Sunday, January 20, 2008
New Name
I quietly changed the name of this blog a few weeks ago in honor of my good friend and personal hero, Chris Grow. On his Facebook page, he lists "The Inimitable J... P..." as one of his favorite books. I believe it is only fair that I at least try to create some sort of reading material that bears that title for the man. So here you go; much love, my brother.
Carl Karcher 1917-2008
Heard on television last night that Carl Karcher, the founder of Carl's Jr. passed away on Jan. 11 this year. I was a little bummed out, not because I'm a huge Carl's Jr. fan, but because I had met Mr. Karcher a few years back when I was working at the Marriott. He was very friendly and respectful of the all the staff. The weekend that he stayed in the hotel, he always had a smile on his face (he was in Eugene for a relative's graduation). He even gave me a VIP pass for Carl's Jr, which I believe entitles me to free burgers for life, though I have never used it. The few people I have talked to that have also met him, mostly former employees of Carl's Jr., have always had positive things to say about the man. Though I didn't know him well, this burger pioneer will surely be missed. Perhaps I will take advantage of the VIP pass this week in his honor.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Music Recommendation
If you have not yet heard Jeff Buckley's tune "Everybody Here Wants You," do yourself a favor and download or purchase it and listen to it immediately. It's around 10 years old now, but is still an amazing song that I still am digging.
Monday, August 07, 2006
How Long Can One Man Go Without TP?
Apparently a LONG time...
For whatever reason, I have been appointed the designated toilet paper purchaser in my household. No big deal, I work for a retailer anyway.
A couple of weeks ago, I purchased a total of 8 rolls of TP for the house. A week later, it was gone. No joke. I consider myself to be pretty conservative with the stuff and I live with only one other guy, so I have to assume he is the guilty party. And as the guilty party, I thought it should be his turn to make this oh-so-important purchase.
So I waited...
And waited...
And waited some more...
In the meantime, I had a roll for my own "personal" use hidden away. I just wanted to see how long he would go without some Angel Soft or Charmin. A social experiment, if you will.
Finally today, I gave in... a week later. Even Milgram had to put an end to his experiment when it got out of hand, and a week without TP is out of hand. I purchased another 8 rolls, which I anticipate will be gone by next week. Don't get me wrong: I love my roommate and will miss him when I move out this month. I mean, we've been living together for 5 years now. But a week without? Damn, that's gross.
For whatever reason, I have been appointed the designated toilet paper purchaser in my household. No big deal, I work for a retailer anyway.
A couple of weeks ago, I purchased a total of 8 rolls of TP for the house. A week later, it was gone. No joke. I consider myself to be pretty conservative with the stuff and I live with only one other guy, so I have to assume he is the guilty party. And as the guilty party, I thought it should be his turn to make this oh-so-important purchase.
So I waited...
And waited...
And waited some more...
In the meantime, I had a roll for my own "personal" use hidden away. I just wanted to see how long he would go without some Angel Soft or Charmin. A social experiment, if you will.
Finally today, I gave in... a week later. Even Milgram had to put an end to his experiment when it got out of hand, and a week without TP is out of hand. I purchased another 8 rolls, which I anticipate will be gone by next week. Don't get me wrong: I love my roommate and will miss him when I move out this month. I mean, we've been living together for 5 years now. But a week without? Damn, that's gross.
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Other Purchase...
I also purchased a humidor today (in addition to the Pete Yorn ticket), though it's hard for me to say what exactly I need a humidor for. I did manage to pick it up for the great price of $.99 off Ebay, though it was another $30 for shipping. Maybe I'll become a bit of a cigar aficionado now, like my good friend, Nick. Any recommendations for a good cigar?
Pete Yorn in Portland
I just bought the last ticket to Pete Yorn's upcoming show at the Doug Fir Lounge. That's right, ticket #300 out of 300. Wicked awesome! I unfortunately could not purchase another ticket to bring a date, but at least I'll get the chance to see one of my favorite singer/songwriters and the man responsible for one of my Top 5 desert island discs, "musicforthemorningafter" (actually, I'll see him twice that day, as he is doing a free in-store performance at Music Millenium before the concert).
Monday, May 29, 2006
Monday, May 08, 2006
RIP 200SX
Was in a pretty bad car wreck a couple of weeks ago. Completely totaled my car. From the picture, I'm sure you can guess it wasn't my fault. Had some wicked whiplash to boot.
I'm doing much better now. Ended up with a sweet new ride, which I will post pics of shortly. And I certainly feel better. But I thought I should share the damage with you all...
I'm doing much better now. Ended up with a sweet new ride, which I will post pics of shortly. And I certainly feel better. But I thought I should share the damage with you all...
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Quit Yer Sniveling
I am really tired of hearing the individuals associated with the movie Brokeback Mountain complain of how they were robbed of the Best Picture Award at the Oscars last month. These people make ridiculous claims: the Academy members are close-minded, Hollywood is playing it safe, the Academy is out of touch with the rest of the country, etc.
And now the author of Brokeback Mountain, Annie Proulx, is joining in. Here’s a thought: maybe your movie wasn’t the best one that was released last year. To be fair, I have not seen Brokeback Mountain, nor the movie that actually won the Best Picture Award, Crash, however I did hear that both are excellent films. But it seems to me that Brokeback… offers little more than a love story, albeit one between two men (cowboys, nevertheless; didn’t South Park lampoon this idea years ago, claiming that independent films were just about gay cowboys eating pudding?).
Brokeback Mountain received a lot of attention because of it’s subject matter, and that seems to be the card that the makers of the film want to exploit (by claiming they didn’t win because the Academy voters are close-minded). However, there have been plenty of films dealing with the subject of homosexuality before, and there are sure to be plenty more afterwards. Should To Wong Foo… have won an Oscar because the movie features drag queens as the main characters?
While I don’t agree with every award given by the Academy, it seems to me that Crash was simply the better film. And since when is Hollywood concerned about stirring up controversy?
And now the author of Brokeback Mountain, Annie Proulx, is joining in. Here’s a thought: maybe your movie wasn’t the best one that was released last year. To be fair, I have not seen Brokeback Mountain, nor the movie that actually won the Best Picture Award, Crash, however I did hear that both are excellent films. But it seems to me that Brokeback… offers little more than a love story, albeit one between two men (cowboys, nevertheless; didn’t South Park lampoon this idea years ago, claiming that independent films were just about gay cowboys eating pudding?).
Brokeback Mountain received a lot of attention because of it’s subject matter, and that seems to be the card that the makers of the film want to exploit (by claiming they didn’t win because the Academy voters are close-minded). However, there have been plenty of films dealing with the subject of homosexuality before, and there are sure to be plenty more afterwards. Should To Wong Foo… have won an Oscar because the movie features drag queens as the main characters?
While I don’t agree with every award given by the Academy, it seems to me that Crash was simply the better film. And since when is Hollywood concerned about stirring up controversy?
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Update on "The Legend of Hatoon"
I received this comment from an old acquaintance of Hatoon's. It tells quite a different story than the ones that have been reported before. Based on the information I had at the time, I had made the assumption that it was her children that had neglected her. However, it seems that quite the opposite was true. I appreciate receiving this other perspective and thank the author for sharing this information with me:
Hello,My name is ----------, and I knew Hatoon very well back in the 70's. This letter is a year late, but I just returned to Eugene for the first time in decades. Because you mentioned her children, I thought I could possibly fill you in on a bit about that. I ran the Women's Center here in Eugene in the early and mid 70's, and at that time, Hatoon, who was then known as an alcoholic, stayed there frequently. I spent months talking to her, and often went to her apartment to stay with her in the evenings. She also came to my home frequently. Hatoon was a heavy drinker then, but it was clear she was intelligent, and could be interesting. She had attached herself to the women's community, and spent much of her time interfering with activities and parties given by individuals and groups. People tried very hard to be kind to her, but she always managed to thwart their efforts by reacting in a cruel and belligerant manner. In the center, she created problem after problem, mostly by endless manipulation, with the goal of dividing women from each other. At that time she already had many of the habits described in the articles from after her death, but in a less smooth form. She developed her habit of walking up to people and complimenting their looks because she had an angry relationship to the lesbians in town. She would go up to them and offer them lipstick, feminine clothing etc in an angry manner. Her compliments