Rita - Day 6 Fnally Home!!!

On the way home on Tuesday, I made sure Nipper had a thick protective bandage on his tail to prevent aggravating his rub, however, when we stopped halfway to check everyone, Dixie's tail was bloody! Apparently, she was doing something this trip she wasn't doing on the way up - even with all the stop and go traffic on that long trip she hadn't rubbed. So she got a super-fast dressing and bandage, which was no little feat inside a trailer still loaded. With Tom's help, I managed to prevent her from rubbing it down to the bone. Nipper may never grow hair where he rubbed, but Dixie's hair will, altho it will take years to do it. Next time, tail wraps all around!! We made it home in about five hours, the usual time. Unloaded some very cranky horses, then ran for home to check on the cats. Everyone was fine but hungry! What an adventure!

Rita - day five

Wyatt relaxes in the RV after being retrieved from the kennel and getting a bath. We'll be leaving in the morning. 

Rita - day 5

Preparing to leave the RV park in Terrell, TX - Tom's telling someone "we're OK!" 

Rita - day 4

After Rita made her little jog to the east, we found ourselves directly in her line of fire. The winds really picked up at the place we were staying and they were predicted to reach speeds of 75 mph, so we left - in a hurry! Drove about two hours west on I-20 to Terrell, TX, just east of Dallas. This picture, taken the next day, is the very nice RV park where we stayed. We grilled steaks, and Tom made his KILLER margaritas, which we drank in quantity. It was still briskly windy, but the humongous RV made a perfect windblock for us! 

Rita - Day 3

Friday, September 23, 2005 - Rita has calmed a bit and turned northwards. The dogs go to the kennel for the weekend, Wyatt is so stressed from the trip he has refused to eat since we left the house Wednesday. I managed to get him to eat a cat-food sized can of food, but he refuses more than that. Dutch, of course, offers to eat Wyatt's leftovers!

Poor Nipper's groundsweeping tail will take up to SIX YEARS to recover.

Bill in his hurricane shelter! Roomy!

Hurricane accomodations

Rita - Day 2

Thursday, September 22, 2005 6am - traffic has eased to a halt once again, so we head north on FM 365. Back up to speed, we cruise along and finally reach Kountze, Tx. 7:30am - stop at a gas station, but the pump we were told was working, wasn't. Unable to fill our tank (but not desperate yet) we offer water to the horses, and walk the dogs. We notice that my pony Nipper has rubbed his tail against the back of the trailer bracing himself against the brakes. His tail is naked and bloodied, and there isn't anything we can do that minute. We still have 150 miles to go, and it's getting hotter the longer we sit. 8am - head north on Hwy 69, and end up in another standstill for about an hour. We finally take a side road into the "big thicket" and find gas in Spurger, Tx, where the love bugs were so thick they coated the truck. Headed north on Hwy 96 at Jasper and headed for the home stretch. 3pm - LONGVIEW! Marion had gotten several phone numbers for us, and I arranged to stop at a local vet to check the horses. When we arrived, the entire vet team came to help us unload our stiff and thirsty horses. Poor Bill! They were a sorry crew after 18 hours in a trailer, but they all had some water and stretched their legs. We took Raven and Nipper down the road to the boarding stables, then returned for Bill and Dixie. Dix DID NOT want to go back on the trailer - it was plain that she was tired of it! 5pm - Horses bedded down at Seven Pines Stables. The owner, Ray, provided very spacious stalls where they could be close and see each other. I'm sure they were thankful! I was! 6pm - Tom and I get to the RV for a shower, food and much needed rest. 40+ hours with no sleep will do you in, that's for sure.

Rita - Day 1

Wednesday, September 21, 2005 Rita is Cat 4 and headed straight for Galveston. Mom called, she is in the 100-year flood plain and is under MANDATORY evacuation by noon on Thursday. I went into school to take an algebra test, then headed south. Got some cash from the bank, then stopped by Pasadena Animal Control to get a microchip for Karen's horse Bill. At the barn, I placed ID tags on the horses good halters and packed the trailer for camping. At this point we think we'll be roughing it in Longview (the Jones' family has 60 acres, but the fencing is only partial). I stowed all the loose feed buckets, and all the wood we'd just piled up after dismantling the round pen. David came by to help me microchip all the horses, something I was hoping the vet could administer, but I wanted them well ID'ed in case anything happened. At 2:30pm I started back home (30 miles) to meet Tom and secure the house. Little did I know, Beltway 8 was part of the evac route, and I was on the road for 2 and 1/2 hours. Tom was packed up and ready, so we loaded the dogs and left our house around 6 to pick up the truck. It was 8pm before we got back to the barn, as there was NO GAS to be had. We managed to get full tanks after waiting in line. 8:30p - Horses loaded without problem. Leave barn and drop off car for Mom to use to evac her dogs. 9pm - Head for Hwy 146, the recommended route. Enter bumper to bumper traffic headed north. Eat some cheese and crackers. Feel sorry for those who have broken down on the road. Walk dogs while waiting for movement of any kind. 4am - Have made 30 miles in seven hours. Tom and I are near tears in frustration. Turn around and go two miles back to I-10 and head east - 50mph at last!

Hurricane Rita - GO AWAY !

Well, I'm packing up and heading out. If Rita hits with more than a cat 2, my barn will be demolished, and most likely my horses injured or killed. I'm headed to Longview, TX, where Tom's parents will meet me with their RV and we have some land to stake the horses out on. My old house is in the hundred year flood plain, so Mom is coming to SugarLand to stay at our house with her dogs. We might get water here, but it's alot farther from the dangerous low areas. Everybody start crossing your fingers that Rita fizzles out. Love to all !!!!! Amy

My Birthday

We had cake and Tom made hamburgers and hot-dogs on the grill. After everyone left, Tom, Vic and I went for a bike ride at Terry Hershey Park, which was six miles of hills! Katie made me birthday card and helped me open presents. Great Day!

2nd Week over...

Well, I'm still waiting for the other shoe to fall, meaning I'm not yet overwhelmed with homework... the other students I've talked to have been surprised at my class load. I'm not sure why, but perhaps it's my "advanced age" that prevents me from the apprehension. I'm prepared for TONS of work, and there IS alot of reading, but not the massive assignments I envisioned. Had a quiz in Macroeconomics, which went well, and I'm hoping that his tests follow the same template. It was a short week, and my birthday party is tomorrow at Marion and Vic's house. Next weekend we're going to New Braunfels to rest and drink wine. Sounds good to me!

Dixie - My Belgian Girl

This is Dixie, the sweetest girl I know! She's not much to look at, and we're not even sure she's 100% Belgian, but that doesn't change her great personality... I've put all sorts of riders on her, and she's good as gold - even though we only started riding her a few years ago. She simply isn't frightened easily, and she LOVES LOVES LOVES people! I took these pix a few weeks ago.

First Week!

Well, the first week has gone by, and I haven't shriveled up and puffed into smoke... I have several fellow students my age but haven't met them all as of yet - classes are pretty full. Taking 15 hours this semester. I'm told that's alot, but remembering back (14 YEARS!!!! ) to high school we had 7 classes everyday. 4 half days just don't seem like the biggest load! Hurricane Katrina is wreaking havoc, and Houston is stepping up to do its' part. I spent 5 hours yesterday helping out at the Pasadena Animal Shelter. Will look for more opportunities this coming week!