Where do I begin? OK. First off, thanks to everyone who's been praying for my family and friends. God is faithful!
Christen is alive! She was rescued during the hurricane and taken to a total stranger's house, where she has been staying without phone access. She couldn't have called us anyway, because she did not have anyone's phone number memorized. She had plugged them into the cell phone and all she had to do was enter the shortcut code or say our names. Not knowing anyone's phone number! There's a new hazard of modern living! I realized that I'm just as guilty; I only know two phone numbers of loved ones. I guess I need to memorize some more just in case I lose my phone during an emergency.
My apartment was gross - black mold and mildew. It took two days to box up my stuff and drive it up to my parents' house for storage. During that time the exposure to the toxins in the apartment made me ill - I'll spare you a list of symptoms. Man, I wish I had worn gloves and a mask. I thought I was smarter than that!
I'm shuffling between family member's houses until I can figure out what I'm doing. Steve is still serving in New Orleans, so his place is my eventual destination. Jenny is staying with my cousin in Hattiesburg since Southern Miss Hattiesburg classes started this week. They are redoing her apartment for her, but it will take a couple of weeks. My apartment complex released me from my lease since my place is unlivable. They said they were just glad I turned my keys in since most of the residents had left and not turned in their keys or told the manager if they were coming back or not.
Terry and Jo went down to Florida for a couple of weeks to get away from the mess and sort things out. Terry already is starting to sound normal again. I think we are all coming out of the shock we've been in. I got a haircut today and shaved. I was starting to look like Tom Hanks in that shipwreck movie. I guess getting a haircut is moving one step closer to finding a job (if that song is right). How much longer will I be living out of a suitcase?
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Monday, September 05, 2005
CHRISTEN
Terry called on his cell phone. He turned Christen's name and description in to the morgue. Bodies of people who were washed out to sea are washing in every day. The local government is afraid of a dysentery outbreak. Terry and Jo went to look at a shelter that they were considering staying in for a day or two. They said people were going to the bathroom in the middle of the restroom floor because the toilets were so full. Of course, they won't be staying there. Terry said that the riots had gotten a lot better now that there are curfews and a stronger police presence.
He is finally starting to realize that he and Jo can't live there anymore. I've been trying to tell him that for a week, but with the stress he's having trouble processing what I'm saying. (Apparently he's got the same brain thing I have had this week). He finally said, "Where am I going to go to school? How will I finish my degree on time when the campus is gone? I have to move."
Coastal authorities are not issuing a mandatory evacuation, but they are encouraging people who can leave to leave. That would include me, since I'm already gone. OK, so where do I go? The news reports say lots of people in damaged areas are wandering aimlessly. They didn't report that evacuees are wandering aimlessly, too. If you go to the strip malls here in Birmingham, you see lots of MS and LA tags in the parking lot.
To update you on our travel plans, we did go south yesterday. We split into two teams. Daniel and Jasper went to Purvis. They had a difficult time convincing the police to let them through the road block. They brought the water and other supplies to mom and dad, but they couldn't convince them to evacuate. I can't understand their reasoning. When I spoke to Mom on Jasper's cell, she would only talk about me. She's been worried about me. It was good to hear her voice.
Driving south with Jenny was like living out a doomsday epic - the damage worsened as we approached home. We had gas cans in the blazer so that we could fill up before heading back north. Because of the gas shortage and because of terrible rumors we've heard, we were afraid someone might try to steal our gas. Once we left Alabama, there were bags over the pumps of most of the stations we passed. The ones that were open had long lines. We were impressed with the number of police and military who were making the drive with us. They were everywhere, thank God.
Jenny and I checked out her apartment in Hattiesburg. She spent our time there crying and processing the loss emotionally. I folded her clothes and put them in bags to take back. Her living room furniture is a total loss from water damage. Water poured down inside her walls and under the cracks below her doors. All the doors in her apartment had to be forced open and the smell of mildew was overpowering. The walls in the living room, dining room and bath are covered in mildew and black mold. She has to find somewhere to stay before classes start back at Southern. Her grad program is only a year, so they have to resume quickly. She talked to somebody on campus and found out that they are cutting holidays to make up the lost time.
Jasper and Daniel got caught by the curfew and had to spend the night at Mom and Dads. They have half my gas cans, so I can't go to the Coast until they return. I'm trying to figure out if I should even go down there yet. Terry got my important papers out of the apartment. I'd like to try to get down there tomorrow to bring Terry and Jo some supplies (if they won't leave now) and maybe even salvage something from the apartment. Terry went and checked it out. It's not destroyed, like I first thought. But it is water damaged, and he said it stinks to high heaven.
He is finally starting to realize that he and Jo can't live there anymore. I've been trying to tell him that for a week, but with the stress he's having trouble processing what I'm saying. (Apparently he's got the same brain thing I have had this week). He finally said, "Where am I going to go to school? How will I finish my degree on time when the campus is gone? I have to move."
Coastal authorities are not issuing a mandatory evacuation, but they are encouraging people who can leave to leave. That would include me, since I'm already gone. OK, so where do I go? The news reports say lots of people in damaged areas are wandering aimlessly. They didn't report that evacuees are wandering aimlessly, too. If you go to the strip malls here in Birmingham, you see lots of MS and LA tags in the parking lot.
To update you on our travel plans, we did go south yesterday. We split into two teams. Daniel and Jasper went to Purvis. They had a difficult time convincing the police to let them through the road block. They brought the water and other supplies to mom and dad, but they couldn't convince them to evacuate. I can't understand their reasoning. When I spoke to Mom on Jasper's cell, she would only talk about me. She's been worried about me. It was good to hear her voice.
Driving south with Jenny was like living out a doomsday epic - the damage worsened as we approached home. We had gas cans in the blazer so that we could fill up before heading back north. Because of the gas shortage and because of terrible rumors we've heard, we were afraid someone might try to steal our gas. Once we left Alabama, there were bags over the pumps of most of the stations we passed. The ones that were open had long lines. We were impressed with the number of police and military who were making the drive with us. They were everywhere, thank God.
Jenny and I checked out her apartment in Hattiesburg. She spent our time there crying and processing the loss emotionally. I folded her clothes and put them in bags to take back. Her living room furniture is a total loss from water damage. Water poured down inside her walls and under the cracks below her doors. All the doors in her apartment had to be forced open and the smell of mildew was overpowering. The walls in the living room, dining room and bath are covered in mildew and black mold. She has to find somewhere to stay before classes start back at Southern. Her grad program is only a year, so they have to resume quickly. She talked to somebody on campus and found out that they are cutting holidays to make up the lost time.
Jasper and Daniel got caught by the curfew and had to spend the night at Mom and Dads. They have half my gas cans, so I can't go to the Coast until they return. I'm trying to figure out if I should even go down there yet. Terry got my important papers out of the apartment. I'd like to try to get down there tomorrow to bring Terry and Jo some supplies (if they won't leave now) and maybe even salvage something from the apartment. Terry went and checked it out. It's not destroyed, like I first thought. But it is water damaged, and he said it stinks to high heaven.
Saturday, September 03, 2005
MOM AND DAD
My parents just got through on the phone! Dad is talking to Sa right now. He's saying they need water and a bunch of supplies. Good thing we just found out that the roads opened up going south. Sa is trying to convince Mom and Dad to come back to B'ham with us.
Jenny's Grandparents finally got phone service and called Jenny's mom to find out why nobody had come looking for them. We tried to explain that nobody had contact with their entire town, and that nobody could get in or out, so we didn't know what had happened to them and were more worried than they were.
Steve used a pay phone in New Orleans to call us yesterday! He was down by the Aquarium of the Americas. He had no idea that the MS Coast had been hit. He'd gone straight to New Orleans before the storm hit there when his Nat Gaurd unit was activated. It's so weird to think that I stood by that same payphone on July 4th watching fireworks and listening to a brass band. Now he's there surrounded by floodwaters and troops carrying machine guns!
We had been planning on checking out the damage at Jenny's apartment in Hattiesburg tomorrow morning, but it looks like we'll be going a little further south to Mom and Dad's instead. It will be good to see them. I hope that we can convince them to leave and come back with us until power and water are restored there. Wondering when I can try to salvage some things from my apartment. I am sick of wearing the same clothes day after day, but I don't want to buy new ones if I can salvage some of the ones in Gulfport.
Still no word on Christen. I put her name on all the missing persons lists that I could find online today. I am not going to give up hope!
Jenny's Grandparents finally got phone service and called Jenny's mom to find out why nobody had come looking for them. We tried to explain that nobody had contact with their entire town, and that nobody could get in or out, so we didn't know what had happened to them and were more worried than they were.
Steve used a pay phone in New Orleans to call us yesterday! He was down by the Aquarium of the Americas. He had no idea that the MS Coast had been hit. He'd gone straight to New Orleans before the storm hit there when his Nat Gaurd unit was activated. It's so weird to think that I stood by that same payphone on July 4th watching fireworks and listening to a brass band. Now he's there surrounded by floodwaters and troops carrying machine guns!
We had been planning on checking out the damage at Jenny's apartment in Hattiesburg tomorrow morning, but it looks like we'll be going a little further south to Mom and Dad's instead. It will be good to see them. I hope that we can convince them to leave and come back with us until power and water are restored there. Wondering when I can try to salvage some things from my apartment. I am sick of wearing the same clothes day after day, but I don't want to buy new ones if I can salvage some of the ones in Gulfport.
Still no word on Christen. I put her name on all the missing persons lists that I could find online today. I am not going to give up hope!
Thursday, September 01, 2005
AFTERMATH
I never dreamed that the damage would be this bad. My town is gone. It looks like a nuclear bomb hit it. My apartment building is destroyed. The city has no power, water, sewage or gasoline. There's a curfew from 7 to 7. Officially, the roads are blocked for everyone but official vehicles, but the authorities are letting people leave.
My roommate Terry and his girlfriend Jo are both trapped. The only way to contact them is text messaging. They are begging to be rescued; they don't have enough gas to leave. There is a shortage of gas here-all over. There are no gas containers either. People are raising the prices to $30 for a 5-gallon plastic gas can! I found a stash of 1-gallon containers at a hardware store and bought 50 of them. I'm planning on going down Monday if they will open the roads. I'll check the damage at the apartment and bring Terry enough gas to get out of there.
I don't know where I'm going to live and work now. The estimates say it will be months before we have working power and sewage/water. That means I'll have to move. I'm looking at options, probably somewhere close to family. My top three are Birmingham AL, Oxford MS, and Ruston LA. Or should I move to Japan and teach English? Maybe I can do that when I'm debt free.
My brother Steve is a National Guardsman. He was sent to watch over the refugees at the Superdome. They are being moved, and Steve is being outfitted with a machine gun and armor to patrol the streets of New Orleans. His kids are freaked. He's too old to be doing that, they think. He gave us a 30 second phone call to tell us what he would be doing. He said he would be in New Orleans doing that for at least a month, and that we should not expect any communication with him during that time. What's the deal with that? Even soldiers during the world wars had mail. How are we supposed to manage his finances without being able to talk with him again? And a cop and a guardsman have already been shot. Rescue workers were crying into their phones and refusing to land helicopters because they were scared of the people with guns. That's what Steve is facing? Why aren't they sending in young federal troops to assist and relieve them?
And why haven't they started fund raising to help the poor people who have lost everything and have no other way of getting help? What's going on with the president and congress? The governors can't do this by themselves? I want more on the news about relief efforts.
I'm wondering what to do about my bills. How do I cancel utilities and my rental agreement in the middle of this mess, and can they still try to hold me to them? The credit card gave me two months of no payments and zero interest til '07 on new purchases made from now til December. That offer surprised me.
I think my best bet would be to move into my brother's house in Louisiana while he is gone and to try to get a job teaching in Ruston. Tons of refugee children from Southern LA are enrolling and will need teachers. At least I could get get a full time sub position.
I just keep thinking of the life I had on the Coast and how it would be impossible for me to live there now. No dinner at Gregg's next week. No running with Algernon in the morning. No biking with Chris and Wendy. No church on Wednesday night or homegroup on Tuesday. No field trip to the museum with my class. No camping with Josh and Rachel next month. No living with Terry and helping him and Jo with the wedding. No getting to know Ryan. No dance class. No auditions for plays. No festivals in Ocean Springs. No hockey games with Brice. No shopping. No late night dinners at Mary Mahoney's. No walks on the beach. No cooking waffles for Terry or making milkshakes for Jo. No Christmas party for the class. No spring break trip. No games and cookies with Chris & Katie. No shared laughs with Christen....maybe never again. Oh God, where is Christen?
It's like I just died, or at least a part of me did...and I don't have time to grieve. Even if I could take the time to grieve, other people are determined not to let me do so. I feel so helpless anyway, and at the mercy of others' good graces and well-intentioned but unwanted words of advice and glib "wisdom." They haven't ever been through anything like this, so I wish they'd just be quiet and give me some space - and allow me to make my own decisions about what I have to do next.
I am scared about Christen Wirth. She and her mom refused to leave their house on Oceanview. Terry said their house is not there anymore. It washed into the ocean. They are missing, maybe dead, and the Red Cross won't let me put them on the missing persons' list because I'm not a family member. How stupid is that? They don't have any family members to report them missing. Bureaucracy is from the pit of hell and only hurts people. Damn their paperwork and procedures. I can't find my friend and Terry and I are the closest thing she had to family who are here and who can ask somebody to find them! I don't even remember her Dad's first name. How am I supposed to find him so he can put her on the list? How is he - all the way in Colorado - supposed to know that she is missing and report her?
Seeing the overhead footage of the destruction only reminded me of all the happy memories I have of living on the coast for the past 8 years. Burying myself and Chris and Terry in the sand in our tuxedos. Wishing that night I could live in the beach house - and then moving in there with Terry a year later. Jason waking me up at the crack of dawn to eat French toast - scaring me to death bangin on my windows. The cookout with fireworks and bonfire when I met Josh and his dog. Being in Josh and Rachel's wedding. Teaching with Erinne. The road trips with Terry and Jo and Kristen and...Christina. Visiting Terry at the Fire Station. Visiting Jesse at the Fire Station. Going to Marine Life with Alan - and saying goodbye to my life in Hattiesburg that weekend. Dating Chris...for better or for worse. Trying to get to know the enigma that is Ken Tims. Helping John write his Valedictory speech. Cooking Thanksgiving dinner for my parents at the beach house. Trying to help Richie. Friendship with Billy D. My secret crush on Bridgette. Early morning donuts at Tato Nut. Hockey and football with Rob. Running with Casey. Running with Algernon. Steak dinners at Captain Al's with Chris Creel. Working out with Jerry. Living with Jack and Sandee. Living with Josh and - God help me - Casey and Warren and Tony and Jesse (and Teddy) and Matt. Teaching with Kim. Acting with Ryan. Eating Paul's King cakes. Teaching Zeke, Elizabeth, and Alyssa. I love the Coast. I love its people. And when I finally realize that, I still know I have to leave and start over. But, where?
My roommate Terry and his girlfriend Jo are both trapped. The only way to contact them is text messaging. They are begging to be rescued; they don't have enough gas to leave. There is a shortage of gas here-all over. There are no gas containers either. People are raising the prices to $30 for a 5-gallon plastic gas can! I found a stash of 1-gallon containers at a hardware store and bought 50 of them. I'm planning on going down Monday if they will open the roads. I'll check the damage at the apartment and bring Terry enough gas to get out of there.
I don't know where I'm going to live and work now. The estimates say it will be months before we have working power and sewage/water. That means I'll have to move. I'm looking at options, probably somewhere close to family. My top three are Birmingham AL, Oxford MS, and Ruston LA. Or should I move to Japan and teach English? Maybe I can do that when I'm debt free.
My brother Steve is a National Guardsman. He was sent to watch over the refugees at the Superdome. They are being moved, and Steve is being outfitted with a machine gun and armor to patrol the streets of New Orleans. His kids are freaked. He's too old to be doing that, they think. He gave us a 30 second phone call to tell us what he would be doing. He said he would be in New Orleans doing that for at least a month, and that we should not expect any communication with him during that time. What's the deal with that? Even soldiers during the world wars had mail. How are we supposed to manage his finances without being able to talk with him again? And a cop and a guardsman have already been shot. Rescue workers were crying into their phones and refusing to land helicopters because they were scared of the people with guns. That's what Steve is facing? Why aren't they sending in young federal troops to assist and relieve them?
And why haven't they started fund raising to help the poor people who have lost everything and have no other way of getting help? What's going on with the president and congress? The governors can't do this by themselves? I want more on the news about relief efforts.
I'm wondering what to do about my bills. How do I cancel utilities and my rental agreement in the middle of this mess, and can they still try to hold me to them? The credit card gave me two months of no payments and zero interest til '07 on new purchases made from now til December. That offer surprised me.
I think my best bet would be to move into my brother's house in Louisiana while he is gone and to try to get a job teaching in Ruston. Tons of refugee children from Southern LA are enrolling and will need teachers. At least I could get get a full time sub position.
I just keep thinking of the life I had on the Coast and how it would be impossible for me to live there now. No dinner at Gregg's next week. No running with Algernon in the morning. No biking with Chris and Wendy. No church on Wednesday night or homegroup on Tuesday. No field trip to the museum with my class. No camping with Josh and Rachel next month. No living with Terry and helping him and Jo with the wedding. No getting to know Ryan. No dance class. No auditions for plays. No festivals in Ocean Springs. No hockey games with Brice. No shopping. No late night dinners at Mary Mahoney's. No walks on the beach. No cooking waffles for Terry or making milkshakes for Jo. No Christmas party for the class. No spring break trip. No games and cookies with Chris & Katie. No shared laughs with Christen....maybe never again. Oh God, where is Christen?
It's like I just died, or at least a part of me did...and I don't have time to grieve. Even if I could take the time to grieve, other people are determined not to let me do so. I feel so helpless anyway, and at the mercy of others' good graces and well-intentioned but unwanted words of advice and glib "wisdom." They haven't ever been through anything like this, so I wish they'd just be quiet and give me some space - and allow me to make my own decisions about what I have to do next.
I am scared about Christen Wirth. She and her mom refused to leave their house on Oceanview. Terry said their house is not there anymore. It washed into the ocean. They are missing, maybe dead, and the Red Cross won't let me put them on the missing persons' list because I'm not a family member. How stupid is that? They don't have any family members to report them missing. Bureaucracy is from the pit of hell and only hurts people. Damn their paperwork and procedures. I can't find my friend and Terry and I are the closest thing she had to family who are here and who can ask somebody to find them! I don't even remember her Dad's first name. How am I supposed to find him so he can put her on the list? How is he - all the way in Colorado - supposed to know that she is missing and report her?
Seeing the overhead footage of the destruction only reminded me of all the happy memories I have of living on the coast for the past 8 years. Burying myself and Chris and Terry in the sand in our tuxedos. Wishing that night I could live in the beach house - and then moving in there with Terry a year later. Jason waking me up at the crack of dawn to eat French toast - scaring me to death bangin on my windows. The cookout with fireworks and bonfire when I met Josh and his dog. Being in Josh and Rachel's wedding. Teaching with Erinne. The road trips with Terry and Jo and Kristen and...Christina. Visiting Terry at the Fire Station. Visiting Jesse at the Fire Station. Going to Marine Life with Alan - and saying goodbye to my life in Hattiesburg that weekend. Dating Chris...for better or for worse. Trying to get to know the enigma that is Ken Tims. Helping John write his Valedictory speech. Cooking Thanksgiving dinner for my parents at the beach house. Trying to help Richie. Friendship with Billy D. My secret crush on Bridgette. Early morning donuts at Tato Nut. Hockey and football with Rob. Running with Casey. Running with Algernon. Steak dinners at Captain Al's with Chris Creel. Working out with Jerry. Living with Jack and Sandee. Living with Josh and - God help me - Casey and Warren and Tony and Jesse (and Teddy) and Matt. Teaching with Kim. Acting with Ryan. Eating Paul's King cakes. Teaching Zeke, Elizabeth, and Alyssa. I love the Coast. I love its people. And when I finally realize that, I still know I have to leave and start over. But, where?
Monday, August 29, 2005
MORE ON KATRINA
Here's a link to a Hattiesburg American article from midday Monday.
Sa just spoke to Annette to let her and the kids know that Dan is safe and will fly into B'ham tonight.
We just got through to Mom and Dad via a neighbor's cell phone. (They're in the same shelter). He said that the downed trees and power lines were so bad that they couldn't get out to check on the horses and other animals at the farm. From what they said, the storm was worse than Camille, and they guess it will be weeks before the town has full power. That sounds like an exaggeration, but then, I'm not seeing what they can see. They said the amount of downed trees is mind-blowing and that Purvis/Hattiesburg were hit severely. They said that all the buildings near the church building were severely damaged.
Sa just spoke to Annette to let her and the kids know that Dan is safe and will fly into B'ham tonight.
We just got through to Mom and Dad via a neighbor's cell phone. (They're in the same shelter). He said that the downed trees and power lines were so bad that they couldn't get out to check on the horses and other animals at the farm. From what they said, the storm was worse than Camille, and they guess it will be weeks before the town has full power. That sounds like an exaggeration, but then, I'm not seeing what they can see. They said the amount of downed trees is mind-blowing and that Purvis/Hattiesburg were hit severely. They said that all the buildings near the church building were severely damaged.
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
AAAHHH...I can't reach Terry and JoEllen. The last I heard they were trapped in Ocean Springs, unable to drive any further East. No news from Christen,either. Still can't believe she decided to stay at her house - a block from the beach!
I spoke to Algernon. He decided to stay at my apartment complex - who knows why. He said the power was off and would be for about 72 hours or more. According to Algernon, the complex suffered a lot of damage - downed trees, siding knocked off, and (aack) lots of water damage including collapsed ceilings - hopefully not in my building, but I won't know until I get back down there.
Last I heard from Mom and Dad, they were headed to a local church set up as a shelter. Even if they had a cell phone, we wouldn't be able reach them. Nobody from the southern half of the state can get a working signal, apparently.
How ironic is it that my brother Daniel picked today to fly in from Germany. He's switched his flight from New Orleans to B'ham, so I can pick him up tonight and bring him back to Mom and Dad's when this blows over. If my apt. is badly damaged, looks like I might be living with the folks for a while. That's a long commute to work in Gulfport with these high gas prices, though.
Man, I wish our phones would start working so I could know how everybody is. Please, God, let the phones start working soon.
I spoke to Algernon. He decided to stay at my apartment complex - who knows why. He said the power was off and would be for about 72 hours or more. According to Algernon, the complex suffered a lot of damage - downed trees, siding knocked off, and (aack) lots of water damage including collapsed ceilings - hopefully not in my building, but I won't know until I get back down there.
Last I heard from Mom and Dad, they were headed to a local church set up as a shelter. Even if they had a cell phone, we wouldn't be able reach them. Nobody from the southern half of the state can get a working signal, apparently.
How ironic is it that my brother Daniel picked today to fly in from Germany. He's switched his flight from New Orleans to B'ham, so I can pick him up tonight and bring him back to Mom and Dad's when this blows over. If my apt. is badly damaged, looks like I might be living with the folks for a while. That's a long commute to work in Gulfport with these high gas prices, though.
Man, I wish our phones would start working so I could know how everybody is. Please, God, let the phones start working soon.
Sunday, August 28, 2005
KATRINA
I am a refugee. On the road all day, fleeing the hurricane, I've used nothing but public restrooms. I haven't even washed my face; we left right after I ate my last bite of raisin bran. Without a shower and dressed in yesterday's laundry, I finally arrived at my sis's house in B'ham about an hour ago. I say finally because we'd been in town a while. Sa and her family got a later start leaving Mom & Dad's house than Jen and I did, so they arrived hours after us. While waiting for them to unlock the house, Jenny and I were left to wander around the Summit, taking in a movie and listening to music at Barnes & Noble. Doesn't sound too bad, until you consider how we looked and how we smelled. Ha ha. All the well-dressed couples on dates gave us funny looks. It wasn't just my imagination, was it? Wish I had taken a few more clothes in my rush to evacuate. Wearing the same 2 t shirts and shorts may get old. Looks like the storm is headed right this way, so I'm left wondering when we can return south. It was hard to take the storm seriously after the last one was a false alarm, for us, anyway. So I left my electronics and clothes and pictures and... Oh, well. I've heard Katrina compared to Camile about a hundred times today, so I'm imagining catastrophy waiting for us with open arms. Hearing horror stories about category 5 hurricanes obviously planted some deadly seeds in my brain. I was impressed with the number of friends who called to make sure I was getting out of harm's way. And just like the last storm, Inoticed how friendly people became when they heard about the hurricane. We were greeted by countless friendly, loud voices at every restaurant and gas station where we stopped. Most were from the New Orleans area - judging from accents and license plates. Even lots of H'Burg residents left (Jen included), letting me know that the storm really is serious, but we couldn't convince Mom and Dad to evacuate with us. What is it with older people and their houses? It's just a rental, for Pete's sake. It was certainly a strange end to Dad's birthday celebration this weekend. One minute we were cutting cake and the next we were throwing clothes into travel bags and filling jugs with drinking water. If you pray, please ask God to protect the people in the path of this storm. I'm sure most were as surprised by the category rating as we were. Wish they all could have driven out of harm's way.
Friday, August 26, 2005
WAR AND PEAS AND QUIET PLEASE
I took my class to the public library today. The trip cast me in a role I hate: drill sergeant. Picture the line of perfectly uniformed teens melting on the library lawn in the hundred-degree heat as I read them the riot act. "In public libraries we speak in quiet voices. We do not throw books or rough house. We do NOT talk or laugh in loud voices. We whisper!" Though unpleasant for us all, the lecture seemed to work. As the librarian issued cards and gave them a tour, they were as quiet as mice. After learning to use the card catalog, they dove into the stacks like accomplished bibliophiles. While the herd grazed, I set out to round up the stragglers - helping them find books on appropriate reading levels. Two students presented books for my approval, "Are these on our reading level?" One was holding a beginner board book (the laminated kind that keeps toddlers from wiping peas and carrots into more delicate pages). The other held an enormous copy of War and Peace. I broke my own rule and laughed out loud. Sometimes I take my job too seriously. Do you think that's what they were trying to tell me?
BULLSEYE
Target is hitting the mark with its new line of furnishings and accessories by Thomas O'Brien. Have you see any of these pieces of retro coolness? They look like I designed them. Literally...it looks like ideas jumped off the pages of my sketchbook and into the photos of a magazine spread. Why can't Wal-mart follow their lead? Good design for all!
Thursday, August 25, 2005
LIKE ICE CREAM ON A HOT DAY
Bryant and Alicia brought the kids over to the apartment for an ice cream snack after work today. I invited them on the spur of the moment. It was such a hot day; I thought we all needed a big scoop of ice cream. After we ate, the girls played, and we talked. They gave me good advice and prayed for me. I'm encouraged! Thanks, God.
MASTER THESPIAN
Jon Lovitz is funny! I'm excited to see his name on the roster for the new Producers. He is the Master Thespian! And he and Victoria Jackson will always have a place in my heart. Who's your favorite SNL vet?
Saturday, August 20, 2005
TOP 3 FUNNY QUOTES FROM SHORT CIRCUIT
- "NO DISASSEMBLE! Number 5 is alive!"
- "I am standing here beside myself."
- "What do we do now?" "Well, I don't know about you, but I am planning to scream and run."
FINE ART
I was browsing eBay today for midcentury modern - just window shopping. I ran across a pair of Elvis-looking motel lamps. The picture was enjoyably ugly, so I saved it. Then I ran across a similar picture and then another one. I'm going to Snapfish them into 8x10's. I wonder if my friends will get my attempt at witty irony. I can't afford something from a gallery or Museum store, and I'm not putting some Monet from Walmart on my walls. Yep, gaudy lamps taken with a cheap digital camera will have to do. I guess they'll be my tribute to Warhol - a protest to overpriced snooty art . Why isn't decent art affordable?
MOUTH WATERING VS EYE WATERING
Terry and JoEllen treated me to dinner at Sakura last night. The atmosphere in the restaurant was so restful; I didn't want to leave. And the food was fantastic - a pleasant surprise. My first experience with sushi had me fearing the worst. I'd eaten it once with Casey at a Chinese buffet, but it was nothing like this! The buffet sushi was so bad that we drowned it in spicy mustard so hot it made our eyes water. That was not the case at Sakura! When matched choptick to chopstick, the two places are not even in the same league. Everything I tried was delicious, but I especially liked the california rolls and smoked salmon sake. If you haven't been brave enough to sample sushi, I recommend it. But make sure you spring for the expensive stuff, or the tears in your eyes won't just be from the mustard.
Thursday, August 18, 2005
EMAIL SURVEY #2
Here's another one. Do I secretly like these things? I think I must since I copy and paste them here. What is it about these email surveys?
1. What is your occupation? teacher
2. What color is your underwear? novelty print
3. What are you listening to right now? Vin Diesel's voice on the TV
4. What was the last thing you ate? French Toast for dinner, baby!
5. Do you wish on stars? Yes.
6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? red
7. How is the weather right now? fair; 83 degrees
8. Last person you spoke to on the phone? my mama
9. Do you like the person who sent this to you? I like everybody I meet...eventually
10. Favorite drink? milk or water (Can you believe water has its own web site?)
11. Favorite sport to watch? MS Sea Wolves hockey
12. Have you ever dyed your hair? nope
13. Do you wear contacts or glasses? both
14. Pets? hamster, fish, bird
15. Favorite month? December
16. Favorite food? fresh-baked bread, hot from the oven
17. What was the last movie you watched? XXX: Special Edition. I'm so high-brow. Ha Ha.
18. Favorite day of the year? CHRISTMAS!!!! Merry birthday to me & Jesus.
19. What do you do to vent anger? spend a few dollars from the fuss budget
20. What was your favorite toy as a child? Alvin & the Chipmunks' Curtain Call Theater. My Lionel train set is a close second place. My Kodak disk camera, too. Remember those?
21. Fall or Spring? Fall
22. Hugs or kisses? hugs
23. Cherry or Blueberry? cherry (Sorry, Dad)
24. Do you want your friends to emai l you back? I never forward these things
25. Who is most likely to respond? n/a
26. Who is least likely to respond? n/a
27. Living arrangements? 2 bedroom apartment
28. When was the last time you cried? 20 minutes ago
29. What is on the floor of your closet? my record collection; crates of costumes; other junk
30. Who is the friend you have had the longest? Melissa Vaughan
31. What did you do last night? dinner & a movie at Ryan's house
32. Favorite smell? baked goods in the oven
33. What inspires you? supernatural self-sacrifice
34. What are you afraid of? I've got nothing to fear.
35. Plain, cheese or spicy hamburgers? Cheeseburger!
36. Favorite car? my 2002 2-door black Chevy Blazer (dream car = Toyota MR2 spyder)
37. Favorite dog breed? Lab
38. Number of keys on your key ring? 2
39. How many years at your current job? 1 at the private school; this is my 6th year teaching
40. Favorite day of the week? Fridays
41. How many states have you lived in? 3 - Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee (Go Vols!)
42. How many cities have you lived in? 8 - Jackson (birthplace), Knoxville, El Dorado, Purvis, Hattiesburg, Biloxi, Ocean Springs, Gulfport
1. What is your occupation? teacher
2. What color is your underwear? novelty print
3. What are you listening to right now? Vin Diesel's voice on the TV
4. What was the last thing you ate? French Toast for dinner, baby!
5. Do you wish on stars? Yes.
6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? red
7. How is the weather right now? fair; 83 degrees
8. Last person you spoke to on the phone? my mama
9. Do you like the person who sent this to you? I like everybody I meet...eventually
10. Favorite drink? milk or water (Can you believe water has its own web site?)
11. Favorite sport to watch? MS Sea Wolves hockey
12. Have you ever dyed your hair? nope
13. Do you wear contacts or glasses? both
14. Pets? hamster, fish, bird
15. Favorite month? December
16. Favorite food? fresh-baked bread, hot from the oven
17. What was the last movie you watched? XXX: Special Edition. I'm so high-brow. Ha Ha.
18. Favorite day of the year? CHRISTMAS!!!! Merry birthday to me & Jesus.
19. What do you do to vent anger? spend a few dollars from the fuss budget
20. What was your favorite toy as a child? Alvin & the Chipmunks' Curtain Call Theater. My Lionel train set is a close second place. My Kodak disk camera, too. Remember those?
21. Fall or Spring? Fall
22. Hugs or kisses? hugs
23. Cherry or Blueberry? cherry (Sorry, Dad)
24. Do you want your friends to emai l you back? I never forward these things
25. Who is most likely to respond? n/a
26. Who is least likely to respond? n/a
27. Living arrangements? 2 bedroom apartment
28. When was the last time you cried? 20 minutes ago
29. What is on the floor of your closet? my record collection; crates of costumes; other junk
30. Who is the friend you have had the longest? Melissa Vaughan
31. What did you do last night? dinner & a movie at Ryan's house
32. Favorite smell? baked goods in the oven
33. What inspires you? supernatural self-sacrifice
34. What are you afraid of? I've got nothing to fear.
35. Plain, cheese or spicy hamburgers? Cheeseburger!
36. Favorite car? my 2002 2-door black Chevy Blazer (dream car = Toyota MR2 spyder)
37. Favorite dog breed? Lab
38. Number of keys on your key ring? 2
39. How many years at your current job? 1 at the private school; this is my 6th year teaching
40. Favorite day of the week? Fridays
41. How many states have you lived in? 3 - Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee (Go Vols!)
42. How many cities have you lived in? 8 - Jackson (birthplace), Knoxville, El Dorado, Purvis, Hattiesburg, Biloxi, Ocean Springs, Gulfport
I'M NOT GOING BACK TO SCHOOL FOR MAYONAISE
Terry and I were fixin' supper tonight. He needed mayo, but I left it in the fridge at school in my lunchbox with the tuna. That's the way life can be when there's a teacher in the house. Need the hammer? Needle and thread? Scale? Just about anything useful? Too bad. They live in the classroom now. Even my DVD player was stolen by the classroom last year, but the apartment had temporary custody over the summer and hasn't sent it back yet. Does your job steal your stuff, too?
NET BRAIN
Ryan and I grilled steaks and watched The Day After Tomorrow. While watching, I realized that one of my favorite actors - Ian Holm - is in that movie. I really noticed him after watching him play Napoleon in The Emperor's New Clothes. He's been in 110 movies & TV shows. Can you imagine? I'll bet he'd have a hard time listing them from memory. While Ryan and I were talking about Holm's impressive number of roles, Ryan admitted that he couldn't remember all the parts he'd played over the years. I guess it would be like me trying to remember every child I'd taught. At least Holm can look himself up on IMDB. Don't you wish every cool thing you ever did was listed on a website? Is that why half the world seems compelled to blog?
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
FULL LOVE TANK; EMPTY GAS TANK
Mom and Dad drove down Sunday to see the final performance of the musical. Kim drove from Ocean Springs. Having people in the audience made it so much more fun.
It took 8 hours to strike the set. Werner used a lot of screws building that boat! After I bade farewell to the cast, I left grudgingly for the school office where I made copies until 11:30. When I got home, Terry and Jo were watching TV. We decided to go to Waffle House, so I didn't hit the hay until around 2. Sunday was a long day!
Monday was packed, too. After school, I met up with Chris and Josh. We swung by home depot and picked up some shelving, then hit the schoolhouse and installed them. Afterward, Josh and Chris made dinner for their families and me. Terry and Jo joined us, too. I brought dessert - lemon creme pie.
The conversation was the best part of the evening. Because of the rehearsal schedule, it's been so long since I've been able to talk to any of them. Chris kept hinting that he wants a video camera from Wendy for his birthday this week. I suggested that we use it to make some home movies - some silly skits or something - and then get together for a night of eating popcorn and laughing at what we tape. We could make the video Drew Carey style with a "Who's Line" theme. Or we could write a script. What should our first feature be about?
I drove around with Sherman tonight. He and I were talking about the rising gas prices. I'm thinking about buying a cheap bicycle for my quarter-mile work commute. Do I need a license to drive a bike on the street?
It took 8 hours to strike the set. Werner used a lot of screws building that boat! After I bade farewell to the cast, I left grudgingly for the school office where I made copies until 11:30. When I got home, Terry and Jo were watching TV. We decided to go to Waffle House, so I didn't hit the hay until around 2. Sunday was a long day!
Monday was packed, too. After school, I met up with Chris and Josh. We swung by home depot and picked up some shelving, then hit the schoolhouse and installed them. Afterward, Josh and Chris made dinner for their families and me. Terry and Jo joined us, too. I brought dessert - lemon creme pie.
The conversation was the best part of the evening. Because of the rehearsal schedule, it's been so long since I've been able to talk to any of them. Chris kept hinting that he wants a video camera from Wendy for his birthday this week. I suggested that we use it to make some home movies - some silly skits or something - and then get together for a night of eating popcorn and laughing at what we tape. We could make the video Drew Carey style with a "Who's Line" theme. Or we could write a script. What should our first feature be about?
I drove around with Sherman tonight. He and I were talking about the rising gas prices. I'm thinking about buying a cheap bicycle for my quarter-mile work commute. Do I need a license to drive a bike on the street?
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