Looks like Texas is in for a bit of nasty weather courtesy of hurricane Ike.

I hope all of the LCTers near the coast get out of harm's way. I'd suggest heading to Dallas but I think we're going to be plenty wet here too.

Be safe!!!

Yep - doesn't look good. Be safe everyone! Check in when you can.

Sending safe thoughts and prayers to all in the path of Ike!

I am ready with my candles, water and Chef Boyardee!

Karen, I can feel your pain...we are just starting to put our terrace furniture back out tonight. Good luck, and please stay in touch.

Yes, we've had a very gloomy day today, thanks to Ike!
Stay safe, Texans!!

I just heard that IKE is heading directly for Houston . . . Karen and the rest of you, take care!

We're keeping our fingers crossed for everyone's safety.

Peggy

Thanks Peggy, I am waiting for Mark to get home from work. They all left early but he is stuck at a redlight and has made no progress for about a half hour now. Betty told me her grocery store is nuts, with empty shelves and long lines. I hope I have a better time at mine, which I will attempt if Mark ever makes it home!

Karen, good luck at the grocery store. I've been there and done all that today and survived. Larry's out at Sams or somewhere and I hope he gets back soon. The traffic is really bad. Betty, if you're reading this, stay safe too.

Nancy

stay safe folks and check in.

Ditto what Arlene says. I don't like IKE, either.

Cheers, Anne

I've been getting National Weather updates via the Corpus Christi paper - we are part time Texas residents in Rockport. (not there now!)and this is very scary.

Good luck everyone!

Peggy

Stay safe, LCT'ers. We'll be thinking about you.

Stay safe everyone
Karen is this a belated welcoming party for you?
Please keep us posted

Updated path....

Thinking of you ALL in the affected area; hope all goes well!

Hope we hear from you, but will understand if we don't.

Some "welcoming party," Karen!

Thanks everyone. All that's left (I hope)is to bring in the patio furniture. Finding gas this morning was almost as much fun as the grocery. My one wish, other than this monster falling apart over the Gulf, is to keep power. I'll gladly give up TV, phone & DSL. But let me please keep the A/C. I know, Big Dream, but why not think Big.

Betty, got fingers crossed for you guys, BIG TIME! Be safe!!

Plenty of LCT friends in Dallas if you need to drive our way ... take care!

Thanks Luke but you I am afraid the LCT Houston clan would make your house too crowded!

I'm sure we could handle everyone among the entire DFW contingent.

Luke, I've been there before, providing a haven for friends and family in town who were evacuated. It was actually quite fun, because we never lost power, and were far enough off the bay that water didn't even get close! Beats spending the night in a high school gym!

Dear Friends...stay safe. We're thinking of you and hope Ike will weaken a bit before he gets to Houston.

Good luck, everyone! :(

Looks like Galveston . . .

Hope everyone will be careful and safe. THinking about all of you.

Yikes, this thing is really looking scary! A 20 ft. surge?? Having lived in Houston that really scares me. Please be safe everyone.

Hey everyone, hunker down and keep positive thoughts.
Karen, I hope Mark doesn't have to work today and you two and Ellie are as comfortable as possible.
Betty, it sounds as if you are all set and as ready as one can be in this situation.
Good luck to everyone.
Lynn

Ike is a doozy :eek: Karen, are you leaving? Watched the news reports this morning at the gym...it looks larger and more fierce than a cat 3

A lot more excitment in Houston than in Pennsylvania, that is for certain.

Hope all our Texas LCT'ers are hunkered down & safe. Batten down the hatches!

Mark is home from work today, he just mowed the grass, of all things! I just sent him to the store for a few things I forgot, like plastic silverware but I doubt he will be able to find any. Like Betty, I hope we don't lose our electricity but at least it's only supposed to be in the 80's for the next few days.

We're also mowing and we're doing laundry just in case of long time without power. Having one fine dinner tonight - with wine - to try to clean as much out of the freezer as possible. Karen has her canned ravioli and we are all set with Vienna sausage and canned fruit. Yummy! My next door neighbor just evacuated to Temple. They are originally from Puerto Rico, so a little surprised they are going. And people across the street putting up ply wood on windows. Hope I'm not taking this too lightly. At least I have Karen close by. If one of us has power, the other is invited to move in. LCT people are the best!

You guys sure are brave...I think I would be leaving town by now. Please stay safe and check in when/if you can! :hug:

I heard from a friend who has a friend that relocated to Galveston last year. They evacuated yesterday to homes in Austin. The normal 3 hour drive took 11 hours! But it is worth it to be safe.

Karen, I do hope that you have a manual can opener for your Chef Boyardee.

Do take care all of you in the path of Ike. In 1952 the majority of our country liked Ike but this 2008 Ike is a nasty storm.

Just watched cnn, Ike looks huge...I hope the power stays on and you all are safe....please be careful...keep in touch if possible.

Doris, I am worrying about Karen, Nancy and Betty, too - as you know, loss of power is agonizing in hot humid temps - keeping fingers crossed - it sure is stressful, as you well know - Joanna

I'm shutting off computer now. Just had 2nd power outage. About 1 minute this time. Only getting sporadic gusts & no rain yet. Weird. Power shouldn't be going off this soon, but don't want to take any chances with computer. It gives me enough problems in the best of times. Hope to be able to say hello in the morning.

BYYYYEEEEEE Betty -

UGH! I hate this stuff. Karen and Betty (and Nancy) I have been thinking of you guys constantly. And praying.

Even way up here the lines to get gas are around the corner. Traffic is worse than usual - hopefully that means we have lots of evacuees (sp?) here. Greg is the proverbial boy scout, got everything ready in case we lose power. We are thinking how ironic it would be if we got through Charley, Frances, Jeanne and Wilma unscathed while we were living in Florida, but got hit hard here, well-inland in Texas!

Greg always mowed the lawn, too, when we were expecting a 'cane - you don't want to be messing with the yard when you don't have power and possibly have trees, shrubs, etc. all over the grass to deal with.

PRAYING for all y'all!!!!!!

Tony talked to Mark they are hanging "in" Tony gave Mark some "Tony" suggestions for weathering storm - hope Mark ignored him - :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :eek: