Gustav is coming.....

Four thirty on Sunday night. Apparently the first bands of the storm are passing over us, but I can't tell. With boards on all of the windows, it's like being in a cave.

We went out searching for ice earlier this morning. We rode from one end of Gause Blvd. to the other. After ten or so stops, we came up with nothing. On our way back, we were stopped at a redlight by a Rite Aid that was just closing and there was a pile of BAGS OF ICE, free for the taking!!! It was wild. We pulled in and got six bags as two other people took the rest. What a great suprise. So I think we'll be okay when the electricity goes out.

I have still been hearing blue jays and cicadas throughout the day. I think (hope) that's a positive sight.

Gustav is still a strong storm, but the winds are slowing down. Now if we can just make it jog to the west a wee bit more.

Doing my final cooking chore (chicken wings). Loaded with candles, bread,sandwich meat, pnut butter, snacks, gin & tonic beer and water. I think we'll be okay. Oh yeah! and a few 7 year old xanax pills to get us thru that horrible sound of the wind. I hate that part.

The cats are still pretty laid back and I'm hoping that continues.

See y'all on the other side.

It's in the wait

Ray writes about what we on the Gulf Coast have been doing all week. Waiting.

We originally had plans to evac to Hammond, but that was for Saturday thru Monday. THAT turned out to be no good. So much for planning ahead, huh? Then I tried for hours to find a place as far north as Memphis....nada.

So, we will hunker down with our five cats (got some tranquilizers for them) the same as we did for Katrina, here at home. And wait.

Let's hope Gustav leaves the whole state alone. There isn't any section of south Louisiana that didn't feel the affects of Katrina & Rita and people are just getting on their feet.

Watching the non stop local new reports last night there was one humorous thing: the Sheriff of
Terrebone Parish, where Gustav is supposed to hit (as of now) told residents that there will be curfews so they'd better stock up on liquor and cigarettes now. I kid you not!

Katrina Three Years Later

Groundskeepers of Lake Lawn Metairie Cemetery place 1464 white flags, etched with hand-printed names of those who lost their lives during Hurricane Katrina and the failure of the federal levees. (Photo from T.P)


We can never forget what happened across the Gulf Coast on that Monday morning in 2005.

People choose to live where they do for their own reasons. They choose to live with the threat of tornadoes, landlsides, massive blizzards and earthquakes. Here is why the people of New Orleans - and the rest of us residing on the Gulf Coast - choose to live here.

Helping the Animals

If you can, please do:

St. Tammany Humane Society seeking storm refuge for animals
by The Times-Picayune Wednesday August 27, 2008, 11:32 AM
The St. Tammany Humane Society is seeking emergency foster homes for numerous dogs and cats in preparation for the arrival of Gustav.


The Covington-area shelter, which is prone to flooding, has 92 dogs and 60 cats not enough vehicles or volunteers to transport them to safety, the organization said in a news release.

The facility on Harrison Avenue can take in water during a heavy thunderstorm, so a hurricane brings the threat of real damage and danger, the release said.

The organization is asking the public to provide temporary foster homes for the animals beginning Thursday and bring them back Wednesday after the storm has passed. The shelter also is interested in any transport programs available, the release said.

The shelter is no longer accepting animals, and the parish Department of Animal Services has already closed due to hurricane preparedness, according to the release.

For information on fostering an animal from the St. Tammany Humane Society, call 985-892-PETS(7387).

Stay Cool

World Class New Orleans is a must read to all of us worrying about Gustav and all that must be done.

Go read it. Deep breaths.

This can't be good....

Click on map to enlarge

Unscientific Poll

Latest from New Orleans CityBusiness Poll:
Q: Three years after Katrina, why is the New Orleans area not fully recovered?


responses here

We Are Not Okay - 3 years later

from the New Orleans Photoblog


there are miles of neighborhoods that are abandoned 3 years later. No stores, no gas, no life. homes in good neighborhoods all empty and full of mud. X’s still on the buildings to represent finding dead or not. It is so sad to see this, and to feel like the rest of the world has moved on and just left this vast beautiful city to fade into what once was, instead of a strong city that was able to come back… because the world helped and believed it could. .. the reality that the world is so immersed in itself, is sad and I do not blame the people here for thinking the rest of the world sucks. it does… where is all the promises of help to rebuild? where is all that money and materials donated by other countries and people? why has New Orleans become a game for insurance companies and the government to toss back and forth and why are we the people not standing up and demanding that our next “president to be”, address the crisis of New Orleans, so that the once great port city can rebuild and grow again? as a nation, we have abandoned one of the greatest cities of our country. We should be ashamed.

Katrina Survival Story

When I read about this item in todays Times Picayune in Charlotte's blog all I could think was "wow".

Here's Jennifer Zdon's take on it

The Diary of Tommie Elton Mabry

from Charlotte's blog

It’s a fascinating account of Elton Mabry’s solitary days of survival during and for eight weeks after Katrina in an apartment in the B.W. Cooper public housing development. Mr. Mabry documented his days by writing a diary on the walls of the apartment with a pack of sharpies he found while scrounging for food.

What I like about this story is it tells the story of how an average New Orleanian survived in a broken and isolated city in the aftermath of a governmental disaster: the failure of the levee system AFTER a major hurricane blew through.


Check out the whole story at the TP's web page link above.

Another Scuzzbucket

From NOLA Rising

Please take a look at the sketch below. If you know the person, or think it resembles someone you might know, contact the police at the numbers on the poster. The man in the picture is wanted for questioning in the unfortunate murder of Jessica Hawk. This does not necessarily mean the person in the picture is guilty, but may have pertinent information vital to the police investigation. If you don't feel comfortable calling, you can leave an anonymous tip at Crimestoppers. Don't let this New Orleans tragedy go unsolved!

Criminals is Stupid

this pea brained fool was caught on camera climbing a ladder to disable the crime camera.


It's just too funny how stupid some folks can be.

Thanks to Prytania Waterline for the heads up on this laugh of the day.