Tropical Depression 2E/Father's Day Tributes/Fresh Air Program

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
There is a weakening tropical wave in the Atlantic and newly formed Tropical Depression 2-E in the Pacific. This storm is forecast to moved westward and strengthen to a tropical storm tomorrow (Thursday).

Weak trough out west and ridge east is reluctant to move. That means it will continue to be hot and sticky in the southeast for at least a week. It also means fairly comfortable weather for the Rockies and northern plains and some storms on and off from the Rockies to the central plains.

Houston you are part of that hot and sticky scenario with lows in the 70s and highs in the 90s and heat indices (how it feels with the humidity) running close to 105. Stay cool!

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do father or papá, pronounced pah-PAH. Happy papá's day! See the AND MORE section for a description of my favorite dads.

Kids getting restless...tired of swimming and the heat...order my award winning DVDs, Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco. They are on the shelf (in the education section) at Barnes & Noble stores or you can order them from 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
FRESH AIR FUND NEEDS YOUR HELP
Sarah Wilson sent me a request asking me to publicize the need for help for a special charity which gives inner New York City kids a chance to have some non-city experiences.

In 2009, The Fresh Air Fund's Volunteer Host Family program, called Friendly Town, gave close to 5,000 New York City boys and girls, ages six to 18, free summer experiences in the country and the suburbs. Volunteer host families shared their friendship and homes FOR up to two weeks or more in 13 Northeastern states from Virginia to Maine and Canada.

The Fresh Air Fund relies on donations to provide memorable summers to NYC children.

The Fresh Air Fund needs hosts for the summer of 2010.

More than 65% of all Fresh Air children are reinvited to stay with their host family, year after year.
Here is the link:
http://freshairfundhost.com/

Houston Chapter of the American Meteorological Society Meeting 6/17
You don't want to miss this one!!!

The National Hurricane Program - some thoughts going into my 3rd season
Presented by Bill Read,
Director, National Hurricane Center
Thursday, June 17th
Dinner – 6:00 pm, Meeting 7:00-8:30 pm
Saltgrass Steakhouse
20241 Gulf Freeway
Webster, TX 77598-4809

Houston/Galveston Hurricane Workshop at George R. Brown Sat. 6/19
Come on out for this free workship from 10 am to 3 pm and there is a huge kid zone that is just amazing. I will be hosting 2 sessions of meet the meteorological media. Hope to see you there!!! Admission is free!

Getting my driver's license renewed
At certain times, you have to go to the DPS and get your license renewed...it is as certain as death and taxes. I went to Rosenberg this morning and there was a line out into the parking lot...too hot and slow. So I headed to the office on Dacoma in Houston and at least wait was in the a/c. But it took 2 hours from the time I walked in until the time I left. I got to talking to one 20 year old lady who said she had been trying to pass the written test since 16. She seemed overwhelmed by the booklet and said it was dumb to have to know all of that stuff. Well, all I could think was thank goodness there is a test. And I asked her, Don't you want to know all the rules so you can drive as safely as possible? She just looked at me with a glazed expression. Thank goodness for certain controls!!!

Here's a list of item values for when you itemize charitable contributions
So I ran into this by accident...Goodwill has published this list of how they value items. This way you have a nice guide for putting value on your charitable contributions.
http://www.goodwillncw.org/donationbrochure.pdf

Tribute to my Favorite Dads
No one could ever take the place of my own Dad who passed away 3 weeks before we got Sarah. He was funny and determined to live life by his principles. He was also very smart...loved science and math. Long before I saw my first episode of Star Trek, he told me all about it and made me love it. Then, when I did see it, I loved it more than I could imagine. He went to work every day, even when things were very tough. He was home every night eating dinner with the whole family. He was there when we prayed as a family and when we went to church. I miss my Dad.

Now Gordy is an amazing and passionate dad. He worries unceasingly about both his girls and would do anything for them. He gives hugs and kisses in unlimited quantities and even when exhausted, he gets up every day and takes Sarah to school. He takes his family to church every week. He provides a terrific example by putting others first. The world needs more dads like him!!!

My stepdad, Gerry, is a joy! I can't thank God enough for bringing him and my mom together. He recharged her in a way I could have never hoped. And, he treats all of his kids like his very own. He stepped in and filled a hole in a way I could have never imagined and now I can't imagine our lives without him. He's also an amazing musician!!!

My father-in-law Dale is a big lovable bear. At 75, he still goes to work every day. His favorite thing is to take his family around in his ski boat. He loves to be with family more than anything else. He has infinite patience and love for all of his grandkids. I couldn't have designed a better father-in-law.

The biological father of Sarah is very special to me. He loved her so much that he made the choice to give her the best home he could find. I am so very grateful for his decision and love him very much.

Happy Father's Day to all the fathers out there!!!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman