TX bullet style

11 days into my time down here in TX and here is how it is going (bullet-style):

• So far my shortest day working was 11 hours and a lot of that was driving from Austin to Houston and then back the same day after a meeting. Most days it has been at least 12 hours. My first day off is tomorrow and I can’t wait!

Buc-ee's gas station  on the way back to Austin. It literally has the largest number of gas pumps I have ever seen and it was like a Walmart inside. Weird.

• This time I am more removed from the survivors which is sort of nice as I’m not as emotionally exhausted this time around (more mentally exhausted from the long hours), but I don’t think that it is quite as satisfying. Today I called 10 people affected by the storm and I was hopefully able to help at least one of them with a furniture bank for hurricane survivors.
• I’m pretty sure I have gained 10 pounds since coming down here. I’m not eating while working but I’m eating out two meals a day and that is not helping. 

Don't try this when you come to TX. It tastes terrible- like cough syrup.

Last night I went to the grocery store and picked up these things and I’m crossing my fingers that they are somewhat decent. Anyone ever have them before?

Can't seem to turn these but you just have to stick them in the microwave and they are basically just veggies. Will try one tonight. Please be good.

• I keep telling myself that I will wake up early to work out and it just hasn’t happened. So I haven’t run since my 15K almost two weeks ago (shakes head). One night I did try to do some squats/ kick boxing moves just to keep moving. Most of my day is spent in front of a computer- I’m seriously averaging only 3-4K steps per day- and my body is totally rebelling. I feel terrible.
• My coworker this time around is very nice and thankfully not a creeper like last time. He has two kids right around the same ages as Izzy and Wes so it’s easy to relate.
• CP seems to be doing okay with Izzy, Wes, and his mom. His mom is dropping the kids off in the morning and CP is picking them up at night (which is our arrangement). Lucky duck. His mom is cleaning the house too. I’m so jealous that he has the help. He still seems tired and tense- imagine if he didn’t have his mom!
• I thought Izzy would be pretty good talking on the iPad, but half the time she is more interested in some art project. One night I called and said “Hey Izzy I’ll be home in 12 days.” She replied, “Twelve days is a long time Mommy.” Cue Mom guilt.
• Wes is definitely better at talking on the iPad than Izzy was at the same age. He loves to give the iPad wet kisses and I’m pretty sure when waving goodbye last night he also said “bye bye” (all the adults heard it but he refused to say it again).
• That being said, 11 days is a long time to spend away from your kids. It feels like a lot longer already and I still have a week left.
• The good news is that working this disaster will help me in the future- both with my job in Chicago and having the opportunity to work future disasters (not necessarily moving up but in some of the work that I do).
• I have now been to Corpus Christi, Houston, and San Antonio (but only spend a few minutes in each city before going to a meeting or driving through). Tomorrow I will get to explore Austin more in-depth with friends on my day off. 

Inside the Alamo (San Antonio)