Megan and Billy Gilman/Mild Weather Continues/New Poll/Dark Lover

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
There are three areas being watched in the Atlantic (one the remnants of Fred). According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), all have less than a 30% chance of developing. In the Pacific there is one area with more than a 50% chance of developing.

In Louisiana and Arkansas, the low pressure area that brought us rain while it was over the Gulf, is meandering and has actually slid slightly to the southwest. Flood watches are in effect this evening for much of those 2 states. Looks like it won't lift out until the end of the week--bad news for these folks--flooding is a big concern.

On Wednesday, more rain for Arklatex and some scattered storms from the southeast into the southwest. A taste of fall in the northeast with highs in the 60s. Warm spot will be around Phoenix with highs near 100. Most of the rest of the country will have highs in the 70s and 80s.

Houston, we have not had 90s since the 8th of September. High today was only 82. Most recently, this is attributable to that low pressure area that moved in from the Gulf...first with its rain and then with the northerly flow around it (including cloud cover). For the rest of the week...we should see more of the same with isolated showers or thunderstorms possible.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do lover or amante, pronounced ah-MAHN-tay. Have you ever heard of the book series called Dark Lover? I have a brief review in the AND MORE section.

I am getting more and more requests for Volume 2 of our DVD series, Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco. Hang on everyone...it is ordered. We should be getting 1000 copies in about a week. In the meantime, you can order the award winning Volume 1 of the series from www.frankandpaco.com/, 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 how you feel about football season is closed. 60% said they love it. 40% said they could take or leave it. No one said that it made them a football widow or widower or that they couldn't wait for it to be over. Thanks to all who participated.

Our new poll is about your favorite daytime temperature...do you like it hot, cold or somewhere in between. Only one answer is allowed. Thanks in advance for sharing your opinion.

Well tonight I was shooing a lizard out the back door. I barely touched the little guy, but his tail came right over. It was wiggling like crazy. Well, I've seen this before, but I got to wondering if that hurt him. So, I checked around and the consensus was that it doesn't hurt them, that it is a defense mechanism because their wiggly tail gets the attention of predators. Here is a link to what I thought was one of the best answers:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080620215849AAqbaky

Yesterday, Sarah and I put in our fall garden. We had very good luck with sweet peas last fall and winter. So, we decided to try a slight variation...sugar snap peas. We also put in broccoli and baby spinach--both firsts for me. Sarah had a ball getting dirty from head to toe. I wonder if this will make her grow more. She's growing so fast already. I'll be posting some photos once the plants start growing.

Finally, Megan posted her Billy Gilman photos on Facebook!!! As I posted previously, Megan fulfilled her life long dream of meeting him when she became his special guest at this year's MDA telethon. He was one of the celebrity performers. See photo at right. He sure has grown up. I will tell you that he was quite the gentleman--very kind to Megan. Who knows...maybe Megan will end up being Mrs. Billy Gilman (that's what I call her to tease her). Billy is now in Nashville working on his new CD. He is planning to go more country...a move I think is very smart for him due to the popularity of that type of music. Previously he performed a variety of music. He was the CMA Rookie of the year several years ago.

Okay Mom and Megan--don't read this part...last blog post, I asked you to fill in the blank. Twilight is to teenage girls as __________ is to adult women. The answer is the Dark Lover series of books. A friend gave me the first one as a gift. There are 7 written and the author may end up writing 3 more. I have 2 words for this series: "Oh My". Megan and Mom--you can't read this series. Nuff said.

Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

No Grace but Maybe Fred Again/Sarah Marks Ike Anniversary in a Unique Way

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
HURRICANES AND WEATHER
Fred may redevelop as what is left of it drifts westward in the central Atlantic. Area that was in Gulf is now over northeast Texas/Arkansas/Louisiana and drifting northeastward. Pacific has only one disturbed area (with less than a 30% chance for development).

Today is the 1 year anniversary of Hurricane Ike, the storm that pummeled Houston...knocking out power for weeks in some cases. As we drove down one Sugar Land street today, I noticed there are still some roofs with blue tarps.

Across the US on Monday, lots of readings in the 80s with thuderstorms along the Rockies and in the southeast. 100+ around Phoenix.

Houston will be warm and muggy with a few thunderstorms. We are on the back side of the upper low. There could be a few showers or thunderstorms each day with isolated downpours. Looks like the threat for widespread flooding is past for the time being.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do skirt or falda, pronounced FAHL-dah. Do you have a poodle falda? Find out why I ask in the AND MORE section.

We don't have any poodles but we do have a Bichon-Frise in our award winning DVD Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco. Order from www.frankandpaco.com/, 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
In anticipation of the one year anniversary, Sarah decided to do something to remind us just how fun it was. She went to our 2nd refrigerator in the laundry room and cranked the thermostat all the way down to zero. By the time, I figured it out, most of the meat we store in that freezer was ruined. I had flashbacks as I threw packages of room temperature meat into the trash. We'll never forget Ike---not if Sarah has anything to do with it.

Here's a riddle for you...Twilight is to teenage girls as _______________ is to women. I'll have the answer in my next post.

And I should have a new poll with my next post. I've been having some technical difficulties so please excuse the closed poll and un-updated Storm Prediction Center graphics.

A couple weeks ago I told you about a severely disabled little girl who was visiting The Wiggles at the same time we did. The grandmother and mother have exhausted all of their savings as they valiantly care for this child. Contrary to popular belief, there is not a lot of financial help out there. You almost have to be living on the street (or take a vow of poverty as they say) before you can get any help. It's either that or get on waiting lists which take several years. This grandmother doesn't want to rely on the government...so they are having a fundraiser. Here is some information from an amazing lady, Linda Rosas:

Calling all you Greasers, Pink Ladies, Cool Cats and Nifty Fifties
ties
Courtney's 1950's Rock & Bowl Benefit is set for October 4, 2009. It's a Sunday afternoon, from 4pm-7pm. The location is at Clearlake Lanes. This event is going to be fifties themed. So pull out your poodle skirts, leather jackets, sock hop attire and dippity do because we are going to rock on in the fifties style. The three hours will be jam packed with fun. There will be Houston's Elvis tribute artist Ralph Elizondo performing for the first hour from 4:00pm to 5:00pm. From 5:00pm-6:00pm there will be a hula hoop contest, yo-yo contest, best dressed and best dancers awards. Also included are door prizes and silent auction items. The last hour from 6:00pm to 7:00pm will be the bowling tournament and for those not bowling the party room will continue to be open for fun and entertainment from 6:00pm-7:00pm. Hope you can all make it for all the fun and to show your support for Courtney. Linda Rosas, proud grandma to Courtney Brooke (SMA-1) age: 6 miracle years and Kendall Taylor (SMA free) age:4 TEXAS www.our-sma-angels.com/CourtneyBrooke http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/princesscourtney

I know that I'm thanking God for my kettle of fish when I meet people like Linda Rosas. Have a great week everyone!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Flooding Concern with TX Gulf Coast System

HURRICANES AND WEATHER

Even though Fred is turning in a direction toward the US, it is weakening. The big stories are the disturbed area along the eastern seaboard (New Jersey/MD/NY vicinity) and the area off the Texas coast. For the first system, there is potential for severe weather, coastal flooding and lots of rain. It is a non-tropical system which probably won't become tropical.

For the Texas system, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) says less than a 30% chance for development. I say let's be prepared for heavy rain Friday/Saturday. This reminds me in some ways of Allison in 2001, because it is a non-tropical mid level system off the coast. As you may recall, Allison suddenly (and this is controversial) became designated as tropical about 6 hours before landfall along the upper Texas coast. The really bad part was when it stalled over land and meandered about, dropping 3 more rounds of heavy rain after landfall. In the current case, the storm should move inland and away from Texas on Sunday. It should be steered away from Texas because of the upper low over the central US. So bottom line is be ready for rainy Friday and Saturday in Texas (especially the coast) and also southwest Louisiana. There could be flooding. Then, things should get much better on Sunday. Whether this system becomes Grace remains to be seen.

100+ desert southwest today. Slight risk severe storms NJ/NY/MD/DE area. Thunderstorms over much of south and southeast. Most areas highs in the 60s to 80s. Those 80s will be humid anywhere in south.

Houston, look for some heavy rain Friday and Saturday with much improved weather on Sunday. Watch out for flooding and remember, Turn Around, Don't Drown.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY

Let's do new or nueva, pronounced new-A-vah. It's a nueva school year and a nueva school for the kids at McAuliffe Middle School. See article in the AND MORE section.

Our nueva DVD, Volume 2, of Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco, is on order. I'll let you know when it arrives. We have the first thousand copies coming. Meanwhile, our ESL version, is being well received by the ESL training efforts through St. Laurence Catholic Church which helps many parishes in the area. We are donating free copies for the families who are trying to learn English. For those of you wanting to learn Spanish, you can order Volume 1, our award winning DVD Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco 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

New TX License Plates
My car turned 7 years old recently and I was surprised to learn that I had to get new plates. The good news was that it didn't cost extra (beyone the annual registration renewal) and I was able to mail in the application and not stand in line at the DMV...yay!!! The plates arrived within a week and I really like the more colorful version. So, you'll see these either on cars that are at least 7 years old or on brand new cars.

McAuliffe Middle School on the Mend and Improving After Ike

The following article was sent to me by my good friend Leslie Williams--Houston Chronicle Reporter. The kids at McAuliffe Middle School had to go to school at another campus after Hurricane Ike--because their school sustained so much damage. The school reopened last year and now as the new school year begins, everyone is seeing a change in the attitude of the kids. Check out this very positive story:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/fortbend/news/6606682.html

Help the Weather Museum While Getting Great Deals at Macy's!

Macy's is holding a special Shop for a Cause event on Sat, October 17th that can benefit the Weather Museum. Anyone can donate $5 to the Museum between now and the event in exchange for a shopping pass that gives the following great savings on October 17th:

- 10-20% off all purchases all day including regular, sale and clearance merchandise
- 25% off a single purchase on that day including regular, sale and clearance merchandise
- And, the donor can enter for a chance to win $500!
(Note that there are a few items excluded from the sale)

This is a great deal for $5! Please let us know if you or someone you know would like to buy a shopping pass.

Thanks,
Bridget Day
The John C. Freeman Weather Museum at Weather Research Center5104 Caroline StreetHouston, TX 77004Phone: 713-529-3076

Special Event Benefits the Elissa

The following comes from my buddies, Lew and Meresa Fincher, who are supporters of the historical ship, the Elissa.

On Saturday, September 19, the Lakewood Yacht Club will be honored as theninth recipient of the Spirit of ELISSA Award. The award, presented byGalveston Historical Foundation and the Texas Seaport Museum, will be givenat a gala evening event to be held at Lakewood Yacht Club beginning at 6:30p.m. featuring dinner, dancing, and silent and live auctions. Big band musicwill be provided by the 16-piece Billie Ledbetter Orchestra. Individualtickets, at $100 each, are available online at www.galvestonhistory.org/soeor by calling the Texas Seaport Museum at 409-763-1877. Table purchases andother sponsorship opportunities are enumerated online. Proceeds benefit the1877 ELISSA. http://www.galvestonhistory.org/2009press/soe.jpg

Have a wonderful and safe weekend everyone!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Forget about Fred--Watch that back door!

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
Fred is on the verge of becoming a hurricane (as I write this) and latest forecast from National Hurricane Center (NHC) shows a turn to northwest toward the end of the 5 day forecast period. However, fewer models are now advertising an eventual turn to the west.

Low pressure is still along eastern seaboard...still less than 30% chance of developing according to NHC.

Linda (eastern Pacific) is forecast to take a slow turn toward northeast but weakening to a remnant low by then.

For those in Texas and southern Louisiana, we need to look less at Fred and keep a wary eye on our backdoor. I noticed this yesterday but today models are becoming more insistent that some low pressure/troughiness will develop and persist along the Gulf coast. I'm not very concerned about development (although never rule that out even if wind shear is forecast to be against it) but the possibility of extended rounds of heavy rain. Today, moisture came back in fast and one thunderstorms dropped 1.8 inches in Sugar Land and 1.7 inches in Missouri City according to the Harris County Office of Emergency Management's rain gauge network.

So, Houston, get out the umbrellas, raincoats and galoshes. It looks like there will be scattered showers and thunderstorms, some with heavy rain on and off (mainly in the afternoons) through the weekend.

Nationwide on Wednesday, look for some showers and thunderstorms in the south...highs in the 80s and 90s there except a few spots like Phoenix 100+. Elsewhere highs in the 60, 70s and 80s.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do door or puerta, pronounced PWEAR-tah. Let's keep an eye on our back puerta.

A puerta is a part of our house and we go over rooms of the house in Chapter 1 of our award winning DVD 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
From the "I'm not so sure how I should take that department"...

I was riding up a downtown elevator today. I was alone with one other woman. She exclaimed "Oh don't you look like a pretty little Barbie doll!" I was so taken aback, all I could reply was..."well, I feel like an old Barbie doll". Then she said..."Well you look good for your age...you know considering how old you are". This was definitely a first for me...never been compared to a Barbie doll. I was wearing a blouse, nice capris and open toed sandals (not white of course Ha!). I wonder if she would have said the same thing if I had been wearing one of my old suits. Interesting...

Have a safe Wednesday. Keep those umbrellas handy.

Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

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