Tropical Depression #7/Forecast/End of Summer--Pool-wise

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
Tropical Depression #7 formed this afternoon in the far eastern Atlantic. National Hurricane Center is forecasting it to become a tropical storm but not a hurricane and that it will eventually turn toward the northeast. Long range members of the ensemble models show a movement back toward the west. So, I'll watch it for you.

Meanwhile, just off the eastern seaboard, non-tropical low pressure will bring squalls of rain to the outer banks of North Carolina as well as coastal flooding. According to NHC, chance of it developing is less than 30%.

In the eastern Pacific, Tropical Storm Linda is forecast to become a hurricane but stay away from land as it moves northwestward.

On Tuesday, look over for some severe storms over the northern plains into the western Minnesota. There will be some thunderstorms in many places, especially the southeast and some spots in Texas. High in the 90s for some of the southeast, Texas and southwest with a few 100s in the southwest. Rest of country 70s and 80s.

Houston will be hot and humid with only a slight chance of a thunderstorm. Big low builds into the the midwest by the weekend and that will allow some storms to spin our way.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do summer or verano, pronounced vair-RAH-noh. It really does feel like the end of verano, when you realize the pools are closing.

You can see some swimming and learn the Spanish word for swim in our award winning Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco, Volume 1. Order your copy today from www.frankandpaco.com/. You can also order from http://www.venturaes.com/, http://www.dololanguages.com/, http://www.carlexonline.com,www.thecuriousmindstore.com/, http://www.amazon.com/, http://www.bestbuy.com/, and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/. For our English as a Second Language (ESL) version, go to http://www.frankypaco.com/.

AND MORE
Took Sarah and some friends to the pool--the last day it is open for the summer. I always get kind of sad because from summer to summer, the kids grow so much and before you know it, they're not little children any more. Seems like yesterday that Megan was a girl--now she has graduated and is on the verge of entering that big world of employment and young adulthood. Forget the housework...embrace the fun outings. These are the things you will remember forever (and so will they).

Have a great week everyone!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Holiday and Week's Forecast/Megan Meets Billy Gilman!/New Poll

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
New strong tropical wave has moved off the west coast of Africa. National Hurricane Center gives it between a 30 and 50% chance of developing into a tropical storm. In the Pacific, there is an area with more than a 50% chance of developing into a tropical storm. Next storm name in Atlantic is Fred.

There will be some scattered showers and thunderstorms over the southeast US, the northern Plains and the Ohio Valley on Monday. Warmest spots will be Florida and Texas and the southwest. Most will hit the 90s...some spots in southwest will get to the 100+ range. West coast, northern plains and northeast will have highs in the 60s, 70s and 80s.

Houston had a few showers and thunderstorms over last 2 days. Rain chances are only 10 to to 20% on Monday. Highs will be in the 90s. At the end of the week, rain chances increase and there will be scattered showers and thunderstorms and slightly cooler temperatures next weekend. Enjoy the holiday!!!

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do vocalist or vocalista, pronounced voh-cah-LEESE-tah. Megan just met the person she thinks is the best vocalista. Find out all about it in the AND MORE section.

There 's plenty of singing in our award winning Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco, Volume 1. Order your copy today from www.frankandpaco.com/. You can also order from http://www.venturaes.com/, http://www.dololanguages.com/, http://www.carlexonline.com,www.thecuriousmindstore.com/, http://www.amazon.com/, http://www.bestbuy.com/, and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/. For our English as a Second Language (ESL) version, go to http://www.frankypaco.com/.

AND MORE

Our poll about when you start getting ready for the Christmas holidays is closed. 51% said they start in December, 16% in November, 16% in September, and 16% year round. No one answered that they start getting ready in October. Thanks to all who participated.

Our new poll is about football season--how do you feel about it? Are you a football widow or widower? More than one answer is allowed. Thanks in advance for partipicpating.

Major excitement for Megan in Vegas tonight...she just met Billy Gilman. Now before you say Billy who?--he was big on the pop scene about 10 years ago. He had a song called One Voice. Megan is probably his number 1 fan!!! And even though I think many of his fans have probably drifted away as he has grown into a young man, Megan has held steadfast in her devotion. He is almost exactly one month older than Megan. Now, one of her lifelong dreams has come true--meeting him face to face. For the past several years, he has been the youth host at the MDA telethon. He'll be performing tonight, 11 pm to midnight and then on Monday co-hosting from 7 to 10 am and then performing again from 1:20 to 2:20 pm. He went through a rough patch when his voice changed, but now it has leveled off and he has found his adult voice. Here's a link to that first famous song from youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPouj2SrM4w

Have a safe and fun Labor Day holiday!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Holiday Weekend Forecast/Tropical Update/Velo-cardio facial syndrome

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
Erika (Atlantic) and Jimena (Pacific) are now only Remnant lows and The National Hurricane Center is no longer issuing advisories. Both will be rain makers as they meander over the southern Bahamas and the Baja Peninsula respectively. There are 2 other new areas to watch. Other than that, the tropics are fairly quiet as we head into the holiday weekend.

