Friday, March 26, 2010

Weekend Forecast/Special Needs Amusement Park in Texas/Hurricane Forecast

WEATHER
On Saturday, highs will be in the 20s and 30s across the northern New England. Higs will be in the 60s, 70s and/or 80s across the southern plains and southwest and southeast. Northern plains and Rockies will have highs in the 40s and 50s central plains and western Great Lakes states.

Houston, here is another Chamber of Commerce weekend for you. Lows will be in the low 50s and highs in the upper 70s to near 80 Saturday and low 70s on Sunday. Weak cold front will move through early Sunday. There is a slight chance (20%) for rain primarily late Saturday into early Sunday. Expect some showers and thundestorms this coming Friday.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do park or parque, pronounced PAR-kay. There is a very special amusement parque opening in San Antonio. Read the AND MORE section to learn more.

Learning languages has been shown by research to improve cognitive development and much more. Help your children learn to love languages. Order our award winning DVDs, Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco. They are on the shelf (in the education section) at Barnes & Noble stores or you can order them from http://www.frankandpaco.com, http://www.amazon.com, http://www.bn.com, http://www.bestbuy.com, or http://www.ebay.com/. Our ESL (English as a Second Language) version can be found at http://www.frankypaco.com

AND MORE
A very special amusement park is opening in San Antonio in 14 days. It's Morgan's Wonderland. There have already been some preview days and my brother, Sam, who has three sons (one with autism) has already visited it--during some special pre-opening days. The price for his autistic son--$0 and for everyone else $5 each. Sam said the best part was--no long lines. The park has a special easy access carousel and sensory area. You can't just show up. You have to register in advance. It was inspired by a man who has a special needs daughter when he realized that she wanted to interact with others and join in their fun, but sometimes just couldn't. The daughter's name is Morgan. To learn more, go to this link:
http://morganswonderland.com/index.html

Hurricane season begins June 1st and the Weather Research Center (WRC) has released it's 2010 hurricane season forecast: calling for 8 named storms--five of them hurricanes. The Texas coast has a 60% chance of getting hit by a tropical storm (51% is the chance in an average year). The highest chance will be 90% for western Florida (average chance is 71%). To learn more about the WRC and the John C. Freeman Weather Museum, go to: http://www.wxresearch.com/mainwrc.html

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Next rain/Sarah Meets Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber!

WEATHER
On Wednesday, the cool spot will be over the Rockies with some snow showers possible in Denver. Highs will be in the 30s and 40s from the Rockies to the northern plains and in northern New England. Highs elsewhere will be in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. There is a slight risk for severe weather for north central Texas and southern Oklahoma. There could also be thunderstorms in surrounding areas and states.

Skies will become cloudy in Houston on Wednesday. It will be a breezy, mild afternoon with highs in the 70s. Look for some rain, maybe a thunderstorm Wednesday night into early Thursday as the next cold front arrives. The weather should be sunny and pleasant through the weekend. Another systems passes to the north of Houston over the weekend, but probably will not bring much in the way of rain. Through the weekend, lows will be in the 40s and 50s with highs in the 70s.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do personality as in celebrity, personalidad, pronounced pair-sew-nah-lee-DAHD. Find out about Sarah's meeting with two major personalidads in the AND MORE section.

Help your children learn to love languages. Order our award winning DVDs, Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco. They are on the shelf (in the education section) at Barnes & Noble stores or you can order them from http://www.frankandpaco.com, http://www.amazon.com, http://www.bn.com, http://www.bestbuy.com, or http://www.ebay.com/. Our ESL (English as a Second Language) version can be found at http://www.frankypaco.com

AND MORE
A wonderful surprise on Sunday at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Around the time I purchased tickets for the Selena Gomez/Justin Bieber concert (from Ebay in the nose bleed section), I starting sending inquiries for Sarah to meet Selena Gomez backstage. I kept checking my email and nothing. Luckily, I checked Sunday morning and there was a message from someone named Mark, giving me a phone number and saying to call him at that number at 4:30 pm. Well, I was super excited but also leery, because I had put out several feelers and was worried it might be a cruel joke...especially since The Wiggles had contacted us weeks before their concert.

So, we went to the rodeo and of course, had a great time. And at 4:30 pm on the dot, I called Mark. I got his voice mail. And, it didn't say that it was Mark who works for Selena Gomez. So, again, I wasn't sure if this was legit. I tried again about 4:45 pm...still a voice mail. Then Megan suggested that I text him. So I did...twice.

Luckily at 5:15 when my phone rang...I had it in my lap. I almost dropped it, I was so excited about answering...it was Mark!!! I could barely hear him--it was so noisy. He said to meet him at Section 135 immediately. So, we raced to the elevator (which for the first nail biting 30 seconds didn't seem to be working and even had a sign to that effect). But then it was like the angels sang as the doors opened. We rushed to get to Section 135. Mark was waving his arm and calling me on my cell phone again. Apparently, Selena didn't have much time to visit. So, we really needed to hurry.

We were ushered to right outside her dressing room door. She came right out and gave Sarah and Megan big hugs. I was immediately struck by how tall she was--she must be at least 5'7". I even asked her to show me her heels--only about an inch or so. She was so gracious and sweet. I asked her if she was had super long days and she said "not too bad--only about 10 and half hours and I love what I do. So, it's not bad at all". Then I asked her if she was ready for her concert and she said she was but she was nervous. That really surprised me. But then I remembered how it did seem easier for me to be in front of the camera because it is an inanimate object--much different from looking at thousands of eyes looking back at you. The concert was sold out by the way--70,000 people. I also met Selena's mom and visited with her for a while. She said Selena's schedule was not as grueling travel-wise as Justin Bieber's. The whole entourage really embraced Sarah.

Well then Sarah asked Mark about Justin Bieber. And, Mark introduced us to Scooter, Justin's manager. Scooter said that of course Sarah could meet Justin--but we just had to find him. So, we went wandering around looking for him. Finally Justin showed up and he made Sarah's day for a second time. Sarah has a big crush on him. She really ate up the attention. I asked Justin how he gets his hair to look like that and he joked that he just flicks it forward. Megan and I noticed later at the concert that yes indeed, he was flicking it forward. Scooter, Justin's manager, said they had to grab a private plan to New York right after the concert because Justin was going to be on The View Monday morning. Well anyway, we finally got out of the backstage area at about 6 pm...right before Selena was going on.

Mark, Selena's manager told us not to go back up to the top level and gave us seats in a bottom section. Poor Selena's mom was supposed to sit next to us, but she didn't want to make a scene and chase away 2 kids who were sitting there. So, she and her husband found another place to watch the show. Now that was just so nice! Those kids and their parents had no idea that was Selena's folks.

Both Selena and Justin and their support staff were very down to earth and very kind. We are so grateful.

The concerts were so much fun. The girls everywhere were going crazy over Justin. Sarah just kept looking around watching all of them until she finally got up and started dancing around too.

And of course Megan had a great time. It was a dream come true for her. She is such a huge music fan!

So my new poll is about teen personalities. Who would you most like to meet in person? Only one answer is allowed. Thanks in advance for participating.

Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Friday, March 19, 2010

Start of Spring/3 Month Outlooks/Stingrays and Miniature Horses

WEATHER
As I write this post, there are winter storm watches and advisories over the southern Rockies and central US. Next storm system is advancing eastward and there will be some thunderstorms in the southwest and Texas today. Look for some severe weather and thunderstorms over the southern plains and southeast on Saturday. Highs will be in the 30s and 40s across the middle of the country behind a trough with nice, warm 60s, 70s and 80s for the southeast and the part of Texas ahead of the cold front. Out west, highs will be in the 60s and 70s.

Houston, you are starting the day with season, but look for clouds later. Highs will be in the 70s. Enjoy! Saturday, there will be thunderstorm and then much cooler (highs in the 50s for Sunday with sunshine returning). Next rain arrives mid-week.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do horse or caballo, pronounced cah-BUY-yo. Look to right to see a photo of a baby miniature caballo. And read the AND MORE section to learn where to see it.

If you are looking for something for your kids to do indoors, try our award winning DVDs, Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco. They are on the shelf (in the education section) at Barnes & Noble stores or you can order them from http://www.frankandpaco.com, http://www.amazon.com, http://www.bn.com, http://www.bestbuy.com, or http://www.ebay.com/. Our ESL (English as a Second Language) version can be found at http://www.frankypaco.com

AND MORE
Saturday, March 20th, Spring begins at 12:32 central time (this from the U.S. Naval Observatory). It is the vernal equinox. This is the date in the Northern Hemisphere when the length of night and day are approximately the same (12 hours). The length of daylight will now more than the length of night and will continue to increase. So happy spring everyone!

The poll on spring break activities is closed. 20% said they plan to visit local points of interest. 40% said they would finish projects around the house and 80% said they would hang out with their kids. No one said they would go to the beach, go skiing, visit friends or visit family. More than one answer was allowed. Thanks to all who participated. I'll put up a new poll in my next post.

We have been keeping very busy this spring break. One of the highlights was visiting Kemah. There is a Stingray feeding aquarium right next to the Aquarium Restaurant. Sarah and her friend Hannah had a ball feeding fish to the stingrays. See photo at right. The barbs have been removed. So, it is very safe. There is a pen with smaller, younger stingrays who still have their barbs. But, they are too young to know what to do with them. I found all of this out from one of the employees.

Yesterday, Sarah, her memaw and I headed to Brenham. The Bluebell creamery tours were sold out, but we didn't care as we have already done the tour and Sarah doesn't enjoy those very much. We enjoyed visiting the gift shop and mulling about outside in the beautiful weather. To get to the creamery, take a right onto 577 from 290. It is right as you get to the edge of town (as you approach from Houston). The real excitement was heading a bit further north and taking a right onto 105 and heading east about 4 miles. On the right, is the St. Clare Monastery miniature horse farm. Sarah loved petting the newest addition. See photo at right. It was so beautiful and the weather was just perfect! Here is a link to their web site:
http://www.monasteryminiaturehorses.com/index.html
I did see one of the St. Clare nuns. What a peaceful, quiet life.

I posted the newly released 3 month temperature and precipitation outlooks from the Climate Prediction Center. Looks like the southern and northern plains can expect below normal temperatures for the next 3 months will the west and Alaska should have above normal temperatures. The Rockies and southeast are expected to have above normal precipitation. See figures at right.

Enjoy the rest of Spring Break everyone!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Monday, March 15, 2010

Spring Break Weather Update for Houston

Just a quick update this evening (busy with Spring Break stuff) to tell you that there will be some showers in the Houston area on Tuesday afternoon--doubt there will be any big thunderstorm activity but it could dampen some outdoor plans. Also, cooler with cloud cover...highs in the 60s. So take a jacket and an umbrella before you head out on Tuesday.

Sunshine returns Wednesday and Thursday (slightly warmer on Thursday with highs back up in the 70s). A few showers for the weekend...but no big washouts.

Have a great week everyone!

Friday, March 12, 2010

Spring Break Forecast/Lotus Car/Time Change

WEATHER
Not bad...that's what a lot of folks will be saying around the country this week. As I write this post, there are winter weather woes in the western US. For the week, looks like the wettest spots will be along the eastern seaboard. Saturday will be wet and stormy for the Ohio Valley, midwest and northeast. And there will be some snow in the Intermountain Region. Highs will be in the 40s and 50s from the northwest to the northeast. From the southeast to the southwest highs will be in the 60s and 70s.

Houston, this is going to be a Chamber of Commerce Spring Break with lows in the 40s and highs in the 70s for the most part...all the way into the coming weekend. Humidity levels should be very comfortable and rain chances are very low. Enjoy!

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do beach or playa, pronounced PLY-yah. Are you heading to the playa this Spring Break?

If you are looking for something for your kids to do indoors, try our award winning DVDs, Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco. They are on the shelf (in the education section) at Barnes & Noble stores or you can order them from http://www.frankandpaco.com, http://www.amazon.com, http://www.bn.com, http://www.bestbuy.com, or http://www.ebay.com/. Our ESL (English as a Second Language) version can be found at http://www.frankypaco.com

AND MORE
TIME CHANGE
First, let's get some very important business out of the way--Daylight Saving Time is returning (the dreaded time change). It happens this Sunday morning at 2 am. Move your clocks ahead, i.e. spring forward one hour before you go to bed Saturday night. So, we will lose an hour of sleep that night. But you can comfort yourself knowing that in the Houston area, the sun won't be rising at 5:20 am in June. For my readers in northern latitudes...I know, I know...the sun does rise that early or earlier in summer. Shout out to my buddy Barbara in Sitka...any thoughts?

