Poll Closes/New Poll/Big Weather Pattern Change

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
It is going to be a cccccoooooollllddd inauguration--broken cloud cover, upper 20s and breezy (feeling more like 15 degrees). There might even be a snow flurry. Glad I can watch it on TV. BRRRRRR!

The northeast, Ohio Valley and Great Lakes will be in the teens and 20s. There will be spotty snow showers in these areas.

Houston will start at about 40 and end up in the low 60s. It will be breezy. Temperatures will be in the 30s on Wednesday morning with a slightly warmer afternoon. And that warmup will continue as the amplified trough on the east coast flattens and then a new trough develops to our west, allowing the Gulf to open up (the moisture and warm air will return by the weekend).

SPANISH WORD FOR THE DAY
Let's do review or reseña, pronounced ray-say-NYAH. Check out the reseña of our spanish teaching DVD for children.

Learning Magazine reviewed our DVD, Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco and here is what they had to say:

Did you find the product interesting or motivating for children? Please explain. Yes. The DVD presents Spanish in a colorful way. Examples are shown along with the spelling of the word. It is then repeated several times and allows children to repeat with the actors. I did find the product to be motivating for children. The children love speaking in another language. Now they are speaking words in another language and they can understand what they are saying. For younger children, yes, this DVD is motivating and interesting. Young kids would enjoy the characters, colors, and simplicity of the video. Did you find the product interesting or motivating for children? Please explain. Spanish (speaking and writing), Feminine and Masculine pronunciation and spelling differences. The product taught to children to learn in words in a new language. It also helped with the children's short term and long term memory. Children are going to learn Spanish (both pronunciation and vocabulary) if they watch this video. In addition, they will sharpen their English skills as they brush up on common words and phrases. If funds were available, would you recommend parents buy or use this product to with children at the appropriate grade / age level? Please explain why or why not. Yes. The words taught are very basic and are great for beginner learners. I would recommend this product to parents. The children will have to learn another language once they get further into school, so this is a great tool for them to start with. For younger children, between preschool and probably first grade, I would recommend this video for purchase. I think it would be a great learning tool to teach Spanish as a second language, or even teach Spanish-speaking students English. It would work well both ways.

So there you have it...don't miss out!!! Order our award winning DVD from our web site 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/. If you are more interested in a full immersion type product, go to http://www.frankypaco.com/.

AND MORE
Our poll for inauguration plans is closed. 33% plan to watch it live. 50% plan to read about it on the Internet. 33% plan to discuss it with friends. 16% plan to read about it in the newspaper. 16% plan to listen to it on the radio. And 33% said none of the above. Please note that more one answer was allowed. Thanks to all of you who responded.

The next poll has to do with the Galveston seawall. The front page of today's Houston Chronicle had a fascinating article about the damage which has been done. There is a concern that the very foundation will erode away if not repaired soon. The cost will be very high. What do think should be done--make it as good as it was before Ike, make it even better than it was before Ike, or don't rebuild at all? Note, only one answer is allowed on this poll.

Just some background on the seawall--the seawall was built after the devastating Galveston hurricane of 1900. There had been talk of building one for many years, but it was considered too expensive and unnecessary because there was a widely held belief that all major storms would hit Texas further down the coast--but not around Galveston. The Great Galveston hurricane still stands as the worst weather disaster in U.S. history with as many as 12,000 people killed all together. In 1902, work on the seawall began and was completed a few years later. According to the Chronicle article, nothing has been done directly to the seawall since it was completed (that was more than a century ago!)

Speaking of hurricanes, there were a lot of heroes during Hurricane Ike, and The John C. Freeman Museum Gala on Groundhog Day (Monday, February 2nd) will honor many of those heroes. It is going to be a night of fabulous music, great food and entertainment at the Houston Zoo. Tickets are still available. For more information, click on this link http://wxresearch.org/gala/. And please spread the word. This gala will benefit the educational outreach efforts of the museum, which helps encourage students to pursue careers in math and science.

Today is a very important day...one where can reflect on the life and example of Martin Luther King Jr. As Sarah and I played at the park, we interacted with our neighbors, people of many races. We frolicked and laughed and enjoyed the day--together--all of us. I think Reverend King would have smiled.

Have a terrific Tuesday everyone!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

More Cold Air/Way to Give New President Suggestions

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
Happening to notice the game in Pittsburgh this evening...snow was picking up -- they are under a Winter Storm Watch.

Deep trough over eastern U.S. will dig southward enough to give Houston another shot of cooler air on Monday. It will be in the teens and 20s across the Great Lakes and much of the northeast. Tuesday will be about the same. Highs in D.C. on Tuesday will be about 32. Look for snow Monday around the Great Lakes and from the Midwest through the Ohio Valley and into the northeast.

Highs Monday will be close to 70 but then temperatures will be 40s Tuesday morning with a high near 60. Wednesday lows will be in the 30s with highs in the middle 60s. Showers are possible starting Friday.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do transition or transición, pronounced trahns-see-see-OWN. Just one more day until the formal transición of the presidency. Speaking of that, don't forget to vote in our poll about how you are planning to observe the inauguration.

The mind is a terrible thing not to stimulate--but there are easy ways to just that and do it in an entertaining way. Order our award winning DVD from our web site www.frankandpaco.com/. You can also order from http://www.venturaes.com/, www.dololanguages.com, www.carlexonline.com,www.thecuriousmindstore.com, www.amazon.com, www.bestbuy.com, and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/. If you are more interested in a full immersion type product, go to http://www.frankypaco.com/.

AND MORE
This information comes from my good buddy Lew Fincher...thanks Lew. It is a place where you can tell the Obama team just what you think he needs to do for our country.

President-elect Obama's group has a website where you can go and share your ideas with the transition team and also vote on other people's ideas. They will take the best rated ideas and include them into the "Citizen's Briefing Book" , which will be given to Obama for review after he's in office. <http://citizensbriefingbook.change.gov/home>http://citizensbriefingbook.change.gov/home

So check it out everyone!!!

Be back tomorrow!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Weekend Forecast/Marathon Weather/Jury Duty Scam

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
My mother-in-law emailed to say it was 15 below zero this morning in Council Bluffs, Iowa...fortunately no wind but certainly cold enough. Still very chilly but moderating slightly over the weekend in the northern plains, Ohio Valley, Great Lakes states and northeast. Highs in these locations will be in the teen and 20s on Saturday. The exception will be northern Maine will highs will be in the negative single digits. It will be warming up even more in places like Council Bluffs.

Houston will be moderating...lows on Saturday in the 40s with highs in the middle 60s and on Sunday, lows will be in the 50s with highs in the upper 60s. There could be a few showers on Sunday...mainly early...keep that in mind marathoners--roads might be slick. By the way--good luck marathoners!!!

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do marathon or maratón, pronounced mah-rah-TONE. Good luck and don't break a leg at the maratón.

Just like the muscles of our bodies, our minds need to be challenged and worked. One very stimulating way is through language learning and research shows it is of tremendous benefit to children. So stimulate your child's mind--order our award winning DVD from our web site www.frankandpaco.com/. You can also order from http://www.venturaes.com/, www.dololanguages.com, www.carlexonline.com,www.thecuriousmindstore.com, www.amazon.com, www.bestbuy.com, and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/. If you are more interested in a full immersion type product, go to http://www.frankypaco.com/.

AND MORE
My friend Stephanie Beardsley (veterinarian in Austin) sent me this important information about a jury duty scam. Beware!
From: Daily Log <listserv@civicplus.com>Subject: Jury Duty ScamTo: newlifehutto@yahoo.comDate: Wednesday, January 14, 2009, 8:58 AM
Jury Duty Scam DO NOT DELETE WITHOUT READING !
This has been verified by the FBI (their link is also included below). Please pass this on to everyone in your email address book. It is spreading fast so be prepared should you get this call. Most of us take those summonses for jury duty seriously, but enough people skip out on their civic duty, that a new and ominous kind of fraud has surfaced.
The caller claims to be a jury coordinator. If you protest that you never received a summons for jury duty, the scammer asks you for your Social Security number and date of birth so he or she can verify the information and cancel the arrest warrant. Give out any of this information and bingo; your identity was just stolen.
The fraud has been reported so far in 11 states, including Oklahoma, Illinois, and Colorado. This (swindle) is particularly insidious because they use intimidation over the phone to try to bully people into giving information by pretending they are with the court system. The FBI and the federal court system have issued nationwide alerts on their web sites, warning consumers about the fraud.
Check it out here: http://www.fbi.gov/page2/june06/jury_scams060206.htm And here: http://www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/juryduty.asp

Happy weekend everyone!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Frigid Conditions for Plane Crash/Weekend Forecast/Science Fair

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
That US Airways plane crash was really something...thank goodness everyone got out okay. The temperature was about 20 degrees when the crash occurred and it was breezy--felt like single digits. So, it was an extreme situation that turned out amazingly well. The human body can succumb to hypothermia very quickly. If it is even as warm as 50 degrees outside and you are wet, you can die of hypothermia. So, this was a very dangerous scenario indeed (of course the fact that the pilot had the skill to land the plane on top of the water was miraculous too).

It really is cold across the northern plains, in the northeast and across the Great Lakes States and New England. The low this moving in International Falls, Minnesota was 42 below zero--tieing the old record from 1972. That should send a shiver down your spine!!! The chilly air will be locked in place across this same area for a few days...with a slow moderation. It won't be a fun week to be up north and northeast.

Friday highs in the northern Maine will be in the negative single digits. There will be a few snow showers around the Great Lakes and the northeast. A shower or two is possible in Florida and south Texas.

Houston will be chilly with a high near 50. Overrunning clouds will try to move into the area and that would make it even colder. There will be at least one more freeze tonight (Thursday) into Friday. On Saturday--an increase in temperature with highs in the low 60s and Sunday, after morning lows in the 40s, highs will top out in the middle 60s.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do pilot or piloto, pronounced pee-low-TOE. The piloto did an amazing job of landing the plane on the water. Of course, that pilot probably had lots of training and education that enabled him to do his job so well-even in an emergency.

We all know that education is good and some types of learning offer tremendous benefits. Learning languages at a young age improves skills required for optimal scientific hypothesizing. So, give your little Einstein that edge--order our award winning DVD from our web site www.frankandpaco.com/. You can also order from http://www.venturaes.com/, www.dololanguages.com, www.carlexonline.com,www.thecuriousmindstore.com, www.amazon.com, www.bestbuy.com, and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/. If you are more interested in a full immersion type product, go to http://www.frankypaco.com/.

AND MORE
Speaking of hypothesizing--I had the privilege of judging a science fair today at Lexington Creek Elementary. The science coordinator there, Harriet Mantini, is doing amazing things!!! Hands down, this is the best science fair I have ever judged and believe me, I've judged a lot. Nearly every child had a hypothesis, well executed experiment and conclusion. I always learn a lot at these fairs. Would you believe that cheddar cheese gets moldy faster than swiss, mozzarella or white American? Now you know!!! And don't water your plants with milk--they'll die and turn moldy! Yuck! Good work, science fair students at Lexington Creek!

Happy Friday everyone!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

More Freezing Temperatures/Franchise Tax Frustration

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
Northern Minnesota and Northern Maine are going to be the two coldest areas in the nation on Thursday with highs of about 10 below zero. There won't be a lot of snow around the country. Look for some snow showers around the Great Lakes and in the northeast. Memphis (western Tennessee) could also get a snow shower. A few showers are possible over the northern plains.

Houston is getting a second shot of chilly air. Highs on Thursday will only be in the low 50s. There will be another freeze Thursday night...so don't forget to protect the pets and plants. Earlier today, Sugar Land bottomed out at 26 and Conroe and Tomball got down to 25. The highs on Friday will be close to 50. The trend through the weekend will be a slight warming.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
I think with all this talk of cold weather, it is only appropriate that we do shiver or tiritar, pronounced tee-ree-TAR. Tiritar is normal when the temperatures drop so low!

Worrying about your children's future? Well the statistics show that people who learn more than one language end up earning more money. So give your youngsters that advantage...order our award winning DVD from our web site www.frankandpaco.com/. You can also order from http://www.venturaes.com/, www.dololanguages.com, www.carlexonline.com,www.thecuriousmindstore.com, www.amazon.com, www.bestbuy.com, and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/. If you are more interested in a full immersion type product, go to http://www.frankypaco.com/.

AND MORE
Here's something that drives me crazy. I filled out my state franchise tax electronically last August. Never mind that my company is not even remotely close to earning $300,000. I still have to fill out the report and do the calculations. Well, anyway, I get this notice in the mail that I did not file and that they are estimating my tax due to be $1000 and they are fining me $100 for not filing. So, of course I called the comptroller's office. The man who helped me was super nice. There was no record of my filing and even though I had a printout of the calculation form, I had no confirmation number. So, now I get to do it all again. The man at the comptroller's office said I should print out the form and take it directly to one of their offices. Ooooohhh...that gives me confidence. Well anyway, just another fun thing that takes away from doing business.

Here's some good news. We made it to the recently reopened First Colony Library. It is all cleaned up with new carpet and some new display cases for their videos. It was good to be back there. It wasn't very busy. I think a lot of people still don't know it has reopened. As you may recall, the library developed a leak due to roof damage from Hurricane Ike. Heavy rains caused a major leak that made a big mess.

ICarly and Sam (our fish still alive now Day 4) swam by to say hi.

Happy Thursday and stay warm!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Two Main Freezes/Special Softball League/Fish Update

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! We're walking Sarah to school this a.m. and it is windy and cold and I'm thinking about those poor folks in North Dakota and Minnesota who were below zero. Ooohhhh...I'm shivering just thinking about it!

Well it is just going to be downright bitterly cold in North Dakota and Minnesota with highs Wednesday in the negative single digits--that's the highs!!! It will also very cold in the northeast, the Ohio Valley and midwest. The southern tier of states will be in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. There will be snow from the northern Rockies through the northern plains, the Ohio Valley, the Great Lakes and northern New England.

Houston, this is the coldest night yet this year (winter season). Outlying areas will have 4 to 9 hour of freezing temperatures. For places like Conroe, it will be about 12 hours. Houston metro will have 1 to 3 freezing hours. So, cover up the tender plants and make sure the pets are nice and warm. This is NOT pipe freezing weather. Always, however, be aware of exposed pipes/valves on sprinkler systems.

Another shot of cold air arrives in Houston early Thursday. Be sure to take the same precautions Thursday evening. And Thursday daytime will stay in the 40s most of the day. A shower is possible Sunday but rain chances are low.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do the verb protect or proteger, pronounced pro-tay-GAIR. It is important proteger plants and pets during freezing weather.

Now suppose you moved to Ecuador and lived in the Andes...wouldn't it be useful to speak Spanish and ask questions about how to proteger your plants? What if your kids end up doing business in Ecuador or some other Spanish speaking country? Help your kids get a headstart...order our award winning DVD from our web site www.frankandpaco.com/. You can also order from http://www.venturaes.com/, www.dololanguages.com, www.carlexonline.com,www.thecuriousmindstore.com, www.amazon.com, www.bestbuy.com, and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/. If you are more interested in a full immersion type product, go to http://www.frankypaco.com/.

AND MORE
First of all, the fish, ICarly and Sam and doing just great! They are more like swimming pigs...you should see them eat...much different from the last fish. And they eat up every little scrap...there is nothing left.

Today I signed Sarah up for a special softball team called The Dream League. This is for disabled children. My friend Cindy Villarreal told me about it and her daughter is one of the star players. The games begin in March. And here is the part I love--no practices!!! Please check it out--they need volunteers and other support. And also send this on to anyone you know who might be interested.

www.fcdreamleague.com

I can't wait to see Sarah play!

Happy Wednesday everyone!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Cold weather arrives/Poll Results/New Poll/Fish Update

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
Poor International Falls, Minnesota will have highs in the negative single digits on Tuesday. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!! It will be very cold in Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan and northern Illinois. There will be snow around the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley and rain along the eastern seaboard.

Another cold front is arriving in Houston overnight. The day will start in the 30s on Tuesday. Secondary shot of cold air arrives very early Thursday. Look for freezing temperatures early Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Friday's highs will only be in the 40s. Next rain will be Sunday.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Whoops! When I did animal the other day, I had the accent on the wrong syllable--thanks Mom. It should be ah-knee-MAHL.

Today's word is inauguration or in the instance of the upcoming presidential inauguration-- día de la toma de posesión del presidente -- DEE-ah DAY LAH toe-MAH DAY poh-seh-SEE-own DEHL prehs-ee-dehn-TAY. It is almost día de la toma de posesión del presidente. See our new poll to say how you will observe it.

Our president elect is a big proponent of learning more than one language. One thing we have in our award winning DVD is a section just for parents and caregivers--an appendix that goes over all of the vocabulary (in about 3 minutes). You can order the DVD from our web site www.frankandpaco.com/. You can also order from http://www.venturaes.com/, www.dololanguages.com, www.carlexonline.com,www.thecuriousmindstore.com, www.amazon.com, www.bestbuy.com, and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/. If you are more interested in a full immersion type product, go to http://www.frankypaco.com/.

AND MORE
The results of our poll question, How do you feel after the holidays?
36% glad to get back to normal
9% blue
18% tired
18% refreshed
0% relieved
18% can't wait until next year
Note: More than one response was allowed.

The new question is about how you plan to observe the inauguration. Again, more than one answer is allowed. Happy poll responding!

Update on ICarly and Sam, our new goldfish. They have made it past the 24 hour mark and look good. Their energy is high and they are eating well. I am very hopeful that these will be long living fish. Did you know that goldfish lay eggs rather than giving birth to live little ones like guppies? I wonder if my fish are boy and girl. Hey, the name Sam can go either way! Note: we bought these latest fish from another pet store. But I admit to major cockpit error in how I handled the aquarium.

Have a terrific Tuesday!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman