Well, we have certainly been busy. We are working on a home for Mr. and Mrs. Elliot in the Gentilly neighborhood. The entire neighborhood was under water -- along with 80 percent of the city of New Orleans.
While there has been much improvement to the city housing issues as a whole, an outrageous number of people are still without homes to live in.
The Elliot's are some of them. They are a family with grown children and they have adopted a couple of young children from what we know so far. Their home is quite large, actually. There are four bedrooms and two baths. There are 18 doors in the house. And today, put on nine door knobs.
Up until today, I had never installed a door knob. So, quite frankly, I am rather proud of myself. We have been painting and installing shelving. We are putting on the finishing touches. All that is left on the punch list is a little clean up and then the electricians, plumbers and appliance guys will come in and finish their deals. Most important, soon the Elliot's will be able to come home. They have been waiting nearly four years.
After work tonight we drove down to the lower 9th ward -- ground zero, as some refer to it.
I have been to the 9th ward three times now. Each time, I get an overwhelming feeling of sadness. Loneliness. Emptiness.
Not for me, but I feel for the people who used to call the neighborhood home.
I walk the streets that used to have children playing soccer, double-dutch, laughing and riding bikes. There is none of that. I can imagine clothes hanging on the line blowing in the breeze. Folks sitting on their front porch in the afternoon talking to neighbors as the stop by. There is none of that.
A few homes still sit in shambles. A few fema trailers remain. Many front door steps lead up to nowhere as the homes have been demolished. A few piles of rubble remain scattered here and there. Grass grows on some lawns to waist high. It is very lonely.
Yet there is also a deep sense of hope.
There are many brand new homes being built. And they are pretty cool.
They are built higher than the older homes that were there before. They are about 12 to 15 feet on cement pillars. Cars park under the homes and elaborate staircases lead the families to their front doors. Many have solar panels on the rooftops. These new homes are being built, or contracted by a company called Make It right. I will find out more about them, and let you know.
That is the hope. People do want to return to their neighborhoods. They want to come home.
I stood for the first time on the Levy by the canal where a barge hit the wall. I was speechless. I stared for a while in silence. And then started shooting. I will post some photos to my blog within a few days (hopefully).
We drove through Musicians Village on the way home. The original theory behind the neighborhood. A man from a radio station decided that in order to get people to come back to the city, they needed the music. In order to get the musicians to come back, they needed homes. He organized a deal with Habitat for Humanity and they began building homes the musicians could afford in order to come back.
And the music played on. The people came back.
The homes are brightly colored and all about the same style and size. But each one is unique.
We met "David" who is a very friendly old guy living in Musicians Village. He told us the story and showed us his home.
He said, "You know, I could never understand how people could live in California where they continually have earthquakes. Those people keep going back and rebuilding after each earthquake. I never understood. Until Katrina. Until I had to move away from New Orleans and live in Texas. I never wanted to come home before so much as I did after living in Texas. This is my home. And I am back to stay."
Peace.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Good morning from Louisiana!
We just crossed the boarder into Louisiana after a wonderful breakfast at the Waffle House in Brookhaven, Mississippi. Everything is so green here. It was fun to wake up to green after driving through a bad snow and ice storm in Iowa and cold rain and hard winds all through Missouri. It is warming up to 50 degrees now. I understand it is already warmer than that back home in Minnesota.
There are 6 of us packed into a Suburban. Five girls and Gary. Anne Shields, Abby Leach, Gary Keifenheim, Carrie Bang, Jenny Orsborn and me, of course.
It is really not too bad, sleeping in a Suburban. Except for the fact that I feel like a cripple and my hair looks like something one might find on First Avenue in Minneapolis at 3 a.m. But that is why I brought a hat.
We should be arriving at Hope Haven in a couple of hours. Then I am thinking that a shower would be a great idea before we go or a long walk to stretch all muscles and joints. We will be on the jobsite at 8 a.m. tomorrow and we are all very excited about it. We will know more about what our assignment is when we arrive.
Until then, I am taking in the lush sceanary. Abby is texting, Gary is doing a crossword. Carrie is napping. Jenny working on her computer. Anne is driving.
TTFN!
Peace.