were a means to make people nervous. When she saw that I was making a difference at the Women's Center, she began to attack me personally in front of new women. She verbally attacked a dozen people a week though, so I did not take it personally. She did a lot of screaming and yelling around town in general. Ironically, I actually made a big impression on Hatoon, who admired my college background. She began to read, and learned the tactic of acting crazy, but then 'coming to' when people patronized her, so as to make them look and feel stupid. She began to dress, and speak more consciously, and made a point of copying me.She was particularly cruel to her children. Her daughter, whom she spoke of rarely, did not live in Eugene, but her son did, and feared her greatly. She was frightening, because she was essentially such a heartless person, who was utterly unfazed by the pain of others. Instead of enjoyment or warmth toward people, she was able to feel only jealously. Her take on life was -- people better notice me, or else. She always had an apartment when I knew her, but she preferred for people to see her as homeless. I don't know what her situation was when she died, but I'd be willing to bet there were individuals somewhere who knew a lot more about how she survived than the general public. Or maybe her methods had changed by her last years.If you Google Hatoon, you can find a blog from 'Bob', a friend of her son's, attached along with many others to the article on her death, who tells it like it really was -- how inhuman she was to her son. She threatened him, screamed at him, and made life unlivable for him. All she wanted from either child was attention, but even that had to be utter enslavement, and giving it did not stop her from her sarcastic cruelty toward him. She gave no money, physical care, clothing or food to either of them by the time I knew her, but I had heard she was marginally better when they were very young. I see that Eugene seems to be a place that applaudes and even deifies mental illness. Coming up here from Berkeley has been a real shock. Recently a toothless man who urinates in his yard was asked to move from a cabin in my ally because he was living in squalor, throwing his trash in the ally, and constantly sponging off everyone who attempted to walk there. When they heard he was leaving, several neighbors wrote letters to the owner of his house pleading with him to let this man stay, and calling him 'an asset to the neighborhood.' After he left, I found there were no more beer bottles thrown up and down the ally, nor trash littered everywhere, especially around my back parking in the ally. I am a single woman, and he specially picked me out for all kinds of harrassment. This is a man who was considered 'colorful and interesting,' just like Hatoon. In Berkeley people like this are given real help, and places to live. They are not allowed to live on the street, where they satisfy their narcissism by becoming public figures. I believe Hatoon was not schizophrenic, but probably manic-depressive and somewhat paranoid. I think she learned to exaggerate many of her tendencies in order to mask her essentially cruel personality. I'm sure she suffered terribly from the pangs of conscience she must have had, and I'm sorry she is considered a 'legend,' rather than someone whose behavior was at best benign, and at worst psychopathic.
Hello,My name is ----------, and I knew Hatoon very well back in the 70's. This letter is a year late, but I just returned to Eugene for the first time in decades. Because you mentioned her children, I thought I could possibly fill you in on a bit about that. I ran the Women's Center here in Eugene in the early and mid 70's, and at that time, Hatoon, who was then known as an alcoholic, stayed there frequently. I spent months talking to her, and often went to her apartment to stay with her in the evenings. She also came to my home frequently. Hatoon was a heavy drinker then, but it was clear she was intelligent, and could be interesting. She had attached herself to the women's community, and spent much of her time interfering with activities and parties given by individuals and groups. People tried very hard to be kind to her, but she always managed to thwart their efforts by reacting in a cruel and belligerant manner. In the center, she created problem after problem, mostly by endless manipulation, with the goal of dividing women from each other. At that time she already had many of the habits described in the articles from after her death, but in a less smooth form. She developed her habit of walking up to people and complimenting their looks because she had an angry relationship to the lesbians in town. She would go up to them and offer them lipstick, feminine clothing etc in an angry manner. Her compliments were a means to make people nervous. When she saw that I was making a difference at the Women's Center, she began to attack me personally in front of new women. She verbally attacked a dozen people a week though, so I did not take it personally. She did a lot of screaming and yelling around town in general. Ironically, I actually made a big impression on Hatoon, who admired my college background. She began to read, and learned the tactic of acting crazy, but then 'coming to' when people patronized her, so as to make