Thursday, February 12, 2009
Day 5: The Beginning Of The End Part II
We finished up what we could and got on the road. It's snowing again and the driving is treacherous, so we're taking our time. Julia is stuck in Tallahassee, I-10 is a mess, she plans on getting an early start tomorrow, I forbade her to drive at night. Jerry Frankel, our local FEMA contact was a bit pissed that we pulled up stakes, but given what's been going on lately he really couldn't muster up too much of an argument.
Rumors of more infected individuals being executed in LAX, apparently the sickness has a second stage that sends the infected into a rage, causing them to lash out and attack anyone in sight. Not sounding good at all. More cases reported. Seattle, Cleveland, Guam, Hong Kong and Sydney Australia. Countries have begun to close down their airports, much like we did. The whole world feels like it's holding it's collective breath, waiting to see just what exactly is going to happen.
I'm going to catch a couple hours sleep before it's my turn to drive.
-Joe
Rumors of more infected individuals being executed in LAX, apparently the sickness has a second stage that sends the infected into a rage, causing them to lash out and attack anyone in sight. Not sounding good at all. More cases reported. Seattle, Cleveland, Guam, Hong Kong and Sydney Australia. Countries have begun to close down their airports, much like we did. The whole world feels like it's holding it's collective breath, waiting to see just what exactly is going to happen.
I'm going to catch a couple hours sleep before it's my turn to drive.
-Joe
Day 5: The Beginning Of The End
Huge accident on I-10 has Julia stuck in traffic for a good four hours already, she's frustrated and a bit scared. Turns out more infections have shown up, two in Denver, one in Montreal, six more in New York, four in Miami, three in Houston and a whopping ten in Boston. The word Epidemic is starting to show up in every news cast. The CDC is requesting that anyone with any flu like symptoms call their 800 number and they will take it from there.
My cold seems to have run it's course, I guess alcohol does kill germs. Even if it didn't I'd be damned if I let the CDC throw me in a room to die. I guess that's a selfish attitude, but fuck it all, that's the way I feel.
Frank Buckley, one of the morning news anchors for LA's KTLA, reported this morning that there is a rumor of severe complications in the TBIT. Apparently one of the victims that was in a coma suddenly rose up and attacked a member of the CDC. Rumor has it that the still un-named victim was shot to death during the incident. The National Guard has increased the amount of soldiers on-site in case this situation comes about again. Citing an anonymous source, Buckley stated that most of the infected individuals have slipped into comas, but other than the the shooting victim, no-one has died yet.
We're leaving tonight, no matter how far along we get with the power restoration. I don't care if FEMA docks our pay or not, we all want to get home to our families.
-Joe
My cold seems to have run it's course, I guess alcohol does kill germs. Even if it didn't I'd be damned if I let the CDC throw me in a room to die. I guess that's a selfish attitude, but fuck it all, that's the way I feel.
Frank Buckley, one of the morning news anchors for LA's KTLA, reported this morning that there is a rumor of severe complications in the TBIT. Apparently one of the victims that was in a coma suddenly rose up and attacked a member of the CDC. Rumor has it that the still un-named victim was shot to death during the incident. The National Guard has increased the amount of soldiers on-site in case this situation comes about again. Citing an anonymous source, Buckley stated that most of the infected individuals have slipped into comas, but other than the the shooting victim, no-one has died yet.
We're leaving tonight, no matter how far along we get with the power restoration. I don't care if FEMA docks our pay or not, we all want to get home to our families.
-Joe
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Day 4: The Beginning Of The End Part II
Big trouble. Three more incidents appeared in NYC, all of them folks that traveled from LAX to La Guardia. Things aren't looking good. A local LA TV station claims to be sitting on an eyewitness to bad stuff that happened in the TBIT. Claims their eyewitness is still locked away in the terminal, but he or she has a cell phone and has been communicating with one of the talking heads at the station. I haven't seen any transcripts or heard any sound bites yet, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen. I'm sure they're waiting for the right moment. I'm wiped out beyond wiped out. We worked hard today and I'm sore as a bitch. 1500 mg of Acetometaphine and four fingers of bourbon have made my eyes a bit heavy. I think we're gonna hit the road tomorrow afternoon, no matter how much we get done. Julia is already on the road, last I spoke to her she was stopping at a Day's Inn in Louisiana. Can't wait to get home.
Day 4: The Beginning Of The End
Bad news today. Really bad. Four cases of H5N1-S, or the Big Bird Flu, as the mediots are referring to it have been discovered in New York City. I guess a family that flew into LAX from Singapore escaped the TBIT before lock down and caught a flight from San Diego to NYC, bringing a very dangerous passenger with them. They're isolated in a Manhattan hospital, and the CDC is already on scene. Another case was discovered in Chicago, and one was discovered in Tokyo. Our President came on and assured us that every precaution was being taken and that there is nothing to worry about.
Bullshit. How about all the people that took the flight with that family to NYC? How about all the people that breathed the air from the businessman that infected Chicago, or rode a bus with the woman in Tokyo? One of our so-called precautions is all flights have been cancelled domestic, and international as well. Julia is beside herself, trying to arrange for a car rental so she can drive home. I'm ready to walk off this job early and head back myself, but I don't want to jump the gun. If these few incidents are contained things should be alright. Plus there's been no indication (yet) that the virus can go airborne. Reggie and Gary are ready to follow my lead, we've been working as a team for almost 10 years and they trust my judgement as much as I trust theirs.
I talked to Abigail, and at my request she's keeping the kids out of school and in the house until further notice. In fact, they're all heading down to her condo this morning. I told her to call me the moment they arrive, with all the cancelled flights the roads are going to be full of pissed off travelers in rental cars. What a clusterfuck.
The only good news is they've separated the non-infected travelers from the sick ones at LAX, put them in a totally separate building. They could be released in as little as seven days. The ones that are infected are holding on for the most part, but it's been reported that three of them have slipped into a coma. Still no-one recovering. If things get any stranger I may be pulling out of here as early as tomorrow.
-Joe
Bullshit. How about all the people that took the flight with that family to NYC? How about all the people that breathed the air from the businessman that infected Chicago, or rode a bus with the woman in Tokyo? One of our so-called precautions is all flights have been cancelled domestic, and international as well. Julia is beside herself, trying to arrange for a car rental so she can drive home. I'm ready to walk off this job early and head back myself, but I don't want to jump the gun. If these few incidents are contained things should be alright. Plus there's been no indication (yet) that the virus can go airborne. Reggie and Gary are ready to follow my lead, we've been working as a team for almost 10 years and they trust my judgement as much as I trust theirs.
I talked to Abigail, and at my request she's keeping the kids out of school and in the house until further notice. In fact, they're all heading down to her condo this morning. I told her to call me the moment they arrive, with all the cancelled flights the roads are going to be full of pissed off travelers in rental cars. What a clusterfuck.
The only good news is they've separated the non-infected travelers from the sick ones at LAX, put them in a totally separate building. They could be released in as little as seven days. The ones that are infected are holding on for the most part, but it's been reported that three of them have slipped into a coma. Still no-one recovering. If things get any stranger I may be pulling out of here as early as tomorrow.
-Joe
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Day3: The Beginning Of The End Part II
Woohoo! We restored power to downtown Pleasureville today! What a feeling of accomplishment that was! The next few days should be enough for us to restore the fallen lines that lead out to the still dark houses. The Mayor of Pleasureville (and the owner of the local butcher shop) Danny McCray thanked us all profusely, he looked as if he would cry. Travis and his gang of locals ended up showing up around noon, he apologized for missing the early part of the day and we shook hands. He was under no obligation in my mind, but his (and his gangs) participation was more than welcome.
No real news out of LA, status quo, so to speak, at least so far. The spokesman for the CDC said that the illness was indeed a strain of influenza, the flu. In fact it seems that it's a mutated version of the H5N1 strain, which became notorious during the 90s as the bird flu. There were still no reported deaths from the virus, and no more people in the terminal had come down with it since yesterday. Maybe they contained it. I keep hoping so.
Our President made another statement, praising the CDC for their hard work, thanking the residents of LA for keeping things in control and apologizing to the infected individuals and their families for the inconvenience they were experiencing. He also assured us all (or at least tried to) that this was an isolated incident, and one that would not be repeated. He's a hell of a talker, I'll grant him that.
Julia is excited about getting home to the kids tomorrow and looking forward to my return on Friday, I assured her that we were still on schedule. Abigail and the kids spoke to me briefly as well, Joe Jr reminding me about the dog he wants when I get home, he's already got a name for him: Rufus. When he told me that I felt the blood drain from my face. It was, of course, a coincidence, but a scary motherfucker of a coincidence, to say the least. Gary, Reggie, the guys from Baton Rouge and myself are all headed to the newly revived downtown to join the locals that stuck around for a few drinks. I'll write more tomorrow.
-Joe
No real news out of LA, status quo, so to speak, at least so far. The spokesman for the CDC said that the illness was indeed a strain of influenza, the flu. In fact it seems that it's a mutated version of the H5N1 strain, which became notorious during the 90s as the bird flu. There were still no reported deaths from the virus, and no more people in the terminal had come down with it since yesterday. Maybe they contained it. I keep hoping so.
Our President made another statement, praising the CDC for their hard work, thanking the residents of LA for keeping things in control and apologizing to the infected individuals and their families for the inconvenience they were experiencing. He also assured us all (or at least tried to) that this was an isolated incident, and one that would not be repeated. He's a hell of a talker, I'll grant him that.
Julia is excited about getting home to the kids tomorrow and looking forward to my return on Friday, I assured her that we were still on schedule. Abigail and the kids spoke to me briefly as well, Joe Jr reminding me about the dog he wants when I get home, he's already got a name for him: Rufus. When he told me that I felt the blood drain from my face. It was, of course, a coincidence, but a scary motherfucker of a coincidence, to say the least. Gary, Reggie, the guys from Baton Rouge and myself are all headed to the newly revived downtown to join the locals that stuck around for a few drinks. I'll write more tomorrow.
-Joe
Day 3: The Beginning Of The End
Travis and his boys refused to help out today, I think they're all torn up over finding the Cahill family yesterday. I still can't the image of them out of my head. My boys and the Baton Rouge team will have to pull a little more weight today, that's all. I caught some of the news this morning, I guess the situation in LA is deteriorating, over 400 people are reported as being sick at this time. Nothing particularly dangerous, according to the sources, but it's only been a couple of days since this all started. The CDC made a statement urging everyone who was in the terminal at the time of the blast, but got out before the place was locked down, to report to a nearby hospital for a check up. They also urged everyone in the LA area to schedule a flu shot ASAP. Like that will do shit if this is a viral attack.
Julia called this morning, she's still scheduled to head home tomorrow. I'll feel better when all my people are in one place. I also talked to my brother, Steve, this morning. He lives in Tampa, on the west coast of Florida. We shot the shit for a while about this whole LA thing. His theory is that this was done by someone from here, not a terrorist organization. He claims some crazy right-wing, Obama hating, organization did this to test him. I'd like to think Steve is full of shit, but who the hell knows at this point? Terrorist groups usually jump on situations like this and take credit immediately. Anonymity makes people brave.
Weather is warming up a little, but I feel like I've got a bit of a cold coming on. Let me say, with what happened in LA two days ago, I'm a bit nervous, even though I'm across the country from the incident. Julia's still on schedule to go home tomorrow, and the kids and Abigail are fine, talked to them all this morning. Reggie spoke to his sister, Brenda, as well. She and her family are headed for Sacramento, she said things aren't panicky in LA, but she thinks it may get ugly in the next few days, especially if this situation starts to show up outside of the quarantine area.
Gotta go, I'll update later.
-Joe
Julia called this morning, she's still scheduled to head home tomorrow. I'll feel better when all my people are in one place. I also talked to my brother, Steve, this morning. He lives in Tampa, on the west coast of Florida. We shot the shit for a while about this whole LA thing. His theory is that this was done by someone from here, not a terrorist organization. He claims some crazy right-wing, Obama hating, organization did this to test him. I'd like to think Steve is full of shit, but who the hell knows at this point? Terrorist groups usually jump on situations like this and take credit immediately. Anonymity makes people brave.
Weather is warming up a little, but I feel like I've got a bit of a cold coming on. Let me say, with what happened in LA two days ago, I'm a bit nervous, even though I'm across the country from the incident. Julia's still on schedule to go home tomorrow, and the kids and Abigail are fine, talked to them all this morning. Reggie spoke to his sister, Brenda, as well. She and her family are headed for Sacramento, she said things aren't panicky in LA, but she thinks it may get ugly in the next few days, especially if this situation starts to show up outside of the quarantine area.
Gotta go, I'll update later.
-Joe
Monday, February 9, 2009
Day 2: Beginning Of The End Part III
What a shitty afternoon. Travis McCauley, one of the local boys, and the leader of the rag tag group pulled me aside when we were taking stock of tomorrow's workload. "Come here, Tanner," he said grimly (Tanner was the nickname he gave me because I came to Kentucky with the type of Florida tan that only men who work outside seem to have). "Something you should see." With that he led me slightly off Main Street into a culvert where a single car was sitting, half covered with snow.
"It's the Cahills, I went to school with Brenda." I half slid down the culvert and peered through the driver's side window. There was a man and woman in the front seat, looking as if they were resting for a few hours during a long trip. In the back seat I could see two young boys and a German Shepherd that spent his last hours lending his body heat to the kids. "Troy is his name, the boys are Timmy and Tommy. Rufus loved those kids, poor fucking dog." I saw Travis tear up a little as he gazed at the frozen family.
"Jesus, Travis, I'm sorry you had to see this." I couldn't stop staring at the kids and the dog that tried in vain to save them. "Let's get back to the road, I'll radio this in. Fucking tragic."
We headed back to the others and said nothing, sharing our secret for the time being. Then we got back to work.
When I got back to the trailer I turned on the 22" TV we all shared and Gary, Reggie and I watched a news video that showed a few hundred people lined up in rows on the TBIT floor, they all coughed and wheezed and looked really sick. It was terrible. The announcer was stating that the CDC was confident that the situation was under control and that no fatalitys had been reported.
Not yet at least.
I gazed at the sick people and my heart broke. Human tragedy on any scale always saddened me and this was so real and so intense that it hurt to witness what was happening. I could see my family and my friends among the fallen and it made me realize just how precious life really was. Gary and Reggie watched with me and for once the three of us were quiet and somber. We passed around a bottle of Jack Daniels until it was gone.
I called Julia, she was fine and had already booked her flight for Wednesday afternoon. She was due to land at PBIA just after seven PM. Abigail and the kids were excited she was coming home. I felt better too. The crew from Louisiana was a big help today and it looked like my goal to be home by the weekend was going to be met. When I got done with Julia I called the kids. Abigail told me everything was great and there was nothing to worry about. Then she handed me to Joe Jr.
Joe was pretty excited, I guess his friend just got an XBox and the two of them would be able to play games together online. He told me school was fine, even though everyone in his class had to see the school nurse for a check up. He told me he wanted a dog too, and I couldn't help but think of poor Rufus when he said that. I promised him I'd think about it, but it was Mom who'd have to give the final approval there.
