Ike- Update #2

It's 5:00pm now. The weather here in Friendswood is pretty windy with just a few sprinkles here and there.

Galveston on the other hand is already having trouble with the storm surge going over the seawall and causing flooding along the main streets. They have shut off water supplies to the island until the storm clears at some point tomorrow.

We took the dogs for an afternoon stroll in the park just a few minutes ago, to let them run off some built up energy. We were surprised that we weren't the only ones at the park doing the same thing.

So far so good here at the Garvey House. I'll try to post again around 8:00 pm unless things worsen before then. Love T and G

Hurricane Ike- Update #1

The "Garvey Cave" is ready !!!!!

Well we've boarded up the house and prepared for this monster storm that is upon us. We have decided to ride the storm out at the house. There are several families on our street also doing the same, so we feel pretty safe at this point. It's strange to be inside, with no means of seeing anything outside. We ran to the store this morning and it felt like Christmas Day with Plywood everywhere. Not to much traffic in the neighborhood, just a very peaceful calm before the storm. After 5 1/2 years, this is our "first" and hopefully last official hurricane.

I took some pictures this morning as we were preparing. My plan is to take more pictures and make several updates as the afternoon and evening roll in.

Before the boarding process

The final remodel

The back yard- is ready for Ike !!!

Sierra loving the cooler weather and clueless to what's to come

It's now 1:45pm and the wind is starting to blow a little stronger, and we have just felt the first sprinkles of the storm. Much of Galveston is already flooding due to the storm surge. I think we're in for a long night and morning. Keep us in your prayers !!! love Greg and Tina

Greg's Birthday Weekend !!!!

Friday was Greg's 35th Birthday !!! Above is a picture taken at dinner. We went to IchiBons Japanese Steak House with some friends. Thanks to Tom, Martha, Jenny, Mike,Tiffany and Jared for joining us. Then we invited everyone over to the house for Cake and Ice Cream. And of course gifts. We had a great time, and we hope you all did to.

Saturday was just as busy for us. The "girls" Shelby and Sierra had appointments at the beauty salon in the morning. And we were blessed with an afternoon of no dogs..... Below is a picture of Sierra showing off her latest fashion accessory ( ready for the move North) and Shelby all tuckered out from the salon.

Then on Sunday- We went Deep Sea Fishing. The adventure began very early on Sunday morning. We had to be in Galveston at 6:15am to check in and board the boat. It was rather chilly, but it felt really good. The boat left the harbor at 7:00am on a trek out into the Gulf somewhere between 40-60 miles. Our first stop was right beside a huge oil rig, where we saw a little activity from the fish, but not much. Then we headed out another hour or so, to another location where the fish were much more willing to take the bait. ( in my case, they just took the bait and left me with an empty hook) I only caught one "little" fish, which we threw back. Greg had a little better luck, with several angel fish, a few red snapper( which we had to throw back, because they were out of season) and then assisted in a hammer head shark catch. The lady next to him, hooked it, but his line was wrapped around it's head several times. At the end of the fishing time, Greg was given the shark. Yummy !!!! Below are a few pictures from the trip.

Sunrise on the Gulf

Leaving the Harbor in Galveston

An Oil Rig, that we fished next too

My one and only "little" catch of the day
Greg and his first Angel Fish

This week, Greg is back in Kansas City helping out the branch up there. Still no word on our possible move, hopefully we'll hear something this week. I'm on vacation this week, and get to spend the entire week home with the "furbabies" and preparing for a possible hurricane this weekend. As of this evening- they have Ike, heading right for Houston at a possible Cat 3 or 4. If that's the case we will pack up on Friday afternoon and head to Dallas to stay with a friend. If it's just a Cat 1 or 2 we'll board up and hunker down. We'll keep you all posted with our plans for the storm. It's still pretty early in the week, and anything is possible at this point.

HAPPY 35TH BIRTHDAY GREG !!!!

This is Greg when he was 2 days old.

Well, today Greg turns the big 35. I thought it would be fun to take you all back a few years to the year of 1973. I did some internet surfing this week, and found some fun little facts dating all the way back 35 years.....

The average new house cost $32.500, and the average aparment rental was going for $175.00. Gas was $.40 a gallon ( those were the "Good ol' days) and you could buy a brand new AMC Javelin for $2,900.

The Sears Tower opened it's doors in 1973. ( A little Chicago trivia) And the big screen was graced with American Graffiit and Live and Let Die, Stevie Wonder and ABBA were topping the charts as well. That must be why we were singing to the Sound Track of Mama Mia a couple of weeks ago. And families spent their evenings watching The Waltons and MASH.

This was Greg's first train set, and his favorite picture

Greg's Football picture from High School

I believe this was the first "real"picture taken of us when we first starting dating-2001

We've got a busy weekend ahead of us. (thankful I start vacation at 2:00pm today) We are going out to dinner to celebrate the big day with some friends, and then back to our house for "cake and ice cream" and then on Sunday we're going Deepsea Fishing. So keep checking back this weekend for more fun birthday pictures. I hope this finds you all well, and you enjoyed the trip down memory lane. Happy Birthday Greg- I LOVE YOU-

Love, Tina and the Furbabies

Survived Gustav

Greetings Everyone:

Hurricane Gustav, has come and gone. And he didn't even hit Houston with one little Rain drop. Which is a good thing. We got lucky yet again. Let's just hope the next 6 storms that are brewing out in the ocean will stay clear of us as well.

We still have no news on Kansas, we thought for sure, Greg would've heard something last week while he was in Dallas. Greg's next trip will be on September 15, to Troy, Ohio for the week.

Other than that nothing really new and exciting here in the South. I will be on vacation this next week, and we will be celebrating Greg's 35th Birthday on Friday !!!! So I will have pictures to post this weekend. ( I promise)

Happy Birthday MOM- I hope you had a great day !!!!