Well, it seems I have "survived" my third major hurricane as a front row spectator, and I rate it as a pretty good one. Scored my first EYE experience, very, very COOL. The downside to all the entertainment, of course, is all the heartbreaking and backbreaking aftermath when the fun part is over. All my boats are okay. Now, to find out how Tony Olsen fared. He lives on the west end of Galveston Island and was on the "good" side of the eye track, so he stands a chance of having stuff to return to. I think he may have gone down there to have a look today. I'm in League City, which is pretty much dead center between Houston and Galveston, and my place is located on high ground ... if you call 21 feet elevation high ground. I rode the storm out with 82-year-old Dad in the house I grew up in, located about two miles from here, and on the highest ground in G'ston County at 23' el. He taught me to "build up high and away from the creek."

I need to go paddling really bad. In fact, I really, really need to see and do something -- anything -- that's normal. It is impossible that it has only been a week, are you sure it hasn't really been a year? So y'all just keep up the usual banter here, it's super nice to check in and see unaffected stuff.

Here's Dad right out the front door...