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Decade of the Pasty Cam on this day ^{Printed on Recycled Internet}

As we end another week of the Pasty Cam, name two days this week in which you can see rubber tires.

Tuesday & Thursday.......

Tuesday & Wednesday

This is normal for me, always late.

Cap'n Paul and Dr Nat....we're anxiously awaiting word from you. Prayers are coming your way.

I'm thinking we have this latest hurricane to thank for the surge in our gas prices here in Michigan. I waited in line for 45 minutes yesterday afternoon to get gas (for a mere $3.92) because we got word that it was already up to $5.45 in Jackson, Coldwater and Detroit. Yikes! I was going to drive to Port Huron today for a baby shower, but I'm thinking against it now.

They say on the Weather Channel parts of Texas could be without power for several weeks. Ike is really taking a punch on Texas.

Hoping we hear from Cap'n Paul and Dr Nat but don't think it will be real soon. Sounds like the power will be out for awhile.

Hurricane Ike will be sending our area (Northern IN) some of that rain tomorrow. We are under a tornado watch, flash flood warning, flood warning and thunderstorm watch for who knows how long. Glad I don't need to be anywhere today.

Stay safe.

Cindy, Highest gas price I've seen down here in the Detroit area is $4.08/gallon for regular. Could be a few cents higher in some areas but nowhere near $5.45. COME ON DOWN!!! LOL

Wow, glad I won't need gas for a few days. Lets hope it drops by then. Heard there are 4 million w/ out power in texas on the weather channel.

Good morning! It's gloomy here today. Of course it is, it's Saturday after all.

I do believe it's Snowman's birthday today. Happy birthday Snowman. You and the wife got big plans for the day?????

HAPPIEST BIRTHDAY SNOWMAN! Don't have too hot a time or you'll melt.

Gas prices stayed about where they have been except for 1 station in Sturgis where the asian owner jacked it up to $5.83, until he was reported. Hope he gets prosecuted!

Good Morning,from hot and muggy Knoxville,area where a gallon of gas will cost you $4.69.9 because once it enters the pipeline in Texas it takes some time to come out here in Tennessee.

Happy Birthday, Mr. Snowman!

It is raining. All day today. I was going to ask management if I can put up a rainbarrel since we have an end unit.

The last email we got from Houston was 1:30 a.m. today. The Holiday Exress was creaking and leaks have appeared here and there. Lower floor has water, though not deep at that time.
No power so it is hot, muggy and food is a worry.
Where to eat? When the motel runs out??????
Our kid's home is in Lake Jackson and they have the generator hooked up and ready when they are allowed to return.

That sure is a big ferocious lookin' sturgeon River crock-o-gator from 2000! Big enuf to snag some o' those huge sturgeons, eh? <grin, wink>



Q: How can you differentiate between a crocodile and an alligator?
A: By the shape of the snout:

The crocodile's is like the "A" in Alligator and
the alligator's is like the "C" in Crocodile!

For lighthouse fans - some info about the Storm of 1900 and how the Bolivar Lighthouse - across the bay from Galveston - saved lives in a different way:

Harry C. Claiborne, known as the best keeper in the district, was appointed keeper at Bolivar Point to replace the problematic pair of keepers. Claiborne began his twenty-four years of service at the Bolivar Point Lighthouse on December 15, 1894, transferring from the lighthouse’s twin at Pass a l’Outre.

The Great Hurricane of 1900 inundated Galveston Island with five feet of water, destroying much of the city and causing the death of nearly 6,000 people. During the height of the storm, which occurred during the evening of September 8, over 120 people sought protection in the iron lighthouse. Seated by twos on the tower’s spiral staircase, the refugees huddled together as 120-mile-per-hour winds rocked the tower. After the floodwater receded from the base of the tower, the occupants exited the lighthouse to discover the bodies of a dozen people, who were unable to reach the safety of the tower. The Claibornes fed the hungry crowd using their lighthouse rations, which were quickly depleted.

A similar scene played out during the hurricane of August 16-17 1915, when sixty people were forced to seek protection on the tower’s spiral staircase. Assistant keeper J. P. Books, who stood watch in the lantern room during part of the storm, reported that the top of the tower “shook and swayed in the wind like a giant reed.” The mechanism used to rotate the lens broke down, forcing Books to rotate the lens by hand. The damage inflicted on the station by this storm was more severe than that of 1900. The two keeper’s dwellings were destroyed, and the oil house and other outbuildings were washed away. After exhausting the supply of oil kept in the tower, the light went dark until a new shipment of oil reached the station.

