Because of a Nail the Floor Was Lost

From the Adventures in Home Ownership Department:

When the plumber who came to fix the leak in the ceiling starts using words like "rotten joist" and "soggy subfloor" you just know it isn't good news.

And it wasn't.

The house is about 25 years old. It seems that a pipe was pierced by a nail during the original construction. Over the years the nail rusted until it fell away from the pipe, causing leakage to be visible. But for many years there was slow seepage that damaged the wood under the tile floor, including the subfloors and the joist in the garage ceiling below.

And thus it is that what began as a call to stop a leak has turned into a complete floor replacement. Ugh.

That is my day. How's yours been?

Houston and Borger Update

We returned from our trip to the Texas Panhandle to find things returning to normal chez QG. Our niece and family got power Saturday evening and gratefully scrambled home to sleep in their own little beds! There are still about 150,000 people without power in Houston and broken traffic lights scattered around the area.

The paper noted this morning that the one Jewish bakery was severely damaged by Ike and can't make the challah for Rosh Hashana this year so some small local delis are trying to step into the breach, causing people to line up early in the morning to get this traditional holiday bread.

It was really good to get out of town for a few days. It was the first visit for El Jefe back to his home town since his father died in July, which made it particularly poignant. His two cousins and their wives also attended the reunion in support of him and we all had a wonderful visit. How great is it to stay up late laughing uproariously with members of the family?

Cousin Mary took me to a spa in Amarillo which was truly fabulous, and so much better than spending the day listening to our hubbies reminisce about every dang football game ever played on the High Plains. Everyone was happy, and Mary and I were the best Arm Candy at the dinner!

The MC at the reunion was a former football player whose exploits in high school were related in El Jefe's book. He choked up and cried when he was presenting El Jefe with his letter jacket. All the books we brought with us were sold and there were requests. A big surprise was a nice note from El Jefe's friend and former Yale classmate Mike Medved (now a radio talk-show host) on the occasion which one of the classmates had gone to some trouble to get.

We didn't get a T-bird at Hertz. Instead we got a white Crown Victoria, which made us look like the old folks who frequent the early bird special at Luby's Cafeteria! Next time, I want that T-Bird.

Here's our photo, courtesy of Cousin Buddy:

Outta Here

We're leaving on a jet plane to the Panhandle for the weekend, where El Jefe has been invited to be the special guest of the Borger High School class of '63 at their reunion. His book about their football team (see sidebar) will be sold and he will be awarded an honorary letter jacket. He played basketball, not football, back in the day.

I'm going along as Publicist and Arm Candy. Where's the T-bird???

We hope our neice and her family enjoy having a house to themselves for the first time since Ike struck. They are praying for power by Sunday. Lord, hear their prayers!

QG's Bed and Breakfast Re-Opens

QG's Bed and Breakfast re-opened yesterday for our niece, her husband, their three little girls and two dachsies who are STILL without power. The girls' school now has power so they returned from our bay house. All three are happy to be back in school!

They've been told they MAY have power by Sunday. And maybe not. This is really a stressful time for them and everyone in their position. In the meantime, they will be with us until the lights go back on.

Beatrice is very excited about our guests--especially her old littermates, James and Dolley, who she hasn't seen for a while.

El Jefe and I are going out of town this weekend, so they can have the house to themselves, which ought to be a good thing for them. We are really happy to have them and blessed that we have the bedrooms upstairs to make them comfortable. Our pool will keep the girls entertained. It is really nice to have little girls around the house again!

It's amazing what a big hurricane can do. This is the fourth largest city in the US and there are still major power outages in many areas of town. Never mind the devastation in Galveston and on the coast which will take many years to repair and restore. See today's update on the PNC Hurricane Recovery blog (link on sidebar) for more news about volunteer opportunities, ways to help, and church damage updates.

In the Department of Can't Blog About It, yesterday I was reminded that not all hurricanes are acts of nature. Some result from the fallen nature of man, but cause much devastation in their own way.

Houston Ode After IKE

(Inspired by the fact that my church, my niece and her family, and several friends still are without power. Eleven days after Ike. And counting.)

See how the fates their gifts alot--
Some have power, some do not.
And some are worthy, I daresay
Of having their power back yesterday.

If I were CenterPoint (which I'm NOT)
Each one would have the power he sought.
Lights, A/C and dryers would whir away
And TV's, DVD's and fridges run all day.

