From MsHollie's Journal: Austin back to New Orleans after Katrina

Another Saturday night...

Oct. 1st, 2005 at 10:15 AM

I'm not feeling motivated enough to do yoga today. I am considering a class when I get back to NOLA, but only when the city opens up again.

I'm feeling ambivalent about going home. It'll be nice to go home again, but I think I'll be in shock when I begin to see everything. Froggy will camp out on my floor until he can get back to power and safe water at his place. So far, neither of the above.

I'm in a "I don't give a (Rhett Butler)" mood about everything. I just want this nightmare to be over.

Benefit show today with NOLA musicians from 12N-12M.

I'm tired of running.

Mood: tired
Music:Spider-Man cartoons in the next room.

Leaving Austin

Oct. 4th, 2005 at 5:30 AM

Today we leave Austin and crash tonight at my sister Lezli's (cute spelling, huh?) place in Baton Rouge. It'll be nice to see Alex again.

Meanwhile, froggy and I are packing up. We don't really like to leave here, but we've gotta get back home. Then froggy gets to camp out on my floor until he gets power and clean water at his place...which, according to nola.com, could take weeks. I don't mind having frogfrog as a roomie. We get along well.

Time to hit the road...way too early.

Mood: awake
Music:NPR's "Morning Edition"

Home again...

Oct. 6th, 2005 at 8:00 AM

Just wanted to let my friends know that I'm home, safe and sound. The house had some damage to the front, though the roof caved in on the house next door. There are tree branches cluttering the street, but at least we have semi-regular garbage pickup, unlike over on the other bank.

Froggy is asleep on my floor, where I'll let him sleep for a while. Poor thing needs it after inspecting his neighborhood yesterday.

Ain't Dere No More:

Oakwood Mall
Charity Hospital
University Hospital

...and a lot more I can't think of right now.

Mood: back home again
Music:froggy snoring in bed.

Back to almost normal

Oct. 6th, 2005 at 8:36 PM

Froggy got power and water back today. So he won't be camping out like we thought he would.

Nice to have your own space back, isn't it?

Mood: relieved
Music:my iPod Shuffle

"That's not a swimming pool"

Oct. 8th, 2005 at 9:05 AM

We are now proud members of the Blue Tarp Club. FEMA came over yesterday and tarped our roof. infrogmation is trying to get tarp on his, but all he's getting is a runaround. Poor frog. :(

Meanwhile, the LSUHSC School of Public Health is holding its classes online. It's weird to see virtual classes going on. I'm doing my part and letting Dr. Mike borrow my broadband connection for some of the classes because he's getting flak at home about his dialup tying up the phone line. Still, I don't think I want to be ready for 0830 every morning.

The things I do for my friends...

I want my life back the way it was before Katrina messed it up. I want Eta Pi back. I want my Toasters back. I want my pdoc back (though she's probably on a ferryboat from Finland, ja.).

I've got my health, my family, my friends, and my frog.

Mood: contemplative
Music:The Clash, "Rock the Casbah"

Monday morning...ugh!

Oct. 10th, 2005 at 1:44 PM

It's strange not hearing infrogmation on WWOZ this morning. I'm sure he wants his 'OZ back, as do I and many other listeners.

Meanwhile, I "sat in" on an epidemiology class this morning. Too much math and stats for me, but Dr. ML seemed to understand it. It was his class, anyway. He came over here to do his online classes since the phone line had to be open at his place for the roofers to get in touch.

My dad got a new toy yesterday. He got a cool phone with a camera in it, along with a nice, easy-to-read keypad and screen. I'm thinking about getting a new camera before Miss Louisiana next year, and still wanting an iPod Nano. Maybe I can get one as a 'happy birthday to me' present. Either/or.

I had my first bubble tea yesterday since coming back home. It was coconut, and it was pretty good. Mr. Bubbles is OK, but I'm waiting for Rosie Lea's to reopen. I'm told it may take a while since they have blue tarp on their roof and probably have to wait for a health inspection. Patience, grasshopper.

Dad went to Lakeview yesterday. My grandparents' old place has its front window blown out and is probably gutted inside. He said it was depressing. I won't go there.

The First UU Church had about 7 ft. of water. So, it looks like we'll have a new venue for next year.

Mood: bored
Music:my iPod Shuffle (but really want a Nano.)

Disunion, Injustice and Lack of Confidence

Oct. 13th, 2005 at 3:19 PM

I'm down to 4 days on my medication supply, and I am having a hell of a time trying to reach my pdoc. I even left her an e-mail; hope she'll answer it.

Meanwhile, I may have to take my Medication of Last Resort(tm) because I'm starting to have panic attacks again. Katrina has tested me beyond my limits, and I'm doing what I can just to survive. Rescue Remedy just ain't doing it for me, good though it is.

I want to cry in infrogmation's arms right now.

Mood: depressed
Music:Paula's Home Cooking on Food Network.

Next time, do the math...

Oct. 14th, 2005 at 8:59 PM

The good news: I got my meds today.

The bad news: I got overcharged for my purchase. My meds were $6.00 (3.00 for each Rx--thank you, Medicaid!)* and I made an additional purchase for 11.99. Walgreens charged me $32.08 for everything. Someone at the register messed up.

I should have paid 17.99+tax for my purchases. Unless Jefferson Parish has inflated their taxes since Katrina, there's no way my purchases cost $32.08.

I have the receipt and think I'll go complain tomorrow.


*in Texas I didn't get charged for my Rx. Maybe that's because it was a hurricane relief prescription.

There's a chance infrogmation and I will be going back to Austin. He was thinking at the end of this month/beginning of next month, but the congenial Dr. Elizabeth has invited us for Thanksgiving, so I suggested we wait a few weeks.

I don't know what we'll do.

Mood: bitchy
Music:the air conditioning unit outside my door

We did the math....

Oct. 16th, 2005 at 9:07 AM

I went to Walgreens yesterday to dispute my purchases. The kind souls refunded $26.00 and apologized. :)

In other news, pageant season is going strong, and I have a lot of website stuff to update. It keeps me busy and off the streets.

I need a good strong bubble tea.

Today I hope to hang out with infrogmation. I wonder if his discarded fridge will be used to construct a barrier island in Louisiana.

Best wishes to crystalgee on her recent move to St. Pete.

Mood: awake
Music:Moody Blues, "Forever Autumn"

Cheap dates, freebies and other things...

Oct. 18th, 2005 at 4:11 PM

infrogmation and I went to a Red Cross outpost yesterday to pick up supplies. I got a bunch of cleaning stuff. My bathroom will need it.

Miss America has a date: January 21. Now all we need is a place.

I'm busy working on Amanda's website. I think it'll turn out nice. Now if she'd just send more pictures. :) No website is complete without lots of pictures.

I got my strong bubble tea the other day. It was just what I needed.

I'm still trying to get in touch with my pdoc. If nothing else, I might get back in touch with Dr. C. to see if I can get an appointment with him. He was awesome. Dr. D. hasn't gotten back in touch with me, so I'm wondering about her.

Mood: creative
Music:Pet Shop Boys, "Love Comes Quickly"

Yet Another Road Trip Update...

Oct. 20th, 2005 at 4:45 PM

So tal_greywolf is getting ready to go to Austin for Thanksgiving.

infrogmation and I haven't decided yet. Or rather, it's froggy's decision to make since he has the car.

On the grocery list at H-E-B:

a box of Texas Tasters, since they're shaped like Texas. The Texas-shaped tortilla chips are overkill.
another bottle of Rescue Remedy, since mine's gone pretty fast. And yet another one for froggy.
a "Yellow Rose of Texas" tissue box. Because I like yellow roses, and that's my sorority's symbol.


My Lone Star card still has a $0 balance on it. That sux.

Hey, Elizabeth...can I bring homemade mozzarella sticks and make roasted garlic mashed potatoes?

Mood: okay
Music:the news

Well, I won't wear those shoes again.

Oct. 22nd, 2005 at 10:22 AM

Just like at the mall all those years ago, I stepped on a roofing nail on the sidewalk outside my house. It went through my shoe and into my foot. My foot bled like hell.

It's a good thing froggy and I had our DT shots.

So now I have this puncture wound on the sole of my foot. It hurts. Ouch.

The culprit is now in a place where it won't be stepped on again.

Mood: ditzy
Music:my shower washing my wound away.

New Orleans is for Lovers

Toxic mold blooms, but so does love.

(Couple take a break while salvaging items from their home near West End)