Have you found my voice?

I seem to have lost it.

My throat felt a bit scratchy both Thursday and Friday mornings, but nothing major. However, by the time I got home from work Friday my voice kept coming in and out. But I couldn't let that stop me from getting all spruced up so I could go down to Brady's Landing, located on the Houston Ship Channel, for my friend Greta's 40th birthday party. That's right, folks. Forty. The big 4-0. It baffles me that one of my bestest friends is 40; and it baffles her that one of her bestest friends is 27! We just average our ages, making us both 33 (which explains why I so relate to Bridget Jones...minus the slightly alcoholic, chain smoking and having sex part).

Driving across town at 9 p.m., I ran into major traffic. Darn road construction! But I was able to eventually get out of it, backtrack, and take an alternate route, which I love always being able to figure out!

I got home around 1 a.m. and went straight to bed. But when I woke up this morning, I couldn't talk. At all! I was meeting my friend, Becca, for a movie and lunch at Alamo Drafthouse, but instead of being able to call to rearrange our plans, I had to email and then text her to make sure she checked her email! How sad is THAT?!

We watched The Bourne Ultimatum. I really liked it, but while I was watching it, I couldn't help but realize that the whole movie was made up by three or four major chase sequences, that usually ended in a fight. That one chase when the assassin was chasing the chick and Bourne was chasing both of them frustrated me (don't want to give away too much, just in case). I felt it went on a bit too long and I wished the guy would catch her already! Anywho, like I said, I enjoyed the movie and I especially liked that Jason Bourne didn't kill unnecessarily.

Before the movie, there were an awful lot of adverts for movies about the end of the world. Which freaked me out a bit, cause I had a very vivid dream along those lines last night. I won't go into details because it will make this post even longer than it already is. Either God was trying to tell me something, which He tends to do in my dreams, OR that's what happens when you mix being sick with watching an episode of Jericho and teaching your students about flags and symbols, plus living near West Houston Airport and seeing the sign everyday, and all the talk in the news about bringing troops home. Did I already mention it was a very vivid dream and I remember all of it?

Anywho, after the flick, we went down to Starbucks, where I had a Green Tea Latte. I thought it was pretty good, as far as dark green drinks go.

Now, I'm home, watching the Astros spank the Pirates, getting ready to eat something I shouldn't eat, which I won't mention here because my brother, Bird, will probably judge me because he'll be jealous.

So now ends my post about losing my voice and all that's happened in between. Forgive this long rambling (and any typing errors; I'm too lazy to proof read), but this is my only form of communication now. My last link to the speaking world. Hopefully all will be well soon. It sucks not being able to talk.

Is that a hurricane?!?!

So I get home from a hard day's work and see my Uncle Larry's car in the driveway. That's a bit odd, but whatev. I go inside and chat with him: hear about what he's up to and what everyone did today. The I turn to the TV. Larry's watching some type of Houston HD news talk station. There's a small box in the bottom right-hand corner of the TV. I see the familiar interstate-outlined shape of Houston so close to the Texas coast, but I'm thrown off by the circular moving mass to the southeast, obscuring Galveston.

"Is that a hurricane forming just off the coast?!?!"

I'm shocked. Practically speechless.

Larry just started laughing and switched to another station so I could see the weather.

I go to work for 10 hours and I come home and the line of thunderstorms that was sitting next to Galveston this morning magically turned into a tropical storm! And it would be a hurricane except there's not enough time for it to develop before landfall.

So apparently a hurricane can just randomly form off the coast of TX at any time . . . who knew!

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UPDATE: The storm still hasn't hit. It's moving only abt 7 mph, but from what I heard it's projected to hit around 10. And I just heard a blurb that it may be a full-blown hurricane by then. Yikes! This pic and article over at Fox News gives you a good idea of what we're in for. Yikes!

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FINAL UPDATE: 9/13/07 - After gaining strength in the Gulf by sitting off shore for hours, Tropical Storm Humberto became a hurricane and finally hit land around 2 a.m near High Island. Far enough away from Houston not to inflict any damage, thankfully. But we still need to pray for those in it's path and those whose lives it left behind in destruction.

I'm in love with this song

I just discovered it this morning on my way to work. Last night I listened to it once on my ipod and made a mental note to revisit it during my morning commute. I listened to it over and over again for a good 20 min this morning, and then again the whole drive home tonight.

This video is a bit hokey, but it's the version of the song I love. Hope you like it...





There's another cool slideshow version, but the embedding was disabled. Here's the link if your interested: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7K3yhinSWM

Weekly Funny

Somehow It's September

How did that happen???

My car's inspection sticker has expired and I'm a bit nervous. My check engine light AND my brake light are on and won't shut off until I replace a $900 electrical part. Mama Mia! That definitely won't happen this month, mainly because my Sept 5th check is over $1000 short since school started late this year and we only worked 3 days during the first pay period. Granted, it's not like I'd have a spare $900 even if my check wasn't short. But the 3 day check doesn't help!

We also have Open House tomorrow and we haven't had any communication as to how we should run things. So that also makes me nervous and stressful.

I tried to ignore all the stressors this holiday weekend. And I was successful for the most part. But now, with the school day only 8.5 hours away, they're all creeping back on me.

*sigh*

But at least I had a nice relaxing evening with friends. A few braved the rainy weather to come over and hang out, despite not being able to swim because the rain cooled down the temp too much.

So I leave you with a couple of pictures of happier times. Have a great week, people!





























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UPDATE: I had to add this 3rd pic, even though it's not the greatest, cause i love the face Abby's making.