Good Morning All. 68° and mostly clear today, as far as I can tell. It's still dark as I type this. It appears that the rain has mostly moved off to the east of Houston now, a bit still on the eastern fringes. It's hammering Beaumont and Port Arthur now, as well as Lake Charles Louisiana. As is the case with many Texas coastal cities, there are oil refineries clustered there as well. They also have a history of hurricane survival, with three hurricanes and one tropical storm hitting the area between 2005 and 2008. Many grocery stores are opened again in Houston, almost fully stocked. I did note yesterday that gas stations along IH35 had raised their gas prices to $2.38/gal, (from $2.25), while the very rural one nearest me (6 miles) was still $2.12/gal for regular. Regarding oil refineries, The ones in Corpus Christi are ready to go, but they need oil to refine. All of their oil comes in tankers which cannot come into the port until the ship channel is dredged! Hurricanes bring a lot of sand with them in the storm surge. Prayers for all involved in all areas.
Out in the train shed, I almost finished installing the barbed wire fence around that cow pasture posted a couple of weeks ago. Next stop is the horse pasture next to it that was also pictured. However it's not going to be barbed wire; most horse pastures do not use barbed wire. It's to avoid nicking when (not if) the horses hit it. Their skin is much thinner than cows to begin with, and many of them are "show horses" as well. Their hooves just cannot handle Band Aid applications.
Ken (D&J) - Hopefully just a bureaucratic snafu regarding the eviction. Sounds like you have it well in hand though. Congrats on the laptop success.
Greg - A few of those signs around here as well as "Protected by Smith & Wesson" signs that are professionally made.
Curt - I would also venture to say that cell phones may have been a contributing factor in all of those accidents.
Exhibit Guy - Would that be exhibiting? Welcome to the Coffee Shop. You're probably right about the guy that stays, unless he is too addicted to trains to care!
Sherrel - At least it's a dry heat, hardly noticeable.
Stay hydrated.
Joe - I like some light weathering as well. All of my cars get the dull coat treatment right after initial inspection and tune-up. I may not get around to the weathering for some time though.
Karl - Saw that video on the Weather Channel Monday. Very funny! Locally, they're playing some gator clips, as they're just as confused as anyone else. Authorities are just telling people to leave them alone, they'll leave with the water. They won't send anyone out unless they get into the house. How stupid would you have to be to let one in anyway??? If the door is gone, you should be as well.
Jerry - I use Firefox and have never had any issues.
Speaking of Houston and their relief/recovery efforts, some of you may have seen the story of "Mattress Mack", Jim McIngvale. He opened his two giant mattress/furniture stores as shelters for displaced residents; and used his delivery trucks to rescue people.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4834448/Mattress-store-turns-shelter-hurricane-victims.html?utm_source=fark&utm_medium=website&utm_content=link&ICID=ref_fark
http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/30/us/gallery-furniture-store-houston-shelter/index.html
Jim and I were childhood friends and neighbors, and went to the same local Catholic church, grade school and high school together, in the same class. He originally founded Nautilus Equipment in the '70's and sold it and opened his furniture stores in the '80's. He and another classmate of ours in the Houston area throw yearly all expenses paid reunions for all of us and I have attended a few down there. Rather raucous affairs.
Everybody have a great day. Wednesday isn't it? I lose track!
Willie