ORNAMENTAL PEAR
And speaking of spring, it sure looks that way in the Houston area. I snapped the photos at right--a very popular ornamental tree. I wasn't sure what it was. So, I called on my number one source--Mom! She said I think that is an ornamental pear. So, I checked it out, and Wikipedia had a Callery Pear with pictures of a tree just like the one I photographed at right. The most popular "cultivar" is the Bradford Pear. But, there are others. According to Wikipedia, it does produce a fruit that is very tiny and eventually eaten by the birds. The white flowers are shortlived, being quickly replaced once emerging leaves replace the blooms. The leaves turn beautiful colors in the fall. It is widely used around the country and even around the world (fyi, it is a native plant in China). But, in many areas where it is not a native plant, it is pushing out and taking over some of the native plants.
Here is the link if you would like to read more:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Callery_Pear

LOTUS CARS
Today, I saw not one but two Lotus cars driving down the Southwest Freeway. It was pretty obvious they were together. One was a silver blue color and the other was black. Ignorant me, I thought they weren't made any more. So I started looking around to try to remember when I had heard a big deal made about the Lotus. In an article from Car dated 10/20/08, there is a discussion about how the Lotus was featured prominently in 2 James Bond movies. In For Your Eyes Only, there are 2 Lotus cars used but neither is in a chase scene. In The Spy Who Loved Me, the Lotus has the ability to travel underwater. According to Wikipedia, the Lotus cars in both of those movies are Esprit models. But, there is another James Bond movies where a Lotus appears...Casino Royale--however it is driven by one of the shows characters--not James Bond. And, it is the model called a Formula 3. By the way, there is a Lotus dealer in the Houston area--it is located on the Katy Freeway.

COUPONS AT BED, BATH AND BEYOND
Now I know many of you shopping experts know this, but just in case--save all of those Bed, Bath and Beyond coupons. The coupons say they are only good for one purchase. But the truth is, if you take a pile of them to the store and buy a corresponding pile of items, they will let you use as many of the coupons as possible. And, they will let you use expired coupons. Thanks to my friend Kim for reminding me about this. I found out about this by accident one time when I shopped there. I did call today and asked someone at the store about this. I told her I was writing a blog. And, she said they will let "you can use all that can be applied". So, take that as you like. Try it out and be sure to let me know your experience.

Don't forget to answer my poll about what you are doing for spring break (poll closes in 2 days)!

Have a wonderful, safe and fun spring break everyone!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Rain not over yet/I met the oldest person/allergy shot that works

WEATHER
Cool air (highs in the 40s) is dipping southward over the Rockies on Wednesday with balmy conditions over the southeast US and highs in the 70s and even 80s. There is a slight risk for severe storms from Kansas to Missouri and southeastward to the northern Gulf coast. There will be some showers Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies with snow in the higher elevations.

Houston hit 80 on Tuesday...and I have to admit that I switched from heat to a/c in my house...it ws feeling rather stuffy. On Wed. afternoon there could be some thunderstorms as a weak cold front (maybe just a trough passage) early on Thursday. I saw a trough passage because although the mornings will be cool (in the 40s) te afternoons should still reach about 70. Humidity will be lower. Then the real cold front arrives on Friday...so can't rule out some clouds and rain on Friday afternoon although it shouldn't be much. The weekend is looking very pleasant with lows in the 40s and highs in the 60s to 70.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do a phrase: allergy shot or vacuna para alergia, pronounced vah-COO-nah PAR-ah ah-lair-HEE-ah. Guess what is in my vacuna para alergia? See the AND MORE sectionn for details.

On Friday, we got another big order from our distributor. See what all the excitement is about while helping your children learn to love language by ordering our award winning DVDs, Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco. They are on the shelf (in the education section) at Barnes & Noble stores or you can order them from http://www.frankandpaco.com, http://www.amazon.com, http://www.bn.com, http://www.bestbuy.com, or http://www.ebay.com/. Our ESL (English as a Second Language) version can be found at http://www.frankypaco.com

AND MORE
I put up the new drought monitor and drought outlook figures at right. It is amazing to look at Texas as consider how much drought there was a year or so ago. Now almost all of the state is drought free. Looks like the west is the area most widely dealing with drought. The outlook through May shows some peristence of improve for most locations.

Today, the Houston Chronicle ran a story about 2 of the oldest people in the world dieing. Years ago, while working at FOX 26, I had the opportunity to meet a woman named Maude Conic. Now at the time, she was 113. But she couldn't bring it because her birth record ahd been destroyed during the storm. I figured out that she was 11 in 1900. Someone in the newsroom showed me a press release touting her as the oldest registered Republican. But what caught my eye was that she had lived through the Great Galveston Hurricane of 1900. Well, I just had to meet her. So, we headed down to the nursing home where she lived in Wharton. She was a huge Fritos fan...loved the product and had lots of their stuff hanging in her room. She asked me if I could get her a bag of Fritos after the interview. The nurse took me aside and begged me not to get her any. She said she had already had several bags and it gave her indigestion...made her feel bad. Well, she didn't seem too concerned about that when she talked to me.

