Back to "normal"...

The remains of whichever latest tropical storm came blasting through last night and we in the MCC were not spared the sounds of thunder that ripped apart the air over Houston. I can't remember the last time I heard thunder while ensconced in the simul booth on the second floor.

Later, when I went downstairs to take a middle-of-the-night stroll around the parking lot, it was still raining, and I remarked about that as I came back inside. In his turn, the security guard recalled how the shock wave from a couple of close lightning strikes had popped the entry door open a few inches.

For some reason, I had come to believe that Olga and I were to remain in place until our normal relief time of 8:00 am. I was wrong, and our relief actually appeared at 4:45 am. The end of our shift marked the end of Olga's assignment (and, technically, mine, but my next assignment is the same thing at the same time, for one more week, so...), and she is taking off for home in Austin today.

The rain continues. I went to sleep soon after arriving home, waking up around noon or 12:30. Natalie and I went to the King Buffet for a lunch, and then came home, stopping at the Kroger for groceries and the Hollywood Video for (among other DVDs) The Two Towers, which I have yet to see. I'll probably try to catch a nap in the evening, before going back in for my next shift.

Life is looking up.

Cheers...