I had to take a pause from all the introspection and seriousness. I am actually a very happy person....more later on the brother. :)

Ever since I lost my original blog, this one has been rather impersonal. Partly a decision, partly a function of the times as of late...However I've decided to start a "series", if you will, describing the cast of characters in my life. One per day, maybe, but I fear the one I am starting off with could take up an entire blog theme of her own. My Mum, as she signs herself in cards. I was always well fed, relatively well dressed, had nice birthdays, full Christmas experiences, made cookies, and crafts. I was brought up well.

Now follows the But...we remember, perhaps even dwell on the things we didn't have or receive rather than those that we did. That's why I preface this with what I had. O.K. the BUT. It is my mother's birthday in a week and I was shopping for a card and wrapping paper today. As I looked through the birthday cards for mothers, I was once again reminded of how strange my relationship with my mother is. Every card, with a syrupy saying or even a nice and thoughtful saying are not appropriate. Thanks for being the best mother...nope. I can't tell you enough how much I appreciate...nope. Maybe I should just break down and buy one, anyway. Look for her reaction. Her blank stare. She'd probably say something sarcastic like how come so sappy??? Because she can't stand the thought of a real touching moment between the two of us. She is just not that person and never will be. We will never have that relationship. So why buy a card like that and bring on her sarcasm? I again settle for a generic birthday card; Hope you have a great day...yup. Safe, no syrup. No lies. No pretending that there is something there has never been. How do you deal with the fact that your own mother has never, ever said I love you, given you a hug, a kiss, told you that you have turned out to be a great person, said I am proud of you. Nothing. Empty. Oh for heavens sake, don't be so silly. Perhaps the reason why I tend to be an over-achiever, Type A personality, get along with everybody. If I can't satisfy my mother, I can at least try to satisfy everyone else, myself. I am 34 and have achieved great success in life; wonderful job, home, family...here's the irony. In part, I have her to thank for this. Because I needed to acheive. To prove my worth to a mentally yes even verbally abusive mother. She is sick. She has a disease. I thought I knew this at eleven, but wasn't sure. The uncertainty drove me crazy at the time. The certainty makes me feel capable of having a relationship today with her, such as it is. One of my best memories was me about 5, in the shopping cart. We'd stop by the candy counter and she'd order a bag of jujubes. Every time. Hand them over to me and smile. She loved me! She bought me candy, after all. To this day, I am crazy about jujubes. So there is an intro. My family saga begins....don't read it if you don't like it.

Cindy Sheehan, the new leader of America's antiwar movement following her son's death in Iraq, was arrested yesterday, along with many others protesting outside the White House. Bush's mouthpiece, Scott McClellan, had this to say: "...the President strongly belives that withdrawing...would make us less safe and make the world more dangerous." Too late, Bushie, you already did that job; less safe, more dangerous. Thank you GW. Maybe you are the one who should be arrested.

My husband has been slowly turning into a snorer. We have been married for 12 years. I can not recall specifics, but there was something about snoring in our vows. And it went along the lines of thou shalt not...My father snored. It drove my mother to send him to a different bedroom. To this day they each have their own bedroom in the house I grew up in. My mom has the master bedroom and my dad sleeps in the bedroom next door. The one that was temporarily mine. I know there are a million cures; some more extreme than others. I don't have the desire to delve into them. I will let Mr.C. work on that, which he might once he gets tired of the bruises from me punching him all night long. He says it's because he's tired; we have a 3 month old. He supposedly doesn't snore when he's not tired. He tells me that I wack him so instinctively now during the night that when he is totally awake and reading I still thrash out and yell "stop snoring". What to do??? Maybe he needs a vacation to Paris. Or London...http://www.londonsnoringcenter.com

No disasters today. No supreme hatred for GW. Nothing to rant about. I am not watching CNN. Except for the 1/2 hour in the dentist's chair this morning, but you can't really count watching the tv on the ceiling while the chatty hygenist scrapes that awful thing across your teeth. I have a cavity. A small one on my six year molar. That means that tooth has been good to me for 28 years. Damn tooth. Damn candy. So what do I do? Go to the store and buy Halloween candy, of course. See how boring I am without an issue to harp on? Give me a few hours, and I'm sure I'll come up with something. Tonight; the evening off and a new pink toothbrush. Just yellow....

In another time; before Katrina
Rita would have been called a disaster.

A natural disaster.

But now, we are in another time.
Like after 9-11.

A new normal.

Comparisons creep in.
Rita wasn't really that bad.

It could have been worse.
Yes, it could.

But we should not accept new normals.
Do not allow comparisons.

For this was bad.
There will be worse.

Attention is being diverted.
From what really needs to be discussed.

There is climate change.
There is global warming.
There is a dysfunctional government.
There is an unjust war.
There is poverty.
There is a huge welfare class.

The United States is not the best country in the world.
In another time when Camelot ruled, perhaps yes.

But we are in another time.

Disaster and suffering is coming.
Everybody STOP.

Pray for the people.
Think about what you will do.

How will you help?
What can you do?

The world needs to come together.
America needs to unite.

Watch the response.
Make them accountable.

There is no room for apathy.
You can not turn your eyes.

The Fourth World is on your doorstep, America.

It looks as though Texas is preparing for Armageddon. Rightly so. And learning from the mistakes made by its' neighbour to the east. School buses evacuate those who otherwise couldn't from the Galveston Community Centre. Here we go again. Brace yourselves.

NEW YORK, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Manhattan could be flooded and New York could suffer as much damage as New Orleans if it were hit by a catastrophic hurricane like one that passed just north of the city in 1938, experts warned on Monday.

For the full story: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N19293420.htm


Facts of the 1938 Hurricane (Francis, 1998)

Peak Steady Winds - 121 mph
Peak Gust - 186 mph at Blue Hill Observatory, MA.
Lowest Pressure - 27.94 in (946.2 mb) at Bellport, NY
Peak Storm Surge - 17 ft. above normal high tide (RI)
Peak Wave Heights - 50 ft. at Gloucester, MA
Deaths - 700 (600 in New England)
Homeless - 63,000
Homes, Buildings Destroyed - 8,900
Boats Lost - 3,300
Trees Destroyed - 2 Billion (approx.)
Cost - $6.2 million (1938), $15 billion (1998 adjusted)

For more info. on this hurricane go to: http://www2.sunysuffolk.edu/mandias/38hurricane/

Thank God someone was able to get in there and step up to the task at hand.
From the Times Picayune http://www.nola.com/
Lt. Gen. Russel Honore, the commanding general of Joint Task Force Katrina, is on the scene - and everybody knows it.

"These were mostly poor people who didn't have much other than their homes," Honore said. "We didn't pull anybody off those rooftops that said, 'Damn, I left my Lexus!' "Of the poor, he said: "When it's hot, they're hotter. When it's cold, they're colder. When the wind blows, they go over farther. And when a plague hits, they die faster."

From today's Chronicle-Herald:

"Members of Canada's navy and army are making their way back home today after leaving the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast states Sunday.

Most of the sailors and soldiers, who were expected to be stationed in Mississippi for one month, have finished their disaster relief mission in one week, says the commander of Operation Unison."

To get the entire story go to: http://www.herald.ns.ca/stories/2005/09/19/f206.raw.html

I can't help but wonder whether they are returning so quickly because there was little or no coordination in terms of assigning them to places and giving them work. I mean, come on, they finished their mission? The place is still in ruins as far as I can tell.

What's on my mind today:
1. Ophelia totally missed us; this I recount with a mixture of thankfulness and disappointment (I know, retarded). It wouldn't have been a really bad storm, but I would have liked to have at least seen some really big waves. I am going to regret saying this because there are more out there churning our way.

2. I am still brewing, stewing...GWs lack of proper response, the devastation, the ongoing hardship...our attention spans are starting to be diverted to other things. I am sad, angry, hopeless, the adjectives go on and on for the people of the Gulf Coast.

3. there are two serious storms recently forming; one of which is heading our way and the other is going to enter the Gulf; dear God, here we go again.

4. in the midst of this, normal days with family; the typical, the mundane, the wonderful day to day stuff that so many people are not so fortunate to have...

So many Americans misunderstand Canada. We are way too modest and have a hard time letting others know and understand how great our country is. But if we did, we would probably not be that great. Just think about our neighbours to the south; they don't seem to have too much trouble letting everyone know just how great they are. NOT. It's one of the reasons that Americans secretly drive us nuts. Gee, we'd never want to tell them how much they annoy us with their smugness, we might hurt their feelings.

You think Celine Dion, Mike Myers, Canadian Bacon, Liberal, too nice and not aggressive enough, too cold, too big, the English and French thing...we actually thought that Americans would be flocking to our country after Bushie got in a second term, after the U.S. declared an unjust war on Iraq. We keep waiting for you, so where is everybody? I got inspired for this blog from a poster who is currently visiting my fair country and included a link to National Lampoon's assessment of Canada. It is very funny; http://www.nationallampoon.com/nl/08_features/Canada/Canada.asp

So the home and native land awaits brave liberal souls who are interesting in coming to a country that takes care of its citizens, and those of neighbouring countries in times of need. Geeeeze, like we'd never let anyone suffer like those poor people in the southern states, eh.!

It doesn't matter to me that it is "just" a tropical storm. It is still very unsettling to live just underneath one of those "dots" on the track map. Ophelia should arrive on our doorstep some time tomorrow night.

GW writes a note to Condie at a UN summit;
"I think I may need a bathroom break. Is this possible?" the pencil-written note reads.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4249646.stm

Hurricane Ophelia is heading straight for us, although it will likely be a tropical storm by the time it reaches Halifax. Buying lots of supplies and getting gas, etc. today. Anything can happen. Keep posted and keep us Canadians in your thoughts too.

From the Chronicle-Herald, Wed., Sept. 14, 2005:
"Armed with chainsaws, shovels and rakes, a company of Canadian sailors from two warships landed on a beach near Biloxi, Miss., to begin the task of clearing debris left by hurricane Katrina...." I'm happy to see they have safely arrived, after sailing through Ophelia. The ships left my home town last week.
For more information:
http://www.herald.ns.ca/stories/2005/09/14/fWorld217.raw.html
http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/Operations/unison/news_e.asp

Censored thoughts 2day.
Haven't watched or read any news.
Actually, it's 5pm and I still need to have a shower.
A million things I want/need to do...
Looking forward to INXS tonight.

I will post again once I listen to the news of the day.
I am sure I'll have something to rant about.

Well, didn't take long; one good dose of CNN and I'm pissed again. The Attorney General for Louisiana is charging two Nursing Home owners from New Orleans with negligent homicide for some 34 patients that had been under their care. Because they did not evacuate. www.nola.com I strongly believe that these people should not be charged. Yeah, of course they shouldn't have stayed there but if the Attorny General declares these people responsible for homicide, then charges should also be filed against the mayor of New Orleans, the Governor, FEMA, and yes, even Bushie. What did they do to ensure that everyone got out? Negligent homicide all around.

I am finding that my anger towards the U.S. Government response to Hurricane Katrina is starting to "simmer down", as my mother would say. That's not to say that I am not paying attention to the updates and continuing to work towards ways to help out. It's just that my anger has calmed down. Let's hope that the short attention span of most of us does not cause the media coverage to die down. The people of the Gulf Coast will be living with this for years, and in some cases the rest of their lives. I watched Dr. Phil today as I was feeding my three month old (the only time I really sit and watch the tube during the day). Oprah was talking about money issues (no thanks, who needs to watch that; I watch t.v. to escape my reality). Dr. Phil, who I have openly stated that I despise, was talking to Hurricane Katrina victims. One families' story really struck me; middle class America; could be anyone. Lost it all and suddenly facing food stamps and welfare. It broke my heart. I know, there are worse cases, sadder stories. But this one hit me personally. That could be my family. I related to them. I hope that he does an update on that family. I would love to be able to help them out. So now I will have to admit that on some occasions I am a closet Dr. Phil fan.

From www.nola.com :

On the desk in the [Super]Dome’s office, ransacked by the people seeking shelter in the building, lay a neatly handwritten note on a small piece of folder notebook paper:
“Search and Rescue Team
Please Get
Old woman and legless old man
@ 2432 Ursalines Ave. (N.O.)”

I sit here wondering if someone came to get them. May we always remember what took place. It happened before (Hurricane Georges, 1998), so why were so many sent there again?

Pat Robertson, American freak Evangelist is blaming Ellen Degeneres for Hurricane Katrina! Robertson is obviously off his medication or taking too much. Read the full story, it is unreal: http://datelinehollywood.com/archives/2005/09/05/robertson-blames-hurricane-on-choice-of-ellen-deneres-to-host-emmys/
No one should have to be exposed to this, especially someone as giving as Ellen. She should sue.

[turns out it is unreal; thanks, Jennifer]

Bushie's in NOLA
trying to put on more spin.

Read Find Me yesterday.
One day.
I need an update.

Wind here today.
Two boys home.
Very busy.

One has gas (12 week old).
The other is scrapping (4 year old).
I am doing odds and ends.

It's a Monday.
Today.

9-11-01

Fidel Castro held out the olive branch. The Cuban doctors were on standby, packs in hand, awake, 48 hours. No response. Still no response. Sept. 1 the offer went out. Cuba could have helped. They might have been there before the people's own government. Shame shame shame on the officials who let their people down. You know what, I think George Bush really doesn't like black people and he certainly doesn't like Cubans.

From the Times-Picayune (Friday, Septemebr 9, 2005):
"Dr. Gregory Henderson, a pathologist at Ochsner Clinic Foundation who helped set up a makeshift medical clinic at the French Quarter Bar last week, said he will never understand why help didn't arrive sooner. In a brief interview outside the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center Wednesday, where he was tending to evacuees, Henderson said, "That's going to be, at the end of the day, the great mystery."

Photo Source: www.nola.com

Bush gave Michael Brown (FEMA Director) a public vote of confidence when he said, "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job." Well, unfortunately, Mr. Bush, one heck of a job didn't quite cut it. Bye Bye Brownie.

From the Associated Press (Friday, Sept. 9, 2005):
"Volunteer rescuer Gregg Silverman, part of a 14-boat contingent from Columbus, Ohio, said he expected to find many more survivors in his excursion through the city's flooded streets. Instead, he found mostly bodies. "They had me climb up on a roof, and I did bring an axe up to where a guy had tried to stick a pipe up through a vent." Silverman said. "Unfortunately, he had probably just recently perished. His dog was still there, barking. The dog wouldn't come. We had to leave the dog just up there in the attic."

A hurricane did not cause this man to perish. A natural disaster did not cause this man (and ultimately his dog) to perish. Human error, in the form of a dysfunctional response by all levels of government caused this. Ultimately the blame needs to go to the top of the chain of command. Mr. President, you will go down in the history books as one of the worst disasters to strike the United States.

Don't let this become old news; the impacts of this hurricane are just beginning...the fallout continues. Continue to give; time, money, prayers.

Photo Source: http://www.nola.com/

I messed around with the html code and lost my blog. It could have been repaired somehow but was beyond me. I always was a bad programmer. I should have learned my lesson. There is something refreshing in starting over, though...