Missing Home

Bandido is a big part of my life and I miss his big brown eyes searching mine. My sister Jeanne has been tending him at her home in Orem, Utah. I hope he is bringing her as much joy as he brings me. He is shown on my new cherry floor which was laid by my son-in-law Mark while I was working in Sacramento last year. I miss my little home and Bandido. 

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

This time of year I can't help but reflect on being home. This is what I would see in my backyard about now with all the recent snows. It is so quiet and lovely. I miss it.

Lighting of the Christmas Tree in Galveston! Christmas, Part 1, 2005

Tonight Kyle, Gwenda and I went to the Strand and saw the Dickens characters getting in the mood for Dickens on the Strand next weekend. They come to the Harbor area all dressed in their Dickens finery to entice us to come back next week and spend a lot of time and money buying food and such at a Dickens Christmas on the Strand. Sounds wonderful. It has been a part of Galveston for 32 years.

 After this the Harbor Parade was a delight to see. Boats were not only lighted but they were decorated with balloons and decorations. One boat had a huge shell with a beautiful mermaid in it. Kyle had made reservations at Willie G's (hour wait) so the timing was perfect. Willie G's is a very popular restaurant at the Harbor. I

I decided to try the blackened redfish since John seemed to think it was so special. It was so good. Just perfect. When we arrived home the Christmas tree in front of the Rain Forest Restaurant had been lighted and decoarated. This will be my tree this Christmas. For a little town, Galveston has a lot going on. Looking forward to the next few weeks. 

Galveston! Galveston!

When my boss asked me if I wanted a beach vacation, I thought he was kidding! This is sunrise from my patio (a small patio but a patio) and sunset from the beach. I love it here. The beach is warm and balmy even at night! In 1900 there was a hurricane here and 6000 people died. They built a seawall all along the shore line and there has never been such a loss since. This is the seawall in front of my hotel and is an extension of the original. Dan Dailey, Kyle Norheim, and Janet Thomas greeted me when I arrived at the Galveston DRC. Now Dan and Janet are gone for the holiday and will move on to Metiere, LA on Monday. Kyle and I both have our roots in Montana and live in Northern California (only second person I have met from Montana in SBA). Now isn't that a coincidence? Gwenda will join us on Friday. The Center will be open until early December or early January and I am so glad I can stay here until then. Applications are still coming in and the applicants have until January 7. Many are still just coming back from their evacuations. Of course, the processing in Fort Worth and Sacramento will go on for a long, long time after that... Thanksgiving will be at Luby's with a Harry Potter movie later and a run on the beach even later. Alone probably, but after nine years I am getting used to that. Everyone else traveled to Houston or points north. I am happy to stay away from the city and be here at the ocean. Reminds me of San Diego and my other life. It was nine years ago that Richard had his heart attack and died, the day before Thanksgiving. Hard to believe, where has the time gone? This has been a good experience for me. So many people with so many more problems than mine, I am glad I can be of help. Yesterday as I walked on the beach, someone said, "You are someone important, "Disaster Assistance." (on my jacket). I said, "All I do is help people fill out their applications." "Well, someone has to do it, and we are glad you are here, thank you." That was nice. I am listening to Christmas Carols and getting in the mood for the holiday. I have a pull out couch if anyone wants a beach vacation!!! Happy Thanksgiving.

On to Galveston

Leaving the Beaumont Office and on to Galveston where I will be working in the DRC there till it closes. The birds crowd at the end of the ferry and swoop around you. A welcome from the birds. Since I won't be home for Thanksgiving I thought I would get a little nostalgic and use my Thanksgiving picture from last year to get me in the mood for the holiday. I had been working in Sacramento processing loans from Hurricane Charley, etc. so my daughter Maria brought her family from Susanville and we had Thanksgiving dinner at the Black Angus in Folsom. My family is too far away this year so who knows where I will eat. Maybe go view the birds again. As I drove down from Beaumont I could still see so much debris and devastation around. There is so much recovery left. The biggest threat I hear about as I meet with the applicants is the evergrowing mold in their homes...there just isn't enough money or help to put it all back together. 13 of our applicants last week were still living in their cars!!! 900 trailers went out from Jasper to applicants this week but we just can't seem to keep up with the need.

From Spurger to Beaumont DRC

Charlie is the leader in our Beaumont Office and makes sure we do the best job we can for our applicants by doing complete interviews and getting the information needed. He has been teaching us all to know how to team lead a Disaster Recovery Center for SBA.

 

Evanne is the one who sees that all applications are fed exed to arrive at the processing center in Fort Worth the next day. There is a lot of preparation and record keeping and she is busy, busy all day but so well-organized she makes it look easy. (It isn't, in a large center like Beaumont.)

 

Spurger Disaster Team! A few of them have been working in the Beaumont Disaster Center this month before going home to their regular jobs. They volunteered to help FEMA and were paid by their regular employers. What a great group they have been! 

Also pictured are some of the Shaw team that makes the centers function so well. I have been in the Beaumont Center for the past few weeks also. I have met many new SBA friends and have enjoyed that. 

There are too many good places to eat in Beaumont, however, and that is the main attraction.

We have had several of the smaller centers close and so at times we have too many of us there for the number of applicants. Some are sent home or to another area each week. 

 Maria sent my laptop and Bob, the FEMA computer expert fixed it so I can go wireless or data port in the hotels I stay in...and he zonked out the many bugs I had! I now can communicate again!! Thank you, thank you so much, Bob. 

This week I am the lucky one as I have been sent to team lead the Galveston Center. Haven't been to Galveston yet but understand it is like Pacific Beach/Mission Beach in California, Yea!