Name it something normal and maybe it will go away

Gustav - why would you even name a storm something stupid like that? With a ridiculous name like that, this storm is likely to come after us with a vengeance just for naming it that! According to Wikipedia, (which I might add is NOT an actual real source, but one that people like me & you put information into), Gustav means "staff of the Gods." What happened to naming storms things like Robert and Julie?

I have to say it is really cool, and a bit scary, how serious our wonderful Governor Bobby Jindal is taking this storm. Before Katrina, nobody really did anything when hurricanes were looming, and we all learned some serious lessons about that. However, the storm wasn't the real problem. Most people weathered that (no pun intended) just fine, at least in New Orleans. It was when the levees broke that things fell apart. Mississippi was a different story, but I'm not really talking about Mississippi's state of preparedness right now. And it is important to be proactive about these things, and Bobby Jindal is. And I love him.

I can recall hurricanes where we didn't do a thing to prepare and then just waited to ride it out. We've had so many false alarms, that you really had to scream and yell for anyone to get nervous or even leave home during a hurricane. I remember one hurricane that hit here about 10 years ago, can't even remember the name. Some of my real life blogger friends probably remember this and were probably even there too! It was before Walter & I were dating, but were both with a large group of friends partying out of town at a hotel/bar. There was news of a hurricane, but that didn't phase us at all!! News reports were on telling people to be prepared. What did we do? We kept on partying all weekend! When it was time to go home, we were barely ahead of the storm. Then we found out that New Orleans was being EVACUATED!! Yikes! And people with us were from New Orleans and couldn't go home, so Walter brought some of them home with him for a couple of days and some went home with me. And now, here I sit FIVE DAYS before a hurricane could possibly come this way and I'll be honest, i'm worried! I'm not so worried about myself, my family, my house, etc. I just don't know how we could survive the damage caused by Katrina & Rita in our state (and others) again, especially since there is still so much suffering going on. And do you think our levees are somehow fixed now? Ha Ha. No, i'm sure they aren't, but luckily (or unluckily) not many people live in the areas now that flooded so bad. And that is because they lost EVERYTHING and can't live there anymore. So yeah, it's a viscious cycle that we don't need to repeat.

And yes. We are cancelling our trip to New York! We will likely lose $300 for cancelling the tickets unless the area is put under a hurricane warning before our flight Friday morning, but that's ok. They will credit the rest toward another flight at a future date. And there is a bright side! Cathy & Brent will be in town for STEAK NIGHT tomorrow night!! Yay!!

Ok. Enough of that. Today was a very hectic day at work. I had several meetings that took up most of my time, and only had time to meet with 1 student. I did get permission slips sent out for 4 Why Try groups that I am going to do. My co-worker has been trained in the program and will co-lead 2 groups with me, then I will do 2 on my own. I'm excited about getting those started and see how they work out!