them look and feel stupid. She began to dress, and speak more consciously, and made a point of copying me.She was particularly cruel to her children. Her daughter, whom she spoke of rarely, did not live in Eugene, but her son did, and feared her greatly. She was frightening, because she was essentially such a heartless person, who was utterly unfazed by the pain of others. Instead of enjoyment or warmth toward people, she was able to feel only jealously. Her take on life was -- people better notice me, or else. She always had an apartment when I knew her, but she preferred for people to see her as homeless. I don't know what her situation was when she died, but I'd be willing to bet there were individuals somewhere who knew a lot more about how she survived than the general public. Or maybe her methods had changed by her last years.If you Google Hatoon, you can find a blog from 'Bob', a friend of her son's, attached along with many others to the article on her death, who tells it like it really was -- how inhuman she was to her son. She threatened him, screamed at him, and made life unlivable for him. All she wanted from either child was attention, but even that had to be utter enslavement, and giving it did not stop her from her sarcastic cruelty toward him. She gave no money, physical care, clothing or food to either of them by the time I knew her, but I had heard she was marginally better when they were very young. I see that Eugene seems to be a place that applaudes and even deifies mental illness. Coming up here from Berkeley has been a real shock. Recently a toothless man who urinates in his yard was asked to move from a cabin in my ally because he was living in squalor, throwing his trash in the ally, and constantly sponging off everyone who attempted to walk there. When they heard he was leaving, several neighbors wrote letters to the owner of his house pleading with him to let this man stay, and calling him 'an asset to the neighborhood.' After he left, I found there were no more beer bottles thrown up and down the ally, nor trash littered everywhere, especially around my back parking in the ally. I am a single woman, and he specially picked me out for all kinds of harrassment. This is a man who was considered 'colorful and interesting,' just like Hatoon. In Berkeley people like this are given real help, and places to live. They are not allowed to live on the street, where they satisfy their narcissism by becoming public figures. I believe Hatoon was not schizophrenic, but probably manic-depressive and somewhat paranoid. I think she learned to exaggerate many of her tendencies in order to mask her essentially cruel personality. I'm sure she suffered terribly from the pangs of conscience she must have had, and I'm sorry she is considered a 'legend,' rather than someone whose behavior was at best benign, and at worst psychopathic.
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Another Birthday...
I've been requested to write about my birthday, which occured a little over a week ago. Quite honestly, I didn't want to think about it a whole lot; I was depressed about turning 27. B was quite sweet in helping me to deal with it, but it was pretty hopeless at the time, as I was so bummed.
B took me to dinner at West Bros. for some good ol' BBQ. She got me tickets to O in Vegas when we go next weekend, as well as sweet ass pair of shoes, that I love. She managed to cheer me up at that point, but I really had to push aside my feelings of inadequacy and failure in order to be in a better mood.
The next day was the Super Bowl, which allowed me to play host to many of my friends. While the outcome of the game wasn't as we had hoped, I always enjoy having company. B upped the ante on sweetness by showing up on my doorstep with a lighted birthday ice cream cake and leading my friends in a chorus of happy birthday. While the effects of a six-pack prevented me from throwing my arms around her, it couldn't stop the smile on my face.
I can't really explain why I felt so depressed (and while I continue to feel so if I think about my age). Deep down, I still feel like a kid: irresponsible and immature. I haven't really accomplished the things I wanted to by 27. Not that I know what those things are, but I feel like I'm so behind in things that I should have already done. I should be smarter, more mature, richer, have more credentials and accomplishments, etc. I'm currently at where I feel that I should have been 5 years ago, and that bums the shit out of me because I have nothing to show for those 5 years.
In addition, the age 27 holds some weird feelings for me as the people I idolized as a kid: Kurt Cobain, Jim Morrison, and Jimi Hendrix, all died at 27. Robert Johnson and Janis Joplin as well. Wikipedia states that "occasionally, this (27) is the ideal age to die." At one point in time, I bought into that. How messed up is that?
To those that sent cards and birthday wishes: thank you. They helped to cheer me up in what was, and still is, a speed bump in my life's journey.
B took me to dinner at West Bros. for some good ol' BBQ. She got me tickets to O in Vegas when we go next weekend, as well as sweet ass pair of shoes, that I love. She managed to cheer me up at that point, but I really had to push aside my feelings of inadequacy and failure in order to be in a better mood.
