Today's agenda

Just got back from checking on Janet who is watching Justin and Kelly's house and the dogs while they are away for their Michigan wedding. We formulated a hurricane plan and took the dogs to Jesse and Kayla's house. Janet is here now to hang out and do some serious grillin'! Shane plans to make some tasty ribs, steak and some awesome side dishes. We borrowed a bunch of movies from Justin and Kelly so we're planning a night in. Gustav ain't gonna ruin our holiday weekend plans!

Shane's out with the motorcycle now. Had to drop some keys off at Matt's house then will drive to Gordon's where we can leave the bike in his garage. All that is left to do is fill the bathtub with water and bring the patio furniture in (after we grill). The rain is supposed to start tonight and intensify Monday and Tuesday.

Downgraded to a category 3

Overnight, Hurricane Gustav's winds decreased enough to make the storm a Category 3.

For those who are worried

Shane and I are being inundated with calls and email from friends. We appreciate your kind thoughts and your caring. In case I've caused additional worry from my blog posts here is something information that I hope will calm you.

We've stocked up on water, flashlights, non-perishable foods, etc. -- everything we need to ride out the storm. The parish we live in (Lafayette) is about 2 hours northwest of New Orleans. While the authorities aren't taking any chances and have put a mandatory evacuation in place for New Orleans, we're further inland and our parish is under a voluntary evacuation. Remember, New Orleans survived the hurricane, it was the levies failing and the resulting flooding that was the problem. We live nowhere near that amount of water!

I have to trust the local authorities and believe that they know what they are doing. In Lafayette we can expect downed trees and power lines as well as localized flooding, but area residents who have survived many hurricanes in Lafayette tell us that as long as we have enough supplies to live without power for a few days that we will be fine. We have friends living nearby who have a generator so if we're without power for more than a few hours we'll likely go to their house so we can enjoy air conditioning and a refrigerator!

Ferociously Dangerous

Already a category 4, Gustav is likely to rise to a category 5 hurricane as it crosses the Gulf of Mexico. This means sustained winds above 155 mph.

A category 5 is the highest category a hurricane can obtain in the Saffir-Simpson scale. According to Wikipedia, these storms cause complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings, and some complete building failures with small utility buildings blown over or away. Very heavy and irreparable damage to many wood frame structures and total destruction to mobile/manufactured homes is prevalent. Massive evacuation of residential areas may be required if the hurricane threatens populated areas.

Lafayette parish is still in a voluntary evacuation situation. We're inland and slightly higher than many of the surrounding parishes ... we'll have to see what happens in the next couple of days.

In preparation part III

Most importantly, go to the pool and stop by the drive thru daiquiri shop!

In preparation part II

See a southern rock band.

In preparation part I

Sing a song.

Related news: Gas stations sell out

Many Lafayette service stations sold out of gasoline as motorists scrambled to fill up their vehicles ahead of Hurricane Gustav. Good thing we got gas yesterday!

Last flight out of NOLA

The last flight out of New Orleans is 6 p.m. Sunday. Still no word on Lafayette's airport but I'm not holding out hope for flying out on Monday. Looks like Shane and I will be weathering the hurricane together here in Lafayette.

Ready as we can be

Thanks for the kind words and thoughts everyone! We've stocked up on essentials and have a plan to either 1) go to Justin and Kelly's house - they have a generator or 2) evacuate. I'm confident we'll be fine either way. Gustav is a category 3 now but they still can't predict where he'll make landfall. One thing I'm pretty sure of: I won't be flying back to DC on Monday!

It's sinking in

Just got back from running a few hurricane preparedness errands and it was chaos out there. I waited for more than 30 min. to fill the truck with gas. Next I went to Target to stock up on water and other essentials. The parking lot was almost overflowing, the store was crowded, and for a second I thought they were out of water! They had a huge stock of water in the back of the store; such a relief! Most of the canned goods were already gone so we'll have to live on crackers, cheese and apple sauce!

Now off to the pool for some sun before they close it at 5 p.m. tomorrow ahead of Gustav. Oh, and I have to fill out a form and give it to the leasing office because we've decided to stay here rather than voluntarily evacuate. If I sound calm, I'm not.

Preparing for Gustav

All national news reports focus on New Orleans’ preparation for Gustav. But what happens if he makes landfall farther west and closer to Lafayette?

The only hurricane I’ve experienced is Isabel. She was the costliest and deadliest hurricane of the 2003 season. She hit the DC area in September causing local flooding, downed trees, and power outages. It took Fairfax Country almost a month to pick up the tree debris that was moved curb-side in my neighborhood. She was a low category 2 and lower by the time she hit DC. Today’s reports show that Gustav may grow to a high category 2 or low category 3 hurricane before making landfall somewhere in Louisiana.

It’s flat here people and has been raining almost every day for the past month. Where is that water going to go?

As Lafayette parish prepares for Hurricane Gustav I’m headed to the store to get water, non-perishable food and beer!

It doesn't look good

Gustav Gets His Groove On

• Our Lafayette friends are coming in from off-shore to avoid Gustav.


• My Cajun cable guy tells me if the Hurricane goes to the West of Lafayette, we’ll have to evacuate, just as they did for Rita.


• The mayor of nearby Acadia parish told NOLA residents to keep on driving.


• Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal told Louisiana residents to put themselves “on alert.” I guess that means me too!


• Officials in Lafayette are on “standby” and are closely watching the Gulf.


• Public works crews began clearing all bridges and roads in Lafayette parish to make sure travel lanes are open.


• Sand bags will start being distributed tomorrow.


• Officials meet at 2 p.m. today to make sure Lafayette can accommodate evacuees from coastal LA.


• Pets in Lafayette shelters are already being evacuated.


• If the storm hits Monday mornin’ I ain’t flyin’ out to VA!

Kicked Off of Facebook!

It was inevitable that eventually I would pick up a virus from a social networking site. I should know better. I work in IT! I’m more embarrassed than anything else. I received a Facebook message from a trusted friend to a link that looked like a YouTube link. Only, it wasn’t. But that wasn’t enough for me, I downloaded the application it prompted me to download! Then it borrowed my Facebook credentials and spammed all my FB friends with a similar message and link. Not once, but twice! I spent most of Sunday and Monday working to identify and eliminate the virus but ultimately what I think worked was Facebook disabling my account. When the dirty little bug attempted to us my FB account again and found I had no account the virus self distructed. Virus scan found nothing and all I found was the “marker” the virus left in my Windows folder.

Those two days my account was disabled were some of the most depressing days in recent memory. Since I don’t know the email addresses of many of my FB friends I worried I couldn’t get in touch with them. Because visiting FB had become a daily ritual, I didn’t know what to do with my spare time. And what about the embarrassment I felt about spamming all my FB friends with a virus? Deeper despair has never been felt … UNTIL “The Facebook Team” reactivated my account on Wednesday morning! I’m back people and will be writing on your walls, commenting on your photos, and LOL! Thank you Facebook team.

Confessions of a Digital Nomad

Names have been changed to protect the innocent in this IM transcript.

Windi [5:03 PM]:
i have a confession to make.
Jaime [5:04 PM]:
spill it.
Windi [5:04 PM]:
i sat in bed and worked for the first half of the day!
Jaime [5:04 PM]:
and?
Windi [5:04 PM]:
couldn't even make the commute to my chair 1 foot away.
Jaime [5:04 PM]:
I've done that before.
Windi [5:05 PM]:
really? good to know it's not just me. i felt so ashamed
Jaime [5:05 PM]:
I just woke up and logged on and then got carried away. Before I knew it, it was lunch time.
Windi [5:05 PM]:
same here!
Jaime [5:05 PM]:
lunch time = shower time
Windi [5:05 PM]:
same here!
Jaime [5:05 PM]:
not all the time, but I've done it
Windi [5:06 PM]:
i don't want to make it a habit.
Windi [5:06 PM]:
you know.
Jaime [5:06 PM]:
it's def better to get up and shower and start the day fresh. Away from the comfort of bed.
Jaime [5:06 PM]:
I agree.

Observations

• There are three it places in town to be seen.
  
  Bonefish Grill
  Wine Loft
  City Bar
  
  
  Two of these are chains.



• Louisiana women who go to college have good jobs (eg. insurance agent, lease analyst).
• Louisiana women come in two sizes: small and extra large.
• Lafayette is a small town and everyone you meet already knows the people you’ve already met – particularly in the diving industry.
• Single moms are hot and the men here agree.
• You make more money when you work off shore.
• The ratio of blonds to brunette is high.
• My new wardrobe is fitting in nicely.
• When you drink martinis all night and don’t eat dinner you get drunk.
• Everyone is friendly.
• Louisiana women have a communication style all of their own and a separate style they use with me.
• The iPhone is considered cool even though dialing and typing is more difficult than with other phones.
• There are places to live. If you don’t live in those places don’t admit it. Thankfully we live in one of those places.
• Never admit you enjoy a pool with no kids.
• When your husband is tired and wants to go home LEAVE.
  

More to come …

Second note to self

Never, ever, under any circumstances leave the house without sunglasses!! Failure to comply will result in temporary lose of eyesight and even blindness! Even if it is pouring down rain bring your sunglasses. As they say down here, "Don't like the weather? Wait 5 minutes and it will change."

Note to self

Never, ever, under any circumstances leave the house without an umbrella! Failure to comply will result in severely wet hair and clothing and could lead to pneumonia and death!

Michael Phelps Breaks Facebook!

Michael Phelps is racking up the medals and friends on Facebook! According to this report he has 767,885 friends and 7,600 pending Facebook friend requests. In fact, he has so many requests he can't accept any more as he told NBC's Bob Costas. Not only can you no longer become his friend, you can't become a fan. The same article reports "Add Fan Status Failed." I'm a fan, are you?

Cost of Living Differences

Best Places to Live 2008

Got this info out of Money Magazine.

Lafayette, LA vs. Fairfax, VA

Median Family Income
Fairfax: $98,509
LFT: $60,125

Job Growth
Fairfax: 3.39%
LFT: 11.16%

Sales Tax
Fairfax: 5%
LFT: 8%

Median Home Price
Fairfax: 450
LFT: 140

Personal Crime (per 1,000 residents)
Fairfax: 2
LFT: 10

Annual Precipitation (inches)
Fairfax: 41.8
LFT: 61.13

Median Age
Fairfax: 40.4
LFT: 36.5

Married
Fairfax: 51.4%
LFT: 44.8%

Divorced
Fairfax: 7.3%
LFT: 10.8%

Bath Time With Apollo

Shane likes to put a little water in the tub and let Apollo play.

Active Weekend

• Tried a TexMex restaurant in town – Didn’t much care for their margaritas or queso. Shane's decided to start a restaurant journal.
• Zydeco band – Great band cool venue! The Blue Moon is a small bar in the back of someone’s house – very Cajun.
• Golf lesson
• Dinner with Bob – Yummy curry, great conversation and just a good time.
• Golf game – A full 18 holes; A little too much for us. Next time, 9 holes.
• Naps
• Dinner for 6 at our place. Shane made pork loin and shrimp tabouli dish. I made broccoli and cauliflower salad. Shane also put together a fantastic cheese platter.

We thought the Wii broke but then discovered if you unplug it for 2 min. it will reset itself. Phew!

New Lafayette Friends

I’ve been working hard to make friends with everyone I meet.

