I finally had my postponed-because-of-a-hurricane-again birthday and we had a great time! Those of you that told me you'd be there and didn't just missed out on fun. I've finally taken and developed the rest of the film on the cameras that were used at the party so I'll share (some) of those photos. As for my also-postponed-birthday-present-to-myself, I heard from the skydiving folks and they are currently relocated in Kountze rather than Beaumont. I've got to think about all those big thicket areas before I agree to that. We'll look at our calendars, the weather temperatures and othe [View Full Entry]

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Friends, This is another post for George that he gave me permission to post along with his pictures. As you can read from his email message, this was a last adventure just before departing the area, country and job assignment. He enjoyed this endeavor much more that I would have for the hiking effort! Enjoy. "Family and Friends, The time has come for me to leave Equatorial Guinea and return to Houston. It's hard to believe that more than a year has gone. I have had a great experience being here and now realizes just how blessed I am. I have [View Full Entry]

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This year's storm season has been horrid for everyone here on the coast. Not all on this blog distribution list are from the coast of Texas. I, luckily, have not had real damage from the storms, but have ran from each and spent money. Our first threat of the season was a tropical storm named Eduard and I left my unincorporated community to run as far as a friend's in Beaumont. I have many trees, some still damaged from Hurricane Rita three years ago that could possibly come down on my head with a good wind storm. Eduard was a good [View Full Entry]

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From what I've read in local newspapers, listened to on TV and radio, this area's kindness is overflowing. This is only one of the truly amazing aspects here that I love. Hurricane Ike devastated my areas and many more in the wee hours of Saturday, September 13, 2008. Wind and storm surge took away all that many had. Those that still had homes standing afterwards could not come home still because of lack of basic services such as electricity, water and sewer. There was a severe safety concern as well, causing officials to mandate the continued lockout of the area and [View Full Entry]

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Friends: I am writing for another venue, but feel like I would neglect you if I don't include this here. Please let me know if you would rather not continue to get these blogs and for goodness sakes, feel free to not read them! *************** I grew up and live, yet again, in a southeast Texas gulf coast area that we lovingly call the 'Golden Triangle'. The 'Golden' has to be because of the hearts of gold of our citizens. Whenever there is a need or call to help, this area is more than ready to respond. In 2005 when Katrina [View Full Entry]

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Saturday, September 27, 2008 Listening to the local am radio station this morning; programming is back to the normal schedules. This station is, of course, www.klvi.com, 560 AM from Beaumont, Texas, that I mention often. At 5:00 a.m. on Saturdays there is an outdoor show that is pre programmed. A local host comes on at 6:00 a.m. with the Tradio Show, where people, not those offering services or business ventures, are to call in to find or sell anything they need or have. These things often range from firewood and farm animals to tractor tires, computers, vehicles and refrigerato [View Full Entry]

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Today began very cool (for me) and was most welcome to assist with the stench, mosquito and love bug problems. All three were in attendance when it began warming up at mid morning. It has been what some call a 'Chambers of Commerce' day. Most schools are back in session today; others will resume on Monday coming. Current logistics of residence for some students are being addressed and dealt with by the individual school districts of our areas. Recovery and rebuilding are ongoing here. It's still heart wrenching but the tenacity of the folks living here is usual and still amazing [View Full Entry]

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The smell is getting better on the way to work. Or maybe I'm getting used to it. Have you ever had the 'opportunity' (don't you just love that buzz word at work?) to be in the area of a poggy (fish) or chicken processing plant / warehouse? This smell may be worse. The remaining trailer complex is now empty of all contents and we're waiting for new trailers to be brought in. So is every other work site in the area, I'm sure. Came home to maybe work some in the yard but between the mosquitoes and my body's pains, have [View Full Entry]

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It's hard for me to look at the photos of damaged areas. It's harder driving through Bridge City to and from my work site. I refuse to drive past work a couple of miles to investigate Sabine Pass proper. I have no business there and they are busy. Work at my site to pack up everything left is continuing as is the mosquito population, stench, heat and pure mess. We should have new work complexes brought in soon. Still have not seen a single rabbit since I've returned to the area. No more alligators spotted on my immediate site today either. [View Full Entry]

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A Monday, but what a Monday! I came back to my area from evacuation on Friday evening, luckier than a lot that I had electricity. Saturday and Sunday I was concentrating on trying to get some of the tree debris off my property. My body feels my efforts. I went back to work today in Sabine Pass. Before I even got that far, the stench from dead animals, unknown, was horrid. Our work sites were in ruins and some even just not there anymore. Really, it could have been much worse. So tighten your boot straps and get on with it. [View Full Entry]

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