(Also published at the new and improved blog. Feel free to poke around and comment over there, as you prefer.)

My parents have arrived back at their home in Houston, and alleluia, alleluia, they have both electricity and water. So Marcus, Alex and I are definitely heading back today to survey any damage to our home, since we now know we can at least stay with my mom & dad.

Thanks to all of you for the wonderful e-mails and comments you've sent, wishing us the best. It has been very surreal to be here in such a beautiful town, but not really enjoying it because all the while we're wondering what's going on back home. So your notes really did help to lift our spirits.

We did force ourselves to get out, though, and I managed to get a few good photographs. You can see the entire set here.

More from Houston.

Song: Ballad of the Alamo, by Marty Robbins