This and that

[dreamflower]

Well, today is Fat Tuesday. We're not attending any of the parades. The DH has to work today, and it's no fun by myself. And we missed the lead-in parades for the same reason. (Although he's off on the weekends, he's had to pull call lately, due to short-staffing. And we can't be stuck in parade traffic if he gets a call.)

And *if* there was a 29th of February this year, tomorrow would be exactly six months since Katrina hit. Sometimes I look around and wonder if things are *ever* going to get back to normal. Many houses in our area, that we had thought of as undamaged, suddenly have new debris piles in front, as the interiors are being gutted. Some of them had leaks or damage that was not immediately visible. Some of them had damage not visible from the front, but they are only just now beginning to get their insurance money, so they can start work on gutting their homes.

At any rate, I'm not running any errands today, so I hope to work on some fic...

Comments

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

It's hard to believe it's been six months since that storm hit. Sorry you're missing the parades, and I feel so badly for the folks who are just now getting the money to work on their houses. Things are very quiet up where I live. But it's nice to hear you might be working on fic.

[dreamflower]

Yes, it's been a long six months...

[songspinner9.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I actually do know that feeling. I live in Santa Cruz, CA, and was here for my first semester of college in Oct. 1989 (the Loma Prieta Earthquake). Downtown was a bunch of tent-stores for a really long time, and you could see damaged houses and empty lots full of debris for far longer than most of us were happy about. There is still, believe it or not, one giant empty hole/lot downtown on Pacific Ave. in the middle of the big shopping area. You'd think they would have put something in it by now, but it's still there while someone argues about it. A constant reminder, and the only positive is that it's sort of filled with wildflowers and birds (and occasional feral cats).

[dreamflower]

I am afraid that's what's going to happen here, in some areas. I hope not, but considering bureaucracy that's just what is likely.

[topaztook.livejournal.com]

I just cannot imagine the new reality you are living with in your area. Some people from my church were recently in Louisiana dealing with gutting houses and helping people get ready to move on emotionally; said they were essentially emotionally paralyzed until they saw for themselves their old houses/lives could not be reclaimed.

Hope you have a good day today, writing fic...and maybe making yourself and DH a king cake.

[dreamflower]

"New reality"...yeah, it really is a post-Katrina world. Nothing's ever going to be the same.

[ansostuff.livejournal.com]

*big hugs*

I'm sorry you're missing the parades. We don't have anything even remotely similar to Mardi Gras here so I would have loved to see it sometime. :) It explains why the Americans on flist is so quiet today though, lol. Everyone is watching the parades or participating in festivities I suppose.

It takes a long time to fix the damage after such a disasterous thing as Katrina and I can only say that I'm sorry but it's good that things are getting more and more back to normal.

*sober hugs*

[dreamflower]

Well, most Americans don't celebrate it, just from the edge of Florida's Gulf Coast panhandle (Pensacola, FL) west along the Gulf Coasts of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. Most people think the Mardi Gras in only in New Orleans, but actually, I think the oldest is in Mobile,AL. But all along this part of the coast, it is a school and bank holiday, and many businesses are closed, while others have special sales for Mardi Gras.

I don't know if anything will ever get back to normal. *sigh*

[surgicalsteel.livejournal.com]

No Mardi Gras in South Florida. *sigh*

It's a sad thing, but I think it's likely to be years before the Gulf Coast fully recovers - if it ever does. Galveston pre-1900 was extremely wealthy, known as the 'Newport of the Gulf' - and since 1900? It never quite came back to pre-storm levels. I met a survivor of that storm once... idle rambling there, sorry.

But like others here, I'm glad to hear you're working on fic.

[dreamflower]

I am very much afraid you're right.

I've finished my Marigold Challenge, and another little fic's been posted to SoA, and have done some work on others...

[coneygoil.livejournal.com]

I can't believe it's been six months. It'll be a year soon. Goodness, I dread hurricane season! It really pisses me off that people keep saying "they're getting back on their feet down there" when that's not really true. *sighs*

[dreamflower]

(((((((hugs Nina))))))

It's why we have to keep on reminding folks, dear! They just have no idea!

[grey-wonderer.livejournal.com]

It just doesn't seem as if it could be a whole year already. Seems so recent to me. Have a wonderful day and write something wonderful like you always do. I will be watching for it. More "Road to Edoras" maybe?

[dreamflower]

No, just six months that *feel* like a year...*sigh*

And yes, more "Road to Edoras" is being worked on. Unfortunately, it is not cooperating at coming to me in order. I am still well in the middle, but the ending keeps trying to butt in.