If you can't find a reason to smile today, consider your blessings...
I watched the news tonight. There was a story about a National Guard
Troop that returned from a years service in Iraq. They were from the State of
Louisiana. The military jet landed, and they were formed into a group of
soldiers at attention as they were commended, recognized and dismissed...
obviously a moment they had anticipated for a long time. At the dismissal, the
camera panned around to catch many sons and daughters showered with hugs and
kisses. Most of the interviews were what you would expect - "It's great to be
home, finally," and "it was this moment that kept me going everyday, ready to
get back home." But as reality sunk in, you knew that many of these 100+
soldiers were returning to nothing. A mother said, "I have nothing to cook my
son a home-cooked meal on..." and "I don't have the heart to tell her that we
have nothing left." But the part that struck me the hardest was the image of
soldiers that had no one to hug. They simply said goodbye to their fellow
soldiers and walked off... there was no one there to greet them.
Please remember in your prayers tonight the people that are not in
the forefront of this tragedy. The relief workers, the policemen, the families
abroad... and most importantly - the ones that just have nothing. Nothing is a
powerful lack of existence that most of us can not even comprehend. When you sit
in traffic today, or complain about the quality of a meal, or just feel too
tired to attack an everyday task, remember that we are blessed. Some of those
soldiers just picked up their bags and walked off camera...
Friday, September 16, 2005
LA troops come home
This was written by my co-worker's adult son.
Thursday, September 15, 2005
Thursday
9-15-2005 @ 10:38PM
I'm watching random DVDs and typing on Notepad b/c my cable and internet are both down (comes from same company). Thing is, I doubt my bill-paying memory when that type of thing happens. i come home and think "Did I pay that bill? I'd better check before I report an outage and embarrass myself!" This time, though, I couldn't do that, b/c we are billed electronically instead of by mail. Since I can't get onto the internet, I have to take a wild guess. Luckily, my memory is not that bad, since they said there is a "local outage" and the problem has already been reported. 2nd thing is, it has been four hours or more now LOL. I'm bound by technology!
I got off early today to go to BHS for their practice. It went really well... we got another movement finished today. Only one left and we'll be ready to perfect the little things - it's just in time for our first competition.
However, I started having heat exhaustion or something! My heart was racing, my head was pounding horribly, I couldn't breathe, and I felt dizzy and neauseated. I thought I was going to pass out! I didn't really feel much better by the time practice was over, so I decided to skip out. I had my music with me, of course, so I had to show up anyway and bring it. I apologized over and over... I really did feel bad about leaving the 2nd practice of the year. I tried to redeem myself by dividing up the new music for the night. My conductor kept asking me if I was ok (I think my face was still flustered), and I said yes, but I really didn't feel a change at all by then.
I came home and tried to clean up the apartment a little (ongoing struggle here), but that didn't work out very well. I chilled on the couch for awhile, prompting the non-working cable discovery. Blah.
So, I've been watching girly-girl movies - Mean Girls first, then 13 Going on 30. What am I, 13 years old too? Geez.
Josh finally has all four available seasons of Smallville. I can't keep him from the DVD player when we're home together - LOL!
I'm bored - that's pretty sad considering all of the distractions we have around here. Especially considering I need to be practicing the clarinet/sax parts for the high school show. Since my primary instrument is flute/piccolo, I have to really work at the others... what we musicians call "taking it to the woodshed."
I could still be cleaning as well. I plan on inviting the woodwind kids over to our apartment before the first competition, so I'd better get started!
10:55PM
I'm watching random DVDs and typing on Notepad b/c my cable and internet are both down (comes from same company). Thing is, I doubt my bill-paying memory when that type of thing happens. i come home and think "Did I pay that bill? I'd better check before I report an outage and embarrass myself!" This time, though, I couldn't do that, b/c we are billed electronically instead of by mail. Since I can't get onto the internet, I have to take a wild guess. Luckily, my memory is not that bad, since they said there is a "local outage" and the problem has already been reported. 2nd thing is, it has been four hours or more now LOL. I'm bound by technology!
I got off early today to go to BHS for their practice. It went really well... we got another movement finished today. Only one left and we'll be ready to perfect the little things - it's just in time for our first competition.
However, I started having heat exhaustion or something! My heart was racing, my head was pounding horribly, I couldn't breathe, and I felt dizzy and neauseated. I thought I was going to pass out! I didn't really feel much better by the time practice was over, so I decided to skip out. I had my music with me, of course, so I had to show up anyway and bring it. I apologized over and over... I really did feel bad about leaving the 2nd practice of the year. I tried to redeem myself by dividing up the new music for the night. My conductor kept asking me if I was ok (I think my face was still flustered), and I said yes, but I really didn't feel a change at all by then.
I came home and tried to clean up the apartment a little (ongoing struggle here), but that didn't work out very well. I chilled on the couch for awhile, prompting the non-working cable discovery. Blah.
So, I've been watching girly-girl movies - Mean Girls first, then 13 Going on 30. What am I, 13 years old too? Geez.
Josh finally has all four available seasons of Smallville. I can't keep him from the DVD player when we're home together - LOL!
I'm bored - that's pretty sad considering all of the distractions we have around here. Especially considering I need to be practicing the clarinet/sax parts for the high school show. Since my primary instrument is flute/piccolo, I have to really work at the others... what we musicians call "taking it to the woodshed."
I could still be cleaning as well. I plan on inviting the woodwind kids over to our apartment before the first competition, so I'd better get started!
10:55PM
New fun-stuff
Ok - so far, I've added Babelfish, another cute clock (can you resist a beagle puppy?!?), and the extreme tracker, though I may not keep it - It didn't look like what I thought it would.
Might add more later!
Update - added piddy pictures to the sidebar also! I'll update whenever I get a more recent pic, but those on right now are from two weeks ago. :)
Goodnight!
Might add more later!
Update - added piddy pictures to the sidebar also! I'll update whenever I get a more recent pic, but those on right now are from two weeks ago. :)
Goodnight!
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Fluency Overnight!
Yeah right - babelfish is cool, though.
Check out RbtPP in what I think is Italian?? LOL!
Siamo andato alla parte dell'aeroporto di Greenville/Spartanburg (funzione di FedEx) offrirsi volontariamente al fundraiser speciale di Olimpiadi che la mia azienda stava contribuendo a patrocinare (il motivo che era @ l'aeroporto era b/c FedEx stava patrocinando inoltre ed hanno avuti aereo-tirano... la gente pazzesca di aka che tira un aereo con le corde enormi. Risulta che hanno deciso spostare in su la nostra parte appena un piccolo dopo che abbiamo ottenuto là , in modo da anziché le cabine correnti di kiddie, abbiamo aiutato il pacchetto esso dentro per il giorno. In seguito, abbiamo camminato intorno al resto delle cabine, Josh abbiamo mangiato un leg(enorme del tacchino!) (TURKEY LEG - LOL), Ho avuto rad-ghiaccio della ciliegia, allora noi a sinistra.
Check out RbtPP in what I think is Italian?? LOL!
Siamo andato alla parte dell'aeroporto di Greenville/Spartanburg (funzione di FedEx) offrirsi volontariamente al fundraiser speciale di Olimpiadi che la mia azienda stava contribuendo a patrocinare (il motivo che era @ l'aeroporto era b/c FedEx stava patrocinando inoltre ed hanno avuti aereo-tirano... la gente pazzesca di aka che tira un aereo con le corde enormi. Risulta che hanno deciso spostare in su la nostra parte appena un piccolo dopo che abbiamo ottenuto là , in modo da anziché le cabine correnti di kiddie, abbiamo aiutato il pacchetto esso dentro per il giorno. In seguito, abbiamo camminato intorno al resto delle cabine, Josh abbiamo mangiato un leg(enorme del tacchino!) (TURKEY LEG - LOL), Ho avuto rad-ghiaccio della ciliegia, allora noi a sinistra.
Apples & Apples
I love Granny Smith apples. Though, I don't really have a Granny Smith. They should really be called PaPa Shirley apples. PaPa and Grandma Shirley (last name, of course... first names = James & Ruth) used to have Granny Smith apple trees and a pear tree in their backyard along with their vegetable garden. That's the whole reason I even like apples now. Every time I smell a PaPa Shirley apple, it takes me back to when I was a kid. I would go to their house and PaPa would let me pick as many apples as I wanted. I even picked the ones that fell from the branches too early and ate them (that's back when you could actually do that... despite the occasional worm - eww - LOL).
Of course, that's the whole reason I DON'T like okra. Slimy vegetables are not my friend.
Wow, I miss PaPa. He had alzheimer's in his later years, and he barely knew us before he died. In fact, he was introducing Grandma as his sister by the end. That really broke her heart. We could all tell that he probably didn't know us, but didn't want to let on that he was having a hard time with it.
It's funny what we remember about people.
Of course, that's the whole reason I DON'T like okra. Slimy vegetables are not my friend.
Wow, I miss PaPa. He had alzheimer's in his later years, and he barely knew us before he died. In fact, he was introducing Grandma as his sister by the end. That really broke her heart. We could all tell that he probably didn't know us, but didn't want to let on that he was having a hard time with it.
It's funny what we remember about people.
Saturday Anti-Old-Fogeyness
Josh and I finally stopped being homebodies for one night (well, we attempted at a whole day, actually)!
We went to part of Greenville/Spartanburg airport (FedEx Facility) to volunteer at the Special Olympics fundraiser that my company was helping to sponsor (the reason it was @ the airport was b/c FedEx was sponsoring also, and they had a plane-pull... aka crazy people pulling a plane with huge ropes. Turns out that they decided to wrap up our part just a little after we got there, so instead of running kiddie booths, we helped pack it in for the day. Afterward, we walked around to the rest of the booths, Josh ate a huge turkey leg(!), I had cherry shaved-ice, then we left.
Next, we went to Niki's first house (sister-in-law) that she is trying to sell and checked out the outside. We couldn't get in yet, but I love the outside. Though, we can't have a pool unless we get a small one! :( The yard is sloped, had a huge tree in the middle (like twice the size of the psychotic tree in Poltergeist), and it doesn't seem large enough to me. That really is a factor for me for house hunting... whether or not we can have a pool, b/c I REALLY want one. But, just the fact that Niki is willing to sell it to us for what she owes on it is weighing heavier on me than a pool. I can blow up a four footer pool with an air compressor, you know?!?
The reason we couldn't get inside the house was b/c Niki was hanging out with friends. She invited us out downtown Saturday night, and neither one of us could really pass that up. It has been quite awhile since we'd done anything like that, so we were pretty gung-ho about it. We went home, got ready, and waited on Niki's call, which was about 20 minutes after we got home - perfect timing, truthfully. We went out to Wild Wings, where the music kind of blew that time... and then on to Sharkie's Pub, which all of us liked much better. We met a lot of Niki's co-workers - Melissa 1, Melissa 2, Sherry, Darryl, Angie - nice to meet all of you/see you again (Angie)!! Hey, also - Darryl and Niki - thanks for the shot rounds! It was a good night, but Josh had to get up early on Sunday, so we had to call it a night quicker than we wanted. :( All in all - good times!
Geez - 1AM - I switched to 8:30 schedule at work from now on instead of my regular 10AM - I only work @10 on Mondays so my other guy can go to class in NC. What a drive at 5:30 anyway! It's bad enough getting through downtown G'ville during rush hour, much less across the SC/NC border.
I've got to get used to this early-bird schedule quickly - I almost fell asleep @ work today. That would seriously blow goats though - someone at work got fired yesterday, and @%#*& had been there over 5 years - I guess no one is exempt - sometimes you just need a wake-up call like that to get your act together, right?
Speaking of which - goodnight!
We went to part of Greenville/Spartanburg airport (FedEx Facility) to volunteer at the Special Olympics fundraiser that my company was helping to sponsor (the reason it was @ the airport was b/c FedEx was sponsoring also, and they had a plane-pull... aka crazy people pulling a plane with huge ropes. Turns out that they decided to wrap up our part just a little after we got there, so instead of running kiddie booths, we helped pack it in for the day. Afterward, we walked around to the rest of the booths, Josh ate a huge turkey leg(!), I had cherry shaved-ice, then we left.
Next, we went to Niki's first house (sister-in-law) that she is trying to sell and checked out the outside. We couldn't get in yet, but I love the outside. Though, we can't have a pool unless we get a small one! :( The yard is sloped, had a huge tree in the middle (like twice the size of the psychotic tree in Poltergeist), and it doesn't seem large enough to me. That really is a factor for me for house hunting... whether or not we can have a pool, b/c I REALLY want one. But, just the fact that Niki is willing to sell it to us for what she owes on it is weighing heavier on me than a pool. I can blow up a four footer pool with an air compressor, you know?!?
The reason we couldn't get inside the house was b/c Niki was hanging out with friends. She invited us out downtown Saturday night, and neither one of us could really pass that up. It has been quite awhile since we'd done anything like that, so we were pretty gung-ho about it. We went home, got ready, and waited on Niki's call, which was about 20 minutes after we got home - perfect timing, truthfully. We went out to Wild Wings, where the music kind of blew that time... and then on to Sharkie's Pub, which all of us liked much better. We met a lot of Niki's co-workers - Melissa 1, Melissa 2, Sherry, Darryl, Angie - nice to meet all of you/see you again (Angie)!! Hey, also - Darryl and Niki - thanks for the shot rounds! It was a good night, but Josh had to get up early on Sunday, so we had to call it a night quicker than we wanted. :( All in all - good times!
Geez - 1AM - I switched to 8:30 schedule at work from now on instead of my regular 10AM - I only work @10 on Mondays so my other guy can go to class in NC. What a drive at 5:30 anyway! It's bad enough getting through downtown G'ville during rush hour, much less across the SC/NC border.
I've got to get used to this early-bird schedule quickly - I almost fell asleep @ work today. That would seriously blow goats though - someone at work got fired yesterday, and @%#*& had been there over 5 years - I guess no one is exempt - sometimes you just need a wake-up call like that to get your act together, right?
Speaking of which - goodnight!
Friday, September 09, 2005
Rival Dread
Quick note: "Next blog" button is not recommended at work!! I don't think I need to explain.
Woo-hoo! My hit counter crossed the 200 mark! I think about 20 were me reloading the page on my remote access site, but who cares!
The band must travel tonight. We go to our rival team's school, Travelers Rest (TR for short, of course). I, as a band member in high school and college, loved it. However, I, as a pseudo-chaperone, hate going to rival school games in general, not just that away ones.
Just to give you an example of how bad I dislike it, here's a past scenario:
Last year, the Berea/TR game was at Berea (FYI: pronounced Ba-ree-ah, not Bear-ee-ay!). When we have home games, our band officers travel to the opposing side and meet with the other band's officers. You know... just so our kids can actually meet someone outside the Berea world. To get to the band, you have to walk past the entire opposing crowd. While doing that, we got cussed out, things thrown at us, and someone picking a fight with our drum major... and that was a HOME game! That being said, I am not looking forward to going to TR's home field. Good thing: at least their officers come to us tonight. And, by the way, TR and Berea's bands are not rivals, just the sports teams. We can't really be rivals when they're about 75 people larger than us!
Wish me luck.
Oh yeah, you can check our team out (and maybe a glimpse of the band) on the "Friday Night Hits" videos on www.thecarolinachannel.com!
Green font in honor of the football game!
Woo-hoo! My hit counter crossed the 200 mark! I think about 20 were me reloading the page on my remote access site, but who cares!
The band must travel tonight. We go to our rival team's school, Travelers Rest (TR for short, of course). I, as a band member in high school and college, loved it. However, I, as a pseudo-chaperone, hate going to rival school games in general, not just that away ones.
Just to give you an example of how bad I dislike it, here's a past scenario:
Last year, the Berea/TR game was at Berea (FYI: pronounced Ba-ree-ah, not Bear-ee-ay!). When we have home games, our band officers travel to the opposing side and meet with the other band's officers. You know... just so our kids can actually meet someone outside the Berea world. To get to the band, you have to walk past the entire opposing crowd. While doing that, we got cussed out, things thrown at us, and someone picking a fight with our drum major... and that was a HOME game! That being said, I am not looking forward to going to TR's home field. Good thing: at least their officers come to us tonight. And, by the way, TR and Berea's bands are not rivals, just the sports teams. We can't really be rivals when they're about 75 people larger than us!
Wish me luck.
Oh yeah, you can check our team out (and maybe a glimpse of the band) on the "Friday Night Hits" videos on www.thecarolinachannel.com!
Green font in honor of the football game!
Thursday, September 08, 2005
Full Day
Oh wow - I have a hella day today. Here's the syllabus:
- This morning while getting ready for work with wet hair: Finished sorting 1/2 of the old music for tonight's 1st GCB practice (I'm the librarian)
- Try to dry my long hair!
- Load up entire car w/ music
- Grab quickie breakfast at Chick-Fil-A
- Make it to work on time, thank you very much!
- Sort music at work
- try to fit work in there somewhere!
- off @ 4 (early today)
- make it to high school practice late, finish @ 6
- haul butt to GCB practice with heavy tub of music
- FINALLY - go home
- sort rest of music for next week (Friday update: this one did NOT get done)
Geez!
Katrina Reaches Greenville Part 3
It seems I'll keep tracking this story.
First Evacuees Arrive At Expo Center
More Than 100 Arrive From New Orleans
POSTED: 8:14 pm EDT September 7, 2005
UPDATED: 11:43 pm EDT September 7, 2005
GREENVILLE -- After two days of waiting, the Hurricane Katrina evacuee shelter at the Palmetto Expo Center has its first residents.
A plane carrying 108 people from New Orleans touched down at the Greenville-Spartanburg airport just before 8 p.m. Wednesday, where they boarded buses to the Expo Center.
Many Upstate residents were on hand to welcome the evacuees.
"Just the word welcome means so much to them," said Claudette Neeley. "They don't have anything ... We really do welcome them. We love them."
"It could have just as well been us. You don't never know. We need each other," Terri Cooper said.
New Orleans evacuees Betty Doyle and her husband were rescued by helicopter when their house disappeared under water.
"We walked over dead people," Doyle said. "We had to sit on a bridge for three days before we got a ride to where we were going."
Once they arrived, they were given a shower and registered into the shelter.
The Expo Center can hold as many as 1,200 people. Volunteers and workers have been setting up cots and inflatable beds at the shelter for the past two days. The Salvation Army is prepared to feed the evacuees.
Greenville City Manager Jim Bourey said the city is expecting another planeload of evacuees Thursday evening.
Copyright 2005 (Carri's Disclaimer - I am not trying to profit from this article (as you can see, I don't have any ads on this page!), I'm only trying to get the word out - don't sue me, please!)
First Evacuees Arrive At Expo Center
More Than 100 Arrive From New Orleans
POSTED: 8:14 pm EDT September 7, 2005
UPDATED: 11:43 pm EDT September 7, 2005
GREENVILLE -- After two days of waiting, the Hurricane Katrina evacuee shelter at the Palmetto Expo Center has its first residents.
A plane carrying 108 people from New Orleans touched down at the Greenville-Spartanburg airport just before 8 p.m. Wednesday, where they boarded buses to the Expo Center.
Many Upstate residents were on hand to welcome the evacuees.
"Just the word welcome means so much to them," said Claudette Neeley. "They don't have anything ... We really do welcome them. We love them."
"It could have just as well been us. You don't never know. We need each other," Terri Cooper said.
New Orleans evacuees Betty Doyle and her husband were rescued by helicopter when their house disappeared under water.
"We walked over dead people," Doyle said. "We had to sit on a bridge for three days before we got a ride to where we were going."
Once they arrived, they were given a shower and registered into the shelter.
The Expo Center can hold as many as 1,200 people. Volunteers and workers have been setting up cots and inflatable beds at the shelter for the past two days. The Salvation Army is prepared to feed the evacuees.
Greenville City Manager Jim Bourey said the city is expecting another planeload of evacuees Thursday evening.
Copyright 2005 (Carri's Disclaimer - I am not trying to profit from this article (as you can see, I don't have any ads on this page!), I'm only trying to get the word out - don't sue me, please!)
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
Wedding Pics, Part 2
Josh's Groomscake - White knight takes the queen! (Well, it was supposed to, but someone put the white knight in the wrong spot!)
Lauren caught it legitimately!
This one looks like I'm hugging a cardboard copy of Josh - LOL!
Me, Lisa Belt (family friend), Barbara and Cyndi Manire (Heather's Mom and sister)
My poor car! Some of that stuff is still on my paint!
Lauren caught it legitimately!
This one looks like I'm hugging a cardboard copy of Josh - LOL!
Me, Lisa Belt (family friend), Barbara and Cyndi Manire (Heather's Mom and sister)
My poor car! Some of that stuff is still on my paint!
Wedding Pics, Part 1
I promised I'd post wedding pictures as soon as I could get them all scanned! Here's me and my girls - (left-right) Niki (Josh's sister, now my sister-in-law), Jennifer (cousin), Heather (flute student), Wanda (sister-in-law), me, Dani (best friend) and Lauren (niece).
I love this picture!
Niki, Josh, and Beau (brother)
The boys! (left-right): David (my favorite cousin), Adam (brother), Rusty (Josh's best friend), Greg (Niki's husband), Beau (Josh's brother), Tristan and Tyler (Dani's boys, ring bearers)
My fellow flautists - Jane and Connie. Thanks to both of you!
Dad walking me down the aisle!
Our cake - if you look closely, it has kind of a lacy effect.
I love this picture!
Niki, Josh, and Beau (brother)
The boys! (left-right): David (my favorite cousin), Adam (brother), Rusty (Josh's best friend), Greg (Niki's husband), Beau (Josh's brother), Tristan and Tyler (Dani's boys, ring bearers)
My fellow flautists - Jane and Connie. Thanks to both of you!
Dad walking me down the aisle!
Our cake - if you look closely, it has kind of a lacy effect.
Cadets!
Cadets won! 99.15!! Woo-hoo!
My favorite part was when the d-line actually sang part of their drum break. I've never heard anything like it!
My favorite part was when the d-line actually sang part of their drum break. I've never heard anything like it!
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
Katrina Reaches Greenville Part 2
This is the center where my company has its Christmas party. I'm glad it's being put to good use for these people who need help.
Preparations For Katrina Evacuees Continue
Up To 1,500 People Expected At Expo Center
POSTED: 8:08 pm EDT September 5, 2005
UPDATED: 11:08 am EDT September 6, 2005
GREENVILLE -- The city of Greenville is about to grow by several hundred temporary citizens.
As many as 1,500 people are expected to arrive in the Upstate beginning Tuesday afternoon.
Many will be transferred Gulf Coast medical patients and their families, while others will be evacuees.
Red Cross volunteers were setting up cots and preparing plans to house hundreds of people at the Palmetto Expo Center Monday night.
"The best expectation we have is a week to two weeks, maybe as long as a month," Greenville City Manager Jim Bourey said. "FEMA and the federal agencies want to provide more permanent housing, rather than stay in the convention center on the floor."
Bourey said that the city has set up a toll-free hotline for people wishing to get information or volunteer: (866) 313-0081. Bourey said the shelter has sufficient volunteers for this week, but needs more people for the following weeks.
The shelter will be a combined effort by the Upstate chapter of the American Red Cross, the city of Greenville and the Salvation Army, though the city will be in overall charge.
Bourey said that the shelter does not need any items yet, but that the city will compile a list of needed items, then release that list and drop-off locations to the public.
Costs of running the shelter will be reimbursed by FEMA.
The Greenville County School District said that any child that comes to the shelter will be assigned to a school and bused from the Expo Center to that school each day for classes.
Greenville Memorial Hospital is also preparing for the medical cases it will receive.
"Dysentery, and cholera, and typhoid, and those could be conditions we will see. But we anticipate seeing a lot of chronic illnesses, diabetes, high blood pressure, maybe in need of dialysis," nurse Suzanne White said.
"We really want to do what we can, play our part in what really is a national disaster, a national tragedy," Bourey said.
The first non-medical evacuees are expected at Greenville-Spartanburg airport sometime Wednesday.
Medical evacuees and their families will arrive separately after flying to Columbia for evaluation and assignment, and could arrive Tuesday.
While no one knows how many evacuees will come to South Carolina, officials say it could be as
many as 18,000 over the next few weeks.
Officials said most will be housed in the Midlands and Upstate because of the potential for hurricanes in the Lowcountry and Pee Dee.
Officials said it's likely that at least some of the evacuees will become permanent Upstate residents.
Preparations For Katrina Evacuees Continue
Up To 1,500 People Expected At Expo Center
POSTED: 8:08 pm EDT September 5, 2005
UPDATED: 11:08 am EDT September 6, 2005
GREENVILLE -- The city of Greenville is about to grow by several hundred temporary citizens.
As many as 1,500 people are expected to arrive in the Upstate beginning Tuesday afternoon.
Many will be transferred Gulf Coast medical patients and their families, while others will be evacuees.
Red Cross volunteers were setting up cots and preparing plans to house hundreds of people at the Palmetto Expo Center Monday night.
"The best expectation we have is a week to two weeks, maybe as long as a month," Greenville City Manager Jim Bourey said. "FEMA and the federal agencies want to provide more permanent housing, rather than stay in the convention center on the floor."
Bourey said that the city has set up a toll-free hotline for people wishing to get information or volunteer: (866) 313-0081. Bourey said the shelter has sufficient volunteers for this week, but needs more people for the following weeks.
The shelter will be a combined effort by the Upstate chapter of the American Red Cross, the city of Greenville and the Salvation Army, though the city will be in overall charge.
Bourey said that the shelter does not need any items yet, but that the city will compile a list of needed items, then release that list and drop-off locations to the public.
Costs of running the shelter will be reimbursed by FEMA.
The Greenville County School District said that any child that comes to the shelter will be assigned to a school and bused from the Expo Center to that school each day for classes.
Greenville Memorial Hospital is also preparing for the medical cases it will receive.
"Dysentery, and cholera, and typhoid, and those could be conditions we will see. But we anticipate seeing a lot of chronic illnesses, diabetes, high blood pressure, maybe in need of dialysis," nurse Suzanne White said.
"We really want to do what we can, play our part in what really is a national disaster, a national tragedy," Bourey said.
The first non-medical evacuees are expected at Greenville-Spartanburg airport sometime Wednesday.
Medical evacuees and their families will arrive separately after flying to Columbia for evaluation and assignment, and could arrive Tuesday.
While no one knows how many evacuees will come to South Carolina, officials say it could be as
many as 18,000 over the next few weeks.
Officials said most will be housed in the Midlands and Upstate because of the potential for hurricanes in the Lowcountry and Pee Dee.
Officials said it's likely that at least some of the evacuees will become permanent Upstate residents.
Katrina Reaches Greenville Part 1
These people work with my uncle, who works alarm billing at the sheriff's office and used to work 911 dispatch with them. Please wish them a safe journey.
South Carolina Search Team Sent To Louisiana
More Than 20 Greenville Firefighters Part Of Team
POSTED: 10:42 am EDT September 6, 2005
UPDATED: 10:51 am EDT September 6, 2005
COLUMBIA -- A South Carolina team specializing in urban search and rescue has been called to Louisiana.
Also heading to the Gulf Coast are 22 Greenville firefighters and paramedics.
Officials say the 36 searchers were called to duty Monday to spend 14 days in St. Bernard Parish, looking for victims of Hurricane Katrina.
The search unit will use equipment ranging from hydraulic jacks to high-tech listening devices to specially trained dogs.
The Greenville paramedics and firefighters are experts in handling hazardous materials, decontamination and rescues from water and confined spaces.
South Carolina Search Team Sent To Louisiana
More Than 20 Greenville Firefighters Part Of Team
POSTED: 10:42 am EDT September 6, 2005
UPDATED: 10:51 am EDT September 6, 2005
COLUMBIA -- A South Carolina team specializing in urban search and rescue has been called to Louisiana.
Also heading to the Gulf Coast are 22 Greenville firefighters and paramedics.
Officials say the 36 searchers were called to duty Monday to spend 14 days in St. Bernard Parish, looking for victims of Hurricane Katrina.
The search unit will use equipment ranging from hydraulic jacks to high-tech listening devices to specially trained dogs.
The Greenville paramedics and firefighters are experts in handling hazardous materials, decontamination and rescues from water and confined spaces.
Sunday, September 04, 2005
Football update
Hey, our team actually won Friday night! 28-21. The band did really well also. Some of the rookies finally started getting it together - I was so excited!!
Just got rid of a bunch of junk comments - I didn't even know people tried to advertise there as well. What a waste of internet space!
Josh rented "Flight of the Phoenix" and "Sin City". We've seen Sin City before, but it was good enough to rent again. We're watching FotP right now. It seems to be pretty good.
More later, I don't want to miss the movie!
Just got rid of a bunch of junk comments - I didn't even know people tried to advertise there as well. What a waste of internet space!
Josh rented "Flight of the Phoenix" and "Sin City". We've seen Sin City before, but it was good enough to rent again. We're watching FotP right now. It seems to be pretty good.
More later, I don't want to miss the movie!
Friday, September 02, 2005
Believe it or not
5:17PM:
I'm actually working my tail off today!
6:04PM: Ok this is pitiful - I was only able to write one sentence in 45 minutes! We have another football game tonight, so I have to haul butt from here to there. I'm already late when I get off work, so it's a serious time crunch from 7-7:30. Since we have a good computer at home now, Josh has finally learned how to email back and forth. Since I can't chat at work and he has a few days off, he's been emailing me like crazy LOL.
ok... gotta go...
I'm actually working my tail off today!
6:04PM: Ok this is pitiful - I was only able to write one sentence in 45 minutes! We have another football game tonight, so I have to haul butt from here to there. I'm already late when I get off work, so it's a serious time crunch from 7-7:30. Since we have a good computer at home now, Josh has finally learned how to email back and forth. Since I can't chat at work and he has a few days off, he's been emailing me like crazy LOL.
ok... gotta go...
The Pink Dress
You might have had this forwarded to you at some point, but I thought it was sweet enough to put here.
The Pink Dress
There was this little girl sitting by herself in the park. Everyone passed by her and never stopped to see why she looked so sad. Dressed in a worn pink dress, barefoot and dirty, the girl just sat and watched the people go by. She never tried to speak. She never said a word. Many people passed by her, but no one would stop. The next day I decided to go back to the park in curiosity to see if the little girl would still be there. Yes, she was there, right in the very spot where she was yesterday, and still with the same sad look in her eyes. Today I was to make my own move and walk over to the little girl. For as we all know, a park full of strange people is not a place for young children to play alone.
As I got closer I could see the back of the little girl's dress. It was grotesquely shaped. I figured that was the reason people just passed by and made no effort to speak to her. Deformities are a low blow to our society and, heaven forbid if you make a step toward assisting someone who is different. As I got closer, the little girl lowered her eyes slightly to avoid my intent stare. As I approached her, I could see the shape of her back more clearly. She was grotesquely shaped in a humped over form. I smiled to let her know it was OK; I was there to help, to talk. I sat down beside her and opened with a simple, "Hello". The little girl acted shocked, and stammered a "hi"; after a long stare, into my eyes. I smiled and she shyly smiled back. We talked until darkness fell and the park was completely empty. I asked the girl why she was so sad. The little girl looked at me with a sad face said, "Because, I'm different".
I immediately said, "That you are!"; and smiled.
The little girl acted even sadder and said, "I know."
"Little girl," I said, "you remind me of an angel, sweet and innocent."
She looked at me and smiled, then slowly she got to her feet and said, "Really?"
"Yes, you're like a little Guardian Angel sent to watch over all people walking by." She nodded her head yes, and smiled.
With that she opened the back of her pink dress and allowed her wings to spread, then she said "I am."
I'm your Guardian Angel, " with a twinkle in her eye. I was speechless -- sure I was seeing things. She said, "For once you thought of someone other than yourself. My job here is done".
I got to my feet and said, "Wait, why did no one stop to help an angel?" She looked at me, smiled, and said, "You're the only one that could see me," and then she was gone.
And with that, my life was changed dramatically.
So, when you think you're all you have, remember, your angel is always watching over you.
The Pink Dress
There was this little girl sitting by herself in the park. Everyone passed by her and never stopped to see why she looked so sad. Dressed in a worn pink dress, barefoot and dirty, the girl just sat and watched the people go by. She never tried to speak. She never said a word. Many people passed by her, but no one would stop. The next day I decided to go back to the park in curiosity to see if the little girl would still be there. Yes, she was there, right in the very spot where she was yesterday, and still with the same sad look in her eyes. Today I was to make my own move and walk over to the little girl. For as we all know, a park full of strange people is not a place for young children to play alone.
As I got closer I could see the back of the little girl's dress. It was grotesquely shaped. I figured that was the reason people just passed by and made no effort to speak to her. Deformities are a low blow to our society and, heaven forbid if you make a step toward assisting someone who is different. As I got closer, the little girl lowered her eyes slightly to avoid my intent stare. As I approached her, I could see the shape of her back more clearly. She was grotesquely shaped in a humped over form. I smiled to let her know it was OK; I was there to help, to talk. I sat down beside her and opened with a simple, "Hello". The little girl acted shocked, and stammered a "hi"; after a long stare, into my eyes. I smiled and she shyly smiled back. We talked until darkness fell and the park was completely empty. I asked the girl why she was so sad. The little girl looked at me with a sad face said, "Because, I'm different".
I immediately said, "That you are!"; and smiled.
The little girl acted even sadder and said, "I know."
"Little girl," I said, "you remind me of an angel, sweet and innocent."
She looked at me and smiled, then slowly she got to her feet and said, "Really?"
"Yes, you're like a little Guardian Angel sent to watch over all people walking by." She nodded her head yes, and smiled.
With that she opened the back of her pink dress and allowed her wings to spread, then she said "I am."
I'm your Guardian Angel, " with a twinkle in her eye. I was speechless -- sure I was seeing things. She said, "For once you thought of someone other than yourself. My job here is done".
I got to my feet and said, "Wait, why did no one stop to help an angel?" She looked at me, smiled, and said, "You're the only one that could see me," and then she was gone.
And with that, my life was changed dramatically.
So, when you think you're all you have, remember, your angel is always watching over you.
Thursday, September 01, 2005
The Lighter Side
I get to go to band practice today! I had to skip on Tuesday due to my glorious scheduling ordeal (which was probably a good thing, b/c I think it rained 1/2 the time anyway). I hope they learned most, if not all of the 2nd movement. We really need to get ahead this week.
On another note, I have come to the realization that I am a domestic micro-manager. I just have to look over poor Josh's shoulder almost every time he does something (like if I ask him to help out with a certain house chore or something like that) to make sure it's done right. I hate admitting this, but it looks to be true. It's not like he does any of it wrong, either! Geez, if this is what I'm doing, why not do it myself?!? Ok, ok, ok, now that I have committed to putting that fact on paper, it is a fact I would like to change to unprovable myth. I'll try for a week to leave him alone (which includes a weekend during which we need to clean, so that'll be a real test of will power). I swear I'll leave him alone.
On another note, I have come to the realization that I am a domestic micro-manager. I just have to look over poor Josh's shoulder almost every time he does something (like if I ask him to help out with a certain house chore or something like that) to make sure it's done right. I hate admitting this, but it looks to be true. It's not like he does any of it wrong, either! Geez, if this is what I'm doing, why not do it myself?!? Ok, ok, ok, now that I have committed to putting that fact on paper, it is a fact I would like to change to unprovable myth. I'll try for a week to leave him alone (which includes a weekend during which we need to clean, so that'll be a real test of will power). I swear I'll leave him alone.
Dream Journal - Volume 1
I had the wierdest dream last night.
I dreamed I was upset for some reason, like I was lost and no one could help me. I came upon two men on a street corner. One looked at me and walked over to me, and I kept thinking that he looked familiar. It was Eddie. I got frantic and told him to stay where he was, that I needed to tell someone that I'd found him. I left to go find help and no one would help me. I came back, exasperated, and Eddie was gone.
I woke up very upset, as you might guess.
I can't even begin to imagine how his family feels, if I was just a friend and I am having all of these feelings.
I dreamed I was upset for some reason, like I was lost and no one could help me. I came upon two men on a street corner. One looked at me and walked over to me, and I kept thinking that he looked familiar. It was Eddie. I got frantic and told him to stay where he was, that I needed to tell someone that I'd found him. I left to go find help and no one would help me. I came back, exasperated, and Eddie was gone.
I woke up very upset, as you might guess.
I can't even begin to imagine how his family feels, if I was just a friend and I am having all of these feelings.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)