Hurricane Ike update

very cool Hurricane tracker

We have been getting several phone calls from Friends & Family asking how we are doing. I see that some have been checking here for an update so I guess I should post something.

It's just quiet busy activity around here. Most of us have got our Hurricane evacuation routine down. I'm not worried. My daughter is kind of excited about it all. No big drama. In her little world she knows there's a storm coming. Everyone is acting a bit different. Eventually we'll be packing up the car to go visiting.

I have a theory about rainy weather and how it affects me. When the low pressure moves in I get an incredible headache and get really sleepy. I don't have time for either, so first thing I do is mix up a double Spark and grab MNS Max Energy and an extra Probiotic Restore. Catalyst is helpful, too. The amino acids give me an energy boost, and I think the L-arginine helps with my headache. I'll mix up a Rehydrate and some Arginine Extreme and put it the fridge for later. I have a Meal Replacement Shake for breakfast.

I filled up at the gas station this morning then went to HEB to get a few things. That was probably the most stressful part of the day. I only needed milk and eggs, and my Sidekick wanted sushi for lunch. So we picked up what we needed then got in an incredibly long check-out line.

Can't they tead? It says EXPRESS CHECK-OUT 20 Items or fewer. OK, now we are getting into naptime, and Wiggles & I both are getting fussy.

It's amazing all the people at the grocery store. I wonder what they're stocking up for? Really - if you think it's going to be that bad, leave town. And if you are leaving town, buy stuff when you get there. I suppose travel snacks and some drinks for the road trip are a good idea, and I guess I could have waited on the milk & eggs.

My favorite Newsman will be staying in Beaumont as long as it is safe. My daughter & I probably will be visiting some friends in Louisiana. I had thought Lake Charles, but now I think we may be going on to Lafayrtte or even Baton Rouge. Our only real concerns are losing electricity, and the horrible traffic along I-10.

I need to throw the laundry in the dryer, take a couple of Nightime Recovery and a Zzz's and get some sleep. I'll get up early with the News and Weather, mix up a Spark and check DOTD traffic cams for my trip to Louisiana.

Things I learned about myself while visiting my Family

I made a trip to Dallas this past weekend to visit my family. Some things I already knew. Like, that I don't leave on time for trips. Actually, I am pretty much late for everything. I know it, I think everyone who knows me knows it. We usually plan on it. I planned on leaving Beaumont at 9AM and if I got out by Noon I would be happy.

At 1030AM I headed out. Made it about a block down the road and heard a terrible noise. A flat? I just got 2 new tires! But the tire looked fine except that it was kinda splayed out. Hmm, maybe I lost some lugnuts. So I called Joe at Joe's Tires on College and he came out to check on it (one of the benefits of living in a small town). Nope - Everything's fine. Except for the busted ball joint.

So much for getting out of town by Noon.

Thanks to Two Amigos my car would be fixed, but it wouldn't be till the next day - they had to order the part. So we layed around the pool until Brian got off work & I took his car to Dallas.

Here's what I learned:
I prefer driving at night. I really like to be around my Family and familiar things. That includes the Downtown Dallas skyline. I've gotten used to driving 65 MPH, especially since I see how much gas I save. I'd like to learn more about Asian cooking so that I could make sense of the Oriental Grocery store. I don't have as much patience as I used to have. But I still can be flexible. I wish I was a better photographer. I miss not having a good wireless internet connection. It is impossible for me to go to IKEA just to look at one specific item and leave without buying anything.

There may be a few other things that I learned, but I probably should keep them to myself.

Fun stuff from the Weekend

This post has nothing to with Advocare, except for my daily routine of Spark, MNS Max Energy, Catalyst, Meal Replacement Shake, Amplify AT and OmegaPlex. Sometimes I just want to share some of our daily adventures.

Hmm, what to do for fun on a Saturday in Beaumont, Texas?

We could go to the beach, but gas prices have made that cost prohibitive.

So we check out The Examiner.com and find out that the Art Museum of SE Texas is holding another Free Family Arts Day. We LOVE Downtown and we LOVE AMSET.

The theme is "Things with Wings". Bird's, Angels, Butterflies and Dragons. The Gallery has some great boneyard photos, winged sculpture and beautiful bird paintings.

If you ever do this, plan to spend the entire 4 hours, there is so much to do and the kids (and parents) have a great time.

Now it is after 2 and we are pretty hungry. We were looking for a big sandwich, but The Barking Dog was closed. I can see some activity on Crockett Street.

Hog Wild is hosting a D.E.S.K. event. We head on over and grab some gumbo and listen to a fun band fronted by an 11 year old bass player singing some great tunes from Wilson Pickett to Eric Clapton and GNR covers.

But we're still hungry for a good sandwich. This late on a weekend afternoon it's gonna be tough to find what we want. We decide on Madison's and order up the best burgers in Beaumont.

We had a busy busy day. Our little Rock Star is asleep in her carseat before we get out of the parking lot.

Who says there's nothing fun to do in Beaumont?

Commit2Fit Day 25

Another busy day.

That's a good thing, means I made some money. I got a call from an Ad agency to come in and do a Voice Over.

You know, this is something that I appreciate about living in a smaller city - the distance and time it takes to get anywhere. If I lived in Dallas, I would have to get on the Toll road to get Downtown, no way would I be able to park at the front door. Then after I recorded the spot, turn around and get back to pick up my daughter by Noon! The producer knew what he wanted, so it was pretty quick.

After I picked up my daughter, we ran a few errands. Post Office, gas station (Oh my gawd!), and the health food store for some Nordic Naturals Children's chewable Omegas, and I wanted to look for Hemp Tortillas. I saw them on Jenny's Commit2Fit Journal.

Anything that's made from Hemp, I think is pretty cool - Hemp tortillas, Hemp Milk, Hemps shoes & socks, Hemp clothing ... It's just fun to say, "Hey, this made out of Hemp".

I did not find the Hemp tortillas, but I did get some Ezekiel 4:9 sprouted grain tortillas. Of course they are more expensive than the tortillas at Kroger, but nutritionally better for you and just one will fill you up! Oh yeah, also got some too expensive snickerdoodles.

Had just enough time for a quick dip in the pool, a short rest then off to ballet, then out to tumbling.

We ate the Ezekiel quesadillas in the car in between classes. With these extra rehearsals, things will be hectic until after the recital.

So I did not get all my points today. My Food Diary. I went way too long in between snacks, which may be why I was a bit edgy at the gas station ( see next post). And I did not get enough calories. But I am doing better on my junk carbs.

Drank all my water, 12 cups.