty; but large crops come through the strength of the bull. A truthful witness does not lie, but a false witness utters lies. The senseless man seeks in vain for wisdom, but knowledge is easy to the man of intelligence. To avoid the foolish man, take steps! But knowing lips one meets with by surprise. The shrewd man's wisdom gives him knowledge of his way, but the folly of fools is their deception."
***folly: A lack of good sense, understanding, or foresight***senseless: lacking sense***deception: using deceit!
Genesis 2:06: But a stream was welling up out of the earth and was watering all the surface of the ground.
***levies are earth holding back water!
What this all means is that there are many people with too much time on their hands!
Sunday, September 04, 2005
Refugees at the Astrodome
We went to the Astrodome today. One of our friends went down to volunteer this morning. He helped create some forms for people who are looking for lost friends and loved ones. I didn't want to take too many photos, but here are some of the Astrodome where they are setting up a temporary post office and the media shanty town.
When we got there, they had more volunteers than they could use. They said that over the past few days they were overrun with refugees, police, and people wanting to help. We rode Metrorail down to the Astrodome, and the train was full of people from New Orleans trying to find their way around Houston.
When we got there, they had more volunteers than they could use. They said that over the past few days they were overrun with refugees, police, and people wanting to help. We rode Metrorail down to the Astrodome, and the train was full of people from New Orleans trying to find their way around Houston.
Friday, September 02, 2005
FEMA director Michae
FEMA director Michael Brown told CNN that he didn’t know until Thursday, Sept 1 that there were refugees in the Superdome. WHERE HAS THIS GUY BEEN??? It’s been on TV, EVERYONE knows….except him. Don’t worry, George Bush says, “Brownie” is doing a good job.
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Do You Need to Pray?
HOW TO TELL IF YOU NEED TO PRAY AT WORK
When a co-worker comes in a little too happy singing "good morning" to everyone and you think, "Somebody needs to slap the s#@! out of her"...You need to pray at work.
When someone comes in and announces "office meeting in 5 minutes," and you think, "what the f*&% do they want now?"..... You need to pray at work.
When your computer is mysteriously turned off and you want to say, "which one of you sons of b*&^%$# turned off my computer?"..... You need to pray at work.
When you and a co-worker are discussing something and a third person comes in and says "well at my last office...," and you want to throw a stapler at him...... You need to pray at work.
When you hear a co-worker call your name and the first thing that crosses your mind is, "what the h*&^ does she want now?" and you try to hide underneath your desk......... You need to pray at work.
When you are asked to stay late and help do someone else's work and the first thing that pops in your head is "both of y'all can kiss my a@@!!".... You need to pray at work.
When you're in the elevator and it stops to pick up someone who stood for five minutes waiting for the darn thing only to go DOWN one floor, and you say "that lazy b*&%$#"...... You need to pray at work.
When you take some vacation time and come back to find a mountain of paperwork sitting on your desk because no one else would do it and you think, "sorry a## M#$^%F%&#s"....... You need to pray at work.
If you have ever thought about poisoning, choking, punching, slapping or flattening someone's tires that you work with...... You need to pray at work.
If you avoid saying more than hello or how are you doing to someone because you know it's going to lead to their life story...You need to pray at work.
If you know all the words that have been bleeped out...You need to pray at work!!!!
LET US ALL BOW OUR HEADS J
When a co-worker comes in a little too happy singing "good morning" to everyone and you think, "Somebody needs to slap the s#@! out of her"...You need to pray at work.
When someone comes in and announces "office meeting in 5 minutes," and you think, "what the f*&% do they want now?"..... You need to pray at work.
When your computer is mysteriously turned off and you want to say, "which one of you sons of b*&^%$# turned off my computer?"..... You need to pray at work.
When you and a co-worker are discussing something and a third person comes in and says "well at my last office...," and you want to throw a stapler at him...... You need to pray at work.
When you hear a co-worker call your name and the first thing that crosses your mind is, "what the h*&^ does she want now?" and you try to hide underneath your desk......... You need to pray at work.
When you are asked to stay late and help do someone else's work and the first thing that pops in your head is "both of y'all can kiss my a@@!!".... You need to pray at work.
When you're in the elevator and it stops to pick up someone who stood for five minutes waiting for the darn thing only to go DOWN one floor, and you say "that lazy b*&%$#"...... You need to pray at work.
