Thursday, June 08, 2006

What a Bad Blogger I am!

I had no idea how hard it is to be without a computer. I was able to use one at work, but they kept me so busy I couldn't get to you all. So sorry. I have never stayed at a Fairfield Inn that didn't have a guest computer-until May 22!

Most of the work I did involved staffing difficult cases at the Office of Community Services in Opelousas, LA, and Ville Platte, LA. I did several assessments for substance abuse and/or mental health difficulties, and I did a training on Denial (over and misused in current vernacular) and how to work with clients with multi-layerd problems. That led me to the decision to obtain and maintain a Louisiana Social Work license, and get some trainings approved by their board for Continuing Ed Units. That way, if I go back (ya think?!?!) I can do trainings that provide workers with CEUs needed to maintain their licenses. I like that idea.

I read over at KR about a hate group that has been disturbing funerals of soldiers who died in combat. I guess the haters THINK somebody is gay or something. There is a citizen's group called the Patriot Guard who ride their motorcycles to these funerals to keep the haters away from grieving families. I think the time for citizen's groups has come. The government has failed in efforts to help our citizens that need it (too busy worried about other stuff like citizens of Iraq and who loves who) so it is now up to us, n'est pas chers? I was witness to the first day of hurricane season, with huge pictures of Katrina heading towards shore, that served to send everybody back into PTSD. No person down there needs to be reminded about how bad it was, no person up here does either.

A word about people who didn't leave. I am so sick of that notion that somehow people who stayed deserved what they got. They didn't. Hurricane Hugo hit our coast in 1989. People who had lived here all their lives and never once evacuated (nor did their parents or their parents) stayed during that storm. They never will again. The sounds and smells of being beat up like that is tattooed on their brains. Same for people in LA, MS, and AL. So if you're blaming the survivors, quit. It comes with living in hurricane territory.

Thursday, June 01, 2006

Ninth Ward Clean-Up, Work, and The Food

The Sunday Edition of the Lafayette paper carried an article describing how residents of the Ninth Ward are tired of waiting for the gubmint to help them clean up. They have taken it upon themselves to get the job done. Good on them- that way they'll get it done like it SHOULD be done, and won't have to jump through any hoops or cowtow to anybody for help. If you'd like to contribute or participate, contact www.commongroundrelief.org.

My presentation on Denial was enjoyable. I think I need to prepare it for delivery to 1) White House Staff including Skippy 2)Congress 3) Pentagon 4)CIA 5) FBI. Did I leave out anybody?

Y'all know how much I love crawfish. I have made that fact glaringly clear. But I have to say, yesterday I felt the need for a big burger. I went to a place called Ground Pat'i which specializes in burgers. I had a big yummy one with cheese. The Lafayette Police Force was well represented there so I made certain I did nothing untoward. Not that I would.

Edit to Post! How could I forget? Today is the first day of Hurricane Season. The front page of USA Today has a big photo of You guessed it >
Hurricane Katrina! There is no way to get away from that event, not around here anyway.