Making our way to Baton Rouge ... Again.

After spending some unexpected time in Jackson last week, we're back in Baton Rouge. We're just not exactly home, yet.

Contrary to the mainstream media's perception that Gustav "was not that bad", we just got power back at our place (and nearly 60,000 residents of East Baton Rouge Parish are still without power). That means that traffic lights are out, some grocery stores can't stock perishables, and some gas stations can't pump gas. They expect the town to be fully functional by September 24th ... we'll see. It initially looked like a disaster area with large oak trees down in the middle of roads and power lines hanging. Clean up is progressing, and the first major round of debris removal began this morning.

See the following site for some pictures and video:

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/28047034.html

http://www.2theadvocate.com/hurricane_center/28041289.html

http://www.2theadvocate.com/hurricane_center/28040704.html

Some family friends, Sandra and Jim King, graciously hosted the Bodie family on Sunday when we got in from Jackson since we were without power. In return, we're house-sitting for 10 days and taking care of Scooter, a very friendly Springer Spaniel. Eden is sleeping in her brand new Graco pack-and-play (thank you, CC), and we get to experience driving into work on the interstate.

Hopefully, things will return to normal shortly. However, as I type, the outer bands of Ike are causing wind gusts of 50 mph outside. Welcome to the Gulf!!!