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Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Ice storm pics.

Leona has shared photos with you.

After the news said the ice warning was over everyone in the apartment complex came out to chip the ice off their cars. I had to takes these pics. My first major ice storm, and from what I heard, the worst ice storm in Austin since 1987.

- Leona

Ice Storm Experience
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Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Live! from the ice storm in Austin.

Hello from the cold weather Austin. Ok, who told me that Austin has the same climate as San Diego? I don't remember ice in San Diego, unless it's in the freezer.

Everyone is probably hearing about the ice storm in the mid-west, especially the update on Texas. I'm staying in this nice warm apartment with plenty of hot tea. I don't know what everyone is hearing about the ice storm, and it might be bad in some areas, but I haven't turned into ice like the movie "The Day After Tomorrow."  Yes, I'm being dramatic.  I'm not used to this kind of weather, and that's the 1st thing that comes to mind when I hear "Ice Storm".

This is very different from Denver.  Denver had their freeways de-iced by 3am, before Morning Rush Hour started, but for Austin, the city sanded down the iced roads and used "chemicals" to de-ice the roads for the first time in their history of crazy weather, but ran out of the de-icing chemicals.  The ice storm is more severe in North Austin, but not that bad in South Austin (where I am). The city of Austin has been very precautious, warning everyone that if they do not have to go anywhere, to stay home, and if they have to drive to work then be careful driving.

I worked on Sunday and Monday when the ice warnings started, and the hospital gave us an option to sleep at the hospital than risking going home and returning to work the next day. Since I didn't have to work today, I decided to go home last night after work, and take the back roads home. I made it home safely, and didn't hit much ice. If the iced roads got any worse before I left work, the hospital would have called a "code Ice: Level 3", and no one would be allowed to leave because it's too dangerous to drive, and no one is able to come in. Code Ice level went as high as 2, so I went home.  Crazy thing is that I took the back roads, through downtown, to go home, and it was like a Ghost Town.

Well, I gonna return to reading. Have a safe week. I know it's freezing all over the country. Stay warm and safe.

Love,

Leona

Friday, January 12, 2007

Hello from Austin, TX

Hello, everyone

How's San Diego? I made it to Austin, TX safe and sound. Right now, it's 75 degrees and 70% humidity. I arrived here on Friday the 5th, and have been going through orientation since Saturday. A lot of online and paper tests to be done before I started on Monday, however I didn't finish it all until monday night. This is going to be a challenging assignment filled with a lot of experiences and opportunities.

Now for Austin... Oh my. If their motto, "Keep Austin Wierd" gives you an idea how Austin is, I'll send you a few pics later that explains how wierd they can be. I found a lot of coffee shops to go to with free wifi, so I 'm happy. Also, driving into Austin I've seen more Dairy Queens than Starbucks, Ford F150's and Chevy trucks in almost every garage, and Univ of Texas students and alums that are hardcore fans. I haven't made a list of things to visit yet, but I do want to check out their hiking trails around my area. Good exercise. During the holidays, I gained a lot of weight. My mom is a great cook, and I was crazy to ask her to teach me how to cook a lot of the dishes she makes. That meant we had to eat it all afterwards. Sacrificing my waistline to learn to cook. ;-)

Well, as soon as I can tour Austin, I'll send you pics of my adventures. Until then, have a blessed new year!!

Leona