My Journey : Sheds of Goodness

Last Wednesday before I left home I saw some people in Pearlington at the location where they build the sheds. I stopped and talked to Micheal. He is from Charlottesville, Va. He said they will be back in a couple weeks to build some more sheds. I sure hope they get to my name on the list. Their web address is www.buildinggoodness.org if you want to read about them.
.......................................God Bless..........................................................

My Journey: Sept.30, 2006 posting from Virginia

My Grandson and my daughter-n-law !!
I took a train from Slidell ,Louisiana to Va. to visit my son and my daughter-in-law and my grandson. Today is my son's birthday. And I really needed a break from the devestation at home. I caught a train in Slidell, La. on Thursday morning, the 28th, and got off in Manassas, Va. on Friday morning. I rented a car from there and came here to Stephens City. My son had no idea I was coming at all !!! I really pulled a good one over on him. When he came home from work I was sitting on the sofa when he walked in the door !! I was cooking some spaghetti and had just gotten me a glass of ice tea and sat down. Their cat jumped up and knocked my glass over and that was the same time my son opened the door !! We were both so Happy tho to see each other. It sure is nice seeing these mountains again. The trees are starting to change color. I'm in the area of Shendoah River & valley & the Blue Ridge mountains !! It's beautiful here!! I lived in Front Royal when my son was only 1 or around that age. I wish I could move back here! Maybe one day. When I get home I'll post some pictures that I've taken here. I'm staying until Friday , the 6th of Oct.. I'll be taking the train home, getting in Slidell Saturday. It was a neat trip. It was the first time I rode a train. I slept alot of the way , I hadn't had much sleep before I left home. I was so excited about the trip and getting things together. I'll write more when I can............
.........................................................God Bless..................................................................

My Journey: Picture of Katrina Wave in N.O.

Here is a good picture of a wave, really I think it's the water overflowing a levy in N.O. east. The picture caption says BaySt.Louis but thats wrong and they tell you about it in the article. He has a link to look at alot of other pictures he took also.
..................................God Bless.....................................................

Http://www.snopes.com/katrina/photos/surge.asp.

My Journey: 9/18/0 Everybody going NUTS!!

Now headlines on the news : Dog the Bounty Hunter Jailed & son & associate !
Very ironic considering the job they all do. I can't wait to watch the special about it on t.v. tomorrow night.
And Willy Nelson, his bus stopped by police in Louisiana. When stopped there was a strong smell of "WEED" when they opened the door !!! They had 1- 1/2 lbs. of weed, and 1/2 lb. of mushrooms , the tripping kind !!! They gave him a citation and were let go.
Speaking of "WEED" you need to see what is growing wild around the waveland area near the beach. You need to go read about it, here's the site, it's unbelievable : http://208.62.60.4/40/article_454.shtml It was in the - SeaCoastEcho on Aug. 30, 2006 Ok, I'm going to play games a bit............................God Bless...........................................................

My Journey: 9/18/06 Pictures

I'm going to try to post some more pictures : the one with the crane sticking up is the Bay bridge, rather whats left of it. The rest are Waveland just a block or two right off the beach.

.......................God Bless...........................

My Journey: 9/18/06 Another Monday

Well here we are again starting a new week. I just been regrouping, trying to get some rest , and the regular grocery , etc.. I did get me a cheap, I mean like $20.00 camera yesterday. Don't know yet how the pictures are going to be, but I had to have one! I guess pictures is one of my addictions. Speaking of addictions, I'm going to TRY to give up smokin. I bought some of that gum, hope it will do the trick. I got one pack of cigs left , I'm telling myself thats it, and trying to wean off ! I really do want to quit, I think I can do it this time. There are people addicted to really bad drugs, and if they can quit and get off crack, and pills , and all those addictions, I should be able to quit these dam cigs. I pray, and hope I can do it. I'm "PROUD" of the people I know that have given up the bad habits! I've given up most of mine since I've gotten old, and all my health problems. Smokin is going to be hard, but I know it's killing me. Or at least taking away some of my years. And as miserable as it is I want to be around to see my grandson graduate, and my son & daughter-n-law {my daughter} grow old together. And me & Will grow older together! Ha! I'd really like to move back to Va. so I could be around them, and my little sister. And my cousin, and my sister-n-law. She's really my ex-sister-law, but shes like a sister to me! I'm beginning to think there isn't really nothing here for me. There are 80 thousand or so people homeless around here. So I probably don't have a chance with getting help. I guess I'll see.
I was looking thru my photo albums and found some pictures I haven't posted yet, so here are a few. They are mostly BaySt.Louis and Waveland. A few are in Waveland where Will used to have a house on Perone St. This picture is where his house was. He didn't live there at the time of the storm, but it makes you think. This was a few blocks off the beach. Anyway I'm having trouble posting pictures this morning, don't know if it's blogger or my internet. I'm going to reboot, and try to post them again. ..................................God Bless.................................................

My Journey: 9/15/06: 1year 17 days later...........

I guess it's why I haven't posted much lately. I've been spending all my time on the internet looking at all the Pearlington blogs, checking them out. And I've found alot of very INTERESTING stuff. And I want to share it all with the world! We need HELP here! Or am I asking too much from somebody? Anybody???????
This is a good page to look at : titled: "In tent Encampments Frustration Swells:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/14/national/nationalspecial/14tent.html
you have to sign in to N.Y. times, then the page will appear !! It's free, nothing to it !!!!
It was written in Oct. 2005 tho. Alot of things have changed since then. Like the donations pouring into this town, No , not now. Yes, we do get some stuff in the Pearlmart. <- as far as canned food & stuff like that. Alot of the stuff sent there Laurie said" is sent for the Volunteers, not the residents." At the Recovery center , Laurie told me that the building materials sent here are sent to a specfic family?? Not just anybody to get . I guess the only way to get help is you have to get adopted by someone............................God Bless................................................

My Journey: 1 year 17 days: Angela Cole

I emailed a blog that I read about, www.pearlingtonproject.org
and told her about myself and asked if she could help me. She emailed me back and said she would put me on her list. But she doesn't know when they will get the funds. They are building a resident a house, so it seems hopeful. She came to Pearlington from N.Y. right after Katrina hit , and helped alot of people. She is a very caring person. God Bless her and the others that are in her organization. The one family that I know of that they have adopted has been on CNN. This is a story about Denise and her family being adopted:Upstate NewYork churches adopt Ms. family

http://www.speroforum.com/site/article.asp?idcategory=33&idsub=134&id=5165&t=upstate&newyork

The man pictured, {a Pearlington resident}, has went on his journey to a better place, God Bless his family & friends for their loss. updated 10/18/06

.....................................God Bless...................................................

My Journey: 1year and 17 days post KATRINA

Here are a few web sites I want to put here. They are pretty interesting:

http://whnt.com/global/story.asp?s=5341885

http://www.wlox.com/global/category.asp?c=63035

...................................................GOD bless.................................................................

My Journey: Sept.15,2006:another day in Ptown...

Well, well.......... I just don't know anymore........i don't know how much longer this can keep going on? I can't sleep, haven't slept for a few days. It seems like my body would want to sleep. When I'm sleeping I'm not having to face this nightmare. I just have nightmares in my sleep. So don't know which one is the worst. And the constant jumping in my sleep, like I'm falling, it wakes me up, scares the ____ outta me. I just can't take anymore. Something has to give , I pray that something happens. I need my life back. Dammm Katrina for taking my life. It wasn't a great life, but it wasn't a bad life either. Better than this living hell hole. Sorry , just venting. So much has been on my mind. I think of things that are gone now, I can never get back. Christmas tree ornaments my son made me in kindergarden. A turkey hand card his little hand drew for me when he was in kindergarden too. All my pictures of things thru my whole life. Cards I've gotten for mother's day, or my birthday, or Christmas. The special things I can never replace. But I guess really I'll have them always in my heart. I don't care about clothes, that I never wore anyway. Or the 20 pair of boots I could no longer wear because they had heels { like cowboy boots}, and heels hurt my back and legs. And all the junk that just collected dust. I wish I'd taken more stuff with me, but then I think , "STUPID" it woulda just burnt up in the R.V. fire with everything else. I had a bran-new pair of nice warm leather boots we'd just bought in Crossville, Tenn. I'd never worn not one time. A bran-new jacket. Bran-new jeans, and shirts. Now if and when I ever get me another home, I will not clutter it with nonsense. And my wardrobe will only be clothes I fit in and wear! I have got to get another camera !! We got a cold front last night! It was 65* around 5:00am this morning. Wow, I wish it would last and stay like this. Does anybody like to play internet games? I play at: www.pogo.com it's a great game site, alot of different games. They have tournments in just about every game. It's alot of fun! At least it's something to occupy my mind. Well I'm going to rest. God Bless............................