There are 6 of us packed into a Suburban. Five girls and Gary. Anne Shields, Abby Leach, Gary Keifenheim, Carrie Bang, Jenny Orsborn and me, of course.
It is really not too bad, sleeping in a Suburban. Except for the fact that I feel like a cripple and my hair looks like something one might find on First Avenue in Minneapolis at 3 a.m. But that is why I brought a hat.
We should be arriving at Hope Haven in a couple of hours. Then I am thinking that a shower would be a great idea before we go or a long walk to stretch all muscles and joints. We will be on the jobsite at 8 a.m. tomorrow and we are all very excited about it. We will know more about what our assignment is when we arrive.
Until then, I am taking in the lush sceanary. Abby is texting, Gary is doing a crossword. Carrie is napping. Jenny working on her computer. Anne is driving.
TTFN!
Peace.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Calling all angels
"In helping others, we shall help ourselves, for whatever good we give out completes the circle and comes back to us." - Flora Edwards
The Traveling Angels are a small group of individuals from mid-Minnesota who believe in extending a helping hand. Some of the group have gone to New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina left her devastating autograph in August of 2005. This will be my third trip to New Orleans since the hurricane and my second trip with the Traveling Angels.
Part of me feels like I should be in Fargo, Moorehead or anywhere along the Red River. I should be sandbagging or rescuing pets. But like a friend of mine said today, "You are only one person, Viv. You can't go everywhere."
The Traveling Angels does disaster relief work wherever we are needed. The group has helped in New Orleans, Cedar Rapids, Hugo, and a few other areas in flood or tornado recovery. Most of us have become rather attached to the city and the people of New Orleans. So far, we have planned an annual trip to continue recovery efforts there. Since it is so far away, we have to plan weeks ahead of time.
The Red River expected to crest sometime tomorrow at 43 feet, we feel we may be headed up north when we return from down south. The flood waters in the valley are expected to last at least a week. Once the waters recede, the real nasty work comes in. That is usually when the Traveling Angels step up, too.
There are a lot of things to consider after the water recedes. There are mold hazards, disinfecting wells, food safety, fuel oil contamination, personal safety issues and other things to think about. The Traveling Angels have been through it all. While it is at times rather unpleasant work during the moment with the smell of mold, stagnant water and memories that have been lost forever stick in your eyes, nose and throat, the reward comes at the end of the day knowing that we have helped.
New Orleans has come a long way, but they still expect years for full recovery. The Traveling Angels are a faith based non-denominational group and we connect with Catholic Charities who provide boarding and the volunteer organizational issues. In other words, they give us a roof over our heads, a place to sleep and dinner, and give us our volunteer assignments.
This year, as it stands right now, we will be once again staying at Hope Haven, which is an old Catholic Mission center. And our assignment (so far) will be painting 425 houses. OK, there are 425 houses to be painted and we hope to at least get one of them done. Like our motto says, we can change the world, one house at a time.
I posted a slide show of New Orleans previous two years. I don't know what happened to the music. It has music to it when I made it, but apparently I did something wrong uploading it to the blog. Anyway, the photos are there. Click on the center of the slide show and then click again for full screen. The pictures tell the story.
You can also check the archives of this blog from July 2008 to read about Cedar Rapids trip last year. There are photos from that trip as well.
So, I will be heading home to pack soon and then ready myself for a long drive. It took us 24 hours and 17 minutes last year I believe. I could be off by a few minutes.
Follow me through my blog and I might post to Twitter from my phone while out and about. It would be great to have you tag along.
"We are, each of us angels with only one wing; and we can only fly by embracing one another." -- Luciano de Crescenzo
Peace.
Transparency in government
Yesterday, Gov. Tim Pawlenty unveiled a new website, titled TAP Minnesota -- www.mmb.state.mn.us/tap -- Now anyone with a computer can access this website to find out how much money the state is spending and where. Essentially, the state has put the big checkbook registry online.
The new site is called TAP, which is short for the Transparency and Accountability Project.
The site is to be updated daily. With just a few clicks of your mouse you can find how the state is spending your money — all of it — including special funds as well as the general fund. You can find information for 2007-09 listed by state agency, funding source or the vendor receiving the payment. Private data are omitted.
Pawlenty said at a news conference where he demonstrated the new website that he anticipates the TAP site to be a powerful new tool. "Taxpayers are paying the bills for government in Minnesota, and we think they should have a chance to look at the checkbook register and see where all this money is going."
Wouldn't it be nice if all governments were so open and transparent?
Just something to think about.
Peace.
The new site is called TAP, which is short for the Transparency and Accountability Project.
The site is to be updated daily. With just a few clicks of your mouse you can find how the state is spending your money — all of it — including special funds as well as the general fund. You can find information for 2007-09 listed by state agency, funding source or the vendor receiving the payment. Private data are omitted.
Pawlenty said at a news conference where he demonstrated the new website that he anticipates the TAP site to be a powerful new tool. "Taxpayers are paying the bills for government in Minnesota, and we think they should have a chance to look at the checkbook register and see where all this money is going."
Wouldn't it be nice if all governments were so open and transparent?
Just something to think about.
Peace.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Tribal Court calls for new election
The Mille Lacs Band Tribal Court of Appeals last week invalidated the results of the Dec. 16 special election won by Marge Anderson.
In a four-part decision dated March 17, the court also ruled that a new election should be held, that former Chief Executive Melanie Benjamin should be allowed on the ballot, and that Marge Anderson should continue to serve as chief until a new election is held.
The decision resulted from a lawsuit by Benjamin, who was not allowed on the ballot for the special election after the Band Assembly voted to remove her from office following allegations of misuse of Band funds.
Solicitor General Rjay Brunkow said additional appeals may be filed in the case, and the Court of Appeals ruling does not affect any potential criminal cases against Benjamin.
For more on this story, see www.millelacsmessenger.com and next week's Messenger.
In a four-part decision dated March 17, the court also ruled that a new election should be held, that former Chief Executive Melanie Benjamin should be allowed on the ballot, and that Marge Anderson should continue to serve as chief until a new election is held.
The decision resulted from a lawsuit by Benjamin, who was not allowed on the ballot for the special election after the Band Assembly voted to remove her from office following allegations of misuse of Band funds.
Solicitor General Rjay Brunkow said additional appeals may be filed in the case, and the Court of Appeals ruling does not affect any potential criminal cases against Benjamin.
For more on this story, see www.millelacsmessenger.com and next week's Messenger.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Thank you for letters
Last week I wrote an editorial in the Messenger that mentioned conspiracy theories in government. I mentioned that they do and have existed for as long as time.
Probably the most well known turned out to be the believe it or not true story behind the Watergate Scandal in the '70s. What started out as a theory resulted in the resignation of President Nixon in 1974 and the arrest of several people in government.
Tips and inside information were given to several reporters. Media coverage in the New York Times, Time magazine and the Washington Post was extensive. Two reporters from the Washington Post relied heavily on anonymous sources during their investigative reporting. Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein found information suggesting knowledge of the misdeeds by the Nixon administration to the American public led deep into the Justice Department, the FBI, the CIA and the White House. The most famous anonymous source was named Deep Throat.
The identity of Deep Throat was one of the biggest mysteries of American politics and journalism for over 30 years. Woodward and Bernstein gave their word they would not reveal his identity until he died or consented to going public.
In 2005 the truth was known. FBI Deputy Director William Mark Felt, Sr., was Deep Throat. He died in 2008 at the age of 95. In his book, A G-Man's Life written before he died (obviously) he wrote: "The bottom line is, we did get the whole truth out. Isn't that what the FBI is suppose to do?"
I do not deal with the FBI on a regular basis even though I do have a few FBI numbers in my Roll-a-dex. I am not asking people to become the Deep Throat of Mille Lacs County. But the bottom line here is also, we want to get the whole truth out.
There were several theories as to the identity of Deep Throat prior to Felt's confession. Some people considered Deep Throat was a compilation of several sources with individual threads of information woven together to become the mastermind of Deep Throat. But Woodward put that theory to rest when he confirmed Felt's identity.
I have received quite a few emails and letters from people writing of various issues they believe to be conspiracy theories. I thank you all for the tips. It may take a while to get to all of them. Several of the "ideas" are better letters written to your Congressmen or Senate or State Representatives. I thank you for your vote of confidence, but I don't think I can do anything about changing the name of the Rum River, or change history books about who should be called Native Americans, or get income taxes abolished. I tried to get Mother's Day and Father's Day switched around once. (Father's Day should be on fishing opener in May and Mother's Day should be in June when school is out. That just makes sense.) But the Governor didn't have much time for that idea.
My point is, thank you for the letters and ideas and theories. Keep them coming. Even if they are only threads of information. I thank you for trusting me. Trust is a two-way street. Confidential sources are confidential sources. Period. In Washington D.C. and in Mille Lacs County. Especially with me.
We want to get the whole truth out.
Peace.
Probably the most well known turned out to be the believe it or not true story behind the Watergate Scandal in the '70s. What started out as a theory resulted in the resignation of President Nixon in 1974 and the arrest of several people in government.
Tips and inside information were given to several reporters. Media coverage in the New York Times, Time magazine and the Washington Post was extensive. Two reporters from the Washington Post relied heavily on anonymous sources during their investigative reporting. Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein found information suggesting knowledge of the misdeeds by the Nixon administration to the American public led deep into the Justice Department, the FBI, the CIA and the White House. The most famous anonymous source was named Deep Throat.
The identity of Deep Throat was one of the biggest mysteries of American politics and journalism for over 30 years. Woodward and Bernstein gave their word they would not reveal his identity until he died or consented to going public.
In 2005 the truth was known. FBI Deputy Director William Mark Felt, Sr., was Deep Throat. He died in 2008 at the age of 95. In his book, A G-Man's Life written before he died (obviously) he wrote: "The bottom line is, we did get the whole truth out. Isn't that what the FBI is suppose to do?"
I do not deal with the FBI on a regular basis even though I do have a few FBI numbers in my Roll-a-dex. I am not asking people to become the Deep Throat of Mille Lacs County. But the bottom line here is also, we want to get the whole truth out.
There were several theories as to the identity of Deep Throat prior to Felt's confession. Some people considered Deep Throat was a compilation of several sources with individual threads of information woven together to become the mastermind of Deep Throat. But Woodward put that theory to rest when he confirmed Felt's identity.
I have received quite a few emails and letters from people writing of various issues they believe to be conspiracy theories. I thank you all for the tips. It may take a while to get to all of them. Several of the "ideas" are better letters written to your Congressmen or Senate or State Representatives. I thank you for your vote of confidence, but I don't think I can do anything about changing the name of the Rum River, or change history books about who should be called Native Americans, or get income taxes abolished. I tried to get Mother's Day and Father's Day switched around once. (Father's Day should be on fishing opener in May and Mother's Day should be in June when school is out. That just makes sense.) But the Governor didn't have much time for that idea.
My point is, thank you for the letters and ideas and theories. Keep them coming. Even if they are only threads of information. I thank you for trusting me. Trust is a two-way street. Confidential sources are confidential sources. Period. In Washington D.C. and in Mille Lacs County. Especially with me.
We want to get the whole truth out.
Peace.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Happy Birthday Barbie!
I am so excited for Barbie's birthday. If I were still a little girl I would have all of my Barbies out and have a big Barbie Birthday party! Actually, if I had time and knew of anyone else who still has their Barbies, I might be inclined to have that birthday party right now anyway.
I have always been a big Barbie fan. I got my first Barbie when I was three years old. My Mom used it as a bribe to get me to sleep through the night. It worked and I got my first Barbie.
She was beautiful! I played Barbies all the time. My Mom sewed all of the clothes for her and all of the other Barbies that followed including Skipper, Midge, Twist and Pose Barbie, Francie, Malibou Barbie, Ken, and many more. I still have some of the clothes.
My sister and I and all of our little friends would play for hours. We made furniture out of stuff we found around the house. Egg cartons were great for either a couch, or a bed depending on how you flip the carton. They were also good for bedroom shelves and closet organizers. They held those little plastic Barbie shoes and accessories just perfectly!
Our imaginations were endless. Then came the Camping Barbie and the Barbie Townhouse. Beauty Shop Barbie, Mall Barbie, School Teacher Barbie, Holiday Barbie, Spy Barbie or Secret Agent Barbie, Astronaut Barbie, Doctor Barbie, and so many more. They just came out with the Tattoo Barbie. I think I need one of those for my collection. I guess she comes with stickers you can put on her yourself and some for you, too!
My original Barbie had stiff legs and arms. She didn't move at all. According to the New York Times, it had been determined that if the 11 1/2-inch doll were 5-foot-6, her measurements would be 39-21-33. One academic expert calculated that a woman's chances of having Barbie's figure were less than 1 in 100,000.
Not every girl liked Barbie. And some parents and women's feminists groups criticized her saying it was not good for girls to hold themselves up to such high standards as Barbie. Here's the deal, Barbie was good for role playing and imagination. My Barbie could fly to the moon. She raced cars and kicked Ken's butt doing it. She could pitch a tent faster and climb the highest mountain better than Ken. Actually, my Barbie dumped Ken and went with G.I. Joe because he had a Jeep.
Right now, the 50th anniversary Barbie is on sale at Target for $3. I absolutely have to have a 50th anniversary Barbie. I got my first Barbie about 5 years after she first became available. If I still had her, and she was in mint condition in the box, she would be worth approximately $25,000, apparently. But the way I played and all of the adventures my Barbie had, she would not have been in mint condition. I lost her in a flood about 15 years ago. She was being held for me in a storage unit near the Minnesota River Valley near Bloomington and one spring it flooded. I think My Barbie is in the Gulf of Mexico now. Actually, I think she would have turned into Rescue Barbie and saved lives the whole way down. She had a good life.
My point is, Barbie gave an outlet for my imagination. I could be anybody and anything I wanted to be through my Barbie. She was beautiful and smart. And I think all girls should have a role model like that.
Happy Birthday, Barbie!
Peace.
I have always been a big Barbie fan. I got my first Barbie when I was three years old. My Mom used it as a bribe to get me to sleep through the night. It worked and I got my first Barbie.
She was beautiful! I played Barbies all the time. My Mom sewed all of the clothes for her and all of the other Barbies that followed including Skipper, Midge, Twist and Pose Barbie, Francie, Malibou Barbie, Ken, and many more. I still have some of the clothes.
My sister and I and all of our little friends would play for hours. We made furniture out of stuff we found around the house. Egg cartons were great for either a couch, or a bed depending on how you flip the carton. They were also good for bedroom shelves and closet organizers. They held those little plastic Barbie shoes and accessories just perfectly!
Our imaginations were endless. Then came the Camping Barbie and the Barbie Townhouse. Beauty Shop Barbie, Mall Barbie, School Teacher Barbie, Holiday Barbie, Spy Barbie or Secret Agent Barbie, Astronaut Barbie, Doctor Barbie, and so many more. They just came out with the Tattoo Barbie. I think I need one of those for my collection. I guess she comes with stickers you can put on her yourself and some for you, too!
My original Barbie had stiff legs and arms. She didn't move at all. According to the New York Times, it had been determined that if the 11 1/2-inch doll were 5-foot-6, her measurements would be 39-21-33. One academic expert calculated that a woman's chances of having Barbie's figure were less than 1 in 100,000.
Not every girl liked Barbie. And some parents and women's feminists groups criticized her saying it was not good for girls to hold themselves up to such high standards as Barbie. Here's the deal, Barbie was good for role playing and imagination. My Barbie could fly to the moon. She raced cars and kicked Ken's butt doing it. She could pitch a tent faster and climb the highest mountain better than Ken. Actually, my Barbie dumped Ken and went with G.I. Joe because he had a Jeep.
Right now, the 50th anniversary Barbie is on sale at Target for $3. I absolutely have to have a 50th anniversary Barbie. I got my first Barbie about 5 years after she first became available. If I still had her, and she was in mint condition in the box, she would be worth approximately $25,000, apparently. But the way I played and all of the adventures my Barbie had, she would not have been in mint condition. I lost her in a flood about 15 years ago. She was being held for me in a storage unit near the Minnesota River Valley near Bloomington and one spring it flooded. I think My Barbie is in the Gulf of Mexico now. Actually, I think she would have turned into Rescue Barbie and saved lives the whole way down. She had a good life.
My point is, Barbie gave an outlet for my imagination. I could be anybody and anything I wanted to be through my Barbie. She was beautiful and smart. And I think all girls should have a role model like that.
Happy Birthday, Barbie!
Peace.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Me, my Jeep and my iPod
I just returned from a weekend road trip. It was a weekend photo shoot at snowcross in Hayward, Wisc. As always, the racing was fast and furious. Saturday's weather was awesome and even with an SPF45, I got sunburned on my face. Possibly a little windburn, too.
So the trip home was nice. I like driving. I like driving a lot. My dream car (if I ever win the lottery) is a Jeep Wrangler so I can drive these beautiful back roads topless. The Jeep I mean.
Until I win the Lottery, I have settled for a Jeep Grand Cherokee. I like it, but I can't go topless. I just have to put the windows down.
So, there I was heading out of Hayward, Wisc. traveling east on Cty. Rd 77. It is a beautiful road. I had the windows open and the radio cranked. As if I have not subjected my ears to enough decibels from the roaring of the snowmobiles. But I was in the mood for a little fresh new country music.
I lost the radio station before I got to Danburry, so I plugged in my iPod.I couldn't decide on a playlist, so I chose starting at the beginning of all of my songs in my library. I started at the beginning — Songs that begin with the letter "A."
By the time pulled into my garage, I had listend to 54 songs. I am not done with the letter A yet.
Surprising to me were all the good songs with titles that begin with A. I had a great trip home.
And now, I am going to take 4 Advil and go to sleep.
Pease.
So the trip home was nice. I like driving. I like driving a lot. My dream car (if I ever win the lottery) is a Jeep Wrangler so I can drive these beautiful back roads topless. The Jeep I mean.
Until I win the Lottery, I have settled for a Jeep Grand Cherokee. I like it, but I can't go topless. I just have to put the windows down.
So, there I was heading out of Hayward, Wisc. traveling east on Cty. Rd 77. It is a beautiful road. I had the windows open and the radio cranked. As if I have not subjected my ears to enough decibels from the roaring of the snowmobiles. But I was in the mood for a little fresh new country music.
I lost the radio station before I got to Danburry, so I plugged in my iPod.I couldn't decide on a playlist, so I chose starting at the beginning of all of my songs in my library. I started at the beginning — Songs that begin with the letter "A."
By the time pulled into my garage, I had listend to 54 songs. I am not done with the letter A yet.
Surprising to me were all the good songs with titles that begin with A. I had a great trip home.
And now, I am going to take 4 Advil and go to sleep.
Pease.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Weekend wrap
Snowcross racing was fabulous at Hill City's Quadna Mountain Park for the ISOC Minnesota Regionals over the weekend of Feb. 28 through March 1.
With some of the hottest racing of the season, Brainerd's Dan Ebert #602 Arctic Cat took the final in the Pro Open class.
Another Arctic Cat rider Cody Thomsen #682 of Nisswa, took the checkered for the final in the Semi Pro class.
Both of the finals — semi pro and pro classes — were amazing races with the battle for the number one spot intense.
The rhythm section on the down side of the Bunny Hill was getting a little squirrelly towards the end of the weekend and it appeared riders may have trouble in the finals. But they all appeared to navigate without much trouble. Some contact was made a couple of times, and other riders took advantage and used the uneven-ness (is that a word?) for passing.
Both Thomsen and Ebert appeared to have the same strategy. Neither one got the hole shot and hung back just a little giving just enough pressure to the guy in front of them until the final laps when lightening struck. They hung on to the lead position to take the checkered.
The weather was great and the racing could not have been much better. Team Bauerly hosted an after race party family style with food and entertainment (and 50 cent tap beers for the over 21). Folks were having such a great time, they passed a hat and took up a collection to have the band play just a little longer than their scheduled cut-off time of 8 p.m.
Coming up the weekend of March 6 through 8 is round number 7 on the national snowcross tour in Hayward, Wisc. Only one race after Hayward, so if you haven't made it to one yet, try the tour in Hayward.
See you there!
Peace.
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