When the station’s new dwellings were built, they were wisely placed on pilings to keep them above any future storm surge. In honor of keeper Claiborne’s years of faithful service at Bolivar Point, the Coast Guard named one of its 175-foot buoy tenders the Harry Claiborne. Appropriately, the buoy tender is stationed in Galveston.

Thanks for the birthday wishes! You guys are makin' me feel nice and flakey today! As for the big plans, think I'll just chill!!!

That's a great story, Jbuck. I have been a lighthouse buff for many years, so I appreciate lighthouse pictures & storie: the more, the better! I have read many stories of the Galveston storm of 1900. They just did not have ways to predict coming hurricanes back then, nor did they have a bridge connecting to the mainland, if I remember correctly (from my reading, no, I wasn't alive back then, LOL), so it was ferry only. That's tough when the whole island is under water. They built the seawall two years later, to try to prevent or at least lessen tragedy from future hurricanes.

Tom, you didn't mention what part of Houston your son and his family are in? Where they are makes a difference, in what kind of weather they might have experienced since Houston is so big, geographically. My thoughts and prayers are with them for their safety! I have been watching a lot of TV coverage. They have some reporters stationed in Lake Jackson. Lake Jackson has some wind damage, but so far, it doesn't look awful. The low-lying parts of Lake Jackson will flood, so that depends on where they live. So far, they have not shown the flooding in either Lake Jackson or Freeport. They have just talked about going out to inspect damage when the winds let up.

For now, your son's biggest problem might be that Highway 288 is under water south of Houston, so they will have a hard time getting back to Lake Jackson, until that clears out.

$3.99 for gas here in Houghton, it was $3.78 earlier in the week.

Marianne:
They are in a place called The Woodlands. About 20 miles northwest of Houston.
No word today.

Your son and family should be safe up there, Tom! I am very familiar with The Woodlands. My parents used to live just north of there, on Lake Conroe. It won't be comfortable without electricity, for sure. But, there are seriously flooded roads between The Woodlands and Lake Jackson.

The Mayor of Houston wants people to stay inside. The downtown Houston area has some incredible damage, with windows blown out in skyscrapers, glass shards & window blinds all over the streets, among other things. The famous Houston restaurant, Brennan's (yes, there's one in New Orleans, too), burned out last night.

The good news is that some of the refineries are starting back up. That should help keep gas prices lower!

Tom, I just found this in the Houston Chronicle online:
"Brazoria County Emergency Management officials asked today that Lake Jackson citizens call 979-415-2700 to obtain information about when they should return to the county."

Happy Birthday Snowman. I so enjoy your humor! And say "Hey" to Mrs. Snowman. She must put up with a lot from your humor. I enjoyed her input on the thread from last spring about us women and cars.

Something good must have happened because my son was able to drive to their home in Lake Jackson. He found everything ok. No damage. Now to worry about power.

That's awesome! He's lucky he got back into town, because I read all kinds of extra warnings not to come back this time in the Lake Jackson paper, & they would not let them come back until the power is on, after I sent the last message. Maybe he had the right words about being needed back at work, or something? Anyway, I'm glad they got back safely, and I hope they stay safe!

Today is also Joanie's birthday as well as Snowman's!

Happy Birthday Joanie, wherever you are!!!

Happy birthday Joanie and Snowman. How many?

NEWS FROM CAPT. PAUL and DR. NAT...

I just got off the phone with Capt. Paul, he wanted to let all the folks here on the Pasty Cam know that Dr. Nat and he have survived the storm just fine. They had minor damage, fences down, a few shingles off, but nothing to worry about. They are of course without power and don't know how long that will continue, as talk is that it could be weeks or possibly even a month. He said that they did have very powerful winds for about 18 hours straight and that they probably only slept a few hours for the night, but he wanted me to let everyone know they are fine. Now we can all give a collective sigh of relief! :->

P.S. Happy Birthday Snowman and Joanie too!

Thanks for the update Mary.
I hope you will publish that on Sunday too!

Happy birthday Joanie!

Thank you for the news update on Capt Paul & Dr Nat, Mary! I am really happy to hear that they are ok!

Happy Birthday Joanie, & Snowman, too. :-)