EID MUBARAK, AMIGOS!

I figure it's alright to mix Arabic and Spanish, after all, we are Latinos living in Muslim country. LOL!! I wanted to post about the start of EID because it brought with it a very interesting night for us last night. As everyone was waiting around for the ultimate call about Ramadan being over or not, meaning if Tuesday would be a holidy from school and work; the biggest challenge for us was whether or not to put the kids to bed on time! Then, the calls and text messages rolled in one after the other - THEY SAW THE MOON...and the fun began for the four of us: we pulled out favorite movies, snacks, and games; just about anything the kids and us wanted to do....and did that until we literally passed out about 1:30 AM. Not so bad given the fact that the kids really should have and could have been in bed 5 hours earlier!!

Also, I wanted to share a post that our friend Gina put on her own blog about her and her hubby's experience about last night....She added a wonderful song (in English) that I absolutely had to share. Ramadan is over, let the fun begin!!! http://ginaandmichael.blogspot.com/2008/09/eid-mubarak.html

Ike...The latest for Baytown.

For the majority of our home town, the recovery process has been quicker than expected. "Thank you, Lord!!" Power has been restored for most residents, streets have been cleaned up, and even the schools are preparing to re-open as soon as tomorrow. Their local newspaper published two great articles, speaking of the wonderful people that live there, and how they have been stepping up to help. Click on the following links to view: http://baytownsun.com/story.lasso?ewcd=1b0f430bf0509eaf and http://baytownsun.com/story.lasso?ewcd=c6fb8bb4204efd37. Knowing all this makes us feel a bit more at ease. This is one of my favorite songs; so I would now like to dedicate it to my family and friends back in Baytown who have survived Ike; as well as to those of us who truly understand what it means to survive Doha - well, it's traffic mainly! Keep on keeping on - You all are awesome!!!

Also, I received an email from our friend, regarding lessons that were learned by those that had the misfortune to go through the hurricane. "Thank you, Michelle!!" It made me laugh so hard about something that I thought I would not be able to, that I decided to share it with those of you neat enough to read our blog. Ya gotta love #16!!!

Hurricane Education: What I learned during our last hurricane . . .

1. Coffee and frozen pizzas can be made on a BBQ grill.
2. No matter how many times you flick the switch, lights don't work without electricity.
3. My car gets 23.21675 miles per gallon, EXACTLY (you can ask the people in line who helped me push it).
4. Kids can survive 4 days or longer without a video game controller in their hand.
5. Cats are even more irritating without power.
6. He who has the biggest generator wins.
7. Women can actually survive without doing their hair - you just wish they weren't around you.
8. A new method of non-lethal torture - showers without hot water.
9. There are a lot more stars in the sky than most people thought.
10. T.V. is an addiction and the withdrawal symptoms are painful.
11. A 7 lb. bag of ice will chill 6-12 oz Budweiser's to a drinkable
temperature in 11 minutes, and still keep a 14 lb. turkey frozen for 8
more hours.
12. There are a lot of dang trees around here.
13. Flood plane drawings on some mortgage documents were seriously wrong.
14. Aluminum siding, while aesthetically pleasing, is definitely not
required.
15. Crickets can increase their volume to overcome the sound of 14
generators.
16. People will get into a line that has already formed without having
any idea what the line is for.
17. When required, a Lincoln Continental will float, doesn't steer well
but floats just the same.
18. Tele-marketers function no matter what the weather is doing.
19. Cell phones work when land lines are down, but only as long as the battery remains charged.
20. 27 of your neighbors are fed from a different transformer than you, and they are quick to point that out!
21. Hampers were not made to contain such a volume.
22. If my store sold only ice, chainsaws, gas and generators... I'd be
rich.
23. Price of a can of soup rises 200% in a storm.
24. Your water front property can quickly become someone else's fishing hole.
25. Tree service companies are under appreciated.
26. I learned what happens when you make fun of another states'
blackout.
27. MATH 101: 30 days in month, minus 6 days without power equals 30% higher electric bill ?????
28. Drywall is a compound word, take away the "dry" part and it's worthless.
29. I can walk a lot farther than I thought.

Our Hearts Will Go On and On....

After the phone calls I made to my family back home in Texas tonight, I could not go to bed and have good dreams, before I put my personal thoughts into writing on my website which I created specifically for them.......Thank you ahead of time for taking the time to read my personal feelings of the rath and aftermath of Hurrican Ike, with everything you are all going through.

We've all heard about Hurrican Ike, whether you live on that side of the world, or on this one, so I don't have to explain why I'm writing about it. I sat down last night here to try to write about it, but was at a loss as to how I should start it. Since the day I started this blog, I have never been at a loss for words, nor have I found myself having to re-write and, ultimately, delete a post. Needless to say, this event, and the current aftermath of this storm have hit too close to home, for too many.


HOME......I know, you're probably wondering why worry, I live in Doha right now? But what you probably don't know about is that I, also, have a home in Mont Belivieu, TX; but much more importantly, I have both my parents, six sisters and their families, a brother-in-law and family, a father-in-law, and three sister-in-laws and their families, among countless of other relatives and friends, that were directly hit by this monster.

All day long last Saturday, Roland and I sat by the internet, watching the live streaming of abc13.com's coverage on Ike. Thankful for both internet access and vonage service, we stayed in constant communications back home with all of my sisters and with Roland's family. Once most of them lost power, those same phone calls became their only lifelines; and for us, being able to hear their voices on the other end, became what most calmed our nerves and warmed our hearts.

Then came the info. that the bottom part of the storm which was yet to hit was going to be even worse than the top; and all you could hear over and over were the instructions for everyone to be sure to "Bucke Down". Some of Roland's family members stayed at our home for us in hopes that it would provide better shelter, so almost the instant we lost our wooden fence, we knew it had happened. It was Roland's family members who had mostly helped out putting that same fence up a couple of years ago; and Rolando and a then four 1/4 year old Gabrielle who painted it! Gone was all that hard work.

The night was long and a bit scary for them, some of them confessed. Fortunately, some of my own family had evacuated to Dallas. Those that stayed behind, were great enough to stay together. Both of my sisters that each had their baby over the summer were on our minds constantly. All this seemed hard for us as adults to understand...how could anyone expect a child or an infant to understand, as well.

If it hadn't been for the huge time difference, this all might have been a bit harder for me only because I would have been going through it with them as they were. This way, I could atleast sleep through it til the moring and hope and pray that by the time I woke up, things would be much better. And then they were. Ike became a lesser category storm that what was anticipated...and the light at the end of the tunnel was very visible.

Or so we thought.....

I digress. After speaking to two of my sisters and my own father tonight, I began to get a clear picture of what life is really like for them, after Ike. They have no electricity, thus not sleeping very well, they have to eat what food they have avalible to them, they worried about the infants being able to make it through this, getting the toddlers to understand why they aren't at home, and the younger kids must find a way to keep occupied. I have older nephews that must use their muscle to help with the clean up effort, which has proven to be very unsanitary. The oldest of which actually stayed with his mother, my sister, at St. Lukes hostpital for two days, helping out anywhere he could, until he was asked to leave because they have no more room available for him. His mom will come home when things slow down a bit more for the hospital. Both of them had been worried to death with false reports that Baytown was no longer the town it used to be.

I remember my siter-in-law, Gloria, tellig me that all she really wanted, at one point in time, was a simple cup of coffee. The simple things, that seemed so unreachable. Kinda puts into perspective when we here complain about the few goodies we bring back from the states starting to deterioriate.....But we have food, water, and even light!!! How I wished I could have granted her that wish.

Today, I hear that my family is safe. All of our family and friends appear to have physically survived the storm well; and for that I am very grateful. Three of my siters arrived back into Baytown last night afrer a long trip from Dallas. One of the infants was in that group. They all went home last night to access the damage to their homes and found it more than a bit overwhelming. Another one of my siters, that has three boys all under the age of three, had to leave her home after losing power, even though they had weathered the storm at their home well the night of the storm. My sister who is a nurse, has not been able to make it home yet and see for herself that everyone is truly doing ok. And then there's another who luckily had a generator and was able to Bar-B-Q for some of the family, so as to have yet another great meal, while they are still able.

Roland's brother and his wife and family live in a part of town that we thought would certianly not be recognizable (very near the Baytown, LaPorte bridge); and fortunately their home sustained minimal damage and they have had their power on since Sunday. His sister in Dayton and her family had a bit of a scare with a tree branch that pierced their roof, but it luckily was not too big.

Our own home had very little damage. We know that we were all very blessed, given the big picture. We have seen how others have not faired as lucky; and our hearts go out to them. But this is where I come in with the hard and emotional part for me.

My dad sounds in good spirits. He has to be being the head this family and all. But after speaking to him and speaking with my sisters, not to mention, that I have been glued to the TV ever since the hurricane passed, I am sad because of the tough part they are NOW having to go through. Seeing their home and their town, which we have all grown up in, become such a mess has to be tough no matter what.

I'd like to break down and cry sometimes myself for them, just because it CAN be overwhelming. This helps me. Who can help them? It was tough enough leaving them after our visit this time around, just over three weeks ago. But now this, and to know we were not there to be able to help them out more somehow......

Well, that is whay I had to write:
Gloria and Jena, I wish I could have brought you guys a super warm cup of coffee.
Pete, Thanks for taking caring of our home and your family.
Ida, You and your boys were on the thoughts and prayers of both of our kids.
Eric, Thanks for the pictures.
Lupe, Don't worry about your shed, that is just materail stuff.
Anita, I wish I could be there to help out with those precious babies and give your back a rest.
Vero, I am so grateful for the poop. (You know what I mean!)
Matha & Jr., I'm proud that you guys stepped up the way you did.
Mary and Earl, Thanks for alwyas being so willing to help us out with our home.
Mary and boys, Sorry to hear about your home and other properties.
Each of my nephews and nieces, The kids send you hugs and kisses.

Sarah, Mija, Thanks for calling your Daddy as often as you did to let him know you were alright.
Mom and Dad, Thanks you for the powerful prayers I know you prayed which saved each one of your family members.


Someone asked me about how my kids were doing with all of this, and all I could say is that life in Doha has continued for them as status quo. This event is something that I myself still can't completely wrap my head around, so I am partially grateful that they don't have too much knowledge of what is gong on back HOME. They innocently wonder and ask why there had to be a hurricane and why they called it Ike? And if Schlitterbahn would still be there? Two very good questions. And two that I couldn't answer. (To their satisfaction, anyway.)

We will continue to check in on you guys daily, hoping that each of your situation's get better. Thanks for staying so strong, everyone. We must all go on! I could hear my mom's laughter in the background as I spoke to my Daddy today. What more could I ask for? And with that, I must end this post....before the waterworks come again. For someone who didn't quite know how to start this post or knew what to write about, I can only say that I feel so much better after telling my story.....until I see the news tomorrow, that is.

Good night, to each of my family members. May you rest well tonight, and dream the sweetest of dreams - like a better tomorrow. We love you more than we can say.

You are in our hearts and in our prayers,

Lucy and Family