My Journey: Sept.11,2006 "Five Years Ago"

Well five years ago the whole world was in Fear, Disbelief, Horrorified, in Shock, Terrorized, Heart Broken, Wanting to Kill, Being Killed, Traumatized, and Overwhelmed...................... It goes on and on...........
The world remembers. And things aren't any easier today. Children miss their fathers or mothers or sisters or brothers. Moms and dads miss their sons or daughters or brothers or sisters. Brothers and sisters miss their brothers or sisters. Friends miss friends. It goes on and on....................
There are Heroes and there are Victims. They were Courgeous and they were Strong....... We will always remember. It goes on and on...............
... You can go to www.legacy.com and sign a guest book for the people killed on this date. You can also do a search here if you knew someone. It also has a list of our U.S. Military Personnel killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. You can sign a Guest book for them also.
.................................God Bless..........................................

My Journey:Sept.10,2006 -"Steve Irwin"1962-2006

Hey World ! Alot going on now days. That poor man Steve Irwin dies. So, so sad. Leaving his family and two babies. He was a crazy ol'e mate, not scared to grab, jump on, chase after, go into caves, and tunnels after a creature. Daytime or nighttime, it didn't matter to him.He was so curious, and always roaring to go. I've been watching the special they've been showing on the Animal Planet. He was a great man, and his father was too. And his mom, his whole family was very much into conserving wildlife. They added alot to our world, and his stories will continue for years to come. May he rest in Peace with his mum.God Bless his wife, and children, his father, and his siblings. You all are in my prayers.
..............................God Bless.............................9-15-06 if you haven't read the poem about Steve, here it is:
THE CROCODILES ARE CRYINGBy Rupert McCall 2006.
Endless visions fill my head ? this man ? as large as life
And instantly my heart mourns for his angels and his wife
Because the way I see Steve Irwin ? just put everything aside
It comes back to his family ? it comes back to his pride
His animals inclusive ? Crikey ? light the place with love!
Shine his star with everything he fought to rise above
The crazy-man of Khaki from the day he left the pouch
Living out his dream and in that classic 'Stevo' crouch
Exploding forth with character and redefining cheek
It's one thing to be honoured as a champion unique
It's one thing to have microphones and spotlight cameras shoved
It's another to be taken in and genuinely loved
But that was where he had it right ? I guess he always knew
From his fathers' modest reptile park and then Australia Zoo
We cringed at times and shook our heads ? but true to natures call
There was something very Irwin in the make up of us all
Yes the more I care to think of it ? the more he had it right
If you're going to make a difference ? make it big and make it bright!
Yes - he was a lunatic! Yes - he went head first!
But he made the world feel happy with his energetic burst
A world so large and loyal that it's hard to comprehend
I doubt we truly count the warmth until life meets an end
To count it now I say a prayer with words of inspiration
May the spotlight shine forever on his dream for conservation
?My daughter broke the news to me ? my six year old in tears
It was like she'd just turned old enough to show her honest fears
I tried to make some sense of it but whilst her Dad was trying
His little girl explained it best?she said "The crocodiles are crying"
Their best mate's up in heaven now ? the crocs up there are smiling!
And as sure as flowers, poems and cards and memories are piling
As sure as we'll continue with the trademarks of his spiel
Of all the tributes worthy ? he was rough?but he was real

As sure as 'Crikey!' fills the sky
I think we'll miss ya Steve?goodbye

......................................................................God Bless.....................................................................

My Journey: The Pearlington bar"The Turtle Landing"

This is our local gathering place to get a nice dinner, or a cold drink, or to just sit around and sing or listen to some karokee., by ms ann. They are right on one of the bayou's that come off lake bournne. Mark and Jeanne went thru alot since the storm. They put up big tents so people could still have a place to go to. They have moved the bar and tables back inside now. So it's coming along nicely. They still are far from finished but it's going to take time just like everything else. The kichen is open and you can get some good food there. From hamburgers to shrimp poor boy's, and anything in between. Their softshells are the greatest when they're in season. They are located on hwy.90 just down the road from 604 coming south out of pearlington. They are great people. God Bless them and you all too .......................................

MyJourney: Sept.6,2006 - Video of Katrina

Hi,the other day I was just blogging and looking at other peoples blogs and found some really great ones. Anyway on one of them I found was where a man had stayed in the Beau Rivage parking lot during the hurricane to do a video. For the people that don't know the Beau Rivage is a casino in Gulfport right on the beach. It was a sight to see, man it is just unbelievable. Anyway I'd like to put the link in here for whom ever, http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5954521938928173924
I think thats it !! If not just go to Google search/videos and put in hurricane katrina video from inside the bea rivage .
It is really worth watching. Well good day or goodnight and I hope you enjoy the video ......................................... God Bless..............................................

My Journey: Sept.6,2006: Just another day...........

My digital camera has bit the dust! I love taking pictures. I had another one that I never used, because I liked this other one better. So I've been searching and searching for the other one for two weeks now. I told myself I'd learn how to use it, it was bran new. Well it finally hit me today DUH!!!, "I think it must have burnt up in the R.V. fire." It had to. I never used it, but I kept it in the case with the instructions. The reason being every time I took pictures with it some how I'd delete them, HUMMMM. I was wanting to take more pictures for my blog. I'll have to try to get me another one. I'm putting together a scrap book type thing for my son and grandson, hopefully they'll have for years to come. And I hope my great grandchildren will be able to cherish it to. I've had a real bad day, so think I will try to lay down and rest my back and neck. I'm just throbbing from head to tail. Have a great night or day, whichever............................ God Bless.......................................................................

Thanks, Katrina: What NOT to say to a Katrina survivor

Thanks, Katrina: What NOT to say to a Katrina survivor : Oh I thought things were ok there now! People just don't get it. Pictures don't even do us justice. Everyone needs to come here and actually see the destruction. It is still like a war zone, and it's been a year now. I live in Pearlington, the forgotten town. (most people don't even know were a town) God Bless you Judyb , you have a great blog......................God Bless................................

My Journey:September 2, 2006

<- whats breeding in here??

Well another day has passed. Everyday seems like yesterday and tomorrow. They're all about the same. I was suppost to see my oncolongists, but cancelled my appt. Just scared to go , but I know I need to. I found another another report about the Aresnic and toxins in the ground in this area. They tell us its here, then someone else says its not here. My belief is: its here. I wish I had the money to buy a sm. piece of land north of here. Oh well, I'll keep dreaming. I wish they would admit the truth to us. Its the govt. bull crap they do. If the toxins from the sewers, the chemical plants, gas stations, peoples houses, septic tanks, boats, dead animals, Stores{ thousands of toxins in Walmart & K-mart} , and auto stores, oil change garages, all kinds of ship building companys, gas companys, the toxins in the water and on every inch of land the water of Katrina was on !!! And thats a fact. And they say too much milk can give breast cancer!! YOWW , I wonder what this soupy toxic blend will do to us?? We not only have that to worry about, but also the state bird, the MOSQUITO !!!!!!!!!!!! It only carries about 200 different sicknesses !! So which way do u want to go???? This is the article:

http://www.disasternews.net/news/news.php?articleid-3285

...........................................God Bless...............................

My Journey: August 31,2006 Reunion-Denise Swanson

BaySt.Louis and Waveland had bunches of celebrations too. Which I guess is a good thing for us. I guess it gets your mind off of the bad things for a bit. I found out about it when I bought todays local newspaper, well Wednesdays, the 30th. It is in the SeaCoast Echo if you'd like to look at it online. Their web addy is: www.SEACOASTECHO.COM http://208.62.60.4/40/article_460.shtml There are some good pictures in it. I was looking on the internet and found a article on Denise Swanson. She is one of the people that the recovery center has on their blog for somebody to adopt her and her family. She has been adopted and they are building her a house. The story is in the www.Pearlington.blogspot.com And alot of stories are at: http://websearch.cnn.com/websearch/search?query=Denise%20swanson/adopt%20a%20family/ GodBless all the organizations and Churches, and volunteers that are here and are helping our town try to get back to normal, if there is a normal anymore. I Thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart. ....................God Bless...............................................

My Journey: Another day, made it thru the 29th.

Well the 29th. is finally over. Channel 4 news station here in New Orleans had a thing about ringing bells on the 29th. to help people get thru the day. Their web addy is www.wwltv.com if you'd like to read about it. They had celebrations yesterday to ring the bells. The schools and fire stations and the news were all selling them. I went to Slidell to a fire station and bought a few of them. They are pretty and sound real nice. They cost $3.00 each.I gave one each to Laurie, Larry, and Herbie at the Recovery center. I hope they rang them !! I rang mine a few times yesterday. I can't believe it's been a year now since the hurricane. It's been a long, long tiring year for me, and I'm sure thousands of other survivor's and volunteer's. God Bless them all. When you look around here you'd think it happened yesterday. Pearlington recovery center had their volunteer reunion. From what I read they say it turned out really good. It was in the local newspaper here. I'm really happy for them. I'm glad they had some time off to enjoy themselves. Lord knows they surely deserved it. If you'd like to read about it in the paper go to www.sunherald.com , it was in there Sunday. I have another site I think everyone should check out. A young woman named Kristin Dambrino had came here sometime after the hurricane with her dad, he is in the National Guard ( I think) but she was so effected by the sights she saw here, she wrote a song. It's called A Pearlington Prayer. Her web address is: www.kristiandambrino.com/media.html , it is a beautiful song. It makes me cry everytime I hear it. Well, I'll see you all again soon, God Bless...............................................................................

My Journey: August27,2006

Well its almost a year now since Katrina. Not much around here has changed. There is a disturbance out there looking like it might come this way. I sure hope not. I guess I'm going to start getting things together tomorrow just in case. It will be ironic if we get another one around the same date as Katrina was. I will be praying for all of us. I'm tired and going to lay down. Will try to write more soon....................................... God Bless.....................................

My Journey: August 16, 2006: another day........

<- store in La. just over state line.

Yesterday I looked at the MSN homepage. There was a link on there for msnbc. They are doing a special report on two towns in Mississippi. The towns are BaySt.Louis and Waveland. Which they are about 15 miles east of Pearlington. Pearlington is right on the coast just before the Louisiana state line. When you leave Pearlington going west, if you go over the green bridge your in Louisiana. In fact there was a small store there until Katrina hit, and they called it Pearlington, La. Slidell,La. is about 10 miles west of us. Alot of people even from this area don't know where Pearlington is. I think they get it confused with Pearl River County, La. Thats why we have so much trouble being recognized here. This town has been over looked bad by the government, especially Fema. I'm so glad that God has sent his Children, our brothers and sisters here to help us. If it wasn't for them I"d hate to think what shape we'd still be in. Which alot of us still are but I know they can only do so much. Most of them have so much compassion. You can feel it and see it in them and know they do by the things they do for us. Laurie the manager at the Pearl Mart is from N.Y. and has been here since Feb. {I think} She works her fingers to the bone. 24...7.. she is working. And 2 residents from here are the managers also. The Red Cross left us, and they were going to shut the Recovery Center down. Thats when the residents stepped up and said they'd take it over. Or it would be closed now. Our town is unincorporated. We don't have a mayor or nothing. So I guess the decisions around here are made by the three of them???? So it's up to them to decide who gets the help around here and who doesn't get any help??? !!!I'm going to try to put the link for them in here today. Ha, I'm not real great on some stuff, kinda learn as I go. When I first got a computer back in 2000, I taught myself, I cheated tho I bought the book for Dummies !! LOL But it helped me alot. I'd went to school back in 79-81 for Computer Tech... thats when my mom died, and my world fell apart. { the 1st. time} OK, here it is http://www.pearlington.blogspot.com thats for the recovery center. Now I want to give you one for the msnbc article, which has some great pictures too, Ok, here it is: http://risingfromruin.msnbc.com/stories.html I hope I can still interest you all who ever might be reading this. I know their stories will be alot more interesting . There are alot of other survivor stories there that are just amazing. I have some Katrina experiences that happened to my friends that stayed here during the storm. There were 4 families that stayed that live on my street. My street only has I think 12 families on it. They are alot braver than I was to stay here. I think if I'd stayed I'd be dead right now.Will would have been sleeping because he worked nights, and I would have totally freaked out. Everybody that stayed had to climb trees, get on roofs, get in boats. Whatever they could do. And they all say one minute the water was 1" and the next minute you were swimming. And they said snakes, deer, alligators, rats, spiders, racoons, dogs, big cockroaches, fish, any animal imaginable was in the trees and water with them. Good God it gives me goose bumps just thinking about it. I'm glad the eye of Katrina came in the day time. I think if it had came at night there would have been alot more people killed...............God Bless...............

My Journey: another day August 15,2006

<- volunteers from N.Y.

I've came many miles on this Journey, but still have many more to travel....................................
I wish all my pictures hadn't burned up in the R.V. fire. I had alot of good ones from the days right after the hurricane. I also had a few thousand pictures on my old computer that got flooded. I even put the tower up on top of the desk, but it didn't do much good cause the desk flipped over. BOOHOO!! Well I had alot of things that meant the most in my life to me that got burnt up. Everything I'd packed and took with me when I left home on the 28th. of Aug, 2005. Oh well as much as I want to I can't bring any of it back. It all still feels like a dream. It seems too impossible for it to have happened. I still have nightmares about it all. And with the year anniversary coming up makes it even worse. I raised fancy guppies and sold them to a pet store in Slidell. I had so many pregant ones and little babies that all died in the salt water. When my trailer filled with water they all just swam out of their aquariums and then died. I had 3 aquariums. I loved all my fishes. The aquarium in my bedroom was under my bed along with one of my dressers. You know that water had to be some kind of bad to move things around like that. I couldn't open my laundry room door, or the 2nd. or 3rd. bedroom door or the other bathroom door. Stuff was moved around and jammed against the doors. Pots in my cabinets were still filled with water. The volunteers that emptied my trailer poured the water out of alot of stuff. Those volunteers were from N.Y. They were a great bunch of people. The second set of volunteers that came and gutted my trailer were Presbyterian Church youth group from Felton California. They were a great bunch of kids, they worked really hard too. And it was terribly hot. I am so grateful to them all. I hope if they do come to the reunion I'll get to see them. I hope they will come by to see me. Well I'm going to lay back down and try to get some more rest. I woke awhile ago hurting and I had a terrible nightmare. God Bless...................................... This picture was taken from outside looking into my bedroom. Thats a king size bed, and it had to float up because of my dresser with the mirror on it and my 20 gallon aquarium was underneath it.I think also one of my night stands was under it too. The mirror on my dresser never cracked. I kept my bed frame, I hope I can paint it or something to be able to use it again. It was beautiful, its called "Pineapple" on top of the 4 posters there was a big pineapple carved in the wood. I had to throw away all the rest of the set, the drawers warped and it was a big mess.........God Bless..........................................................

My Journey: More Pictures of Pearlington

...............God Bless..............

My Journey: August 13, 2006 a few pictures

THIS IS A HOUSE BOAT ON TOP OF A HOUSE BOAT. AND A TUG BOAT ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS BY THE PEARL RIVER , A COUPLE MINUTES DOWN THE ROAD FROM PEARLINGTON. THE TUG BOAT IS PRETTY FAR FROM THE RIVER!!!!!!!...............God Bless..........................................................

My Journey: Just another day: August10,2006

This is a bank vault! It was all that was left, Katrina took the rest.This is on Coleman Ave. in Waveland. Anyway I noticed in the Pearlington Blog that they are putting other families to adopt in there besides only people that have been volunteers here. They're finally putting older disabled people. Which I think is great. I wish I could work. I'd love to have a job and money to repair my trailer. I worked all my life, since I was 13 years old. Until 1995, when I hurt my back, I was 41 at the time, i had 2 back surgies, one in 1996 and one in 1998. I live in cronic pain everyday, and I have to take strong medications to be able to cope with everyday things. I have Glaucoma. I have Diabetes. I have High Blood Pressure. I have every disk in my neck messed up but the bottom one, and don't want surgery on it. I am in remission for my breast cancer which I had surgery , chemo, and radiation in 2002. And am still having trouble with that breast. And have to take a pill everyday for 5 years. In 2005 I had Carpol Tunnel surgery on my right hand, was suppost to get it on my left, but thanks to Katrina never did. What else??? I hope and pray nothing !! But no one at the recovery center has asked me about my disabilities. I guess cause I can get around, and I'm not 70 or 80 years old. It really used to make me mad. When I was going thru radiation, I was so burned that I couldn't even put my arm down. People would ask " How are you?" Well you look good. And the same thing when I was going thru chemo. Well you look good ! Looks are very deceiving, because you sure don't feel good inside. I wouldn't wish chemo on my worst enemy. Or the pain that I live in every day. I don't want people to feel sorry for me. I'd like people to know and understand how I feel. I've been in pain every day of my life since March 25, 1995, and it gets old, and really sucks..................... ............................................................................................ I read in the paper today that the man in Diamondhead died. The man that his wife poured the boiling grease on him. He died last Friday. That is really sad. They still haven't found her. Now she's wanted for murder....Update: she turned herself in ...................................................
There was also a big article about the anniversary of Katrina. It said its going to effect alot of people. And if you need somebody to talk to they're going to have hotlines open for people to talk to someone. It said especially don't be alone on that day. Go to a professional if you need to. Like a shrink !!! I think most of us need more than a shrink !!........God Bless........................

My Journey: my 1988, 883 Sporster "Ruined"

"JAMIE"
Well this is what my Harley looks like now, after going thru the hurricane, on the left side, and left bottom left pictures. The ones on the right side are of me and a friend, he's the one that got it running! I guess it will have to be completely torn down and redone to be any good. I'll tell you the story of my bike. One of my bestest friends owned the bike. She found out in Oct. 2001 that she had breast cancer, and I found out in Dec. 2001. Her's was found too late. They caught mine early. We both went thru surgery about the same time. And radiation, and chemo. So at least we had each other to lean on. We would go to "Look Good, Feel better" together, The American Cancer Society has it for cancer patients. And we'd go to the meetings and walks. Well my friend Jamie went thru alot of pain and grief. She had a young daughter,4. Also a daughter 21. Me and another friend got together and gave a benefit for her. So her last Christmas was a good one for her baby girl. Well as far as her gifts, not her mom dying on Christmas day. She left us Christmas day 2004, and went to a better place. At least she is out of pain. And it snowed that day, it was like a blizzard here. But one of her last wishes was to see her bike run again. A good friend of mine helped me work on it and get it running.It was only the linkage. So she got her wish, it was running again.I rode it a few times before the hurricane. Anyway she left me her bike. Now I don't know if I'll ever get the money to redo it...It will have to wait until after I fix my trailer, or something to live in. Well.........God Bless..............................................................................

My Journey: August 10, 2006: my trailer now

These are pictures of what my trailer looks like now. My next step is to redo the electric and then the insulation. Hopefully somehow I"ll get the money to do it. I sure hope a grant comes thru, or a miracle................God Bless....................................

My Journey: its August 2006

I've lost track of days. When we first got back it was a day to day job trying to clear off the front part of my yard. We finally got it cleared enough to get the R.V., and 2 fema trailers in here. It was alot of back bending, sweaty work. The R.O.E. which is the corps of engineers came and inspected my property. They wanted me to have my house and my mobile home both bulldozed down. But we kept thinking the trailer was salvagable. So I decided to try and save my trailer. It was all I have left. With no insurance and no money it was my only hope.Neither me or Will could go into that trailer to get rid of all the stuff inside. Finally I had a church group come and they emptied the trailer of all its contents. They were from N.Y., and they were wonderful people. I never could have done it, it was too heart breaking. And my health won't let me. There wasn't much that could be saved. It was heart breaking to see all my wordly possesions out there on the street waiting to be picked up by the garbage trucks. And having to look at it day after day for a couple weeks. Then after awhile another church group came in and over a week or two they gutted out my trailer. They were a great bunch from Felton, California. They were the Felton Presbyterian Youth Group. Such a great bunch of young guys and girls. They worked so hard . It was so hot, but that didn't discourage them a bit. Well then I had a big problem. I had to get my trailer off the ground and back up on blocks. I couldn't get any volunteers to do it. I called and called businesses to try to get someone to do it. I finally got a company. I was on a month waiting list and it cost me $2,700.00 to get it done.And fema gave me a total of $5,000.00 to repair my trailer, Ha what a joke! But now at least i'm at a point where maybe I can do something. but what I don't know. I've been spraying inside with bleach for the mold. Which really the mold wasn't too bad. We had left windows open before we'd left here last September, which I think helped. Thankfully I have a well built trailer. It has plywood floors and 2x4's in it. I think there are a very few trailers left here that are in pretty good shape. Most of the people that had trailers, there wasn't much left of them. So I feel I am luckier than others. At least I have something to work with. ................................... The picture of the volunteers are on the matress, and in the street.They were the one's that took everything out of my trailer. The other picture is how it looks now since I've gotten it re-leveled, and put back on blocks...I keep in touch with a few of the girls, I'll have to ask them if they can e-mail me a picture to post on here............................................. GodBless.........................................................

My Journey: Going Home, February 2006

The flow well : above The 2nd. R.V.

We went looking for a R.V. Well I finally found one, I figured I could live in if I had to. And I shouldn't have much trouble selling it once I didn't need it anymore. So we spent days loading it up with our goods. This time I got full coverage ins. on it. So we decided we'd drive it home and leave it there. Then come back and get the truck and the U-haul to pull the motorcycle home. In the meantime Will had called Trentt Lott and that got Fema moving on the ball. Fema called Will and set up a date to come inspect to put him his fema trailer. So the United way bought us a well pump, {ours had blown away}. Anyway we left that park and went home.We just took the R.V. home and stayed about a week.In Pearlington the Red Cross was at the school feeding people each day. So that was great. We got some of the front yard cleared off. But we had to head back to Alabama to get the rest of our stuff. We stopped by the flowwell in Picayune while we were passing by there. They cleaned it up alot, there was trees all around it last year when we were using it, but now they'd cut them all back. The water still tasted so good. I guess they cleaned it up because it saved so many peoples lives. Will finally got his fema trailer around the end of Feb. And I finally got mine the end of April......................God Bless.....................................

My Journey: getting close to Christmas 2005

This is the mountain above the campground , the geese are in the lake at the campground and the other picture is our Christmas dinner. The other two are my Christmas tree. You can go to : www.gadsdentimes.com and look up Sunday December 25, 2005 and read the article about us there. It starts on the front page and is called "Living and Celebrating".





this is my tree !
Days have came and gone, and all the days were like the last.We decorated a little to try to get in the Christmas spirit. I bought a 12" tree to give Sally & Eddie. I bought a 3' tree one for me & one for Will. They had optic lights on them and were real pretty. People from the "GADSDEN Times" newspaper came and did a interview on us to put in the paper on Christmas day. It was about the survivors spending Christmas away from home. So we were in that paper. Some of the people in the park were in the Huntsville paper also I think. All the friends and family came for Christmas again to cook and spend Christmas with us.None were my family tho. I was just busy on the phone with Fema asking why I didn't have a trailer on my land yet. Days came and days passes. I finally got fed up and said I wanted to look for another R.V. again so I could go home. Now you couldnt get any help unless you were home. You had to get on lists to get a shed, a list to get your debris removed. Etc... I have yet to this day gotten a shed. All my stuff I was able to keep or have accumliated is just sitting on the ground covered with a tarp. I get tired of asking people for things. Well Christmas came and went, it was a very depressing time for me........... God Bless ......................