Kiss My Gumbo » Katrina http://www.kissmygumbo.com Pontifications from the Princess of Positive Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:50:22 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Fifty for Five New Orleans: Part 3 http://www.kissmygumbo.com/2010/08/29/fifty-for-five-new-orleans-part-3/ http://www.kissmygumbo.com/2010/08/29/fifty-for-five-new-orleans-part-3/#comments Sun, 29 Aug 2010 14:02:46 +0000 Greta http://www.kissmygumbo.com/?p=4896


Mrs. Barbara Hansell spoke before a packed house on August 28, 2010, 1 day before the 5 year Katrina Anniversary. Her home was one of the 50 homes being fixed through Rebuilding Together’s “Heroes at Home” program for the Fifty for Five, sponsored by Sears/K-Mart. Through many hardships and the recent loss of her Vietnam Veteran husband, she inspired all of us with her faith and strength, as well as her love for New Orleans. She lived in her Gentilly home happily for 10 years, before it took in eight feet of water. Not only did her husband serve, but her 2 sons and daughter-in-law, currently serve in the Navy. She has since been displaced to Atalanta and is anxious to come home. Mrs. Hansell will be home in her house in New Orleans very soon with the help of people, organizations and companies who care.

I am writing this to you on the 5th Anniversary of Katrina. Having spent the past 3 days in New Orleans with Rebuilding Together, I am truly humbled by the likes of Mrs. Hansell at all the other recipients of assistance. This program gives hard working people who fell on hard times, a “leg up” not a “hand out.” New Orleans will be proud to have Mrs. Hansell back home and will welcome her with open arms (me included)!

c/p at Hooah Wife and Friends

]]> http://www.kissmygumbo.com/2010/08/29/fifty-for-five-new-orleans-part-3/feed/ 1 50 for 5 in New Orleans: part 1 http://www.kissmygumbo.com/2010/08/26/50-for-5-in-new-orleans-part-1/ http://www.kissmygumbo.com/2010/08/26/50-for-5-in-new-orleans-part-1/#comments Thu, 26 Aug 2010 16:08:52 +0000 Greta http://www.kissmygumbo.com/?p=4890

My good friend JP over at Milblogging, referred Sears PR to me when were looking for a Milblogger in New Orleans to cover an amazing project through Rebuilding Together called “Fifty for Five.” Well, I fit the bill perfectly as someone who is influential (hopefully a good influence haha) through in social media avenues and connected to the military through Soldiers’ Angels and various other organizations. Sears is one of the corporate sponsors of this program, but it involves a plethora of other companies, organizations and individuals to make this happen. Beginning today, I will be on a blogging journey as I become part of the media team to cover “Fifty for Five.” This program represents 50 houses being built in Gentilly for the 5 year Hurricane Katrina Anniversary. Gentilly experienced severe devastation as a result of the collapse of the London Avenue Canal Wall.
I will especially be focusing on the Veteran's Housing program through Rebuilding Together called "Heroes at Home." Of the 50 homes being built in New Orleans, 11 will be for veterans. For those of you not familiar with my story, my family and I moved to the Northshore of New Orlean, January of 2007, when my husband retired from the Army. We had no ties to the area but are in love with the area, the people, the culture and all it has to offer. We have found our forever home and have no intentions of ever leaving. We are proud to call New Orleans home!

****Rebuilding Together New Orleans website
****Follow me on Twitter for the ever @kissmygumbo #fiftyforfive and Rebuilding Together @rbldtgthr
****I would love to have you follow me on Facebook (I will friend you back)
****Disclaimer: I am not getting paid to blog about this program. But, Sears is sponsoring my hotel, food and expenses while I cover the event in New Orleans.

c/p at Hooah Wife & Friends

]]> http://www.kissmygumbo.com/2010/08/26/50-for-5-in-new-orleans-part-1/feed/ 0 Military Moving has Helped http://www.kissmygumbo.com/2008/08/28/military-moving-has-helped/ http://www.kissmygumbo.com/2008/08/28/military-moving-has-helped/#comments Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:43:05 +0000 Greta http://www.kissmygumbo.com/?p=1603

I have earned some rank for being experienced with military moves. Having a house packed up and ready to go in a couple of week’s time, is not that difficult. It is all temporary stress and nervous energy that keeps you moving to get the job done. Once everything is on the moving truck, many say, “Say good-bye to your stuff.” A quirky saying for something so serious, but I’ve heard it hundreds of times from friends and neighbors throughout our career. But you know, it is true, because all the matters is what you have inside your personal vehicle and possibly the U-Haul behind it. Now, I am not saying that losing everything you own is not devastating and fortunately, that has never happened to us. I actually always looked forward to the moment the moving truck closed it’s doors and pulled away. It seemed my life was suddenly simple and not filled with material things.

