September 16, 2005

• Well. several blogtopics today. These past couple of days have been full, of activity and emotion.

  First, Kathryn's grandmother Quinica Drake died, around 8am Wednesday morning. Props to Tim and Janet Goddu, who must have had an angelic visitation or something and sent us a touching card even before we formally told anyone what had happened. (Thanks!) She was 92 years old and has been in failing health for almost a year now. She died quietly and peacefully in her bed, holding her son David's hand (that's Kathryn's dad). She will be sorely missed. No word yet on whether/when there will be a memorial service; she arranged to donate her body to science.

  Next, Hurricane Katrina's effects are felt as far as here, in the form of a sudden increase in building materials' costs. Vast amounts are already set aside to rebuild New Orleans, including (at one point) virtually all the drywall in Southern California wholesaler's inventory. Production appears to be catching up with demand now, but for one day this past week (yup, Wednesday), we were told the drywall we wanted to order was not available... at any price. Just not available! Except for existing dealer stock in retail builder outlets, prices for which I'm sure have shot through the roof, tho I haven't checked myself.

  Then I enjoyed a terrific Tessera meeting at The Grove, Wednesday night. Things are coming together, and looking good. What a great group of people, too. As events are planned I'll post them in the "Events" section of this blog.

  Thursday night was Back to School Night at LACS, and again I was not needed to translate! Teachers are learning Spanish, and parents are learning English, and some new school staff speak only Spanish, and some parents only English, and somehow we all meet in the middle and understand each other. Mandatory parent volunteering was introduced this year, and was equably received. I'm actually looking forward to finding fun ways of "doing my time" every quarter: the menu of opportunities to serve was creative, varied and mostly appealing.

  Finally, sometime today I will be sending out a press release about "An Evening of Music to Support the Survivors of Hurricane Katrina". When I do I will make it a post as well, so all of you will get it too. (how's that for maximum coverage!) That's also in the Events section of this blog. Hope to see you there, if you can make it.

  Lots more writing projects in the pipeline. Some of them I'll share here or at TesseraReview.
  Grace and strength, that's what these times demand.
  Will we seek them?

  • 2:13 pm
  • 2 Comments