No areas of severe weather designated this Friday or Saturday for the US but much of the south having a change for thunderstorms. The rain has definitely taken an edge off the heat with highs in the 80s and low 90s expected for the southern plains and much of the southwest, except for Vegas which should hit 100 or higher. Nice and mild/cool for the west US coast and the northern states and northeast with highs in the 60s and 70s.

Houston, there was some severe weather late Thursday just to our west and some heavy rain for counties north of here. There will be scattered storms through Monday (especially on Friday and Saturday). So, make your indoor backup plans. The clouds and rain will keep temperatures more moderate...mostly upper 80s and low 90s. Enjoy!

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY

Let's do students or estudiantes, pronounced s-stoo-dee-AHN-tehs. We spoke to some medical estudiantes on Thursday. Find out more in the AND MORE section.

I had an email from Teachers Discovery saying, okay, when are you sending our order. Well, of course I was happy to know there was an order, but I had not received one. Finally, I reached my contact and he said...ooooppps, we missed a step. Could you please send us 15 units? Of course, I did right away.

You can order our award winning Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco, Volume 1 today from www.frankandpaco.com/. You can also order from http://www.venturaes.com/, http://www.dololanguages.com/, http://www.carlexonline.com,www.thecuriousmindstore.com/, http://www.amazon.com/, http://www.bestbuy.com/, and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/. For our English as a Second Language (ESL) version, go to http://www.frankypaco.com/.

AND MORE
On Thursday, Gordy, Megan and I participated in a special program put on by the Baylor Genetics department to educate the new medical students. We and 2 other families spoke to about 150 students about our experience raising a special needs child. Sarah has Smith-Magenis Syndrome and the other two families had represented Williams Syndrome and Velo-Cardio Facial Syndrome. Now, I did not know this but Velo-Cardio Facial Syndrome (VCFS) is the second most common about Down Syndrome. Yet, it took that family a couple years to get a diagnosis even with severe physical problems.

So, here are a couple of links:
http://www.vcfsef.org/
http://vcfstexas.com/

The Texas support group for VCFS is very active thanks to the family which was speaking. In fact Emma, their little girl, is on the front page of the web page.

It was the first time Megan could go with us and I was soooooooooooo proud of her. She talked about her experience being a sibling of a child with SMS. She was very poised in front of all those staring eyes and listening ears. Way to go Megan!!! I think they all enjoyed hearing about how it affects a sibling.

Here's something I had never seen before until recently. I got some new fish oil and there was a flip open top. Wow! I love that...no more unscrewing. With all the supplements/vitamins etc. we take, I figure that if they all had that, I would save 1 minute per day...that would rack up to about 6 hours a year...the things I could do with that 6 hours (like write 6 more blogs Ha!). One can only hope that all the pill manufacturers will all follow that lead.

Have a great weekend everyone!!!

Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Hurricane Jimena and Tropical Storm Erika/Ant War Story/Stormy Weekend

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
Hurricane Jimena making headlines today as it sets its sights on Baja California. Af of this post, it is still a major hurricane with 115 mph winds. But, it is weakening. It will continue weakening as it makes landfall overnight and moves mostly over land. The remnants of Tropical Depression are almost all gone...NHC stopped issuing advisories today.

Tropical Storm Erika formed in the western Atlantic today. Not a good consensus about where it is going as the Bermuda High is forecast to build westward but the steering currents are weak. NHC is forecasting only slight intensification and then weakening. So, we shall see. Meanwhile, over the eastern Atlantic, there is a new area of disturbed weather.

Very pleasant with a hint of fall over the eastern US. On Wednesday, 90s and 100s with be over south Texas and the west (except for immediate west coast). Florida will have highs in the 80s with some thunderstorms. Elsewhere, highs will be in the 70s.

Houston's high on Tuesday was only 85!!! Now that's the way to start September!! The high on Monday was 87. We did have a day with highs in the 80s on the last day of July. Prior to that it was early June when highs were only in the 80s. Looks like scattered storms will return on Friday and there will be some Saturday and Sunday.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do ant or hormiga, pronounced or-MEE-gah. Do you have an hormiga problem? See one story in the AND MORE section.

Placed our order for the 2nd volume today! Will let know when they are ready for ordering. In the meantime, order our award winning Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco, Volume 1. Order from www.frankandpaco.com/. You can also order from http://www.venturaes.com/, http://www.dololanguages.com/, http://www.carlexonline.com,www.thecuriousmindstore.com/, http://www.amazon.com/, http://www.bestbuy.com/, and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/. For our English as a Second Language (ESL) version, go to http://www.frankypaco.com/.

