Wow.

O Christmas Tree!

Isn't it BEAUTIFUL?!

Books! Books! Books!

Of course every book I've picked up and read has been from the library. I LOVE my public library! When I need something specific, or get fixated on a particular topic, I visit their online site and search, search, search. Then I request the books I'm interested in and they bring ALL of them to my favorite branch! At the moment I have books from all over the state! It is so cool.

More Books.

Today I picked up a new batch of books. I'm still working through some of the last batch. I am about a third of the way through Breach of faith : Hurricane Katrina and the near death of a great American city; by Jed Horne. It is heavy, not heavier than I expected, just heavy. There are a lot of details and personal stories each intwined and touching. It is actually quite a bit of work to get through because there are so many details, but so far it seems worth it so on I plod.

1 Dead in Attic after Katrina by Chris Rose. A collection of stories.

Soldiers' Pay. by William Faulkner is an older [1927] work of fiction by a New Orleanian author.

Dinner at Antione's. by Frances Parkinson Keyes also an older [1950] work of fiction, mystery I think, written by a New Orleanian author.

turning to one another : simple conversations to restore hope to the future. by margaret j. wheatley

This afternoon I put aside the Horne book and picked up Wheatley. I'm liking some of her suggestions. She says;
The principles ... to emphasize [before] beginning ...

• acknowledge one another as equals
  
• try to stay curious about each other
• recognize that we need each other's help to become better listeners
• slow down so we have time to think and reflect
• remember that conversation is the natural way [we] think together
• expect it to be messy at times

I've just started this one so I'll keep updating as I learn more. Aside from this I'm not sure what I'll be able to get through as our fundraising gets underway this weekend. But I'm looking forward to reading and learning more as the days go by! 

More reading materials.

My aforementioned reading has been adding up. I'm currently browsing 13 books that I've checked out of the library. Most of them have been pretty light, until now. Yesterday I picked up the newest four and they are far from speed reads. 

Last night I polished off The scared child : helping kids overcome traumatic events; by Barbara Brooks and Paula M. Siegel. There was a lot of information in this book and some of the examples were quite overwhelming. But I gained an important piece of information - terminology for my biggest fear going into this trip - trauma by proxy. I also learned four steps to debrief a traumatized individual. This isn't counseling but listening and guiding questions to help children (or teenagers) process overwhelming events like natural disasters or trauma experienced by peers (which can be as traumatizing as experiencing it oneself for some individuals). 

Debriefing Goals

• Assists the individual in “venting”
• Helps the individual develop a more complete understanding of what happened
• Normalizes the individuals responses
• Teaches the individual appropriate coping skills
• Assists the individual in adjusting to posttrauma life

And the steps I mentioned;
Debriefing has four steps:

1. Preparing yourself
2. Having the individual tell the story
3. Sharing the individual’s reactions
4. Survival and recovery

Obviously I still have a lot to learn, I want to be the best listener and helper I can for the New Orleanians but also help to prepare and comfort the teenagers that I am going with. 

Tonight I'm taking a break from the PTSD learning to become more familiar with the victims of Katrina and Rita. I've just begun Breach of faith : Hurricane Katrina and the near death of a great American city; by Jed Horne. So far so good. I'm especially thankful for the detailed maps at the beginning. There is one outlining all of the neighborhoods of New Orleans followed by a more topographical map that depicts the areas that were flooded and how much water they were under following the storm.

The last two books that I've just taken on, and hope to get to this weekend, are 

1. After the storm; by Kendall Johnson. 

and 

2. The God of intimacy and action : reconnecting ancient spiritual practices, evangelism, and justice; by Tony Campolo and Mary Albert Darling. 

I'm saving the Campolo/Darling book for last as I'm actually dreading it. I don't know why, maybe high school social studies class, but I have this huge chip on my shoulder when it comes to missionaries and missionary trips. I've never actually been on one, nor do I personally know someone that has. But I have this idea that missionaries are pushy folks trying to convert the masses to Christianity. I am most definitely not that type. But this New Orleans trip is considered a missionary type trip, right? I think it is anyway and the Campolo/Darling book was suggested by the group organizers. At the very least I'll leaf through it. 

But for tonight Jed Horne is my man and I'm leaving you with my current thoughts - and the State flag of Louisiana.

It is a parent pelican with three babies. My understanding is that the parent represents the government taking care of it's babies, the citizens of Louisiana. Saying the during times of trouble or need the state's inhabitants will be nurtured. Leading me to my concern, isn't it worse to not get something if you've been taught your entire life to expect exactly that something?

Reading Materials

Some of the books I've been reading to get ready.

The one book I've been spending most of my time reading.

But I'm only this far.

New Orleans Trip

All I can think about is my upcoming trip to New Orleans. I've been to their website and requested information. The 2009 Fodor's Guide has become my constant companion. I'm gobbling up every word. 

There are so many things I'd like to put together for this trip. I've been picturing a huge map with the Fodor's descriptions (and history) clipped to the corresponding locations. Then I'd know exactly where each thing is - and I'd be ready! Ready to wander the pedestrian friendly areas taking photos, talking with locals and taking it all in, bit-by-bit. 

Of course, Co. will be along for the trip (ha, ha, actually they are letting me tag along, details, details) and 1/Co. is map crazy while the other 1/Co. has been to New Orleans before. Likely I'll just be tucked into a backpack and transported about. But say I weren't, say I got to choose our destinations, I'll need to be ready.

More updates and planning to come. Now, back to my Fodor's!

Hello Kitty!!!

My aunt was in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade this year!!!She's the one in the back right (I circled her in white)!! Isn't that AWESOME?! My Aunt knows Hello Kitty! I have famous family!!!

New Orleans

Next summer I'm headed to New Orleans.I'm really looking forward to it, but I feel like there is a lot to learn first. Today I spent seven hours in the library. Most of the research I did focused on Hurricane Katrina. It was very sobering.

I still have a lot to learn, but there's time. It isn't a vacation I'm going on, but a service project. So I want to learn as much as I can to help as many New Orleanians as I possibly can.

AWESOMENESS

We went to the cider mill!!! We went to the cider mill!!! We went to the cider mill!!!
It was SO AWESOME! Clyde' is the COOLEST cider mil EVER!!! You can check out my pictures and their website. Then, next fall, you should totally go! Because it ROCKS!!

Here I am!

I LOVE this stuff!

Plus - PUMPKINS!!!

Mystic, CT

Of course, no trip to Mystic would be complete without a stop at The Mystic Seaport.

Here I am hanging out in front of the entrance.

A view from outside - isn't it AWESOME?!

A quick stop in the gift shop on our way out . . . 

Where I pretended I was The Crackin!

And a nearby scenery shot. 

New England Aquarium

Today I enjoyed my first visit to the New England Aquarium in Boston. Before leaving work I checked on nearby garages, I had some youths joining me and wanted to be sure I didn't look like a fool when it came to parking. We could have walked there from my place, but coming from my place of employment, it was just too far. I was really glad I looked. Parking is OUTRAGEOUS!!! $33 for an hour?! The option is up to 8hrs, but then you get into that whole pack in as much as you can/get the most for your money mindset that I adamantly hate. The whole point of an aquarium visit is to relax and enjoy a world that takes a more relaxed buoyant perspective on the traditional forces that keep most of us grounded. Why then stress oneself out trying to get the most out of a ridiculous parking expense when that brand new Blue Line train awaits for a mere T fare? After dropping the car in Beacon Hill we rode a few quick stops to Aquarium where I met these two fellas. Chillin' in some pretty hip habitats these two impressed me beyond all others.

Keep hanging Dudes - you rock.

Poor, Poor Lobster.

Didn't know ya pal, but I'm so sorry.

They were rough on you.

Boiled alive, then ripped to pieces.

R.I.P.

South Shore Saturday

Cohasset, MA

Enjoying beauty and . . . 

 . . . the Beast!!

Just kidding, this cute little fella was out protecting his home.

Better than Sprinkler-Buckets!!!

The Hose & a Bucket!!!