Houston, Friday, September 23, 11:30 am.

NEAL: Wind is picking up, although the temperature is going up too, and today will probably be another 100-degree day. Ann and I have moved all those plastic boxes of stuff from the van to the house. Clint, Ann, and Sarah, in a monumental joint effort, have boarded up the bathroom window (we can all huddle in the hall if the windows break, but we can't do without the bathroom).

Willie is getting very nervous (he always gets nervous when his routine is interrupted). Governor Perry has been on TV spouting the obvious ("this is a very serious situation"). Studs Turtle is crashing around in her little plastic travel box, which she always does then the atmospheric pressure drops. Charley keeps standing on tiptoes next to the Studs' table trying to see what she's doing. Sadie, the neurotic guest dog, is in confinement (her crate) to keep her from fighting with the other dogs.