Pity the mom with kids at home
Without any power and no where to roam.
There isn't even any school--
No power, no classes is the rule.

Pity the poor with no where else to go
Waiting for assistance in a hot, sweaty row.
Applying for food stamps and FEMA rent
From agencies the government sent.

Pity those who lived in Galveston town,
Now most of their houses have fallen down.
No visitor now allowed on that historical Isle
Because living there is a dangerous trial.

The national press left Ike survivors behind
As the financial crisis put the US in a bind.
This series of recent hurricanes
Has left the national psyche drained.

See how the fates their gifts alot!
Some get the press and some do not.
But Texans don't care, because we always say
We'll pull together and fix it anyway.

Helping With The Cleanup in San Leon

Cross-posted from the Presbytery of New Covenant's Hurricane Recovery blog:

Rev. Dean Pogue, pastor at First Presbyterian Church, Pasadena, sent me the photos in the slideshow below. Here is his description of the pictures:

One of our members lives directly on the water in San Leon, about 12 miles south of Clear Lake. According to insurance adjustors, she lost about 85% of her home and its contents. The attached photos show our church cleanup group (First Presbyterian, Pasadena, Texas), responding to her SOS for help.

A few notes: Her house was built on piers, and the steps to her front door were washed away. Entry was via step ladder. The storm surge washed away everything on the ground floor. She lost quite a few sentimental items, although she was able to salvage some family photos, including her high school photo, and ones of her son and her dad.

(Photos courtesy of Dean Pogue)

Thank you, Dean!

Volunteers Needed in New Covenant Presbytery

I am cross-posting this call for volunteer assistance from General Presbyter Rev. Mike Cole from the PNC Hurricane Recovery blog.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED--CAN YOU HELP?

We are getting our support structure in place to coordinate offers of assistance with needs in our communities. We need volunteers to help us for the next couple of months in the following areas:

Worksite Assignment Manger – someone to work with the Volunteer Coordinator in assigning work groups to work sites

Case Workers - people to do on-site visits of families needing assistance. It would be especially helpful to have folks with degrees in social work.

Financial Officer – A CPA serving on the Ike Recovery Team to help administer funds and design systems of financial reporting and accountability.

The Golden Triangle area is prepared to receive work groups immediately. Beverly Antilley is our Golden Triangle Volunteer Coordinator. Her phone 409 223-0118 She can handle groups coming in with work assignments and accommodations and other information.

Clean up buckets can be take to Clear Lake Presbyterian Church. CLPC will oversee the distribution of the buckets to the community.

The High Island Retreat Center will be housing some teachers from the High Island Independent School District who lost their homes to the storm. There is still no electricity on High Island and no generators available. If anyone has a generator they are no longer using and would be wiling to donate/loan it to the Retreat Center, that would be very helpful to those we are housing. The teachers also need food, cleaning supplies and toilet paper.

Please contact Mike Cole at the Presbyterian Center for more information or if you want to volunteer. (email: mcole at pbyofnewcovenant dot org )

Got Presby-IKE Photos?

Dear Readers,

If you have digital photos of Hurricane Ike damage to a Presbyterian church or relief/clean-up efforts by Presbyterians, please email them to me (jody dot harrington at gmail dot com).

Presbyterians Today requested I try to get some photos and forward them to their editor. Photos should be high-resolution.

Thanks!

QG

Worshipping in the Dark

El Jefe and I went to worship at our church this morning. The church is located in one of the areas hardest hit by tree damage--and power outages.

Services were held in the Fellowship Hall. We were greeted by two loud generators in the parking lot powering a couple of large fans, a couple of portable video screens and a laptop. There was no printed worship bulletin or amplification. The pastors talked really loud and it was pretty dark, despite the fact that there is a wall of windows on one side of the hall. It was warm-ish, but not uncomfortably so.

There was a good crowd on hand. Most of those who live near the church are into their 10th day without power. That included the senior pastor. As you might expect, his sermon centered around "power issues." What if we yearned for the power of the Holy Spirit as much as we yearn for the power of electricity? he asked.

Later in the afternoon, Portia and DK went home and found their electricity had been restored. Yippeee! We sent them home this evening with clean clothes and a "care package" of perishable items to begin the restocking of their refrigerator.