AND MORE
If you live on the southwest side of Houston, I'm just wondering if you know about Highway 90...this is a super fast and easy way to get to the medical center. Takes 5 to 10 minutes off your commute depending on the time of day. Just thought I'd pass that along.

I put out some more of the pepperminty bug insecticide. Lots of dead ants now. Speaking of ants, I'm reminded of my childhood. Guess one time when I was staying at my Grandma Gearhart's, there were actually ants in the cottage cheese. I was horrified. When I told Grandma, she said "ah, that's okay...ants are good for you...they give you protein". I don't think I ate it even then. That Grandma was a character...true pioneer woman. So down to earth--nothing fancy--all about surviving. Her husband (my grandpa) was an entrepreneur and super outgoing. Even though he made a fortune, she didn't want any luxuries. They always lived in a simple house...not ostentatious at all. Poor Grandpa wanted to spend some money on her. But whenever he did, he was severely chastised. She didn't want or need anything. She was quite a character--kind of reminded me of granny on Beverly Hillbillies (although my Grandma was taller) and I don't remember being fed possum. She did cook good basic food--spaghetti with lots of butter, baked chicken--everything always yummy.

So, if you get an ant attack--remember don't kill 'em, eat'em--lots of protein!

Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

More comfortable/Burgers and Butterflies/Most Painful Stilettos

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
Jimena is the big story tonight given that the winds are 140 mph (Cat. 4) and it could run right over the Baja California peninsula in a couple days. Kevin to the west, is not a concern to anyone except shipping interests.

In the Atlantic, Invest 94 has greater than a 50% chance to become a named storm within 2 days. This is according to The National Hurricane Center. Next storm name is Erika. Some of the new model runs are now taking it on a path further to the south (into the northeast Caribbean). So, we shall see.

A taste of fall across the midwest, Ohio and Tennessee Valleys and northeast with lower humidity and more comfortable temperatures. Still hot in west and south Texas and the desert southwest. Thunderstorms mainly south Texas, the southeast and the Rockies.

Houston, the humidity is lower!!! Did you notice it today?! Look for some lows the next to mornings in the low 70s with some outlying areas in the upper 60s. Highs will be in the low 90s. Weak cold front slid just to our south!!! More humid later in the week with some thunderstorms starting late Friday and on and off through the Labor Day weekend.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do butterfly or mariposa, pronounced mah-ree-POH-sah. Have you ever seen 30 mariposas released at one time. Find out more in the AND MORE section.

Our 2nd volume is finished!!! I will send the disks to the DVD replicating company this week. Will let you know when they are ready for ordering. In the meantime, order our award winning Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco, Volume 1. Order from www.frankandpaco.com/. You can also order from http://www.venturaes.com/, http://www.dololanguages.com/, http://www.carlexonline.com,www.thecuriousmindstore.com/, http://www.amazon.com/, http://www.bestbuy.com/, and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/. For our English as a Second Language (ESL) version, go to http://www.frankypaco.com/.

AND MORE

Former FOX 26 co-worker Omar Perez is quite the artist (and doesn't care if women's feet hurt) Ha! Check out this pair of stilleto's that he designed courtesy of a Facebook link posted by another FOX 26 co-worker Stuart Green:
http://www.houstonpress.com/events/omar-angel-perez-stilettos-1396160/
So, Omar's art is on display. I know wife Katharine Landmeier is mega proud!!! Just don't wear those things okay?!

Saturday was the second annual Burgers and Butterflies get together at my friend Kim's house. It was 2 years ago that Kim and Patrick as well as sister Grace Ann and brother Connor lost baby brother Christian due to complications from cri du chat syndrome. Kim and Patrick are amazingly brave and God trusting parents. They went through so much trying to keep little Christian as healthy and comfortable as possible. When, they lost him, they grieved and held their family even closer.

Since then, Kim, a registered nurse has done amazing things including working Texas Children's neonatal folks on improving conditions for families there. She began working again as a nurse, providing home care for families who have seriously ill children. And she and Patrick put together the Burgers and Butterflies annual celebration. At the first year's event, they were the only family. But through a grief support group, they have met other families who have lost children. This year they recognized these families. Kim orders dozens of monarch butterflies. They are shipped to Houston in a cooler and over 24 hours allowed to warm up. They are carefully tucked into see -through envelopes. After some thoughtful words, Kim gives everyone the go ahead to carefully remove the butterflies, allowing them to open and close their wings until they are ready to fly away...just as all the little children flew away to heaven. It is very moving. Kim wants everyone to know that their grief support group welcomes newcomers--anyone who has lost a child including those who have lost through miscarriage. If you would like to join, send me an email to cecilia_sinclair@yahoo.com.

If you would like to learn more about support for cri du chat syndrome families, go to:
http://www.fivepminus.org/

Give your youngsters an extra kiss and hug tonight. Have a great week everyone!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Bumpy Weather Potential/Tropical Update/Poll Results/New Poll

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
Danny is now a tropical depression and losing it's tropical characteristics so this morning's National Hurricane Center advisory was the last one. Meanwhile, watching Invest 94, which is in an area with low wind shear and should be able to develop. Forecast path looks to be northwest...kind of like Danny and Bill's. Will monitor.

In the Pacific, Jimena is now a hurricane and should become a major hurricane over the weekend. No direct impact on land likely...but the path could be parallel to the Baja Peninsula.

A hint of fall this weekend across the midwest and moving into the northeast with a cold front. There will be thunderstorms ahead of it and out over the Rockies. Very hot and humid Texas and southwest with highs in the 90s and 100s. Mild along the west coast and northern states.

Houston, we've had a few rough isolated storms. Look for some action late Saturday into early Sunday...I'm thinking some power outages and some heavy downpours. Cold front is nearby but only areas to northwest will get a break from humidity. Fewer storms this week and high pressure digs in stronger.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do Christmas or Navidad, pronounced nah-vee-DAHD. Are you thinking about Navidad yet...participate in our new poll

Hey...you can order Navidad gifts now and avoid the rush and stress. Order our award winning Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco, Volume 1. Order from www.frankandpaco.com/. You can also order from http://www.venturaes.com/, http://www.dololanguages.com/, http://www.carlexonline.com,www.thecuriousmindstore.com/, http://www.amazon.com/, http://www.bestbuy.com/, and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/. For our English as a Second Language (ESL) version, go to http://www.frankypaco.com/.

AND MORE
With back to school in mind, my friend Leslie Williams, Houston Chronicle writer, sent me the following 2 stories about people and events helping our youngsters get the supplies they need. There is more need than ever this year.
Thanks Leslie for sharing:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/fortbend/news/6586132.html

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/fortbend/news/6586125.html

Our poll on saving at the grocery store is closed. More than one answer was allowed. 60% siad they used coupons, looks for ads and deals, and looked for deals while shopping. 40% said they buy in bulk. 80% said they purchase generic or store brands. 20% said they don't even grocery shop. And 0% said they buy whatever they want. Thanks to all who participated.

Our new poll is about the upcoming Christmas holidays...apologizing in advance for my Jewish, Hindu, and Muslim friends. I was just thinking this week, when it was August 25th, (and especially with it being so hot and humid) that we are only 4 months from Christmas. So, when do you start shopping/preparing for Christmas. Only one answer is allowed. Thanks to all who participate.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Your Meal Ticket/Make Money because of Your Car/Thunderstorms Central Texas

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
Danny is a low grade tropical storm...forecast to take a path very similar to Bill's. Further east, there is yet another area to watch, Invest 94.

Some major excitement in central Texas tonight as thunderstorms bring much needed rain. I think it even rained in parched Bandera--right Gerry (that's my stepdad who lives in the Bandera). Thanks to my bud, Mike Guerrero, who lives in San Antonio. He told me on Facebook that there is some lightning.

On Friday, there will be scattered storms in Texas and much of the southeast US. Highs will be in the 90s and 100s in Texas and the southwest. L.A. will be warmer than it has been ina while with a high in the mid to upper 80s. Rest of country in 70s and 80s.

Houston will be hot and humid with scattered storms. Weekend looks very similar with perhaps slightly fewer storms.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do money or dinero, pronounced dee--NAIR-oh. To get some ideas on how to get more dinero, see the AND MORE section.

It doesn't cost much dinero, but it sure pays back in the long run--early language learning. Take the first step. Order our award winning Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco, Volume 1. Order from www.frankandpaco.com/. You can also order from http://www.venturaes.com/, http://www.dololanguages.com/, http://www.carlexonline.com,www.thecuriousmindstore.com/, http://www.amazon.com/, http://www.bestbuy.com/, and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/. For our English as a Second Language (ESL) version, go to http://www.frankypaco.com/.

AND MORE
Okay, I'm into this money marking/bargain mode...so don't forget to answer our poll before it closes.

Now, let's talk another money saving option...the IHOP on 59 in Houston has on its sign that says kids eat free 4 pm to 10 pm 7 days a week.

And how about an easy way to make money. If you are willing to put ads on your car, and you get picked, you could make anywhere between $300 and $900 per month for up to 3 months. Check out the web site:
http://myfreecar.com/

Okay...I need to go to bed. Got that pilot shoot tomorrow.
Happy Friday!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman