WEATHER!!!!!

[Diane Amberg]

A computer geek friend fixed us up so I could watch live streaming from KPRC, KRIF, KHOU and KTRK last night. I stayed up much too late. I'm glad your son's alright. It looks like part of downtown lost some windows. Update as you can please.

[frawin]

Thanks Diane, I appreciate it.

[Judy Harder]

I have a VERY PREGNANT Granddaughter in Austin (she is due about the 7th or 9th of October.......
I haven't heard from her for awhile and think we all should be praying that this storm will die down and not do
any more damage than it has.

God watch out for all those in the way and for those who are affected.
Judy

[flo]

Frank, I'm glad you have heard from your son and that he is okay.  When I was watching all this on TV last night, and it hadn't even hit land yet, all I could think about was Frank and Myrna's son down there in this - hope he's far enough away to be safe.  Good news, indeed.

[frawin]

Thanks Flo, it looks like he will be fine.
Frank

[Teresa]

To lighten things up a bit.....................

[Diane Amberg]

Great!

[Teresa]

Our very flawed system......rewards breeding, lazy leaches and punishes hardworking taxpayers!
Read this :

From :
Sherri Hagerhjelm, RN

Before everyone thinks I am a terrible, prejudiced, horrible person, just wanted to send a copy of the letter I sent to the Times editors and Bill O'Reilly.  Please pray that Hurricane Ike will NOT come to Louisiana -
I don't think I have the attitude of Christ yet!
Sherri

Dear Editor,

I am a nurse who has just completed volunteer working approximately 120 hours as the clinic director in a Hurricane Gustav evacuation shelter in Shreveport , Louisiana over the last 7 days.  I would love to see someone look at the evacuee situation from a new perspective.
Local and national news channels have covered the evacuation and "horrible" conditions the evacuees had to endure during Hurricane Gustav.
True - some things were not optimal for the evacuation and the shelters need some modification.

At any point, does anyone address the responsibility (or irresponsibility) of the evacuees?

Does it seem wrong that one would remember their cell phone, charger, cigarettes and lighter but forget their child's insulin?
Is something amiss when an evacuee gets off the bus, walks immediately to the medical area, and requests immediate free refills on all medicines for which they cannot provide a prescription or current bottle (most of which are narcotics)?
Isn't the system flawed when an evacuee says they cannot afford a $3 copay for a refill that will be delivered to them in the shelter yet they can take a city-provided bus to Wal-mart, buy 5 bottles of Vodka, and return to consume them secretly in the shelter?
Is it fair to stop performing luggage checks on incoming evacuees so as not to delay the registration process but endanger the volunteer staff and other persons with the very realistic truth of drugs, alcohol and weapons being brought into the shelter?

Am I less than compassionate when it frustrates me to scrub emesis from the floor near a nauseated child while his mother lies nearby, watching me work 26 hours straight, not even raising her head from the pillow to comfort her own son?
Why does it incense me to hear a man say "I ain't goin' home 'til I get my FEMA check"  when I would love to just go home and see my daughters who I have only seen 3 times this week?

Is the system flawed when the privately insured patient must find a way to get to the pharmacy, fill his prescription and pay his copay while the FEMA declaration allows the uninsured person to acquire free medications under the disaster rules?
Does it seem odd that the nurse volunteering at the shelter is paying for childcare while the evacuee sits on a cot during the day as the shelter provides a "daycare"?

Have government entitlements created this mentality and am I facilitating it with my work?

Will I be a bad person, merciless nurse or poor Christian if I hesitate to work at the next shelter because I have worked for 7 days being called every curse word imaginable, feeling threatened and fearing for my personal safety in the shelter?

Exhausted and battered,
Sherri Hagerhjelm, RN

[indygal]

bus to Wal-mart, buy 5 bottles of Vodka

They sell vodka at Wally World? Seriously?

[Tobina+1]

Other states do allow liquor to be sold in locations other than liquor stores.  In Missouri, for example, you can purchase hard liquor at the grocery store.  I don't know if it's a county/city by county/city basis, but when I lived in KC, the grocery stores in MO had hard liquor.  I assume since Walmart is pretty much considered a grocery store, they can sell hard liquor there, too.  There are other states where you can purchase beer by the can/bottle/HUGE bottle in gas stations!  Don't you think that's just encouraging drinking and driving?