I thought I was seeing things

SNOW…………..in New Orleans!!!  You got it. The rare snowfall has triggered crashes on major highways and left thousands of people without power.  Schools, government offices and bridges have been closed.  Snow just isnt’ something that we usually deal with so basically we don’t know how to do anything in it except maybe make a snow ball and hit someone with it.

The heavy band of snow coated windshields and grassy areas in New Orleans, where about an inch accumulated.  A peak of eight inches was reported in the town of Amite, about 75 miles northwest of New Orleans. Boy am I glad we didn’t get that much.  There would have been accidents everywhere because we have nothing to remove snow.  It was pretty though!!  See!!

Well here’s number 3

I told you that trouble comes in 3’s.  First my printer goes out, then my water heater needs a new heating element (thank goodness I didn’t have to replace the whole water heater) and now  I dropped my cell phone and didn’t realize it.  It came open and who do you think should step on it and break it?  You guessed it, it was me.

Thank goodness I had that insurance along with my  new phone from Verizon.  I started not to get it because I have gotten it for the last three phones I got from them and every time I’m up for a new phone, I would have it put on that one too.  I haven’t ever had to use it and I almost told them I didn’t want that this time.  Boy am I glad I forgot about it by the time I got there.  I had every intention of it too.

See sometimes it’s good to have those CRS moments.  You know what they are don’t you?  The ‘Can’t remember shit’ moments.  I have them all the time and that’s why man or probably a woman did it but that’s why sticky notes were invented!!!!!!!!!!

More about our Angel Tree

I am still getting requests for more Angels to be placed on my Angel Tree.  Most of the Angels are gone already and the presents are starting to pour in.  I wasn’t expecting them to be brought in until around the 15th of December but I have put them in one of my rooms for safe keeping.  They are due to be given on Christmas Eve.

Most of the presents for the children will be their Santa Clause this year as there are so many in need of assistance with that more than just a present.  How about that?  I’m Santa Clause this year but no I’m not a ‘Ho’.  😉  I never really thought about it that way.  I just thought of it as doing my part for my community.

Now here’s the sad part.  I got a request from a 7 year old little boy that wants a new Daddy.  His died during Hurricane Katrina and his mother has been sad ever since so he just wants a new Daddy.  How do I find him one of those.  Hey, maybe I could find a nice man that would be a Big Brother type Daddy for him.  In fact, I know just the right man for the job.  He’s worked for me for years and is single.  He’s great with kids too.

Then there’s the request I got from a 9 year old little girl.  Her mother has cancer and her father left them when she got it.  She wants a cure for her mother for Christmas.  I’m calling several hospitals and doctors trying to see if I can get her free medical care.  I sure hope so.

There is so much suffering that we are unaware of within our own community but my little Angel Tree is opening not only my eyes, but the eyes of everyone that looks at the Angels and reads the requests.  It looks so far like most of the children on my tree will have a good Christmas after all.

I just wish I could grant each and every child’s wish but some of them have to be granted by a higher power than just me alone.  I pray every night for the wishes I know I can’t fill.  Maybe God will take over and grant those wishes.  Christmas is a very special time and I believe it can happen.

Well are you as stuffed as I am?

Talk about a Thanksgiving feast, well we sure had one.  We had turkey of course but also gumbo, dirty rice, green beans, sweet potatoes and just about anything else you can think of.  I ate until I couldn’t eat anymore.  I think we have enough leftovers to feed a couple more families.

We had 5 families that we had invited for Thanksgiving that wouldn’t have had a Thanksgiving meal otherwise.  I was so proud to be able to do that for those families.  They were so thankful to us for doing what we did.  I did it for them because they have all suffered so much for so long that I wanted them to have something to be thankful for and a community that cares is something to be thankful for.

I hope your Thanksgiving was as blessed as mine was.  Mine was full of love, food, good friends and family, and new friends too.  What more could anyone ask for?

Angel tree update

I told you about putting up an ‘Angel Tree’ in my establishment a few days ago.  Well I thought I would update you on it’s progress.  A local business has donated 10 Game Boys and 10 games for it for children on the tree.  Another local store has donated turkeys for every ‘Angel’ on the tree.  Then another business has donated $15 gift cards for every one on the tree so the children can get what ever they want.

Angel requests are still coming in as more families learn that it’s up already so as fast as an ‘Angel’ is taken, there’s almost another to replace it.  Luckily a lot of local churches have come to offer gifts for the children and families too.  There is a lot of need this year in our community unfortunately with so many still trying to rebuild their lives but that’s one of the things that makes New Orleans a great city, people really care about each other and my little ‘Angel tree’ is proof.

Darn hot water heater went out

Why do they call them a ‘hot water heater’ when it should be a ‘cold water heater’?  Sorry, I just have those types of thoughts from time to time.  Anyway, mine when out.  I had to call my handy man to come repair it or replace it if that’s what it needs.  It shouldn’t need replacing since it’s only a couple years old.  He said he thinks it’s just the heating element has gone bad since it isn’t that old.

One things for sure, I hate to spend any money needlessly right now.  There are too many holidays just around the corner to have to buy myself a water heater for a Christmas present for myself.  Doesn’t sound like much of a present unless I want to take a nice hot bath and then it sounds like a pretty darn good present.  Don’t you think?  This makes 2 out of 3 so I wonder what’s next?  First my copier and now this.

Britney Spears

Britney Spears is also from Louisiana as most of you probably know.  Bless her heart, she’s finally getting her life back together.  She is a prime example of a young girl that got too much too soon and fell from grace.  She is doing much better now thank God.

So much so that she’s working hard on a comeback and doing quite well with it from what I understand.  She also has gotten permission from the courts to bring her two young sons home to visit with her family.  This poor girl has fought back hard only to have one of her sons rushed to the hospital while here because of a severe allergic reaction to something he ate.  I bet that scared the living daylights out of her.  First of all just because it’s her son and second of all, because she lost custody and the first time she’s allowed to take them out of California, this happens.

Britney, honey, you are on the top of my prayer list along with your sons.  I wish you only good things and hope and pray your comeback is a total comeback and not just musically.  Hang in there hon!!!

Proud to honor Veterans

I am so very proud to honor Veterans today.  They deserve far more than just one day though.  They deserve a whole week.  They have done so much for our country that they should get a bonus check from the government on Veterans Day.  What do you think?  Should we try and get something like that for them?  I think it’s the least our country owes them.  So here’s to all of you that have ever served and to those of you that are serving now.

Angel Tree

Every year, we put up an ‘Angel Tree’ in my establishment.  Local families in need come to me with the names of their children to place on the tree with a short list of items they want for Christmas.  I have done this for many years and this year, I decided to put the tree up early to allow for more childrens names and also to give people that want to help, more time to buy the gifts for the children.

I accept names of children from newborn to 18.  The only thing that is one the Angel card is if the child is a boy or a girl, how old they are and three items they would like to have.  I have seen items from tennis shoes to PSP’s put on the list but usually there are affordable things and nothing elaborate.

One child asked for nothing for himself.  He only wanted three things for him to give to his parents and younger sister.  This was a 10 year old ‘Man’ and I took his card personally.  I guess I adopted the family that year for Christmas because I also invited them to my home for Christmas dinner.  It was one of the best Christmases I can remember having.  Yes the young man got plenty as did the whole family.

You see, they had lost everything in Hurricane Katrina and were trying to get their lives back together.  I felt honored to be able to help them.  Their mother still works for me and he even has a little part time job in the evenings taking out the trash and picking up around the outside of the place for me.  He does a great job too.  They are a very humble family and grateful for anything anyone does to help them.

So if you see an ‘Angel Tree’ somewhere, you should know that you are someones ‘Angel’ when you take that child, family or elderly persons name and buy them gifts.  We are all someones ‘Guardian Angel’ sometimes in our lives if we choose to be.  Please choose to be.

Enough gloom and doom, let’s have a party

What is New Orleans known best for?  Their parties.  So enough of the gloom and doom of the economy.  LET’S PARTY!!!!  Halloween is tomorrow night and we’re all geared up to throw a ‘Monster Bash’ if you will.  Costumes are everywhere here so there’s no reason not to get all decked out in a costume and cast your cares to the wind, if only for one night.

Personally, I think we all need to just throw caution to the wind from time to time to keep our souls healthy. It’s good to let the problems of everyday life go if just for one night to sort of recharge your batteries so you can face whatever the next day or week shall bring so get out and enjoy yourself for Halloween but be safe too.  HAPPY HALLOWEEN YA’LL!!