MOYNA'S SOAPBOX (10)

Here it is, late Sunday afternoon, and I'm watching the 5 o'clock news. I'm watching for the latest update of GUSTAV since it will be affecting us here in Alabama. People from New Orleans have listened to their mayor & have been evacuating the crescent city. On one of the major highways from New Orleans to B'ham, it's BUMPER TO BUMPER - and it doesn't look like it's going to let up anytime soon. Our governor is planning on changing the southbound lanes of I-65 to northbound to help with the traffic backup. All of the shelters in Birmingham are full, so the people are being sent to other shelters. In B'ham & the surrounding cities, I believe there are enough beds for around 10,000 plus people. The local humane shelters are taking in the pets from the people down on the gulf. This way, the people will know where to find their pets when the storm has passed. People that are already in the shelters here, and went through Katrina, already seem to sort-of be in shock. They just can't believe that they have worked so hard to rebuild their lives from Katrina and now might have to go through it again. New Orleans is a poor city, and it was so hard on the people there to rebuild their lives. Most of the people had lived there their entire lives, so they didn't want to leave their home - but in truth, they can't afford to leave. They have done their best to rebuild their lives, but are looking at the terror of probably having to do it once again. This time, when interviewed, some have said they might not come back. I can't imagine how they must feel....

No, I can't imagine how they feel, but I do know how I feel wondering if the wind is going to hit us like Katrina did. I think that was the most frightening thing I have ever experienced. Tonight is the first time I've really listened to the news about Gustav. I've just sort-of ignored it, thinking it would go away if I didn't think about it. We just finished with 5 days of Fay being here - leaving us with plenty of water & really green lawns that need a mowing! There was only one night of some strong winds with Fay; I was nervous with that, but not scared. Gustav is a different story. We have already been warned that there will be strong winds here with the storm. Fred has already said, "I guess I'll be home on Tuesday." He knows he can't go to work with a storm & strong winds coming.

That's what is happening here with Gustav. Even though I have been watching the news tonight, I'm still trying to ignore Gustav, just pretend he's not around & won't affect us. We shall see what's going to happen beginning tomorrow. I'm praying New Orleans isn't hit anywhere near as hard as it was with Katrina......New Orleans is a great town & there is still a lot of rebuilding to do.

'Til later.

MOYNA'S SOAPBOX (9)

The time has come....when all good things must come to an end - at least that's MY OPINION for whatever it's worth. Today begins the Fall season - which means football Saturdays (Sundays, Mondays, Thursdays and all other days of the week). Fred began to prepare me for today by saying to tell him what needed to be done before today, because once today arrived, he would be in front of the TV watching college football. Unfortunately, AUBURN isn't on TV, just the radio. So, since AUBURN and Alabama play at the same time, Fred will watch Alabama on TV with the sound down and listen to AUBURN on the radio! Oh me, oh my!!! I've already taken my Tylenol for the headache that has begun!! AUBURN opens their season against Louisiana Monroe. The last time AUBURN opened against this team, they (AUBURN) had a perfect season. Some commentators are excited to see if this will happen once again - especially since AUBURN has completely changed their offense. Guess we'll see.......

The reason I started this particular blog was to get on my soapbox about being a "college football widow" during the season. It's not quite that bad, but it certainly has its moments. Fred can only concentrate on one thing at a time - the game of the moment. I try not to talk because it stresses him to have to listen to me. When I talk too much - especially when I ask questions about something, then he snaps back an answer. And that doesn't go over well with me...... It's a difficult time of year. Luckily, we've been married long enough (28 years this year - and we even managed to get married during football season) that we don't have as much to say!!! Most stuff can wait until after the games of the day!!

That's it...WAR EAGLE, HEY!!!!!!!!!!!!

MOYNA'S SOAPBOX (8)

I'M EXHAUSTED!!! Tropical storm/depression Fay rolled through here yesterday & decided to strengthen last night when it was time for bed. We didn't have the main part of the storm, just the outer bands, but that was bad enough. Until about 4:30 this morning, I had only 2 quick naps - about 20 minutes each. I spent the rest of the night sitting up in bed listening to the pounding rain & the strong wind gusts that just didn't die down. I just kept praying our roof & the siding stayed nailed down. To try & keep my mind off of the storm, I watched the entire Olympic game of the USA men's basketball against Spain. WE WON!! It was expected for our team to win, but the team struggled a bit & really had to work for the win. I also watched some of the men's platform diving. I've really never been a big fan of platform diving because I believe anyone that can dive from any height higher than 3 feet has done a terrific dive!! The commentators critique the dives & point out all of the errors - I just don't see them.....I don't understand how anyone that hits the water from that height doesn't break their neck or back. I also watched the finals of the table tennis. It was a final of 2 Chinese men. I have always loved the Olympic table tennis event since I was a kid! It fascinates me to watch grown people hit the ball so hard & have it hit the table! Other than the Olympics, there wasn't much else to watch from midnight to 4:30 am. Thank goodness the storm settled down enough by then that I could go out to my chair in the living room & sleep for an hour & a half or so..... It's about 5 pm now and I'm watching the local news. The screen has the state map up - our county is under a tornado warning.... It's not in our area; I think it's a little north of us. Yes, it is. The weather guy - Jerry Tracy, has just come on to tell where the storm is. Hopefully, we won't have anymore strong winds from Fay. Fay has been around WAY TOOOOO LONG!!

Our diabetic cat, Doo-Rail, is going to have to see a dermatologist - and only the best for him! In September, he will see the leading doctor in our state. Doo-Rail has had a spot on his tummy for a while, and it won't go away despite the fact we rub an ointment on him twice a day. Our local vet says that if he weren't diabetic, he could give Doo-Rail a shot that would clear it right up, but since he is diabetic, he can't have the shot. So, Doo-Rail will see a specialist to try & get the spot cleared up. It's a good thing we love our cats like kids....because this one is costing us a small fortune each month.

Well, Fred has begun his Fall selling season. We got estimates on the home projects I wanted done this summer, but not one of the projects was done..... I told Fred they WILL BE DONE this year, so we have decided on who's doing what and we will try to schedule them all for the first part of October. We are having the stairs done in hardwood (a light honey stained oak), the front of the house landscaped, and the railing to the stairs repaired. We never got around to the carpet in the living & dining rooms, but that's my fault....I just couldn't make up my mind between tile or new carpet. I STILL haven't decided, so I told Fred we will just get the carpet cleaned and wait until next year..., but that we will begin that project earlier than we usually start our summer projects so that it DOES GET DONE!!

The landscaping project has turned out to be a real headache. I knew it would be for Fred, but I never dreamed my head would hurt from trying to make decisions! The first estimate we had from someone I really wanted to work with was for just under $20,000!!!! CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT??!! As Fred says, "We don't live in a neighborhood where you would spend that much. Our home isn't worth spending that much on." I had to agree with him. We told the guy we weren't about to spend that much, so he has now given us an estimate just under $13,000. Still a little too much. We have also spoken with another man that we really like and will probably go with him. He is actually retired, but still likes to take a job now & then for some extra money & to help keep his license. And this person understands the word SIMPLE - that's what I keep stressing as far as what I want, but I believe my definition of simple isn't the same as the first person we got the high estimates from. Right now, we have approximately 16 or 18 bushes we want removed and new ones put in - with some space in between each bush. The first guy wants to plant 72 bushes in the space!! When I told him NO, he came back with his cut-back estimate, but still had 72 bushes/plants for the space - just different ones!! Like I said, our definitions of SIMPLE seem to differ GREATLY!! Guess we'll see what we end up with in October!

Next week begins COLLEGE FOOTBALL - Fred's FAVORITE time of year!! He is so excited now he can barely stand waiting until next week! Auburn has a new offense, so everyone is waiting to see how they will do with it. I just want to beat BAMA for the 7th time in a row!! WAR EAGLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's about it from here.

Listen to This

Sound Portraits is a not-for-profit organization that purports to tell stories from ignored or lost American voices, thereby depicting the lives of people who are marginalized and forgotten. The following are two fascinating examples that are worth listening to:

Here is Julius Howell, a Confederate Civil War General. He describes joining the Southern army, being captured by bluebellies, and going to a Union prison camp, where he found out about Lincoln's assassination. It was recorded in 1947 at the Library of Congress, when Howell was 101 years old.

http://www.soundportraits.org/on-air/civil_war_general/

Here is Fountain Hughes, at 101 years old and a former slave, speaking about being a slave.

http://www.soundportraits.org/on-air/former_slave/

Home from California

I got in yesterday on a 2:30 arrival from Houston having flown out of S.F. at 6 a.m. Was I tired when I got to Pelham? You bet!

Continental neglected to put my bag on my flight, but it was on the next flight from Houston, and they delivered last night at 10. OK.

Our house is still standing, today is Moyna's birthday, and Freddy is in Tuscaloosa. All is well with the Hudsons.

In California (3)

This is my last day in California. I have been here since 8/8. Early tomorrow morning I will wing my way back to Alabama.

I am always amazed by the sheer mass of people in San Francisco. The population density is amazing.

The cooler weather has been refreshing. It's like Alabama Fall here.

In San Francisco you see the homeless. They are more visible here than in any other city I've been to. Do other cities send their homeless to San Francisco?

Since I've been here I've lost track of the news, I've not followed the Olympics, and more important, I've haven't closely followed Auburn's preseason football practice. I look forward to getting back into the normal swing of things.

In California (2)

I spend the weekend in Modesto with the O'Rileys. Pop and I go to the Turf Club in Turlock on Saturday. I enjoy meeting some of his cronies: mainly retired men like him.

On Sunday Mom O'Riley and I drive up into the Sierras. This part of California is startling each time I see it. You have the brown hills, the small trees, and the open spaces, unlike the dense forests of Alabama.

The O'Rileys are doing well. He is 90 and she is 84. They do especially well for their ages.

On Monday I take the Amtrak back to San Francisco. I have a new boss whose name is Stephen Perry. He came over from Houghton-Mifflin, which our company just acquired. I think Stephen will do fine. More later.

In California

I flew to California last Friday---Birmingham to San Francisco, arriving around 10:30 a.m. I was glad to see that I could take BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) to downtown S.F. You couldn't see much from BART, but I did get a close-up view of the ticky-tacky houses of South San Francisco.
I go to the Marriott to check my big bag. The plan is to spend the weekend in Modesto with Moyna's parents and return to S.F. Monday for the company meeting.

I have until 5 to piddle around The City (as the locals call San Francisco). I do some major walking in the Union Square area before catching the Amtrak bus at 5 to begin my journey to Modesto.

I make to City Lights, the premier independent, historic bookstore in The City. I have a most enjoyable afternoon. It is so COOL in San Francisco---like Fall weather in Alabama. Mark Twain said that the coldest winter he ever spent was summer in San Francisco.

I take the Amtrak bus from Market St. to Emeryville, which is just across the Bay next to Oakland. From there I ride Amtrak to Modesto. It is a most pleasureable train ride for the train trails along the S.F. Bay and I see how far back East that big bay goes. Imagine a train moving along a bay and you have the picture.

In Modesto Moyna's childhood friend Josie picks me up at the train station and then I am at the in-laws, the house Moyna grew up in, for the weekend. More coming.