So all eyes turn to the Gulf as Ike approaches Houston/Galveston.  For those of you who have patiently listened to my occasional ramblings about my various cousins down there, I got word via another cousin up in NY that the only one in a mandatory evacuation area is the former baby mama of Andre's brother. Said brother picked up the kiddo and brought her to (hopefully) safe haven in the southwest part of the city. A couple of other family members are shuffling locations to camp out together. Andre' lives close to downtown Houston in a 3rd floor apartment and is apparently staying put and riding it out solo. Going by the e-mail from the NY cousin, they're all taking a fairly nonchalant approach to it, and I'm keeping fingers and toes crossed that they're right in doing so.  :::hugs cousins protectively:::