Susie Goes on a Trip

Holidays

2008-12-28T13:01:00.004-05:00

The Lowcountry is beautiful in the winter. I walked on the beach this morning and felt the tension run right out of my shoulders.

This is the marsh. Sullivan's Island is in the background.

Junior enjoys the sunshine. And obviously cat food.

I asked Santy Claus for Peace on Earth. He liked the idea.

This is the Old Bridge from Mt Pleasant to Sullivan's Island. It's now a walking park. Isn't it great?

Your troops at Ft. Jackson ( it's a training post) got to go home for Christmas. All 10,000 of them. They lined up for tickets for a month. Last Thursday, as the buses left out of the gate, four soldiers with horns played them off. They all look so young, probably because they are. It's only 100 miles away, so I get to come home to my loved ones often.

Time has been too tight for me this year. I've never spent six weeks away from home in my life! I realize the Greater Good is important, but so is my family. The work is important, but so is time. Eight years ago right now I was in the hospital, and I swore to a) not work so hard (on the deathbed it doesn't matter) and b) never to take the sun on my face for granted again. I have succeeded at b. I spent the morning outdoors. I'm planting bulbs in pots. It's so warm they may just bloom early. I can always bring them in if it's cold.

I have hope for the New Year. I hope that the troops all come home. I hope I can see my loved ones often. I hope I can enjoy my garden. I hope we all feel better. Happy New Year.

Angie sez

2008-11-27T14:02:00.002-05:00

I love it when Big Mama starts a project.

The Berkshires seem dreamlike on accounta....oops

2008-11-24T14:34:00.003-05:00

But they did! I got to play in snow. The KR Retreat was awesome. I made some instant best friends. I learned a lot, and not just about knitting. I learned about life in other places-I love that. And I learned again about the power of human spirit, philosophy, and happiness. What a good time! OH, and I learned how to make cool doo-dads. That sweet Kathryn Alexander is one awesome woman.

On Sunday I left at O-Dark-Thirty to drive across the mountains (slowly-I did not want to run smack into a deer) to catch my plane. I got home just in time to participate in the Lowcountry Women's Book Signing. Authors included Anne Rivers Siddons, Sue Monk Kidd, the great Natalie Dupree. What an honor. Good grief.

And I met my distant relative (we think) Cathy Pickens. That's us at the top. I can't move the picture. I never presented as a skilled techo. She writes great books and her husband is from Enid! No way!

So Sunday was big. My eyeballs were rolling back into my head by suppertime. Too bad Momma Brown's was closed. Some barbeque would have hit the spot.

Life in Enid

2008-10-20T17:25:00.004-04:00

I went across the US in 1993 with my friend Veedubya. I remember thinking that I wish I could spend time in non-tourist attraction places just to get to know people and see how they live. I just thought of that last week. I guess I got my wish.

People I've met here joke around about how littlle there is to "do". I'm enjoying that, because it doesn't seem that way to me. Just driving out into the plains is fascinating. I'm sure it gets old for the locals, but I just wonder what early people thought when they could see so far away.

The birds are different. A pheasant flew across the road in front of my car last week. I'm sure there are pheasants in SC, I just never saw them.

It rained hard last week, for three days. I was watching the kids walk home from the local school. None of them were in a hurry. And no one came to pick them up. They're just tough. In Mt P people would be in their SUVs picking up their little darlings. No judgment just different.

Here I am

2008-10-11T08:54:00.003-04:00

So many things. I'm currently in Enid Oklahoma. Who knew? When I took this gig I was thinking Italy or maybe Hawaii. I got Ft. Bragg and Vance Air Force Base. Bragg is huge, soldiers coming and going daily. Thousands returned while I was there. Here, the base is small, with 30 currently deployed. I spend time at the children's centers supporting the families and the staff. I have met some Airmen that seriously need to go to Hollywood.

I drove out with a quick stop in Tupelo to see the birthplace of the King. It's kept up nice.

Oklahoma is beautiful in the windswept flat way I imagined. The roses here are amazing. Who knew?

When I initially arrived I was staying at a local no-tell motel that was uncomfortable, lous, and smelly. I did some research and landed at the Maple Place B&B. Now all is well. Peace, quiet, fabulous bed and I can walk around this nice friendly town. There's a dog show around the corner today, so, since I am missing my pets, I'll go there for a doggie fix. Then I'm going to the antique store for something prarie-ish to take home. Good weekend,

Buddy

2008-08-07T14:50:00.003-04:00

Yes, we rescued a dog. I did the legwork and my good colleague Chad took him to his new foster home today. He could not be a better dog!

Hit Me With Your Best Shot

2008-07-04T17:49:00.003-04:00

Yesterday I went to the Ft. Bragg Parade Grounds to watch festivity rehearsal. As I pulled up I heard the Army Rock And RollBand playing "Hit Me Wih Your Best Shot-Fire Away". Pat benatar would have been proud!

They also rehearsed the 1812 Overture with real cannons. What a blast!

Green Ramp, I-95 Madness, and Widows

2008-06-25T06:27:00.003-04:00

I've been really busy here on the large military installment. The President came to review the troops the week before Memorial Day. I did not go. My job is to talk to soldiers, and that's what I did. I did, however, watch the Golden Knights parachute onto the field.

All those coming-home Green Ramps were great-emotional, loud, and colorful. I met a Cajun Mom who told me that she'd like to take "a garbage bag and a stick" and clean up the Middle East. I have no doubt that she could. She was waiting for her son, Junior, and when the soldiers marched into the hanger, she was yelling "JUNIOR (jewnyerrrrr)!!!!!" as the band played the National Anthem.

Those Green Ramps are fun. the going-away Green Ramps, ah not so much. Some soldiers say goodbye to their families at home. I could see why. The partings are excrutiating.

Soldiers who returned in February are scheduled to go out again next month. *Sigh*. Here we go.

I go home every weekend, which involves I--95. I'm having trouble understanding why one Winnebago needs to pass another while going 50 MPH. and why people from one end of I--95 need to take everything they own to the other end of I--95. And that whole Pedro thing still cracks me up.

One of my new tasks is to meet with spouses of soldiers killed in this war. I'm working hard to do it right.

Notes to Self, Part Dos

2008-05-08T09:59:00.002-04:00

1. Don't get freaked out when I see combat boots in the bathroom stall next to me.

2. Make a list of all women I know who need a boyfriend, then keep eyes peeled. Like it's hard.

3. Pay special attention to those who have stars on their clothing. Be really nice and say "Sir". It's important.

I thought it was going to be really hard to keep my opinions to myself-after all, we all know how very strong they are and how eloquently I can shut somebody up. However, it's been easy. This is not about me, it's about them.

It just gets better

2008-05-08T09:53:00.006-04:00

So on Cinco de Mayo I had to present a a big Demob, 700+. I stood at the door with my colleague and welcomed each one home. Guess what: 300+ from Tennessee, 19 from Puerto Rico and the rest from South Carolina. Sometimes planets just line up right. When my turn came, I said I'm Sue, I'm with (job title) and I'm from Mt. Pleasant SC" I got such a huge Hooah, clapping and cheering! Woo!

I asked one of the Puerto Ricans, before my presentation, how to say "Welcome Home" in Spanish. He told me, I addressed our Puerto Rican soldiers and got another hooah. The guy who taught me came up afterward and hugged my neck.

My soldiers

2008-04-30T22:25:00.005-04:00

Every week I go to what we in the know call a DEMOB ("deemobe"). Don't you just know I called it Demob the first time I saw it. It's short for demobilization, meaning you (the soldier) are just home and having to sit though hours of information about where to go for your physical, your insurance, etc. If it was me I'd be hearing Charlie Brown adult voices after a) 15 months of battle, b) a really long plane ride that could have involved multiple layovers and hurry-up-and-waits and sitting around on a duffle bag still wearing the clothes I've worn since last month. I am telling you, these guys are GOOD.

Anyway, I went to the DEMOB, and as always, I asked "Where are y'all from?" Turned out, they were (all 200+)my National Guard Unit from South Carolina. I usually start my little speech with "I'll be brief", which sets off the "hooah" I have come to know and love. Not on this day, because I had to yell out to my peeps. Welcome home, I remember yelling. I got a hooah. Once again, hair stood up on my arms as I looked out at them.

I did my briefing, and then the soldiers had a break. We were all walking out together and a soldier asked me "What part of Charleston are you from?' I said, "Mount Pleasant." He said (help me Jesus) "I'm a Mount Pleasant Police officer!" I said "Excellent! When are you getting back home?" I was thinking oh hot dog! A friend on the force! Anyway, after talk about the real estate market we were about to part ways. He said " See you in Mount Pleasant!" I said" Uh yeah, but I promise I will not be breaking the law." He laughed.

I actually ran into him again today in the Soldier Support Center. There are thousands of people here and he held the door for me. I said"When do you go back to Mt P?" He said "Tomorrow. Maybe we'll see each other again under better circumstances'" I said" If you see me under better circumstances I will not be going too fast in my red Volvo." More later.

The Thai Place

2008-04-28T14:21:00.005-04:00

OT, here's one of my roses.

I knew I could find a place that serves great Thai food with nice people on the job. Fortunately, it's only a block away from The Fabulous Hampton Inn.

The first day I went for lunch "The Price is Right" was on the TV in the front, Asian Soap on the TV on the back. The Asian Soap was almost as much fun as Tella Novella. Anyway, as the nice lady brought me my tea, she wailed,"I miss my Bob Bakkah!" in that heavily accented English I have come to know well over the years. 'He's so handsome!" Her devotion was so great.

They fixed me a great lunch, asked me about myself, and were kind and accomodating in general.

I went back the next week and saw they had added a lunch buffet, which has turned out great for them and me too. It's fast, delicious, and full of soldiers in a hurry.

I was there today and told the son of the lady in charge that I grow lemongrass and would be happy to bring some when it gets going this summer. he laughed and said his mom had his yard so full of lemongrass and everything else, that there's no room to move. She's my kind of girl!

Notes to Self

2008-04-27T08:02:00.003-04:00

Working on an Extemely Large Military Installation takes some acclimation. Here are my observations:

1. Get used to being called Ma'am all the time. I used to ask people not to call me that for 2 reasons: it makes me feel old, and in the South "ma'am" can have some classist implications. Oh well. "Ma'am" it is, all day every day.

2. Don't get freaked out when, while driving down the street, big Star Wars-like vehicles bedecked in camoflage barrel toward me.

3. Get comfy with the fact that people on the post often carry very large weaponry. It's OK. That large rifle lying across that soldier's lap (aimed directly at my leg) is not loaded during dinner.

4. Everybody looks good in a beret. I think I'll knit me one in a nice summer cotton so that I might fit in and look good too.

5. Watching soldiers march into a hangar after 15 months and a twenty hour plane ride makes me cry every single time. Arm with tissues and wear no mascara to the Welcome Homes.

6. Ditto for the Good Bye Ceremony. REALLY difficult and so sad.

7. Never forget how lucky I am to be able to help.

I'm sure there's more. I'm just really busy all the time.

What is that, Thelma, the ARMY?"

2008-04-07T17:06:00.003-04:00

Yes it is. I went to my first Green Ramp today and became popular with all the grandparents because I took Kleenex. Those Kleenex people should go to "Welcome Home, Soldier" ceremony to advertise their product, I kid you not. An Hispanic woman stood next to me at one point, barely five feet tall, long braid down her back, hands worn from work. She had tears streaming down her face. I gave her a kleenex. We didn't need any spoken words at all.

One man took a picture of me handing a Kleenex to his crying friend. Another man took a tissue and said "I'm a weenie." I said "You are NOT! Real men are not afraid to cry, especially at a time like this." I gave him two.

First the soldiers came off the plane and lined up on the tarmac. I got chicken skin.Lots of waving, hollers and tears. Then they marched into the hangar, where the band began to play the National Anthem. I'm telling you, it was a sight. They faced us, all handsome, tan, weary, but thrilled. The Chaplain said a prayer, the Colonel said "Hooah!!! Welcome home, now greet your soldier!" and away they went. I have never seen that much making out since I was in a college dorm. Whew. I took pictures for happy couples and greeted those whose families couldn't make it. One soldier shook my hand and it hurt. That boy was glad to be here. They all were. I asked one "What are you going to do now?" He said"Mow the lawn." Great idea. Welcome home.

Five Years Ago Today

2008-03-19T07:47:00.001-04:00

It was Shock and Awe. I think it still is.

The Wounded

2008-03-14T07:03:00.002-04:00

The Wounded but ambulatory stay in one place. We had a meeting in that building yesterday and were waiting in the lobby for the Boss Lady to arrive. A soldier on crutches came out of the elevator pusing one of those luggage things you see at hotels. No idea what it's called- a cart? A luggage cart? Anyway, he found it cumbersome to push and walk on crutches at the same time. I jumped up and pushed the cart with his duffle on it out to the street where the cab lady helped me move his things into the car. I told him "I have been on crutches so I got ya." He thanked me ma'am several times and I told him it was my pleasure.

But then I began to second guess myself. He is a young soldier-wonder if it made him feel bad for a relatively old lady to assist? Here he is, strong, wounded, having fought in a hostile mean place and now? Some lady that reminds him of his mom has to help him get out the door. So I called my mom and she said he probably appreciated it, so I felt better.

I'm second guessing myself a lot. Which is not always bad.

Have a nice weekend everybody. I'm going to Mt P. this weekend to see my loved ones.

Hey, Thelma, where's the 82nd Airbourne?"

2008-03-11T14:50:00.002-04:00

Why, Louise they are in Iraq!

And they will be coming home shortly. It will take weeks to get them all back. They've been gone 15 months.

It feels like taking part in history. I'll be here waiting.......

"Drive, Louise"

2008-03-07T09:56:00.004-05:00

My coworkers are so interesting. One is from Idaho, 2 are from California, one is from Minnesota, one from Texas, and the one male, a thirty-something, recently relocated from Chicago to Columbia SC. THERE'S a culture shock, right? When they all heard I live in Charleston the oos and aaahs started up. I shall have lots of company once I get home, which is fine with me. They've all been overseas at least once, so I hope I have that to look forward to. Four of us had debriefing last night at Ruby Tuesdays (I think it passes for fine dining-I'm not yet sure) and it was just what I needed to move from being the outsider to being part of a team. Funny how that works.

We did a briefing yesterday for returning troops. They were tired but very happy. It was a honor to be able to welcome them home.

I can't say enough about the Hampton Inn Spring Lake. The staff is awesome, the rooms are beautiful AND comfortable-quite the combo.

My car has been at the local Volvo dealership since Tuesday and it should be ready today. I'm getting a rental for the duration of my rotation. I'll get my beloved red car real fixed up when I get home for good. I'm going home tonight to see my loved ones and see how my garden grows. Yay.

Git in the car, Thelma

2008-03-05T20:49:00.002-05:00

Today began for me with an uplifting briefing for spouses of returning soldiers presented by the Chaplain. He was really clinically aware and had good information. One of the young women there was married 12 hours before her husband did the surge. That was 15 months ago.

The second big thing of the day was a visit to the FOB-Field Operations Base ( I think. The acronyms abound). There is a simulated Iraqi village out there replete with blown up cars and actual Iraqi and Afghani people being the enemy. Ya gotta love somebody who takes on that job!
I went with my new co-worker, nickname Louise. Since I was passenger I got to be Thelma. We had good laughs-sorry Susan And Gina.

"Louise, I think I like it just fine!"

2008-03-04T15:33:00.002-05:00

So my first day was full of orientation and paperwork. I went on a tour of the post and met many nice people. So many long leaf pines everywhere, I forgot how much I love them against that blue sky the color of some school whose name I shall not mention, haha!

The car is in the shop. I am driving it home this weekend and renting on to use while I'm here. Maybe I'll get that Brown's Barbeque after all. I have been too busy to search barbeque huts and sushi spots but that will happen all in good time.

A big group (like REALLY big, thousands) are starting to come home this week. I'm still learning the hierarchy and I don't want to call the group the wrong thing. I am so glad to be here.

"Well, Thelma, how do you like the trip so far?"

2008-03-02T19:55:00.003-05:00

I took the back way through rural South Carolina this morning, all excited about my new adventure. I looked at the trees getting ready to bud out, and was happy to see spirea in bloom. I was passing cotton fields ready to plant and was waxing poetic to myself about the beautiful day. Of course, as I sang along to Stevie Wonder, I saw steam coming from my hood. this from my beloved Volvo that has never given me a moment's worth of trouble in the five years I've driven her. I pulled over next to a church (hey, I'm not STOOPID) that had gospel music bouncing off the rafters. I figured if Jesus was anywhere, he was here and I needed him like bad. I got out and put up the hood: steam from a hose. Within a minute an African American woman and her son pulled over to see what was wrong. (I mention the race thing because it will be important as my story progresses. Get a cup of tea.) Her other son pulled up shortly thereafter, and the two men looked at the hose, analyzed it, called all their friends, called Autozone, and found out the hose has to come from Volvo. The closest dealership was in Charleston and I was 70 miles north, just outside of Kingstree, SC. I was so looking forward to lunch at Brown's Barbeque in Kingstree! OH, well. While they sought a solution to my problem, I called roadside assistance but the woman there, as nice as she was, knew far less than my new best friends because she lives far away. Anyway, the men found a friend of a friend with a tow company to tow me back to Charleston. I called him and he was quickly (!) on his way. As we waited for the tow guy to arrive, the ubiquitous white State Trooper pulled up to assess the situation. He got out and said "Ma'am are you okay?" I said "Yes, Officer, I have some great help here, and a towtruck is on the way." I thanked hime, and he left. I looked at my new best friends and we busted out laughing. One of the men said "He was checking on you!" I knew that. Sigh. But hey that's his job right? I was GLAD he was checking on me and if I'd been alone I would have been gladder.

So anyway, I am getting sunburned as it is hot out. The tow truck pulled up and my new friends went to check him out to "make sure he's ok." Sweet. They decided it was ok for me to get in the towtruck and go with the guy. When we got underway, White Guy Tow Truck Man said "You know, I think I can fix that hose. I'll take it to my garage and try. " I said, great. The thought of going all the way back home and figuring out how to start my great new adventure was starting to make my head spin around. We went to his house. While he worked I sat on a porch swing with his wife who told me all about their former daughter in law swiping the grandchildren she had raised from birth at Christmas. She started to cry in the telling, but not to worry. These kids were all under 4 and riding around on these four wheelers like they were grown. they're back and they are fine.

He fixed, I took off splattering thank yous all over the place, and now I am here just off the base in Spring Lake, NC.

So that's my story. I knew it would be an adventure, I just didn't know it would start in Kingstree. I'll have to stop at Brown's another day. What I got was even better than barbeque, and it takes a lot for me to say that!

OK we're back

2008-03-02T07:32:00.002-05:00

Today I leave home for six months. I'll be back on weekends because months without my pets, plants, Elvis memorabilia, and Charleston in general would have been too much to ask.

I go to a Very Large Military Installment within driving distance, but too far to commute. I will be assisting military members and families with many issues, including deployment and reentry.

I will find the sushi place. Trust me!

Life in General

2008-02-28T17:45:00.002-05:00

My grandmother, Johnsey Blanche Ingrham Pickens saw many things in her lifetime. I am sure she heard about the Wright Brothers when that plane flew off Kitty Hawk. She didn't see it because there was no TV. But it happened. I wonder, now that I can't ask her, if that had any meaning for her at all at that time. Probably not. Why would it?

Flying would mean something to her later, when at 83 (did I get that right?) she went to Switzerland with my aunt and uncle and had a blast.

In her lifetime, the Wright Brothers ran that plane off Kitty Hawk, a man landed on the moon, and a space shuttle blew up.

I watched that Space Shuttle land last week and I'm wondering about my own life. When I was a kid I saw separate bathrooms for "coloreds" and "whites"I didn't get it. As an adult white woman I went to Howard to get my MSW. Best decision I ever made.

Now I am in position to go forward. What's going to happen big in my lifetime? I hope I have something to do with it.

I have renamed my blog

2007-04-04T20:57:00.000-04:00

I so enjoyed writing about the Louisiana trips. But now I am onto something different,

I have a book in process, and i am going to New York City to meet with the Yankees! How fun! Any food recommendations would be great.

And I'll also start posting about fun Charleston stuff.

Thanks for stopping by.

Spike Lee

2006-08-29T22:23:00.000-04:00

I am watching Spike Lee's documentary on HBO. It is SO painful to see, but it's necessary. We have to keep history so we won't repeat it. Next time it could be me. Or you. Mel Gibson, roll on to the next blog. You history is SO destined to repeat itself.

Thank goodness

2006-08-29T08:54:00.000-04:00

I am hypervigilant when it comes to being safe during inclement weather, and I think this one will bring rain and some wind, maybe but little else. I am just thankful Ernesto didn't go into the Gulf. We can take it right now. They can't.

I am bad. I still haven't developed my insty cam pictures from my last trip. As soon as my book deal stuff gets done I'll get on it.

Mercy

2006-07-22T20:31:00.000-04:00

Check this out:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/22/us/22blackout.html?ex=1311220800&en=45835692d7986622&ei=5089&partner=rssyahoo&emc=rss

I cannot do much. My heart just breaks. Period.

What a Bad Blogger I am!

2006-06-08T07:43:00.000-04:00

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.

Ninth Ward Clean-Up, Work, and The Food

2006-06-01T10:36:00.000-04:00

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.

Companies make big $ off Katrina clean-up

2006-05-31T12:47:00.000-04:00

Shut up, you say! I'm having trouble getting links to work so I'll just give you the addy.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12875663/

More later. "Denial" is today.

The Weekend, Breaux Bridge, and Work

2006-05-30T10:45:00.000-04:00

Over the weekend I watched CSpan2. There was presentation by phtographers of the Dallas News touting their book, Eyes of the Storm, which was published with all proceeds to go to recovery efforts. Stunning stories and photographs! It's available from the Dallas News for $19.95.

I went to Breaux Bridge yesterday to look around. It is so pretty. I love those little Bayou houses with the french doors. I went to a shop called "Louisiana Purchase" that had beautiful yard art and actually BOUGHT something because I can put it in the car! I got lots of ideas from the shop and made notes. I am ready to go home to my cottage and get with it.I had a French lunch at Jacqueline's Cafe and oo lala. First came half a cantaloupe. It had port wine in the center hole with blueberries floating. Nice and cooling for a hot afternoon. Then came a composed salad of tomato, asparagus, egg on greens. A great shallot-y vinegrette covered it all. Then came Coquilles St. Jacques and I was done for. I had to go back and take a nap.

On Saturday I walked and shopped downtown. I found lots of things to buy but fought the urge. I also went to the knitting store but managed to hold back. Thay have SnB on Thursday and I hope to go this week. I went to the sushi place Tsunami and was very pleased with dinner. I was a little burnt out on gravy dishes and sushi helped me balance. Whew.

On Sunday I went to Abbeville LA, supposedly the Oyster Capital of Acadiana. I didn't get to go to the Oyster places in Roadfood-they were closed. But I did find a place that had a deck over the Bayou Teche (I gravitate towards waterside, even in the heat) and had a nice catfish lunch. I drove down to the Tabasco Plant and bought some stunning chile pepper Mardi Gras beads!

I scheduled a training on denial for Friday, but no one much was here in the office. A three day weekend can bring on some well-desrved flex time. So I'll be denialling tomorrow.

More notes from the trip down, Boudin Ball, and Mulate's again

2006-05-26T12:30:00.000-04:00

Highway 90, the coast road, was closed in Pass Christain. I got really lost trying to find I-10, but I didn't mind. I like getting lost. It's how you find out stuff. Most of the ruined house debris was removed, but some rubble still remained. People who are trying to recover from a disaster need organization in their lives. Having to look at this stuff is demoralizing and retraumatizing. It make me sick that we have built an entire city in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Coast is still a wreck.

Okay, anyway, I found I-10 and drove to the Pearlington exit. I found out about Pearlington from my friend Sorka(Can that girl knit or what!). I wanted to see it for myself. It's a campsite.

People seem to be making do-I didn't see anyone to stop and talk to, so I kept going. It looks like they still need help to me. I'll try to find out more on my way back through. As I turned of the Pearlington road, I found the storm surge remains. Trees, and shrimp boats were stacked up on the side of this road. Here was my beautification spot. I knew I'd know it when I saw it. As I left there I finally picked up the Ragin Cajun Radio Station . My favorite show "Talk of the Bayou" was on. Those guys are so great. They discuss current local events. It helped me when I was in Thibodaux to hear the show-I heard what was on the minds of the citizens. They take calls and answer the phone "Bon Jour". They get really mad at injustice-my kind of fellas! When I heard them I knew I was back. I left the byways and proceeded to Lafayette.

I have been somewhat busy at work. I was to present a training for the Staff at the Agency this morning on Denial. Surprise-everyone (almost) had taken the day off to have a 4 day weekend. Too bad. I was going to use Kenneth "I am Innocent" Lay as the #1 Prime Example of Denial. I'll do it next week. He'll still be guilty.

I'll be doing assessments next week and going to court. Child Protective Service cases are always so complicated and the workers are so dedicated. They have to be-everybody hates them. They are always having to defend themselves to parents/children/judges/quality assurance/head honchos/the public. All this for $20,000 per year. Nice, hard working people. I am here to support them. That, it seems, is my mission this time around.

I have discovered Boudin Balls. I had dinner at Prejean's on Wednesday night and had Boudin Balls, Duck Gumbo that was dark, smoky and delish and a salad. I am going to search for more Boudin Balls when I leave this here public library.

I went to Mulate's again last night and met some fine forty somethings born and raised in Breaux Bridge. They all grew up together and married each other's cousins/brothers/sisters, etc. They were great and very hospitable. Thanks yall.

Some notes about the trip down

2006-05-25T11:08:00.000-04:00

Mobile AL is a neat place. In the Old Spanish Fort part ( I am sure there is a real old Spanish Fort-I just didn't get a chance to look for it) there are restaurants on stilts overlooking the Gulf. Of course I had to stop at Ed's Seafood Shed. They sell fun gifts.

I was seated at a big table in the shade right on the water. That is a big deal because quite often not-young women get ignored and stuck in corners. These young people treated me like a queen and I thank them for that. I got a dinner that had fried grouper breaded with cornmeal, oysters breaded with cornmeal (you can request regular or firm. Firm is for those who have not acquired a taste for raw oysters by themselves). I of course chose reular. Apparently oysters are available year round here-yay. The plate also had big fried shrimp. I skipped the fries (I always do-why waste calories and room on soggy fries?) and went for the hush puppies.

Now, I know there are people that get all single minded about their cornbread. I am from the South and grew up eating a certain type of cornbread (not committing myself). As I have matured I have decided to keep open-minded and enjoy the good in every hush puppy I eat. These were cakey and sweet with sugar. There were hints of onion and jalapeno, but nothing to overpower the overall effect. The grouper crust was as crisp as a potato chip from a just-opened bag, and tender in the middle-not at all dried out. Fabulous I say. I recommend this spot to anybody-apparently the locals like it too.

I left Mobile on Monday morning early (yay for time change) and stopped at the Mississippi Sandhill Crane Sanctuary and got out the binocs. I didn't see any. They are nesting right now. I'll look again on the way back.

I cut off I-10 at Gulfport. I was almost to the shore when I began to see the real damage. Shops in the town are still closed. The oncewhat -must -have-been vibrant beachfront was deserted. Live oaks were still there by the grace of God. The only rebuilding going on in earnest were the historic homes.

When I pulled over to take a picture of that shut-down Walmart, I just sat there for a while. It's right across the road from the beach, which should have had bathers on such a beautiful day. There were only a couple of brave souls. It was so quiet I could here the breeze. I'll post the pictures as soon as I get them. Later gaters (no gater mocking!)

Here I am at the Local Agency

2006-05-24T15:10:00.000-04:00

It's been so long since I sat at a desk in an agency in a cubicle. Everyone is here is really nice, but I remember why I made the life choice that I did to go into private practice. I hear variations on the Protective Service theme: can't find parent, making poor choices in the face of the court system. Parents jockeying for control in situations where they have no control at all. So sad. I'm doing a staff training on Denial. I'm working on it now. Sorta.

Yesterday I went to Mulates
outside Breaux Bridge.
By the way, that town made me suck in air.
It is SO great.
Anyway, I had crawfish and
more crawfish. It was fabulous, dirty rice, hot garlic sauce and all. I'm going back in the evening when I can do some dancin. It's been a while since I cut a rug and I think it's time. This may just be the spot.

More later I think I hear the boss.

I'm here. What a trip!

2006-05-23T15:01:00.000-04:00

I am currently at the Lafeyette Library. My room has no computer and the no-tell motel doesn't have one for guests. SO I may not be able to report every day. I'll do what I can.

When I got to the motel I saw that I had no fridge. 2 weeks in a box with no refrigeration? I think not. I got them to give me one.

I left about 5 am Sunday, took the Wiregrass Highway through Georgia. It didn't look all that wiry to me but it's early in the season yet. I have a cute sunroof so I opened up once I got on I-10, immediately closed it again in order not to get BURNT to a crisp. I hung my rearview Elvis in the rental car so it wouldn' look so rental-y. He enjoyed Mississippi.

I stayed in Mobile and left early Monday. I cut down at Gulfport to see what was still there. There's one word: nothing. Nothing at all. People's clothes were still hanging from treetops.

I have many things I want to say about this part but my 30 minutes are up. I'll post photos later on in the week. Wal Mart haters will be please to know I took a picture of the closed Walmart at Pass Christian.

More late, and believe me it's a lot including restaurant reviews and child protective service updates from the Bayou. Bon jour chers

The Road

2006-05-20T13:46:00.000-04:00

I have spent the morning looking up Barbeque Places in Southern Georgia. What a mistake. I am now starving and I'll have to go to Momma Brown's for supper. MMMMM collards. My friend Julie will be joining me, then taking me to pick the rental car. I may upgrade to Something Special if they plan to give me a 2 door Speck. I will travel through Valdosta and Waycross. Hopefully somebody will have Sunday lunch for me. I am taking Cheerwine, and will buy the peanuts to go in the bottle when I get to the Peanut State. I hope to make it to Mobile tomorrow, then I will take I-10 to Lafayette.

I have knitting books, I have an Atlas, I have new Bare Escentials cosmetics. I have a bag for shoes. I have wildflower seeds, and rose cuttings. I think I am ready. Thank goodness for that Girl Scout training. I am officially Prepared.

Here's the Plan

2006-05-15T10:32:00.001-04:00

Here's my plan. I'm leaving for Lafayette, LA early Sunday morning. I am driving this time, therefore I will be able to be Susie Roseseed. I have many Noisette roses in my garden that are the old-timey stick-in-the-ground roses. I am taking cuttings along with canna lilies, mums, asclepias and other seeds that will beautify the roadsides. The hurricanes destroyed many gardens, and they need plants. So I will do my best to make it better.

I will be an actual team member this time, and I'm looking forward to a different experience. I don't know yet what I will actually be doing task-wise, but I am flexible, as we all know. I got a copy of revised Roadfood and a big ole map. I think I'm ready.

Since I'm driving I will be able to take along much knitting paraphernalia without the airline worry. I like to have different books and projects on hand to fit my every mood.

Wish me luck, friends.

Okay, Thibodaux it isn't.

2006-05-15T10:32:00.000-04:00

Oh well, the Thibdaux site is closing this week, so I have been re-routed to Lafayette. I do not yet know what I will be doing there but I trust it will be enlightening. I'll give a full report on activity or lack of, that I observe. I am currently researching restaurants. I think I may be part of an actual team this time so I'll have people to pal around with me. More later..

Thibodaux it is!

2006-05-09T18:09:00.000-04:00

I recieved deployment orders today and I'm going back to Thibodaux. HelLOOOO Half Shell! And I'll be staying with my former hosts! Good news!

Driving Myself

2006-05-09T07:40:00.000-04:00

I want to drive to Louisiana. Last time I flew down and I had to haul all my stuff everywhere, got ill even with Echinecea and Airborne (my left ear stopped up. Ever been to a deaf therapist? Hmm?), and ate crappy food. If I drive I can leave early in the morning on May 22, make it most of the way, find Roadfood spot or two, leave early the next morning for the drive into New Orleans. I can take Miss Sorka's suggestion and drop down to Highway 90 and pass through Pearlington. I will take pictures for all to view. I don't know if the I-10 bridge is fixed yet so I think it's better to take the by-way. If anybody knows better please tell me.

I spoke again with the Good Dr. Chu Chu last night. She asked me if I could be available to go into trailer parks instead of schools. I, of course, being fearless/ dumba$$ that I am and always have been, said Of Course Absolutely. Since there are no trailer parks in Thibodaux I am guessing New Orleans is my next destination.
No problem!

*SIGH*

Look out yall.

Crawfish, here I come!

2006-05-08T10:05:00.000-04:00

There are many altrustic reasons for wanting to return to Louisiana and some not so. I cannot wait for crawfish.

I requested to return to Thibodeux, but they may not need me there. If not it will be New Orleans. Since I have only been there to fly in before, now's as gooda time as any to go.

Hurricane season is almost upon us. Those of us in areas prone to such weather know that June is not usually a problem. Neither is July. When the water gets hot and the air does too, that's when the "fun" begins. I have volunteered to go back during high hurricane season because it does not scare me and I know what to do-throw your stuff in the back seat of the rental car and get out of Dodge. You don't wait around and ask questions or watch it while it's on its way to kick butt. You Leave. Which is what I will do.

Anyway, I called my hosts at Naquins BB and told them of my immenent return. Boy I hope I can stay with them again.

If I go to NO I may to wear agency shirts that are very bright orange, a shade that makes no white girl look good. I didn't wear them in Thibodeux, and I don't know why I wasn't required to do so. I did not ask questions because that shirt would have lit me up in the dark as someone from Somewhere Else, which is what I was avoiding.

All the FEMA people in NO have gone home. Wonder why? Does everybody have a lovely trailer now? Is everything back to business as usual. I cannot comment because I have not been there. HOWEVER, as you all know, I will be reporting from the ground.

Thanks for all y'all's support.

2006-05-03T15:30:00.005-04:00

Okay dusty here you are!

NPR Today

2006-05-03T15:30:00.000-04:00

I left the DMV at lunchtime (it was suprisingly efficient! I have to say!) NPR was in progress reporting on a study done at Columbia University regarding the health of Katrina Evacuees.

"Children do not have the ability to absorb six or nine months of high levels of stress and undiagnosed or untreated medical problems" without long-term consequences, said Dr. Irwin Redlener, the director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Mailman and co-founder of the Children's Health Fund.

This has been my fear all along. The window of opportunity that is currently open for these children won't be that way for long. Long term chronic mental health problems (and subsequesnt costs of housing/jailing/treating/institutionalizing) will likely result from the disaster. Maybe I need to get Oprah on this. Yeah that's the ticket......

2006-04-25T07:09:00.000-04:00

Return!

2006-04-16T14:18:00.000-04:00

I have been invited to return. There was no contemplating. More details as I get them. I KNEW this adventure wasn't over....

Lucille is in Baton Rouge

2006-03-28T18:49:00.000-05:00

Lucille, my friend, colleague and book co-author sent me this email the other day.

"Flew into Baton Rouge on Monday morning at 9:30 am and since I could not check into my hotel until 3pm, I went ahead and drove down to New Orleans for the day to compare it to my October trip. Baton Rouge is about an hour above New Orleans and escaped much of Katrina's ravaging, except for the fact that it has probably more than doubled in its population due to Katrina evacuees.

When I got within 20 miles of New Orleans, I saw the evidence of Katrina damage again. Billboards are still down, there are still a lot of blue tarps serving as roofs, trees are bent backwards or forwards or completely stripped of their limbs and dead. Small houses along I-10 on the way in are still completely destroyed, with no evidence of rebuilding. There is still a damaged boat on the side of the highway as you go into the city.

Once in the city of New Orleans, you see condemned houses, signs down, street signs warped or down, lampposts askew, and bright orange barricades, trash and dumpsters everywhere. The streets are very empty (still) on the main roads like Canal St.; it is eerie. There isn't even a lot of noise from ongoing construction. There are still a lot of plywood boards over windows on hotels and other structures, and the stores that are open are almost empty as well and mostly staffed by Vietnamese people who don't speak English very well.

On the good side, new palm trees have been shipped in and are braced into place up and down the main streets. Traffic lights in the main part of the city are back, but they are still out just a couple of miles away, by the infamous Lower Ninth Ward District. The superdome is patched and has a banner on it stating it will reopen Sept. 24. There is a huge billboard showing a New Orleans police officer looking down, very sad, at the ground -- across the sign it says "We suffered, we sacrificed, we stayed!" They have a lot of PR to do, because 52 police officers were fired in October for looting/stealing during the evacuation and its aftermath.

There are interesting t-shirts showing the mayor depicted as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and others saying New Orleans is a Chocolate City, referring to the mayor's unfortunate statement that New Orleans would be a chocolate city again .... There are also t-shirts giving FEMA a new acronym which is negative.

Bourbon St. is still only really active with life/bars/stores for about 3 or 4 blocks. The rest is pretty much destroyed, and they are not even working on it! The least damaged part is Jackson Square and the stores on the waterfront, along with Cafe DuMond, the famous coffee/beignet shop. That part is the most populated, but still only sparsely.

I went into St. Bernard's Parish, which was the scene of a major oil spill; they had at one time said it could never be inhabited again, but there was at least one house per street being restored, with a trailer in the front yard while they do the work. It is still very much like a ghost town as well.

I went back into the Lower Ninth Ward, and there is very little life there, and no rebuilding going on. The same level of destruction exists today as it did from the beginning -- except the roads are all cleared so you can ride around in there. Being able to ride around in there again underscores how large-scale this disaster really is. It just goes on for miles and miles and miles. The writing on the houses depicting deaths, animals, directions to where people evacuated to, etc. is all still there. I took pictures, but they are pretty much identical to the October ones I already took!!

My team is based out of the capitol, Baton Rouge, this time. We are going out to trailer communities, mental health agencies, and other areas where evacuees congregate, to provide mental health, substance abuse and social work services/resource sharing. It is a door-to-door type of thing, which is pretty time-consuming, but worthwhile. We are also assessing needs of the various communities to share with the grantwriters for future purposes.

It has been interesting so far! At least this time there are stores open and all the amenities and I get to stay in a hotel and have a tv in my room (last time I shared a house w/16 people all on single beds through out an unflooded but damaged house in New Orleans ....)

More later! "

Well Lucille is certainly working hard, n'est pas?

Why am I saddened and shocked that nothing is happening? The hotels are full of FEMA people-I heard that from several sources. That's why I was put up in a B&B. Wonder what they are doing?

One Month Back, March Madness

2006-03-20T18:33:00.000-05:00

One Month Back
I've been home for a month now. I think about my trip and the people down there often. One thing I remembered that I forgot to post: many of the teenaged people I talked to said they didn't know the stars were so bright. Seems that, with no power in the entire city, and the hurricane sucking up all the moist air, and they were out on rooftops, they were able to see the stars like never before. Small blessing but a blessing nonetheless.

March Madness
Duke lost to LSU on Thursday. I love March Madness! I was, of course, disappointed, but being Evolved and An Adult, I decided to pull for LSU and Big Baby for the duration of the tournament. Who better to win, I ask you? I hope they win the whole thing and whup up on some UConn. Go Tigers! Go Big Baby!

The Rant

2006-02-28T18:30:00.000-05:00

You all knew it was coming. Here it is.

My dear friend Emmar called me today to say that she is wearing the colorful beads I brought her from Mardi Gras as a political statement: to protest the devastation still apparent in Louisiana and Mississippi. This is why she is my friend. I'm wearing mine for the same reason AND because it's Fat Tuesday. I made gumbo because I now know how.

What has happened, and continues to happen to those of our brethren is shameful. I passed the big ole Halliburton Company with lots of shiny machinery in the yard. They got the big bucks to clean it up. Why are the machineries just sitting around?

One child I spoke to said his father was staying in a trailer on their property gutting the house in order to rebuild. He's doing the work himself. There's no one else to do it. Mom is working in New Orleans and commuting to be with her children. They stay at Grandma's which was never intended to hold them all. Family tensions are running high. The guests don't do enough/clean up enough/ care enough. The hosts are "picky". Everybody has high expectations that they don't share and it causes trouble. He's not the only one. This was a common theme. Some kids didn't know WHAT was going to happen to them.

Construction costs are have doubled since before the hurricanes, and the big home improvement companies are racking up.

The fact that SOMEbody was on vacay/shopping for $500 pumps/looking at million dollar real-estate (choose all) while children watched the dead bodies of their neighbors float by increases my blood pressure. Good thing it's low or I'd be deadified by now. Check out this statement courtesy of ABC News:

BUSH: "Listen, here's the problem that happened in Katrina. There was no situational awareness, and that means that we weren't getting good, solid information from people who were on the ground, and we need to do a better job. One reason we weren't is because communications systems got wiped out, and in many cases we were relying upon the media, who happened to have better situational awareness than the government."

Huh?Dude you were on vacay! And here's another one:

VARGAS: "When you look back on those days immediately following when Katrina struck, what moment do you think was the moment that you realized that the government was failing, especially the people of New Orleans?"
BUSH: "When I saw TV reporters interviewing people who were screaming for help. It looked Â? the scenes looked chaotic and desperate. And I realized that our government was Â? could have done a better job of comforting people. "

They did not need my Mama's macaroni and cheese, although it beats the bejeezies out of any MRE I can guarantee you that. No they did not need comfort. They needed HELP. They said it HELP HELP HELP. That was the clue as to what they needed. Apparently there was a lack of situational awareness.

What I did was a drop in infinity. It was necessary and good work and I am by no means minimizing it. It was the hardest work of my life. However,it can't have any lasting effect. The need is too great and the resources are nil. Mental health prevention in this country does not exist. If each of those children could be provided with 8-16 sessions of trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy many problems could be prevented. Teens are so vulnerable.

So when crime is absolutely infesting the hurricane affected area remember who predicted it. And please don't give me the racist business. None of the people I met fit any stereotype at all.

So beads it is. I'm going to wear Mardi Gras beads every day to remind everyone that it is so not over. If you want some let me know-I'll be glad to send you some.

This is it for now on this blog. When I get some photos back I'll put 'em up. Otherwise I'm back to the other side.

I never like saying I told you so when it's bad news. Let's all pray that I'm wrong.

Amen.

Post amended: Here's a surprise! There WAS "situational awareness"! I know you are shocked, as am I.

Back Home

2006-02-27T11:14:00.000-05:00

I am Home. I am so lucky to have one. This I have known for a long time.

I am still whirling so I won't post much now except for theis photo, which I have entitled "Thank goodness for yoga". That's me on the left!

Bon Nuit et Bonne Chance

2006-02-25T17:27:00.000-05:00

Okay, chers,

I'm all packed up and I leave in the morning. I have some other things I want to post which I'll do after I get home. I kept some notes and some recordings I want to get to when I'm there. I need a persective. My brain is whirling. More than usual I mean. Stop it lovely sisters, I know you are laughing and I will not call you lovely if you don't cut it out.

I want you all to know that I had the best hosts ever. They were all accomodating, kind, fabulous cooks, and boundlessly energetic members of their community. Their friends were my friends, period. They made the hard work here easier. Check them out at www.naquinsbb.com. Call them if you want to come to the Bayou,cher.

There are things that I know to be true:
1) The recovery effort is cosmetically underway. The psychological scars are so deep it will take resources that people just don't have to fix it. I by no means want to take away from the resilience and determination of the fine people here, anything but. But all the hearings and bazillion page reports and pontification cannot replace what is gone. After a crisis like this life as you know it is over. It's hard for children to think about that.

2) The Mississippi Delta is sinking. Where I sit will be under water in 20 years. The River no longer feeds the Delta because it was dammed up. It is beyond worth saving.

3) I am one fortunate woman to have the opportunity to come here and meet these people who have laughter, spirit and guts that can't be captured by Hollywood, much less by me in this blog. I am humbled by them all.

So good night and good luck to all my new friends.

Pets, I am coming home to you.

Winding Down

2006-02-24T12:54:00.000-05:00

It's my next to the last day here and I am coming away having made new friends, learned much, and with the desire to do more.

It's part of the work I have chosen to think more needs to be done, but in this case it's a fact Communities in this area have been financially strapped for a long time. Now the evacuees must be absorbed into the school system. I was told that there was a referendum to raise taxes by something like one cent to go specifically to the schools but it was voted down. People are always scared of the word "tax" even though they know their communities need the money. Somebody (wonder who) has made "tax" a four letter word. Such is the story here.

School children watched bodies of people they knew float by. One child I talked to went out onto the porch during the Hurricane and was picked up off her feet. Remember, she was not watching the devastation on TV like we were. She had no power and knew nothing. She's only 12.

I have discovered the fabulous crawfish. Long may it reign. I recommend a restaurant called the Half Shell if you're in the area. They treated me like one of their own, were always happy to see me, and hugged me every time I left. The softshell covered in crawfish sauce was most delectible.Hey, Miss Tina, y'all rock.

The weather here has been foggy and cloudy most of the time. The Bayou LaFourche is beautiful and big and important.

Mardi Gras, The Young People, that Hank Williams Special, and my Precious Nephew

2006-02-21T06:43:00.000-05:00

Mardi Gras
The Mardi Gras Parade here in Thibodaux on Sunday was great. I caught lots of beads and people were giving them to me because I am from Off. We had a grill going, as did many people along the parade route, and eats were fabulous. Thank you my new friends!

The Young People
Yesterday I woke up with a stopped up ear. Please do not worry, Mama, I am fine. I have medicine and it's almost gone this morning. However, I felt a little weenie when I went early to the High School to meet with more young people. I met with several students, including my girl I told you about in an earlier post. We agreed to write each other after I leave. I am working to get her a therapist that can help her feel better. All of the students have told me that the big noise at 4 in the morning during the storm ( the sound of the power going out) was what made them know how serious their troubles were. Several are angry with their parents and feel guilty because they are. They all have survivor's guilt. Every single one said he or she doesn't want to complain because other people died. If I have done nothing else I have told each of them that their pain is real even if it isn't as bad as someone else's. It was a long day. So I immediately went to the restaurant that offered

That Hank Williams Special
which consisted of Jambalaya, Crawfish Pie, and File Gumbo. With a salad for $7.95. It was so good I almost burst into song. The restaurant is near my home-away-from-home and will be my spot from here on in. I HAVE to learn to make crawfish pie! My hostess has written a cookbook, so maybe she'll help me.

My Precious Nephew
I got an email from my Lovely Sister yesterday with a photo of my precious nephew who is serving all of us in Iraq. Here he is, the one on the left. One more month and he'll be preparing to come home. Hallelujah.

The National Estuary Project, The Young People,Mardi Gras, and the Breakfast Update

2006-02-18T16:29:00.000-05:00

National Estuary Project

I tried to place some beautiful maps on this post to give you all a visual of exactly where where I went when I played hooky on Thursday, but I can't get this old computer in my cute room to cooperate. The lovely people from the Barataria Terrebone National Estuary Project needed help at Port Fouchon. That is where offshore oil drilling takes place. Back in the fifties, Large Drilling People (see how nice I am today? See?) dredged new channels to the detriment of barrier islands there called chenieres. ( My New Dream is to run away to a Cheniere. It just sounds really good.) My new best friend Kerry St Pe (accent Ague) is the boss of BTNEP has spent his life trying to save these precious wetlands and apparently having some luck. A particular cheniere had been removed by the Biggus Ones and he convinced them to replace it with the slurry from dredging. "Slurry" sounds to me like a nice frozen drink but it is not. It is sand, grit, etc. We went to the spot on Thursday and planted black mangrove, wetland grass and matrimony vine, which has nice thorns to protect baby pelicans from predators. We like that. Anyway we all worked very hard and had fun too. They gave us yummy gumbo and potato salad at the end of the day. I saw a white pelican. It was a pivotal day for me. I gave each black mangrove a kiss before planting.

The Young People

I met with little kindergarten people yesterday, all of whom were adorable. The work was not as difficult as the day I described before, but it was still profound. These stories need attention and I will take on that responsibility. I have copious notes. The children I met with are permanent residents here now from New Orleans and were good at telling me what has changed. The school is very rural and will hold a little Mardi Gras Parade on Friday. Yes Virginia, I was invited to participate! I will be in a Parade throwing beads!!

Mardi Gras

I had to go to the Thibodaux Walmart Wednesday night to buy mud boots for the journey on Thursday. I came around a corner and was dazzled-Walmart has Mardi Gras beads! An entire aisle of them! I was swept away and of course bought many. I also bought a pointy hat that says "Mardi Gras Princess" on the front. I am invited to a party tomoroow with my BTNEP friends and shall wear it with pride. The party is on the parade route so I will likely catch beads there too. It's all glittery and exciting!

The Breakfast Rundown

I have been remiss in keeping y'all up on the breakfast menu. On Wednesday we had scrambled eggs and ham, biscuits, satsumas, and all kinds of jelly. On Thursday I had cereal because we left for the trip at 5:30 am. On Friday we had baby sweet potatoes, grits, crepes, and biscuits. This morning we had poached eggs with cheese and scallions, crepes, biscuits, and satsumas again. Satsumas are like tangerines but really sweet. Frank gets them from his friend's tree.

Oh and by the way, the AA meeting was great. After it was over a do-rag man came up to me and said"Charleston, SC? Dat up da bayou ain't it?" I said Well oui it certainly is.

Thanks for your support everybody. It means a lot to me.

The Young People

2006-02-15T14:01:00.000-05:00

At long last I met with 3 of the students on my list that my instructions indicated follow-up. All three are teen-agers, one male, two female. all three were exhibiting such blatant PTSD symptomology I am referring them ASAP to the Psychology Clinic at the University here in Thibodaux. It was heart breaking. These are kids who escaped New Orleans and now live with relatives in the country. The adjustment from urban to country is huge without the trauma of surviving a major natural disaster. One of them had to stay on a roof for 5 days. She was at her sister's house when the levees broke. She was asleep when the helicopter came and they thought she was dead. She was pulled up into the helicopter on a rope by a "soldier man". She did not know where her mother was. She was taken to the Highway with her sister. The buses finally came (she said she had never seen an add water meal and thought it was too weird to eat. ) In the shoving to get on she lost her sister and was taken on another bus to Texas. On that bus she got her period. At this point in the conversation she bowed her head and wept. It was all I could do not to come up out of my chair. But I kept my professional distance and continued with the debriefing. She was in a shelter alone in Texas until the Red Cross found her-her mother had been searching for her.

So as you can see we are six months out and the trauma is still fresh. This is a weird time in a recovery process. People look fine, some of the mess is cleaned up. But all three of these children said it's on their minds everyday. It's no wonder. Last night on the local news there was only one story that was not about Katrina recovery: the bill in Congress blasting the current administration for the non-response, Squabbling in the statehouse over whether displaced New Orleans residents should be able to vote for their mayor from satellite locations (I'm watching this one-if Iraqi citizens can vote while in the US, New Orleans citizens should be able to as well. Big Duh.)

Tonight I meet with a group of substance abusers to see if they have children who need assistance. Hmmm, anybody want to make a bet?

Crepes for breakfast, and Notes to Missy.

2006-02-14T16:01:00.000-05:00

Crepes for Breakfast
With peanut butter. No kidding. Heaven.

I found my way to the office that is my headquarters. I got a bunch of paperwork done, read the orietation material and asked questions. Then I hit the trail. I have a list of schools that the teams before me went to and performed assessments and referred as necessary. I got the map and found them all (shew). It took a while, but, since I am a Team of One, I have no co-pilot. I needed to get my bearings. I went to Bayou L'ourse, which of course means "bear" but I did not know that. Probably a good thing. I went to Labadieville, Bell Rose, and Napoleonville. This place is beautiful.

I came back to my home away from home and read more of the information I was given. One paper, written by an doctor from Tulane right after the hurricane, about cultural sensitivity and disaster recovery, is concise and most helpful. I mean, I know how to crisis debrief, actively listen, and validate people in many different situations. But the magnitude of Hurricane Katrina is still obvious no matter what newspapares report. Now we're six months aout and people are still reeling. They're just reeling in a different way and it looks different. And many think they are ok. So I'm happy to get all the help I can.

I found a radio station called "The Ragin Cajun". It is my current favorite. For those of you who are so inclined it's KLRZ and they have streaming.

Notes to Missy

Those who know me pesonally know how much I enjoy weekly sushi with Missy. Since I'm missing our weekly session, I thought I'd visit the local sushi place here in Thibodaux to find myself a little zen and saki. Well, there was no saki, the Korean guy at the door said "How y'all?" and the sushi was great. Along with the sushi there was, not in this order: mac and cheese, Hong Kong Beef, Frog Legs, Petit Fours, Baked Salmon, Chinese Donuts, Chicken and Broccoli, and salad. There was crawfish too but I decided to hold out for tomorrow night's choice the "Hank Williams Special" at another local place that is a combo of jambalaya, crawfish pie, and gumbo. There were no chopsticks and Missy no green Soy Sauce! There WAS wasabi and my sinuses needed it after yesterday's air travel. *sigh* Time to knit my shawl that is the colors of the swamp-alpaca laceweight greens, browns and a shot of turquoise. I love it. So far so good. Stay tuned....

Elle est arrive

2006-02-14T06:42:00.000-05:00

Yall! Bayou dark at night!

Making way seemed to be more difficult than it needed to be. My first flight from Charleston to Atlanta was late-the plane has to come from somewhere snow bound. I guess I thought they had enough that they could use one from somewhere else if one was stuck somewhere but I was incorrect. So we were 30 minutes late leaving after I had bothered to Check for on times and get there 1 hour early.

One of the nice things about Charleston is I always see somebody I know. I ran into a friend in the airport. We boarded the plane. She sat in front of me and went to High School with the guy sitting next to me. I love this place.

SO, anyway, I missed my connection to New Orleans. It was sitting there-I could see it-but it was too late. Not to worry, there was another one in an hour. That gave me time to go to this place called "Sports Scene" for some en route nachos with my new friend Carolyn. This place had sports equipment all over the walls. Right in front of my particular face was a big cup they use in hockey. I am not kidding. I think I'll open a delicious restaurant in the Atlanta airport. I'd make a killing. Something nice and comforting would be worht gold during a hard travel day. Some nice soup and a little cheese sandwich? M-HMM I digress.

So we got on our next flight. I had left home at 9, it's now 3. We're all boarded and we hear "This is you captain speaking" and I knew it was trouble. We had to wait while the mechanics checked it out and *surprise!* We had to debark, they had to find us another plane, we had to board again, and then we came to NO. I was a LITTLE concerned about finding my way in the car after dark. However, my hosts were and are of the Graciousest Class of People, and they helped me via cell phone. Y'all, when I saw my accomodations I nearly cried from happiness. It's an efficiency with a full fridge, stove, computer, tv vcr and laundry facilities. There's a big porch right outside my door perfect for hanging out which I will do. The only thing that made this scene more perfect was the fact that there is a place very nearby that makes po'boys- a big shrimp po'boy and a cup of tea: now I'm ready for whatever is facing me. Oui.

Provisions, Hydrating,Mardi Gras and the Animals

2006-02-12T15:57:00.000-05:00

Provisions

This afternoon I went to Barnes and Noble to provision. Here's what brought home: Vanity Fair with that skinny girl on the cover, Horticulture , O, and Vogue Knitting. I also bought an ancient Doug Kershaw CD and I am now getting in the Cajun Mood. Cajun Joe was the Bully of the Bayou! He was from Thibodaux. Did you know that? Consider yourself enlightened. I have Airborne and Vitamin C. I have all necessary documents in one organized binder. Diggy-liggy Lo.

I got the luggage from Missy since I am suitcase-challenged. It's the perfect size for boots. Speaking of, I will be wearing the Pink Ones on the plane. For those of you who have known me for long you know this means I mean Bidness. The black-pointy-toed terrorist stompers will be in Missy's luggage. I'll be wearing them on the way home.

Hydrating

Okay, I am having many glasses of water and gave myself a nice facial today. I do that on Sundays anyway. I made a mask of oatmeal, parsley and yogurt. I am now hydrated. And feeling good about it.

Mardi Gras
Well imagine how serendipitous I felt when I realized that my tiem in the Bayou would include Mardi Gras. No, Mother I will not go to that raucous thing in New Orleans. I will go to the one inThibodaux. I found my beads I got at a Cajun Music-fest at Wolftrap a lifetime ago. It's all very exciting. It's the Comeback Mardi Gras.

The Animals

My new friend at Whole Food's name is Sweet Cin. She asked for a report on how the animals are doing. I will include an update on this subject along with everything else. I'm still haunted by those pictures of those poor hungry dogs, as I know are many of you. It's a good thing I'm not driving. I'd bring home a carload.

2006-02-10T13:30:00.000-05:00

OO y'all I am one busy girl!

The Agency is allowing me to go alone since I am not scared of the sort of thing, and I am so glad. I heard I will be working in the schools. That's all I know. I'm taking my child and adolescent PTSD assessments (well, duh, I know, but it's nice to have measures that have empirical back-up).

I do not have adequate luggage. I do not go on trips that involve work so I've never had to take work fashions. Fortunately I am not required to dress up, jeans are recommended and are very heavy. So I am borrowing luggage from my dear friend and Travel Queen Missy. She is moving soon to a beachfront home! Yay! Anyway, I am reshuffling all clothing items.

I spoke with my hostess, Miss Joyce. She told me that everything is available down there so I don't have to lug stuff I might not need. I looked it up-there is a Michael's in case I need needles etc. I'm taking my Denise's on the plane. I hope it's all copacetic.

I located my Mardi Gras beads. I do not want to try to acquire them when I get there. I will wear them on the plane in a show of soladarity to all my Brothers and Sisters affected by Hurricane Katrina and all the brouhaha that has ensued. I love that word brouhaha. I just hope I don't get in any while I'm gone. If I do it will not be the first time.

My Lovely Sister,Uh Oh, and Ask Susie

2006-02-09T00:02:00.000-05:00

My Lovely Sister
For those of you reading comments, the Anonymous Blogger Libba is my lovely sister, the mother of my nephew Chad. He is serving you in Iraq. I will tell him you said thank you. Hey you. Other sister. You know who you are.If you want me to call you lovely you have to comment. I do not care where in Texas you are.

Uh Oh

I got a call from the Agency today, from my New Friend Dr. Chu Chu, I love that combo in name and I am not kidding. She told me that the other person meant to form my team (which I am to Lead) backed out. Well, all I can say is bummer for you, Other Person. You just missed it. Dr. said she may have to send me somewhere else because, since she is a conscientious person, doesn't like to send people out alone. " N-to-the O" I said. "Please believe me when I tell you I am fine by myself. I used to work in the Homeless Shelter at 11th and M!" She remembered that I might be ok in a small town alone. I reassured her of that fact. I really want to meet Frank and Joyce! She wants to find me a team toLead, I think, but I will not waiver if I can help it. I don't want to make trouble for Dr. Chu Chu. Stand by everybody.

Ask Susie

Okay, a faithful friend asked why I have identified "Fashion" as my business field. Well. I had to pick from their choices on blogspot. And, like everyone else in the entire world, or maybe just this country, Social Work is not a Field of Business. I'd like to know what Social Work IS then, but anyway, I pick from their choices and change it up depending on my mood.

Yall have asked how much I love being from the Carolinas. I have to say a lot. And I will miss being home a lot while I am away. This, however, I will not miss.

Hallelujah.

Oh Goody

2006-02-07T09:08:00.000-05:00

The Call
Last fall I sent a request to serve as a mental health disaster response team member. One of my colleagues, Lucille, went to New Orleans soon after Hurricane Katrina had beat them all up so bad. She had many tales to tell and I kept hoping the agency would need me. I got an email from them last night. I am going to Thibodaux, Louisiana and I am thrilled. Even though I will be volunteering for 12 hours a day, 14 days in a row, I am thrilled. I have always wanted to travel to that area, ALWAYS, and now here I go.

I have now done a little research. It appears that I will be staying in the home of some real honest-to-God Cajun people and that fact by itself is awesome. They have a fish camp! I do NOT know what that is! But this is what it looks like. It seems to be hollerin' my name.

The Plan
All my plans are being made for me by a travel agency. I'll fly from Charleston to New Orleans and rent a car. Then I'll drive to Thibodaux, which is not far. Like all good Southern citizens I will stop in Atlanta. You know what they say- when we die we'll have to stop in Atlanta on the way to the Great Reward. I believe it, yes I do.

I am now going to Tarjay (appropriate, since I will be staying with people whose first language is Francais)to provision for the trip: Airborne, new socks (because I can't find mates to the ones I have, I've tried, I promise), tiny little cute bottles of stuff. Dog food so the neighbors can care for my loved ones in the appropriate and fabulous way they always do. It is such a relief to me not to have to board them while I go away. They can do what they always do: sleep and bark at other dogs who dare walk by.

The Agency has sent me the name of the person I report to on the ground. She has to license us in the State of Louisiana before we can do anything else. I have to take my Social Work License to show, so I'm ordering a new one from the Board just in case I lose it ( "What?" you say.)
I have been appointed Team Leader which is an honor. Lucille was one too and she gave me the rundown. Apparently her team was big:14, 15 people. After researching I found out my team is two. Yes one other poor person and me. I will Lead this other person. We'll see how it goes.

Wish me luck y'all. It's a big Life Experience.