Welcome back, Brazoria County! I misunderstood when I heard Miss Beryl say she was coming for a visit. I thought she would be tired, and willing to arrive like a lady. That was no lady! I have never seen winds like we had Monday morning. Beryl was one for the record books. The storm that started in the Atlantic on June 28th, grew to a monster Category 5 storm, made three landfalls, killing at least 11 in the Caribbean and at least four in Texas after coming ashore, was the season’s first hurricane, and was the earliest Category 5 hurricane on record. We had the most unbelievable crew of repairpersons and techs that lived in our area 24-7 (and were still at the Rec Center last night when I drove past.) There are just not enough words to thank those people for putting their lives on hold to help us. The first night I had electricity, I baked cookies and took them to the mall parking lot early the next morning where the trucks and the people were preparing to leave. As I handed over the cookies, I thanked one of the gentlemen, and just started blubbering. I’m tearing up just writing this. Beryl was a very emotional experience for me. Their dedication to our repairs was so appreciated. The storm sucked a window from the front of my house, pulled the weatherstripping from a door, which allowed a huge water stain in my bedroom, but really, it was nothing like it could have been. The poor trees. I guess they were already weakened from the drought of last summer. I continue to be amazed that no matter how many times I walked into a room or a closet, I always reached for and flipped the switch. Sometimes two rooms in succession. I must have short-term memory loss. Doesn’t the AC feel good? We must never forget!
Waiting on a hurricane is like being stalked by a turtle…
Don’t laugh. The curious Pigbutt worm was first found off the coast of California in 2001. I know, I missed that, too. They are the size of a chickpea and according to Live Science, look like “the plump pink rear end of a pig from one side and Mick Jagger’s lips from the other” – using their own mucus (snot) to trap food thousands of feet below the ocean surface. If you gently prod their bodies, it glows blue, and it can emit (fart) a puff of green glowing particles. Nature is wonderful.
For future storms, if your home is hit by a dolphin, DO NOT GO OUT TO SEE if the dolphin is okay. That’s how hurricanes trick you into coming outside.
The earliest known photograph (daguerreotype) of an American first lady, Dolley Madison, has been purchased for $456,000 by the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery. The wife of James Madison served as first lady from 1809 to 1817. When the British burned the White House in 1814, Dolley saved a portrait of George Washington from falling into enemy hands by breaking the frame and taking out the painting. A daguerreotype was the first publicly available photographic process, widely used during the 1840s and 1850s.
“Listening to meteorologists predict what’s going to happen with hurricanes five days out is like looking up your symptoms on WebMD. “Could be nothing – might kill ya.”
RECENT BIRTHDAYS: Musician conductor Doc Severinsen is 97. In his biographical documentary he says: Work out. Be happy. Remember that everybody experiences low points in life. Never walk on stage without wearing a suit or at least something fancy. It’s never too late. Severinsen played his final concert performance at 95. Former Beatle Ringo Starr is 84. He said all he wants for his birthday is peace and love – and a trippy two-tiered cake. Actor & TV personality David Hartman is 89. First host of Good Morning America 1975 – 1987. He always signed off with, “Make it a good day today.” He said, “My parents said, “hey, the responsibility for your life is you. So, if you want something to happen, you’re going to make it happen – don’t wait for anybody else to bring it to you.” Actor Nancy Kwan is 85. She was considered to be the Chinese Bridgette Bardot in the 60’s. College Football Hall of Famer and former NFL player Archie Manning is 75. Manning entered the NFL in 1971 and was a two-time Pro Bowl quarterback. Then, Archie’s sons, Peyton and Eli, became NFL starters and each won two Super Bowls. Singer model actor Grace Jones is 73.
Happy 87th birthday Krispy Kreme doughnuts. You have made our lives so much better, just the way Vernon Rudolph intended back in 1937. I still remember walking into my first Krispy Kreme in San Antonio.
Joe Engle, pilot, aeronautical engineer and former NASA astronaut that commanded two Space Shuttle missions, one in 1981 and 1985, died at 91. Shannen Doherty, actor who starred on Beverly Hills 90210 and documented her 9-year battle with breast cancer, died at 53. Child actor Benji Gregory died at age 46 of suspected heatstroke while in his car. He starred in the 80’s sitcom ALF. Fitness guru Richard Simmons died one day after his 76th birthday. He hadn’t been seen in public since 2014 but said that sometimes he left the house in disguise. I bet it was a good disguise. He made many people smile. Janis Paige who danced with Fred Astaire, toured with Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Red Skelton, Doris Day, The Pajama Game on Broadway, continuing to perform into her 90’s, died at 101.
A woman was killed in Galveston when the deck attached to her home (all built in 1994), collapsed outside because the nails had deteriorated over the years. Many decking companies recommend replacing wood decks every 15-20 years, depending on location, maintenance and exposure to the elements. Never thought of that, but after Beryl, we probably need to give older, outside wooden structures a little thought.
Had she lived, Princess Diana would have been 63-years-old on July 1st. Bobby Reed is having another Reunion Show, July 27th at the Brazoria Civic Center Theater. Costco is raising their membership fees – Regular from $60 to $65, and Gold Star from $120 to $130. After 22 years in business, RedBox, the movie and game disc rental box at many corner stores, will officially close. Mod Pizza has been saved from bankruptcy, being purchased by Elite Restaurant Group based out of LA, known for buying up underperforming chains. It is one of my favorite places to eat pizza; you pick your crust, all your favorite ingredients, then they pop it into a pizza oven and five minutes later you are eating the best pizza ever.
In 1963, the US postal service introduced zip codes. I wasn’t very old, but I do remember hearing my family members yakking about everyone being known by a number in the future. Funny. If they only knew what life is like now. You’ll pay more for stamps the next time you go to the post office. The price of first-class Forever stamps increased from 68 cents to 73 cents as USPS continues its 10-year “Delivering for America” plan intended to financially stabilize the Postal Service and modernize the postal network. Forever stamps cost 55 cents when the plan was introduced in 2021. I have always said, and will continue to believe, that a stamp is very affordable considering that you can drop an envelope in a box and send it anywhere in the U.S. for such a small amount. Send someone a card this week.
Life would be so much more fun if hurricanes had drag queen names: “Oh, here comes Hurricane Kitty Ninelives!” Or how about Trixie, Hedda Lettuce, Tess Tickle, Bob the Drag Queen, Baga Chipz, Kitty, Peaches, ChiChi, Bunny, Muffy, or Reign. Nah, I don’t think anything would have made that fun!
Both Nichole Kidman and Reece Witherspoon say that there will be a season 3 of Big Little Lies, the story of five women and their husbands – potential suspects – as they attempt to continue with their lives after a murder, along with dangerous little lies they tell themselves just to survive.
Shark populations may shift range as the oceans heat up, bringing them into greater conflict with humans, according to the scientific study. Simone Biles will be on her way to Paris for the 2024 Olympics…along with her husband who has been given permission by the Chicago Bears to miss a few days of NFL training camp so he can watch his wife compete at the Olympics. Starbucks has two new iced energy beverages.
According to the FBI, active shooter incidents in 2023 were up 89% from 2019. During 2023, there were 48 shootings as active shooter incidents. Last month, four people were killed, including a nurse and new mom that was treating a gunshot victim when she was shot, and 9 wounded in a shooting at The Mad Butcher grocery store in Fordyce, Arkansas. The 9 wounded include two police officers. The suspected shooter, 44-year-old Travis Eugene Posey, was also wounded, but arrested. No motive has been found at this time. Trump was so lucky he moved his head at just the right time, before he was shot by the 20-year-old (no known motive) with the AR-15 semi-automatic that has been called “America’s Rifle” by the NRA. According to AmericaGunFacts.com, there are approximately 23 million of these guns floating around as of 2024. That’s a lot of big, bad guns. The Secret Service were pretty sloppy at that event, and someone needs to take responsibility. But on a more positive note, a Trump-owned company is now selling $299 sneakers showing an image of Donald Trump with blood on his cheek and pumping his fist in the air right after the shooting. The white high tops are limited editions so you can show your support and patriotic pride. They’re named FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT High Tops, with only 5,000 pairs available and 10 of those pairs will be randomly autographed.
I know Hurricane Beryl was an expensive few days for everyone, and we just continue to spend on clean-up and repairs. Remember we have FREE garage sale ads, if you happen to need our services.
LISA
Send comments to Lisa Baker at lisa@thesourceweekly.com
