"I said, Beaumont."
"Uhh?"
"BEAUMONT, TEXAS. About 1 1/2 hrs. east of Houston."
"Bomaut?"
"No, B-E-A-U-M-O-N-T."
"Bomaut?"
"No, B-E-A-U-M-O-N-T."
For those who I have talked to today, that's pretty much how the conversation went. For those who I didn't call, I hope this post makes you feel like you weren't forgotten. I didn't want to leave anyone out, but there's just too many people and too little time. My mom also promised to tell anyone willing to listen all about our more detailed conversation so I'm sure some of you heard this information from her.
Anyway, back to Beaumont. That's where I'm going tomorrow or at least that's where I think I'm going tomorrow. As I'm typing this post, this may change...AGAIN...but as of 22:30 on Saturday, 9/20 I am going to Beaumont. There is a small Category IV airport near there. It's called the Southeast Texas Regional Airport (airport code BPT) and it's actually located about 15 miles southeast of Beaumont. There's more information in the links below if you are interested in finding out more. BPT has just 5 flights/day and less on the weekend. I'll be working a split shift most days from 05:45-10:45 then 12:45-19:15. I don't know what my days off will be or if I'll have any.
The biggest question about Beaumont is our accommodations. A hotel is not an option because all the hotels in the area are filled with locals and relief workers. Most just reopened today after receiving generators. Many of the locals' homes remain without electricity and are damaged so they are living in hotels until they can make repairs. It sounds like the damage is fairly minor but costly (roof repairs, flood damage, carpet replacement due to mold, etc.).
There are six NDF scheduled to go tomorrow including me and we'll be figuring out the details as we go. If things go according to plan (and they rarely do), we will be driving RVs from Houston to Beaumont. Once we get there, hopefully we will be able to find space in a RV park. If not, we will park them right at the airport and I'll be taking a 'teacup bath', a term my Grandma Stewart taught me, in the airport bathroom. Sounds like another misadventure!
To close for the night, my sister gave birth to her and Tom's second son last night, 9/19 at 10:43 pm! His name is Benjamin Robert and he was 8 lbs. 1 oz. and 21". I'm very sad to have missed yet another important family event due to stupid Hurricane Ike. In the picture Jess sent me, Benjamin looks like a normal baby. His eyes were closed and his head was covered so that's as much detail as I could get by phone. I'm making myself upset again just thinking about not being home so I'm going to stop writing for tonight. I may not have internet service in Beaumont, but I'll try to at least keep my cell phone charged. Here's hoping my time in Beaumont passes quickly and that I'll see you all in person soon.
Beaumont? You aren't making this easy. Check out the Beaumont Botanical Gardens, Art Museum of SE Texas, John Jay French Museum, Babe Didriksen Zaharias Museum, and the Clifton Steamboat Museum, if they are still standing. Here's some good news in a recent report: Entergy Texas spokesman Dave Caplan tells The Beaumont Enterprise that the utility's major 500-kilovolt line called the Hartburg line -- is running. After Hurricane Rita, in September 2005, it took about 10 days to revive that line. The utility has reconnected hospitals in Beaumont and Orange so far and restored power to much of downtown Beaumont.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe that Katie beat me with the first pic of Benjamin on the internet. But I just sent an invitation to Snapfish, where you can look at photos of your new nephew to your heart's content.
Wish you were here with us. You had better be taking some vacation when you get back so we can have some time together. The doc says if I feel up to it, I might be able to play some golf after Oct 1.
Love, Dad
Sounds like someone's trying to score a job for the Travel Channel during his "vacation". Geez. Tracie, sorry you missed out on worst/best weekend #2 for us. If you'd like, when you get home, I'm sure Tom would be delighted to imitate "me in labor" for you while I try to resist the urge to punch him. Take care in Beaumont - we love and miss you.
ReplyDeleteJess
Jess, I don't know when you left this comment. I didn't see it before, but it gave me a good laugh. I haven't seen Tom's impression of your labor yet so I'll have to ask him next time I stop by. If you ask me, there's no need to hold back when it comes to punching Tom. I say go for it. That will just make my visit even more entertaining.
ReplyDelete