Adrienne Culpepper: September 2009 Archives

Carfree day is today. 

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!

http://www.downtowngalveston.org/carfree_galveston

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 .

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.