Uebelhart . Net

Ike has passed

Posted on September 13th, 2008 by Brian.
Categories: General.

still no power - probably won’t today due to downed lines and cracked pole.
We have escaped major damage - lost part of our fence and a lot of tree limbs, will need to do some repainting.

We are out driving by our friends places to let them check them out.

Cell service at home is spotty.

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Ike 4:45 am

Posted on September 13th, 2008 by Brian.
Categories: General.

Broadcasting from the hurricane winds!

Luckily the eye looks to pass us to the east. The ship channel, deer park, etal may get really screwed though.

The strong parts of Ike are over us now - very high winds, heavy rain & noises. We can hear stuff being blown about - wondering if we’ll have a fence left. No huge crash yet - so the garage is probably still up.
We are getting water in by the back door - winds are blowing it under and around edges - using a blanket to keep it contained.
Warm & humid.

Dogs & guests are ok. (well, 1 cat is a little freaked out)

Gonna go back to sleep now.

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no power

Posted on September 13th, 2008 by Brian.
Categories: General.

we (whole neighborhood) lost power around 9:45 pm, it’s now 12:30 am. Power company has stated on news - no work until storm has passed.

Updating this via iPhone and candlelight - gotta love technology.

Radar shows eye still offshore. We are receiving light rain and moderate winds with heavy gusts.

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Ike v. Houston - Day 2 of “The Ike Watch”

Posted on September 12th, 2008 by Brian.
Categories: General.

Figured I would make the title of this blog sound like all those talking heads on TV do.  Bunch of blowhard fear mongers.  “Look at me standing in the water with high power TV equipment.  Look at that guy filming the beach with his camcorder - you should not do that.”  Reporting from Galveston “Everyone should have left Galveston by now.  If not you are in real danger and there is no reason to stay!”  Putzes.

On a more realistic side: The house is boarded up, we have plenty of food and drink, a few friends are staying with us.  We’re cool.
I fully expect to lose power if the winds are bad - all of our electrical lines are above ground here, and the trees have not been trimmed in this area for a few years.  But we can survive that without a problem.  If worse comes to worse, we have plenty of friends we could go to that may have power, and several out of town locations to escape to.

So that’s the 4 PM update for today.

We are getting some scattered showers and the wind has picked up, but not bad yet.  Heck I mowed the lawn this morning and teh bgrass trimmings are still on the driveway.

More later.

Some Pics (click on image for bigger version)
Target, I guess they are ready to be one:

Braes Bayou - before the storm hit - about what it usually looks like this time of year with no rain for a week.  Let’s see how it changes in a few hours and days:

I Shoot Looters - yep this is on my house.  The flower pot I put on during Rita for a little beauty:

Boarding job to the front & side of the house:

Boarding job to the back - a little more slip shod with odd sized boards cobbled together.  The little square “open” are on the lower right of the main boarded thing is the doggie door in our sliding glass door.  Also you can kinda make out the peep holes I drilled in the center of the door panels:

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End of the month post & News

Posted on August 30th, 2008 by Brian.
Categories: General.

Figured I’d get another post in this month, since I have been seriously slacking.

So some news from us:

1) Me & Work - I am currently an “Independent Contractor” doing work as needed for 3 different companies and odd jobs for others here and there.  So no steady paycheck yet, but that is coming soon as one of the contractor jobs will become full time employment.  Doing alot of paperwork though, and studying to take the Texas state exam to be a manager/owner of a PI or Security Consulting company.
2) Dawn & Work - well, the summer break is almost over for the choir and their first practice is next Wednesday.  Dawn also has a Miami bell trip coming up at the end of September.

