Rita Watch: Advisory 16

First, let me correct the temperature I reported yesterday. I said it was 100F. It wasn't...it was 108F (43C). That's unbelievable even for Texas! Last week of September and 108? We're dyin' here! All those clouds and water just a few miles to the east.

The in-laws and the 4 dogs left this morning for home. They planned to leave about 4:00am, and they must have done it because they were gone when we got up at 6:00.

There were quite a few cars on the road this morning from the Houston area. How can I tell? Well, they were full of people and dogs and they had the windows down. Besides, that they had the name of a car dealer in Houston or the like. One of the traffic info signs said, "Expect delays to Houston. Gas shortages." Traffic was pretty heavy.

This morning our phone lines are all busy, and we have a 15 minute wait to get your call answered. Not too bad really. But, not even all of Houston is back yet, much less Galveston, Beaumont, or Port Arthur.

I just got a call that told me the in-laws got home just fine. They bought gas on the way home. It was $3.12 a gallon. Cheap by European standards. Exorbitant by US standards.