I was awakened by the furry beasts (3 cats in bed, dog in the floor) at 3am to what we all thought was just a bad thunderstorm. No damage in my neighborhood.

However, my office is adjacent to the severe damage in the "Uptown" or "Carrollton Bend" (depends on the reports you might have read) area of New Orleans. Since I'm in a 3rd floor office on a building that sits on top of the river levee, I have a view of the neighborhood. Lots of roof damage, some homes have lost entire sides of the buildlings. Yesterday there was an army of folks helping clean debris, helping people clear their belongings into rental trucks. Utility crews fixing posts, clearing downed lines. And since the Army is actually in town, the neighborhood is being patrolled by the National Guard to prevent looting.

So, yes, I'm OK, but we all think "ENOUGH ALREADY!"

Meanwhile it's Carnival season, and I'm going to my favorite parade tonight - Muses - an all women Krewe (crew). Their signature "throw" are decorated shoes - glitter, feathers, fru-fru.