Weekend Forecast/Groundhog Day Celebration and Contest/New Poll

WEATHER
Winter Storm Warnings and Advisories are in effect this evening for much of the southeast. On Saturday, the warm spot will be southern Florida with highs in the 70s and 80s. In contrast, highs will be in the teens for the northern plains and much of northern New England. There will be lots of 20s for the northern plains and central plains into the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys, Great Lakes and eastern seaboard. Look for some thunderstorms extreme southeast US and some rain and snow showers out west as new storm system pushes eastward. There will also be some snow along the eastern seaboard/mid-Atlantic.

Houston had a nice soaking rain early today. According to the rain gauge network operated by the Harris County Office of Emergency Management, there were 2 inch totals around The Woodland and extreme northeastern Harris County. Near downtown and down around Friendswood, totals average 1.5 inches and around Sugar Land the amount was about 1 inch.

For Houston, there will be some sunshine this weekend but still very chilly with lows in the 30s and highs in the 40s Saturday and 50s on Sunday. A slight warmup early in the week and then the next cold front arrives mid-week with rain mainly late Wednesday into early Thursday.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do celebration or celebración, pronounced se-leh-brah-see-OWN. This is a week of celebración for weather people. Find out why in the AND MORE section.

Today I had a first on a customer order. They wanted one of each of our videos...so volumes one and two of DVDs, Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco, and Volume 1 of our ESL version (for Spanish speakers wanting to learn English)--she was buying this last one for a friend who wants to learn to speak English. You can order Volumes 1 or 2 at 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 most important aesthetic home feature for buyers is closed. 44% picked wood floors as most important (interestingly, a realtor friend of mine told me this is the most important thing). 33% picked granite countertops. 11% picked stainless steel appliances. 11% picked tile floors. 0% picked laminate floors, modern light fixtures or modern faucets. Thanks to all who participated.

In light of the fact that this is the most cherished week of the year for all meteorologists, I thought I would do a poll on how you primarily get your weather information. Thanks in advance for participating.

Yes, indeed...this is a big week for weather people. First of all, Tuesday is Groundhog Day. What?! You have no special plans?! Well first of all, you need to check out The John C. Freeman Weather Museum web site because they are having a contest to determine what native Texas creature should become the official groundhog critter for Texas. There are 6 available choices...just click on the one you like most. And, if you tell them the name of the #1 Groundhog is (pssssttt....it's Punxsutawney Phil), then you can get free admission to the museum every Saturday in February. So, put in your vote today:
http://www.wxresearch.com/ghogday.html

And, on Tuesday morning at the museum, there will be a special Groudhog Day celebration emcee'd by Channel 13's Casey Curry!!! So, head on over and join the fun!

And then on February 5th, there is the weather person's Christmas equivalent...it is National Weatherman's Day. February 5th was selected because that is the birthday of John Jeffries--one of the first weather observers in the US. Just don't forget to get gifts for all those special weather people in your world. To learn more, check out this link:
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/lsx/?n=wxmanday

Have a great weekend everyone!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Severe Threat/Finger Nails Growth Rate/New NO2 Standard

WEATHER
On Thursday, bitterly cold for the northern plains and western Great Lakes states with highs in the single digits. Wintry weather will develop over north Texas and Oklahoma and locations even further east as the next storm system moves eastward. Many of these areas are under winter weather advisories (see figure at right). There is a slight risk for severe storms in central and southern Texas. The southern tier of states will have highs in the 60s. Elsewhere, highs will be in the 20s to 50s.

Houston, there will be rain by later in the day. Some severe weather will be possible overnight Thursday into Friday morning. Looks like most of the rain will fall Friday morning. Cold front arrives Friday morning and it will be a very chilly afternoon with temperatures in the 40s and windy conditions. Saturday and Sunday will be chilly with sunshine for at least some of the time...lows in the 30s and highs in the 50s. Next rain will be Tuesday.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do big or grande, pronounced GRAHN-day. Find out about some grande boys I know.

Yay! Got another big order from my distributor today! And I have a way for you to help your children embrace Spanish while being entertained. Order my award winning DVD, Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco. And, you'll feel good about purchasing it, knowing that it has won awards from Dr. Toy and homeschool.com as a best educational product. You can find Volumes 1 or 2 at 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
Finally, finally--I had all of my fingernails about the same length and was looking forward to getting them "done' when I broke of the end of my middle finger nail. I looked around on the NET and there does seem to be a consensus that fingernails grow about .1 mm per day...so in a week you would have just over half a millimeter of growth. Keep in mind that it takes about 25 mm to make an inch. I also read that fingernails grow faster than toenails and that the nail on the middle finger grows faster than the rest. So maybe I'll have a ltitle bit of nail by the time of the Groundhog Day weather gala this coming Tuesday, 2/2. Interestingly, finger nails grow faster than toe nails--hypothesis is that it has to do with more blood flow due to more activity. Dr. Steve Lyons (of the Weather Channel) will be honored as a weather hero. And, I might get to sit at his table. I've met Dr. Lyons on and off over the years. He is a super terrific person and very deserving of a weather hero award. Grow brokern nail, grow!

A big announcement by EPA on Monday 1/25. For the first time in 35 years, they have created a new health standard for nitrogen oxides (measured as nitrogen dioxide or NO2). the new standard is for a one hour time period and is 0.100 ppm or 100 ppb. The annual standard is 53 ppb and has been around a long time. All of the country is in compliance with the annual NO2 standard. But, it is likely that many places will have trouble making the new 1 hour standard. The reason for adding a one-hour standard is because many of serious health problems with NO2 could be prevented. High NO2 is believed to be a cause of enphysema and asthma in some individuals. New monitoring equipment will be taking measurements by Jan. 1, 2013 and then there will be 3 years to collect data so that all non-attainment areas can be designated. There is a chance that Houston will be non-attainment for the new standard. Interestingly, all of the US is in attainment for the annual standard of NO2.

Well, we have a house full of company right now. My nephew Taylor just started school to beome a diesel mechanic. He will be with us for a few months. Now, Taylor's mom and dad are also here. Charlie, Taylor's friend, is also with us for a couple nights. Now this Charlie is no small dude. he is a whopping 6'9". And his little brother is 6'5". This reminds me of my nephews Josh and Jacob who are brothers. They are 6'10" and 6'5" respectively. These gentlemen giants never complain that beds don't fit them. They just tower over me and smile. Back to Charlie...his Dad's company sells pipes and just finished a huge contract providing pipes for the Texas border dike. I remember shortly before Hurricane Dolly hearing a talk where the speaker said that the dike system in the valley was in very bad shape. They had some scares after last summer's Hurricane Dolly. Now, the border dike is almost done.

Don't forget to answer the poll on the most important aesthetic improvement in a home.
Have a great Thursday everyone!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Week's Weather/Understanding Earthquakes/Saving the World from Terrorists

WEATHER
As I write this post, there has been one tornado in northern Tennessee. And, there have been several high wind measurements. Much of the southeast is under a tornado watch this evening. There are also winter weather type advisories in parts of the Sierra Nevada, Montana, South Dakota and North Dakota and parts of New England. There is a red flag warning due to high wind and dry conditions in parts of Texas.

On Monday, highs will be in the teens and 20s for the northern Rockies and northern Plains. Then there will be a swatch of 30s from the Intermountain Region through the central plains and Midwest and into the northeast. Boston, NY and DC will enjoy 40s and 50s and about 60 respectively before colder air arrives midweek. The west coast and southern states will be mainly in the 40s, 50s and 60s (Miami and the riog Grande Valley of TX will reach the mid to upper 70s). There will be some snow showers for the Great Lakes states, Ohio Valley and some thunderstorms for the eastern seaboard and southern Florida as well as the west coast. The Pacific Northwest and Intermountain Region will also have some showers and snow.

Houston will be pleasant with a morning start around 40 and highs in the 60s. It won't be so windy. Temperatures climb each day into midweek. Windy picks up again as the next storm system approaches on Wednesday. Thunderstorms and then cold front arrive Thursday. Lows will be in the 30s and highs will be in the 40s on Friday. There will be a light freeze for outlying areas Saturday morning with highs in the 50s on Saturday and slightly warmer for Sunday.



SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do recover or recuperar, pronounced ray-coo-purr-ARRRRRRRRR. Did you know that there are radioactive sources in dozens of countries that we need to recuperar to keep them out of the hands of terrorists? Find out about the U.S. team (including my own sister) that is working on doing just that.

Most of the folks doing the important work of radioactive source recovery are scientists. Did you know that children who learn more than one language are more apt to score higher on standardized math and science tests than children who only learn one language? And I have a way for you to help your children embrace Spanish while being entertained. Order my award winning DVD, Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco. And, you'll feel good about purchasing it, knowing that it has won awards from Dr. Toy and homeschool.com as a best educational product. You can find Volumes 1 or 2 at 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
What a beautiful day!!! Okay...it was a bit on the windy side. But, we took advantage of it and headed to the wide open spaces at Lost Creek Park in Sugar Land. Sarah and Lexi had a great time flying our kite. We saw several other kite flying enthusiasts out there. And, there were a few casualties in the trees.

Our church gave a report on how much was collected last week for the victims of the Haiti earthquake on January 12th. That earthquake was a 7 on the Richter scale. I got to thinking back on the old logarithmic scale for determining how each magnitude of earthquake compares to the magnitude below it. I remembered a multiplier of 10. So, I went to the United States Geological Survey site to learn more. This site has a wealth of information. For example, the strongest earthquake in the 1900s was a 9.5 in Chile in 1960. The deadliest was an 8 magnitude in 1556 in Shaanxi (Shensi) China which killed 830,000 (possibly more). Frequency-wise, in the world, there is 1 earthquake of magnitude 8 or higher each year, 17 of magnitude 7 to 7.9 and 134 of magnitude 6 to 6.9. Getting back to the multiplier of 10 for each level of magnitude, that has to do with the amplitude of the earthquake's waves measured on a seismograph. But what is even more important is the amount of energy that is released. Let me explain it this way. A magnitude 7 earthquake is 10 times stronger (amplitude-wise) than a magnitude 6 earthquake. But, it releases 32 times more energy. A magnitude 8 earthquake is 100 times stronger (amplitude-wise) than a magnitude 6 earthquake. But it releases 1000 times the energy! A magniture 9 earthquake is 1000 times stronger than a magnitude 6 earthquake and releases 31,623 times the energy!!! So, the energy release is very important for understanding the amount of destruction. To learn more about earthquakes, go to the USGS site:
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqarchives/

