My cousin Charlotte Anne left her two dogs locked in the house in a suburb of NO. Yes, I gave the address to the ASPCA. Yes, it's surely too late.
Her and my aunt come down to Florida frequently, only not this time when it would have been a good idea.
I never liked ol' Charlotte, and I like her a whole lot less now.
My aunt had the roof took off her house in 1960 by Hurricane Donna in Fort Myers. Now this house is supposedly underwater. She gets a front-row seat for these things, so nobody go board with her.
Yeah, they're fine. They'll probably move in with my mother.
The ASPCA mailed me right back after I left a message, asking to be called and wanting to know everything. I've only been to the house once, but told them what I knew besides the address. I'll be doing a donation to them to help atone for my cousin's idiocy.
***
On a happier note, Mr. Cracker and some of the staff at his telecom company have volunteered to go help restore networks in New Orleans. He says he doesn't know how it's going to pan out, because the people they're talking to up there sound real disorganized.
If he could set this stuff up in Bangladesh, surely he'd be of some use in NO.
In other family news, my sister is using katrinahousing.org to offer to share her home. So, everybody's trying to do their bit, which is the only good part of these disasters.
UPDATE
Looks like the Fat Guy is offering his RV campground. I haven't said it yet today, so now's a good time: Texans are awesome.
Hey,
Don't give up yet on those dogs. Unless they drowned, the might be ok. In fact I will say that they will be ok. Animals are a different breed (oh, no kidding?) In my long life I have seen amimals survive the most awful situations.
Just a thought, call them back later today to follow up...the squeeky wheel...you know what I mean.
Thanks for you, being you.
Papa Ray
West Texas
USA
Thanks, Ray.
It caused quite a commotion on the phone lines this morning. My mom and dad are old and don't understand about all these emergency response teams. They thought (probably still think) I'm trying to prosecute my cousin.
If anyone is worrying about my aunt and cousin, don't. They got tons of kin in Florida (How many? I've got 36 aunts and uncles, myself). They'll be housed, fed, watered, and sympathised with until they're able to get back on their feet.
Thanks for the link, maam. I think the idea makes sense, and I hope others do, too.
Mr. C's a network dude? I wonder if our paths will cross. I know I'll be selling down there as soon as they dry out. In fact, I hope to be part of the first wave, for purely selfish reasons (the food, not the commissions.)
Posted by: Scott Chaffin at September 5, 2005 12:41 AMYep, he goes to Third World sh*tholes and writes the codes that makes all the different types of computers and wires and routers and phones talk to each other. I was very pleased when he said he and some of the crew were going to New Orleans.
I love what you're doing too. Y'all're both way cool.
Oh, if he's writing code, he's smart. They tend to stay away from us silver-tongued salesvolk. We tend to shy away from them for fear of being punched in the snout.
Posted by: Scott Chaffin at September 5, 2005 11:12 AMhttp://gatesofvienna.blogspot.com/2005/09/after-deluge-plague-descends.html
Florida C: Before y'all start opening up your homes, and before Mr. C goes off to set up those routers and all that esoteric stuff, be sure he has all his shots, be sure they have been *thoroughly* checked for all the various illness and disease they could be carrying.
From what I read, even the reporters who waded around in the muck are at serious, serious risk.
Just go read the post. Scared the beejeezus out of me.
Posted by: dymphna at September 5, 2005 07:49 PMHe's no snout-puncher, Scott.
Dymphna- he did alright in these other places, only getting hideously sick one time in 8 months in Nepal. I'll tell him he needs to gets some shots before he goes. Then he'll do what he wants.