Lucky survivor of Hurricane Ike

I recall talking on air in Manila a couple of years ago, about Hurricane Katrina devastating New Orleans and Hurricane Rita threatening Houston. Little did I know that not long after, I'd be in the region staring down the same local version of a Typhoon.

Houston doesn't usually get hit hard by storms, since it's far inland, but we decided to drive to Austin as a precaution. We also knew that there would be strong winds and a chance of losing power, so we didn't want the kids to be scared or sweating in the dark.

When we returned home, we saw that we were among the most lucky. There was only minor damage to the house and we still had power, gas and water. Today, almost a week later, lots of my office mates still don't have some of those basic utilities.

I've been in the US for about six months already. I don't have live a luxurious lifestyle. I don't have a big house with several luxury cars. (I never really wanted all that.) But I am extremely thankful for the things that I do have. That is feeling is something you just can't buy.

Finally

It’s been a while since my last post. I’ve had my hands quite full, since a lot has happened to me over the past couple of weeks.

Probably most significant is that I was hired recently by the Houston Chronicle. Thank God! They interviewed me a few weeks ago and wanted to hire me right away. Unfortunately, I had to wait since they were renovating their building.

The Chronicle is the largest newspaper here in this part of the state, so I’m quite excited to work for them. It’s a big well-known company and the job is also almost exactly what I was hoping to do when I moved here earlier this year.

I won’t be working for the print side of the company though. I was hired by their Online Advertising Department. Their website is growing quickly, so I’ll help coordinating their advertising. It’s something similar to an Advertising Traffic person at a Radio station

I’m still employed at a local TV station on the weekends. Right now, I’m praying that all the swimming I did this summer has prepared my back for working seven days a week. I need to pay off a few debts.

It hasn’t been a bed of roses, but I’ve had a lot of faith that they would begin to work out soon. But of course, knowing and experiencing are two different things. Thankfully things are moving along now.