Lucille is quite a character. She is an older woman and needed help getting around in a wheelchair. I ended up spending quite a bit of time with her because of this. She was so grateful for what we were doing. She kept saying that she was praying for us and that God would reward me for my work. She was just so very, very grateful. She had been lucky and had been able to bring a bag with her important papers and, most importantly to her, her Bible. She had written all her phone numbers in it because she knew she would have that with her.
We had some difficulty with the showering situation because her luggage was temporarily lost and we hadn't been able to find her any bottoms from the donated ones. A male volunteer helped me find her stuff, and we eventually all three made our way over to the shower area. I grabbed her bag and held it in the crook of my elbow.
"Ooh, she's working that bag!" she said to the man. "Look at her moving those hips. She's working that bag like she owns it!" The man and I looked at each other kind of embarassed. We were all working so hard, so seriously, although still caring, that it was surprising to hear this woman's sense of humor, much less something like that. He was like, "Well, you know ... mumble, mumble ... I hadn't really noticed." She said, "Well you should, honey, cuz she is working it!" We laughed and, I felt, had our spirits lifted even more. She did manage to get a shower that night and also the next morning when I came back. She was so excited because she had been able to wash her hair and her wig!
Her playfulness set up quite a fun relationship. I found quickly that I could give her a hard time and so I did. When I needed to take another woman up to medical triage because I noticed what appeared to be a huge growth on her back, I asked Lucille if it was okay if we went there first instead of to her bed. "You sure it's all right? You don't have a hot date or anything, do you?" I asked. "Well, you never know, honey!" she said. "It could happen."
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
One of the Families
A family I dealt with a lot was a mom with three girls - one about 12 or 13, and then two little ones. The mom also had a disabled man with her, my guess is it is her brother; I didn't ask. The mom was well educated, and the children were following that path, too. The children were extremely respectful - lots of "Excuse me's" and "Thank you's." The teen girl was so cute, just running around - you could tell she was such a social butterfly. She was so excited when I was able to find her a brand new hair brush set with a little mirror (there were practically no hair brushes.)
The mom said they had evacuated during the last hurricane, but that it had been so expensive - gas money, hotel, eating out - that she decided not to this time. "I can't tell you how much I regret that decision," she said. "I wish my kids hadn't been through that." She said they had lost everything, had nothing left. She had been very strong for her children, but she did break down when she told me this.
When she arrived Saturday, she hadn't been able to talk with any of her other family members. "They all think I'm dead," she said. All the phone numbers she needed were in her cell phone, and her cell phone was dead. She didn't have her charger. She did know one phone number, she thought, but it wasn't working in the phones set up at the shelter. I offered the use of my cell phone. The first time we tried it wasn't the right person. The second time she was put through to voice mail. We didn't know if it was her family member, but we hoped for the best.
I left her because I needed to help other people, and the day went on. Three or four hours later, I hear my phone ringing in my pocket. I look down, and it is the number she called. I answer it and say, "Yes! Yes! Let me find her!" I am all the way across the convention center, which is massive, and I run all the way over to where her beds are and hand her the phone. They make contact, and she and her oldest daughter immediately start crying. They are alive and so are her relatives!
Of all the things that happened that day - the safety, the comfort, the food, the caring - she said that was the best part - letting her family know that she was alive.
The mom said they had evacuated during the last hurricane, but that it had been so expensive - gas money, hotel, eating out - that she decided not to this time. "I can't tell you how much I regret that decision," she said. "I wish my kids hadn't been through that." She said they had lost everything, had nothing left. She had been very strong for her children, but she did break down when she told me this.
When she arrived Saturday, she hadn't been able to talk with any of her other family members. "They all think I'm dead," she said. All the phone numbers she needed were in her cell phone, and her cell phone was dead. She didn't have her charger. She did know one phone number, she thought, but it wasn't working in the phones set up at the shelter. I offered the use of my cell phone. The first time we tried it wasn't the right person. The second time she was put through to voice mail. We didn't know if it was her family member, but we hoped for the best.
I left her because I needed to help other people, and the day went on. Three or four hours later, I hear my phone ringing in my pocket. I look down, and it is the number she called. I answer it and say, "Yes! Yes! Let me find her!" I am all the way across the convention center, which is massive, and I run all the way over to where her beds are and hand her the phone. They make contact, and she and her oldest daughter immediately start crying. They are alive and so are her relatives!
Of all the things that happened that day - the safety, the comfort, the food, the caring - she said that was the best part - letting her family know that she was alive.
Donations
What would be particularly useful at this point, I am hearing, are gift cards. They would like to be able to hand out gift cards to families so they can buy things specific to themselves that they need. Good places would be Wal-Mart, Target, and inexpensive places to eat. I imagine that having gift cards will allow families to feel like they have a little bit more control over their own situation, which would be critical in them moving on with their lives. There are many goods at the shelter for them to sort through, which by all accounts they are very grateful for, but there is certainly more dignity in being able to purchase things themselves.
Monday, September 05, 2005
Austin Convention Center Shelter
I've been at the Austin Convention Center all weekend, helping out however I could. I stayed for 12 hours on Saturday and five hours on Sunday. When I first arrived Saturday, there were just a few evacuees there, and there were just a couple of rows of a couple hundred cots. I started just by passing out supplies to the empty beds - toothbrush, toothpaste, etc. The number of beds kept growing as I worked and then very quickly the number of people started to grow.
Most of our evacuees were getting flown in straight from Louisiana. Most said they had been on that road - the one the reporters were talking from - and a few said they were from the convention center. They were stepping in to our shelter literally a few hours away from that situation. They came in exhausted, filthy, and ready for a hot meal and a shower.
We did what we could to accomodate them. I helped them get whatever I could - be it a special size clothing, a fresh set of underwear, a plate of food because they were too tired to walk. Many that I talked with were just regular people who made a bad decision, a decision they admitted to regretting.
Before long the two rows of cots turned in to rows and rows of hundreds of cots, lined all the way to the walls, with wall space considered a priority among the evacuees because it gave them a little sense of privacy. Many, many familes and lots and lots of kids. Before long, we had sections for toiletries, clothing and shoes set up. The phones and phone lines were available immediately. They set up a large children's area with carpeting where the kids could get together and play. Large television screens were placed throughout so they could watch the news. Of course, many of these people had no real idea of the situation - they had been part of the story, not watching it.
The food for them was excellent - not cafeteria style at all. The meals changed three times a day - they've had lasagna and salisbury steak and chicken and gravy and eggs and sausage and tortillas - and always with sides like salad and vegetables and mashed potatoes and rice, and always with a dessert, like cake. A good, hot, real meal felt SO good to these people, who had been essentially starving for five days.
The showers took until Saturday around seven to get ready, but as soon as they were, they got the women and children in there, then the men, then began accomodating the still coming busloads and busloads that made their way to the center. Upon exiting the shower, they simply threw away in to large bins their clothes - the filth from the river water and the grime and the urine made them unrecoverable.
More to come ...
Most of our evacuees were getting flown in straight from Louisiana. Most said they had been on that road - the one the reporters were talking from - and a few said they were from the convention center. They were stepping in to our shelter literally a few hours away from that situation. They came in exhausted, filthy, and ready for a hot meal and a shower.
We did what we could to accomodate them. I helped them get whatever I could - be it a special size clothing, a fresh set of underwear, a plate of food because they were too tired to walk. Many that I talked with were just regular people who made a bad decision, a decision they admitted to regretting.
Before long the two rows of cots turned in to rows and rows of hundreds of cots, lined all the way to the walls, with wall space considered a priority among the evacuees because it gave them a little sense of privacy. Many, many familes and lots and lots of kids. Before long, we had sections for toiletries, clothing and shoes set up. The phones and phone lines were available immediately. They set up a large children's area with carpeting where the kids could get together and play. Large television screens were placed throughout so they could watch the news. Of course, many of these people had no real idea of the situation - they had been part of the story, not watching it.
The food for them was excellent - not cafeteria style at all. The meals changed three times a day - they've had lasagna and salisbury steak and chicken and gravy and eggs and sausage and tortillas - and always with sides like salad and vegetables and mashed potatoes and rice, and always with a dessert, like cake. A good, hot, real meal felt SO good to these people, who had been essentially starving for five days.
The showers took until Saturday around seven to get ready, but as soon as they were, they got the women and children in there, then the men, then began accomodating the still coming busloads and busloads that made their way to the center. Upon exiting the shower, they simply threw away in to large bins their clothes - the filth from the river water and the grime and the urine made them unrecoverable.
More to come ...
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
CNN's Coverage Sucks Again
CNN is doing a crappy job once again covering something of great importance. Their aerials (which are few and far between) don't do any justice to the situation in New Orleans and the surrounding areas, and their anchors are chatty and smiley like it's just no big deal. Plus, where are their on-the-ground reporters? That's where the best stories come from in reporting.
I haven't been a fan of CNN for a long time, but they are even suckier now than they ever have been. Who the hell cares if an actress had to leave the scene of a movie because of the hurricane? We have hundreds of people dead and dying, tens of thousands of homes and businesses destroyed or damaged. Show me some REAL news!
Luckily, I have Fox News and MSNBC to watch; I only checked CNN because I was seeing if they had anything additional to offer, and the answer is, "Clearly not!" What is really bad is some people simply watch CNN because it IS CNN and don't know any better.
I haven't been a fan of CNN for a long time, but they are even suckier now than they ever have been. Who the hell cares if an actress had to leave the scene of a movie because of the hurricane? We have hundreds of people dead and dying, tens of thousands of homes and businesses destroyed or damaged. Show me some REAL news!
Luckily, I have Fox News and MSNBC to watch; I only checked CNN because I was seeing if they had anything additional to offer, and the answer is, "Clearly not!" What is really bad is some people simply watch CNN because it IS CNN and don't know any better.
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
I'm blushing and almost at a loss for words.
I am so embarassed. I came home for lunch to find the new boy cat humping my girl cat.
He doesn't seem to realize that he has been neutered - he just keeps on grabbing her by the neck, straddling her, and waiting for something to happen. She just lays there like she is hoping the good part is coming soon.
I told my kitty to keep her legs closed, and I told the other cat, "No sex for you!" but I don't know that they'll listen. ;) Crazy kitties!
He doesn't seem to realize that he has been neutered - he just keeps on grabbing her by the neck, straddling her, and waiting for something to happen. She just lays there like she is hoping the good part is coming soon.
I told my kitty to keep her legs closed, and I told the other cat, "No sex for you!" but I don't know that they'll listen. ;) Crazy kitties!
Sunday, August 28, 2005
Workaholic Me
My new roommate brought something home for me today. It is a magnet that says:
"I'm not a couch potato anymore. I am now a computer potato."
In just one week, she's managed to figure me out completely.
"I'm not a couch potato anymore. I am now a computer potato."
In just one week, she's managed to figure me out completely.
Monday, August 22, 2005
Chaos! Sirens! No Sleep!
The first night my roommates stay at my house, and it is total chaos! At 1:30 in the morning, the smoke detectors start going off all throughout the house. I get up, having just gone to bed an hour previous, but I can't find anything wrong so I go back to bed. Then, at 3:40 in the morning, they go off again. This isn't the little chirp-chirp, like when a battery is low; this is a full fledged piercing siren scream coming from all six smoke detectors in the house. An HOUR later I was able to get it to stop by completely disconnecting what I found to be the faulty one.
I am totally exhausted this morning. I guess I can call the fire department to look at it. ??? They owe me a favor anyway. I took a picture of one of them that was printed in the paper, and their "rule" says he had to buy ice cream for all the fire fighters who saw it. I'm sure a lot of fire fighters got their share of ice cream!
I am totally exhausted this morning. I guess I can call the fire department to look at it. ??? They owe me a favor anyway. I took a picture of one of them that was printed in the paper, and their "rule" says he had to buy ice cream for all the fire fighters who saw it. I'm sure a lot of fire fighters got their share of ice cream!
Friday, August 19, 2005
My Must Haves and Can't Stands
Welcome to readers of my column who are just now hearing about my blog!
This is my list of "Must Haves" and "Can't Stands," based on the book "Date ... or Soul Mate? How to Tell if Someone is Worth Pursuing in Two Dates or Less," which had me determine what ten things I most want and least want in a partner. The author (the founder of E-harmony.com) contends if someone lacks a Must Have or has a Can't Stand, then you should call it quits and move on to a potentially better match. We think we know what we want in a partner, but putting it down on paper is different - it made me really think. In no particular order:
My Must Haves
1. Sense of Humor
2. Emotionally Healthy
3. Strong Character
4. Educated (at least a bachelor's)
5. Ambitious
6. Loyal
7. Family Life (committed to marriage, home, and kids)
8. Parenting Style (someone who would parent similarly to me.)
9. Spirituality (similar commitment and beliefs)
10. Sexually Compatible
My Can't Stands:
1. Lying
2. Infidelity
3. Vanity
4. Depressed
5. Unhappy at Work
6. Materialistic
7. Childish
8. Fiscally Irresponsible
9. Undependable
10. Judgmental
My column readers know I had trouble getting my Must Haves down to ten. The ones that I would have liked to include also are kind, personal habits (cleanliness), intellectual, and communicator (good at both talking and listening.)
This is my list of "Must Haves" and "Can't Stands," based on the book "Date ... or Soul Mate? How to Tell if Someone is Worth Pursuing in Two Dates or Less," which had me determine what ten things I most want and least want in a partner. The author (the founder of E-harmony.com) contends if someone lacks a Must Have or has a Can't Stand, then you should call it quits and move on to a potentially better match. We think we know what we want in a partner, but putting it down on paper is different - it made me really think. In no particular order:
My Must Haves
1. Sense of Humor
2. Emotionally Healthy
3. Strong Character
4. Educated (at least a bachelor's)
5. Ambitious
6. Loyal
7. Family Life (committed to marriage, home, and kids)
8. Parenting Style (someone who would parent similarly to me.)
9. Spirituality (similar commitment and beliefs)
10. Sexually Compatible
My Can't Stands:
1. Lying
2. Infidelity
3. Vanity
4. Depressed
5. Unhappy at Work
6. Materialistic
7. Childish
8. Fiscally Irresponsible
9. Undependable
10. Judgmental
My column readers know I had trouble getting my Must Haves down to ten. The ones that I would have liked to include also are kind, personal habits (cleanliness), intellectual, and communicator (good at both talking and listening.)
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Why DO Men Have Nipples?
Embryos follow a female template until about six weeks, when the male sex chromosome kicks in. At that point, males already have developed nipples.
Lest you fear an evolution of Robert Deniro's breastfeeding style, however, know that only females have mammary glands.
Monday, August 15, 2005
Your jelly gotta squish out somewhere.
When bounty hunter Stephanie Plum gives up sugar, her friend Lula responds:
“You’re like a big jelly doughnut. You give it a squeeze and the jelly squishes out. You don’t let it squish out where it wants and it’s gotta find a new place to squish out. Some people can hold their jelly in, but not you. Your jelly gotta squish out somewhere."
For more, read my review of Janet Evanovich's "Eleven on Top" under Pop Culture.
“You’re like a big jelly doughnut. You give it a squeeze and the jelly squishes out. You don’t let it squish out where it wants and it’s gotta find a new place to squish out. Some people can hold their jelly in, but not you. Your jelly gotta squish out somewhere."
For more, read my review of Janet Evanovich's "Eleven on Top" under Pop Culture.
Thursday, August 04, 2005
Saturday, July 30, 2005
Monday, July 25, 2005
Note to My Future Husband
Note to My Future Husband: When I am eight months pregnant, and I want to go on my nightly walk, the right thing to do would be to walk with me.
I just saw a woman obviously very close to full term walking on the wooded trail in my neighborhood. She was sooo tired looking, just from walking at her slow pace, and she was all alone.
I just saw a woman obviously very close to full term walking on the wooded trail in my neighborhood. She was sooo tired looking, just from walking at her slow pace, and she was all alone.
Sunday, July 17, 2005
Hamilton Pool
This weekend, my mom and dad and I went to Hamilton Pool, a really neat swimming hole on the outskirts of Austin. It's a bit of a hike to get there but well worth it!
What is so cool about it is there is a large circular overhang with a 50 foot waterfall spraying down on to the swimming area, and bits of water come through the limestone in several places where the stone has worn down and formed holes. Essentially, you are just surrounded by waterfalls in the middle of the hill country. It is really an awesome place!
My mom took pics on her camera, and when she e-mails them, I will post them.
What is so cool about it is there is a large circular overhang with a 50 foot waterfall spraying down on to the swimming area, and bits of water come through the limestone in several places where the stone has worn down and formed holes. Essentially, you are just surrounded by waterfalls in the middle of the hill country. It is really an awesome place!
My mom took pics on her camera, and when she e-mails them, I will post them.
Saturday, July 16, 2005
Farmer's Market
Today, my Dad and I went to the Sunset Valley Farmer's Market. I had never been there, and I was really impressed. It was much larger than most farmer's markets, and the competition seemed to keep the prices down. As some of my b-day gifts, my Dad bought me a fig tree and a banana tree. I am really excited about both of them! Both of the salespeople (or farmers, I guess) said they would produce fruit next year, which is way quick! We also tried a fruit we had never heard of - a canary melon, and it was great! It's like a canteloupe but sweeter and lighter. We bought tons of fruit and came back home and made a fruit juice concoction with all of it that was fantastic!
Friday, July 15, 2005
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Two-story Target!
I can't believe I forgot to mention the two-story Target in San Diego! One of the highlights of my trip - literally!
Besides the fact that it is two-story (which is ultra cool in and of itself), it has these nifty cart escalators that take your cart upstairs and downstairs for you! As you travel on the people escalator, the cart escalator grabs your cart, and it travels right alongside you. They have it timed so that your cart gets there just before you do so you can hop off and grab it right in time!
Erin and I got the biggest kick out of it - as did a whole bunch of other people. We all were just watching it, going, "Wow! That is sooo cool!"
Besides the fact that it is two-story (which is ultra cool in and of itself), it has these nifty cart escalators that take your cart upstairs and downstairs for you! As you travel on the people escalator, the cart escalator grabs your cart, and it travels right alongside you. They have it timed so that your cart gets there just before you do so you can hop off and grab it right in time!
Erin and I got the biggest kick out of it - as did a whole bunch of other people. We all were just watching it, going, "Wow! That is sooo cool!"
Back from San Diego & Me-he-co!
Very, very tired and back from San Diego and Mexico! My favorite parts were visiting Ensenada in Mexico and laying on Pacific Beach.
The “Road to Ensenada” was beautiful, following the oceanside the entire way with huge cliffs and crashing waves to the right and mountains to the left. The city itself is a blend of authentic Mexico and tourist Mexico, which was good for me since I had never been. Shops had everything from Mexican-style handcrafted goods to upscale world brands. Little kids, some as young as about six, ran up to us selling chiclets and offering to braid our hair. We stopped at a bar called Hussong’s, which turned out to be a hangout for Mexican locals and a perfect place to get the real flavor of Mexico. When I walked in, the building, at 110 years old, “felt” happy. It also turned out to be the birthplace of the margarita. Who knew? Peanut shells filled the floor, and a mariachi band played constantly, with everyone singing along. I really wished I knew the songs because they were having so much fun! We also stopped at Puerto Nuevo, where we had a $13 lobster meal. What a steal!
The next day was spent at the beach in San Diego, where it was cold to the point of goose bumps at times but where I somehow still managed to get sunburned. I couldn’t get in the water like here, of course, because it was so cold, but listening to music and laying on the beach was still very relaxing.
Later that day, we went to Coronado Island and took a look around at the Hotel Del Coronado, which was built in 1888 and is absolutely gorgeous. White on the outside with a red gabled roof, it is a massive structure. Inside, the woodwork is unbelievable, with the richness of the layout and design harkening back to a time when things were built much differently. I'd love to stay there some time.
All in all, it was a very nice trip, but until they can turn up the water temperature, Texas is still the place for me!
The “Road to Ensenada” was beautiful, following the oceanside the entire way with huge cliffs and crashing waves to the right and mountains to the left. The city itself is a blend of authentic Mexico and tourist Mexico, which was good for me since I had never been. Shops had everything from Mexican-style handcrafted goods to upscale world brands. Little kids, some as young as about six, ran up to us selling chiclets and offering to braid our hair. We stopped at a bar called Hussong’s, which turned out to be a hangout for Mexican locals and a perfect place to get the real flavor of Mexico. When I walked in, the building, at 110 years old, “felt” happy. It also turned out to be the birthplace of the margarita. Who knew? Peanut shells filled the floor, and a mariachi band played constantly, with everyone singing along. I really wished I knew the songs because they were having so much fun! We also stopped at Puerto Nuevo, where we had a $13 lobster meal. What a steal!
The next day was spent at the beach in San Diego, where it was cold to the point of goose bumps at times but where I somehow still managed to get sunburned. I couldn’t get in the water like here, of course, because it was so cold, but listening to music and laying on the beach was still very relaxing.
Later that day, we went to Coronado Island and took a look around at the Hotel Del Coronado, which was built in 1888 and is absolutely gorgeous. White on the outside with a red gabled roof, it is a massive structure. Inside, the woodwork is unbelievable, with the richness of the layout and design harkening back to a time when things were built much differently. I'd love to stay there some time.
All in all, it was a very nice trip, but until they can turn up the water temperature, Texas is still the place for me!
Sunday, July 10, 2005
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