3) Travel - Only plans right now are camping Sunday night in Brazos Bend (unless Gustav turns this way), Camping over Thanksgiving at Goose Island, and a Xmas trip to Florida to visit Dawn’s extended family.  Mom’s traveling through Utah right now.  Dawn’s parents are in Colorado with some British friends, and then will hit Yellowstone, Utah & the Grand Canyon.  Also frequent trips forthcoming for me to San Antonio for the new full time work (see #1) and to Louisiana possible for Gustav, which brings us to:
4) Hurricane Gustav - looks like we’ll get something from this in more ways than one - First it will give us rain and wind, pretty much no matter where it lands.  Second, it may be a monetary windfall for us if it hits New Orleans again, since I have contacts with 2 companies wanting my services for consulting/assistance there.  Possibility of a 2-4 week contract on that which will be about 3 months of normal salary wages.  Plus photo opportunities.

5) Photography - Well the “new” camera is on the fritz.  Looks like I may have to send it in to Canon for a check, as I am getting some serious errors on it.  Luckily it’s still under warranty and I still have the old 20D as backup.
I am still going through the Utah pictures for post processing and will hopefully post some soon.
I’ve also done a few “Photowalks”, “Photo Meetups”, etc and have a few more planned in the next month with others.

6) Friends - Chris/Satyr is still laid up - he mangeled his foot/ankle riding a scooter and it’s put a crimp on his life.  Hopefully he’ll be fully mobile again soon and I’ll stop calling him Gimp.  His parents also bought a place at Canyon Lake and we may go up and visit for a weekend.
A bunch of other friends left yesterday for a weekend in Boston for Bell ringing.  Dawn stayed in for this one.

7) Communication - I no longer have my old cell numbers and instead got a new one and an iPhone (Dawn got an iPhone too, but has her old cell number).  If you need my number give Dawn a ring or drop me a note at steelsun@gmail.com (I get it on the iPhone).
You can also call my internet voicemail at 713-568-9713.  This number will take messages than drop me an email to check it when one comes in.
Oh, and any of you Facebookers - I am on there at http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1238921115 (Dawn is too - you can find her in my Friend’s list or listed as my spouse)
Well, I guess that’s enough for now - already did the yard work today, but gotta start hurricane prep, just in case, then lunch and a trip to a friend we are checking their cats/house for while they play out of town.  And Laundry (yuk).

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Death to Taxes

Posted on April 15th, 2008 by Brian.
Categories: General.

Just finished filing and paying taxes this year.  Paying? Yep, paying.

We actually got hit hard this year due to several things: We both got raises at our jobs last year, and then I changed jobs that amounted to a second huge raise, and I had a small bonus.  That all moved us up to a higher bracket.  Then we also finished paying off our second mortgage early, so did not have as much mortgage interest to deduct.  plus a few other things.

It sucks paying out what you earned to help fund all the government waste.

I am totally for the end to property taxes (why should I pay the government again and again for what is mine?) and income taxes.  I say “Yes!” to a flat rate consumption (sales) tax.

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Back in NOLA & Little Rock

Posted on March 24th, 2008 by Brian.
Categories: General.

We (work crew, although minus a key member) are back in New Orleans again (damn that drive is long).

We’ll be here at least through Thursday, but may stay until Friday.  Weather is nice though.

Dawn will be leaving for Little Rock on Wednesday and returning Sunday.

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Thanks!

Posted on March 1st, 2008 by Brian.
Categories: General.

Thank you everyone for coming to our party last night!

It was a blast, and I hope y’all had tremendous fun!

1 comment.

Happy Anniversary!

Posted on February 29th, 2008 by Brian.
Categories: General, Wedding.

Is it really the Eighth one?

It feels like only the second.

Luv Ya Babe!

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Back in Houston

Posted on February 13th, 2008 by Brian.
Categories: General.

Well, we are back in Houston and working away.  A little chaos at my work, hopefully it will iron itself out.

I’ve got plenty of pictures I have to sort through and post in an album, which I will do as soon as I can.

2 weeks until the big 8/2: Eight years of marriage, but only celebrating our second anniversary.  Sounds like an excuse for a party.

Then less than a week later is the big 4-0 for me.  Sounds like an excuse for a wake.

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