houstonmacbro

I remember back when Greenspoint Mall was a very busy mall. At christmas time they were so congested that they had to have police directing traffic. And every Independence Day there would be a huge fireworks show. Those days are gone now. I still go there every once in a blue moon and it's not as bad as some people claim as far as crime etc. Since it's mostly black and hispanic patrons, some people have a problem with that. I read somewhere that they were supposed to remodel/revitalize the mall and was wondering when the construction would start. I've always said that all those low income apartments in that area is what brought that mall down. Hopefully after the remodeling it will pick back up because it would be such a waste.

I live and work in the area and have been hearing buzz about a lot of changes to the mall and the area, but I have yet to see anything concrete happening.

I just learned that my workplace may not have power until 'beyond next week'. Whatever that means...?

Day 11 without power....

I am now driven to be the last customer hooked back up to the grid. There must be some kind of Guiness record that I can get for this, right?

I am wondering why I missed having the TV for a week and a half. After only 2 days of TV, powered by the neighbor's extension cord, I have disconnected it and hooked up the computer instead. Besides, I think the computer and monitor sucks less juice than a TV and DirecTV box. And the fan is more effective on the bedroom side of the house, which has less direct airflow, than the living room side of the house, which has a shotgun style front to back door ventilation path.

All perishables have been banned from the house. I could live for months this way now. Even Cokes have been banished, as warm fizzy drinks do not stay fizzy long. The Captain Morgan is now mixed with Cran-Grape. Arrgh! Not only good, but good for you!

My internet time has generally been split between news of Ike, news of the impending meltdown of the US (and possibly world) economy, and best of all, energy efficient devices for the next power outage. I will start a new topic soon with some of the ideas, products and solutions to surviving without electricity. As one might guess, air conditioning/humidity is the most problematic, and most energy intensive issue. Hopefully, my new topic will generate a viable solution that does not include a generator.

A note on the gensets. It appears that the whole-house generators can cost up to $75-100 PER DAY to run. At least, that is my neighbor's estimate. The gas and diesel portables burn about a gallon per hour, meaning that they too cost $75 a day to run gas, $100 a day to run diesel. Clearly, the solution is to manage generator usage to run far less than 24 hours per day, or to get by without one, my personal preference.

I've just about run out of clean clothes. I may need to include a clothes line in the back yard in my survival plans. Anyone done any hand washing? Better in the kitchen sink or the bathtub?

That's all for now. To those still without power, hang in there. To those with power, you suck! (j/k)

You are NOT alone. You have us. I feel you on the whole tv versus computer thing. I'd much rather have 'Net and computer access, than cable or even regular over the air television.

Washing. Yes, I did some handwashing when the lights were out. I used good ole carbolic soap. Kills germs, smells very ... germicidal and hygienic, and gets the clothes very clean.

Hang in there. My mom's power is STILL out and my sister (who lives on the West loop near Bellaire) had a component that blew out AFTER she got lights back in her apartment complex - she is not happy, but being a trooper about it

I thought you were going to be a "comrade in electriclessness", but you have succumbed to the seduction of lights and conditioned air. I will continue my crusade of darkness alone.

You certainly are not alone. Especially not here.

BTW, I have several friends and relatives from The Heights to north Houston that still do not have lights.

It requires a few more cold showers and a willingess to get creative if you want to preserve clean linens.

Oh, don't get me wrong, I want the sweet sweet cold of AC, too.

I think their hygiene and expectations of cleanliness were different.

Still powerless in The Westbury, but a few houses have power on nearby streets. Centerpoint says our zip code is at 76%.

Regarding toughness: I have no desire to be tough. I want high speed internet, DTS surround sound, 57" TV, Mario Kart, pints of ice cream in the freezer, clean laundry and cold air blowing up my ass 24/7. Sweating all night in a house designed for central air doesn't increase my self-esteem. I know people lived here before AC and electric lights, but I also know they adopted these modern conveniences as soon as they could afford to. I know intellectually that they even procreated under these circumstances, but I can't imagine how they pulled that off.

Work is open again, so I don't have to haunt the FMB's office. We bought a battery powered DVD player to watch Top Gear and these sweet Coleman flourescent lanterns to read by. Everything is charging up here at work with me.

I can't wait for electricity to return to my house.

Hang in there. I know things will improve soon. My date was Thursday for power restoration and lights came back on last night (no comfort to you I am sure), so I think Centerpoint is running a bit ahead of schedule.

Be well.

Update: Power is back on FM 1960 @ Ella Boulevard and some of North Houston

Centerpoint and the 10,000 linemen working on the power lines came through big time for me. Earlier went to the main library downtown to escape the heat and use the Internet. Was there most of the afternoon.

Lights were on when I got home this afternoon. So happy I could do a dance.

Guess I am in good (as there are unfortunately still many without lights), but it's almost a little unreal. I feel almost shell-shocked.

Rest. That's what I need (and with the A/C cranked to about 60!).

Hope everyone without gets their power back on very soon, and thanks to those who helped hold out hope for those of us without.

For me it's not the expense (I am lucky and have a bit of reserve money), but it is the inconvenience and the disruption to life. I hate having to look for ice every day, plan out where I am going (because the house is too hot during the day) that day, and making sure to be inside before the curfew.

I got ice from one POD one day and some water another day, but that was once and when I couldn't find it anywhere in my area.

We lost water this morning, too. It came back, but it came back... brown. Yuck. Not drinking it.

Yuck is right!

Since a couple of other people have mentioned the downtown library, I'm wondering how many HAIFers have been hanging out there this week. I've been spending some time there almost every day since they reopened on Tuesday - we have power at the house but no cable or internet, and my office has been closed all week, so the library's wifi has been a welcome lifeline. And so far they've waived the normal fees in the parking garage as well - I asked the security guard at the entrance how long that was going to last, but she didn't know.

Also found this site while poking around - never realized there were so many wifi hotspots downtown before.

I've been at the main library for several reason:

1. Still no power at home - no power = no cable = no high speed internet
   
2. A/C
   
3. Relatively quiet, upgraded digs - Nice!
   
4. Has high-speed Internet (I noticed they opened up POP so now I can check email and chat without having to use a web client)
   
5. I can check out books if I like
   

If you see me (I'm usually on 2nd or 3rd floor with a black Macbook) say hello.

Later.

Centerpoint has a new "restoration" map out... this one broken up by zip code. My zip code, 77008, will see 80% restoration by THURSDAY... not sure how to take that.

I am in the same situation (77090). In fact, we are NOW losing water pressure, which had been the one constant in all of this.

Not getting a good feeling.

I've heard that a particular gay bar on the seawall was open and chock full of heteros. Wow, can you imagine all those sweaty pole men and pipe layers with drag queens and g-string dudes in the background. I gotta see pictures of this.

Hilarious.

Welcome. The good news is that my boyfriend was able to borrow some power converter thing from a friend of ours who now has power so we can use our car batteries to harness a bit of power to at least run fans and our small tv we had in our bathroom... he powered it up today as I was leaving for work and it turns out our cable is working so that will help a bit.... won't be as boring sitting around the house. We just have to be careful not to drain the car batteries... we have jumper cables just in case.

On another note... went out to the bars last night (Meteor in montrose... one of my fav places).... had so much fun... place was packed...drinks were great... but WOW how weird is it having last call at 11:30pm!!!

I have seen it sold at the Kroger on Montrose Blvd in Montrose... not sure if they are open (I believe they are) or if they will even have dry ice.

Thanks! That might work. I am at the main library right now and will stop by there (Montrose Kroger) when I leave.

Does anyone know where you normally buy dry ice?

I need to get some and have no idea (no, I do not want to try and track down any from the PODs). I would rather just buy it, but have no idea where.

Hang in there, WxBoy. At least you're in the Heights so you can sit out on the stoop and chat it up with the neighbors.

Also, thanks for sharing your weather knowledge preceding the storm.

I still don't have power either. North Houston FM 1960 area.

Yeah those people piss me off. The ones who complain that their handouts aren't coming fast enough, and who think FEMA or the government should put them in a hotel because they choose to live in a hurricane prone area yet refuse to prepare for one. Love those people. I know way too many of them. Discourages good volunteers, too.

Call me stupid or just uninformed, but I had no idea so many people actually LIVED on Galveston Island. I always just thought it was a commuter locale for those who work at UTMB or wealthy folks with 2nd homes.

Lot's of Video and Audio, and huge picture files. My wife's new Sony k350 takes a 4-5 meg picture. And the HD Video camera eats up space so so fast. Only 2 TB is dedicated to my business, some of my CAD files get pretty large. I am replace a 2TB backup that is already full after 2 years. Tired of upgrading so quickly. The wife takes a lot of pictures, but I guess that's what photographers do right? HD videos of peoples weddings get huge real quick, Shooting in 1080i eats up gigs quickly. Long Weddings/Receptions can take up 500 gigs pre editing.

My gawd! That is a lot of stuff. Well, hope it's backed up (or will be).

Well spent the most of the day yesterday and last night finishing a project I'd been putting off, glad it's done, can't wait to get it online.

Um, why so much storage space?

Just about 1.3 million of us.

I live at FM 1960 @ Ella (close to FM 1960 @ I-45 North). Parts of lower W. FM 1960 have power, but from there on there is NO power all the way up to Champions.

Centerpoint is saying it will be Monday (at the earliest) for 80% of my zip code (77090).

Damn, damn, damn!

Our neighbors have been fantastic. This morning one of them almost forced me to take a bag of ice.

The only stuff we had worth saving in the refrigerator was champagne, and that should be fine.

I did score 2 cases of water. My partner and I were on our daily ritual to eat breakfast and then to the library. I got the bright idea to goto the Acres Homes branch of the HPL since it is a lot closer than downtown.

Well, it was closed (or not open yet), but as we were leaving we noticed a church across the street. There was a gentleman motioning people to drive in. I am a curious soul so crossed the street and pulled in and asked what was going on. He said free water was being given away.

We scored two cases of bottled water.

I won't have lights until Monday at earliest.

Wow! Some neighbor. I can understand not letting you ride his harley or drive his GT Porsche, but no offer to store food? Gee.

I barely get a hissed reply from my neighbor too. But I just chalk it up to he's an a**.

Not sure if this has been mentioned because my 'Net access has been sporadic, but ...

There are several stations along FM 2920 west from I-45 N that have gas. Long lines.

Also, several along Kuykendahl from Louetta north to FM 2920 that have gas (lines not too long).

I've decided Daniela Guzman from Channel 2 is the most attractive girl in Houston media and she's just plain good looking no matter who I'm comparing her to.

Picture?

Lone Star College System I am hearing is closed until Monday.

Still no power at FM 1960, Westfield HS, or Ella Boulevard and Ponderosa area, although I am hearing that parts of Champions have power now?

Don't rake your yard. Once the ground is dry simply mow it with a mulching mower. Much easier and puts a little less junk in the landfill.

Yeah, I use a push reel mower and just cut over all the little leaves that were in the yard. I am too lazy to rake!

Also, oddly, all the leaves that were on my house just feel off by themselves. I kid you not.

Hey all, just wanted to give you an update on the aftermath of Hurricane Ike. I am doing just fine ... here's why.

1. No power (or Internet or Cable ... dammit!!) still ... and no idea when we might get any of it back. We do have water, and gas to the house so hot showers are in play. Oh yeah, no ice, so everything that WAS in the refrigerator is lost. I am gonna try to get to the FEMA pod to get some ice and maybe some MREs, but no thrilled about eating Army rations.

2. The weather turned cooler yesterday so we can sleep good at night without being drenched in sweat. Yay! One of the few blessings in all of this.

3. Supposed to go back to work on Wednesday, but not sure about that. With 80% of the city STILL without power, I am just not seeing businesses opening up for a long time. Some of the schools have backup generators, but not sure how you can run entire institutions on generators and backup power.

Note: This storm was mostly a wind and storm surge event. Galveston and other low-lying areas were flooding before a drop of rain was felt. That was odd ... and scary. Luckily, there was very little loss of life for a city this big and with an impact that Ike delivered. We were very lucky.

Note II: I am at McDonald's right now, but I am actually connected using Boingo instead of their ATT service. I bought it (Boingo) last month when I went to San Jose. $9.95 and it works just about anywhere there is pay wifi service.