Gustav moved too quickly to gather water but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t potent. The wind damage that occurred from 12 hours of the storm passing through meant lights out for most of Louisiana. I spent the entire day cleaning the yard while T straightened the inside. And we’re still not done. Evacuating is exhausting – the stress, depression, anxiety just cuts through any diversion of being with friends and having a refuge. Getting home…
In 2006, a study estimated that 22.6 million Americans over the age of 12 were dependent on either alcohol or drugs: 15.6 million were classified as dependent solely on alcohol; 3.8 million were classified as dependent solely on illicit drugs; 3.2 million were classified as dependent on both alcohol and illicit drugs. My trip away from home exposed all of my loved ones addictions in stark terms. A sibling wasting away from a morphine addiction…
Someone asked me in Atlanta “Why do you live in New Orleans?” – my instinct was to say if you don’t know then you don’t know, but she had never been here and so I tried to answer it – music, food, architecture, people. But surely all of those things are transferrable – are they not? Didn’t citizens of the diaspora (Katrina 2005) bring with them a bit of New Orleans everywhere they went? Couldn’t…
Last night we went to Hoedowns on Moreland, now called the 3-Legged Cowboy (we heard the name change was to attract boys who spend more at bars). On Thursdays, it’s mostly girl’s night and I mean girls who like girls, but there were boys who like boys, as well as all types. The main attraction is the dancing and the two-stepping is fabulous. We sat around the dance floor and were entertained for hours by…
A text message came in this morning early – “Come on in, the water is fine!” – read: the electricity is back on at my house. So far reports are some roof shingles were torn off and my big plant in front of the house tipped over – hopefully that’s all the news to report once home. Another text followed with “Swirl open for Free Fridays. Who’s in?” Yee ha! An email came in saying…
News from home that power and cable will be restored shortly in most areas. Oh to be home again and sitting on the porch on the bayou. I got a text just minutes ago “wine tomorrow on the bayou?” – made me smile. Atlanta is a maze of highways layered upon highways, so not only is it hard to get around but nobody knows how to direct you cause the names have all been changed.…
Take a deep breath and say ommmmmm … but I am clicking my heels and under my breath saying “there’s no place like home” – word is no power yet, Cox is still down so I can’t send emails, cell service is spotty. We’re going to head home tomorrow despite what may or may not await us in New Orleans – there is a strong desire to be home. T’s condo uptown has power which…
I was coming out of CVS and saw this guy put something in his pants and walk through the security doors setting off the alarms. No one did anything because the manager was actually picking up a shelf that I had dropped when my purse hit it and the cashier was busy checking someone out who was buying 10 Snickers bars. I thought people are weird. Then I got in my truck to come back…
Reports from those who have made it back into the city is that there are limbs down everywhere and intense police and military presence. Just got word that the city is open! But electricity is still not available around the bayou – thought it has been restored in other areas of Midcity. So it seems like our plan to return on Friday is the best one overall.
The server is down at Cox and I can’t get emails to go through. Jindal said they are opening up the city at 8PM this evening rather than midnight but my neighborhood still doesn’t have power and cell service is spotty. We’re going to look for battery operated fans today and plan to drive in Friday. I can work from uptown where there is electricity and we can sort out our half life even if…