Left Rita in the dust

After getting the go-ahead from work that I could leave, we packed like crazy. As the weather predictions got worse, the more I packed and the more the pugs pouted. Ever since the honeymoon when I packed and left them, they are very nervous about suitcases. They park themselves in whatever they think is being loaded into the car!

We arrived in Ft. Worth at 4 a.m., having left Galveston at 12:30 p.m. After more than 12 hours on 1-45 going about 2 mph we were able to get on some smaller roads - 1774, 90, 39 - I forget the others. But if a 4-hour trip that took 16 hours is the worst part of this hurricane, then it was the best trip of my life! We were even able to find two gas stations that still had gas!

Several of our friends in the DFW area are taking good care of us. I'm going out tomorrow to help shop for furniture from a family from the New Orleans area. Our friends here have taken the family under their wing and are getting them set up in a house here.

Alan's first test of med school was scheduled for Friday, so he's going to have some extra study time. Coincidence: Alan's interview at UTMB was at this same time one year ago, and the area was getting rain from Ivan. It stuck in our minds because he remembers the first years were having their first test while he was interviewing, and because the biker rally was going on. I wonder if the bikers cancelled their rally or just moved it. If the evacuation wasn't mandatory, maybe they'd have gone to Galveston anyway! Actually, I doubt they would have. I saw TONS of bikes, dirt bikes and golf carts being towed behind cars yesterday. Also lots of pets, which made me happy. Rambling now, going to bed!
Keep praying for whoever this thing hits!