He handed me off to Suzette, who insisted that I would bring her a snowball and some icicles home so she could see it 'for real' as she put it. I tried to explain how impossible that was, then gave up, figuring I'd be able to fake it by picking up some crushed ice from the grocery store. Kids are funny sometimes. They were watching TV with Grammy and going to bed soon so she had to go. Abigail took the phone and said good night. I hung up and felt so freaking empty that my stomach ached.
The three of us played cards for an hour or so, then crashed. I've been laying here for at least an hour, but I'm starting to drift off now. I hope tomorrow is better than today was.
- Joe
"It's the Cahills, I went to school with Brenda." I half slid down the culvert and peered through the driver's side window. There was a man and woman in the front seat, looking as if they were resting for a few hours during a long trip. In the back seat I could see two young boys and a German Shepherd that spent his last hours lending his body heat to the kids. "Troy is his name, the boys are Timmy and Tommy. Rufus loved those kids, poor fucking dog." I saw Travis tear up a little as he gazed at the frozen family.
"Jesus, Travis, I'm sorry you had to see this." I couldn't stop staring at the kids and the dog that tried in vain to save them. "Let's get back to the road, I'll radio this in. Fucking tragic."
We headed back to the others and said nothing, sharing our secret for the time being. Then we got back to work.
When I got back to the trailer I turned on the 22" TV we all shared and Gary, Reggie and I watched a news video that showed a few hundred people lined up in rows on the TBIT floor, they all coughed and wheezed and looked really sick. It was terrible. The announcer was stating that the CDC was confident that the situation was under control and that no fatalitys had been reported.
Not yet at least.
I gazed at the sick people and my heart broke. Human tragedy on any scale always saddened me and this was so real and so intense that it hurt to witness what was happening. I could see my family and my friends among the fallen and it made me realize just how precious life really was. Gary and Reggie watched with me and for once the three of us were quiet and somber. We passed around a bottle of Jack Daniels until it was gone.
I called Julia, she was fine and had already booked her flight for Wednesday afternoon. She was due to land at PBIA just after seven PM. Abigail and the kids were excited she was coming home. I felt better too. The crew from Louisiana was a big help today and it looked like my goal to be home by the weekend was going to be met. When I got done with Julia I called the kids. Abigail told me everything was great and there was nothing to worry about. Then she handed me to Joe Jr.
Joe was pretty excited, I guess his friend just got an XBox and the two of them would be able to play games together online. He told me school was fine, even though everyone in his class had to see the school nurse for a check up. He told me he wanted a dog too, and I couldn't help but think of poor Rufus when he said that. I promised him I'd think about it, but it was Mom who'd have to give the final approval there.
He handed me off to Suzette, who insisted that I would bring her a snowball and some icicles home so she could see it 'for real' as she put it. I tried to explain how impossible that was, then gave up, figuring I'd be able to fake it by picking up some crushed ice from the grocery store. Kids are funny sometimes. They were watching TV with Grammy and going to bed soon so she had to go. Abigail took the phone and said good night. I hung up and felt so freaking empty that my stomach ached.
The three of us played cards for an hour or so, then crashed. I've been laying here for at least an hour, but I'm starting to drift off now. I hope tomorrow is better than today was.
- Joe
Day 2: Beginning Of The End Part II
Had to get this down while I have the time. It's been confirmed, the CDC is in LA at this time, things aren't looking to good either. Seems like a lot of the people have become rather sick, like they caught some sort of Superflu or something. Doctors and viral specialists from all over the country are headed to California to see if they can determine exactly what is going on there. They're still not releasing anyone from quarantine, they'd rather treat them on the spot. I guess the chance of the infection spreading is too much of an unknown at this point and they're erring on the side of safety.
Reggie talked to his sister an hour ago, she's alright so far, but she claims that the local buzz on the street indicates there may be evacuation orders for some of the areas surrounding LAX. Unreal. She told him that she's getting the kids and heading up to Northern California until things settle down. Doesn't take much to make LA go crazy, if this shit hits the streets the city could damn well go up in flames. I gotta get back to work.
