Nothing Thread

[wtpclc]

You know I can't keep up with y'all, but I had to compliment you on the "Nothing" subject matter for today. We all need a smile on a day like today and Rash, the $350 rides and the free rides , Calypso's google search and the silver guy did it for me

Thanks all!

Yes, I think we had an ok balance today. It's good to have a place to get away from it all, but it's not the same when one of the ones that makes us laugh a lot is possibly facing some really tough times.

Hey Rash! Can Laura come change diapers in your office? (Some poeple are just sooo dense)

 

[idratherbeinwdw]

Have you all seen the latest reports? Evidently some levees failed, and the water situation has gotten worse, not better in New Orleans since yesterday. To top it off there are looters everywhere, and not enough manpower to stop them, since most of the police are busy rescuing people from their attics and rooftops. The National Guard has been called in. They are starting to say this may be the worst natural disaster in the US ever, certainly in our lifetimes.

I am so upset, this is just horrible. I guess I am most upset for Tooneric since we know him, but also for almost anyone living in New Orleans. The drinking water is now polluted and unsafe, no electricity in the foreseeable future, toxins floating in the floodwater. They don't know when it will be safe for the townspeople who evacuated to go back there. I'm going to contribute some money to one of the relief funds. I wish I could do more, but that's something I guess.

Now my Here Comes the Sun song seems so frivilous, but when I wrote it things didn't look so dire for the City, and I thought the worst was over. Little did I know things would get worse, not better the next day.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

I agree Mar'. It makes me so upset to see there are already looters moving in on the scene. How can people take advantage of a situation like that? I suppose that is one reason why so many people stayed behind in spite of the warnings -- to protect their property. I guess at this point the Red Cross would probably be the best fund to contribute to. Any other suggestions?

 

[gopherit]

I guess at this point the Red Cross would probably be the best fund to contribute to. Any other suggestions?

MSNBC has a great list of certified agencys you can donate to and help the victims -

CLICK HERE FOR KATRINA INFO AND HOW TO HELP VICTIMS

ARC is one of them, but there are other great ones as wel.. I wouldn't be surprised if local communities / churches also collect items for distribution down there in the coming weeks (like bleach, cleaning / disinfectant agents, brooms, gloves, mops - as well as food and cash and clothes, etc.) I know when our area had massive flooding after Ivan swept through last year at this time, all that stuff was a dire necessity.

THe looters are amazing. Whatthe heck are you going to do with 10 pairs of jeans, a gold watch BUT NO HOME? ANd it's not like anyone down there wants to BUY the gold watch off you -- what are THEY going to do with it? I would feel a bit more compassion for people lifting things like water or basic food -- but largely what being shown are things like TVs and pricey items -- well helllooooo -- YOU HAVE NO ELECTRICITY ANYWAY! You have bigger issues than getting your hands on a hot stereo. The human element can be so unbearable to watch at times.

My colleague in the next office came over around quiiting time today to tell me about her dd (who I had forgotten lived right in the heart of New Orleans). Her dd had left the city during the storm, and had received word her house was damaged, but "okay". Her company was letting her work out of their San Fran office until they got an all-clear to return to New Orleans. Well, apparently, the verdict on her dd's house went from "okay" to "underwater" in short order today when the levees broke down. And so did her dd -- she said she had been pretty strong til now, but she just "lost it" at the thought of all her personal possesions gone / ruined and starting over again and not knowing what she'll be facing. They had told her to expect 4-6 weeks before power could be restored to her area. My colleague said her dd was going to fly in to our area for the wkend and hopefully regroup and figure out what she would do over those next few difficult weeks.

BTW -- Did anyone see the "lifted" up casinos and such along Biloxi area? In some cases, whole massive structures were lifted and placed on top of others - were there any people huddled up inside those? How horrific, if so. I also can't get over the comments about the dead -- that they can't tell if they are "recent" or not, since their graves are all above ground, and that they are so focused on finding survivors, they just push the dead aside. They haven't BEGUN to count the death toll on this one. Some guys I work with have been called dow to do HAZMAT work (hazardous materials) at some of our company's plants in that area. I thought it was strange -- normally, after a big storm near a facility, we get an immediate report on whether any of our people were affected, what the impact to employees, business, area are, etc. We haven't heard anything -- I now suspect it's because Corporate doesn't KNOW anything yet to report.

The ramifications of this hit on the US are going to be phenomenal.

 

[WithDisneySpirit]

Good morning all! I too, have been so upset by the reports from NO and MS. We also have good friends that live in Slidell and we are not sure of their fate.

My DH is a small plane pilot who patrols pipeline. His company is trying to assist in getting basic services back on line and restart the pipeline. Since the pipeline services the whole east coast, not restarting could affect a lot of people who weren't in the storm's path! This morning's news about highway closings on 59 just negated the plan they were hatching yesterday; he's not sure what they are going to do now. He is going to head toward the west with a couple days extra clothing today

I am thinking this is going to take a very long time to recover from. The numbers of refugees from NO will be shocking to consider. I hope they get the Superdome evacuated since they think it will start filling with water soon...

Today, I am going to Gopherit's link to contribute...

 

[wtpclc]

Morning all.

To top it off, teh poeple who want to be rescued now are calling 911, but the police are having hard times finding them, as there are no streets, only roof tops to follow. I guess if your house is under water, at least it cannot be looted. Not much of a bright side.

There is a place called International Aid in Spring Lake, MI. They have already sent down three trucks. They did a lot (and are still doing a lot) for the tsunami victims. The CEO attends my church and is incredibly humble. It is a Christian-based organization. If you are looking for a place to donate, that's where my money is going. Just a suggestion. Red Cross is always a good bet too, though.

International Aid

WithDisneySpirit - prayers for your dh and for your friends effected by Katrina.

 

[idratherbeinwdw]

I gave my donation to the salvation army, but any of the organizations Gopherit linked are reputable.

I feel so deeply for everyone who has lost everything they had, or, even worse, a loved one due to this event. I have been moved to tears countless times, and I feel so helpless, as I wish I could do more to assist than just contribute money.

ITA Gopherit---If you have no food I understand taking some, but what are you going to do with a TV if you have no electricity? And the faces of glee on the looters were just plain disgusting. Talk about taking advantage of a tragedy! I am so sorry to hear about your co-worker's father, horrible is not even a strong enough word for losing your house and all your possessions. Especially when you've breathed a sigh of relief, thinking all was OK, and then WHAM everything turns out to be far from OK. And unfortunately I agree with you--the entire US is going to be affected by this awful occurence.

WithDisneySpirit--I hope with all my heart that your friends are fine. Please let us know when you do hear from them.

When I talked to Eric (Toon) he said he brought nothing with him but a few items of clotheing. They expected to be back in their house in a few days. He's being strong for the sake of his family, but no doubt this is a crushing blow, as his home was located right near one of the levees that failed. What a nightmare.

 

[lllovell]

This whole thing is horrible! I still haven't been able to get through to my friends that live near Hammond (for other than that "hello "*click* conversation yesterday). I am trying NOT to watch the news and search for things online at this point as I feel totally helpless and paralized. I start feeling better about things and then the realities crash back in and it is really a bad thing happening here. Rash said it best yesterday about not wanting to learn life lessons at someone else's expense. (maybe this is akin to survivors remorse?)

Lisa - you got 1500 and page 100 - woohoo Boy, we really can talk a lot about nothing (I understand about your concern about the people in Slidell Lisa, but from what I hear, it was really hit and miss there, so keep hoping for the best hun!)

I thought today was the first of Sept., so I am at home because I thought I had to take Richard to get his cast off and then we were going to be with my family for the "after funeral" get together for my Uncle that died over the weekend. At least I am sitting here working from home in the peace and quiet for a couple of hours. Guess the little guy will just get a day with mommy at work tomorrow He loves doing that! Going to go get both boys at noon and go see my dad and his family. Maybe it will be a good afternoon for us to go and see a movie or something.

The main thing here I keep telling myself is that life DOES go on. For all the looters (who they have on camera and they will be using that when they can to arrest them I heard last night) there are thousands of people doing good. For all the people that didn't/couldn't evacuate, there are wonderful rescue people helping them out. For all the terrible damage and distruction, there are people like us that will help out now with cash and then help out later with whatever else we can do. I know I can't even imagine and that what I DO imagine isn't close to how bad things are, but I just keep holding onto the fact that no matter what, so many many people are alive today that would not have been 50 years ago.

Laura

 

[wtpclc]

but I just keep holding onto the fact that no matter what, so many many people are alive today that would not have been 50 years ago.

Good point Laura. Sounds liek a good day for you to spend time with your boys.

Oh, I was afraid Toon's house might have been in that area.

It really is a small world when you hear how many here are connected to someone who's felt a direct hit from Katrina.

I wanted to end this on a hapy, non-sensical thought, but I'm having a hard time thinking of anytihing.

 

[gopherit]

THis is going to sound really corny, but last night, I was closing things up for the evening -- that job usually falls to me because dh is an early bird, while I'm the night owl, LOL! ANyway -- after reading about the destruction in LA/MS on the net, then watching it on the news, reading about it in the paper... I took a bit more time to really look at what I was doing...

Turn off the computer.
Get a quick drink and snack from the fridge....
Pass through the den to grab a stack of neatly folded laundry to carry upstairs.
Turn off the TV and wake DH from the sofa to get him upstairs, so he could go to work the next day.
Make sure the garage door is shut, and both vehicles are inside, along with kids' bikes and such.
Pets are all ok and fed, though rabbit wants some love. Give it love - and a leaf of lettuce.
Turning on outside lights, turning off inside lights.
Re-tucking 3 healthy kids in their big, soft beds and watching them dream. Kiss them. Kiss them again.
Take a nice hot shower, put on some soft clean pjs, brush my teeth, and climb in the bed. Cat seems miffed I moved her over a bit to get in, but then readjusts and curls up around my feet and starts to purr.
I listen... to the cat purr.
To the hum of the air conditioner as it clicks on.
To the rain falls on the rooftop.
To an occasional rustle upstairs in the kids' rooms, or my DH mumbling something in his sleep beside me.
And I think.
When I take a moment to really digest the "life lesson" as Rash called it, I learn just how BLESSED I am, and taste the tragedy felt by those in the storm's path.

I have a house to close up at night! I have a home that keeps rain and wind out, and all the people I love in, safe and sound!
Speaking of which -- I have a family in that house -- all present and accounted for, unmarred by tragedy.
We have power to light the house, cool the house, heat the house, and run appliances to make our lives easier, cleaner, safer, more fun...
I have water -- for drinking, washing, bathing, flushing... and I have food.
I have safe transportation to wherever I need to go, giving me ready access to grocery stores, medical aid, employment...
WHich brings up the point -- we have jobs, jobs in secure businesses that will help us provide for all of the above.
The little critters we have brought into our home (and are like little parts of our family) are also safe and well.

I can't imagine not knowing where I would live, what happened to people I love, losing everything we owned including the ability to sustain it. It's unfathomable - and yet, for countless people last night, as I lay there, snug in my bed, it was reality. More like unreal-ity.

 

[lllovell]

very good/sad/amazing/simple/thoughtful/heartwrenching thoughts there Gophorit. (I don't guess its just my pregnancy hormones making me tear up here is it? I think I am not alone in feeling extra emotional right now).

I think the boys and I are going to go to the movies and get ice cream this afternoon. (if I can handle stinky cast boy *bleeck* creek water - WHAT were hubby and grandpa thinking???) So, I will let them decide. Fantastic 4 (if its still at the regular movies), Madagascar (which they have seen, but I haven't), or Herbie (which we have all seen once - and which Richard will probably be disappointed that its not the Lights Motor Action show at MGM with Herbie in it - so I better be extra careful to make sure he knows its the MOVIE ). Sounds like a good mommy/sons afternoon...cool, inside, calm, ice cream (woohoo)...time together.

(thank goodness for the dollar movies! that way we get extra chances to see their favorites again )

*hugs* for you all

 

[idratherbeinwdw]

Really well said Gopherit, I was thinking along those exact lines myself last night. I am not one who envies those who are wealthier, and I rarely waste time wishing I had more. I am well aware that even a bascially middle class person in the USA is "rich" compared to the large majority of the rest of the planet. But the destruction caused my Hurricane Katrina validates what most of us have known all along: Be grateful for what you have, others are often less fortunate.

 

[Rash]

It's heartwrenching to watch all of this. I wish I had something profound or meaningful to say, but I don't. I just watch the video with my mouth open, with an immense sense of sadness for those suffering. I wish there was more we could do to help.

 

[wtpclc]

Now they're saying weeks or months before people can come back. Even then, the sanitary aspects of things will be so bad. Reading with gaping mouth here too.

What will happen to the businesses that employed the people of the areas that were hit? It would be hard enough to rebuild your homes/lives after this, but how many people will be out of work?

 

[gopherit]

What will happen to the businesses that employed the people of the areas that were hit? It would be hard enough to rebuild your homes/lives after this, but how many people will be out of work?

That has been a question of mine too, wtpclc. We just today received a corporate announcement regarding our facilities down in Mobile / Ponchartrain areas (we have 5 facilities scattered throughout that area). And just as I had surmised yesterday -- the reason they didn't send out a notice sooner is that they honestly don't know anything yet. Until the water recedes, they can't do anything. And until power is restored, they can't determine what processes / equipment etc has been lost. And of course, before that would even occur, they will have to do all sorts of integrity / safety checks, etc. They are sending folks from our other sites down there to help, and our business is contributing a hefty chunk of moolah (to the areas involved, as well as supplies (in the forms of products we make and/or safety gear.) In our case, we're such a big company, good people will not be out of a job (a home, perhaps -- but not a job.) If need be, they would relocate them, I'm betting. And I already told you about my colleague whose daughter is working out of their San Francisco subsidiary until she can return to N.O. But what about single-point businesses and their owners? What about all the people employed, for example, in those casinos and hotels and restuarants that were obliterated in Biloxi? It's not like the country is rife with employment opportunity right now, either.... And I wonder how many of them carried flood water insurance. I know around here, if you don't specifically carry flood insurance, and the water comes from the ground up (as in when a levee breaks), you get squat diddly. SOme folks are security-conscious and aware of the risk and buy it -- but some just assume it will "never happen to them" and don't. They survived all these years -- many may have grown complacent lulled into false security. And then if you ARE insured -- how long will it take to get adjusters to you and get recompense? People could be homeless, jobless, and yet locked to the area, wading through not just water but endless paperwork and waiting, waiting, waiting.

On another note -- I wish the news would find another way to express Mr. Bush's actions right now. Statements in the news like "President must cut short his vacation" makes it sound like he's miffed about being inconvenienced out of his R&R time - and I would surely doubt that's the case. I will say this -- I sure wouldn't want to be the man in charge of any part of that area right now (mayor,gov, president) -- it would be so gut-wrenching to go out there and meet with all the victims. ANd then those looters -- well, I thought the Mississippi gov was going to whip out his own personal 47 the other night on TV just to make his point about how he felt about THAT. But I guess 36 hrs sleep deprivation due to finding out a generous portion of your land and people have been wholly devastated can do that to a guy.

 

[boston1029]

Thanks for your words gopherit. I have been sitting here watching the news and just stunned by what has happened. It breaks my heart to see these people lose everything including family. It makes me realize that I am very lucky and thankful for my home and family. My heart goes out to all of those who are involved in this tragedy.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

I was shocked to see how many people were still in N.O. during the storm. The newscasts made it seem as though most of the residents were able to evacuate in time. Also, at this point Mississippi seems to have been hit even harder than anticipated as well. So sad.

Does anyone know if Red Cross will accept clothing donations? We just cleaned out my kids' closets and were going to bring them to Goodwill, but now I'm thinking they might get to some of the families affected by Katrina if I bring them to my local Red Cross instead. Three large bags (lawn size) of clothes that have hardly been worn -- some not at all. Hopefully someone will appreciate them more than my spoiled children did.

 

[wtpclc]

There is someone on the WISH boards that was vacationing there for teh weekend. She had quite an ordeal getting out and the airlines did not make it easier. However, those with their own vehicles could have gotten out in time like Eric did. However, if they wanted to stay and protect their belongings, that was not the best choice. SOmewhat understandable, but not good for them in the end. It doe snot look like they have a choice now, teh governor is forcing all to evacuate (for their own good).

 

[gopherit]

Our local news reported this a.m. that we have 6 high school teachers still in N.O. that were there for a teaching seminar and could not get transportation out. THey seem to think they will make it back to W.V. sometime at the end of this week... boy won't they have some stories to share with their students. Seeing something like this has got to affect you for a lifetime.

 

[jnrrt]

I don't even have anything to say. I just can't believe my eyes. I don't even know how you start addressing something so huge - a lot of the same thoughts I had about how they could possibly rebuild after the tsunami. It's just jaw-dropping.