Unsusually Warm Houston/Bitter Cold Elsewhere/Blue Poinsettias

HURRICANES AND MORE
Big contrast in temperatures across the nation!!! Also wintry weather in Missouri and from the Rockies into the northern Plains (where there are blizzard warnings for the Dakotas and Montana). It is going to be bitterly cold in Montana and the northern Rockies where highs will be in the negative singles and negative teens. I'm shivering just thinking about it.

Houston, we are back to clouds and humidity and Sunday will be unusually mild. There will be some showers but rain is most likely on Monday. A cold front brings some drier air by late Monday. But that will be short lived and it really looks like there will be warm weather through Christmas.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do party or fiesta, pronounced fee-EH-stah. It is one fiesta after another this time of year.

Don't forget to order Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco from our web site, www.frankandpaco.com for fastest delivery. You can also order from www.venturaes.com, www.dololanguages.com, www.carlexonline.com,www.thecuriousmindstore.com, www.amazon.com, www.bestbuy.com, and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/. These DVDs make great stocking stuffers. If you are more interesting in a full immersion type product, go to www.frankypaco.com.

AND MORE
HEB has the coolest blue poinsettias with glitter on the leaves...so neat! I think they must have fed white poinsettias blue colored water--a technique similar to what they do with carnations. The color is somewhat variegated--a pretty effect.

Enjoy the weekend!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Weekend Forecast/$1 Car Wash/Biggest Full Moon

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
It's quiet now out east, but the northwest and Rockies and even the southern ranges in California are being hit with wintry weather. The really cold air is sliding south out west, but it looks like it is going to get stuck...an amplified pattern with a fairly deep and persistent trough (containing the cold air) out west and the warm air over the southeast. Climate Prediction Center is forecasting above normal temperatures over the southern Plains and Texas through the 26th of December. So, you probably shouldn't be looking for a white (much less a cold) Hanukkah or Christmas there.

Saturday will be bitterly cold with Cut Bank, Montana not getting out of the single digits. It will also be very chilly across the Great Lakes and northeast. North Dakota won't get out of the teens. Compare that to the southeast and southern plains which will be in the 60s and 70s.

Houston, the weekend will be cool in the mornings and mild in the afternoons. It will become muggy and there could be some showers on Sunday. Look for skies to become cloudy again on Saturday morning.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do moon or luna, pronounced LOO-nah. Be sure to check out the full luna tonight!!! See "And More" section for more about that.

We ship our award winning DVD, Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco, daily. And if you are concerned about getting them in time for Christmas, we offer UPS and USPS priority shipping. Get your copies of Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco from our web site, www.frankandpaco.com. You can also order from www.venturaes.com, www.dololanguages.com, www.carlexonline.com,www.thecuriousmindstore.com, www.amazon.com, www.bestbuy.com, and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/.

AND MORE
Tonight, Friday, 12/12 will be the biggest full moon since 1993. For more information, go to:
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_11199195. Should be great viewing with the clear skies!

Gordy found the best car wash deal hands down. Mister Car Wash has a $1 wash at their new location on Dulles across from Dulles High School. Yes...it's true and you are not imagining!!! He used it today, and he reports that there are even people drying the car as you come out from the wash. He also said the vacuums are free. I don't know how they can afford to do this, but they are doing it!!!

Happy Weekend!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Weekend Forecast/Snow Report

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
There was a lot of excitement around here...some of it not so fun. The NWS had to extend the winter weather advisory this a.m. due to so many accidents. NWS says there were between 0.5 and 3 inches across the Houston forecast area. Wow!

The same storm system was responsible for 50 hail reports and at least 1 tornado in the southeast U.S. And there are numerous winter weather advisories/watches/warnings in the east and northeast and southern Mississippi/Alabama. Also, there are winter weather advisories for much of the Rockies and northern Plains, the Intermountain Region/western Oregon.

Friday will be very cold for the Great Lakes and Northern Plains with many locations having highs only in the teens. Look for snow in the northeast and over the Great Lakes and rain in the northwest with snow in the higher elevations.

For Houston, after a morning of freezing temperatures, mainly outlying, a nice warm up into the 60s with sunshine. Saturday will start in the 40s and warm into the 70s with clouds returning. A few showers are possible Sunday. Next front (a weak one) arrives Monday. Weather will be very mild for the next 8 to 10 days.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do ice or hielo, pronounce ee-EH-low. Watch out for hielo on the road.

Kids grow up so fast. Their brains are amazing sponges and research shows that they learn multiple languages easily and effectively. Don't let this gift giving season go by without getting the youngsters you know our award winning DVD, Let's Learn Spanish with Frank and Paco, today from our web site, www.frankandpaco.com, and you will get shipping within 24 hours. You can also order from www.venturaes.com, www.dololanguages.com, www.carlexonline.com,www.thecuriousmindstore.com, www.amazon.com, www.bestbuy.com, and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/. Before you know it, they will have outgrown that optimal learning window.

AND MORE
Remember I told you that FortBendNow.com had covered me talking to Lexington Creek Elementary. Well, they put up some video, http://fortbendnow.com/. Look on the right side and you can watch it. You'll learn so much, you'll just be amazed--tee hee!

Happy Friday!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

It's Snowing Even More!!! Winter Weather Advisory Issued!!!

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
Don't laugh my friends from the north...this is a big deal here in Houston!!!

It is so very pretty, but if you don't have to be out driving this evening, please don't do it! We are now under a Winter Weather Advisory until 4 am Thursday morning. Here is the latest from the local NWS office:
THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM. THURSDAY.SURFACE TEMPERATURES HAVE DROPPED TO FREEZING ACROSS THE AREA.LIGHT SNOW MELTING ON CONTACT WITH THE GROUND HAS BEGUN TO FREEZEON BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES. LIGHT ACCUMULATION OF ICE WILL OCCURON ELEVATED ROADWAY SURFACE SUCH AS BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES. THESNOW IS EXPECTED TO END BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND 4 AM CST.ROADS...BRIDGES...AND OVERPASSES IN THE WARNING AREA ARE SLICK AND HAZARDOUS. ACCUMULATION OF ICE ON ROADWAYS...BRIDGES ANDOVERPASSES WILL MAKE TRAVEL TREACHEROUS.

This isn't the same as what happened four years ago on Christmas Eve, but it is really something. Sometimes we miss these things because the upper level disturbances which give them the energy they need to happen, are often not well predicted by the forecast models. Looking back on last night's model runs, I have to tell you that all of the models were showing things drying out by now--before it would have gotten cold enough for snow. Mother Nature still has some tricks up her sleeve. As of about 9 pm this evening just about every location in the Houston area (including Galveston) is reporting light snow. Temperatures are freezing already. So exposed bridges, overpasses will be getting icy. Stay home!!! And watch out for the morning commute in case there are still some icy spots.

Look for sunshine to return in Houston on Thursday. Highs will be in the 50s and freezing temperatures in the morning. Friday will start in the 30s again (freezing for outlying areas) and highs will be reach the 60s. Look for milder temperatures over the weekend.

The weather is very messy and problematic for the southeast and eastern seaboard into New England. There is even a snow warning for Mississippi where a lot of snow will fall. Flood watches are in effect for Alabama, Georgia and much of the southeast. There will be some severe weather in Georgia and Florida.

On Thursday the wettest locations will be in Florida and along the eastern seaboard. It will be bitterly cold in Minnesota with some locations only reaching the single digits.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
It is snow or nieve, pronounced knee-EH-vay. Wow!!! Would you just look at that nieve!!!

And what is better to do on a cold night like this but stay inside and watch entertaining (and educational) videos with your youngsters. You can order your copies of our award winning DVD for children, Let's Learn Spanish with Frank and Paco, today from our web site, www.frankandpaco.com, and you will get shipping within 24 hours. You can also order from www.venturaes.com, www.dololanguages.com, www.carlexonline.com,www.thecuriousmindstore.com, www.amazon.com, www.bestbuy.com, and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/.

AND MORE
The snow storm of Christmas 2004 dropped a foot of snow along the coast. Victoria and Brazoria county were some of the hardest hit spots. In Missouri City, we had an accumulation of 1.5 inches. The snow storm of 1895 dropped 10 inches of snow in Galveston and 20 inches in Houston. That is the most snow I have ever heard of for Houston. On average, we get some snow every 3 to 4 years. We average freezing rain about once a year.

Be safe everyone but enjoy the view!!!

Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

It's Snowing!!!

It is snowing in Missouri City as of 4:45 pm this Wednesday, December 10th. Check out the photos at right.

Here is the official statment from the NWS. More to come!
AN UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL MOVE ACROSS THE REGIONLATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING BRINGING THE POSSIBILITY OF ANYLIGHT RAIN CHANGING OVER TO LIGHT SNOW AND OR A MIX OF LIGHT SNOWAND RAIN. THE SNOW SHOULD BE PRIMARILY CONFINED TO AREAS MAINLYNORTHWEST OF A LINE FROM FREEPORT TO PASADENA TO LIBERTY AND MAINLYFROM AROUND 6 TO 9 PM. TEMPERATURES NEAR THE SURFACE SHOULD REMAINABOVE FREEZING THROUGH MID EVENING. THE SNOW SHOULD BE LIGHT ANDVERY LITTLE IS EXPECTED TO ACCUMULATE ON ANY SURFACE OTHER THAN INFIELDS... YARDS...AND ON THE TOPS OF CARS. NO SNOW IS EXPECTED TOCOLLECT ON ROADS. ANY LEFT OVER WATER ON ROADS COULD POSSIBLYBEGIN TO FREEZE AFTER 11 PM FOR ELEVATED ROADS AS TEMPERATURESDROP TO NEAR FREEZING.

Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR It's cold!!!

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
As I write this evening, all of the Houston area is under a wind advisory (until 6 am Wednesday morning). This is just to give everyone a heads up that the wind will pose a hazard to safe driving.
This comes from the National Weather Service:
DRIVERS OF VANS...CAMPERS...TRAILERS AND OTHER HIGH-PROFILEVEHICLES SHOULD BE ALERT TO THE DANGER OF THESE STRONG WINDS...ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING ALONG EAST TO WEST ORIENTED ROADS.

Cold front moved through Houston this evening and it is going to be a very cold Wednesday with temperatures staying in the 40s. And there will be some rain, but it should taper off in the early afternoon. Wednesday will be breezy but not as windy as overnight. The wind will really add a chill. So be prepared to bundle up.

Elsewhere in the country, there is an ongoing severe weather outbreak from Louisiana and Mississipi and then on to Alabama. Already there have bben several reports of tornadoes, high winds and hail in these areas.

There were a few hail reports in central Texas earlier today. Grayson County had damage and here is a preliminary report from the NWS folks:
THERE IS A SWATH OF DAMAGE FROM SOUTH OF COLLINSVILLE TO SOUTHERNSECTIONS OF DENISON. DUE TO AERIAL FOOTAGE...MOST OF THIS DAMAGEAPPEARS TO BE DOWNBURST RELATED. HOWEVER...DAMAGE ASSESSMENT DOESINDICATE TWO PROBABLE TORNADOES.THE LOCATIONS OF THE TWO PROBABLE TORNADOES AS DETERMINED BY THENWS SURVEY TEAM ARE...1. TWO MILES WEST OF SOUTHMAYD2. SOUTHWEST TO SOUTH CENTRAL PORTIONS OF DENISON.

Just had a call from my mother and she said it is sleeting in Kerrville. Kerrville is officially reporting a mix (sleet and rain) and Burnet is reporting snow flurries. In Terrell and Killeen, mix and sleet are being reported. Near Austin, Lago Vista is reporting a mix. All of this is coming from a line of precipitation which is heading eastward this evening. This will bring cold rain to Houston early Wednesday.

Elsewhere in the country on Wednesday, look for highs in the teens for International Falls and Ste. Saint Marie. There will storms in the southeast (Georgia, Florida). There will wintry weather from the northeast into northern Louisiana.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do dentist or dentista, pronounced dehn-TEES-tah. For Spanish words like taxista, pianista, and dentista, the article will change according to the gender of the person in that occupation. For example, a male taxi driver would be el taxista while a female pianist would be la pianista. Since my dentist is male, he would be la dentista.

It's official: our DVD, Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco is now on the Homeschool.com web site for being one of their Top 15 Educational Products for 2008. This is a huge honor as the they are the number one homeschooling web site on the Internet. Here is the link: Please read their review! It is the 7th item on the list.
http://www.homeschool.com/articles/GiftGuide08/default.asp

You can order your copies today from our web site, www.frankandpaco.com, and you will get shipping within 24 hours. You can also order Let's Learn Spanish with Frank and Paco from www.venturaes.com, www.dololanguages.com, www.carlexonline.com,www.thecuriousmindstore.com, www.amazon.com, www.bestbuy.com, and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/.

AND MORE
All I want for Christmas is free dental work.

Went in for a cleaning and told the dentist about my sensitive tooth. Well guess what? It had a crack. No wonder I jumped 10 feet when I drank some cool water. You say that's not normal? Now I know.

Anyway, my dentist is awesome...Dr. Mehta got my temporary crown put in right away. He is in Sugar Land just off Williams Trace close to 59. I think he does great work. I don't know if he liked that I took a little nap...just so relaxing. Those chairs get me every time. I'm the only person I know who enjoys going to dentist even when it is not for a cleaning.

You know I'm of that age where the dentists ground away every bit of tooth that might be decayed and replaced with fillings. That poor tooth that cracked had more filling than tooth. Play music from 6 million dollar man theme "I can't hold her, she's breaking up, she's breaking up!!!" On the plus side, now that ugly old filling will be gone. Hmmmm...wish I could make all the other ones disappear. Be careful what you wish for right?

Well then I picked Sarah up and took her in for a cleaning. She had a little cavity and that amazing girl was thumbs up when he suggested we go ahead and fill it. She just layed back with her mouth wide open and let him do his thing. By golly, it was a Christmas miracle. (It probably didn't hurt that she was sleepy and that she is fascinated by anything medical).

Well, anyway, we are both doing great but I sure wish insurance paid more than 50% of crowns. I still feel blessed that I even have dental insurance. My poor mom used to just cry when we had cavities after going to the dentist. Yep...she'd troop all 6 of us in there at one time. I think she was praying in the other room while he was cleaning.

Stay warm tomorrow. You can have hot cocoa if you brush your teeth right afterwards!

Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

A Chilly Day Coming/Who Needs Christmas Stamps?

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect this evening for north central and northeast Texas. A line of storms is moving eastward through this area. Houston may get some of the action early Tuesday but it is looking less and less likely.

Houston will be very cold on Tuesday--from the Great Lakes and especially Minnesota (in the single digits for highs) down to New Mexico there will be snow showers. Numerous winter weather advisories and watches are in the effect from New Mexico northeastward to the Great Lakes.

For Houston, it will be one more mild, muggy day before the ccccccooooooolllllddddd returns. A few thunderstorms are possible early Tuesday but it looks like most of the action will be to our north. Some clouds and rain will linger into Wednesday. Those 2 things combined with a big temperature drop will make it very chilly on Wednesday. It won't get out of the 40s on Wednesday. Tuesday, in contrast will be in the 70s.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
It is stamp or sello, pronounced SAY-yoh. Don't forget to buy sellos for Christmas cards.

We have developed a work around for selling our English teaching DVD. Please feel free to go to http://www.frankypaco.com and let us know what you think.

Of course, most of you are probably more interested in learning Spanish. I may have mentioned, oh just a few times, that we have an award winning DVD, Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco. You can order your copies today from our web site, www.frankandpaco.com, and you will get shipping within 24 hours. You can also order Let's Learn Spanish with Frank and Paco from www.venturaes.com, www.dololanguages.com, www.carlexonline.com,www.thecuriousmindstore.com, www.amazon.com, www.bestbuy.com, and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/.

AND MORE
Anyone want some Christmas stamps? I love convenience as much as the next person, but here is what happens if you try to take advantage of it while dealing with a youngster like Sarah.

We went to the post office and I felt very smart because I was ready to buy some Christmas stamps out of the vending machine and avoid that awful long line. Well, I only needed 2 more books. Not having exact change, I gave Sarah a $20 and told her to put it in the machine. She happily helped me purchase 2 books. Well you know those machines only give coins as change. So we had some nice new dollar coins as part of the change. Now, they are pretty and all, but they are heavy. And sorry to say, I would rather have dollar bills.

As I'm packing an order, Sarah zips back over to the machine and puts in one of the dollar coins. Okay...just push the button and get the change back. Guess what? The machine won't let you do that. Hmmmm. I have to spend it. What are my options? Well I could buy 2 50 cent books of 1 cent makeup stamps...didn't really need those. All I had in my wallet was a $20...so I couldn't add just a little more money and get one more book of stamps. By the way, all they had was Christmas stamps. So, I went ahead and bought 2 more books. Well, now I have way more Christmas stamps and dollar coins than I need.

So, if you get a birthday card in July with a Christmas stamp, you know why. Ha!

Have a terrific Tuesday.

Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman