Memories are still there, but are the buildings?

Here are excerpts from an AP report about the condition of some of our most beloved landmarks in New Orleans... I'm not sure how much I can believe, but at least most of it is good news ...

The French Quarter: The area escaped much of the flooding.

Jean Laffite's Blacksmith Shop: Supposedly the in-town headquarters of pirate Jean Laffite, who owned more than 10 vessels and raided American, British and Spanish ships in the early 1800s. Located in the French Quarter, the area escaped flooding but remains closed.

St. Louis Cathedral: Located in Jackson Square and consecrated in 1794, it was said to be the oldest continuously active cathedral in the country. Still standing.

Preservation Hall: A famed New Orleans jazz club located in an unassuming building originally built as a private residence in 1750 and was once a tavern, inn, photo studio and art gallery. Fate unknown; it is in the middle of the Quarter, and should be unaffected unless looters have trashed it.

Cafe du Monde: Established in 1862, this coffee shop on Decatur Street in the French Quarter was best known for its cafe au lait, made with hearty New Orleans-style coffee, blended with chicory, and beignets — crispy, square doughnuts. Still standing.

Acme Oyster House: On the edge of the Quarter, should have escaped much flooding.

U.S. Mint building: The building housed Confederate soldiers during the Civil War and produced money for the federal government until 1909. It later became home to jazz and Mardi Gras exhibits and the streetcar immortalized in Tennessee Williams' play "A Streetcar Named Desire." The mint is still standing. The fate of the streetcar is unknown.

Anne Rice's home: Tourists and fans of the "Vampire Chronicles" books would visit the Garden District home of author Anne Rice. She has also helped create several "haunted tours" of the city. The area was battered by high winds which knocked down trees. Rice no longer lives there, though that hasn't stopped the tourists from stopping by. (I read reports that this area suffered only minor damage. -Steph)

St. Charles Avenue in the Garden District: The St. Charles Streetcar ran down the historic street, and the area was shaded by majestic oak trees layered in Spanish moss. The Garden District was named for the collection of mansions and sprawling gardens, but Victorian homes were later built have become a well-known part of the neighborhood. Much wind damage; many of the trees were splintered. (If Tulane and Loyola reported flood damage, then I would assume that many of the houses did, too. I posted a picture earlier this week of a couple of guys rowing down Broadway in a canoe outside of the Mushroom. )


Commander's Palace: A restaurant built in 1880 in the stately Garden District, frequented by everyone from wealthy elite to riverboat captains and charlatans. Known for its turtle soup and turquoise-and-white facade, which was partially destroyed. (I just went to a great jazz brunch here with my family in June. I even got up and joined the Second Line around the restaurant!)

Fair Grounds: Located in the northeast section of the city, the fair grounds is best known as the home of the New Orleans Jazz Festival, but is also famous for its racetrack, built in 1852. The roof was torn off. (If you've seen any of the pictures, you'll also know the track was under lots of water. Of course, if you've been to the Jazz Fest on a rainy day, you probably are not that surprised.)

That's pretty much it for the AP report. I've also read that House of Blues escaped with only minor damage. I've seen conflicting information about Tipitina's on Napoleon. I hope it's OK; I have lots of memories there. That's where I saw Blind Melon for the first time and attended many a Cowboy Mouth show, including one while on crutches after I dislocated my knee. Ricky, the owner or manager of Tip's with the wild curly black hair -- I kind of remember his looking like Frank Zappa -- let me sit backstage for my own protection, and my ears rang for three days. Just another reason I always wear earplugs at shows now!

Tip's is also the place where Blind Melon was supposed to play a show promoting their second album, and the lead singer Shannon Hoone overdosed and died right outside the club. Darren and I were on our way to the club when we heard.

One time, we were going to see Cowboy Mouth there, and Darren dropped us girls off and he parked the car. By the time he got back, we were inside, the show sold out, and he was stuck outside. We asked Paul, one of the guys in the band, if he would help Darren get in. Paul remembered him, went outside and got him in for free. Loved those guys!

I still wonder about Bruning's, The Crystal, the New Orleans Museum of Art, the cemetaries, Camellia Grill, R&O's, Morning Call, Aunt Sally's on Decatur, Pat O'Brien's, The Pub and Parade, Oz, Gold Mine, Friends Bar, the Audubon Zoo, the cool shops on Magazine Street, the Greek Church near City Park, Hangmen's Tree, Midgetville, the Riverwalk, Mulate's (which I saw on TV when people were sitting outside the New Orleans Centre), those crazy balls across from the New Orleans Centre, Howlin' Wolf, the balcony at Tropical Isle ... and that's not even counting my familes' and friends' homes, my schools, the malls, and the hole-in-the-wall places we'd go to get the best crawfish, crabs and muffalettas.

From Korie Pierce Carrigee

Hey you~ We got out early and have been moving around hotels for the past week. We are in Abbeville, south of Lafayette, for the next few days. NO is a mess. Our house is fine- no water or major damage. Still no power but maybe in a few days. Drinking water is safe. They hope to be back to school in a week or two in St. Charles, where we live and where I work. Also, waiting to make sure safety and security are in place. Hope all of your families are safe!
Be in touch soon.
Love, Korie,
Kevin, & Kailie

A sentimental loss

I was just looking on WDSU.com, a Web site for one of the local New Orleans news stations, and I found a photo of a hotel on fire. It was the Hotel de L'eau Vive on Tchoupitoulas. That's where I spent the night after our senior prom with my best friends.


It was a really cool hotel, and it looks like it had survived the hurricane and the flooding. It makes you realize that even though some places are fine right now -- still standing, still dry, still safe from looters. Tomorrow, who knows?

Update from Darren ...

Darren sent this to me today.
Darren & Shannon, our thoughts are with you. I'm so sorry you have to go through something like this. Please let me know if there's anything any of us can do. Love you both, Stephanie

I'm sorry to have to report that Shannon & I got some bad news this morning. Shannon's grandmother, Mary Batta Drury, passed away last night. She was in her 80's and could not walk. The nursing home where she lived was located near Chateau Estates in Kenner, LA. They did not evacuate before the storm, but there was no flooding in the building and minor wind damage to a few rooms. However, they did lose electricity and water. A generator was used for electricity, but there was still no air conditioning or water, so conditions were very bleak. As of yesterday, they were supposed to be evacuated to Dallas, TX, but she didn't make it. We have no idea what they will do with her remains. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

-Darren

Update from April Babin ...

My friend Darren found a somewhat close up picture of the neighborhood where I live. Looks like no roof damage, the tree in the front yard fell away from the house possibly landing on the back end of my parents other car. The pictures were taken either 6/31 or 7/1 and there was no water. But that doesn't mean there wasn't any at all. My sister's house we couldn't see the exact location from satellite pic but the surrounding neighborhoods were still under water. Basically, she was affected by the levee breech everyone has been talking about. Well, I need to run. Take care everybody!

*APRIL*

From Amy's husband, Anthony ...

This is Anthony Campo in Birmingham. One of the guys I work for has a small house on Smith Lake in Cullman, AL. It's a weekend retreat sort of thing, but has all of the necessities. It is convenient to the interstate, and roughly halfway between Birmingham and Huntsville.

He has offered it at no cost for an indefinite amount of time - certainly a great alternative to paying for a hotel if that is your situation.

Please call me at 205-908-9901 ASAP if you are interested or need more info, as I don't expect this to last long. Would love to see this help someone we know, as we are troubled by our inability to help directly from afar with 2 kids in tow.

Steph, please email blast this out to y'alls GK people on your email list...I'm at work and Amy can't get to the computer to email this right now.

Anthony

Great Web sites to find info about neighborhoods

I'm not even sure who sent this to me, but I got a page tonight with the following Web address and the tip that I could find my parents' house using the site:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

I couldn't find my parents' house, but I did see part of the levee breach on the 17th Street Canal. Now, I understand why some areas are completely full and others are dry as a bone. I thought the levee broke against the coastline of Lake Pontchartrain. It didn't. Along the canal that stretches from Lake Pontchartrain into the city, one side of it broke down, and all the water flooded the neighborhood on that side.

Anyway, the site is a bit cumbersome to use, but it's incredibly valuable.

Here's another site Darren and Stephen told me about: scipionus.con
You can't see any damage like you can in the photos on the site above, but you can easily find the street you're looking for, and users have tagged areas with information, such as "Completely dry," "Water up to second story" or "Wiped out."

Also, MoveOn.org has set up an amazing site to help people find housing. You can offer rooms or look for accommodations at this address: Hurricane Housing. The site even identifies how many people have responded to each housing offer.

Take care everyone, and thanks for your prayers.

From Jairo Santanilla in Baton Rouge ...

Friends & Fam,
BR was spared essentially. We're in good health.
NOLA still closed.

Trying to figure out where I'm needed most now...I'm supposed to be in Houma tomorrow for my regular rotation, but may be needed more in other areas.

Zee-- I tried to call you..can't get through
Jen-- I was the med director at the Filed House yesterday for a 30 hr shift.
They want us to call 225-763-5762 for the DHH and T-MOS.

All- if you have the ability the Red Cross will need you...20,000 being moved to Houston.
Cell phones still diecey. Staying at my in-laws 225-272-1280.

love and prayers,
jairo

From the M.A.S.H. unit at LSU

From Darren...

After reading this story, I really cannot believe that a friend of mine at my age could possibly be in charge of a scene like this!!!

From: "William Martin"
To: "Bill Martin"
Date: Wed, 31 Aug 2005 02:51:35 -0600
Subject: The PMAC will never host an important event like it did tonight

Little did I know what I would be doing following Hurricane Katrina's aftermath but as I type right now, there won't be a more gratifying or more surreal experience I went through tonight. We went up to the office today and held a press conference regarding the postponement of the game and it was the right decision. As the PMAC and Field House are being used as shelters we decided as an office to do everything we could to help the situation.

At first, we were just supposed to make copies of this disaster relief form for all of the people. The copiers will never print a document more important than that. It's weird. Nearly 12 hours ago we were running off copies of game notes for a football game that is now meaningless. We printed the copies and carried them over to the Field House at 6:30 p.m. I wouldn't leave the area for another 8 hours.

On the way back to the PMAC in a cart, it looked like the scene in the movie Outbreak. FEMA officials, U.S. Marshalls, National Guard, and of course the survivors. Black Hawks were carrying in victims who were stranded on roofs. Buses rolled in from N.O. with other survivors. As Michael and I rode back to the PMAC, a lady fell out of her wheelchair and we scrambled to help her up.

