Where Are You? January 19, 2009
Posted by dianehuhn in Big Fun on the Bayou, Coastal Restoration, Relief Work, Travels.trackback
OK, so I realize I’ve definitely been slacking off on the blog front. And although it’s a little late for a New Year’s resolution, I pledge to do a much better job of keeping everyone up-to-date so I can stem the daily tide of emails and phone calls that start “Where are you? Is everything alright? I kept checking your blog and was getting worried.”
I returned to Chauvin, LA on December 29th after a very enjoyable and relaxing (albeit cold and snowy) 2 weeks in Michigan. The photo below should give you a good idea of how I spent my Christmas vacation and why I’m happy to be back on the Bayou.
Since our office was closed until after New Years, I took advantage of my free time to take in the sights with trips to the World War II Museum and the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans, the Barataria Wildlife Preserve in Marrero, and the Abita Brewery in Abita Springs. Also spent New Year’s Eve at a bonfire enjoying fireworks and shrimp spaghetti. YUM! I did realize, however, that I am getting old. I decided that I was getting pretty tired and ready head home to crawl into bed. As I headed to the car I knew it wasn’t midnight yet, but I figured it must have been at least 10:30-11:00 PM. As I started the car, I was shocked when I looked at the clock on the radio and it read 8:39 PM. So I guess my days of being a late night party animal are gone.
I had the pleasure last weekend of attending a Rebuilding Lives Summit in Lake Charles. I made the nearly 3 hour trip to the summit on a bus with about 40 people from Terrebone and Lafourche Parishes and we joined another 200 or so people from other areas of Louisiana and the Gulf Coast to discuss how to address the most pressing issues affecting people recovering from Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Ike. It was a great experience to learn more about what’s happening, and unfortunately in some cases what’s not happening, to help people recover from these storms and why it’s so important to restore our coastal areas to mitigate the devastation of future storms.
This week I also had the opportunity to attend an event to learn more about the Gulf Coast Civic Works Act that is calling on the federal government to provide job training and create at least 100,000 jobs in the Gulf Coast to rebuild homes, public infrastructure, and community resources, as well as promote sustainable development and environmental restoration and ensure equitable working conditions. For more information, visit the Equity and Inclusion Campaign website here, or the Gulf Coast Civic Works Program website here.
This past week we were also honored to have two volunteer groups from Illinois with us. Both groups have worked with us in the past and were able to make huge progress on two different rebuilding projects we’ve been working on.It’s always so wonderful to have such dedicated, energetic, and caring people working together for the mission.
For more pictures of my recent adventures, click the links below:
And before I forget, wishing Bethany great success in the Houston Marathon today! You go girl!!!
Hi Diane,
Sounds like you had a nice relaxing time home, except for the snow blowing. The Audubon Zoo in New Orleans looked interesting. We must get to N.O. someday.
We keep getting the snow to come down. Were now up to 80 inches in six weeks. Your Uncle Ralph had to buy a new snow blower to keep up with it. This one is bigger and works a lot better.
Glad to see your blog back up and running. I’m like the other people that was wondering, “Where are you?”
Thanks for the Houston wishes, DH! I survived, and I finished, but that’s about all I have to say about that.
I’ll post a blog entry soon. Meanwhile, SOOOO good to see an update from you. Miss you tons!!