My first blog post

Isn't this just too cool! My friend Tim set this up. Please feel free to share the address with other folks that I know that might not be on my email list. (I'm thinking like Chaplain Jean, Colleen, Robert, etc.) I think that this blog is going to be my therapy as I tell you what's going on, both internal and external.
We will leave Houston tomorrow (Friday) and go to Iowa (a city in Louisiana, not the state!) and then report to Baton Rouge on Saturday morning. I think we will be there for 2-3 days, going through orientation and getting supplies. And then we are supposed to go to Houma, which appears to actually be south-west of New Orleans. I have no idea if anything exists in Houma, but we were told that State Farm had found some hotel rooms for us there, so I guess at least one hotel made it through.
We have spent the time in Houston in a productive manner, getting more supplies. I'm hoping that I now have enough mosquito spray to last for a lifetime. It's been funny been to receive emails and calls advising me to get "shots". But no one knows what "shots" I should be getting. :-) I know that I had a tetanus within the past 10 years. I checked with Dr. Lynda at Hope Hospice, and she said I was ok, but could have a booster if they are offering them when we get there. I have lots of water and food that does not require cooking (like I was going to cook anyway!). And gas cans. I'm pretending that I am a contestant on "Survivor". That's better than being worried about the war zone I'm entering.
Like everyone else, I've been watching the TV stories. When you think about it logically, the government has moved pretty quickly and has accomplished a lot. I think they air rescued 3000 in New Orleans alone. But I'm sure that's no comfort to those people who have been without food for 3 days. I am disgusted by the looters. Not the ones that are taking food or supplies, because I know that I would do anything to take care of my family. But the ones that are rolling out of the stores with TV's, etc. can be shot on the spot as far as I care. I can think of no excuse for such behavior. When I was watching last night, I thought about the recent movie I saw, "War of the Worlds". A horrible flick. But nevertheless, Tom Cruise was a ordinary man who was driven to desperate measures to protect himself and his family. It made me think that none of us know what we would do when we are desperate, see no help coming, tired, hungry, and thirsty. I guess I'm thinking that the division between right and wrong is sometimes not as clear as I've always thought.
Thank you Tim, for setting this up. And thank all of you who have writen or called, even if it was to tell me to get a shot!