My Uncle from Lake Jackson, Tx (fifteen miles from the coast, south side of Houston) left early this a.m. He took his wife, my grandmother, the bug out supplies, and some really expensive artwork. Their decision to leave was pushed by the realization that traffic and gas supplies were getting bad already, so they skipped boarding up the windows and went straight to packing up the antique budha statue worth more than my college education.

Anyway, I'm just glad they are safe in Dallas tonight with my cousin. It only took them 8 hours to drive from Lake Jackson to Dallas, a trip that is normally 5 to 6 hours. <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

I feel for the Houston evacuees trying to come to Austin. All our hotels were booked long before anyone thought about Hurricanes. It's the Austin City Limits Music Festival, ya'll. If people really need a place to sleep, there's camping space around town. Of course, it's going to flash flood by Saturday. <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

I'm looking on the bright side -- I won't have to drag the hose around the veggie garden this weekend. It's a great opportunity to collect rainwater for future garden and fabric dying use. And, I *just* fixed that leaky window in my truck.

So very glad my grandmother is safe. I hope everyone else is, too. Good luck.