Makeshift office

My group has been working in a large conference room with PCs and workstations scattered around the space. It's going to be several days until we can go back into our offices. This afternoon large 18-wheelers drove in with gigantic "portable" AC units to handle our 15+story building. Large genarators to power these AC units and elevators will also be necessary... it's going to be interesting to see all this play out.

Unscheduled day off

Rain, thunder and lightning continued in bands through the night. Around 4:30am I was awakened by the loudest thunder I've ever heard around here - everything vibrated. The kids slept peacefully through it. It's been a while since I've gone through such a loud storm.

We set out for our morning routine just to find that school was closed. I drove to the office with the kids and my office building was also closed - 12ft of water in the basement. From the driveway you could see the "pool" down the delivery ramp.

I'll be surprised if they can actually clean up today and have the building ready for the workday tomorrow. I'm sure plumbing, electricity, elevators all will need to be cleaned out and inspected...what a mess!

It was treat to spend the morning with the kids just playing around in a museum.

Thunderstorm

The kids and I got a big soaking today. The rain started in the end of the afternoon just in time for school pick-up and rush hour. We waited inside pretty much until the school closed, the rain and wind didn't let up so we ran for it. Running or not we got to the car pretty wet. The kids were laughing away!

The drive home on the freeway was not that fun though. Traffic was moving at an awkward 40mph with very poor visibility.

We are still under severe thunderstorm , flash flood and tornado warnings.

High Island Rookery

Lemurs

K continues to enjoy her art class. This is today's model and her rendition of it.

The Girl Has Character

K went to her Dad with her little brother D asking to climb up in the bed to sleep in our room. D had been misbehaving earlier so L told her that she could come up in the bed but not D because he did not listen to him that evening. K didn't miss a beat. She stood up for herself and D turning to L and saying no thank you. She returned to her room with D in tow.

As she came back to her room, I asked her what had happened. And she told me: "Daddy said he would only take me but not D, so we came back."

I have to say, I was so proud of my 4-year old girl. My kids never cease to amaze me.

Along the Rhine

The stretch between St. Goar and Bacharach is a beautiful part of the "Romantic Rhine". Castles line the hills all along the river.

Even if you're on a budget you can overnight in a castle. Stay at the Youth Hostel in Burg Stahleck in Bacharach for amazing views of the town and the river.

Castles and Swans

Swans swim free along the Moselle River in Germany. On the hills, castles complete the picture.