hey AnnInLa - some questions

[benito]

How many hours have you volunteered assisting our displaced Hurricane Katrina neighbors (not refugees) this week?

all this mundane bitching is making me want to help more. Even though I'm whipped after helping my displaced co-workers from our New Orleans-area location get their daily routine back together, I can make time to help.

How do you feel knowing that they are pumping the toxic gumbo into the Gulf? Apparently some have died from infection already. I'm gonna have to swear off shrimp, crawfish and possibly water from my sink for the next few years.

An estimated 10,000 our of neighbors are dead and that's really fuct up. These pictures of the floating bodies and these horror stories *hurt* because these people are our neighbors. That could have been us, and I've been thinking about that A LOT lately.

feeling down tonight.

[finecraft]

1. Hey Benito - this is Finecraft in New Iberia- Can I join you?

Want to hear something that will cheer you up? I've been sending Ann private messages about this, but I'll share if you want to hear some GOOD news.

[benito]

2. hit me with some good news. I can use it.

[finecraft]

3. A few hours ago they rescued my husband's 82 year old uncle

from his house in New Orleans. We knew he had stayed, and we could not get any information on him. I have spent the last week in agony, calling every emergency management agency in the state with no luck...nobody knew anything. This weekend 4 boat loads of people went down there to look for him but couldn't get to his neighborhood. Today the Coast Guard went back in, went to his house, knocked on his door and he answered. His house has had over a foot of water in it for over a week. He lives in Lakeview,(obviously on a high ground lot :)) and all the other houses and the streets around him have over 6 feet of water in them, but he and his dog survived on minimal food and water, and didn't give up. He didn't give up Benito...and he lived in the Hell that was New Orleans for 8 days with hardly any food and water..and he didn't give up at age 82. We can't either.

[benito]

4. I'm smiling now :)

That is really, really great news. I'm happy for you and your whole family! I still have one unaccounted for, but this gives me hope.
thanks for sharing!!

[finecraft]

5. Hang in there Benito

We will get through this. I'm praying that you will find your family member safe and don't give up, there is hope. My husband's family has been here since the 1700's. It will take a hell of a lot more than this to drive us out. The government has tried several times to destroy New Orleans, and they haven't succeeded yet. It won't work this time either. We're tough people, and if we have to kick serious ass we will. Yes, it could have been us, but it wasn't. You can't feel guilty. The best we can due is make sure that all those that died will have their deaths avenged, and all those that are suffering now will, in the end, be able to return to their homes and families. New Orleans is the most haunted city in America. Do you really think all those lost souls will let bush have a peaceful night for the rest of his life? I don't think so. He picked the wrong state to fuck with, and he will pay dearly. Bet on it. :evilgrin:

[AnnInLa]

6. OK, just found this thread after talking to you

Benito...No, I hadn't even seen this thread. The thing is, I just kinda swore off DU for a while...it's too tiring/exhausting to read all of the posts over there on GD and LBN, and then I totally forget to go to the Louisiana forum. We were talking at work today, and all of us are totally exhausted and depressed...and, we decided that all of the emotions we have experienced since before the hurricane have really gotten us down. Some people are SO dedicated with their volunteer work, and plan to work again this weekend. I have not gotten a phone call or email about going to work again this weekend with the Laf Housing Authority, so I am going to assume that they do not need me, and stay home this weekend. Hmmm, that makes me feel guilty...I should really call them. But, I am old, lol, so I need to not work this weekend. (If they call, I'll go.) I haven't been over to the Boys and Girls' Club yet....plan to go after work Monday to see if they need a tutor in the evenings for the kids there....did you go by there?

Finecraft.... if you are reading this...are you (and hubby) interested in getting together with a few of us from the LA forum in Lafayette at a restaurant so we can all finally meet? It may or may not be this weekend, nothing definite, just some of us talking about it.

[AnnInLa]

7. PS

Just re-read your post. I saw a report about them draining all the water into Lake Ponchatrain, then into the Gulf. When asked what the consequences of that would be...they didn't have the answer, and said, "what else are we to do?" I think the Gulf will be fucked up for a long, long time....and, like you, I will not eat seafood for a while unless it is far away from here. But, think about the shrimpers in this area! What in the world are they going to do? They will also be victims of this awful storm. Good lord, our shrimping/fishing industry will also disappear after this. I think Louisiana is totally screwed.