With Ike about to bring it on, this could be my "Out of Office" Reply for a time.  I'm as prepared for a ####slap as I can be here in Houston.  But we might run out of juice, a foreign concept to Jose Canseco.

Though I'm a scrapper, you just can't take it to a Himmicane.  So like Tina, I plan on surviving... and wearing short skirts when I clear 50.

If you can't already tell, I'm keeping a sense of humor about the whole thing. 

Currently I am petsitting, and have decided to make my stand here in the dogs' house.  My brother is at our apartment two miles away, with my two nephews -- a French mastiff and an Amazon parrot.  Though my brother & the mastiff paid us a visit this morning -- a whirlwind of its own, since combined they easily clear 300 pounds.

Things will probably get even more surreal, but I already have to laugh at the following:


* I am a staunch bike commuter.  And I spent 15 minutes in line at the gas station to fill up someone else's car.


* Riding the storm out doesn't make me nervous.  However, when I stopped at the apartment yesterday for some supplies and found the Amazon loose outside of his cage, my heart jumped into my throat. 

Hey... that one-pound featherneck has scarred me several times over!!!  This round, however, went without bloodshed.


*When I stopped for those supplies -- which mostly consisted of non-perishable food items -- I also picked up my Marat Safin buttons.


* As I said, I am as prepared as I can be.  The dogs & I won't be hurting for food, water, shelter, entertainment or escape plans.  My years as a Girl Scout are serving me well. 

But I still had to call my mom for advice on how to cook a meal in the slow cooker!!!  Even though that is one appliance I can usually manage.  I couldn't bear to think about the power going out with my Hatch chili chicken sausage in the fridge!  But I couldn't find a quick & dirty recipe online, so... after consulting both my best friend and my mom, I managed a hot lunch.

Yeah, I was a Girl Scout and earned a sash of badges... but I don't remember earning the cooking badge.  I was the scout whose pancake rolled down the hill, right along with my Buddy Burner.


One of the homeowner's mothers called to express worry over my situation.  It was very sweet, and I hope I reassured her.

But my family, like me, seems to be taking things in stride.  When my brother stopped by, we couldn't resist the Ike & Tina jokes.  Then he imitated weather patterns, and I pointed out how the Saucony logo on my runners resembles the symbol for a hurricane.  (They actually have a shoe called the Hurricane, but I sport the Triumph... take that, Ike!)

And when my mom called to make sure I wasn't food poisoning myself with undercooked sausage, she finished with, "If I don't hear from you for a few days, I'll assume the power is out."

I'm saving one of those tailgate-worthy Hatch chili brats for my brother.  And I'll try to update when I can.  But if you don't hear from me for a few days... assume the power is out!  :)

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A great link for Ike info: SciGuy!