NOLA Week: Part 4 - Going to the Dogs

I had been warned to brace myself against the wiles of a puppy dog. .. They are sneaky little things that worm their way into your heart. ... My next volunteer day was spent at Animal Rescue New Orleans, ARNO; a grassroots volunteer organization involved in hands-on Katrina rescue in the greater New Orleans area. These little sticks of butter are 2 weeks old. Their mother, Rocka, was found pregnant in a boat canal and was brought in for an emergency c-section. I should've put one in my pocket....

And here's Chloe once again, giving her best Sexyback. I believe she found a a loving family while I was there. Or else, she's be sitting on my lap right now.

In case any of you are wondering, yes... I did start to cry when I saw her.

There are so many other pictures I took, but I guess at this point, you must be tired of reading about NOLA. But I guess, thats exactly the point isn't it? The country overall I think is suffering Katrina burnout and we just don't want to hear anymore about the hardship there, the crazy stories that come out of there. But its happening, its frustrating, its sad, its a mess. I hope my time here helps to keep NOLA in your mind; to think about how lucky we are.. and how others still need help. If you have any questions please let me know. I am happy to tell you more. And you can find more pics here.

NOLA Week, Part 3: K-Ville

It was not all just observing and taking pictures while in New Orleans. Through Relief Spark I worked with the grassroots volunteer organization Common Ground Relief in the lower 9th Ward. For a day I joined them at their compound and distribution center to help clean out their tool lending library. It was a "slow" day in the sense that no big projects were in the works so I got to spend time talking to locals.. and getting to know some of the other volunteers better.

Front and center at the Distribution Center

Evidently, nowadays not only can you sign up for tours to see the Garden District homes and the French Quarter, there are fliers in hotels advertising tours to see the Katrina Devastation. Air conditioned tourbuses packed with tourists drive by occasionally.

The tool lending library. It was a wonder people could find anything in here.
Calvin wanted me to sort all the tools so we could put them back in an organized manner. But I couldn't bring myself to tell him that I had no idea what half the tools were!! I ended up with a big "miscellaneous tools" pile....

A few of the volunteers were out mowing lawns and hacking away weeds.
After 2 years, city government is concerned about the general decay of property in the decimated areas. Homeowners are being fined up to $100/day for overgrown yards, even if families have not received their Road Home grants yet and have not moved back. So there is a lot of volunteer work available to those who can just weed and mow lawns.

This was the womens bedroom at the volunteer compound.
Needless to say, I was really glad I didn't have to live here for a week.

What surprised me was my visit to St. Bernard's Parrish.
These were middle class neigborhoods that were also devasted by Katrina. Floodwaters rose up to 10 feet. I saw blocks and blocks of amazing homes where the bottom floor was completely gutted out, but the second floor is pristine. Most homes were still empty though... and this Dollhouse in particular is up for sale.

Your friendly neighborhood FEMA trailer park.I was so glad to actually see a dog in town..... while driving through St. Bernard's Parrish, I learned of a most horrific crime here. .. I cannot believe that I had not previously heard about the massacre of animals that were forcibly left behind as residents evacuated. Two deputies have already been indicted by a grand jury in New Orleans on charges of felony, aggravated cruelty to animals. Read more here.. but be prepared.. it sickened me and brought me to tears. ( Sydney Ray first told me about it while we drove through town; but even now I start sobbing when I read the articles I find online.) I guarantee you, if I had known about this before my volunteer day at the Animal Rescue... this little ball of sweetness would have come home with me!

(I couldn't possibly leave you with such cruelty. Take a look at this face and just let the smile creep back onto your face. I will tell you more about Chloe and her cohorts next time....)

NOLA Week, Part 2: Finding Beauty

Five days down in the South, and there's been so much to take in.
I've been listening to stories, working with locals. and listening to local news radio. And like I just told someone back on the West Coast, the sh*t is bananas.

I'm here with a fantastic nonprofit called Relief Spark that has been here since November 2005. Sydney Ray and this grassroots organziation work with many of the other non-profits; providing donations, supplies, and volunteers. And in fact, its been a very effective way to see many different aspects of the Katrina fallout; as opposed to working with just Habitat or just Hands On New Orleans. Do not misconstrue as they are wonderful organizations... just different.

First up, we took a tour of the lower 9th Ward. Things are still eerily quiet....

And guess what? Sydney Ray also has a Westie(Chica)! ... She joined us for the tour too.
You can see here 1 dog was found on 9-29 by the SPCA... Although I was told by some people that the LASPCA really only picked up dogs that didn't seem too sickly and aggressive.. And let others to go it on their own. I couldn't believe my ears...!

It was heartening to see some rebuilding in action.
You can see where the floodline rose up to on the house below. This building was lucky...

And then we happened upon the Brad Pitt house! ... Well, thats what people are calling it. It's really the Holy Cross Project.The framing wood is entirely Forest Stewardship Council certified, and is 'blue' because of the use of a proprietary 'Bluwood' nontoxic borate treatment that protects against mold, fungus and reduces the need to use toxic pesticides to frequently spray homes for termites.
I will leave you with some beauty found in the Holy Cross District. The Doullut Steamboat House was built in 1887 by a riverboat pilot. In 1912 Milton Doullut's son built its twin across the street. On a beautiful sunny day, they were a sight to behold. I have not been able to get a story on how they were able to survive however. I think its just a testament to a house built with care and technique, as opposed to most of the Shotgun Houses that populate the area.

NOLA Week, Part 1: Whistling Winn-Dixie

I was not too pleased with the way my morning started.. But then again, I rarely am when I have to get up before 6am. Having to fight my Hello Kitty suitcase for what seemed an eternity didn't help matters either. At the airport I played dumb and checked-in at the Paper Ticket Counter.. (huh?? what????). After a small reprimand, I ended up at the short security checkpoint at the end of the terminal. Huzzah! A power-hungry TSA agent insisted I carry my laptop IN HAND and consolidate my handbag and my laptop bag because I had too many carry-ons. Excuse me ma'm, which airline do YOU work for? Oh none? I see. Orange Level Security at its best. (So far the best part of my morning is D getting me to the airport in most excellent time. I would say it was the joke he cracked about the army, and bugles, what WAS the joke exactly? But it was 5:45am... nothing is cute at 5:45am.)

Flight to LA consisted of a toddler crying HIS HEAD OFF on the plane. Mother and son were a good 6 rows ahead of me and there was some hullaboo about being seated in an emergency exit row. The child was already crying like a hellcat. But then some "helpful" person in the seat in front of me volunteered to trade seats. WTF???? I was THIS tempted to say .. "Actually, I rather you not." But I held my tongue and suffered the next 55 minutes for it.

ENOUGH of that. Anyway...by the time I arrived at Louis Armstrong International Airport, I had a full set of Louis Vuitton luggage under my eyes. ... Can I volunteer sufficiently in a zombie-like state?... Seems I have arrived on a nice low-humidity day; so things are looking up.

Driving through the Garden District to get to the condo, I am in awe of all the amazing homes here. Each and every one an architectural wonder. I have a roomie here in NO, James, who has so generously offered to drive me around. From Burbank, he's a Claims Resolution Specialist who's been here not long after Katrina hit. He's giving me some good scoops. He even takes me out to dinner at Felix's Uptown(Original French Quarter location shuttered by Katrina) where we gorge on oysters é raw, Rockefeller, Bienville, and grilled. YUM. Aside: methinks James has taken me under his wing as he calls me "sweetie" when I drop my Winn-Dixie bag only to find my grape jelly has broken. Before I meet with the director of Relief Spark tomorrow morning, he's taking me for my first cup of chicory coffee.

Can't quite get a gauge of the overall "mood" of the City yet.. but the few people James has introduced me to today(as a volunteer) have showered me with hugs and "God Blesses". They had me at "Would you like a Mojito?..."

A bit bleary eyed from the travel and the sights; I never even took my camera out. But I intend to have a full days worth of pictures to share tomorrow

Anniversaries

Fortunate or not, D and I celebrate our anniversary on 9/11. At first I felt it a dubious shadow that cast itself upon "our day"... but it's actually a wonderful remedy to an otherwise somber day that serves as an reminder of death. My morning started tearful and melancholy(and snotty) and as I was still feeling a bit under the weather... I didn't think I'd be able to see my honey. Which, of course, made me even more glum.

But when I told D I would be homebound, he delighted me by saying.. "Well, guess what! I'm coming your way!" And there my Honey was at 7pm... with flowers, a bag full of groceries, cheery flowers, and.. a sore throat. (OOOpsss!! My bad!)
And yet we were undaunted. I was so happy to see him, and have him in my arms on this day, this day that I deem "Life is Too Ficking Short Day", we were going to have a lovely evening.

I put his cheery red flowers in water:

And I cooked up our brontosaurus steak...

Aftes dinner, we did some Nyquil® shots, turned on the Hello Kitty humidifier, climbed into each other's arms and called it a night! Ole!

Continuing on with anniversaries, I had hoped to see New Orleans during the 2year anniversary of Katrina, but figured a (Northern) California girl wouldn't be able to survive an August day down south.. so.. I will embarking to New Orleans this Sunday instead. For five days I will be doing some volunteer work gutting houses and spending time at an animal shelter. ( I will do my best not to bring home 22 new doggies.) And of course, I'm looking forward to experience some night life and beignets.. !!!! Because you know what? Life is too ficking short!!

PS. I can't hold it in any more. This week's Mad Men is BRILLIANT.