Warming Up Again!/Obama and Nobel Peace Prize/Museum Natural Science Sugar Land

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
The tropical Atlantic is quiet. In the Pacific, Tropical Depression #19E is forecast to strengthen slightly and then weaken as it moves north and then northwest.

On Monday, highs will be in the 20s and 30s from the northern Rockies to the western Great Lakes states. Some thunderstorms and warm, muggy conditions across the southeast and south Texas. Elsewhere, highs will in the 50s to 70s.

In Houston on Monday, the day will start pleasantly cool in the 50s. Then the cold front which brought such a delightfully cool weekend will back up as a warm front and bring back the warmth and humidity. Dewpoints (and thus humidity) will soar for Tuesday into the first half of Thursday. Highs middle of the week could reach the low 90s. And morning temperatures will be unpleasantly warm and conditions humid. There will be thunderstorms and rain Monday and Tuesday. Next cold front arrives Thursday pm and then it will be cooler for the weekend. Looks like a very nice weekend coming up!

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do free or gratis, pronounced GRAH-teese. Do all kids eat gratis in IHOPs deal from 4 to 10 pm? It depends. Find out how in the AND MORE section.

Volume 2 of our award winning series, Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco, is now available. Order your copy today...it makes a great birthday or holiday gift. Volume 2 has three chapters (and about 50 words/phrases) My Day, My Body, My Feelings. Order Volume 1 or 2 at www.frankandpaco.com.

AND MORE
We visited the Houston Museum of Natural Science in Sugar Land today. It's in a historical building...formerly a prison. The inside is neat too. The general admission exhibits were comprised of four main areas...some dinosaur and prehistoric bones along with petrified wood, some exotic frogs and toads, some sparkling stone exhibits (like big hunks of rock with amethysts and citrines), and a planetarium with a rotating series of movies on the half hour. As you enter, there is a T-Rex, and directly above it suspended is a huge globe which, when I looked at it, was illustrating the polar ice cap change from season to season. However, you might not notice it unless you go upstairs. For the $12 adult price tag and $9 child price tag, I did not feel satisfied. We were done in about 30 minutes. One problem is that Sarah did not want to watch the movies. The upstairs was devoted to the traveling Narnia exhibit. It was an extra ticket ($25 for adults, $18 for kids) to see that and since Sarah does not care about Narnia, we did not see it. Downstairs is also a "Dig Pit" for the kids, but you had to pay $5 to do that. It was a large rectangular area filled with goodies that the kids could find in a synthetic mulch like material. Still, I am glad we went just to see it. And I think they will be getting more exhibits in the future. So, we will probably check it out again. To learn more, click on this link:

http://www.hmns.org/education/sugar_land/visit_hmns_at_sugar_land.asp

Our poll on airborne allergens is closed. Happy to report that no one who responded had trouble with airborne allergens. Thanks to all who participated.

Our new poll has to do with President Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize. How do you feel about it?

My last post was written before some new records were established at both Bush Intercontinental Airport and Hobby Airport in Houston. On Thursday morning, before the temperature drop on Friday, some new regard high minimum temperatures were set. This means that the temperature did not cool down very much. The low temperature at Bush Airport was only 82...that was the warmest low temperature ever for the month of October. The previous record was 80 (so it was 2 degrees above the record for the entire month!!!) And Hobby Airport's low of 81 also was the warmest minimum temperature for the entire month of October--previous record was 80. So, yes, it has been very warm...record warm!!!

Here is a clarification on the kid's eat free deal at IHOP. We actually ate breakfast there today. The deal is that every day of the week from 4 to 10 pm, kids can eat free...but it is one free kid's meal per adult meal purchased. So, if you had 4 kids in tow, you would have to have 4 adults eating to get all of their meals free.

Have a wonderful week everyone!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Weather Update 2 pm Fri. 10/9

Just a quick update to let you know that the storms and cold front have moved through. Still some light to moderate rain but the rough stuff is now offshore (east of Houston).

Have a safe day!

Severe Storm Threat/Cooler Weather Almost Here!

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
Last advisory for Henri has been issued. It is just a remnant low with no forecast for redevelopment. Just east of the Lesser Antilles, there is less than a 30% chance for a new area of disturbed weather to develop.

In the eastern Pacific, there is one area with less than a 30% chance of developing.

Severe weather is marching across the central US (Including west Texas) as I write this post late this Thursday evening. There have been several reports of hail and high winds. And there are tornado and severe storm watches in effect. This is along and ahead of a cold front which will finally bring an end to the heat and humidity the south has been enduring. Along and ahead of the cold front on Friday, there will be numerous severe storms. Although tornadoes can not be ruled out, the biggest threat is high winds. A very chilly day for the northern Rockies and northern plains on Friday with highs only in the 20s and 30s. 40s and 50s for much of the Midwest. Warm and sultry across the south (ahead of the front) and southeast. Mild along the west coast.

Houston, Friday is your last morning to wake up all sweaty. Cold front moves through mid-afternoon. Look for storms as early as late morning with the most intense weather around mid-afternoon. For the weekend, cooler weather with some scattered showers (lows in the 50s and highs in the 70s with low humidity...yeah!!!).

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do cat or gato, pronounced GAH-toe. If you're going to wear scrubs, might as well have some with gatos all over them. See the AND MORE section for more.

Well, I've been making the big push this week...burning the candle at all ends...is there a wick on the side of that candle? Yep!!! And Yippee!!! Volume 2 is now available through our web site www.frankandpaco.com/. Order your copy today...it makes a great birthday or holiday gift. Volume 2 has three chapters (and about 50 words/phrases) My Day, My Body, My Feelings.

AND MORE
Thought you might get a kick out of Megan's scrubs...cats all over...quite appropriate given she is "The Cat Lady" and she works at a cat hospital. Too cute!

Have a safe Friday everyone!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Tropical Storm Henri/An End to Unbearable Heat/Babies/Spelling Help

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
Tropical storm Henri formed late today a few hundred miles east of the Lesser Antilles. It is forecast to move northwest while weakening...should not be a problem for any US land area. By the way, that is one of the French type names from the set for this part of the world (name for this set are English, Spanish or French in origin). It is pronounced on-REE.

All is quiet in the tropical Pacific.

Chilly on Wednesday across the northern Rockies and plains with highs in the 30s and 40s. Very warm and sultry across the south and southeast with highs in the 80s and 90s and extremely high dewpoints (i.e. humidity). Elsewhere, highs will be in the 50s, 60s and 70s. There will be some thunderstorms from the southwest to the northeast.

A very hot day in the Houston area--official high at Bush Airport 93 (one degree shy of the record) and the high at Hobby Airport 92 (tieing the record of 92 set in 2005). It wouldn't be so bad except the humidity is exceptionally high (dewpoints of 79...yikes!!!). So it is very stressful heat. But hang on...cold front arrives 2nd half of Friday and brings in cooler weather for the weekend. In the meantime, be prepared to sweat and look for thunderstorms especially Wed. even more so on Friday as the front approaches.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do arrival or llegada, pronounced yay-GAH-dah. We are celebrating the llegada of our 2nd volume of the award winning series Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco.

Yep!!! And Yippee!!! Volume 2 is now available through our web site www.frankandpaco.com/. Order your copy today...it makes a great birthday or holiday gift. Volume 2 has three chapters (and about 50 words/phrases) My Day, My Body, My Feelings.

AND MORE
That's my baby sister Barb's new baby boy. Sorry the picture is so dark. This was sent to me via phone messaging. I tried to lighten it up, but could only do so much because it was low resolution. Anyway, Tyler Richard joined us on Monday, October 5th, 9.5 lbs and 21.5 in. long. This is my sister Barb and husband Jeff's 3rd child. The first is Jared, age 4 and the second is Riley (a girl), age 21 months. They are all red heads. Congratulations Barb and Jeff. By the way, the middle name Richard is in honor of my father whose name was John Richard and I have a brother named Richard. Too cool Barb!

We saw Ned and Danielle's twins recently. Michael and Alexander (as you can see) are getting big! And big brother Teddy is having a ball with them. Too cute!!!

Here's a tip for all of you struggling with teaching your kids spelling words or anything else. Use some of those tub crayons (I get them at Target) and write the words on the tub as soon as you get them. By the end of the week, they will have looked at them so much, they'll know them. Sarah is struggling with her addition facts and I just got the lightbulb...ding...to put up her math equations as well. I think this is going to work!!!

May you solve all your problems as brilliantly as me! Ha!

Happy Wednesday!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Tropical Storm Grace/Not Feeling Like October/Respect Life

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
Tropical Storm Grace formed this evening in the northeastern Atlantic. Already a vigorous system when it attained tropical characteristics, it made its debut as a tropical storm with 65 mph winds. Forecast is for it to move north-northeast and weaken. There is also a disturbed area with less than a 30% chance for developing in the central Atlantic.

All is quiet in the tropical Pacific.

Brrrr!!! It is going to be a chilly Monday with some parts of the northern Rockies getting snow and with highs only in the 30s. Highs will be in the 40s across the northern plains. There are numerous winter weather advisories and warnings across the Rockies. Warm and sultry for the southeast and southern plains with highs in the 80s and 90s. Very pleasant elsewhere with highs in the 50s to 70s.

In the Houston area, sitting in church today, heard the rumbling of thunder as the cold front backed up and over us as a warm front. Had some more decent rainfalls. Now, it is warm and muggy again and brace yourselves, it is going to get even more humid and this should last all week. Some rain is possible each day but the next fireworks arrive Friday as the next front moves in. Then upper system shifts so that we have a northwest flow aloft on Sunday and that means some dry, pleasant weather a week from Monday. But, be ready to sweat this week.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do wet or mojado, pronounced mow-HA-doe. It sure was mojado early today.

Volume 2 is in the house, literally! Our web site is being updated so that it can be purchased there. I will let you know when that is. I have uploaded it to Amazon and it should start showing up in about a week. I will monitor and let you know about that. And I will be getting it out to our vendors. In the meantime, you can order our award winning Volume 1 DVD, Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco from www.frankandpaco.com/. I will also be getting Volume 2 to the following vendors who sell Volume 1-- 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
Every year around this time...October 2nd to be exact I would remember the birthday of my old buddy Robert Smith. This was the man who helped me get started as an on air TV meteorologist. He changed the course of my life--helping me fulfill a lifelong career dream in a place where I met my life partner--Gordy. A year ago in April, Robert was working his property, putting in some plumbing lines using a backhoe. His son asked him to wait a week as his wife had just had a baby, and he wanted to help him do it safely. But Robert was determined to get the work done. There was an accident and the backhoe fell on him. Tragically, as a result of his internal injuries, he died. This man not only helped me...he helped dozens of people launch their careers and follow their dreams. He was so full of life. Robert would have turned 61 this year. My prayers are with his family, including 6 surviving children and a loving wife.

Today was Respect Life Sunday. I have said this before and I will say it again...I do not agree with abortion. I believe that life begins at conception and that every life is sacred. When I look at Sarah and think that if people were doing prenatal genetic testing for her syndrome, some people would choose to abort. I tell you I can not imagine my life without her. Her zest for life is extraordinary and she is one of the most amazing, funny and loving people I have ever known. Certainly, my life would not be the same without her and yet there are people on this earth who would choose never to have someone like her. Yes. We have had to endure hardships. Yes. It has been unbearably difficult at times. And Yes. It has been a life of joy beyond comprehension.

Don't forget to hug the ones you love.
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

More Quick Weather Changes/Allergy Hotline/New Poll

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
There is one little area in the western Atlantic (with less than a 30% chance for developing). In the Pacific, there is Tropical Storm Olaf and it is forecast to move eastward and over the Baja Peninsula form the end of the weekend. It is also forecast to weaken.

Today, cold front is marching across the US. Highs will be in the 50s across much of the northern states. There will be 70s, 80s and 90s across the south with some thunderstorms there and along the eastern seaboard.

Houston will be pleasant today...prefrontal trough brought a vigorous line of thunderstorms through the area between 4 and 7 am. Some nice soaking rains with totals of 1 to 2 inches for much of the area and some 3+ totals around Friendswood...this information courtesy of the Harris County Office of Emergency Management rain gauge network. Cold front was hot on its heels and it is very pleasant outside. Highs will be in the upper 70s today with low humidity. I've got the windows open. Ooohhh Ahhhh. Quick change on Saturday as the cold front backs up, bringing thunderstorms 2nd half of Saturday and into early Sunday. Next cold front arrives middle of the coming week.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do allergy or alergia, pronounced a-lur-HEE-ah. Do you have an alergia...find out how to check air-borne allergy levels in th AND MORE section.

BIG NEWS! Volume 2 should arrive today!!! We will updating our web site so that you can order it from there. I will also upload to Amazon but it won't be available for about a week. You can our Volume 2 and our our award winning Volume 1 DVD, Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco from www.frankandpaco.com/. I will also be getting Volume 2 to the following vendors who sell Volume 1-- 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
Before our lovely wind shift and rain, Thursday was not a good day for allergy sufferers. I was a mess. I haven't had trouble with ragweed before (it is ragweed season now). So, I called the City of Houston Health Department allergy hotline 713-247-5846. Ragweed was extremely heavy (so who knows...they say after 7 years, you become sensitized and maybe I have done just that). But tree pollen was at heavy levels (with it being elm pollen). Now, in the spring, I am severely allergy to tree pollen (oak). So, I get a shot of kenalog and depamedrol last lasts 3 months. Also, mold spores and grass pollen were at medium levels.

The other day I had to go up the Katy Freeway to get to downtown. It was the first time, I had seen the Katy Tollroad. I love this idea...you can go on it if you are willing to pay. The lane on the right is for people who pay and the lane on the left is the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane. Police were on sight monitoring who wasn't complying. I wish they had this option on 59.

My poll about yard work is closed. 55% mow their own yard. 66% prune. 66% fertilize. 66% put in flower gardens. 33% put in vegetable gardens. 22% like to pull weeds. 22% don't ever do yard work. Thanks to all who participated.

The new poll has to do with air-borne allergens. Which ones are you allergic to. Or are you one of the lucky ones (like my husband Gordy) who doesn't suffer from allergy. You know what makes him sneeze is when he eats peppermints. Too funny. More than one answer is allowed. Thanks in advance for participating.

Have a great weekend everyone!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Dry and Pleasant But Another Change Soon/El Nino Impact on Winter

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
Tropical Atlantic is quiet. There is one area with between a 30 and 50% chance of developing in the eastern Pacific.

Jet Stream is on the move this week. Another cold front will sweep through the plains and eastern US on Thursday and Friday bringing rain and even some severe weather. On Wednesday, look for some severe storms over the central plains. Highs will be in the 50s and 60s across the Pacific Northwest, Rockies and much of the northeast. First Winter Storm Warning of the season is in effect for the mountains near Salt Lake City (elevations above 8,000 feet). Across the south, highs will be in the 80s. There will be some 90s across the desert southwest.

Houston will be mild with lows in the 60s and highs in the 80s. Rain returns Thursday afternoon and there could be some severe storms especially early Friday. More rain is possible on Sunday.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do cat or gato, pronounced gah-TOH. Taking care of gatos can make your feet hurt. See related story in the And More section.

There are no cats but there is one dog named Max in our award winning Volume 1 DVD, Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco. Volume 2 should arrive this week. Order today 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
New figure at right shows El Nino and La Nina winter weather patterns. The latest report from the Climate Prediction Center indicates that sea surface temperatures (eastern Pacific) are running 1 degree above normal. And they are forecasting that the El Nino pattern will strengthen and last through the winter. For the upcoming winter, this likely will mean that much of the south will be wet and on the cool side. For the Ohio Valley it likely means dry weather. From Alaska through western and most of southern Canada as well as the northern one or two tiers of states (through the Great Lakes) will be warmer than usual.

My good friend Mollie gave me a tip that kids eat for $2.50 on Sunday evenings at the SouperSalad in Sugar Land (Town Center area). I sent SouperSalad an email requesting more information (like is this deal for every Souper Salad). So, I will let you know.

Megan is loving life at the cat hospital. She is definitely in her element taking care of those cats. But, her feet are tired...she had foot surgery in May. If anyone has any suggestions for her, please let me know.

I briefly mentioned that Sarah turned 8 on Sunday. Well, let me tell you what that rascal did this time. I had wrapped her gifts and put them in our master closet. I figured surely Gordy or I will hear if she tried to get into them. As I have mentioned before, she is often up well before the crack of dawn. Well, that little stinker (after having already kicked Gordy out of the bed around 3 am) woke up around 4:30 and at some point got into those gifts. When I woke up around 7 (and by the way, she had tried to get me up a few times between 4:30 and 7), she said, "I'm sorry I opened all of my presents". I couldn't believe me eyes. She had somehow (without me waking up) dragged all of the presents into the living room and opened them. I did not hear a thing. I had no inkling of what she was doing. There was paper and cardboard everywhere. What was I to do...she was the birthday girl. Oh well!

We had a birthday greeting on the marquee in front of Sarah's school. On Monday evening, I decided to drive over and get a snapshot. Well, I was just in the nick of time. The sign changing volunteer was literally reaching to start pulling the letters down. And I cried, "stop, stop...let me take a picture before you do that". So, she laughed and backed up so I could do just that. Now, that was cutting it close. I guess greetings demand is very high and they only leave up the messages for about 2 days. I had just noticed it that morning. Almost missed it completely!!!

Well, don't miss out on the nice weather on Wednesday!
Enjoy!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman