Ahoy Me hearties(WITH LINKS ON PG 1). Last day posted 10/17. DEC PTR STARTED W/LINK

[racefanof88]

Good luck with the volunteer position. I will pray that God will give you the strength that you will need to get through this tough time. The thoughts of the poor sea animals dying is heartbreaking enough for me, but to actually see it would be so much worse, I think.

You are such a blessing for volunteering to help and I'm sure that you will be greatly Rewarded for your good deeds. God Bless You, Dana. You'll be in my prayers!

Thank you so much . All prayers are welcomed . I have a hard time looking at the pictures of the oil coated animals, and seeing those that are dead. They don't know better than to swim in THEIR waters, or to dive for food in THEIR habitat.

The Gulf Coast needs all the prayers we can get. For the first time in my life I am starting to feel that tomorrow may NOT be better than today.

 

[407-W-DISNEY]

Hi Dana,
The food bank just got my vote.
Thank you for volunteering.

 

[Believeinfairytales]

Thank you so much . All prayers are welcomed . I have a hard time looking at the pictures of the oil coated animals, and seeing those that are dead. They don't know better than to swim in THEIR waters, or to dive for food in THEIR habitat.

The Gulf Coast needs all the prayers we can get. For the first time in my life I am starting to feel that tomorrow may NOT be better than today.

I just said another prayer. You're right - we cannot know what tomorrow may bring, but it doesn't look hopeful at the moment. But these are His creations, so I feel comforted in knowing that He has it all under control. Good luck with the volunteering and thank you for what you are doing!

 

[MHTeacher]

Good luck with the volunteering---Please let me know how it goes. I'll be thinking about you!

On a much lighter note---love your update. That picture of Dallas eating his ice cream cracked me up-He looked so cute when he was a little one in the earlier picture.

I had so much fun at that DIS meet. We need to do it again, but first I have to talk Mr. Grumpy pants into another trip.

You know I don't mind that you borrowed some pictures!

 

[leamom2princesses]

Hi Dana! We are praying for the Gulf region. Be strong and remember that those poor animals need people like you to be tough and help them out. I can't begin to imagine how hard it is to see this in person. Hang in there girl!

 

[racefanof88]

Hi Dana,
The food bank just got my vote.
Thank you for volunteering.

Thank you so much for voting. It really will help everyone living on the Bayou. I just hope I can make a difference in some small way.

I just said another prayer. You're right - we cannot know what tomorrow may bring, but it doesn't look hopeful at the moment. But these are His creations, so I feel comforted in knowing that He has it all under control. Good luck with the volunteering and thank you for what you are doing!

Thank you so much . I know I am going to be doing a lot of praying when I get to my assignment, no matter what it is. I just know that God wants me to do something and this may not be the final plan, but I will keep listening and he will guide me; he may have to shove me to find the right direction, but I will try to get it right the first time .

 

[racefanof88]

Good luck with the volunteering---Please let me know how it goes. I'll be thinking about you!

On a much lighter note---love your update. That picture of Dallas eating his ice cream cracked me up-He looked so cute when he was a little one in the earlier picture.

I had so much fun at that DIS meet. We need to do it again, but first I have to talk Mr. Grumpy pants into another trip.

You know I don't mind that you borrowed some pictures!

Thank you Michelle, at church tomorrow, ask for a prayer that we will find out the truth and the meaning for all this. I know God has a reason for everything that happens, and maybe this is to see just how much we care for His animals and the home He given us.

Thanks on the pix of Dallas, he loves to wear his food .

The meet was a blast. You may have to do Mr Grumpy like I do mine, I just plan a trip and tell him we were are going...........

Thanks for letting me borrow the pix, I still can't find mine in my photobucket account .

Hi Dana! We are praying for the Gulf region. Be strong and remember that those poor animals need people like you to be tough and help them out. I can't begin to imagine how hard it is to see this in person. Hang in there girl!

Thanks Leanne, If it is too much, I may have to do something else. I don't know if I could clean the poor birds if I'm crying so hard I can't see them . It makes me so angry to see those poor animals. I'm working my real job this weekend so I will be tired Monday, but I will be there with bells on.

 

[bouncycat]

Hey Dana!!! Happy 4th of July!!! I think I'm all caught up, on your TR anyways!!! Gotta go catch up on others!! That's the only bad thing about being gone for a week!!! Anyways, got my TR started, and have fun cleaning the animals, remember, it's a GOOD thing to help them guys!!!! I wish I was close enough to help!!!!

 

[racefanof88]

Hey Dana!!! Happy 4th of July!!! I think I'm all caught up, on your TR anyways!!! Gotta go catch up on others!! That's the only bad thing about being gone for a week!!! Anyways, got my TR started, and have fun cleaning the animals, remember, it's a GOOD thing to help them guys!!!! I wish I was close enough to help!!!!

Hey Christie . I worked the 4th, but that is OK, I made time and a half..... I have got to catch up on all my posting too.
I will be heading over to your page to start reading how great your trip was .

I hope you had a great 4th!!!!!!!

 

[longing2Batdisney]

Hey Dana! so sorry I fell behind...I did not realize I was that far behind...but, considering I have not been dissing I guess I should not be surprised.

anywho..... FIRST! I hope I have a room in the castle along with all you ladies you know all us princesses need to stick together while we are trespassing

love the flashback photos of Dallas...I'll never have those to compare I'm am so bad about keeping Ashton clean that even he doesn't handle melted anything to well--I look at pictures you guys share and think I may need a prozac to lighten up

I am so happy to read that you found your camera bag...I was soooo confused with the comment about Dale's holding of the bag until later...

I love your pictures of the odd shots around HM great perspectives...and the shots of you guys are great. They may not like taking the pictures but you see the happiness in their eyes of being in the land of magic together.

The dis meet looks like so much fun! and the kids look like they hit if off wonderfully...
looking forward to more

P.S. on the oil spill Ashton and I went Friday to Gulfport for some much needed shopping and getting out of the house...I was going to take Ashton walk along Long Beach and let him play in the sand...well, boy it smelled so strong that we could smell in the car (with the A/C on)...we would see busses every few miles with workers walking along the beach

Danny is excited to hear that the current has changed (not for LA ,AL, MS, and TX) but, the beaches of FWB are suppose to be clear...so, on Thursday morning he will decide (after I call to check on the beaches) we may be going out there for the weekend...keep your fingers crossed...
Connie

 

[racefanof88]

Hey Dana! so sorry I fell behind...I did not realize I was that far behind...but, considering I have not been dissing I guess I should not be surprised.

anywho..... FIRST! I hope I have a room in the castle along with all you ladies you know all us princesses need to stick together while we are trespassing

love the flashback photos of Dallas...I'll never have those to compare I'm am so bad about keeping Ashton clean that even he doesn't handle melted anything to well--I look at pictures you guys share and think I may need a prozac to lighten up

I am so happy to read that you found your camera bag...I was soooo confused with the comment about Dale's holding of the bag until later...

I love your pictures of the odd shots around HM great perspectives...and the shots of you guys are great. They may not like taking the pictures but you see the happiness in their eyes of being in the land of magic together.

The dis meet looks like so much fun! and the kids look like they hit if off wonderfully...
looking forward to more

P.S. on the oil spill Ashton and I went Friday to Gulfport for some much needed shopping and getting out of the house...I was going to take Ashton walk along Long Beach and let him play in the sand...well, boy it smelled so strong that we could smell in the car (with the A/C on)...we would see busses every few miles with workers walking along the beach

Danny is excited to hear that the current has changed (not for LA ,AL, MS, and TX) but, the beaches of FWB are suppose to be clear...so, on Thursday morning he will decide (after I call to check on the beaches) we may be going out there for the weekend...keep your fingers crossed...
Connie

I'm glad you like the pictures . Dale and Dallas can get as mad as they want, I'm gonna take picture......... I had a hard time letting Amanda and Tyler get dirty when they were little, but I learned that I would have to carry a washer and dryer with me to keep Dallas clean........


It is so sad to see all the damage going on along our coast . I know the workers are glad to have a job, but I don't like the reason they have one. We can smell the oil at times when we walk out in our yard.

I hope the beaches stay clear for ya'll this weekend. This is Blue Angel weekend too. We know we weren't going this year because going in the water was part of the show. It is so hot if you can't go in the water it would be horrible.

 

[bouncycat]

OMG that's a good one, carry a washer and dryer to keep him clean!!! I feel like that some days, especially with a boy!!!!!! I saw you made it over, and hopefully I'll post an update tonight, gotta do them while they're still fresh in my mind!!! LOL Sorry you had to work on the 4th, at least you made good money!!! It was hard to go back to work today for me.....but, it'll be alright, they made some changes, so I'm okay for now!!

 

[racefanof88]

OMG that's a good one, carry a washer and dryer to keep him clean!!! I feel like that some days, especially with a boy!!!!!! I saw you made it over, and hopefully I'll post an update tonight, gotta do them while they're still fresh in my mind!!! LOL Sorry you had to work on the 4th, at least you made good money!!! It was hard to go back to work today for me.....but, it'll be alright, they made some changes, so I'm okay for now!!

I didn't mind working on the 4th, we usually don't have big plans for the hot summer holidays. When I was a kid we always had big get togethers for every holiday. On Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day we would have bar-b-ques, make homemade ice cream and go down to the river and swim. It was always so much fun. I miss doing that kind of stuff.

 

[racefanof88]

Monday was my first day to volunteer with the Audubon Society so I was a little nervous. I was to be there from 10am-2pm. I didn't know what I was going to be doing or what I would see. I got out of bed at 7am to get ready to head to Moss Point, Ms. It isn't that far from where I live, but I didn't want to be late for my first day. I finished getting ready and was pulling out of my driveway by 8:20. The sun was shining and it was already HOT. Of course I took a few pictures along the way.......

As soon as I get on I-10 it stated raining and this is how the sky looked.

I tried to get a picture of the rainbow, so if you look REAL hard you can see a part of it above the trees on the left side............

A few minutes later I see this.

Then this....

So I get off the interstate at the Moss Point exit and start looking for the Audubon Response Center(ARC).

It was about 1/4 mile from the interstate so it was easy to find. Sorry the pictures are not that great. I was trying to drive and take the pictures with my phone . I know it was not a good idea .

I looked at the clock and it was 9:07am, yeah I'm just a little early.......
There is a McDonald's very near the center so I headed there. I needed to make a pit stop so that worked out good. I walk in the door and head toward the bathroom and at the tables near the bathroom there is a group of about 10-12 senior citizens playing Bingo.......... Yes, at the Moss Point, Ms. McDonald's, on Monday mornings, they have Bingo games for seniors. One of the McD workers was the caller........

I ordered a McGriddle and a caramel Frappé. I had not had the McD Frappé before, but it was SOOOOO good. I finished eating and sat there for a while drinking my delicious coffee beverage. I left McD at about 9:45 and went back to the ARC. I was glad to see that there were already people there, so I went in and found a seat at the table.

We had to sign in and if it was our first time sign a waiver. There were 4 others there when I came in and 4 others came in after me. OK, I hope my description of a couple of my fellow volunteers does not offend anyone, so I will try not to sound like a snob or profiler . Here goes----the director's name is Jillian and she was really nice, she did not say where she was originally from, but she did say she had just moved to Ms. One of the guys was a college student from Cali; he is actually working on his doctorate in Ecology, he is Jillian's friend and he came here to help; very nice. Jim, worked for Chevron, T.J. worked at a bank, another lady was a home maker, two other ladies had already went out, they had been volunteering almost since the ARC opened, everyone was really nice. Then comes the two guys who walked in last. They are the reason for my disclaimer(or what ever it is...). As we are sitting there Harry and John come walking in and I get nervous . John didn't scare me too much, he just looked kinda grungy but Harry . He walks in and sits at the table and he was a very tall guy so it was hard not to take notice of him. He had tattoos all up his arms, words I was too scared to try and read, the date 06-05-09 on the right side of his neck and a teardrop tattoo at the corner of his right eye . I could be wrong, but doesn't that mean they have killed someone or been in prison ? He also had a tattoo on the nape of his neck, but his shirt covered up part of it so I couldn't tell what it was. He had the REALLY short, short hair cut and was wearing combat boots . He was also carrying a zippered case.

I know everyone is thinking I am paranoid, but Dale has a handgun case that looks just like it . So, I'm sitting there thinking these guys are up to something and wondering where I would run if they were; they were sitting in the two chairs next to the door. Jillian came in the room and starts telling us what we will be doing that day. The whole time Jillian is talking, Harry kept throwing glances up at John. John had not signed his waiver so Jillian asks him to fill it out. He had to take a piece of paper out of his pocket to fill out the waiver, all we had to do was read it and sign it .


Well, it turns out we would be calling people who had signed up on the Audubon website and thanking them personally for their interest in helping out and letting them know what they could do in their area to help out. After our instructions we were taken to the room to make the calls. Harry and John asked Jillian if it was OK for them to go out and take a smoke break before we got started. They walked out the door and I got even more nervous......... We were taken to the phones and computers to start making our calls. John and Harry never came back so I don't know what their intentions were .

I called people who live in Georgia and mostly left messages on answering machines, but the people I did get to talk to were all really interested in doing anything they could to help with the oil spill. I spent over 3 hours calling people and answering questions.

That was my day as a volunteer with the Audubon Society. I did learn some things I didn't know before and I hope it will make a difference. Below is just a few things everyone can do at your home.

Sit up a bird habitat with food, water and shelter for the birds native to your area. Birds migrate in what are called flyways. There is the Atlantic, Mississippi, Central and Pacific flyways; birds from the Atlantic, Mississippi and Central flyways migrate to this area so they will be impacted by the oil. They are going to migrate no matter what, but if they have been fed well before they get here hopefully they will stand a better chance of survival. You can go to www.audubon.org and find your local chapter and find out what opportunities there are in your area to help.

 

[bouncycat]

That's awesome of you to help out like that!! Even if it is making phone calls. At least you weren't selling something!! HAHA But, it sounds like it was worth it, are you going back to help again?

 

[racefanof88]

That's awesome of you to help out like that!! Even if it is making phone calls. At least you weren't selling something!! HAHA But, it sounds like it was worth it, are you going back to help again?

Thanks Christie, I did feel better for a little while. But I didn't get to actually see what the benefit may be. One lady told me she would be willing to do anything but ask people for money........... I told her that all we did was say they could donate if that was what they wanted to do, but building a habitat and cutting down on energy consumption was a better way to help.

 

[bouncycat]

Hey, Educating people can be powerful!!! I didn't know about the bird habitat and stuff like that. So it is interesting, and if they do have full bellies, and in good health, it makes sense for it to help their chances. Makes total sense!!! LOL

 

[aprilisis]

Those clouds look scary! Though, not as scary as John & Harry sound!
You are so great to volunteer. Thanks for the Audubon link & bird habitat tips. I'm going to follow the link right now.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Ummmmmm......I was getting a little scared just reading about Harry and John. Wonder what they were up to?

I'm glad that your day went well and that you did what you can to help out the Audubon Society. It's really strange but John and I were talking about all these little birds around our house that we've never seen before. They are all sorts of colors and shapes. Much different that those that normally come around our house. Wonder if they came up from down South? We've been feeding them like crazy and have a birdbath in the backyard for them.

 

[MHTeacher]

Glad your volunteering went well on Monday.