So we have some college kids that rent a house across the alley behind us. Fortunately, we don't have many issues with them but other neighbors do. It was quiet all summer while the house sat vacant waiting for the students to return. And return they have. Bee-bee guns and all.
Apparently, one of our neighbors that we share a back fence line with witnessed some of the college students shooting birds in our back yard. And then they proceeded to try and climb the fence to retrieve their kill/prize. Thankfully, she busted them mid-climb of the fence and told them they were trespassing. I guess the droogs will have a nice treat to scarf on when they get let out this evening.
Seriously? Shooting birds? I guess it's been a while since I was in college. Maybe I should let them borrow my old-school original Nintendo to play Duck Hunt. Then again, they're probably too young to remember it.
In reviewing the web site for the Texas Navy (of which I've recently been given the rank of Commander - truestorypeople), Mikie asked me to review the video back to a frame. All in the room agreed the mannequin on the right bares a striking resemblance to Mr. Culpepper.
From 11-1 this afternoon, there's free admission to the RR museum (25th and Strand) and you can check out what downtown might look like with none of those "newfangled motor cars". They'll have music, food and fun! Island Transit is said to be free bus transportation today as well!
Don't forget the open house re: transportation system (rail, fast busses, etc...) at the Convention Center tonight from 6-8pm as well!
Island Transit will also provide a free EXPRESS SHUTTLE to and from UTMB to the Galveston Railroad Museum, picking up at the corner of 8th and Market Streets, beginning at 10:30 to 1:30 and running every 20 minutes!
Claire and Ashley, fantastic job on the traditional dunking of the Aggie ring this weekend. We were proud to witness it. Whoop!
This is a different kind of chug I'm talking about now, though.
The kind that goes "chugga chugga, chugga chugga - cho cho"!!!!
Tomorrow, Tuesday - 6-8pm at the G-town Convention Center - be there!:
Mobile Society: Attend Galveston-Houston I-45 Corridor Mobility Open Houses this Week
The public is encouraged to attend and participate in a series of open houses to discuss mobility issues along the Galveston-Houston I-45 corridor. These meetings are a part of the planning process and an important local step in the pursuit of federal funding to address growing traffic congestion. Three workshops will be held to solicit public feedback:
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
§6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
§Galveston Island Convention Center , Ballroom A
§5600 Seawall Blvd. Galveston , TX , 77551
Four potential transit alternatives have been identified for consideration. Over the next nine to 10 months, the project team will evaluate public comments provided at the public meetings and through the project website, www.galvestonrailstudy.com. Additionally, comments can be sent via email to: info@galvestonrailstudy.com.
This study is sponsored by the City of Galveston , Galveston County , and the Federal Transit Administration and is being coordinated with Harris County , the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the 11 cities in between Galveston and Houston .
A friendly reminder to all our pirate loving friends out there, today is International Talk Like A Pirate Day. You can read up on it here but in the meantime I suggest ye view this link and get on board for this most special day.
Last weekend I had the privilege to visit Texas' little sister Louisiana. My journey was in celebration of bachelor-hood for one of my closest friends from home. I must admit my initial concern when I found out that we were going to a casino in Lake Charles. First off, I'm not a gambler. Secondly, I really don't like to spend money. And to top it off, the group was going golfing both Friday and Saturday (this guy is not a golfer). But. I had a really, really good time.
I must say that I enjoyed the casino. It almost makes me wish Galveston would get some. Wait! I said almost. Mainly because the trip to Louisiana may be the best part. You see, I won't frequent casinos, or Louisiana for that matter (not saying I wouldn't like to). There's just too much hustle-bustle in everyday life to plan many trips. But when I do choose to go, the trip is one of the best parts. Because it's not really that far away. Which makes the return trip even better (especially after bachelor partying all weekend). But then I'm biased toward a good road trip. When you can load up with a few good buddies and roll.
No. I didn't gamble. Yes. I spent money (eating and drinking and on the room). And no. I did not play golf (I drove the cart... and got soaking wet Saturday). I definitely felt like a tourist. It felt good to spend the time and energy to get there. And then it felt even better to have a good time. It makes me appreciate Galveston even more for what the Island is and does for thousands of tourists and residents alike.
In fact, last night I sat on the front porch for about an hour. Just tasting fall.
On my way home a couple of weeks ago, I saw someone pruning and watering a live oak. I thought: well good for them and good luck. Yesterday I saw the same tree and its sprouting growth! Here it is:
To compare, here's a picture of another tree in the east end:
Now you may say: "Its hard to compare two random trees; one may have been more saturated with salt"..... Possibly but not in this case.
In case you're still wondering, these are the same trees as above.
Here we are.A year since Ike waved his cowboy hat and sang The Yellow Rose of Texas as loud as he possibly could as he stomped and splashed in the Gulf of Mexico and eventually buried Galveston with his wrath.Ike stopped in Galveston long enough to send a postcard to the nation.You know what I mean.
It's strange for me to think back to a year ago and remember the feelings gathered around the imposing storm.Residents tackled plywood when they could find it.Families and animals scattered I-45 in escape pods.National media broadcasted "imminent death" for those of us who chose to stay on the Island.My mind at the time couldn't comprehend that.Instead, we who thought we were staying behind laughed it off.Shrugged our shoulders and dug through the almost empty ice chest.
Friday morning, September 12, 2008.I woke up to my cell phone ringing in the kitchen.It was before 7 a.m.I felt as though death may have played a cruel joke on me and let me live through a terrible accident.I had no idea why people were calling me so early.Then I was told to turn on the news.I saw the Gulf of Mexico erupting into the seawall.Finally frightened, some of us decided to skip town and retreat with the others.I packed a bag.Locked the house.Took one last look at the boarded up homefront and snapped a photo.Broadway was deserted.The apocalypse may as well have come to town.But I trucked on.Officially on the run from Ike.
I still get chills and uneasy feelings thinking back to those few days Ike came to town.It is really, really weird (to me) that it happened a year ago.I remember after the storm thinking and saying that the Island would be different from here on out.I even blogged about it (read it here).But I must say, a year later, that the Island is doing well.And dare I say almost back to normal.Now there will be certain things that won't be normal for some time.But the healing has prospered.
So we thought today was the big day to get power at the new shop. Power. To use tools. To make repairs. From the hurricane. That hit a year ago.
I thought it seemed just too easy when I set up the service connection with Centerpoint Energy last week and all they asked was if we'd had our inspection, which we had... "We'll get you set up on Wednesday then, Mrs. Culpepper". Silly me for believing her.
I had done all the research. I learned more about per-kilowatt-hour rates than any human should have to know. We were ready. We had a licensed electrician (good things to say about GalTex electricians, by the way) do the good deed and pulled all the permits we needed. Then came the call.
"Hello Mrs. Culpepper this is Debbie with Centerpoint Energy. Our technician was going to connect your service this morning but we don't have your permit from the City yet..." Um... Okay... Now I KNOW the City inspector came out to inspect the new panel at the shop last week - I watched him shake Michael's hand, walk inside the building, walk back outside the building, get into his "City of Galveston" white truck and drive away. With my own peepers, and last time I checked they were still peeping clearly. So I KNOW I'm not crazy - at least not this time.
Long story short, the City inspector didn't send Centerpoint the "okay" to turn on our power because we have to get a Certificate of Occupancy. No problem - it's just another form to fill out, another fee to pay, and we'll be right back on track right? WRONG. (I find it difficult to convey my dripping frustration and distain here, so I'd like to just stop for a moment in my seething anger to pull my hair like that crazy lady on the billboard you see coming off the Causeway onto the Island.) Turns out the wacky, &*^$*&^ thing about a C-of-O is that you MUST have power at the property to get one. AND, stay with me here, you cannot get power at a property without a C-of-O.
So, if anyone could help me figure out how the freaking hen got permission to lay her egg in the henhouse when the fee to lay one's egg in the henhouse is a prepaid egg, I'd forever be obliged.
For those of you who don't subscribe to the Houston Chronicle or who don't read it online (I just scan & utility-read it myself), check out today's edition!
Bistro LeCroy owner, Tommy LeCroy is featured among others . . .
You know, I've been curious to see what media coverage was going to look like - will the coverage highlight how far we've come as Islanders or will it showcase devastation and how far we've still to go? But the big day will be Saturday. What are you hoping for in terms of media this week?
With so much going on this upcoming week and weekend for Revival & Reflections, I'm a bit overwhelmed. So, I'm trying to look at each activity one-by-one so I don't miss a thing.
The first annual Artist Studio Loft Tours is going on, put on by the Artist Homestead Galveston Island and sponsored by the Galveston Historical Foundation. AHGI is a local organization comprised of Galveston artists, friends, neighbors, local business owners, real estate agents, and community leaders who seek to attract artists to live and work on the Island. You can check them out at www.artisthomesteadgalvestonisland.com
Here's the info on the tour coming up:
Artist Homestead Galveston Island Presents 1st Annual Artist Studio Tours
September 12 from 1:00-5:00 PM. Admission is $5.
You can purchase tickets in advance online or at the studios themselves.
Studios on Tour:
Janet Y. Hassinger, MFA 3510 Ave. S 1/2 Watercolors Investigating a Unique Perception of the Coral Reef
Stephanie Thomas, Artist 1109 25th Street Works in Clay for Homes and Gardens
Sallie Anderson 1605 24th Street Watercolors Reflecting the Excitement of Everyday Things
Jul Kamen 1506 21st Street Contemporary Quilts Add an Extr Dimension to a Renovated Galveston Corner Store
Gayle Reynolds, The Water's Edge Studio & Gallery 1302 21st Street Paintings which bring you the charm that is Galveston
René Wiley Studio/Gallery 2128 Postoffice Street Colorful Oils Presenting Galveston's Abundance of Alleyways, Birdlife and more
V. Starke/Art Market 2001 Postoffice Street Expressionist Art touching on women's issues and creating mood in abstract
Martha J. Terrill 1214 14th Street The Art of ArrangingThings in New and Interesting Ways- Fantasy in Assemblage
Beachtown Open House- East Beach Drive Exhibit of Pre and Post-Ike Photography
To showcase Galveston's incredible resiliency and progress just one year after Hurricane Ike, a series of "Revival and Reflections" events will take place beginning Tuesday, Sept. 8 on the 109th anniversary of the Great 1900 Storm and continue through Sunday, Sept. 13, as Galvestonians, friends, visitors and supporters come together to celebrate "Revival and Reflections... Marking the first anniversary of Hurricane Ike, September 8-13, Galveston Island, Texas."
To download the official press release, click here.
Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009
"A Salute to Galveston": Moody Mansion Museum, 2618 Broadway. Presented by the Treasure Ball Association September 5-13.
Remembrance Concert: 6:30-8pm. Music by the Lance Aldridge Band. Saengerfest Park, 23rd and Strand. Throughout the concert, the multi-media presentation of Ike's wrath and destruction, as well as scenes of Galveston's rebirth and redevelopment will again be presented. The concert is free and open to the public.
Thursday, Sept. 10, 2009
"A Salute to Galveston": Moody Mansion Museum, 2618 Broadway. Presented by the Treasure Ball Association September 5-13.
Remembrance Concert: 6:30-8pm. Music by the Galveston Beach Band. Saengerfest Park, 23rd and Strand. Throughout the concert, the multi-media presentation of Ike's wrath and destruction, as well as scenes of Galveston's rebirth and redevelopment will again be presented. The concert is free and open to the public.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2009
City of Galveston-sponsored "Revival and Reflections" events continue on Friday, Sept.11 with a
"A Salute to Galveston": Moody Mansion Museum, 2618 Broadway. Presented by the Treasure Ball Association September 5-13.
Remembrance Concert: 6:30pm-8pm. Music by Chameleon. Saengerfest Park, 23rd and Strand. Throughout the concert, the multi-media presentation of Ike's wrath and destruction, as well as scenes of Galveston's rebirth and redevelopment will again be presented. The concert is free and open to the public.
To download the official press release, click here.
Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009
Saturday, Sept.12 will feature a full-day of "Revival and Reflections" activities that will include a solemn ceremony and documentary showings on the eve of the first of anniversary of Hurricane Ike. In addition, throughout the day a variety of ancillary events are planned to commemorate Ike's one year anniversary.
"Revival and Reflections" Closing Ceremony: begins at 6pm at Saengerfest Park, 23rd & Strand, with activities throughout the downtown historic district. There will also be a "Shine a Light" Remembrance Walk from Saengerfest Park to The Grand 1894 Opera House. The torch will then be extinguished at The Grand for the final time.
"Ike: The Documentary" and "The Great 1900 Storm" presentations: Beginning at 6pm at The Grand 1894 Opera House, 2020 Postoffice St. The last showing of "Ike: The Documentary" will begin at 9:30pm.
To download the official press release, click here. To download additional information regarding the Artist Studio Tours, click here.
Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009
The 6-day "Revival and Reflections" events, ceremonies, and commemorations marking the first anniversary of Hurricane Ike conclude Sunday, Sept. 13 with several events:
To download the official press release, click here.To download additional information regarding additional fundraising / ancellary events, click here.
To highlight the many "Revival and Reflections" events and activities planned to mark the first anniversary of Hurricane Ike, a 4-page full color newspaper "pull-out" supplement will be included in the Galveston County Daily News' Sept. 6 edition.
Looking for great gift ideas, authentic island made apparel or need to replace your favorite t-shirt post-Ike? Look no further than Islander By Choice apparel! Click here for our current inventory!
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