As I am packing the necessities for an evacuation, looking around the house, there is not that much that I will feel bad about if I leave it behind. I won’t have a U-Haul, just my vehicle with my 3 kids, 4 cats and Chulo the Stupor Dog. I love pictures and will have those with me, along with some military memorabilia, and some jewelry. Hubby will have his truck filled with his belongings…and we are off. We can’t look back and we can’t worry about the pine tree next door that is leaning over our roof.

My job, is to get the kids and pets to a place that is safe and make sure they will be cared for. I’ve got that covered. As I watch people around me panic, I feel guilty that I am amazingly calm in this current situation.

Stacy, get ready for the Perry family!

]]> http://www.kissmygumbo.com/2008/08/28/military-moving-has-helped/feed/ 4 Being prepared http://www.kissmygumbo.com/2008/08/27/being-prepared/ http://www.kissmygumbo.com/2008/08/27/being-prepared/#comments Wed, 27 Aug 2008 21:00:06 +0000 Greta http://www.kissmygumbo.com/?p=1596

Not in panic mode, just in getting ready mode. The last time we evacuated for a hurricane was during Bertha, a couple of hours after I gave birth to my first child (12 years ago). At the time, we were stationed at Patrick Air Force Base in Florida. When a base says mandatory evacuations – you evacuate – no options.

This time I have a whole bunch more to think about and am having the, “Greta, you have way too many fuzzballs and kids to fit in one vehicle,” thoughts. Thank goodness for roof luggage carriers! A dear friend and Soldeirs’ Angel lives in Jackson and has offered to take my whole fam damily in case of evacuation. This is one offer she may soon regret.

Here is what I bought today: chainsaw oil, motor oil (our neighborhood is all trees), a tarp, batteries. water, propane, soup, charcoal, paper towels, garbage bags and an extra flashlight.

None of us have any control over the storm and can only worry about what we have control over. Chins up and a positive attitude everyone. If I leave town, I’ll be wearing my tiara while driving!

]]> http://www.kissmygumbo.com/2008/08/27/being-prepared/feed/ 2 Stuck on WTF??? http://www.kissmygumbo.com/2008/08/15/stuck-on-wtf/ http://www.kissmygumbo.com/2008/08/15/stuck-on-wtf/#comments Fri, 15 Aug 2008 11:31:53 +0000 Greta http://www.kissmygumbo.com/?p=1447

By the looks of things, Mayor Nagin is slated to get some “You are a big winner” award for his role in the recovery on the Katrina anniversary. Humid City has the invite if you plan to attend and want all the details about what to wear etc…. Oh yes, and Retired Army Lt. Gen. Russel Honore, is supposed to give the award. The jury is still out if he knows he knows who he is supposed to give it to!

***Please listen to my radio show this Saturday from 3-4 AM 690 WIST. My guest will be AnneDale, jeweler & humanitarian. Then I will open the lines to discuss current events!

]]> http://www.kissmygumbo.com/2008/08/15/stuck-on-wtf/feed/ 4 Lucky us!!! http://www.kissmygumbo.com/2008/07/27/lucky-us/ http://www.kissmygumbo.com/2008/07/27/lucky-us/#comments Mon, 28 Jul 2008 01:44:07 +0000 Greta http://www.kissmygumbo.com/?p=1322

When we bought our house, we were informed it was the “blessed house” in the neighborhood. All the trees around this house fell onto other houses during Katrina. One tree did land on this house and did not go through the roof! It just left a tiny dent! Then there was a recent storm where a tree fell on the roof off my across-the street neighbors. I did my part and helped them clean their yard (that is what neighbors do). But once again my house was safe.

Then there was today!!! After a beautiful morning spent doing yard and pool upkeep, a violent storm came through our neighborhood. I am pretty sure I witnessed one of those “microbursts.” One of our pine trees snapped and landed on our new neighbor’s (who live in the subdivision behind us) roof! I drove over there as soon as I realized it happened to see if they were OK. Fortunately, the mom and daughter, who were in the room at the time, were fine. I drove back home and borrowed a tarp while hubby headed over with his chainsaw (cutting during an electrical storm and wearing his Crocs – there has to be something humorous in that).

How could we be so lucky again??? Not sure, but here is the kicker, when the tree snapped in half and tore a small section of our fence down it completely MISSED OUR BOAT!!!
img_3948
Look at this picture – it missed by less than an inch! Yep – we are just lucky!!! Maybe I ought to start buying lottery tickets!

On a sidenote – Mandeville got hit pretty hard during this short-lived storm. Power was out and lots of branches and even some trees were down around town.

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