Allergy Season in the Brazos Valley

OK, so my wife and I have allergies at least twice a year, but we don’t know exactly what it is we are allergic to.

I decided to look around and see if I could find a “trend” to pollen counts in the area. Well, I found some. I’ll see if  can find more info in the future, but for now, I created a chart with the info I gathered. I got the counts from the American Academy of Allergy, Athsma and Immunology. The counting station in town is the Scott and White Clinic…I’m going to call them next to see if they have a record of counts tat go further back than 2007.

After looking at the chart, it looks like for sure my wife is allergic to Weeds (mostly Ragweed) and I am allergic to Trees. My wife is having a real hard time right now with allergies, and I think I remember getting more headaches around April and May this year.

So, keep your windows closed, don’t go out so much in the morning, if you work in the garden, don’t bring the clothes inside, don’t dry clothes out on a line and wear a mask if you are mowing.

Hope this helps.

What to do on the 4th of July, 2008

Well, my parents are coming in from San Antonio, and thought I’d post some of the things we’re considering, as well as some ideas as to what might be fun to do. We love when our parents come and visit.

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George Bush Library – July 4th

The George Bush Library hosts an Independence day celebration every year, and we’ve heard it’s fantastic. There’s a symphony, a band, an Elvis Impersonator, a magician, consssions, a fly-by of WWII planes, and of course, fireworks in he evening. Here’s a schedule from their website:

Schedule of Events:
• Concessions open at 5:00 p.m.
• Entertainment begins at 5:30 p.m.
• Presentation of Colors at 6:00 p.m.
• Fly Over at 6:30 p.m.
• Texas High Life band performs at 6:45 p.m.
• Magician Sneaky Pete Rizzo performs at 8:00 p.m.
• Elvis impersonator Jason Adams at 8:35 p.m.
• Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra begins concert at 9:00 p.m.
• Fireworks begin at 9:40 p.m.
• Grand Finale at 10:00 p.m.

Looks like you’ll need to park down the street and take a shuttle to the grounds.

Texas World Speedway (TWS website) July 5th

This is actually on Saturday, July 5th, so you can have a second day of Independence day fun.

This year, the Texas World Speedway is hosting a 4th of July celebration with a car show, a burn out competition, food, and firworks. It’s a free event that starts at 2PM and will go on till 9PM. The speedway is South on HWY 6. You’ll see the signs.

This event is to benefit the Fire Department. If you want to show your car or take part in the burnout competition, there is an entry fee. Check out their website for more info (although there’s not much there as of this post…maybe later this week).

City Pools – July 4th

The city pools will be open and apparently they are doing something as well. I can’t find much info on what they are doing, but they are doing something.

Elizabeth Lutheran Church in Caldwell – July 3rd

12th Annual Celebration & Fireworks Display
Jul 3, 2008 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Hwy 21 E & CR 307 In Caldwell

Elizabeth Lutheran Church will host a Community Wide Celebration of Fireworks Display. Enjoy hamburgers, hot dogs, ice cream, watermelon, drinks, bounce & slide, adrenaline rush maze, bingo, games, face painting, duck pond, silent auction, raffle & fireworks.

Free dance music by Southern Roots Band.
Free Admission.
Park and ride from Caldwell High School.

H-E-B Fireworks on the Brazos – July 4th

Washington, Texas
(take Hwy 6 to Navasota, then 105 West toward Washington)

Jul 4, 2008 7:00 pm
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Join the Star of the Republic Museum for H-E-B Fireworks on the Brazos. Celebrate the Nation’s independence at the last capital of the Republic of Texas. Free Blue Bell ice cream and Coca-Cola will be served starting at 7:00 pm.

Aquablast – July 5th

Jul 5, 2008 All Day
Bryan Aquatic Center
Fun for the whole family

$3 Admission

New Baden Jamboree – July 5th

5PM to 10PM – Free
New Baden Community Center
New Baden, Texas (out on Hwy 79)

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JJ’s SnoCones

These guys will NOT be open. (I just found this out, but they will be open on Saturday and Sunday regular hours.) Remember, the kiddie size is just 75¢. They’ve got some new flavors (Coke, Coke Float, Passion Fruit). Maybe you can ask for a red white and blue sno cone, like Wild Strawberry/Coconut/BlueBubbleGum, or Raspberry/Rum/CottonCandy. I am seriously considering trying a “Banana/Coke”. I know, that sounds crazy, but I’m crazy like that.

Tanglewood & Tiffany Park Splash Pads

The Splash Pads will be open and running. My family loves these.

Fireworks Warehouse

In Brazos County, fireworks known as “skyrockets with sticks” and “missiles with fins” have been banned, but other fireworks, such as sparklers and firecrackers, are still allowed.

The fireworks warehouse on South Hwy 6 (down the road from the Texas World Speedway – between College Station and Navasota) is only selling what is legally allowed to be used. I believe the artillery shells are not banned

Food

As far as food goes, We’ll see if my parents want to go back to Fish Tacos at La Bodega, or maybe burgers at the New Baden General Store…that will be a nice little drive.

Weather

Fri – July 4
Partly Cloudy
94°

Sat – July 5
Isolated Storms (I doubt it)
95°

Sun – July 6
Scattered T-Storms (I doubt this too, although it would be great)
95°

Now, Monday, it might rain…maybe.

College Station City-Data

If you haven’t seen the College Station City-Data site, check it out.

City-Data is a site that has compiled information from several different sources on just about anything you want to know about a city. The city page includes maps, stats like race, income, education, employment and unemployment, geographical data, crime data, sex offenders, weather, schools, radio and TV stations, zip codes and area codes among other things. It’s a great site to check out if you are considering moving to an area.

Below, I’ve list some stuff from the College Station page that I think is of interest.

Population (without students): approx 75,000

Zip Codes: 77840 and 77845

Estimated median household income in 2005: $24,218 (it was $21,180 in 2000)

College Station	$24,218
Texas:	$42,139

Estimated median house/condo value in 2005: $144,500 (it was $119,500 in 2000)

College Station	$144,500
Texas:	$106,000

Median gross rent in 2005: $681.
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2005: 39.2%

Races in College Station:

• White Non-Hispanic (75.7%)
• Hispanic (10.0%)
• Black (5.4%)
• Other race (4.5%)
• Chinese (2.3%)
• Asian Indian (1.9%)
• Two or more races (1.9%)
• Korean (1.5%)
• Other Asian (0.8%)
• American Indian (0.7%)

(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)

Unemployment in September 2007:

Here:	3.7%
Texas:	4.4%

Percipitation highs: May and October

Percipitation lows: February and July

Hospital/medical center in College Station:
COLLEGE STATION MEDICAL CENTER (1604 ROCK PRAIRIE ROAD)

Average household size:

This city:	2.3 people
Texas:	2.7 people

Average Travel time to Work: 15 Minutes

There’s a whole lot more info on the City-Data page. Interesting stuff.

Jorge