Katrina

In all the rush to get to the beach I nearly forgot that today is the 4th anniversary for Hurricane Katrina. Growing up on the east coast I learned to have a healthy respect for hurricanes and nor'easters. I have also always had strong ties to southern Louisiana. Many family members, including my Dad, have worked on fish boats in the Gulf of Mexico. When I was a kid in the 70's I remember the adults saying that one day there would be a storm that would take out either New Orleans, Houma or Morgan City (the latter two cities were home to fish factories).

Later, I attended college in New Orleans. During my first week there was a hurricane brewing in the Gulf. Before I learned anything else in college I learned how to prepare for a hurricane. It has stuck with me through the years. I always fuel up the car, get cash, stockpile water, canned goods and batteries. Usually it winds up being nothing. But I always prepare. Good thing. In Virginia we got hit in 2003 by Hurricane Isabelle and in 2006 by Topical Depression Ernesto. Most people were out of power for days or even weeks. It was inconvenient, but it was nothing like Katrina.

I woke up the day before it hit and looked at the weather forecast. I started crying. I just knew this was "the storm". I was on pins and needles all day Monday at work. Ran home to watch the news. I remember seeing Shepard Smith for the first time. He was in the French Quarter. He looked relieved the storm had passed, but he still looked like the danger was not gone. The next day, of course, the levees broke and it is all now history. I stayed glued to the TV. Even when we went on vacation the following week, I kept watching.

I don't know what I'm trying to say here. It's late. I've had some wine. Some people seem to think the hurricane is no big deal now. But I will never forget.

Vacation, all I ever wanted...

Danny is cooperating and will be gone by the time we get to the OBX. We have spent the evening packing up. We're planning to head out 9 a.m. tomorrow. We are worried about Kitty (aka Sassafras). Hunter's parents come to check on the house everyday and feed her. We are such dorks. We call and leave her silly messages on the answering machine while we are away. She is our cat-child. It is the only hard thing about going on vacation. This time tomorrow, I'll be sitting on the balcony listening to the surf at Kill Devil Hills. Ahhhh!

Vacation Interuptus?

There is a lot involved when you rent a beach house rather than choosing a hotel for your vacation. I wind up making lots of lists because I'm so paranoid we're going to forget something important.

Sheets and towels? check
Umbrella and chairs? check
Soap, TP and Paper towels? check

Tropical Storm? check

Wait, I didn't order that. But, never the less, TS Danny is out there and tropical storms keep recurring on our vacations. I'd like to speak to someone about this, please.

We usually plan our vacation near the end of August. The rates are lower. And for now, we don't have to worry about "back to school time". Last year my parents invited us to stay with them in a house in Lewes, DE. We spent the week before monitoring TS Hannah which was set to hit the East Coast (you guessed it) the day we were going to Delaware. On a good day the trip takes 5 hours. My mom and I decided we would leave at 5am and try to get out in front of the storm. We were scared they would close the Bay Bridge. We had awful wind and rain and heavy traffic. It was the worst 9 hours of my life. We could have flown to Europe in that time! Anyway, Hannah wound up breaking up and it was beautiful and sunny by the next morning.

We leave for the Outer Banks on Saturday. And since yesterday, I am monitoring yet another tropical storm. Danny is supposed to be off Cape Hatteras Friday night and then turn northeast and head for New England. Please let the weather forecasters be right.

Oh well, a rainy day at the beach is better than a sunny day at work, I always say.

Vacation, please hurry

It's been a stormy summer. We usually enjoy plenty of time in our boat on the river. But between summer storms and other engagements, we have barely been on the water. We had a nice afternoon last Sunday and are hoping for another tomorrow. Either way, we are headed to the Outer Banks of NC next Saturday and couldn't be more thrilled. We managed to snag a condo on the beach. Looking forward to our trip down. We always stop at Morris' Farm to stretch our legs and get some fresh produce. Then it's over the bridge and a week at the beach. If you've seen "Nights in Rodanthe", we won't be too far from there.

We live on a river, but nothing beats the beach. I've been going there since I was 11 years old. My aunts would take me and my cousins to spend a week on Roanoke Island back in the 70's. The campground is gone now. But a week there is never complete without going to the Christmas Shop in Manteo or seeing the "Lost Colony". Hunter had never been until we got married. Twice I have given him a choice of where ever or the Outer Banks. He chose the OBX both times. He's definitely a convert. I guess it just suits us.

The Sound of Silence

A co-worker said something to me today that I used to hear a lot years ago, but haven't heard in a long time. Amazingly, it still gets my goat.

"You're so quiet"

The person who said it is one of the nicest people you could meet. I don't believe for a minute he meant any offense. But it rubbed me wrong and brought up memories of others who have made the same comment to me in the past. I can't tell you how many times I've heard that comment in my life. Is there really something wrong with being quiet?

Mind you, I'm not a social outcast. I have always had plenty of friends. But there are people that I meet from time to time who apparently see me as some sort of pathetic little mouse of a woman. When they say, "you're so quiet" it's like it's a bad thing.

It's true, I probably would have made a good librarian. I am not the most outgoing person. I am an introspective person. I express myself better in writing than in speech (thus the blog). I am definitely not a "Chatty Cathy". But there are some folks out there who have thought I was quiet and who I have later gotten comfortable with, and they wish they could shut me up sometimes. So, I don't know why it has always bothered me to be labeled by some as "quiet".

Sometimes no news is good news?

I am starting to understand why so many people refer to the adoption process as a roller coaster ride.

I decided to contact the agency to find out if we had been assigned a new social worker and to ask a couple of other questions. One question was whether they would be in regular contact with us to update us on any happenings. Well now I wonder if I should have just left well enough alone. In response, I was told that they were still interviewing for the SW position and that person would become our new contact. Then was told that they thought they were going to be busy this summer because they had a lot of pregnant women making inquiries during the first part of the year. But that they weren't busy at all-exact words. The email went on to encourage us to keep networking and advocating for ourselves.

Now I know this is not as bad as some of the obstacles people have faced during adoption. But I can't stop hearing those words in my head. When our home study was completed in May, we were so excited and had prepared ourselves for the wait ahead. But now it's almost the end of summer and I'm feeling bummed. While I always feel like summer goes by too fast, I guess the silver lining would be that at least we have that many months behind us now.

One Lovely Blog Award

So nice of the blogger at A Stork Story: A Mommy-in-Waiting to mention me as one of the blogs she follows. Trying to remember where I first ran across her blog. I think our social worker at the agency recommended it. Anyhow, I would like to share the blogs that I enjoy reading. I also plan on checking out a few new ones.

All Boy!

Bring The Rain

Callahan Crew

confessions of a waiting mommy

Heart Cries

Infertility Licks!

Parenthood Path

More Than Dog Children

http://www.productionnotreproduction.com/

Enjoy and thanks for stopping by.