Last Weekend in Galveston

This will be the last weekend in Galveston for me. Wednesday I am flying to San Diego, Ca to spend a few days with Linda's family and then over to Jimmy's for Christmas. To celebrate our last weekend Gwenda, my SBA co-worker, and Peggy, our FEMA friend started off to see one of the historic homes in Galveston. Prior to the 1900 hurricane Galveston was the busiest port and many wealthy people resided there. The Greshams built this huge home in 1886 at a cost of

 

$250,000. It has been designated one of the 100 outstanding buildings in America. The interior was carved by German immigrants. The woodwork is rosewood, satinwood, white mahogany, oak, maple and pine. Some of it is that priceless burl unattainable now. The outside was built by Italian immigrants. In 1920 it was sold to the Sacred Heart Church and the Bishop lived there until the Church headquarters were moved to Houston and it was turned into a tourist attraction--and it is something to see. 

We also went to the Gingerbread House to do some fun shopping for Santa Claus rings, Listerine decanters, gorgeous jewelry, unusual umbrellas and many gorgeous things to look at. Then it was time to go to Moody Gardens and see the fish in the aquarium, the birds in the rainforest, a fun Winter musical, and to view the beautiful lights all along the bay and on the grounds. Of course, we had to eat kettle corn, chocolates and such. It was a fun day.

We decided we would have to come back to Galveston from Beaumont where we will be working after Christmas until that DRC closes also--we have just not been able to see it all. Peggy is going home to Louisiana though and who knows when we will see her again. She is a sweetheart.

Year 2005 in Review

As I sit here and view the sunrise in Galveston, Texas I am thinking of my life in 2005. 2004ended with a major snowfall in Salt Lake City and Park City, Utah. All of my living children and grandchildren had gathered for the traditional ski and snowboard Christmas. In total there were about 100 of us gathered there this year as my husband Richard's brother and his family also make their Christmas at Park City. This began in 1976 when Richard had the wonderful idea of a simple, close knit way to spend Christmas. It has been good and rich and we miss Richard and my son John as we open our presents and play our games and remember the past. We are in to the grandchildren skiing now and soon it will be great-grandchildren with all these handsome grandsons and beautiful granddaughters soon to get married. After processing loans in Sacramento for 7 months I came home in April to Lake Almanor and beautiful new wood floors in my home and Bandido waiting for me. Meagan, John's daughter, dressed here as a Thailand princess, had invited me to Hong Kong and Singapore and in May it was a memorable trip. Unfortunately all my pictures are in another place but we have extensive beautiful pictures of Meagan and Matt and I seeing the sights and eating the marvelous foods. Meagan was a terrific host and guide and I will treasure that trip forever. My daughter Linda came up and spent time alone with me in early June--not often a Mom and her daughter who has six children can do that. It was memorable as well. In July, Meagan came to visit for the 4th and then Meagan, Linda and her two children Tanner and Sarah, and Maria's son Mitch all went to my Dad's cabin in Silvergate, Montana, to Yellowstone, and to Jackson Hole, Wy. Unfortunately pictures of all these things are in another place but we had a wonderful time and I am so lucky my grandchildren will travel with me. During the summer new carpet was laid in the bedrooms and significant leveling for a flagstone patio in front of the back deck and then Hurricane Katrina hit and I was off to Sacramento and then Houston and then Baton Rouge where we had an office across the street from Hurricane Katrina victims housed in a huge stadium--and we slept in a gym miles away and then off to ... Port Arthur, Texas where we ran from Hurricane Rita and drove to Tyler in north Texas and then stayed in Fort Worth until we could come back to Houston and then off I went to Spurger, Texas where I braved the heat and humidity and cold and rain to take applications from the victims of Hurricane Rita. On October 29th I was able to be in San Diego, Ca for the wedding of my granddaughter Kristi Pulsipher and her fiance Mike Stewart. The reception in El Cajon was outstanding with lush settings, wonderful food, and fun dancing. Then it was on to Beaumont, Texas where we were meeting with victims from both Hurricane Katrina and Rita. After being the only SBA rep in Spurger it was fun to have other SBA personnel to eat with, talk to, laundry and work with. From there it was on to beautiful Galveston, Texas and a walk on the beach. The year will end with Christmas in Carlsbad with the Jimmy Hardy family and who knows where the New Year will take me. I've already chosen a goal for the year. "Being an Up person in a Down World!" Can I do it?--not sure, will need lots of help. Onward and upwards as they say. 2004 with the death of my son John, and Hurricane Charley, Francis, Jeanne and Ivan was a very tough year and 2005 had its ups and downs so what now...

Dickens on the Strand

Above is Gwenda Barker, my SBA partner at the Disaster Center in Galveston. She is getting into the spirit of Dickens on the Strand when Galveston 's historic Strand area transforms into the Victorian London of legendary author Charles Dicken's era. What started in 1974 as a potluck supper to attract interest in saving the crumbling Victorian commercial buildings from demolition has become a worldwide attraction and is considered one of the 100 best events in the US. The parade is huge with more than one bagpipe group and several bands of sorts in uniforms. Unfortunately I forgot to charge my batteries so can't elaborate more. You can tell the Galvestonians from the tourists because they are in elegant Victorian dress--quite spectacular. Something to come for in your travels, it is the first week in December and hosts over 100 entertainers on six stages and on corners throughout the area. The crafts and arts for sell are also really first class. Quite a show. And what a tribute to Dickens though he had nothing to do with Galveston. His great-great grandson Mark Charles Dickens even comes to do signings of his ancestor's works.

Victorian Christmas Home Tour

The tour started out at the Sacred Heart Church, one of the treasures of the Galveston Island. It was built after damage during the 1900 storm. Everything here is related to before or after the 1900 Hurricane. This church was modeled after the Alhambra in Spain and is the only Roman Catholic Church in the United States with Islamic architecture. We listened to the Moody Methodist Handbell Choir.

  The homes that we saw were mostly built as tenant homes or bride and groom starter homes between 1892 and 1900. They have all had several owners and been lovingly restored and refurbished with modern kitchens. The woodwork has been refinished and in most of the homes is the original. Very beautiful.

Most of the homes are being used by their owners as vacation homes. The tvs are well hidden in armoirs. One of the owners actually lives full time in her home and it was spectacular. I especially like the full mirrors at each end of the bathtub so you could look forever at yourself in the tub! 

It was a fun evening of walking through the town, riding in a horse carriage and viewing homes of another era. The homes have long windows on the porch that could be opened to use as doors! They also have porches on the front or back to take advantage of the breeze from the gulf. One of the locals who had lived in San Diego told me the difference in the gulf water here is that it is very dirty from all the fishing that goes on. She also said there are not good beaches or sand like California and it costs to park and go to a beach where you can swim. She likes the California Pacific beaches much more and the Pacific Ocean which is so clean!

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!

Kristi's Wedding

I was in San Diego for my granddaughter's (Kristi) wedding! Kristi and Mike were married Oct. 29th in the San Diego Temple. Congratulations Kristi and Mike, you are beautiful. Besides the wedding and lovely reception I enjoyed posing with my beautiful grandchildren. See me with Michael, my oldest grandson and Amy and Kelly (sisters) and Melissa. The two flower girls on each side of the bride are my granddaughters Lea and Sarah. Aren't they all darling... I am also pictured with my three children, Maria, James and Linda...Kristi is Linda's oldest child. What a fun day, I'm so glad I was able to be there!