We met Coach Miles and Coach Moffiit in the PMAC to see all the survivors and it was the view of a hospital. Stretchers rolled in constantly and for the first time in my life I saw someone die right in front of me. A man rolled in from New Orleans and was badly injured on his head. 5 minutes later he was dead. And that was the scene all night. What did we do, we started hauling in supplies. And thousands of boxes of supplies. The CDC from Atlanta arrived directing us what to do.

One of the U.S. Marshalls was on hand so the supplies could not become loot. I asked him what his primary job was. He serves on the committee of counter terrorism, but once he saw of the disaster, he donated his forces to come help. He said the death toll could be nearing 10,000. It was sickening to hear that.

After unloading supplies, I started putting together baby cribs and then IV poles. Several of our fball players and Big Baby and Tasmin Mitchell helped us. At the same time, families and people strolled in. Mothers were giving berth in the locker rooms. The auxiliary gym "Dungeon" was being used as a morgue. I couldn't take myself down there to see it.

I worked from 8 pm until 2:45 am. Before I left three more buses rolled in and they were almost out of room. People were standing outside, the lowest of the low from NO. The smells, the sights were hard to take.

A man lying down on a cot asked me to come see him. He said,"I just need someone to talk to, to tell my story because I have nobody and nothing left. He turned out to be a retired military veteran. His story was what everybody was saying. He thought he survived the worst, woke up this morning and the levees broke. Within minutes water rushed into his house. He climbed to the attic, smashed his way through the roof and sat there for hours. He was completely sunburned and exhausted. Nearly 12 hours later a chopper rescued him and here he was.

We finished the night hauling boxes of body bags and more were on the way. As we left, a man was strolled in on a stretcher and scarily enough he suffered gunshots. The paramedic said he was shot several times because a looter or a convict needed his boat and he wouldn't give it to him. Another man with him said it was "an uncivilized society no better than Iraq down there right now." A few minutes later he was unconcious and later pronounced dead. I then left as they were strolling a 3 year old kid in on a stretcher. I couldn't take it anymore.

That was the scene at the PMAC and it gives me a new perspective on things. For those of you who I haven't been able to get in touch with because of phone service, I pray you are safe. Send me an email to let me know. God bless.

Bill Martin
LSU Sports Information

Update from Kel ...

Kel was stuck in the W hotel where he works, right on the river.

I was able to drive out on my own today. I am in Lafayette right now and trying to fly out today. The hotel never got water. If you are watching Fox news, the guy...something Gill is actually broadcasting from our hotel, you can see Harrah's broded up in the background.

I miss you so much and have stories to tell about this for sure.

Please pass on that I am out of the city and safe if anyone asks.

--Kel

From Darren Beltz in Houston ...

Darren and Shannon evacuated to my brother's house in Houston. My parents are there, too. Here's a great update about lots of our friends from Darren ...

Hey Stephanie,

Your brother told me about you posting info on your blog. Thanks!

Shannon & I are in Houston, TX, and our family all made it out safely.

My Dad & Julie were in St. Petersburg, FL visiting my Uncle when the hurricane started heading to NO so they just stayed there. My mom, Kevin & Rose, and all 5 of their kids went to Longview, TX just west of Shreveport and they have a hotel until next week. Leta went to stay with her dad in Pensacola, FL. Barney Oufnac, Sr. & Jr. went to White Castle, LA, and then moved on to Baton Rouge I think.

Shannon's mom & dad drove to North Carolina and they are staying with Shannon's uncle. They left late on Sunday though and since the traffic to the east was moving slower than the storm, they had to stay in a shelter in Alabama to ride out the storm first. Unfortunately, one of Shannon's grandmothers had to stay in New Orleans at a nursing home in Kenner near Chateau Estates. Luckily, we have gotten word from the home that there was no flooding there and very little wind damage. They lost the A/C, but a generator is providing electricity for lights & medical equipment. Shannon's other grandmother and all her aunts & uncles made it out of town too, which is a good thing (see below).

One of Shannon's uncles lives/lived in Eden Isles subdivision in Slidell, LA on Moonraker Road overlooking an inlet of Lake Pontchartrain. Shannon's friends Jennifer Wandell & Brent Hachfeld also live in this general area and we haven't heard from them. If you look at a map of Slidell, LA, reports say that the lake was pushed all the way up to Fremaux Avenue (aka Hwy 190 & Shortcut Hwy). That's almost 5 MILES INLAND!! A man called into WWL radio station saying that he lives near Fremaux and he had thousands of dead fish in his front yard when he went to check his home for damage.

One of Shannon's aunts lives off of Lake Villa Drive about 4 houses from the canal in Metairie next to East Jefferson General Hospital. My brother's fiance's sister lives in a house one block away. They have 4-5 feet of water in their homes.

Brad & Jessica Humphreys are safe in Houston, TX. He said they are in a hotel room playing cards to keep them from watching too much news. They aren't sure about the status of their house.

Patrick Alderman's parents got out and went to Baton Rouge to stay with him and his wife, or his sister's family, but since his power is still out from the storm, they are all at her house. He has gotten reports that the area around Grace King High School was spared for the most part with very little water (2-3 inches) in some homes.

Jairo & Kathryn Santanilla are in Baton Rouge, LA with Kathryn's parents. They lost power the day of the storm, but it was restored shortly after. Yesterday Jairo reported to the LSU Assembly Center where they have set up a temporary hospital primarily dealing with triage (like M.A.S.H.) of people being brought in from New Orleans. They are short handed, so if you know anyone in the medical field in that area, they could probably use your help. This morning Jairo finished a 30 hour shift where he was acting as Medical Director for the center. They saw about 400 patients come through during that shift. Apache helicopters are landing every few minutes on the track field next door in addition to the school buses being driven in. He heard some amazing stories similar to those we are hearing on the news in person, face to face.

Our friend Cecily Bennett made it safely out of New Orleans, as well as our friends Dave & Nicole Steudlein, Sara & Mike Camneter, Mark & Staci Pelto, and Patrick Cochran.

Shannon's friends, Carrie & Rick Gardache, are in Atlanta, GA at an uncle's house, but Rick's parents rode out the storm in Chalmette, LA. They have not heard from them! They have posted to missing sites such as WDSU.com, but so far they have heard nothing.

I haven't heard anything from Luke Davis, so if anyone knows anything about his whereabouts, please pass it on.

Thank God we are all safe, even if we are homeless for a while!

-Darren

From Amy Surcouf Campo in Birmingham ...

Hey Stephanie
Thanks so much for the updates. I have been very worried about everyone. My brother Sean and some of his friends came here to Birmingham to stay with us and my sister and brother took the rest of the family to Monroe. We still have 1 aunt that stayed in Metairie Towers and we don't know anything about her. Anthony's brother has been in New Orleans for his work (works on cell phone towers) and hopes to get back in tomorrow to see if he can find her. I have not been able to get in touch with my friend Tamara either. My prayers are with all of you that have been affected by this. Sean and his friends are leaving tomorrow (I think) and we just moved into a house with a basement so if anyone needs a place to stay please let me know. It is not much but you would at least have shelter, food, water, a little privacy, and 2 great kids to play with (okay that last part might not be a perk). But really, if you need a place of refuge, please let me know. We will do whatever we can. God bless!
Amy

From me in Orlando ...

It has been so heartwarming to see e-mails from my friends and know they're OK. I've only heard from a few, so if you know anything about anyone or any place, please let me know, and I'll keep this updated.

I talked to my dad tonight, and we seem to be one of the lucky ones. My cousin is a police officer, so he had to stay in the city. He went to our neighborhood and said it looked like there was some wind damage but no water in the homes. My mom's brother and his family live about a mile from us, and he has 12-14 inches of water inside his house. It seems so random.

I'm relieved that my neighborhood is OK for now, but I don't have any idea if it will get worse in the next few days and weeks.

I saw pictures of the race track where we host the Jazz and Heritage Festival, and it's mostly underwater, and there's lots of roof damage. Good memories there of my first time seeing Cowboy Mouth and my mom met Harry Belafonte.

I also saw that Tad Gormley Stadium is under lots of water. When I saw the stadium, I thought of being there with Darren and April for the Pearl Jam show with The Ramones in 1995 and the first Voodoo Festival.

City Park must be a mess. I wonder how the New Orleans Museum of Art fared. And Storyville. And the train. The last time I was in town, I drove through there with my parents and felt such love for the beauty and character of the giant oak trees.

The Mushroom is a great music store near Tulane and Loyola universities.

The good news? People are coming together to help. There's a big concert on Friday on NBC with Aaron Neville, Harry Connick Jr and others.

New haven for Who Dats?
Our Orlando mayor said the Saints could play this season's home games in the Citrus Bowl. I would truly love that! I feel like I grew up in the Superdome, and the images from there are so depressing. The idea that my beloved Saints would play just 10 miles from my house makes me giddy like a schoolgirl.

I'm proud of my company, too. This was released today:

THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY COMMITS $2.5 MILLION FOR HURRICANE KATRINA RELIEF AND REBUILDING EFFORTS

August 31, 2005, BURBANK, Calif. – The Walt Disney Company announced today that it will make a corporate contribution of $2.5 million to the relief and rebuilding efforts for victims of Hurricane Katrina. One million will be donated to the American Red Cross for immediate relief efforts, one million will be designated for rebuilding efforts targeted at children’s charities, and the remaining $500,000 will be directed towards volunteer centers providing services to the communities affected by the hurricane.

“The devastation in the wake of Hurricane Katrina is simply heartbreaking and our thoughts are with those struggling in the aftermath of this disaster,” said Michael Eisner, CEO, and Bob Iger, president, COO and CEO-elect of The Walt Disney Company. “We hope that our donation will aid emergency management teams and organizations in their efforts to provide assistance to those impacted.”

From Mike Clayton in Baton Rouge ...

Hey, I got out to baton rouge and danny ritter made it to lafayette...best wishes to you and your
families!

Not sure if this will help, but I converted my group's website into a sort of "information depot." I'll add useful links as I get them, and people can use the forum or guestbook to excange information.

You can reach it at www.unsupervised.org

I hope all of your families are safe....

Mike Clayton

From David Comeaux in Atlanta ...

Hey Everyone,

Steph, thanks for thinking of this. Glad all are okay so far.

My parents, sister, and cats are in Jackson, MS with my brother Norman.

Hugh Anderson is with Ryan and Lisa up here in Atlanta.

Others I know are away and safe, too. Ralph's parents, Clayton, etc.

Love,

David

From Glenn Blanchard in Madison, MS ...

glenn and sara blanchard are safe in madison, ms...our house had no damage....lots of tree branches down....i dont know if my daughter and x-wife made it out of bay st louis, ms....great idea steph...
love you
glenn

From April Babin

April is safe with her family in Houston. Here's a note she sent today.

My friend Heather sent this to me today:

my mom saw a posting that someone posted stating that they have a cousin on the second block of pike and that the water did not get into the homes. Keeping fingers crossed we, or at least some lucked out! I don't have all of the Shook's e-mail so send out the hope!

*APRIL*

From Carrie Guess Fisher

Here's a note from my friend Carrie ...

Hello All.
I'm trying to remember everyone's email addresses- my
address book is trapped in the Tulane email system
which is down.

Zane and I (and pets) are in MO, staying a friend of
his now, but moving to his parent's trailer at the
lake tonight. So we'll be spending our evacuation at
the Fisher summer house on the Lake of the Ozarks,
complete with pontoon boat. Not too shabby. I guess
we might as well live it up now, because as soon as
they let us back into NO, it's going to be a long hard
journey.

Mom and Pallie and Patrick (and pets) are outside of
Austin TX with Pallie's friend Denise.

Hope everyone is doing well.
Keep your fingers crossed that we'll have something to
go home to.

Love,
Carrie

From Kel Russell

I want to try to keep everyone in the loop with what's going on in New Orleans and where all my friends and family are. Here's an e-mail from my friend Kel.


Hey everyone....

Guess where I am. I am at the W New Orleans on Poydras. This has been and continues to be an interesting time. I can't begin to tell everyone all that I have seen. The Lowes across the street closed down today, I wish we would have done the same, but including employees, we have about 100 rooms still occupied. We has a scared today when we thought we were going to run out of fuel for the generator, but we got some from the Sheraton and tomorrow we get a new generator and supplies flown in from corporate. I continue to be amazed by everything that is going on around me.

I might be trying to leave tomorrow, but word has it we are getting AC back when we get a new generator. I will keep y'all posted.

Everyone is in my thoughts.

--Kel

From terrible to worse ...

First, I want to say thank you to everyone who has called and sent e-mail inquiring about my parents and my own welfare. Thank God, we're all safe and have the luxury of clean water and air conditioning.

We still don't know the condition of our home or the homes of our friends and family members. The latest update on wwltv.com is this:

HURRICANE KATRINA
****ALL RESIDENTS ON THE EAST BANK OF ORLEANS AND JEFFERSON REMAINING IN THE METRO AREA ARE BEING TOLD TO EVACUATE AS EFFORTS TO SANDBAG THE LEVEE BREAK HAVE ENDED. THE PUMPS IN THAT AREA ARE EXPECTED TO FAIL SOON AND 9 FEET OF WATER IS EXPECTED IN THE ENTIRE EAST BANK. WITHIN THE NEXT 12-15 HOURS****

We live in Metairie, which is in Jefferson Parish, on the East Bank of the Mississippi, which -- not to be confusing, but -- is to the west of downtown New Orleans. I read on a message board on the same Web site that a house two streets from our home had no water damage. That's soothing relief. I guess time will tell.

Here's another alert that relates to my family:
Jeff Parish President. Residents will probably be allowed back in town in a week, with identification only, but only to get essentials and clothing. You will then be asked to leave and not come back for one month.

Prisoners are forced to evacuate from the city's jails.

A couple of levees break, and the water pours into the city.

Here are some other news bites from WWL, the local CBS news station in New Orleans.

9:17 P.M. - New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin says hundreds, if not thousands, of people may still be stuck on roofs and in attics, and so rescue boats were bypassing the dead.

8:04 P.M. - Mayor Nagin: Unhappy that the helicopters slated to drop 3,000-pound bags into the levee never showed up to stop the flow of water. Too many chiefs calling shots he says.

6:41 P.M. - Efforts to stop the levee break at the 17th Street Canal have ended unsuccessfully and the water is expected to soon overwhelm the pumps in that area, allowing water to pour into the east bank of Metairie and Orleans to an expected height of 12-15 feet.

5:57 P.M. - Jeff Parish schools chief Dianne Roussel says two months is probably "optimistic" to get schools back and functioning.

4:40 P.M. - (AP) State officials say they are working on plans to evaucate inmates from the Orleans Parish prison and the Jefferson Parish jail. Both facilities face a threat of flooding. The state Corrections Department is trying to figure out how to transfer 4,000 inmates from the New Orleans jail and another 1,000 from the Jefferson Parish jail in Gretna.

2:01 P.M. - Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard says there is no plumbing and the sanitary situation is getting nasty. He told WAFB-TV that he is carrying around a bag for his own human waste.

1:05 P.M. - (AP) -- With much of the city emptied by Hurricane Katrina, some opportunists took advantage of the situation by looting stores. At a Walgreen's drug store in the French Quarter, people were running out with grocery baskets and coolers full of soft drinks, chips and diapers. When police finally showed up, a young boy stood in the door screaming, "86! 86!" -- the radio code for police -- and the crowd scattered.
While some people were volunteering and saving people's lives, others were Christmas shopping. Nice.

The last thing I heard today was that city leaders were "giving up" on trying to fix the levees for the night. They just can't stop it. Keep prayin', and if you can, donate to the American Red Cross! I'll post more tomorrow.

My tummy's still hurting

Katrina passed through New Orleans early this morning, and thank God, she moved slightly eastward, saving New Orleans from the "worst-possible scenario."

Still, as you can see by some of these photos I plucked off the Web, it's bad. My family is safe, thank God. My phone literally rang off the hook this morning -- I have lots of very good friends who were concerned about me and my family. My parents are in Houston, and my crazy aunt and her family members who stayed in Harahan to ride out the storm -- they're OK, too.

I don't know what our house looks like. I'm worried that it's full of nasty, nutria-infested water. There's no electricity, no water, no sewer system. It sounds like it's going to be a at least a few days before my family can even return home to see the damage.


Here's a photo of my beloved Superdome where the New Orleans Saints play and I spent many, many Sundays cheering, and yes, crying along with all the die-hards. Parts of the roof blew off, and some of it fell in, allowing lots of water to flow in and onto the football field.


Here's another shot that breaks my heart. We drive through this underpass to get into the city. This is probably 10-12 feet under water. And on both sides of this road are very old cemetaries, including the one where my grandmother and grandfather are buried. And yes -- it's an old racetrack, so the ground is solid enough to bury coffins. On the other side of the interstate, there are some of the more famous cemetaries you'd expect to see with above-ground tombs.

My family is following Gov. Blanco's orders and staying away. And you'd want to, too, if this is what they will encounter when they return ...

A public health expert said New Orleans residents who return to their homes would face "a wilderness" without power and drinking water that will be infested with poisonous snakes and fire ants... The water also has dislodged fire ants and thousands of snakes -- including poisonous water moccasins -- from their homes.
-CNN.com

I did hear that the levee near our home did not break, but then I also heard that there's about 4 or 5 feet of water near Williams Boulevard between the airport and the Treasure Chest Casino, which is within just a few miles from our home.

OK, I found a good map on Google to explain how close our house is to Lake Pontchartrain, but I can't seem to save it as an image file. Here's the link -- but first, let me explain what you're going to see. Near the top left, there's a square (made from the boundaries of the streets) that says Chateau Estates and Country Club. There's another square to the right of that. The right side of that "box" is Power Boulevard, and our house is in the area to the right, just a few streets over and about three or four blocks from the levee of Lake Pontchartrain.

map of Metairie, Kenner and New Orleans

I can't concentrate on anything, and I'm just a nervous mess. Not knowing the state of our house and not having a clue what the next few months will be like is making me light-headed. I can't even imagine what my family is going through. I'll let you know when I get more info. Keep praying, so far, it's working.

Forget hunkering down, they're getting out

I think I need some more prayers, kids. Katrina is now a Category 5 storm, and I can't stop watching CNN as they warn about the catastrophic damage and loss of life. There's a mandatory evacuation for all of New Orleans.

My tummy hurts. I need to get out of here and go somewhere to get my mind off it. I can't do anything to help, and I'm not getting anything done.

My mom called from my brother's house in Houston. Like me, they all woke up surprised by the news that Katrina had intensified into a Category 5 hurricane, and it was still headed right for the Crescent City. Mom said she started thinking about all the things she would have packed in the car if they would have known it would be that bad. More photos, our high school yearbooks, more jewelry -- but you could ponder those things forever and never feel good about your decisions. I'm just so thankful they left so early and are safe. Some of my other friends and family members are still on the road trying to find a safe place to ride out the storm. Two of my cousins are cops, so they have to stay and work.

The winds are at 175 mph right now, and they're forecasting 20-25 foot storm surges.

I'll post again when I know more.

Katrina

The weather looks pretty nice today -- or so it seems when I look out my back window. It's kind of a lazy day. I'm doing laundry, catching up on episodes of "Weeds," organizing piles of clutter into more piles, and worrying my way to an ulcer with predictions like the one below of Hurricane Katrina's path.



I heard a news anchor say something like, "Well, it looks like we can relax because Katrina is headed toward New Orleans." Yes, I'm glad she isn't preparing to slam into an already-ravaged panhandle coastline, but New Orleans can't take a storm like this.

I was just surfing around the Internet and found the following photos. The first is St. Louis Cathedral on any typical day, like the one when I sang Christmas carols in front of it with my friends and a few hundred other New Orleanians, and I kept dripping candle wax on my brand new coat; or the day that Harry Connick Jr married inside; or the day Sonja got her palm read in front of the Pontalba Apartments with Scott and me; or the day I attended midnight mass on Christmas Eve and heard the choir sing a song that Jeff Buckley covered; or the day I walked in with my family, and my Grandma lit a candle for Aunt Marge, or maybe for Joey.


This is the "simulated" photo of the same place where I have so many memories -- including a powdered sugar fight with Darren at Cafe du monde right across the street -- if a category 4 storm hit.


New Orleans is six feet under water. I can remember looking out of a window in in one of the downtown hotels right on the Mississippi River, and from that vantage point, it's easy to see that the river is higher than the city. CNN just interviewed some expert in my hometown parish of Jefferson, and he said a massive storm could produce 12-15 feet of standing water in the city. It would take six months to pump all the water out, and then every building would have to be reconstructed because of the water damage. There would be no drinking water. It's incomprehensible. He said about 44,000 people could die because they couldn't or wouldn't evacuate in time.

My parents already evacuated, thank goodness. But the rest of my family are still there, and so is the house I grew up, the schools I attended, the beignet place where I had my first kiss -- Hell, even the bar where I danced next to Brad Pitt.

So, say a little prayer, okay?

what’s your sign?

This week, I began attending Sign Language classes at a local church, and I LOVE it! It’s totally free, I get to spend time with Brad and Christy – who are also in the class – and I learn to communicate with people who are deaf, a skill I always wanted to learn.

But the best thing about it is that Christy is teaching it! For those of you who don’t have the great fortune of knowing the best little Sign Language interpreter in the tri-county area, Christy rocks! She is a professional Sign Language interpreter, which gives her the opportunity to have a completely different workday each day of her life.

One day she’s interpreting for a mom who's in labor in the deliver room …

... the next she’s at an Information Technology conference …

... then she’s interpreting Margaret Cho’s comedy routine …

... and the next day, she’s in a high school math class.

I hope I don’t get her in trouble, because her work is very confidential. Because Christy might be a witness to the most intimate or personal times in someone’s life, and there would be no reason for anyone to be there except that someone needs to interpret, she maintains strict confidentiality for her clients.

So, I should probably stop talking about that stuff.

The class – it was so great. In the first two-hour class, Christy and her teaching partner Mary taught nearly 40 of us the entire alphabet, the numbers 1-20 and more than 60 words!!

Since that class, I have been a fingerspelling fool! As I’m driving my beloved MINI through the streets of Orlando, I fingerspell people’s license plates, the names of their cars, street signs, billboards – it’s insanity! I can’t wait to learn more next week!

updates to my photo album

I just made lots of new updates to my photo album. If you check it out, you'll see pix from my trip to Chicago, Christy's birthday and Polly Esther, aka Polly Polly Paw Paw Patch! Here are some favorites ... (Please pardon the layout -- I spent a lot of time trying to make it right, and now I'm really tired and need to give up for the night.)

bigger is always better

I love, love, love my new MINI, but I had to come to terms with the fact that it's just not practical. It's too small. So, I traded it in for a new vehicle. And I already have a name for her! Big Bertha!!! Check it out!

i love me some live music!

I just did the dance of joy here in my broken computer chair because I read that Death Cab For Cutie is going on tour, and this melodious (Is that a word?) band is going to make a stop at Hard Rock Live in Orlando on Oct. 30!

It has been a great year for concerts, and the fall is shaping up to be uncommonly kick ass! Here are some cool shows coming to The City Beautiful.

Aug. 10 -- Scout Niblett at the Social
Aug. 15 -- Kings of Leon and Secret Machines at House of Blues
Aug. 23 -- Louis XIV at the Social
Sept. 14 -- Coldplay and Rilo Kiley at the amphitheater in Tampa
Sept. 28 -- The Decemberists with Sons and Daughters at House of Blues
Oct. 2 -- Stellastar at the Social and Wold Eyes at Will's Pub
Oct. 7 -- Liz Phair at House of Blues
Oct. 9 -- Henry Rollins spoken word -- Highly recommend by me!
Oct. 22 -- Nine Inch Nails in Tampa
Oct. 25 -- NIN at TD Waterhouse
Oct. 16 -- Brazilian Girls at the Social
Nov. 17 -- Metric at the Social

How can anyone be expected to have enough money for car payments AND good music???!!!???

when your invisible friends are on tv

When I was a kid and I was reading a book I really liked, I could really fly through it. When I reached the final pages, my eyes hit the brakes. I didn’t want the book to end because then the story would be over. So, I would read really slow and take in as much as I could, trying to visualize each moment presented. I knew that as soon as I had to close the book, I would miss the characters who had become my friends.

I actually still do that. Each time I opened the next book in Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles, I felt this rush of excitement, like I was getting back together with my friends. Maybe that is one of the reasons the world loves the Harry Potter series so much. Harry and his friends are very likable, and if you’ve read the books, you know how horrible his muggle family is. Your heart breaks for him, and you develop a bond that can’t really be explained.

Even this weekend, I saw a preview for the film version of "Rent," and I got all emotional, seeing these people who I have cared about and sang with for years. It was like seeing your friends at a reunion and marveling at how they've changed over the years.

When I was probably 10 or 11 years old, I started reading this series of books called “Couples.” At the time, I thought they were awesome. Now, I believe they were probably published by the same ring of conservative monsters who conspire to inject young girls with the ideals of love, marriage and doing anything possible to make the man of your dreams fall in love with you. Yes, the same wackos who brought the “Tiger Beat” and “Big Bopper” magazine rags to your local newsstand. (I have a long history of despising these pathetic creations – I’ll have to save it for another entry.)

The Couples series was made up of 30-something books that was like one huge, epic “Melrose Place.” In the first book, the reader met most of the characters, a group of friends that undoubtedly included the cheerleader, the football player, the Goth girl, the editor of the school newspaper, the misunderstood artist/musician, the well-meaning nerd, the rebel hottie, etc. Each subsequent novel introduced new flames, crushes, infidelities, heartbreaks and those first kisses you could feel in your toes.

I loved these books because no matter when you dusted off the next one, you could pick up where you left off. Your old pals were just waiting for you on the shelf, and they weren’t upset because you hadn’t called in months. They didn’t go off and get married or have kids while you were busy at work. Their lives were suspended and silent, leaving me guilt-free to focus on the main character of my own existence.

TV series are kind of the same in that we’re sad when our favorite characters die or the show ends completely. If you’re a fan of “Six Feet Under,” you’re hurting right now. I don’t want the show to end, and yet, it is almost painful to watch. I can’t take any more bad things happening to this family. I’m afraid to watch, for fear of living through another tragedy. And yet, like a family member, I am compelled to experience it right next to them; wanting to hug them and provide comfort and reassurance. I can’t let go because I care too much about what happens to them.

I haven’t decided if I’m sick, watch too much television and am far too sensitive to survive in this world, or if I am just damn lucky because I feel things so intensely. As the only student in my entire AP English class who raised her hand when Mr. Charlton asked who wanted to date Holden Caulfield, I’d have to say that it’s probably a wee bit of both.

i was minding my own business ...

... and I see this message on a sign in front of a church near my house. I think I will need to find another place to worship.



When my twin brother and I were younger, we opened a box of Cracker Jacks, and I promise you, the prize inside was wrapped in paper that featured a fortune. It said: Beware of red-headed twins. My parents pinned it to the bulletin board next to the phone!

By the way, I'm not sure if you've heard or seen some of the fliers we posted, but v-hat is playing its first live gig in the downtown area of The City Beautiful. You know, all bands have to start somewhere. Some perform at open-mic nights at the local coffeehouse, some go on "American Idol," and some even play inside malls -- remember Tiffany? "I think we're alone now ..." Anyway, v-hat is starting in the big house. No, not the jail on 18th Street. We're playing in the House of God! Check out our top billing!



OK, I'm not one to lie, especially about churches, the Lord and other holiness. Check out ChurchSignGenerator.com!

Why My Mom is the Best Mom in the World

On cold days, my brother and I would come home from school, and my mom would have hot chocolate ready for us. Sometimes, there would be warm chocolate chip cookies, too.

She let me go to the Red Hot Chili Peppers concert in a bad section of New Orleans even when my dad didn’t want me to go. I was 17 years old.

She gets excited about simple things, like an ice cream sundae or free samples at the grocery store.

She makes the funniest faces in the world, without even trying. :)

She always made sure my twin brother and I received the same number of Christmas gifts, worth the same total amount.

When something really good was coming on TV that we would watch together, like the season finale of “Knots Landing,” she’d make popcorn on the stove for us.

She always let me lick the bowl.

She knows who Evan Dando is. And Conor Oberst.

She never dressed my twin brother and I alike.

She always let me listen to whatever music I wanted.

She’s one of the only moms who gets invited to my friends’ weddings.

She never acted embarrassed during my odd fashion periods – the 80-something O-rings I wore, the huge Madonna cross earrings, the two Swatches…

I never had a curfew.

She laughs at her own jokes, which makes me laugh, too.


She sent me the address to Trent Reznor’s New Orleans house when she found it on the Internet.

She walked in the oppressively muggy New Orleans heat about two miles to my elementary school to see me perform in a talent show. (I think it was uphill both ways, too.)

She made Amish friendship bread for Glenn, and instantly, she had a fan for life.

She always cries when she sees Santa Claus in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

She remembers everyone’s birthday, AND she sends a card ON TIME.

She sends greeting cards to my friends when they’re celebrating new homes, getting married or having kids.

When I needed to sell a few more chocolate bars or rolls of wrapping paper so I could get a cool prize at school, she would always make up the difference.

My friends love her and claim her as their second mom.

She is a wonderful cook, and has had recipes published in Southern Living magazine and the Times-Picayune.

She always believes in me.

She’s one of the only moms I know who would stand up and yell “Who Dat?” and shake her black-and-gold pompoms every Sunday.

She’s my best friend.

I wish I could explain how much my mom means to me, but even for a “journalist,” it’s an impossible task. I love you, Mom. You’re the best.

i'm in love!

I never knew it could be like this! I've always thought it was a bit absurd to pour lots of money into a car that could be wrecked and twisted into a pile of useless metal in an instant. Cars are utilitarian. They get you from here to there.

Well, I still don't think it's a good place to be extravagant, but I'm closer to understanding why people did it. I didn't know how fun it could be to drive a car you simply love ... a car that inspires a giddy giggle when you open the door and slide into the driver's seat. Folks, I have experienced fahrfignugen -- I literally spent about 10 minutes Googling different forms of that word trying to figure out how to spell it, but to no success!

Saturday, July 30, was simply amazing. I was really nervous about picking up my car, even though I've waited patiently for about two months to pick it up. I watched her progress as she grew from a little zygote in Oxford, England, to the production line and down the "birth canal" (MINI's words, not mine) to a ship that traveled white-capped waves to reach me.

On the way to the MINI dealership, Jamie had the good sense to call my insurance agent and transfer my coverage.

The only time I've ever driven up to a railroad crossing and the train was at a total stand-still was two minutes before I was supposed to be at the MINI dealership on the other side! "Serenity now!!!"

Finally, we make it to the other side. Jamie and I approach with great anticipation, and Christy captures each moment, God love her!

THERE SHE IS!! As Christy said, the baby is just waiting for me in the nursery! Is it really mine??

Yes it is!!

I met with Christine, my sales agent to go over the final details.

I sat in my new MINI and signed away with delight!!

Jamie and Christy hop in while Christine finalizes more details. We played around taking lots of pictures!

Christine went over all the different features ... most of which I didn't even realize I would have! And of course, we had to talk about the iPod adapter!!!

I thought it was over and I would have the keys in my hot little hands, but there was more paperwork to complete, decisions to be made and checks to write. Rob was really cool, and he laughed at us silly kids trying to make the most of the momentous occasion.

Now, I finally have the keys, Christine wraps everything up, and I am ready to go!!!

Let's motor!

Somehow, all four of us squeezed in, and I drove like a maw-maw out of the dealership.

We drove straight to lunch at Dexter's in Thornton Park, and my little MINI fit right in!

The day was simply fabulous, and it didn't end there! Stay tuned for "the rest of the story"!!

Oh, and by the way ...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHRISTY!!!!