My new friends include:
Kathryn – Met her on the plane from Atlanta to Lafayette. She just moved here from South Carolina with her husband.
Daniel – The cable guy and a fellow Biscuits fan! He left me his number so we may give him a call sometime.
Sean – Kelly’s brother. Likes to dance.
Janet – Sean’s girlfriend. Works at Bonefish Grill, yum!
Beth – Met her at Justin and Kelly’s engagement party. Crazy!
Bob – Shane’s co-worker. He’s making us curry on Saturday.

And I saved the best for last:
Matt – Used to work with Shane. Probably Shane’s best friend here.
Gordon & Vicky – Also used to work with Shane. Great friends to both of us.
Justin & Kelly – Friends through Matt. Getting married in September.
Jim – Shane’s boss and my golf partner.

How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs

This posting is for my friend Brian who I recently warned against bed bugs in New York City hotels. As sick as it sounds “Good night, sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite” is a phrase travelers need to be more and more aware of.

Get more information and learn how to rid yourself of these pests on howtodothings.com.

BFFF

Best new phrase in a movie, “Best Fu3king Friends Forever” (BFFF)! I took in a double feature yesterday evening.

Movie #1: Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2
Just as cute as the first one with a similar happy ending. One starlet’s story line had me saying, “As If,” but the other three I could stomach and sometimes even enjoy. I cried, I laughed, and left feeling like I got my $ worth. Don’t take your man to this movie! I felt sorry for the 2 men in the theater as I just don’t see this plot appealing to my better half.

Movie #2: Pineapple Express
Pleasant surprise and not at all what I expected! I generally don’t like the “stupid” movie genre but this one had me laughing almost the entire time. The blown off body parts were a little sick but well worth the content of the rest of the movie. Take your BFFF and your man to this movie, they’ll love it!

NYC for NYE!!!!!

I got tickets, I got ALL the tickets I wanted! My day just went from crap to bliss. $1,000 in tickets later and life is good. We'll be in NYC Dec. 26 - 31 for a 5 night run with the Disco Biscuits. Of course it didn't happen as the customer service rep told me yesterday but who cares?

Can't end this entry without a note about Apollo. He likes to drink my beer, eat my mac and cheese, climb inside the dryer, and play with my iced tea. He was obviously raised by his mommy.

My cat

likes to sleep in a desk drawer! LOL

Customer Service Experience

Today I discovered there will be a presale of tickets for the Disco Biscuits five nights December run in NYC for Amex card holders only. Woo hoo, I’m an Amex card holder! Good news, right? WRONG! Since I’ve never used this Ticketmaster/American Express service before I decided to find out ahead of time how to use the service.

These are the steps I took to find out what to do.

1. Checked the Ticketmaster.com Help section – found out I needed a special password and suggested I sign up for Amex Ticket Access e-mail.
2. Signed up for American Express’s Ticket Access e-mail – no e-mail confirmation sent to me.
3. Checked Amex’s americanexpress.com/entertainment site – found no Disco Biscuits listing.
4. Called Amex Membership Rewards – was on hold for about 20 min. – representative unable to get a hold of Gold Card Events. (Found out I have 29,000+ points to spend!)
   Was transferred to another customer service representative who quickly transferred me to Interactive Services.
5. Interactive Services told me to call Ticketmaster.
6. Got Ticketmaster contact us numbers from the Web site.
7. Called Ticketmaster in my state (VA), got a live person quickly – was told I’d need to call the state where the event would be held.
8. Called Ticketmaster NYC and got an automated service – hung up after going through 3 options of the menu.
9. Called Ticketmaster NYC and selected option 2 “check on the status of an order” – was able to get a live person.
10. Customer service rep was able to tell me that tomorrow, when the tkts go on pre-sale, new options will appear on the event page for Amex card holders. She said the password would either be the Amex customer service number on the back of my card, or my card number.
11. 45 min. later I got the answer I needed – what a way to spend a lunch hour!

08.08.08

Action Items for 08.08.08

• Work
• Buy "Because you're hard core" tkt for Biscuits
• Pick up kitty
• Fly to LFT (via Atlanta)
• Watch the Olympics