Like everyone, I'm trying to get a grip on the apocalyptic situation in Louisiana. Well, except for George Bush, of course. I think his fly-by was all he needed to understand and deal with the situation. Truly. He's a quick study that way.

What would I do if three guys walked into my yard bearing machetes and demanded I give them my generator?

What would I do if T was unaccounted for and my phone was out and the hospitals and police stations were overflowing and no one could help me find my husband?

What would I do if I had small children and my house is gone and I have no diapers, no food, no water, no where for them to sleep--- I don't know. But I'd expect so much more from the president of my country, that's for damn sure. SO much more. I would expect immediate full out response to help me and everyone around me cope with the basic needs.

The fact that this is beyond him is no surprise to me. But it is a shocking revelation about how uncared for people in this country are as he has billions of dollars at his disposal-- billions of dollars that come from the people who live and work in this country.

Don't know how I got off on such a stupid diatribe. I'm just so heartsick at what I'm seeing going on and feel so frustrated by the stupidity. Although I know there are people bringing light and love and volunteers working 16 hour days to help--- I know there is goodness out there. It's the lack of leadership I am squalling about. That, and the suffering.

I just keep thinking about pregnant women, women about to have a baby, women who have just had a baby. I want to protect their particular vulnerabilty. For some reason, they are the ones I cannot get my mind off of right now.

It is weird that I have got myself on this. I actually sat down to write something completely different but this is obviously what is on my mind as it came right to the top knocking everything else out in its path.

I guess it's just that I know life is hard and I know there is no life without struggle and that natural disasters occur. I get all that. What hurts me is when people have to suffer for no reason at all except for inept, callous, spiritless leadership. There is so much Bush and his administration could be doing. SO MUCH. The fact that they are not or do not even know how is appalling to me.

I'll be back later to tell you what I originally sat down to say. Henry gets his stiches/staples out today so I want to take him for a nice long walk first.

I'm at Soliden. We are beginning the move in although the house interior is no where near completion. But I don't care. I can pee in a chamber pot and get my water from a hose and brush my teeth in the driveway. I feel so utterly blessed I don't know how to say thanks. There should be a whole school dedicated to saying thanks and offering up blessings. I think I'm going to be starting some Native American rituals each morning otherwise my heart is just too full and I need the spirits to hear my thanks.

got 2 cents?