The interview was hit and miss...she had lots of stories about hurricanes (I think she had been through several and was mixing up the details). But, I did talk to her daughter and she confirmed that Maude and her family had fled the island by foot over a bridge and that soon after they passed the bridge had been destroyed by the rough ocean waters. Now, you might be wondering just how old her daughter was...well she was only 60 when I spoke to her. How is that you say? Maude had 2 biological children. Then, when she was 60, her much younger 40 year old sister died, leaving 6 children. Maude took in those 6 children and worked 2 jobs to take care of them. What an amazing woman!!! I was sad to hear a year or so later that she had passed away--and she never got credit for being the oldest woman in the United States.

Got my annual allergy shot today. It is a cocktail of kenalog and depomedrol, a 3 month time release that keeps me going through tree pollen season. My 3 choices are take the shot, get extremely sick (there are not enough tissued in Texas to get me through one season) or leave the area for a couple months. So, of course, I get the shot. If you know someone who is suffering, tell them to ask their doctor about getting it. By the way, tree pollen levels are heavy in the Houston area. For the latest report, call the City of Houston Health Department Allergy Line 713-247-5846.

Finally, the Houston National Weather Service is now providing a multimedia weather briefing through their web site. I love it because they discuss weather maps. Check it out!
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/hgx/?n=briefing

Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Rain Returns/Poll about Spring Break/First Woman Doctor

WEATHER
Temperature-wise, I think everyone will be enjoying the spring warmth on Monday. Highs will be in the 30s and 40s across the northern central states, Great Lakes and the northeast. Highs will be in the 40s and 50s across the west. And in the southeast and southern plains, highs will be in the 50s, 60s and 70s. Look for rain across the southern plains and in the west.

Houston, you will need the umbrellas Monday (especially during the afternoon). Temperatures will continue mild through Wednesday (highs on Wed. will be in the 70s) when a cold front drops temperatures about 10 to 15 degrees for Thursday through Saturday. Dry air arrives Sunday and brings sunny and pleasant weather from Sunday to mid-week of the coming week.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do doctor or doctor or médico, pronounced dohc-TORE or MAY-dee-coh respectively. Find out about the 1st woman doctor in the AND MORE section.

Research shows that children who learn more than one language have increased neurological development in the language learning part of the brain (especially before the age of 8). Help your children learn to love language by ordering our award winning DVDs, Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco. They are on the shelf (in the education section) at Barnes & Noble stores or you can order them from http://www.frankandpaco.com, http://www.amazon.com, http://www.bn.com, http://www.bestbuy.com, or http://www.ebay.com/. Our ESL (English as a Second Language) version can be found at http://www.frankypaco.com

AND MORE
My poll, on when you complete your income tax return, is closed. Only one answer was allowed. 28% said right after W2s and 1099s arrive, 57% said some time in March and 14% said a few days before April 15th. 0% said right after the 1st of the year, 2 weeks before 4/15, 1 week before 4/15, very last minute or usually file and extension. Thanks to all who participated.

My new poll is about spring break--what are you planning to do? More than one answer is allowed. Thanks in advance for participating.

Well, I continue to learn from Sarah's library books. You know that Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone. But, did you know that he worked with deaf (before and after he invented the telephone). Also, did you know that he helped found The National Geographic Society? I learned those 2 things from Wil Mara's book, Alexander Graham Bell.

We also picked up a book about Elizabeth Blackwell, 1st woman doctor. I remember I found her most fascinating when I was Sarah's age. Elizabeth Blackwell could not find any medical schools that would take her. Finally, what was then known as the Geneva Medical College in New York, accepted her. The male students there had voted to let her in as a joke. They didn't think she would come. But, she did, and finished as one of the best students. She became a doctor, but no one in the United States would hire her. So, she went to Paris, France and took a job as nurse in a hospital. There, she watched the surgeons' work. After returning to the US, she opened a hospital for womena and children. Then, in 1866, she opend a medical college for women in New York City. She was 45. Soon after that, she opened another college in England. I read all of this in a book by Liza N. Burby, Elizabeth Blackwell, The First Woman Doctor.

Well, it is time to trim the dead plants, and weed and feed the lawn. Remember...use weed and feed. The weed part will keep those unsightly weeds out of your yard.

Enjoy the spring warmth!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Chamber of Commerce Weather/Vegetable Report/She invented "debug"

WEATHER
The jet stream will be riding about 1/2 way down the US over the next week or so...bringing weather mainly through the middle states as small waves moves west to east along it. Coolest area today will be Great Lakes and northeast with highs in 30s. Lots of 40s and 50s for the northwest and middle of the country with 60s and 70s in the south. Some thunderstorms in Utah...a few showers for New York and Boston. Some winter weather advisories for the highers elevations in Utah and Wyoming.

Definitely Chamber of Commerce weather for Houston area next couple days. Cool mornings and mild afternoons with sunshine and low humidity. Some clouds over the weekend and a few showers later half of Sunday with some rain on Monday...not a big washout though and then more pleasant weather in the coming week. I think Spring has arrived. Highs will make it to 70 starting this weekend. Thursday and Friday, highs will be in the 60s.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do invent or inventar, pronounced ehn-vehn-TAR. How would you like to inventar something? Find out about a woman who changed all our lives through her inventions? A hint...she came up with the term "debug". See the AND MORE section to learn more.

The woman described in the AND MORE section was good at math and worked with computers. Research shows that children who learn more than one language score higher on standardized math and science tests. Help your children learn to love language by ordering our award winning DVDs, Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco. They are on the shelf (in the education section) at Barnes & Noble stores or you can order them from http://www.frankandpaco.com, http://www.amazon.com, http://www.bn.com, http://www.bestbuy.com, or http://www.ebay.com/. Our ESL (English as a Second Language) version can be found at http://www.frankypaco.com

AND MORE
I tell you what...having a 2nd grader in the house is an educational experience. Sarah is a voracious reader and we go to the library often. She especially loves reading biographies. I picked up one about Grace Hopper. I don't believe I had ever heard of her...had you? Well she was an extremely important computer pioneer. Born in 1906, she was the first woman to earn a doctorate in math from Yale. At the age of 37 (considered too old), she got special permission to join the Navy in 1943 because she wanted to help with the war effort. She graduated 1st in her class. She worked on the Mark I computer which was used to aim naval guns in various kinds of weather. She invented the term with debug when she literally retrieved a moth that shorted out a computer. She worked on the term which developed the Univac I computer. She also created the first compiler to allow English terms to program computers...ultimately helping to create the business programming language Cobol. She was forced to retire from the Navy but then they needed her so much that they made a special allowance to bring her back in and she stayed with the Navy until 1986 (retiring at the age of 79, she was the oldest officer in the Navy). She was a Rear Admiral when she retired. So there you have it...someone who impacted all of our lives and probably most of us did not know who she was.

For more about Grace Hopper, check out this Wikepedia link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_hopper

I also got some of the information about Grace Hopper from the book Grace Hopper Computer Pioneer by Joanne Mattern.

The photos at right are from my vegetable garden. The rain has really gotten things going. We are looking forward to a crop of sugar snap peas and broccoli (2 of my favorites). We have already been enjoying some spinach salads from the spinach plants.

This week's warmer weather has me thinking about spring. And I noticed that we have another time change coming up on Sunday, March 14th. So, enjoy this "full length" weekend, because next weekend we are going to spring forward and lose one hour.

You only have today left to participate in our poll about taxes...have you finished your's yet? If not when will you work on them?

Saw my aunt last Sunday and she was definitely showing signs of her regular self...animated, smiling and wanting to get up and get going. I think that can be harder on the caregivers in a way--they have to keep your resting so you can heal fully. A long time ago, I had some surgery where I was in the ICU and the doctor asked me if I might be feeling good enough to go home. They had never released anyone that quickly from the type of surgery I had, but he thought I was up to it. Well, I didn't like being in the hospital one bit...so I said "oh yes. I can go home". They released me and I soon realized I was a bit premature because I felt pretty bad for a couple days (thinks to lots of TLC from Mom and family, I got through it and was soon back to work). God bless everyone who is ill. Good health is such a blessing!

