Katrina Update 090305

We just got into Baton Rouge.  We stopped in Lake Charles around 1230 last night at a casino to eat and sleep.  We were stuck in a parking lot on I-10 about 15 minutes before the state line for about an hour.  The state police finally moved the construction workers out of the way so traffic could flow.  It's all so surreal.  We're on the road with inflatable matresses, cash, a .45 and a .38.  It feels like a video game.  It's my own personal version of (insert favorite 1st person shooter game here).  I like Quake.  The guns are just precautionary, but still; I've never picked a gun up before in real life except to hunt.

The six of us crashed hard last night.  I had to keep Wyatt (dog) in the Suburban all night.  I woke up early to spend time with him, then went inside to eat.   He's been an excellent sport about all of this.  I walked outside to take care of the dog for a bit.  I talked to a family in the parking lot from New Orleans East.   They were about 12 people strong.  A guy named Lonny.  He is a welder on a marine ship.  I assume his house is under water as is my office, which is in the same area as his house.

We were discussing the obvious except he can't find his dad.  He was so thankful to still be with his wife and kids.  He said it was rough on the kids being displaced in a casino for the past 6 days.  They run out of things to do fast and no one is thinking about gambling right now.  We agreed that Nagin's passion is great and good to see him there, that Blanco is messing up and the national media is crap at covering the real deal down there.  He really voiced his disgust for the animals that were looting.  It's completely overblown by the likes of CNN and Fox.  It only represents a small faction of the city.    His family is the complete opposite demographic of ours and I was happy we were able to talk because it's nice to know that the majority of New Orleanians are on the same page.

His family is on their way to Memphis as ours is to Baton Rouge to plant some new seeds.  I wish him luck.  I hope he gets in touch with his father too.   

My family is starting over in Baton Rouge on Tuesday.  I think I may head to L.A. to stay with a friend and to job hunt for a few days.

Comments

[Jory Des Jardins]

Chistien,

I had no idea you were down in LA! And you're still blogging? I suppose it's something to take your mind off of things--sanity blogging--so to speak.

Thanks for your kind note, even in the midst of your chaos.

Do you mean it about starting anew? Is there no chance of returning back to your hometown?

With prayers from the Bay Area,

--JD

[the1truecoolguy]

Hey Christien,

I didn't realize you were based in New Orleans!! I'm very glad to see you're safe and still in good spirits.

I did HELP the Tsunami victims, but I didn't personally experience a natural disaster [in MY town] as you have. Excellent write ups; keep it up. You're all in our prayers. Stay safe!

Ian