Ike is headed for Texas. Even so, the outer bands play with the trees and the nerves of New Orleans.

The trees bend and the rain bands drench the city. Minutes later the sky is blue and the evening radiates beauty.

Tonight we can enjoy this cool break from the summer heat — because we know Ike is not coming to visit.

Even so, the gusts are unnerving. I think we all feel it in our gut when the windows bang as the wind punches the side of an old wooden house.

My heart goes out to Galveston and all the communities watching Ike approach. We have been there and we don’t wish it on anyone.

Be safe. The rest of it can be replaced.

Please take 10 minutes and watch this. It is important–even if you don’t live in New Orleans or in Louisiana.

We drove back to the city yesterday. An easy drive. Remarkably little traffic — perhaps a result of the incomprehensible (non)decisions coming out of the Mayor’s office: Were we allowed to return? Yes. No. Only business owners with re-entry passes (who ever heard of these passes prior to evacuating? who gets them? where do you get them?). After midnight. OK anytime.

We might have waited another day but K slipped on a muddy hill Tuesday evening and landed on her wrist. We had some ice left so we could ice it down but it still seemed like getting to a doctor was a good idea.

So around noon, we followed David and Christian (and their three dogs, two cats, and Knock Knock the goat) down the two track fire road back to the blacktop. A little more than 3 hours later we were back in New Orleans.

Thankfully, no damage to property. Power was out when we got home but came on by 8pm.

Our friends Justin and Kirsta (both doctors) allowed us to swing by their place for a quick assessment of K’s wrist. Then Rob invited us over to his place for welcome home burgers and beers. So good to be home!

Today, well it was mostly spent hanging out at Oschner.

Note: I wrote this post on my iPhone while evacuated at the cabin but could not post it due to lack of internet access.

At dawn there was no sign of Gustav. The sky was clear, the air was calm and the birds were waking up. Around noon the first rains came. Easy at first, the bands gradually became apparent. At 1pm we lost power for the first time. It came back once or twice but went out for good around 3pm.

Our cabin is tucked into a ravine so most of the wind and mayhem has been happening above us on the ridges. The first tree snapped early on the afternoon. Since then it has been band after has passed through.

As the rains have continued, the dry creek bed I’m front of our cabin has returned to life. No danger to us from the rising water. The tornado warnings are more troubling as we prepare for bed.