When you take some vacation time and come back to find a mountain of paperwork sitting on your desk because no one else would do it and you think, "sorry a## M#$^%F%&#s"....... You need to pray at work.
If you have ever thought about poisoning, choking, punching, slapping or flattening someone's tires that you work with...... You need to pray at work.
If you avoid saying more than hello or how are you doing to someone because you know it's going to lead to their life story...You need to pray at work.
If you know all the words that have been bleeped out...You need to pray at work!!!!
LET US ALL BOW OUR HEADS J
Friday, August 19, 2005
The Great Raid
One of the best movies of 2005 is out--"The Great Raid" This is one of the best movies you'll see, I really encourage you to take a couple of hours out and see this on the big screen. We had the opportunity to see an advance premier several weeks ago. I think we were the youngest people there. The director was there, and about half the Filipino population of Houston, and all able-bodied vets.
As a general rule, I do not like war movies, except for two: Saving Private Ryan and The Great Raid. The Great Raid, in case you're not familiar with the story, is about a mission to rescue about 500 POWs at the Cabanatuan POW Camp, which held survivors of the Bataan Death March and other Japanese-held POWS.
If you’ve ever held any doubts about the Japanese atrocities during WWII, this movie will disabuse you of that notion. In one scene, the POWs explain how the Japanese considered anyone who surrendered a coward, a sub-human not deserving of mercy. This is evident from the conditions which the POWs lived, not to mention tales of Japanese torture of prisoners, as well as the War Crimes trials that were held after WWII.
In another scene, Benjamin Bratt portraying Henry Mucci, the raid’s commander, is coordinating with Filipino guerrillas (led by Lapham, Pajoda or Josen?). Mucci warns the guerrilla commander that his plan is dangerous because the Japanese troops will plan a flanking attack. No, the guerrilla commander says, they won’t. They don’t have enough respect for us to consider anything but a head on attack.
But, the scene that really drives the point home is the opening scene which explains part of the basis for the raid. As the Japanese began losing, they decided to simply kill POWs. The Japanese corral POWs in a confined area, pour gas on them and set them on fire.
There are two good books on the Cabanatuan raid, William Breuer’s The Great Raid on Cabanatuan, and Hampton Sides’s Gost Soldiers. There is a monument on the ex-camp site: http://www.abmc.gov/cb.htm
As a general rule, I do not like war movies, except for two: Saving Private Ryan and The Great Raid. The Great Raid, in case you're not familiar with the story, is about a mission to rescue about 500 POWs at the Cabanatuan POW Camp, which held survivors of the Bataan Death March and other Japanese-held POWS.
If you’ve ever held any doubts about the Japanese atrocities during WWII, this movie will disabuse you of that notion. In one scene, the POWs explain how the Japanese considered anyone who surrendered a coward, a sub-human not deserving of mercy. This is evident from the conditions which the POWs lived, not to mention tales of Japanese torture of prisoners, as well as the War Crimes trials that were held after WWII.
In another scene, Benjamin Bratt portraying Henry Mucci, the raid’s commander, is coordinating with Filipino guerrillas (led by Lapham, Pajoda or Josen?). Mucci warns the guerrilla commander that his plan is dangerous because the Japanese troops will plan a flanking attack. No, the guerrilla commander says, they won’t. They don’t have enough respect for us to consider anything but a head on attack.
But, the scene that really drives the point home is the opening scene which explains part of the basis for the raid. As the Japanese began losing, they decided to simply kill POWs. The Japanese corral POWs in a confined area, pour gas on them and set them on fire.
There are two good books on the Cabanatuan raid, William Breuer’s The Great Raid on Cabanatuan, and Hampton Sides’s Gost Soldiers. There is a monument on the ex-camp site: http://www.abmc.gov/cb.htm
35 Stupid Questions Answered
Normally I don’t fill out these e-mail chain mails, but I’ve gotten so many from friends, I figured someone wants thinks this is interesting.
Welcome to the new edition of getting to know your friends. Okay, here's what you're supposed to do, and try not to be lame and spoil the fun!
Just copy (not forward) this entire e-mail and paste into a new e-mail that you can send. Change all the answers so that they apply to you. Then send this to a whole bunch of people you know, INCLUDING the person who sent it to you.
Some of you may get this several times that means you have lots of friends.
1. What is your occupation? History professor
2. What color is your underwear? Underwear? What underwear?
3. What are you listening to right now? Montel Williams Show
4. What was the last thing you ate? Pillsbury Home-style waffles
5. Do you wish on stars? Not usually, but sometimes I wish on Brittney Spears or Gwen Stefani
6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Sky blue
7. How is the weather right now? It’s Houston…hot and humid.
8. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Jim Rutledge
9. Do you like the person who sent this to you? One of the people I love in the world.
10. How old are you today? 39
11. Favorite drink? Wylers Green Tea w/Peach
12. Favorite sport to watch? Baseball and Hockey
13. Have you ever dyed your hair? No, but I have had hair that died!
14. Do you wear contacts or glasses? Glasses.
15. Pets? Punkin (heeler), Mia, (cocker spaniel), Bijou (pit/lab) and Paco (cat)
16. Favorite month? August—everyone has a b-day.
17. Favorite food? Chicken curry
.
18. What was the last movie you watched? Spider Man 2
19. Favorite day of the year? Halloween
20. What do you do to vent anger? Yell and stomp.
21. What was your favorite toy as a child? Etch-a-sketch.
22. Fall or Spring? Fall
23. Hugs or kisses? Hugs
24. Cherry or Blueberry? Maraschino Cherries
25. Do you want your friends to email you back? Of course
26. Who is most likely to respond? Lynda, Forrest, Melody.
27. Who is least likely to respond? Chuck
28. Living arrangements? In a house with wife and pets.
29. When was the last time you cried? Movie
30. What is on the floor of your closet? Shoes, luggage, stray socks
31. Who is the friend you have had the longest? Forrest V. Willis…followed by Melody Bradfute Vertucci
32. What did you do last night? Went to meeting for free food, came home and slept
33. What inspires you? Finding out something I didn’t know before
34. What are you afraid of? Spiders
35. Plain, cheese or spicy hamburgers? None of the above. Spicy Chicken Sandwiches or Muffalettas
Welcome to the new edition of getting to know your friends. Okay, here's what you're supposed to do, and try not to be lame and spoil the fun!
Just copy (not forward) this entire e-mail and paste into a new e-mail that you can send. Change all the answers so that they apply to you. Then send this to a whole bunch of people you know, INCLUDING the person who sent it to you.
Some of you may get this several times that means you have lots of friends.
1. What is your occupation? History professor
2. What color is your underwear? Underwear? What underwear?
3. What are you listening to right now? Montel Williams Show
4. What was the last thing you ate? Pillsbury Home-style waffles
5. Do you wish on stars? Not usually, but sometimes I wish on Brittney Spears or Gwen Stefani
6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Sky blue
7. How is the weather right now? It’s Houston…hot and humid.
8. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Jim Rutledge
9. Do you like the person who sent this to you? One of the people I love in the world.
10. How old are you today? 39
11. Favorite drink? Wylers Green Tea w/Peach
12. Favorite sport to watch? Baseball and Hockey
13. Have you ever dyed your hair? No, but I have had hair that died!
14. Do you wear contacts or glasses? Glasses.
15. Pets? Punkin (heeler), Mia, (cocker spaniel), Bijou (pit/lab) and Paco (cat)
16. Favorite month? August—everyone has a b-day.
17. Favorite food? Chicken curry
.
18. What was the last movie you watched? Spider Man 2
19. Favorite day of the year? Halloween
20. What do you do to vent anger? Yell and stomp.
21. What was your favorite toy as a child? Etch-a-sketch.
22. Fall or Spring? Fall
23. Hugs or kisses? Hugs
24. Cherry or Blueberry? Maraschino Cherries
25. Do you want your friends to email you back? Of course
26. Who is most likely to respond? Lynda, Forrest, Melody.
27. Who is least likely to respond? Chuck
28. Living arrangements? In a house with wife and pets.
29. When was the last time you cried? Movie
30. What is on the floor of your closet? Shoes, luggage, stray socks
31. Who is the friend you have had the longest? Forrest V. Willis…followed by Melody Bradfute Vertucci
32. What did you do last night? Went to meeting for free food, came home and slept
33. What inspires you? Finding out something I didn’t know before
34. What are you afraid of? Spiders
35. Plain, cheese or spicy hamburgers? None of the above. Spicy Chicken Sandwiches or Muffalettas
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