Hurricaine Ike - A Week Later.

The storm left us almost exactly one week ago - with a lot less roof and some water damage. In a week I have managed to get a contract signed, get the ceiling almost totally repaired in Lambert's room, the insulation removed and replaced, a roofing contract signed (they come Monday), insurance check cut, and many other things you do when you have no T.V. and a week off (I have completed MANY things on the Honey-Do list).

Today, I went into Galveston with the Pastor from the Kid's school to help some people there. It was kind of crazy. There was lots of wind damage to the surrounding areas - but nothing catastrophic. However, the pastor is from about 2,000 feet from the mouth of the ship channel in Galveston. The flood surge has destroyed almost every home. There was 12 feet of water (above sea level) at the town hall and the flood damage was apparent everywhere. Trees laid all over houses, fences, the road ways. The community was in clean up mode and most roads were one lane (due to the rubbish on the sides of the roads).

The houses surrounding the people were were helping had essentially all of their drywall, carpet, padding, furniture, and brick-a-brack laid out at the road for either the assessor to take pictures of - or the trash men to take away - or both. Being Texas there were threats painted on every flat surface that "Looters Would be Shot!" and "Guarded by S & W!". Power to this area is a long way off from being restored but people are getting by. I ate my first Red Cross meal in my life for lunch as I ran the chain saw for about 5 or 6 hours, clearing out family after family from the fallen trees.

We drove home at about 3:30 pm and I set to finishing the ceiling in Lambert's room. I will be glad when Tuesday comes and the roof is repaired and our T.V. gets restored.

I learned, however, that the crap you collect in life is simply that - crap. Waiting to be washed away while you sleep by the smalled disturbance in the Earth's diurnal course.

Jason