Keith and Lisa's massive hurricane Ike update

Lisa and I are finally back in our apartment after spending a wonderful week away at the McCormick resort. Our Ike experience was really not bad compared to what many people went through. Below is a needlessly long recap of what happened to us.

Thursday: I found out Baylor was closing down and our test was to canceled! Lisa went straight from work to Mike and Linda's house, and Mike came and picked me up at the apartment. I packed for Lisa over the phone and moved valuables and expensive electronics off the floor and away from the windows.

Friday: We experienced the calm before the storm and took our "final showers," since the power was certain to go out.

Saturday: The power went out around 1 am... then it got hot... no showers...

Sunday: We went into town to see the damage and check out our apartment. On the way in we saw the scenes you may have seen on the news: light posts were down, trees were toppled, and major buildings had lots of windows missing. Our apartment was without power, and we found out that water had come in through our windows and soaked our carpet. We emptied the refrigerator of stinkables (or so we thought), and headed back to Mike and Linda's which had somehow had power restored already!

Monday: Lazed around, should have studied more.

Tuesday: Lazed around, should have studied more.

Wednesday: Lazed around, should have studied more.

Thursday: I get an e-mail from my dean at Baylor informing us that they have decided to move the big block 1 test, which was supposedly canceled, to next Thursday and Friday! While I agree that this is the best move pedagogically, it came as a shock to many of us, especially those med students who had their apartments or condos destroyed in the hurricane. We also called our apartment and found out our power had just come on, so we made our way back home. We came home to mold growing around our windows, a broken air conditioner, and a stinky refrigerator and freezer (we missed a carrot in the bottom bin).

Friday: Procrastinated, should have studied more.

Saturday: Procrastinated, should have studied more.

Sunday: Had a lovely brunch, procrastinated, should have studied more.

Well there you have it, our Ike experience. We really were lucky compared to many others. As of right now, 40% of Houston is still without power and there is a curfew from 12 to 6 am. The electric metro train I take to school is still not working, and life won't quite be normal for a while. Lisa has to go to work tomorrow, but only for "staff development," no students yet. Unfortunately for her, she will probably have to lose other holidays or make up the missed days at the end of the school year. I have to start my next block tomorrow, even with the test looming just four days away.

Ike has turned out to be bittersweet for me, and just bitter for most everyone else.