In my last blog, I mentioned that 2004 tsunami caused about a 1 foot rise in the water levels for the upper Texas coast. I learned about this at The John C. Freeman Weather Museum where they have a 3D globe which illustrates all kinds of weather including how the tsunami affected water levels around the world. The museum offers many educational opportunities including the upcoming Forensic Meteorology course (and lawyers can get continuing education credits by attending) on March 29. Check out all the offerings:
http://wxresearch.org/events/

Have a great weekend everyone!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Wet Start to Week/The Tsunami that Reached Texas/Which Rodeo Show

PLEASE NOTE THAT I POSTED THIS BLOG ON 2/28 BUT DELETED IT DUE TO A DANGEROUS COMMENT. THANKS FOR UNDERSTANDING.
WEATHER
Weather is fairly quiet but a new storm coming out of the southwest will bring rain to Texas later today. Snow for the Great Lakes and northeast with a cold rain mixing with snow in New York City. Highs will be in the 30s for the Great Lakes and Northeast and much of the Midwest. Very nice along the west coast with sunshine and highs in the 60s. Texas will be turning colder with thunderstorms developing and moving eastward. Balmy in the southeast with highs in the 60s and 70s.

Houston will have a wet day...rain and storms during the morning commute and temperatures dropping during the day. Make sure you have a jacket with you. Chilly mornings and cool to mild afternoons and but dry in the early to middle part of the week with next rain coming on Sunday. Gradual warmup during the week...should be very pleasant.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do tickets or billetes, pronounced bee-YEH-tays. Guess which billetes I purchased for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo? Find out in the AND MORE section.

Be sure to tell your friends and family that they can stop at their neighborhood Barnes & Noble store and buy our award winning Spanish DVDs for children...volumes one and two of Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco. We have won 3 awards including Dr. Toy's Top 10 Educational Product of 2008. You can also order them from http://www.frankandpaco.com, http://www.amazon.com, http://www.bn.com, http://www.bestbuy.com, or http://www.ebay.com/. Our ESL (English as a Second Language) version can be found at http://www.frankypaco.com

AND MORE
The photos at right were sent to me by my brother Sam in north Austin and my cousin June in Hutto, TX. They and their kids sure enjoyed our late February snow storm. Sam said that his snowman held together for a day...when he came home Wednesday afternoon...the snowman had lost its head though.

Big brew-ha-ha over Accuweather using the term snow-a-cane for the storm system that brought the snow this last week. Media folks sure do walk a fine line between trying to keep their bosses happy who demand presenting the weather in as enticing and compelling of a way as possible. But, you do have to be very, very careful. There is a glossary of Meteorology. When I studied for my Certified Broadcast Meteorologist exam, I had to study that glossary and as a broadcast meteorologist, you are supposed to use the correct terms. I never would say for example a cool front...no such thing. It's either a cold front, a warm front, a stationary front or an occluded front (the last one...I would never use on air...too hard to explain). But I have heard people say cool front in order to denote that it just isn't all that cold. I prefer to qualify the level of coolness using adjectives. Anyway, is the concern about Accuweather's terminology just something meteorologists care about or do you care about it. I would love to hear your opinion.

Just went through such an ordeal getting a new photo printer that works. I ordered on-line through Walmart and after switching out two times, could not get the printer to talk to my computer. I have connected several printers over the past couple years with no trouble at all. And it takes forever to uninstall and install the printer software. I would not have purchased through Walmart but the printer was only $32. Well, the good news is that it so easy to take the printer to Walmart and exchange it. I ended up with a Kodak printer yesterday which is talking but now the print quality on my regular paper is very bad. I've ordered some Kodak paper and hope that will work...the photos are perfect though.

Please keep my ill aunt in your prayers. She has had an allergic reaction to some medicine that used during the surgery and now she has clots in her lungs and body. This is quite an ordeal for her family and her.

I wrote about earthquakes after the Haiti disaster...that one was a 7.0...this one in Chile many times stronger at 8.8. God bless all who have been affected. Glad to hear tsunami not so bad. The Indonesian tsuanmi in 2004 impacted water levels around the world...increasing the water level along the Gulf coast by a foot about a day or so later.

Just ordered tickets to Selena Gomez off Ebay. Both Megan and Sarah want to see her. But, I had to go to Ebay because I waited to long to check it out. Just wasn't sure well in advance what we were doing at the tail end of spring break. Well, I can tell you that my tickets are going to require binoculars but goodness, there were sets of tickets well over $1000. Yikes!!! Well, will let you know if it was worth seeing her from that distance. Looking forward to the rodeo. Always a good time.

Have a great week everyone!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman