Top 10 Positives for September

Like many people, I tend to focus on the negative. You know: Complain, complain, complain. Bitch and moan. I can't tell you how many times I've been asked, "You want some cheese to go with that whine?" So, I thought I would embark on a new tradition (talk about setting oneself up to fail) of accentuating the positive. Well, here goes...

The Top 10 Positive Things for The Month

1. Received $50 rebate from Epson (finally and after sending in the proof of purchase TWICE).


2. Went to a party and saw friends I hadn't seen in a long time.


3. Wrapped up a Web site project started more than 6 months ago (originally planned to launch in July).


4. Led a prayer at church and didn't start by saying, "Let us play" -- a favorite Freudian slip of mine.


5. Scored major brownie points with The Wife by creating a quickie Web site for the church clothing sale.


6. Drove Suzanna to the airport and lent her my carry-on bag for her trip to San Francisco. Got a NEW carry-on bag when a burly, female airport security agent manhandled my bag and broke the handle. (Thanks, Suzanna!)


7. Remembered my parents' 49th wedding anniversary and remembered to call my dad ahead of time and take him shopping for a gift (dozen roses) and a BBQ sandwich.


8. Witnessed several signs of God throughout the horrible aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. (Too many to count.)


9. Adopted Gromit. (See entry below.)


10. Having climbed into our bed in the middle of the night, 3-year old Wren rolls over, throws her arm over me and says, "I love you, Dad."

Welcome Home, Gromit!

Introducing the newest member of the Perdue household:

Gromit, a miniature dachshund adopted from our neighbor, Gracie Neiman, who gave birth to a litter of seven (4 male and 3 female) nine weeks ago.

Here shown in a rare moment when the "bounce has gone out of his bungee."

Katrina's Other Victims

A dogs rests patiently on a rooftop in Biloxi.


Two dogs sit atop a submerged SUV in New Orleans.


Rescuing "Hercules" from a rooftop in East Biloxi.

I thought you fellow animal lovers might be interested in knowing about this relief organization that is helping to pair lost pets with their owners and provide foster homes for pets displaced due to Hurricane Katrina.

http://www.katrinafoundpets.com/

Hmmmm. Maybe we could house a dog or two. Wonder how ShiChi would feel about that?

Wren's First Day of School

When you look at these pictures you can almost hear her doing her imitation of Spongebob Squarepants: "I'm ready! I'm ready! I'm ready!"

For her first day of preschool, Wren insisted on wearing a dress, decided against wearing her hair in pigtails, and sat with her backpack over her shoulders and her sleeping mat in her arms for at least a quarter hour before time to go.

Yes. Life goes on.

And I rejoice.

Look out, Miss Linda! Look out, world!

Things Are Looking Up

As I type this, the bleak situation in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast seems to have come to a turning point. The last of refugees taking shelter in the Superdome have been evacuated, only a few more remain in the god-forsaken NO convention center, and steadily people are being plucked from rooftops and upper floors of flooded buildings by boat and helicopter.

Becky and Rick made it home safely arriving at about 2 am on Friday. We had reserved not one but two rental cars for them in Houston -- just in case. They were able to give one of the two cars to a couple from somewhere in Texas who they had met on the cruise. The man, Rodney, called our house around 10 pm Thursday night (Becky and Rick had given our number as way for us to contact each other). He was calling to see if we had heard from Becky and Rick and to let them know they had made it home safely. He was relieved to hear that they were en route and had just called from near Texarkana to let us know their progress.

No word yet from the Richmonds in Biloxi. Hopefully, they are safe and simply do not have Internet access. We continue to pray for them as they must rebuild their homes and their lives -- assuming they survived.

My brother's brother-in-law, Wayne, has been called up for Air National Guard duty. Originally on a mission to build a "tent city" near Baton Rouge, Wayne spent Tuesday and Wednesday gathering and packing equipment to build a satelite communications center (his thing is telecommunications). When they arrived in Little Rock, they were told their mission had been changed and were told to leave the communications equipment and take a truck loaded with guns and ammo instead. He is now on the streets of New Orleans with a gun over his shoulder. Please keep Wayne and all the guardsmen in your prayers.

We've helped in small ways and will continue to. My brother and sister-in-law took about $500 worth of air mattresses, sheets and pillows to Goodman Oaks Church of Christ where evacuees have been welcomed since before Katrina made landfall. We donated a portable crib to Bellevue Baptist where a shelter is being created in their Grace Family Life Center. We asked what their immediate needs were and were told "men's underwear - LARGE". No problem. Found you can get quite a lot of men's underwear, T-shirts (and women's underwear, too) for $100 at Wal-Mart.

Today, our church is holding a potluck lunch and special worship service open to evacuees/survivors/refugees from the hurricane affected areas. I'm sure -- especially if we sing that song "still my heart will say, blessed by the Lord" -- I will be fighting back the tears.

God is good. All the time.

Still Standing

I saw this reported on CNN and was so excited to find a photograph that I could share with you. This scene is in hisotric Jackson Square in New Orleans, site of the 18th century St. Louis Cathedral. Two massive live oaks were uprooted during Hurricane Katrina and fell across this garden, ripping out a 30-foot section of ornamental iron fence and falling across this marble statue of Jesus. Amid a tangled mass of huge, broken branches and limbs, the only damage to the statue was snapping off the thumb and forefinger of his outstretched hands.

Pretty amazing, isn't He?

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

Our Biloxi Vacation Condo

I found this photograph on the Biloxi Sun-Herald's web site last night. This is Magnolia Garden Townhomes where we vacationed August 4-8. We stayed in the middle of the 3-unit building that's still standing in the background. (The lower level windows and doors appear to be blown/washed out.) We swam in the swimming pool where that car now sits submerged. The owner/operators, Traci Richmond and her husband (who's name I don't remember), lived in a 2-story building that stood between the pool and the building where we stayed. It is completely gone. I've emailed the Richmonds to see if they made it out okay, but so far I have not received a reply. Keep them, and others like them, in your prayers.

Before and After

Sharkhead's Souvenirs, Biloxi Beach -- August 6, 2005


Sharkhead's Souvenirs, Biloxi Beach -- August 20, 2005

The Human Spirit

A man consoling his 10-year old neighbor in Pascagoula, MS, this photograph (shot by William Colgin of The Press-Register) is probably the best image to come out of the Hurricane Katrina devastation. It is my prayer that this becomes a defining image for the compassion, courage and tenacity of the people who faced this horrible tragedy

New Orleans Underwater

Matt's wife Mandy's grandmother and aunt live in the neighborhood above. This is an area of New Orleans flooded after a breach in a canal levee leading from Lake Ponchartrain. Luckily, they evacuated and are safely away from here. It's uncertain when they will be able to return.

Three Weeks Ago

Three weeks ago, we stayed in a condo one block east of this devastated apartment complex.

An oil platform ripped from its mooring in the Gulf of Mexico rests by the shore in Dauphin Island, Ala. Tuesday Aug. 30, 2005 after hurricane Katrina passed through the area.

Three weeks ago, we were collecting sea shells on this beach.



Three weeks ago, we drove across this bridge from Biloxi to Ocean Springs, Miss.



Another view of the Biloxi-Ocean Springs bridge.



A casino completely swept off its moorings...



...and deposited across the highway.



Three weeks ago, these were the landmarks along our drive down scenic Beach Boulevard/Highway 90 in Biloxi.

Going From Bad to Worse

Things in New Orleans seem to be getting uglier by the hour. Hundreds are feared dead. Martial law has been declared in two parishes. Looting is widespread. Conditions are deteriorating in the Superdome shelter -- one person has jumped to their death from an upper level. The Governor of Louisiana says the whole city should be evacuated.

A scripture comes to mind: "You will find trouble in the world but take heart, I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

I saw a news report earlier: A massive live oak tree fell across a small park or cemetary, and still standing in the middle of the tangle of broken limbs and leaves and branches...a statue of Jesus, unscathed.

Keep the faith.

New Orleans Today

I'm sorry to tell you, Becky and Rick. But this is where you car is parked. Come on home and file an insurance claim.

The Katrina Aftermath

Sadler's Apartments -- 2 blocks from the condo where we stayed -- completely destroyed along with more than 100 condominiums along Beach Boulevard.

Like many people, we've been keeping a close eye on Hurricane Katrina and the havoc left in her wake. Having just returned from a vacation in Biloxi/Gulfport, we've spotted many familiar landmarks on the news that are now obliterated. The famous Biloxi lighthouse, once surrounded by light poles, traffic signals and trees, is now the only thing still standing in that spot in the middle of Highway 90/Beach Boulevard. The new Hard Rock Cafe, with its "world's largest" guitar/sign, was set to open next month and will now have to be completely rebuilt.

But the worst news from Biloxi that I've seen so far is a report of 30 people dead in the St. Charles Apartment complex. St. Charles street is just one block west of the Magnolia Gardens condos where we stayed at the corner of St. George and Beach Blvd. It just makes it all hit close to home. I can see those apartments, see those people who were hanging out on their balconies just a couple of weeks ago.

We've also been watching closely for news from LJ's sister and brother-in-law, Becky and Rick. They drove to New Orleans last Friday and set sail Saturday afternoon on a 4-day Carnival Cruise to Cozumel. Becky called last night (collect from a phone on the ship) to tell us that the ship is being re-routed to Galveston where they are being asked to debark and find transportation home from there. Becky asked us to help locate a rental car in Galveston -- something we're finding to be perhaps impossible. And the question now is: Can they travel from Galveston back to New Orleans to retrieve their car? Will New Orleans be accessbile for driving by Friday? Will their car even still be there? I'm beginning to think they should simply drive (or take a bus) from Galveston back home and plan on being without their car for weeks if not months.


This demolished Dairy Queen in Gulfport sits across Beach Boulevard from a Mexican restaurant where we ate.


A sad image taken on Beach Boulevard in Biloxi.

Praying for the innocent victims:


Ninety-year old woman taking shelter in the Louisiana Superdome.


A family rescued from their flooded home in New Orleans.


A deer rests on the shoulder next to flooding along Interstate 10 at the Mississippi state line.

Welcome, Cousin Elvis

I heard a stat the other day, that there are now more than 14 million Web logs (blogs) on the Internet and a new blog is added about every 20 seconds. Well, welcome the latest: Cousin Elvis, the blog of my dearest friend, Greg. This guy is one of a kind. Comedian, singer, writer, poet, performer, actor, recuiter, father and friend -- this is the guy who's pictured next to the definition of all around good guy. (The blog name "Renaissance Man" must have been taken.)

I will be very interested in see what's on his mind.

Blog on, Greg.

Pictured: Greg and Bill at The Museum of Automobiles in Morrilton, Arkanasas.

Alma Mater, The Follow-up

I'm chagrined. The HU Director of Career Counseling and Placement (whose name I'll keep out of this) courteously gave me a phone call just now. She said that she truly did not mean to offend anyone by refusing to post the Second Presbyterian graphic designer job, but went on to explain how she's between a rock and a hard place. Seems this isn't the first time someone's complained about the new CareerNet Web site. She cited an incident when a position at a Church of Christ was posted on the site and Harding was "blasted" by at least one individual because the church was "liberal". So, she knows that a posting for a position at a Presbyterian church would raise someone's ire.

I had to tell her, she's in a tough position. But she said herself, you can not please everyone. To which I suggested they do what is right in the eyes of the Lord, and then defend that policy to whoever might complain -- using the truth as their defense.

The bottomline: They will NOT post the Second Pres job listing, but she planned to call my friend and spread news of the junior graphic design position via word of mouth.

All I can do is wish her good luck, thank God I'm not in her position, and pray maranatha -- Lord, come quickly. At least I tried...

Hell, Alma Mater!

So, I get this email from my Harding University classmate (who now works as a professor for the school) letting me know about the HU placement office's new CareerNet Web Site where Harding graduates/alumni and employers can connect. Right away, I forward the email to my friend and client who heads up the in-house communications staff for Second Presbyterian Church here in Memphis, knowing that she's seeking to hire a junior-level graphic designer.

Here's the response she received from Harding's Director of Career Counseling and Placement:

Thank you for your interest in posting jobs on our CareerNet website. I just wanted to let you know that Harding University is affiliated with the Church of Christ and a vast majority of our students are members. I don’t believe it would be beneficial for you to place job postings on our website for that reason.

Can you believe that! Not beneficial? To whom? The feeble Harding graduate who might *gasp* be "converted" to Presbyterianism?

I was shocked, appalled, embarrassed and irrate. It NEVER crossed my mind that Harding would have a problem with a non-Church-of-Christ church seeking to hire one of its alumni.

I fired off an email to said Director, saying her actions were "a poor reflection on the Church of Christ, a personal embarrassment to me, and a disservice to the very Harding graduates you profess to serve." I asked her to reconsider her decision and to consider apologizing to my friend.

That was 2 days ago, and I haven't received a response.

Well, I thought my beef with this was bad, until I heard about a ruckus going on regarding their invitation of Ann Coulter to speak. Under the circumstances, I guess a letter to the administration would probably get lost in the frey.

FedEx Furniture Makes FedEx Furious

Check out this story on WIRED about a guy who makes "ghetto style" furniture using free FedEx packaging! Only FedEx isn't laughing. Their heavyweight lawyers have sent him a nice little "cease and desist" letter. This will be interesting to watch...

House Numbers

What's up with all the addresses? On this house in our neighborhood, there are six -- count them -- six different house numbers: (1) on a sign in the yard, (2) on the mailbox, (3) over the front porch, (4) on the front door, (5) painted on the side of a tree, and (6) over the garage door. Think maybe he's had a problem receiving mail? In the words of The Great Jim Morrison, "People are strange."

Seven-Year Eyes

In honor of Parks's first day of school, here's something I wrote a couple of years ago:

Discoverer.
Adventurer.
Seer of things unseen.
To seven-year eyes
The world is new,
Exciting and clean.
Oh, what a gift
To catch a glimpse
Of life through seven-year eyes.
I, too, with you
We're discoverers,
Adventurers and spies.