The next day was the Super Bowl, which allowed me to play host to many of my friends. While the outcome of the game wasn't as we had hoped, I always enjoy having company. B upped the ante on sweetness by showing up on my doorstep with a lighted birthday ice cream cake and leading my friends in a chorus of happy birthday. While the effects of a six-pack prevented me from throwing my arms around her, it couldn't stop the smile on my face.
I can't really explain why I felt so depressed (and while I continue to feel so if I think about my age). Deep down, I still feel like a kid: irresponsible and immature. I haven't really accomplished the things I wanted to by 27. Not that I know what those things are, but I feel like I'm so behind in things that I should have already done. I should be smarter, more mature, richer, have more credentials and accomplishments, etc. I'm currently at where I feel that I should have been 5 years ago, and that bums the shit out of me because I have nothing to show for those 5 years.
In addition, the age 27 holds some weird feelings for me as the people I idolized as a kid: Kurt Cobain, Jim Morrison, and Jimi Hendrix, all died at 27. Robert Johnson and Janis Joplin as well. Wikipedia states that "occasionally, this (27) is the ideal age to die." At one point in time, I bought into that. How messed up is that?
To those that sent cards and birthday wishes: thank you. They helped to cheer me up in what was, and still is, a speed bump in my life's journey.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Sunriver
So I promised drunken updates from Sunriver and failed to deliver on that promise. So here is a brief summary of the weekend:
Got drunk on Crown and effed up on Absinthe, smoked a cigar, passed out, had Leslie draw tits on my face, was awaken at 5am by drunken brothers in the hot tub, talked to the police about the loud, drunken brothers in the hot tub, and received a $250 disturbing the peace citation as the person in charge because of the loud, drunken brothers in the hot tub.
Quite a weekend. And the Monday after, I received a call from the rental company "thanking" us for trashing the house and informing me there would be some additional cleaning charges.
So while I spent the weekend putting out fires, there was no time to post. My apologies and I hope this makes up for it.
Got drunk on Crown and effed up on Absinthe, smoked a cigar, passed out, had Leslie draw tits on my face, was awaken at 5am by drunken brothers in the hot tub, talked to the police about the loud, drunken brothers in the hot tub, and received a $250 disturbing the peace citation as the person in charge because of the loud, drunken brothers in the hot tub.
Quite a weekend. And the Monday after, I received a call from the rental company "thanking" us for trashing the house and informing me there would be some additional cleaning charges.
So while I spent the weekend putting out fires, there was no time to post. My apologies and I hope this makes up for it.
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Challenger, Twenty Years Later
Wow, has it really been twenty years? I remember that day very vividly: sitting in a school gym in Las Vegas watching on a tiny television the launch and the following explosion. I'm sure I was too young to fully understand what had happened, but it is one of those memories that sticks with me, a moment that, in part, defines my generation.
The fact that it has been twenty years also makes me feel VERY old, especially with a birthday fast approaching...
The fact that it has been twenty years also makes me feel VERY old, especially with a birthday fast approaching...
Sunday, November 20, 2005
Can't Get Enough "Cannonball"
Seriously, I've really been diggin' on Damien Rice's music a lot lately, much like when I first got into Pete Yorn. "Cannonball" is an amazing song (you can listen at my MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/jppederson), but the rest of the album is incredible. I can't believe I never heard of this guy when he first came out a couple of years back.
Friday, November 04, 2005
Rock n' Rodeo, Take Two
Met up with some friends at Rock n' Rodeo tonight, the first time I'd been there since it reopened. I stopped going a few months before it closed down; way too much drama going on that I didn't want to deal with. Quite honestly, I was afraid I might end up hurt or killed as I found myself involved with a few fights there (I didn't start anything, I just had friends that liked to talk shit). One time, I remember we had to sneak my friend Mookie out before the cops found him. I think they got him through the kitchen and out the back door. I became sick of the scene and was no longer a regular there.
I know they reopened a few weeks ago, but I hesitated to go. Didn't know what I would be walking into. Stepping through those front doors certainly brought back memories. I looked across the dance floor and wouldn't you know, there's Mookie. Just like the good ol' days. We BS-ed for a while and caught up. All was good. While it was a definite blast back to the past, I didn't see a lot of people I thought I might, which in this case, was good. Some skeletons need to remain in the closet. But there were some people I did get to see, which was also good.
All in all, I had a decent time, although I could only survive an hour and a half there. Had a chance to see some people that I hadn't seen in a long time. And it did bring back some good memories of years past, my pre-college days. I may have to go back, bring beautiful B and tear up the hardwood floor.
That's what I'm talking about.
I know they reopened a few weeks ago, but I hesitated to go. Didn't know what I would be walking into. Stepping through those front doors certainly brought back memories. I looked across the dance floor and wouldn't you know, there's Mookie. Just like the good ol' days. We BS-ed for a while and caught up. All was good. While it was a definite blast back to the past, I didn't see a lot of people I thought I might, which in this case, was good. Some skeletons need to remain in the closet. But there were some people I did get to see, which was also good.
All in all, I had a decent time, although I could only survive an hour and a half there. Had a chance to see some people that I hadn't seen in a long time. And it did bring back some good memories of years past, my pre-college days. I may have to go back, bring beautiful B and tear up the hardwood floor.
That's what I'm talking about.
Sunday, September 25, 2005
Fireworks?
Tonight was supposed to be chill. I met up with Forrest, Sam, and Anton for some drinks at the Indigo. We B.S.ed, hung out, that type of thing. At closing we walked out, when I witnessed a fight breaking out. I didn't think much of it; going out to bars, you somewhat expect it. But the fight dragged on longer than it should of. People jumped in to break it up. It kept on going. I was about to jump in myself when a gun went off. Not 20 feet from where I was. Scared the shit out of me. Luckily, the shooter was brought to the ground and his weapon taken from him. He may have ended up shooting himself in the struggle. He didn't get back up after the shot. I ended up directing traffic while the onlookers debated whether it was a real gun or not. The police showed up shortly there after.
I hate guns. Hate them, hate them, hate them. Stopped going to Kokomo's back in the day because I had way too many experiences with guns. Now this. Not cool, not cool at all.
I hate guns. Hate them, hate them, hate them. Stopped going to Kokomo's back in the day because I had way too many experiences with guns. Now this. Not cool, not cool at all.
Saturday, September 24, 2005
Something in the Air
You can just feel it. With the Oregon/USC game taking place this afternoon, there's a lot of excitement around. And it really is a win-win situation for the Ducks today, since no one is expecting them to win, but if they do... this town will be crazy tonight.
This is probably my last big college football experience. Time to make it a good one. Go Ducks!
This is probably my last big college football experience. Time to make it a good one. Go Ducks!
Friday, September 09, 2005
1500 Miles and Counting...
B and I have done quite a bit of traveling in a little over week; 1500 miles worth of traveling to give a good estimate. It's been crazy; now I know what she has to go through for this job of hers. And I always thought she had it so easy...
I'm exhausted. Totally wiped out. Took a LONG nap this afternoon. It was great.
To recap our adventures (all within Oregon): Eugene to Bend to Burns to Bend to Eugene to Portland to Eugene to Coos Bay to Eugene to Redmond and finally back to Eugene. One week. That's friggin' insane.
Lots of "good times", of course, but way too tired to try to tell it all now. Time for a full night's rest in my own bed and then off to watch the Ducks play Montana at Autzen. My last season watching football games as a student. So sad...
I'm exhausted. Totally wiped out. Took a LONG nap this afternoon. It was great.
To recap our adventures (all within Oregon): Eugene to Bend to Burns to Bend to Eugene to Portland to Eugene to Coos Bay to Eugene to Redmond and finally back to Eugene. One week. That's friggin' insane.
Lots of "good times", of course, but way too tired to try to tell it all now. Time for a full night's rest in my own bed and then off to watch the Ducks play Montana at Autzen. My last season watching football games as a student. So sad...
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Katrina
I had chosen to ignore the media's news coverage of the recent Hurricane Katrina as CNN/FOX/MSNBC/Etc. tend to leave a bad taste in my mouth with their sensationalist journalism. However this morning, I received the following email from an acqaintance regarding his girlfriend who is stationed along the Gulf Coast and got my first taste of the sheer intensity of this disaster:
"The base has suffered extensive damage and its proximity to the Gulf
of Mexico (literally across the street...the street doesn't exist in a
lot of places now though) made it an easy target. Biloxi is actually
situated on a narrow spit/peninsula that extends from the West to the
East so her base is actually surrounded by water...the Bay of Biloxi
is on the North side and the Gulf is on the South and East side.
The homes that did exist across the highway from the base are mostly
non-existent at this point. I'm not trying to scare anyone, the
shelter she was in is a certified hurricane shelter and no one has
ever been injured in one. It's just that she was essentially at
ground zero for the brunt of the hurricane's strength as it came
ashore so the situation there is dire for many people.
A storm surge was anywhere from 20-28 feet along the coast where she
is and that is basically a massive 2-3 story wave that is being pushed
by the extreme winds. This caused a lot of destruction and probably
inundated most of the small peninsula under 10-20 feet of water for a
while.
At this point, the waters have receded a lot but left a lot of debris
behind. It is not safe for people to be moving around so this
explains why her and her classmates will continue to be holed up.
Given the extent of the damage I think they might stay there for a lot
longer.
Luckily she is not in New Orleans where things seem to get worse by
the minute with the flooding, etc.
There are all sorts of speculations as to how long it will take to get
things going again but since the damage there is "unprecedented" I
think the conservative estimates are saying 3-4 weeks before power
will be restored.
Even though you cannot get through to her, I encourage you to call and
leave messages on her phone. Once the cell service is back online she
will be able to access them and I know she's going to be a bit
distraught since her baby--the new car--is most likely totaled because
it was submerged for a day or so in water or it is gone and resting
somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico now. Apparently there are dozens of
cars smashed along the main seawall there too so it could be there.
She'll also be upset at having to stay there longer as she (and I)
can't wait to get up to Tacoma and stay FAR FAR AWAY from Hurricane
Country!
Anyway, I am constantly watching the news and calling her to see if I
can get through. I am sure she is fine but the area she is in was
dismantled by this storm so it's going to be a hectic few weeks."
Please keep the victims of this tragedy in your hearts and in your prayers.
"The base has suffered extensive damage and its proximity to the Gulf
of Mexico (literally across the street...the street doesn't exist in a
lot of places now though) made it an easy target. Biloxi is actually
situated on a narrow spit/peninsula that extends from the West to the
East so her base is actually surrounded by water...the Bay of Biloxi
is on the North side and the Gulf is on the South and East side.
The homes that did exist across the highway from the base are mostly
non-existent at this point. I'm not trying to scare anyone, the
shelter she was in is a certified hurricane shelter and no one has
ever been injured in one. It's just that she was essentially at
ground zero for the brunt of the hurricane's strength as it came
ashore so the situation there is dire for many people.
A storm surge was anywhere from 20-28 feet along the coast where she
is and that is basically a massive 2-3 story wave that is being pushed
by the extreme winds. This caused a lot of destruction and probably
inundated most of the small peninsula under 10-20 feet of water for a
while.
At this point, the waters have receded a lot but left a lot of debris
behind. It is not safe for people to be moving around so this
explains why her and her classmates will continue to be holed up.
Given the extent of the damage I think they might stay there for a lot
longer.
Luckily she is not in New Orleans where things seem to get worse by
the minute with the flooding, etc.
There are all sorts of speculations as to how long it will take to get
things going again but since the damage there is "unprecedented" I
think the conservative estimates are saying 3-4 weeks before power
will be restored.
Even though you cannot get through to her, I encourage you to call and
leave messages on her phone. Once the cell service is back online she
will be able to access them and I know she's going to be a bit
distraught since her baby--the new car--is most likely totaled because
it was submerged for a day or so in water or it is gone and resting
somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico now. Apparently there are dozens of
cars smashed along the main seawall there too so it could be there.
She'll also be upset at having to stay there longer as she (and I)
can't wait to get up to Tacoma and stay FAR FAR AWAY from Hurricane
Country!
Anyway, I am constantly watching the news and calling her to see if I
can get through. I am sure she is fine but the area she is in was
dismantled by this storm so it's going to be a hectic few weeks."
Please keep the victims of this tragedy in your hearts and in your prayers.
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