Work crews came by our house this afternoon and picked up the mountain of bagged vegetation El Jefe and the boys placed in front for them. The big tree that feel on our fence is still there, but the neighbor says he has someone coming next week to remove it. That will take a big winch and rope to pull it away before it is cut up and hauled off.

I'm really sad about all the damage to Galveston. I grew up going there every summer and we took our girls there for vacations when they were little. We have lots of memories tied up in that place which is now struggling very hard. Please pray for all those whose recovery from Ike will take much more than the return of electricity.

Ike Recovery Continues

Today Centerpoint (the company responsible for maintaining the power lines) reported that just over 50% of the customers in the Houston area have had power restored.

Portia and DK are not counted among the lucky majority, however. DK drove into town this morning to check on their home and cats, finding it still dark. They have done everything they can without power, so are now settling in at our house for what will probably be a few more days at least. Portia has turned her nervous energy to cleaning out upstairs closets for me. Hooray!

Babs has a friend who is without power staying at her apartment, too.

Our neices and their families are also still without power. They are staying with the children at our bay house (which was far west enough to be unscathed) until Sunday since school resumes Monday. Their husbands are staying with my sister-in-law who also has power while they try to deal with the downed trees and roof damages.

Maybe I'll have some deep philosophical thoughts about IKE and its aftermath later next week. For now, I'm distracted with clean-up, managing the presbytery's hurricane recovery blog (see sidebar), checking on those without power to see if we can help, and figuring out what is being postponed and what is going forward next week.

What a mess.

Report on Damage to Galveston PCUSA Churches

New Covenant Presbytery General Presbyter Rev. Mike Cole visited the Presbyterian churches in Galveston today and filed a report on the damages there from Hurricane Ike. I posted the report on the presbytery's Hurricane Recovery Blog. The report also has more information about the status of other churches in the presbytery.

Presbytery Re-opens Monday

I'm cross posting this information with the PNC Hurricane Recovery Blog.

Power has been restored at the Presbyterian Center! However, downed power lines remain in the parking lot so the office will not officially re-open until Monday morning.

The server and internet are now working. If you sent an email to a staff member on September 11 or later, you will need to re-send it.

Presbyterian Disaster Relief representatives will continue to office at Clear Lake Presbyterian Church, Houston.

(The majority of the Houston metropolitan area is still without power. Officials expect 75% of the power to be restored by Monday.)

PNC Hurricane Ike Recovery Blog

At the request of our General Presbyter, Rev. Mike Cole, I have morphed the presbytery's General Assembly Newsblog into a Hurricane Ike Recovery Blog so that it can serve as a clearinghouse for information and assistance to those in our presbytery affected by Hurricane Ike.

As folks send me information or requests for information and assistance, I will post it on that blog. The blog is also linked on the presbytery's website. Please pass the word by email, blog link or word of mouth to whoever would be interested. Most of our area is still without power, but folks are getting to the internet via wifi in public areas.

They also serve who simply sit and blog!

QG Embed Report: Children and Pets at Work

As Houston area employers regain power and resume business, they are finding creative ways of helping their employees return to work. Schools and day care centers remain closed, so children are coming to work with their parents.

Yesterday at El Jefe's law firm, they opened up the moot courtroom to the kids, found snacks, ordered pizza, and ran movies on the big screen. Someone found some folks to supervise the whole operation. Other employers were doing the same. See the full story here in the Houston Chronicle.

Intrepid Houston area RevGal zorra reported that pets spent the day at her office. Methinks the law firm isn't ready for Beatrice and Olivia--but who knows? Things are different after IKE.

Our church is still without power and doesn't expect to have it restored anytime soon because it is in an area where lots of trees and utility poles are down. Services are planned for Sunday in the Fellowship Hall (which has lots of windows) rather than the Sanctuary (which has no windows other than stained glass)--power or no power.

UPDATE: El Jefe just emailed the movie schedule for today for the kids coming to spend the day at his firm.

Courtroom Movie Schedule

10:00am- Daddy Day Camp

12:00pm- Alvin and the Chipmunks

2:00pm- The Incredibles

4:00pm- Madagascar

For the older kids in Courtroom B:

12:00pm- Enchanted

2:00pm- The Prince and Me

Hmm. Maybe I can make it down there in time to catch the 2 pm show and then follow it up with the 4 pm show!

NCP Church Damage Status Report

For the benefit of those of you here in the New Covenant presbytery area who can access this (and for anyone else out there interested) here's the status report on our churches I received by email from the General Presbyter of New Covenant, Rev. Mike Cole.

"I have set up a temporary office at Clear Lake PC (Houston), which has both electricity and internet access. The presbytery office is structurally fine, but there is no electricity. The staff will not be in the office until we have electricity. Meetings scheduled for this week canceled.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance will be setting up temporary offices at Clear Lake Presbyterian Church – 281-488-6731 – for the purpose of coordinating response efforts in the Greater Houston area. Our Disaster Response Team is discussing the possibility of setting up work camps in our presbytery for the most heavily affected areas – north of Galveston, the Beaumont/Orange/Port Arthur area, and north of Houston. We’ll know better where the work camps will be as we assess damages.

Reports are still coming in from affected churches. Here's what I have heard thus far - a universal concern is no electricity:

Texas City, FPC - they did ok.

FPC, Galveston - information on the church is scattered. The congregation will worship with FPC, Dickinson on Sunday. About half are accounted for.

Galveston, Westminster - no report
Galveston, West Isle - no report
Galveston, Emmanuel - no report

Dickinson, FPC - no significant damage. They are hosting FPC, Galveston for worship on Sunday.

Freeport, FPC - Church did not sustain any significant damage.

Lake Jackson, FPC - no major damage to the church

Tiki Island (Galveston) - the church is ok - Red Cross will be using the chapel

La Marque - there doesn't appear to be major damage

Angelton, FPC - Angelton is still closed to access. No water and no electricity. no reports of major damage

Alvin, FPC - the church did ok. Tress down but no structural damage

Beaumont, St. Andrews - no major damage to the church. Beaumont sustained about 10% of the damage they had sustained from Rita. work teams for the Golden Triangle are being organized

Beaumont, Westminster - the church is ok

Beaumont, Pioneer - no report

Nederland, Providence - the church where they are worshipping sustained no major damage.

Port Neches, Trinity - the church does not appear to have sustained major damage. No on site assessment has been done.

Orange, FPC – front door on church blew off. Some leakage in the sanctuary. They did get water in the first floor of the sanctuary building. The dome is ok. No major damage.

Orange, Drake – no report

La Porte, St. James – Some water in education building and sanctuary

Pearland, FPC – Casey Jones reports they have lost some shingles, an ac unit was destroyed, one roof leaked, and we have water damage to carpets in 3 buildings. We have electricity, but most of Pearland doesn't. All members we know of are OK.

Galveston, West Isle –the church still intact. Many shingles missing and we have flood damage. As far as church members, they are scattered to the wind.

Galveston, Emmanuel – most members are accounted for. There are reports on the church building itself.

Pasadena, FPC – most congregants are without electricity; no reports of significant problems or injuries. Some minor structural and water damage to facility.

Sugar Land, FPC – they withstood Ike with minor issues: they had some leaks in Sanctuary and in Education Building. Most of the trees on the property were damaged - Providentially, every single tree limb that broke off fell away from each building!

The Woodlands, Timber Ridge – Timber Ridge weathered the storm. Many large trees are down in the area including one that punctured a hole in the church roof. However, it was found before much damage occurred. We did have Sunday services in the dark. All members are accounted for and fine. Word is those of us in The Woodlands may be without power for several weeks.

Jones Creek, Gulf Prairie – One of the town aldermen reports that there appeared to be no damage at Gulf Prairie.

Orange, Drake – there is no significant damage to the church building.

Presbyterian Service Center (Center for limited income individuals with disabilities) – Georga Thomas reports that they need help with tree removal and general clean up. This would be a great spot for a local crew who is eager to “do something”."

As I receive more reports, I will update you.

The magnitude of all the damage is slowly sinking in with all of us, but so far the report on our churches is much better than feared.

Tuesday at QG's B&B

Here's a picture of the tree that crashed into our fence, courtesy of IKE. It just missed the roof, the AC unit and the pool equipment. How fortunate was that?

It is owned by our neighbor who came over yesterday to let us know he is calling a tree service to come remove it. He hopes that will happen in a day or two. Oh well. Beatrice and Olivia have found it a delightful place for their...um...toilette.

We have a new guests. Babs and the BF each have power at their places and returned there. My niece's husband moved to his mother-law's which now has power.

They were replaced by Portia and DK and our good Doctor Mickey, who all don't have power. Portia and DK rented a car and drove back from Colorado where they had gone for a vacation. They found a downed power line in the front yard of their home, but had no damage to their house itself.

Portia and DK's employers are closed today for lack of power or building damage from IKE. Dr. Mickey's office had power but no internet, so she's off to see patients.

El Jefe is downtown viewing the damage to his office from IKE and absorbing the damage to his law practice from the financial failures of Lehman Bros., Merrill Lynch and AIG that went down whilst we were distracted with IKE. His crackberry is working again, so he read through a chain of emails from his partners and associates. Many are now in Austin because of damage to their homes--never mind the lack of power.

I just had a call from a friend from church, letting me know that the church doesn't expect to have power restored for at least a week. Maybe two. I need to call my BSD group ladies, if I can find them. Many phone lines and cell phone towers were damaged, so it is hard to get in touch with people. Yesterday I sent out a group email to see if anyone would be able to respond. Only one did.

However, it is a beautiful day in the neighborhood with clear sunny skies and mild temperatures. As Scarlett O'Hara said, "Tomorrow is another day."

Note to my Gentle Readers: This blog may be hurricane-pre occupied for a while.

Beatrice Blogs:My first hurricane

Woof! Woof! Woof!

There's a lot of barking required during a hurricane. I have to bark when:

the wind blows really loud
the big tree falls on the backyard fence
the security alarm wails because the power went off
Flashlights are being used
the security alarm wails because the power came back on
QG and Babs have a Come to Jesus Meeting with the alarm and cut its wires
Olivia took my toy squirrel
Strange people are spending the night
Strange people are using computers in the kitchen
QG is giving ice to the workmen across the street
the doorbell rings
Olivia is sleeping in my bed
the phone rings

Whew. I'm tired. Time for a nappy-pooh.

Note from QG--it's been hard on the pets, too.

QG Embed Report: Hurricane Ike Aftermath

Now that we have power, we can catch up with all the news.

Apparently downtown Houston, Sugar Land and Katy are the only areas affected by IKE that have power. Broadcasters are telling people that it will take up to FOUR WEEKS to get everyone back online. OMG, it looks like we will have Babs, the BF, Portia, DK and maybe more at our house for the duration. Just call me Martha.

Did you see the spectacular pictures of all the broken glass in the high rise buildings downtown? Picture El Jefe inside one of them. He had a call from the business manager of his law firm letting him know that one of the glass walls in his office is gone. Thankfully there is no other damage. Portia and BF's office building was also damaged. Babs doesn't know about her clinic yet.

So they all may be at home for a few days. With El Jefe trying to work from home. Fun.

Portia keeps calling from Colorado, desperate for news about their townhome near downtown. We tried to drive down to check on it for them, but were stopped by high water. Babs and BF will go tomorrow morning when the water should be gone.

I'm not sure there are enough trucks in the known universe to haul away the debris in just our neighborhood. Never mind the rest of metro Houston.

Feeling very, very blessed to have power.

QG

PS. Just got a call from my niece's husband. Long story short, he asks to come stay with us, too. Welcome!

We're BAAACCCKKK!

God be thanked. Our power is now restored, after a scary night. The house is not damaged. We lost part of a back fence to a downed tree and a downspout. That's all. Hooray!

We and all our family and friends got through it fine. Beatrice and Olivia were frightened, but are slowly acting more like themselves.

Many thanks for all your thoughts and prayers--it was very comforting to know you had our backs!

And now, the answers to the Quiz--

Matching the Drinkee-Poo With the Hunkeree:

Double Glenfidditch with a few rocks: The Old Marine
White Wine: St. Betty, QG
Beer: Babs BF and El Jefe
Hard Cider: Babs
Red Wine: QG, El Jefe, Babs and St. Betty

But who's counting?

We didn't sleep well, due to the noise of the storm, so now it's time for a little nappy-poo.

Love to all my dear readers, QG

Time for a little Drinkee-poo

We're still waiting for Ike to show up. The winds are gusty, but that's all.

Here's a little quiz. Match the drink with the hunkeree:

Drinks

A. Double Glenfidditch with a few rocks
B. White wine
C. Beer
D. Hard cider
E. Red Wine

Hunkerees:

A. QG
B. El Jefe
C. Babs
D. Babs BF
E. St. Betty
F. The Old Marine

Note that some drinks will be matched with more than one hunkeree.

Update: Some hunkerees will be matched with more than one drink!