Sunday Forecast/Hurricane Paloma/Baylor College of Medicine helps parents

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
As I write this blog, Hurricane Paloma has made landfall on Cuba. Here is the latest from The National Hurricane Center.

AT APPROXIMATELY 620 PM EST...2320 UTC...HIGH-RESOLUTION GOES SATELLITE DATA AND A RECENT POSITION FIX FROM AN AIR FORCE RESERVE UNIT HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT...PLUS SURFACE OBSERVATIONS AND RADAR DATA FROM CUBA...INDICATE THAT MAJOR HURRICANE PALOMA LIKELY MADE LANDFALL NEAR SANTA CRUZ DEL SUR CUBA AS A STRONG CATEGORY 3 HURRICANE WITH MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS NEAR 125 MPH...200 KM/HR.

It already hammered the Cayman Islands. It also has the distinction of being the 2nd strongest Atlantic basin November hurricane on record.

After crossing Cuba, the forecast models take it different directions as it falls apart. But it shouldn't matter unless it stalls over land...which it doesn't look like it will do. For one thing, the upper part of the storm should be sheared away.

Sunday weather in Houston: another pleasant day with some clouds by late afternoon--a cool morning and a warm afternoon. Look for rain on and off starting Monday and continuing until Thursday. Then...another great weekend.

On Sunday, the northern half of the country will be chilly with highs in the 20s, 30s and 40s. There will be rain in the Pacific Northwest and intermountain region and some snow showers over the Great Lakes states.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
The word is tired--cansado or cansada, pronounced cahn-SAH-dough or cahn-SAH-dah. I am so cansada (a ending as I am female) after hosting our 5th annual Smith-Magenis Syndrome picnic.

And when you are tired, what is better than shopping from the comforts of home? Speaking of that, when you do your Christmas shopping, don't forget to order our award winning DVD, Volume 1 of Let's Learn Spanish with Frank and Paco, a Dr. Toy Top 10 Educational Product for 2008. You can order it from www.frankandpaco.com, www.venturaes.com, www.dololanguages.com, www.carlexonline.com,www.thecuriousmindstore.com, www.amazon.com, www.bestbuy.com, and www.barnesandnoble.com.

AND MORE
For five years, Gordy and I have hosted a picnic for families who have children with Smith-Magenis Syndrome. This is the syndrome our daughter Sarah has. For more information, see prisms.org. Anyway, every year, we see new faces. And this is truly a lifeline as the syndrome is so rare and it is validating and comforting to the families of these children to meet others who understand.

Last night, Baylor College of Medicine medical students had Parents Night Out. This is a night when parents of Smith-Magenis children can drop them off and go out and have a break. You see some of these children are so difficult that the parents can not find anyone to watch them. Special thanks to all of these folks and Dr. Lorraine Potocki and assistant Yolanda for volunteering your Friday night to do this once a year. It is so very appreciated.

Well, enjoy Sunday everyone!

Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman