day 1, part 2

This has not been a good day. Hot morning, no electricity, no hot water, no cell, traffic, but at least I get the rest of the day off.

My watch says 12:45 PM.

Only in the office for about fifteen minutes, and the car is already hot. I crank up the a/c and think about the house. Currently running in the mid 90s and getting hotter. I need a fan... maybe three.

360 south is backed up as far as I can see. Not waiting through this again, I take the emergency turn around and head north. Traffic isn't much better, but it is moving.

People are not happy. Between Lost Creek and Bee Cave, people on the southbound side of the road are out of their cars yelling at each other. Can't blame them, this is pretty fucked.

I turn onto Bee Cave and slowly work my way back towards the city.

Still need a beer. I'm stopping at the first bar I see. They must be giving everything away cheap since the electricity is out. I cut down Westlake thinking Hula Hut.

Westlake Dr. is not too bad at first, but the backup starts again leading up to the gas station at Red Bud Trail.

No electricity, no pumps folks. Get moving.

Glad I filled up yesterday.

My watch says 1:30 PM.

Hula Hut is closed.

Damn

I head down Enfield towards Mopac. Gotta stop by Home Depot or Target, but I have no cash. Hopefully they have trained their folks on the old credit card imprint machines.

Finally make it to the Enfield/Mopac intersection and notice a Humvee blocking the on-ramp. Not a Westlake soccer mom Hummer, but a full amphibious, military model. Southbound ramp is fine, but two soldiers are keeping folks off the northbound side.

What the fuck?

I continue across town and there's another at 15th and Lavaca forcing everyone to turn north. At least it's in the right direction.

Something big has happened.