The power is on…
Made it into the house yesterday and it’s quite a mess. The water level inside was only about 2 to 3 ft but the water has soaked into the walls several feet higher than that. The big oak in the backyard is indeed leaning against the back of the house, causing a considerable amount of damage to the roof in several places, and rain is able to leak down all the way to the lower floor. A branch was thru my bedroom window, it had broken thru from top to bottom and destroyed the window frame. It was kinda fun to stand on top of my bed with a chainsaw to cut the branches back that were sticking thru. Then I pulled a small sheet of plywood out of the attic and used my bed as a workbench to trim it with the chainsaw to fit the window frame and screwed it to the window frame, weeee!! Who knew it could be so much fun to use a chainsaw indoors!! The glass had shattered all over the room and debris and leaves have been blowing in for the past couple weeks, LOL
Amazingly both of my main PC’s still work and booted up just fine, I haven’t had a chance to check the other two though, maybe today. The cable is down so I have no ‘net connection there, I’m blogging from a family friends house a few miles away. We will be staying here for a short time, how long is anybody’s guess. The lower floor is disgustingly filthy, the smell was overwhelming and there is shitloads of mold and mildew covering everything. I was able to get the A/C running, one of the main fans was frozen. A little persuasion in the right place and I was able to get it going. It’s been running all night, hopefully when we go there today it won’t smell as bad and a lot of the moisture will be removed.
It is extremely hot and humid here, I’m seriously missing the dry air that I quickly became accustomed to in both Texas and Arizona the past few weeks. Just walking aound taking photos was enough to be sweat soaked to the bone, and miserable. I became sick from dehydration for a short while but a large Gatorade fixed that! I must have taken 50 - 60 pictures all around and inside the house but I still have no way to get the pics off my camera onto the ‘net, hopefully soon!
I think it’s taking a toll on my folks though, my mom was crying last night and this morning they were fighting like cats and dogs over trivial shit, silly shit like who said what and yada yada yada who cares. My own mood has been bitchy and sullen even though I always try to see the bright side of things, and can usually find a reason to laugh at even the worst of situations. The cleanup will be a daunting task for us and everyone else involved, living anywhere in the gulf south. The sound of helicopters passing over is a constant reminder that we are living under martial law and a strict curfew of dusk to dawn.
Went to pick up a few grocery items at a local Winn Dixie store and the lines just to get INTO the store wrapped around the side of the building and there was no place to park hehe. What a reality check! Hopefully that will abate soon enough, we ended up going to another store where it wasn’t quite as bad.
Anyway, I have to go now, headed over to the house to help with cleanup. Weee!! hehe I’ll try to post again as soon as I can!!
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
First! Again! *poink*
Is the house salvageable, Sev? I hope so.
You are taking this in the right way, with your sense of humor intact. It is the only way, for what is done is done. And too bad, but so what?
It is very kind of you to keep us posted. You know we care a lot.
What a mess to clean up! Sorry to hear about all the damage, hope it’s fixable. You certainly have a great attitude about it, though!
Sev, I continue to be totally impressed with your amazing attitude. Thanks so much for the updates. I’m so glad to hear that your two computers are working. That’s a relief! Now about the house… I sure hope your family has adequate insurance, but I suppose the govt. is supposed to help (at least that’s what ‘W’ said the other night). Will you be able to save the house? It doesn’t sound so good with all the water still inside, mildew, etc. Yucko.
Bring more updates when you can. I’ll be anxious to see the photos. Take care. Be safe.
That was one of the first material possesions I thought of were your computers, if you got ‘em out, if they were salvagable if not
I hope the cleanup and everything goes well for you… I can’t even begin to imagine what everyone there must be going thru….
At least the house is still standing and perhaps fully salvagable. That has to challenge your good humor to see all the destruction and chaos. Thinking about you there Sev.
You continue to remind me each day about attitude and the need to assure we keep humour and laughter in our life. I am glad you are back and have seen the damage and know what is ahead of you. It is good news about the computers and I know you will deal with the other cleanup as you do all things with courage. Thanks for keeping us informed of what is going on. You are always in my thoughts.
wow. Just wow. I can’t imagine the work you have ahead of you with cleanup. Sending big ol’ cyber wishes to make this task as painless as possible.
What a mess, but I’m glad you’re keeping your sense of humor - go crazy with the chainsaw inside. YAY for your main two PCs working too. Keep us updated! *HUGS*
ya - i can’t even begin to imagine the clean up that will follow.
sounds like you are holding it together well (as much as you can)
know that i’m praying for you and your family - for safety, strength, and continued family peace.
Wow Se7en….I can’t even imagine what you are up against. Wish I was close enough by to help out. Sending you some good thoughts and smooches.
Hi Seven!
What has it been now - 3 weeks since Katrina? I’m sure you and your family are emotionally drained by now. Talk to you soon. K.
Well it sucks that the place is a mess but then again you did get to play with the chainsaw indoors. Hope you didn’t run around with it because that’s like running with scissors, way too dangerous.
Glad to see you that you still see the bright side in all of this. Hoping for your family’s sake that too many things weren’t damaged.
When we were growing up in Port Arthur, our neighborhood used to flood at least once a year until they fixed some pumps or something. Our house was on piers but the houses across the street got water in them every time. Some of those people still live in those houses that flooded every year (2 -3 feet in the houses) for several years. Your house should be fine. It actually sounds like you were pretty lucky considering. Take care of your health as well. All that slime can’t be good for you.
Ick, what a mess. Hopefully you can get the moldy stuff removed quickly and at least the roof patched up. Good job on the AC. Smell and heat have to be the worst combo, so you are half way there now at least. I hope you will be able to obtain building supplies sometime soon. Prices on wood are going up countrywide right now. If you see any good plywood around outside, you may want to grab it!
Thank goodness your computers have been ok so far-that would be MY 1st worry too. I’m sorry about all the mold and mildew-that’s gonna be a bear to clear up… don’t let the stress make you sick or anything, though, ok? xo
My offer still stands.
*hugz*
And you didn’t call me. Hmph!
Keep your chin up Hon. I am constantly in awe of your great attitude - good for you! I wish you all the best, (and lots of chainsaws!)
Big Hug!
I knew there was a reason I liked reading your blog… keep looking for the silver linings, I’ve found they are always there no matter how bad it seems at first. Give your mum a big hug from me, sounds like she’s drained.
wow, what a mess! please be careful with your health in all that mold and mildew and whatnot. xox
Drive-by hugging, because sometimes it’s all you can say, and the best thing you can do
I’m with Old Horsetail Snake in regards to attitude. Ya got the right one, Sev. Now all that’s left to do is gettin’ through the gettin’ through. And you will. Good luck to ya, sweet.
Sev I’m tracking this all the way and beside you. Pls take all precautions with the clean-up, you know, with your health issues.
I miss you!!!!!!
Man just keep smiling and laugh at everything you can.
Only time can fix this and you get to choose how that time will pass. With laughter or tears.
My heart goes out to your Mom. Give her a BIG hug from all of us.
Stay safe and let us know if you need some help with the clean up.
I’ve been planning on a road trip to New Orleans for about 6 mos so what the hell.
Well I hope that you can get everything fixed up asap. Sorry that everything is a mess.
*hugs*
Hopefully even cyber hugs will help. if i could, i’d hope a plane and come help you clean up.
Best i can do is keep you all in my thoughts from this side of the globe.
Sounds managable, you probably need to give your ma a good old fashioned hug. good luck today clearing it up and I hope you find other treasures unharmed.
Not wanting to wish any more bad karma on you, but have you seen the track of Rita? they were talking about it perhaps erring on the east side of their projected track.
Well, atleast your computers still work. You can still do your business stuff, yes?
Hope you’re able to fix up your house.
Stay safe!
Well, I have mixed feeling between saying that I’m glad it wasn’t so bad (could have been so much worse) and saying gah! It sounds awful! Just glad, more than anything, that you’re safe. You be careful cleaning all that shit up and wear a paper face mask! You don’t need mold in your lungs! *hugs*
Good luck with your clean-up. My thoughts are with you!!!!!
Sending you mental chainsaws and lots of plywood. Watch that mold it can be a bitch. Hugs to you.
Got one headed our way by Saturday. We may be in the same boat, we are only a few feet above sea level. Gah!!
hey good luck with the cleanup.be careful and take care of yourself.are the squirrels still trying to get free rent?hugs to your moma.
Like Brighton said, we may be having to relocate temporarily soon. Good luck with cleaning up.
Only you would get a kick out of using your chainsaw indoors.
Men and their tools. (hug)
Se7en - I think you are amazing…..
Hi, I’ve come by way of The Funky Cowboy’s blog.
Good luck with the cleanup. In spite of having such a huge task ahead of you, it must be nice to be able to get back there and actually take some kind of action instead of endlessly waiting and wondering how the house was faring. It amazing that so many electrical things were still working - that’s a huge bonus, especially the air conditioner.
How’s your saw this morning??
Glad at least your computers are in-tact. I mean, priorities here, right!?
I know you’re insanely busy, but when you get everything back in place, up and running, set to go, lets talk about you redesigning my site!