Here is the perfect way to exercise and benefit a charity you like. It is the 3rd Annual Charity of Your Choice Walk on Saturday, April 10, 2010 in Telfair Community in Sugar Land. You choices for beneficiaries are Second Mile Mission Cneter, Fort Bend Family Promise, Pregnancy Resource Center, Fort Bend Educatino Foundation (the Arc of Fort Bend County), child Advocates of Fort Bend, Shape Up Sugar Land, Brazos Bend Guardianship Services, Asians Against Domestic Abuse, East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry, Fort Bend Habitat for Humanity, Fort Bend Community Partners Rainbow Room, Fort Bend Regional Council on Substance Abuse, and NAMI Fort Bend. Here is the link for more information and registration:
http://charityofyourchoicewalk.com/

My sister Julie is a modern day superhero...her work is to recover radioactive sources from overseas locations--at risk of acquisition by terrorist threats. She has had to testify before the Department of Homeland Security several times. Her husband Alex is a genius master of safe methodology for recovery. Together they make and unbeatable team. The following article explains the work of these people who are trying very hard to make our world a safer place:
http://www.lcni5.com/cgi-bin/c2.cgi?075+article+News+20100121140629075075004

Have a great week everyone!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Weekend Forecast/Most Important Home Improvement/Tax Help

WEATHER
On Wednesday, there were 14 tornadoes in the US including in Texas. Today, there were 4 tornadoes and 2 of those were in southern California...not a common occurrence. A new storm system is pushing into the southwest US and on Friday there will be storms in the southwest, the central US and southern Florida. Southern plains and southeast will be mild with highs in the 70s and 80s. The northeast and northern states will be chilly with highs in the 30s and 20s. The west will be west with highs in the 40s and 50s. There will be some snow showers in the Great Lakes and rain/snow mix to D.C with some showers in the east.

Houston will be mild and pleasant on Friday. Humidity levels increase and clouds return Saturday. There will be some showers Saturday into Sunday as the next front moves through. Then lows and highs will be in the 40s and 60s respectively for several days starting Sunday. Next rain will be during the middle to later part of the coming week.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do legal hearing or vista, pronounced VEE-stah. There is an important vista coming up for parents of special needs kids. See the AND MORE section for more information.

Study after study confirms the benefits of early language learning. And I have a way for you to help your children embrace Spanish while being entertained. Order my award winning DVD, Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco. And, you'll feel good about purchasing it, knowing that it has won awards from Dr. Toy and homeschool.com as a best educational product. You can find Volumes 1 or 2 at 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
Temperature and Precipitation Outlooks for February/March/April
The figures at right were just released by the Climate Prediction Center today. Most of the southern states are supposed to have below normal temperatures and above normal precipitation. The As mean above normal expected, the Bs mean below normal expected and no notation means average conditions expected.

POLL RESULTS
My poll on Simon Cowell leaving American Idol next season is closed. Only one answer was allowed. 25% said they will watch it next year. 12% said they won't watch it next year. 65% said they don't watch American Idol. Thanks to all who participated.

NEW POLL - FEATURE TO UPGRADE TO ATTRACT HOME BUYERS
My new poll is inspired by the fact that I have developed a new addiction to watching HGTV while I work out. I have been looking around our 12 year old home and noticing all the things we might want to update if we ever sell. So, my new poll is about which feature is most important to a potential home buyer. Then, I will listen to your answer and do the one that you recommend most (right Gordy?) Only one answer is allowed. Thanks in advance for participating.

TAX HELP FOR SPANISH SPEAKERS
It is time to start thinking about taxes and my buddy Raul Feliciano Sanchez (well known throgh the Houston air waves by Spanish speakers) forwarded this tax information for Spanish speakers. Please forward to anyone you think might need this help.
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service is joining national TV network Telemundo in a special one-hour tax program for Spanish-speaking taxpayers on Sunday, Jan. 24.

The program, “Los Impuestos y Usted” (“Taxes and You”), will air at:

· 3:00 p.m. Eastern time

· 2:00 p.m. Central time

· 2:00 p.m. Mountain time

· 3:00 p.m. Pacific time

Consult your local listings for exact times.

“Los Impuestos y Usted” will focus on a variety of tax issues. In addition to topics such as who must file a tax return and who can claim deductions and benefits, the program focuses on the Earned Income Tax Credit – a valuable credit that unfortunately one in four eligible taxpayers overlook. Workers with incomes under $48,279 could receive larger refunds if they qualify.

In addition, the program will explain Free File, a service that allows many taxpayers to file their taxes online at no cost. The show will also discuss other kinds of free assistance available from the IRS.

Mónica Noguera, host for many of Telemundo’s special programs, will present the IRS program, which features in-studio interviews with IRS tax experts.

Information about the IRS is available in Spanish at http://www.irs.gov/espanol or toll-free at 1-800-829-1040, extension 8.

IMPORTANT HEARING FOR PARENTS OF SPECIAL NEEDS KIDS
The following was forwarded to me by Cheryl Sewell of the Arc of Fort Bend County. Please note that you can also email your comments if you can not make it to Austin for the hearing.
Public Hearing Annoucement - Task Force for Children with Special Needs

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING:
The Task Force for Children with Special Needs will hold a public hearing Wednesday, February 17, 2010, in Austin to hear testimony about its ongoing work.

The hearing will run from 4-7 p.m. in the Public Hearing Room of the Brown-Heatly Building, 4900 N. Lamar Blvd.

Public input helps the Task Force identify promising practices, system entry points and service obstacles.

Anyone with ideas or concerns relating to services for children with special needs is encouraged to testify. The Task Force will use this information in its efforts to improve the coordination, quality and efficiency of services for children with special needs. To ensure that all interested parties are provided the opportunity to speak; time for verbal testimony may be limited depending on the number of witnesses present.

Written testimony may also be submitted in addition to or in lieu of verbal testimony.

For those unable to attend the hearing, testimony may be emailed to opccy@hhsc.state.tx.us, or sent via U.S. mail to:

Task Force for Children with Special Needs

Texas Health and Human Services Commission
P.O. Box 13247
Mail Code: BH1542
Austin, TX 78711

For additional information, contact:

Kate Volti, Office of Program Coordination for Children and Youth

Health and Human Services Commission, 4900 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, TX 78751 (512) 487-3497
This meeting is open to the general public. No reservations are required and there is no cost to attend this meeting.

People with disabilities who need auxiliary aids or services for this meeting are asked to call Cassandra Marx at (512) 424-6963 at least 72 hours before the meeting
Task Force for Children with Special Needs.

Have a great weekend everyone!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

This Week's Weather/MLK Reflection/Julie and Julia Inspires me

WEATHER
Big winter storm moving through the western US...lots of Winter Storm Watches and Warnings. In the midwest...fog advisories. On Tuesday, nice and mild across the southeast with highs in the 60s and 70s. In the 20s and 30s in th northeast and Great lakes with snow showers. And rainy for the west coast and the southwest with snow in the Intermountain Region, Sierra Nevada and Rockies.

Houston will be mild with lows in the 50s and 60s and highs in the 70s the next couple days. Then the next system brings some thunderstorms on Wednesday. There is a slight risk of severe storms with the biggest threat being high winds. But, a few tornadoes are possible. It will be slightly cooler end of the week with highs in the 70s and lows in the 40s and 50s. A few showers are possible Saturday and then Tuesday of the coming week.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do playground, area de juegos, pronounced ah-REH-ah DAY HWAY-gose. Sarah asked me to put in this word today since we went to the area de juegos yesterday.

Get those synapses firing in your little ones' head. Order our award winning DVD, Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco. And, you'll feel good about purchasing it, knowing that it has won awards from Dr. Toy and homeschool.com as a best educational product. You can find Volumes 1 or 2 at 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 posted the new drought monitor and outlooks. Texas is in better and better shape every time. The new 3 months outlooks should be out soon. So, I put those up as soon as they become available.

We watched Julie and Julia yesterday...same day as Meryl Streep won at Golden Globe for her portrayal of Julia Child. Streep really nailed Julia Child. And, I thought Amy Adams was excellent too! I also just saw Amy Adams in Leap Year--great date movie guys!!! Anyway, I loved that the character Julie (based on a true story) did a blog and everyone started following it. I know that my blog is slowly getting more following. Please feel free to invite friends and family to read it. My stepdad keeps teasing me that I don't do enough weather forecasts for Bandera, Texas. Sometimes people give me a hard time for doing this blog. But, I really enjoy it. It keeps my meteorological muscle flexed and I have always loved to write. But, should I keep up this blog? What do you think?

Getting busy preparing for the Groundhog Day Gala on Feb. 2nd at the Rice Hotel. I hope to see you there. This gala benefits the education programs offered by The John C. Freeman Weather Museum and The Weather Research Center. We will have all kinds of weather celebrities there including Steve Lyons, hurricane expert at The Weather Channel, Gene Norman of Channel 11, Dr. Jim Siebert and John Dawson of FOX 26, Casey Currey and Travis Herzog of Channel 13, Anthony Yanez of Channel 2, and Keith Monahan of Channel 39, and Dr. Neil Frank, formerly of Channel 11 and The National Hurricane Center. It is going to be a wonderful evening!!!

Ron Cobb brought it to my attention that my links are not "active". Does anyone know how to make that happen in Blogger?

And finally, a reflection on Martin Luther King. It is so hard to explain to an innocent what he was about and what happened to him. Sarah and I were discussing him and she just did not understand the whole race thing. Sarah has friends of every race and color...especially in our ethnically diverse school and neighborhood. I feel like not even telling her about these things...why expose her to ugliness. Then, she asked me where he is now and I said in heaven. And she asked well what happened to him. And then to tell her someone murdered him. She can not even compute that. May we all love and respect each other.

Have a great week everyone!!!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Rain Ending/How to Help Haiti/Don't Eat the Butter!

WEATHER
Some rain and thunderstorms in the southeast on Saturday as today's upper level disturbance over Texas and Gulf low pressure move northeastward. Highs over the Great Lake and northeast will be in the 20s and 30s. In contrast, Florida highs will be in the 70s. Elsewhere, highs will be in the 40s, 50s and 60s. There will also be showers in the northwest, west coast, and Texas.

Houston, the weather will improve on Saturday and there could be sunshine breaking through the clouds during the afternoon. There will be some morning showers. Highs will be in the 50s. Sunday will be dry and mild with highs close to 70s. Next showers will be Wednesday. Lows will be in the 40s and highs will be in the 60s most of the week.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do aid or ayuda, pronounced ah-YOU-dah. Find out how to give ayuda to Haiti in the AND MORE section.

Well, I shipped our most recent distributor order yesterday. You can get your copy right from the source: order my DVD series, Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco. And, you'll feel good about purchasing it, knowing that it has won awards from Dr. Toy and homeschool.com as a best educational product. You can find Volumes 1 or 2 at 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
Relief for Haiti
The following information was sent to me by my parish, St. Laurence. I thought it might be helpful for all those wanting to help the people in Haiti. The first item applies to all people in the Houston/Galveston archdiocese.
Cardinal DiNardo has requested a special second collection at all Masses this weekend. Please be generous. To see the letter from the Cardinal, click HERE.

Catholic Relief Services, the U.S. bishops' international relief and development agency, is accepting donations by phone at (800) 736-3467; online at www.crs.org; or by mail to CRS, P.O. Box 17090, Baltimore, MD 21203-7090.

The Salesians are accepting donations by phone at (914) 633-8344; online at www.salesianmissions.org; or by mail to Salesian Disaster Relief, Salesian Missions, P.O. Box 30, New Rochelle, NY 10802-0030.

The Archdiocese of Miami, which has a large Haitian population, has set up a place to donate online at www.newmiamiarch.org.

Caritas International is is accepting donations for Haiti at www.caritas.org.

Food for the Poor is also accepting donations at www.foodforthepoor.org.

Catholic Medical Mission Board is accepting monetary donations by mail to CMMB, 10 West 17th St., New York, New York 10011; by phone at (800) 678-5659; or online at http://support.cmmb.org/Haiti. Medicines and medical supplies may be donated by calling CMMB's Kathy Tebbett at (212) 242 7757.

Jesuit Refugee Service is accepting donations at www.jrsusa.org; click on "Donate Now" box on right of page.

Thank you for the outpouring of financial aid and prayers in the wake of this tragedy. We will keep you updated as new information becomes available.

Cecilia Survives Preschool Talk
This morning I spoke to more than 100 preschoolers at St. Laurence's Weekday Children's Program. This is the school Sarah attended for 4 years before kindergarten. As I looked around, I saw so many of Sarah's wonderful teachers: Ms.Stacey, Ms.Nisha, Ms. June, Ms. Emma, Ms. Addy. They are all so giving and passionate about what they do. Sarah blossomed with their tender loving care. And we have been so blessed with all of the wonderful teachers Sarah has had in elementary. I am so grateful!!! The kids made the beautiful poster at right. They enjoyed puppets Frank and Paco teaching them weather terms in English and Spanish.

A cool weather blog
My friend, Dave Gorham, works for a private forecasting firm called ImpactWeather (located here in Houston). He has a wonderful weather blog and I am adding it to my list of favorites.
www.yourweatherblog.com
I love the international weather stories--stuff you won't find almost anywhere else.

The Other Side of the Global Warming Story
Our organization has been invited to attend this month's Houston Forum (http://www.thehoustonforum.org/) meeting on January 27, 2010.

The details on the event are:

The Great Climate-Change Controversy: Where's the Science? Two of the nation's leading meteorologists discuss the furious debate over climate change (aka global warming). The speakers will be Gerald North of Texas A&M and Richard Lindzen of MIT.

The meeting will be a noon luncheon held at the Petroleum Club, 800 Bell St . Reservations must be made in advance and can be done online at: www.thehoustonforum.org. The cost is $35.

Also, the next meeting of the Houston Chapter of the AMS is Thursday, January 21.
The meeting sounds very exciting:
Speaker: Tim Marshall
Topic: "Yikes! It's Hurricane Ike - Storm Chasing and Ride Out on Galveston Island"
Dinner Time: 6:00 pm
Location: La Brisa Mexican Grill (map)
Address: 501 Wesley Drive, League City, TX 77573
Phone: 281-554-4000
Chapter Meeting Time: 7:00 pm
Details are available at http://www.amshouston.net/.

Don't Eat the Butter
This story comes to you courtesy of my nephew Taylor who reminded me...about 20 years ago when I was living in Connecticut, I had befriended a young lady recently moved here from China. I had her and her family over for dinner and they reciprocated. They prepared a lovely and elaborate meal. When I sat down to eat, they put a stick of butter in front of me and said "there you go". I told them thank you but there was nothing to eat it with. They said don't all Americans eat butter with their meal? I said no and explained that if there were rolls, I might use some of the butter. So the daughter said "Oh I'll just give it to my Dad. He eats everything". Of course, I told her definitely not to let him do that as it would make him very sick. Too funny!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Rain Returning/When Simon Leaves American Idol/Post Office Disappointment

WEATHER
A nice moderation of temperatures across the country with the coldest air over the Great Lakes and northeast. Highs there will be in the teens, 20s and 30s. Across the southern states and west coast, temperatures will reach the 50s to 70s. Elsewhere, highs will be in the 40s. Look for some thunderstorms in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas and some rain in the Pacific Northwest and some rain/snow over the Rockies.

Houston will be cloudy through Saturday afternoon with showers on Thursday and some heavier rain Friday in to Saturday. Look for some sunshine to return on Sunday. There will be some more rain the middle of the coming week. Highs will be in the 50s and 60s with lows mainly in the 40s.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do idol or ídolo, pronounced EE-dough-low. Did you hear about Simon Cowell leaving ídolo americano next season. Tell me what you think in my new poll.

For a 3rd week in a row, we got an order from our main distributor. So, I am very hopeful that it is taking hold. Be one of the first...order my DVD series, Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco. And, you'll feel good about purchasing it, knowing that it has won awards from Dr. Toy and homeschool.com as a best educational product. You can find Volumes 1 or 2 at 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
Well, usually I enjoy allergy free months during the winter (before oak tree pollen returns), but I am also very allergic to mountain cedar. So, I'm wondering why I am having trouble the last few days. I called the Houston area allergy number (from the City of Houston) 713-247-5846 and found out that mountain cedar was at medium levels today. Keep in mind this is from one collection site in the Med. Center area. But still, that explains that. You can call that number to find out about allergen levels for tree and grass pollens (including ragweed in the fall) and mold spores.

This one comes from the office of that should not be happening! The office where I work (while Sarah is at school) had some certified mail to pick up Monday at a post office annex. When you walk in, there are 2 closed doors and a door bell with a sign instructing to push the bell for service. Well, one of our employees went Monday and waited 15 minutes and had to give up and leave to get back to work. So, I went Tuesday morning. Now, I only had to wait about 2 minutes, but I was slightly perplexed when the man who opened the top half of the day asked me "Were you worried I wouldn't come?" He was very pleasant--I'll admit that. So, he said he was going to get my certified mail and shut the door. Once again, I can see nothing. Meanwhile a couple more people come in and we got to talking about what happened to my co-worker. The man said that he works for a non-profit health clinic and they depend on checks which are mailed this time of year and they had been having trouble with a vacation relief carrier not delivering their mail. He said he had been to this annex several times and more than once had to wait more than 15 minutes. He actually said he has waited "much longer than that". What do you think about that folks...I just think its wrong that you are at their mercy and have no way to know what is going on behind those doors.

One of Sarah's spelling words this week is "tradition". That got me to thinking about the song from Fiddler on the Roof. So I looked it up on youtube and Sarah and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to it. I saw Topol himself when the stage production came through Houston about 10 years ago. I read in the Houston Chronicle that Topol (who was here again last year doing the show) was in his last run with the show and that he had done the show more than 2000 times. So here for your enjoyment is the link from youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRdfX7ut8gw

Speaking of youtube videos, I am going to put a link here for the National Bone Marrow donor program. Gordy and I are members and there are now 8 million. So far there have been 4800 successful transplants!!! If you are a match, you literally will save a life!!! Please sign up today--make this your number 1 New Year's Resolution. The procedure for transplanting is not as involved as it used to be and you are never charged!!!

My poll on how you feel about January is closed. 25% say they love the cold weather. 62% said they don't like the cold weather. 37% enjoy the fresh start to the new year. 12% feel energized. 50% said they wish the holidays weren't over. 12% said they are happy the holidays are over. 12% said they enjoy the last games of football season. 12% said they feel blue. No one said they are ready to work on taxes, that it is their favorite month or it is their least favorite month or other. More than one answer was allowed. Thanks to all who participated.

My new poll is about Simon Cowell leaving American Idol next season? Will that affect whether you watch or do you not watch at all? Only one answer is allowed. Thanks in advance for participating.

Have a terrific Thursday. Don't forget to keep your umbrellas handy.

Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Houston Forecast - Rain Returning

Just a quick update this evening to tell you that temperatures will continue to moderate in the Houston area while cloud cover returns on Wednesday...highs will be in the low 60s Wednesday and Thursday. Upper level disturbance tracking out of Mexico will bring rain as early as Wednesday evening but most likely timing will be Thursday, Friday and Saturday. No doubt the rain will be welcome to all the Houstonians whose sprinkler systems are busted due to our recent super cold weather.

Sunday looks drier with highs in the 60s.

Happy Wednesday everyone!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

When the Freeze Will End/Radon the Unknown Killer

WEATHER
Much of the southeast is under a Hard Freezing Warning. In the Houston area, many areas did not even get above freezing and those that did, only briefly. Even Galveston only warmed a few degrees above freezing.

A new storm system is moving into the western US. This energy will move up and over the ridge that is parked over the western US while a deep trough allows the arctic air to stay in place over the central and eastern US through the weekend. By Tuesday the ridge has shifted over the central US, allowing the central US to warm up and then it moves to the eastern US on Wednesday allowing a new trough to dig south over the Rockies and bring that area some snow.

On Saturday, the coolest spot will be over the central plains with highs in the single digits in Nebraska and Iowa and only slightly warmer over the northern plains and western Great Lakes. The warmest area will be the southwest with highs in the 70s. The Midwest, Great Lakes, Ohio Valley and northeast will have highs in the teens and 20s and there will be snow showers in these areas as well. Look for some rain in Florida.

Skies will be sunny Saturday and Sunday with lows in the upper teens and low 20s. Highs Saturday will be in the upper 30s and low 40s and Sunday's highs will be in the 50s. It will be freezing for most of the area on Monday morning but the lows will be in the upper 20s and low 30s. Temperatures will stay above freezing for the rest of the week. Rain returns mid-week.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do radiation or radiación, pronounced rah-dee-ah-see-OWN. Radon is a type of radiación that is the second leading cause of lung cancer. See the AND MORE section for important information.

The kids are stuck indoors more during the cold weather but you can still stimulate their brains...help them learn languages. My DVD series, Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco is a perfect way to get started. And, you'll feel good about purchasing it, knowing that it has won awards from Dr. Toy and homeschool.com as a best educational product. You can find Volumes 1 or 2 at 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
Does anyone know if I should have covered up my sago? I took care of my hibiscus plants and my vegetable garden. But I have never covered my sago and I am noticing lots of people are doing it now. So far, it looks unchanged.

Here is something I didn't know. Radon is the 2nd leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. I got this information from an EPA email. I am set up to receive updates from them. And, I thought this information would be very helpful. To summarize, in case you don't want to read all of the following email, radon is believed to be the cause of lung cancer that kills 20,000 people in the U.S. every year. And, some of the most at risk states are: Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. I also know the Houston area is not an area with radon concerns. So here is the email from the EPA.

PHILADELPHIA (Jan. 7, 2010) Although testing for radon is easy and inexpensive, 80 percent of the homes in the U.S. have not been tested. Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that EPA has reported as causing 20,000 lung cancer deaths nationwide every year.

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, after cigarette smoking. January is the best time to test for radon now that doors and windows are all tightly closed. Now is the time to test and if needed, reduce your exposure to radon. That’s why EPA designated January ‘radon action month.’

High radon levels have been found throughout EPA's mid-Atlantic region, which includes Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. The only way to know if you and your family are at risk from radon is to test your home for radon or have it tested by a certified professional radon tester. For do-it-yourselfers, radon kits can be purchased for $25 at building supply, hardware and general merchandise stores. A basic test takes 10 minutes to set up and when complete is mailed to a lab for analysis.

If test results are above the EPA recommended action level you need to have the radon level reduced by a certified radon ‘mitigator.’ Reducing radon is not technically difficult and costs approximately $800 - $2,500.

To locate professional radon testers and certified radon ‘mitigators’ near you by look on the web at either the “National Environmental Health Association” or “National Radon Safety Board” sites. Be sure to ask to see their credentials.

Radon is a radioactive gas produced from the uranium which is in the geological formation under the soil. The amount or radon gas varies depending on the amount of uranium in the formation. The type of soil under the house, the design of the house and the life style or the family living in the house all affect the amount of radon gas that enters a home.

For more info on radon:

· EPA’s National Radon Hotline, 1-800-438-2474

· For lists of certified testers and mitigators use the web to search for the “National

· EPA’s radon website http://www.epa.gov/radon/radontest.html.Environmental Health Association” and/or “National Radon Safety Board”.

· EPA’s mid-Atlantic region, 1-800-438-2474

· The National Environmental Publications Center, 1-800-490-9198 or http://www.epa.gov/cinc. They have “Citizens Guide to Radon” and “Home Buyers and Sellers Guide”

Editor’s Note: See EPA’s website for free, publically-available graphics about radon and public Service announcements for print, television, and radio at http://www.epa.gov/radon.

Please share this information with your family (especially those in the mid-Atlantic). Stay warm everyone and have a great weekend!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

SPECIAL UPDATE FOR HOUSTON - ARCTIC BLAST

The National Weather Service has issued a Hard Freeze Warning from 9 pm Thursday to 9 pm Sunday morning. The warning means that temperatures are expected to drop to 25 or below for at least 2 hours for area (except right at the coast). Arctic front arrives Thursday morning with freezing temperatures overnight Thursday, Friday and Saturday (into Sunday morning).

Saturday morning should be the coldest morning with temperatures dropping into the upper teens for many locations (especially outside of Houston) and away from the coast.

Also, note that there is a wind advisory for at least part of the area as it will be quite windy Thursday afternoon through Friday morning. Even for those areas not in the wind advisory, windy conditions will make actual temperatures feel like the single digits at times. Make sure to bundle up (including covering your head where a large portion of heat loss occurs). Wear protective mittens. Layer clothing for best warmth.

If you live in a heated home, you do not need to drip the water in your faucets or open your cabinets. But you should make sure that all exposed and outdoor pipes are protected. Turn off sprinkler systems and wrap exposed valves. The following list is from the National Weather Service and gives excellent advice on protecting the 4 P's (people, pets, plants, pipes).

PROTECT PEOPLE
• Keep warm, stay inside if possible.
• If you need to go out, dress in layers and wear hats, gloves and an appropriate coat.
• Avoid overexertion, as cold weather puts added strain on your body.
• Observe heater safety:
o Never place a space heater on top of furniture or near water.
o Keep heat sources at least 3 feet away from furniture and drapes.
o Never leave children unattended near a space heater.

PROTECT PETS
• Bring pets inside, and move other animals or livestock to sheltered areas.
• Keep adequate food and water available.

PROTECT PIPES
• Disconnect outdoor hoses, drain and store in protected area.
• Wrap exposed faucets and pipes - including those outside the house or in unheated crawl spaces, attics, garages and other areas.

PROTECT PLANTS
• Bring potted plants inside or store in garage near interior wall to provide extra warmth and protection from wind.
• For cold-sensitive outdoor plants, put down extra mulch and consider covering with a cloth fabric of some kind to shield the plants from wind and frost.

Protect yourself from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning by installing a battery-operated CO detector and never using generators, grills, camp stoves, or similar devices indoors.

It is also recommended that you prepare your car for winter. Have your car serviced and add antifreeze as needed.

Stay warm everyone!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Hard Freeze Watch for Houston/Drought Update

WEATHER
Wednesday will be very cold in the northern plains and western Great Lakes states will have highs in the single digits. Look for some snow from the norther Rockies through the central plains snd into the Midwest. Warmest weather will be in along the southern tier of states with highs in the 50s, 60s and 70s.

The National Weather Service has issued a Hard Freeze Watch effective from Thursday evening into Sunday morning. The watch means that there could be at least 2 consecutive hours of 25 or below temperatures. So, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, pets, plants, people and exposed pipes need to be protected. The only exception to the watch area is along the coast.

Houston, if you are thinking about snow...chances are very slim...with upper levels too warm when there will be precipitation. Once the Arctic air arrives, the air will dry rapidly.


SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do it's very cold or hace mucho frío, pronounced AH-say MOO-cho FREE-oh. On Thursday into Sunday morning, we are going to be saying hace mucho frío.

Okay...we're back in the groove and now it's time to get going on those plans to get your little ones interested in other languages. My DVD series, Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco is a perfect way to get started. And, you'll feel good about purchasing it, knowing that it has won awards from Dr. Toy and homeschool.com as a best educational product. You can find Volumes 1 or 2 at 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 updated the drought and drought outlook figures at right. In Texas, the situation is vastly improved over what it was last summer and more improvement is expected. There are only a few places in Texas still dealing with severe drought.

Stay warm everybody!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Arctic Air Coming!/New Year's Wedding/Get me out of trouble!

WEATHER
The big story for the eastern 2/3rds of the country this week will be the arctic air that is plunging southward. On Monday, highs will be in the single digits and teens over the Midwest, northern Plains and Great Lakes states. Warm spots will be coastal California with highs in the 50s and 60s, southern Arizona with highs in the 60s, south Texas with highs in the 50s and southern Florida with highs in the 60s. Elsewhere expect 20s to 40s. There will be some snow showers over the northern Rockies and Great Lakes.

Houston, this is going to be a chilly week with freezing temperatures early Tuesday and an arctic air mass arriving Thursday. There could be some brief sleet changing to snow on Thursday but accumulation is unlikely. Will keep a close eye on that. The important thing is to be prepared for Friday morning when lows for most of the area will be in the mid-20s and possibly low 20s. Galveston will likely get down to about 30. So, we will be protecting pets, plants and people Thursday night into Friday morning. Also, check your sprinkler system valves...frozen water can bust those items. There will also be freezing temperatures for much of the area early Saturday...but not as cold as Friday morning.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do wedding or boda, pronounced BOW-dah. I went to a fabulous boda yesterday. To find out all about it, go the AND MORE section.

Start the New Year off on a positive note...introduce your to the fun and benefits of early language learning. Our DVD series, Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco is a perfect way to get started. And, you'll feel good about purchasing it, knowing that it has won awards from Dr. Toy and homeschool.com as a best educational product. You can find Volumes 1 or 2 at 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
Okay...I am in trouble. I am on the board of the John C. Freeman Weather Museum and I was supposed to sign up two new members by the end of the year (being the year 2009, not 2010). First of all, how cool is this place--the only weather museum in the United States!!! For students, young professionals and senior citizens, membership is only $25 per year. You get unlimited visits to the museum and a free subscription to the newsletter. You also get a discount on museum merchandise. Family memberships are only $50 and you get discounts on weather camps! These camps are really great by the way. Kids from all over the country attend. So, please get me off the hotseat and join. Here is the link:

http://wxresearch.org/

Just got back from a whirlwind trip to San Antonio over the weekend. My cousin Sue-Anne Hill was married to Ian Benoist (on Jan. 2nd) at the Sacred Heart Conventual Chapel on the campus of our Lady of the Lake. This "chapel" was more like a cathedral if you ask me. It was built in the 20s and is attached to the convent there---the one my Dad used to tease me he was taking me to once I graduated high school. He would laugh and tell me they added another foot to the brick wall surrounding it so that the novitiates couldn't escape. By the way, there is NO brick wall. Anyway, inside the church, there are individual seats for each person as well as closeable pockets for songbooks and mass books. Sarah had fun playing with those during the vows...Yikes! The beautiful music was performed by my Mom and stepdad of Cherish the Music. Janie, Esther and Dorothy, three sisters and cousins of mine, sang the Our Father in harmony--it was a feast for the ears. The bride and groom were so happy and we enjoyed seeing family. Gordy took the photo of Sarah, me and Megan (at right) out front. One of the neat things I saw at the reception that I have never seen before was a photo booth. Each family or group was encouraged to get into the photo booth and take 4 photos. Then a printer produced 2 copies of the 4 photos, one for your to keep and one to paste with good wishes in a special scrapbook. They even had dressup items if desired. This was one of those photobooths you see in the mall etc. It was really fun and the scrapbook looked so neat. The bride had ordered all the flowers in bulk from Costco and the bridal party made their bouquets as well as the centerpieces for the reception. Everything was just beautiful! Congratulations Sue-Anne and Ian!

By the way, the officiating priest was the same one who officiated at Sue-Anne's parents' wedding (Leona and Jerry) almost 40 years ago. I was at that wedding...just a little girl...but I do remember it! Sue-Anne was the last of their 4 children to marry. Wow! Time really does fly! Wanting to take advantage of seeing so many family members, my sister Julie and daughter Sophia flew in from Spain on New Year's Day just to attend. They had spent Christmas with Julie's husband Alex and friends overseas. I know both were jet lagged but they were worked very hard to enjoy. We had a great time!

My poll on new year's resolutions is closed. More than one answer was allowed. The number one resolution was to eat better at 75%. Tied for second was lose weight and clear clutter at 66%. Next came pray more and do regular exercise at 50%. 41% said make more money but 0% said work more. 16% actually resolved to work less. 33% said finish more home projects or spend more time on kids. 25% said spend more time with spouse or spend more time with friends. 16% said other. 8% said go to church regularly or get a better job and 0% said no resolutions. Thanks to all who participated.

My new poll is about the month of January. I was inspired to do this poll as I looked around my barren house--I put all the decorations away on New Year's Day and felt relieved and sad at the same time. More than one answer is allowed. Thanks in advance for participating.

More to come on arctic cold snap.
Have a great week back at work and school everyone!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman