I am still astounded, no not astounded, that's too positive of a word, okay, ummm.... shocked, dumbfounded, freaked out, by what I keep seeing on TV concerning the aftermath of Katrina. I mean it is just absolutely awful down there. Today I have pried my eyes from the TV a little more than yesterday and the days before. But I've still managed to see some updates on what happens, and not to mention that my homepage has a new picture of some disaster from the storm, so I'm not completely letting it go. I just feel so bad for those people down there. I mean it is just such a terrible situation, and I'm so so so worried about all of it.

I'm gonna get a little personal here, so bare with me, as I don't do this often. I have to admit, that I am a very sappy person. I cry over dumb things, but not like puppies or anything like that, but over something my daughter does, or when someone achieves something, and especially when people are having hard times. And disaster, I cry over disaster. I cried for days about 9/11, I cried about the Tsunami, I still cry when I hear of a soilder losing his/her life, and now, I can't stop seeing the news about what's happening down there, and I cry about it. Yesterday, the most heart wrenching video pulled my strings. They were rescuing a man from his attic, he was obviously older and probably not in good shape, he had inuries, blood all over his face, and he has the most terrified look on his face. He was probably one of the victims down there that couldn't get out because they had no means of transportation, and he just looked so frightened. He eased a bit when they finally got him in the boat, and he hugged one of the guys that pulled him out, and I just lost it right there. I mean it was just so incredibably heart wrenching. So I guess my point is, I can't help but think about it constantly. And worry, and watch, and wait to see what is going to happen to those tens of thousands of people that are now homeless.

And I got to thinking. What is going to happen to all those people? Most of them probably can't afford to rebuild, they probably don't have a lot of money, so even after the water recedes what are they going to do? What are they going to do? I hear that they are in the making of moving everyone at the Superdome to the Astrodome in Texas, that is great, but for how long will that last? And what about the 80 percent that actually did get out, and are now in neighboring states? What will they do. Move away and pick up thier lives somewhere else. The thing is, there are probably NO jobs going to be available for a long time in the city, and so that means no one can really afford to live in the city until well forever. It's just such a mess, and it overwhelms me to think about it. I continue to pray for everyone down there, and I'll be honest, I don't pray very much, but if there is a God, then please have mercy.

And lets move east to Mississippi. The entire coast is destroyed. Granted they don't have much flooding anymore, so that's great news, but the states big money maker, the Casinos, are ALL ENTIRELY GONE. The state is losing an estimated $500,000 a day in tax revenue from the casinos alone. So where will the money come from to rebuild? I think I'm losing my mind thinking about all this. I know that there are agencies that exist exactly for these type of situations, and I know that there are plenty of FEMA and other federal agencies that are in the works of helping, but my goodness, it's just all a disaster.

I think one reason why it really hurts me is because I'm from the south, the deep south, Tennessee that is. And Katrina went straight through Nashville, and my hometown. And while she was still a tropical storm when she went through, it wasn't near the devistation that the gulf is seeing. Of course. However there have been deaths due to flooding and some damage there too. Anyway, but being from the south, I know the type of people that live there, and for the most part, us southerners are very nice, generous people. And no, we're not all dumb rednecks either. So it's almost like, I can't believe this happened to such a great area. I don't really know anymore, I'm just feeling weird and in shock. But that's not to say that if this happened elsewhere, I wouldn't feel the same way, because I know I would. I did after 9/11.

So, I guess I'm gonna do my part. After 9/11 I donated money, and I donated blood. I will do the same now. To the Red Cross of course. I know there are scam charities out there, so I'll give to the one that I know is right. And I know that the military is quite invovled in helping, so that is a wonderful thing. Those troops, like my husband, are trained to deal with type of stuff, so the right men are out there for sure. I just wonder what the emotional impact of this all will be when it is all said and done. I mean going to war is one thing, but seeing something like this in your own country and home, must be devistating. Again, I just keep praying for them.

Last night I was up pretty late, I usually am, and I got hungry. I went into the kitchen, and being close to payday we are running low on food, so I thought to myself, "Man we have nothing to eat." Then I thought to myself, "what a selfish person you are, there are people out there with nothing." I mean I felt guilty for wanting a snack, so I didn't eat anything at all. I took a shower today and felt bad, I ate breakfast today and felt bad, I brushed my teeth today and felt bad, and when I woke up in my warm, dry bed, I felt bad. It's just having a big impact on me. And now I'm crying, so I'm going to shut up.

Take care everyone, happy writing.

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