Thank God, Ike Was Just Passing Through

My kid made it through Hurricane Ike unscathed. She is staying with a friend. They lost power and the gutters on the house. That's it. Needless to say, it was a sleepless night filled with cellphone text messaging as she rode out the storm.

Thanks to all that sent me email or called with support as I waited out this storm. It ain't easy being a daddy. By the way, the friend's father was stuck in Chicago on business and could not return to Houston because they shut-down the airports yesterday morning. His cellphone buzzed, all night, as well.

Have a great weekend, folks.

I Was Not In School, Today

Schools are closed in Galveston and Houston, Krysia evacuated to Houston and is staying with a friend. They are from Bangladesh. While I spent the last few nights worrying about my baby, she was playing dress-up in a sari. As of 6 p.m. Friday, she was safe and sound.

How was school?
Mrs. BB was in for me, today. Due to the rain, I made a last-minute change to Sectio 63. Instead of performing the percolation test, outside, they did the experiment on rock absorbency.

A neat slideshow of Galveston: http://www.galveston.com/slideshow_ike/frameset.html

Have a great weekend, folks.

Gone to Houston, but, Houston may be gone

The daughter fled Galveston Wednesday night, it is mandatory, today. She is in Houston. However, word has it parts of Houston now have mandatory evacuation. My baby will go home with a friend that lives in Sugarland, on the westside of Houston. Hopefully, she will be safe. Regardless, butterflies are in my stomach and my heart is aching. And, it appears, Mr. Miller's daugther, who lives and works in Sugarland is reporting the potential for danger with the coming hurricane. Please pray for the folks in Texas.

Not here, tomorrow
Mrs. BB is here, tomorrow. Section 62 and 64 are working on lab notebook 3, a rock absorbency project, section 63 is doing lab notebook 1 -- Percolation, and section 61 is working on lab notebook 4 -- Stream action on rocks. It was interesting to watch me set-up three different experiments to be used between 8 and 11 a.m.

Have a safe night, folks.

Switching to PANIC MODE!!

Hurricane Ike has turned and is now aiming at Galveston. The storm hit deep water and escaladed to a Category 2. Expected to be a tight-forming Category 3, tonight. All students on campus have been ordered to evacuate within the hour and not return until next week. My daughter called as she was leaving her class and heading back to the dorm. She has a bag packed and her roommate will drop her off in Houston. The roommate is going home to Dallas, six hours away. My kid is going to stay with a friend and her family and if need be, go with them if Houston is to be evacuated. Yesterday, I was downgraded to concerned daddy status. The level has now gone up to scared silly daddy. I have to wait another hour or so to hear if she made it to Houston okay. Although the storm is not slated to hit for another day or so, college officials are in precautionary status. This is from a school that did not even shut-down when Katrina hit.

On the Home Front
My cherubs organized their science notebooks, today. Those binders and agendas are to go home every night. Parents; if you take something out of your kid's binder, please replace it immediately. They are being graded for keeping the notebooks organized.

That's about it for me, right now. I am monitoring the hurricane and fielding calls from family that have heard about the change in Ike. Wish my kid well, folks.

I Got Wet

LOL. I needed to be in by 6 this morning to get ready for today's experiment. Needless to say, I got soaked. Afterall, it is so un-cool for a guy to sport an umbrella. Actually, my umbrella is somewhere in the garage and my car was parked in the driveway. Then, when I left about 3:45, it rained again, and, I got wet. If rain is good for growing gardens, lawns, etc., I oughtta have a great crop of hair, shortly.

Welcome Miss Porter
Did y'all say howdy to Nicole Porter? She's our sub for Mrs. Fry. Nice young lady, about my son's age -- did I just admit my age? Oops. Well, Miss Porter has a blog on her website. Click the link to see her blog. http://www.ltsd.k12.pa.us/510720829145125787/Blog/browse.asp?A=398&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&C=52585. I hope your kids like Miss Porter. She is a very friendly girl - ahem - woman.

Did You Link to Stormpulse.com?
I have been following Hurricane Ike and it looks like it will miss Galveston. Whew. worried daddywatch has been downgraded to daddyconcern.

Leah Writes for Sun-Gazette
My former student Leah wrote an article for the S-G in Monday's paper in the education section. Here is that link: http://www.sungazette.com/page/content.detail/id/515314.html?nav=5005 I am so proud of her.

Gavin's Mom's Idea
I had problems with the tin can experiment. Gavin's mom suggested PVC pipe. So, I bought a five-foot section and Mr. Wheeland cut it down to six 10-inch long sections. Thanks, Mr. Wheeland.

Science Notebook
My students will be organizing their science notebooks, tomorrow. I have an index for the munchkins to follow. If I hand it out, it goes in the notebook. Parents, please ensure your kiddoes are keeping their notebooks up-to-date. Also, I make them record the objective and homework assignment, each day, in the agenda. Please make certain there is such an entry for every science class. They get a test grade for the agenda.

Have a great night, folks.

Sixth Graders are like Grown Men?

My headline refers to sixth graders refusing to ask for directions. They are in too much of a hurry to play with water and soil, without regards to measuring volumes. I'm going to play GPS and guide them tomorrow to their destination of finding the solution. Ask your kiddo how the porosity experiment went, today?

Back on Hurricane Watch
The daughter is in Hurricane Ike's sights. Needless to say, I will be worried about her safety and the hurricane is not due to make landfall in Texas until Saturday. Wanna see a great website for hurricanes? Click the link: http://www.stormpulse.com/

Have a great night, folks.