Well, since Miller Reporting Group, slash, the ol' homestead is 20 or so miles up I-45 from Galveston, we've officially abandoned ship. We crashed with friends in Austin last night and are currently on our way to Abilene and Midland to give the grandparents some grandkid time while we wait to see if we still have a home, friends, a business, clients or a life.

We made Austin in a scant six hours yesterday afternoon thanks to an early start, GPS, four-wheel drive and my keen ability to mentally block out the screams of "Asshole!" from the cars around me.

Sometimes we need a little perspective. I've always regaled anyone who'd sit still long enough for me to launch into it the story of the Markman hearing which has always been my worst couple days to date. Sorry, but number one with a bullet will forever and always be when I sat for hours in gridlock with a million other people, all of us wondering if we just left our homes for the last time.

"Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop sniffing glue!" - Steve McCroskey