Lovely Serving Ladies

Another Crew of Volunteers.

Martha's Tips for Hurricane Etiquette

Here's Egyptoid enjoying the latet issue of
MARTHA STEWART LIVING.

Martha's Tips for Hurricane Etiquette :

1. First, get important papers and special photos in order.
and bring extra napkins or moist towelettes for those
who may have misplaced theirs in the Cat 5 winds.

2. Think ahead and take video or photos of your property before you leave.
Also, the finer stores will provide a registry service where many can view your list
of china and other necessities needing replacement.

3. If staying with relatives is not an option, consider booking a room in a hotel or motel in another nearby town or state. Take your own freshener spray, such as Febreze.
One little spritz can overcome an entire week of thoughtless housekeeping.
4. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that your pet will have a place in a motel or hotel.
First check out pet-friendly hotels in your area. Smaller pets can be carried in some of the larger Corning-Ware cozies.
5. Designate a spot, in the hall closet, to keep a bag of clothes for each person in the household.
If somehow the closet isnt large enough for that and the Dept 56 items, you must budget for remodeling now!
6. Along with overnight clothes, consider stocking your Hurricane Kit with the following: extra cash, doilies, generator, pet-safe batteries, matching flash lights, battery operated television, italian bottled water, scented and unscented toilet paper, non-perishable foods such as Toblerone and Fancy Blueback Salmon from Oregon, can opener, a small cooler, frosted cranberry candles, prescription medicines and any other remedies you use regularly such as Botox; and if you have small children - diapers, baby wipes, and American Girl books.

7. Count on the power being out for at least a day or two. Remember that ATM's will be non-operating,. bring some cash. Often times cigarettes can be used as a strong barter item, similar to a prison type economy, but remember to haggle dynamically. Since PS2 games and free-cell no longer operate, dominoes or a deck of cards come in handy! Arts and crafts, crayons and previously downloaded china-patterns for coloring pages are always great distractions for the kids .
8. If you decide to tough out the storm, stay downwind in your home. This means if the wind is hitting the living room windows, go to the room opposite the living room. Curtains may need to be pressed again or possibly dry-cleaned. Lemon-juice can remove many stains.

9. Plywood is a 'hot' commodity for those of who decide to stay. Boarding up windows that will take the brunt of the wind and rain is the wisest decision. Again, cigarettes may be able to trade easily for plywood. If you can afford it, have them installed by a professional. As time allows you can decorate the plywood with patterns appropriate for the season. Hurricanes come from June to November, so any number of exciting ideas can be had to theme up your plywood windows.

10. Finally, STAY INSIDE. But if you must go out to personally video-tape the destruction ,
wear one the nicer rain-coats, such as the Cerulean Traveller, by LL Bean.
That's all from Martha, thanks for reading!

K_T is the Man

Here's the Rebuilder with K_T:

we've just popped open a cold one to relax after the hard day.
Anheuser Busch cans filtered water for charity every year at this time.
and there was a mountain of it at our Red Cross site.
K_T had lots of good ideas, a sharp wit, and didnt seem to mind doing
the physical challenge presented. Thanks to D. for the pic.

SBC DR Logo

Passing through Atlanta...

people wave and smile when they see this sign:

More Loot & Shoot Signs

this one was slightly more hospitable,
for it says "Come On In and Die"

One Last View of Slidell, Damaged

My Group is Heading home!

Busy Area

How many hats can I wear in one day? The Lord has given me strength & patience every to do this work.

picture shows the donations tent before Hurricane Rita had it taken down.

Wearing Many Different Hats

Bouncer
Manager
Accountant
Driver
Servant
Fork-Lift Operator
Janitor
Cheerleader
Diplomat
Repairman
Singer
Gopher
Shoveler


Ever wonder what two tons of water looks like?

This must be 1 for the Home-Owners Association

Saw huge damage in Gulf port. US-90 still blocked to the west.

You have to admire the retention of a sense of humor in this family.

Loaded Train with Downed Power Line in Fore-Ground

The kitchen prep work here keeps me so busy I havent done any recon work yet, excepting the " word of mouth" kind.

photo taken across Lake Ponchartrain...

Further Adverts for Gatorade

Aaaah the barter economy!

I've got real butter, he's got starbucks coffee, the red cross guy has gatorade: lets deal!

Trading and scrounging are fine, price gouging is not, IMHO.

---

picture shows the veg. crew hiding from the heat after supper was fixed...

Donations Not Just of Food

Over eighty percent of the disaster relief food served by the Red cross is prepared by the SBC.

picture shows the "Grace Mart", where people could get free
items such as deodorant, shampoo, sunscreen, and other
"health & beauty aids" that they had lost.
When you lose your house, you lose all that's in it.

Grace Smooths the Way, Eases the Day.

Very full day. Unloaded four trucks of ice and food . Math errors from the kitchen made life interesting. Didnt step on a rusty nail
Well I DID step on one, but after it pierced my shoe, the pointy tip
went in between my toes. So I was merely perturbed, but un-injured, thankfully.

picture shows the next wave of donations.

Break Day

The rebuilder had to take a break today.
I developed a cough, probably from being sweaty in the meat lockers,
plus my muscles needed a day of rest.

So I hitched a ride up to the local coffee shop
that had internet, and here I am posting pix
of this weeks adventures.

Picture:
poster in that local coffee place, CC's. Its no Port City Java,
but its okay, and it works.

Help Came In From All Over

Met a Red Cross volunteer from my original hometown of Muncie IN today.

Most all red cross people, the ones on the street that is,
are unpaid volunteers burning their vacation or personal time
to help others.

Top Picture is Lance Corporal,
who volunteered his leave time:










Bottom Picture shows a montage of Red Cross chapters.
this is just the ones helping at this particular location!

Don't Try this at Home. Closed Arena. Trained Professionals.

Here I am, being raised by Rod, up to 15 feet up in the air on a fork lift,
to fix the top of the trailer lock, with the Attitude Adjuster.

photos by WORTHY, the lovely photo-journalist

Some People Don't (or won't) Understand Charity

Local union attempts to shut down kitchen, but were kindly shown the door. The people we help cant afford restaurant food anyways.

Said Lunch Line:

Donations in Kind, and kind donations

Blue Hat pro tem had a lot to do. Lady donated jewelry.

picture shows the shower trailer setup.

masking tape rank marker

Another promotion! The bosses left for the day and put me in charge for now. This reminds me of a book: IF I RAN THE ZOO!

So I took a piece of blue masking tape, wrote the word "blue" on it,
and stuck it to my yellow hat. Someone has to be responsible at all times,
so for a while it was me.



7OOO meals a day produce a lot of dirty dishes.
So many so they must be cleaned via pressure hose!

One Month after Katrina, Still the needs Go On _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Home made cinnamon rolls from the lady Mennonites & accapella gospel from the Mennonite men. All else is work work work work work.

Picture of Mennonite ladies and Yellow Hats serving food in 95' heat.

Hurricane Humor

What with the feeding and relief being
a huge operation, sometimes the yard got untidy.