The Odyssey...or is it the Aeneid?

While I'm bloggin' away--here's the link to pictures from my epic-ish trip:

http://wanderingmaverick.smugmug.com

For anyone (Lisa) who might want to buy prints, let me know. I have the prices cranked up on the site in preparation for potentially selling photos for profit. But I don't want to screw my friends! I'll tell you how to sign in to smugmug so you can buy photos at cost.

The Hurricane Cometh....

The eerie yellowish hue of the sky. The two lines of thin white clouds, just parallel to each other. The suburban houses, waiting, seemingly unaware of the storm on its way. This picture doesn't do justice to the evening scene in Sugar Land, but it was the best my little camera phone could do.

And 10 minutes after this picture was taken, the hurricane swept in. The sky turned dark. The rains came.

I took this picture on my way out of my aunt's house, where she and I, along with my cousin and her family, are hanging out. My friend Jacky lives just down the street from my aunt, and I figured I'd say hi to him before the storm showed up.

So I walked. Yes, I know, that's not done in Houston. But dammit, I refuse to drive 100 yards. So I walked in the drizzle. Hung out with Jacky and Lynn for no more than a few minutes. Heard the wind. Heard the rain. And ran home--in the downpour.

Such is the 'Rita.

Organizational idea: RECEDE

Not to toss the $42 million question and idea out with the bathwater (just putting it aside in the face of a more immediate disaster), here's an idea.  I do want to bounce it off of people, and see what kind of support I get.

 

WHEREAS Hurricane Katrina displaced over half a million people, and

WHEREAS 20,000 of them are to stay at the Astrodome until the floodwaters recede, and

WHEREAS New Orleans may not be inhabitable for a long time, and

WHEREAS the majority of the people at the Astrodome are people who weren't necessarily on their feet before the hurricane, and

WHEREAS we, fortunately, are on our feet, educated, and know how to operate in America such that we can stay on our feet,

 

we have a unique opportunity.  To offer a clean slate to those affected by Hurricane Katrina--those who either weren't on their feet or were barely on their feet before.  How?  By taking families or individuals into our homes, sharing our knowledge and money, and helping them get going again.  This is, of course, just the hurricane survivors who want to do this.

 

And knowledge is the key to this.  It's knowledge that keeps us on our feet (along with a lot of luck).  And it's knowledge--knowledge about financial planning, saving, continuous sources of income (as opposed to quick fixes)--that we can share with an individual we stay with.

 

Yes, money is important here, as well.  And the willingness to have someone from a completely different socioeconomic stratus, live with you.

 

It's something I'd like to do, I think.  And I bet others across the country would be willing to, as well.  So here's what the nonprofit organization (Recede--e.g. having the floodwaters, as well as poverty and lack of education recede) would do.

 

1) Encourage people willing to take in a hurricane survivor (people on their feet, or "feet") to fly to Houston and visit the Astrodome, at their own expense.  Have them hang out there for a couple of days and talk to people--see who they identify with and wouldn't mind having in their homes.  This is all at the personal expense of the "feet."

 

2) If they do decide to invite a hurricane survivor ("roommate") to stay with them, they register with Recede, and Recede arranges for the roommate's flight back to the feet's hometown (donation by Continental?).

 

3) The feet and the roommates go home.  Recede provides the feet with a startup checklist (ideas to start with).

 

4) Most important part: Recede has an evaluation process whereby the roommates and feet report on their progress weekly.

 

5) At some point, the roommates move out and the feet close the Recede process.

 

I know there would have to be some process that would address the scenario where the roommates and feet don't get along, and another one that would decide if it's time to quit on the Recede plan--this is just a rough initial stab.

 

And how is this different from other organizations like HurricaneHousing.org?  This is designed to get people on their feet--not just provide housing.  And the Recede plan would be designed to ensure that.

 

Whaddaya think?  Would any of you be interested in being "feet" if this option were available?

 

Baby Pee

Yes, boys and girls, I'm in Bangalore--chillin' with my cousins, et al.  Despairing of the end of my journey.  And wondering what I'm going to do next.

 

And watching my nephew peeing on his mom's bed.  And on his mom.  While being changed.  The scenario was actually quite funny:

 

Step one: Nanny begins to change child.

Step two: Mother starts to nuzzle child.

Step three: Child whizzes on mother

Step four (simultaneously executed with step three): Mother shrieks in surprise.

Step five (also simultaneous): Child shrieks.

 

Wailing and washing and remarks of surprise ensue.  As I remain on couch, watching (and writing emails).

 

What a helpful houseguest I am.  But it's been great, seeing the domesticated life.  Eating lunch with whoever's around at lunchtime.  Chatting with whoever's around.  Writing emails.  Going out at night.  Having fun.  Finding a cat on my bed when I wake up in the morning.  (take that the wrong way, and I'll remove your nose!)

 

And relaxing.  Back home soon--and if anyone knows of volunteer opps for Katrina victims, let me know.  Also, if anyone wants a place to stay in Houston while volunteering, my doors are open--even before I return home.

 

Adios!