-Joe
Reggie talked to his sister an hour ago, she's alright so far, but she claims that the local buzz on the street indicates there may be evacuation orders for some of the areas surrounding LAX. Unreal. She told him that she's getting the kids and heading up to Northern California until things settle down. Doesn't take much to make LA go crazy, if this shit hits the streets the city could damn well go up in flames. I gotta get back to work.
-Joe
Day 2: Beginning Of The End
Monday
Feb 9, 2009
Big freaking story. LAX is still shut down completely. No other bombs were found by the roving bomb squads, but everyone wants to be safe. The people in TBIT are still quarantined at this time. I feel for them, I feel like I'm imprisoned here in Pleasureville KY myself. A bit of good news today, another team, this one out of Baton Rouge, will be joining my men and I today. That should speed things along nicely.
I miss my family something fierce and can't wait to get back home. Reggie's got a sister out in Los Angeles, he hasn't been able to get her on the phone since the incident occurred and he's a bit concerned, but he won't show it. We were talking about getting back to Florida this morning over breakfast and we're all real anxious. Julia and I spoke briefly, she's pushing to get everything wrapped up in Houston ASAP so she can get home to the kids. This type of shit always brings families back together.
There's still no word on the effect the gas had on the people exposed to it. Rumors of the CDC showing up in LA have begun to surface and that is causing quite the stir amongst the media's rumor mongers. If this was a viral attack this could be messy, I have no idea how many people were in the terminal when the blast went off but the TBIT is the international terminal at LAX and it had to be packed with people on a Sunday afternoon. If it was a biological threat I'm concerned about the people that got out before the place was quarantined. Fucked up world we live in these days. I caught our President's sound bite this morning regarding the attack, he claims that no-one has stepped forward claiming credit for the incident. Usually those cowardly pricks will jump on an incident like this immediately, safely hidden behind their towels and sunglasses. Obama also stated that the situation is under control and the quarantine is merely a precaution, there is no real need to be alarmed at this point.
I hope he's right.
I gotta get to work. I'll document this more when I get back to the trailer. It's still cold as hell out.
-Joe
Feb 9, 2009
Big freaking story. LAX is still shut down completely. No other bombs were found by the roving bomb squads, but everyone wants to be safe. The people in TBIT are still quarantined at this time. I feel for them, I feel like I'm imprisoned here in Pleasureville KY myself. A bit of good news today, another team, this one out of Baton Rouge, will be joining my men and I today. That should speed things along nicely.
I miss my family something fierce and can't wait to get back home. Reggie's got a sister out in Los Angeles, he hasn't been able to get her on the phone since the incident occurred and he's a bit concerned, but he won't show it. We were talking about getting back to Florida this morning over breakfast and we're all real anxious. Julia and I spoke briefly, she's pushing to get everything wrapped up in Houston ASAP so she can get home to the kids. This type of shit always brings families back together.
There's still no word on the effect the gas had on the people exposed to it. Rumors of the CDC showing up in LA have begun to surface and that is causing quite the stir amongst the media's rumor mongers. If this was a viral attack this could be messy, I have no idea how many people were in the terminal when the blast went off but the TBIT is the international terminal at LAX and it had to be packed with people on a Sunday afternoon. If it was a biological threat I'm concerned about the people that got out before the place was quarantined. Fucked up world we live in these days. I caught our President's sound bite this morning regarding the attack, he claims that no-one has stepped forward claiming credit for the incident. Usually those cowardly pricks will jump on an incident like this immediately, safely hidden behind their towels and sunglasses. Obama also stated that the situation is under control and the quarantine is merely a precaution, there is no real need to be alarmed at this point.
I hope he's right.
I gotta get to work. I'll document this more when I get back to the trailer. It's still cold as hell out.
-Joe
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Day 1: Beginning Of The End Part II
Fucking terrorists. Unreal. I caught it on MSNBC.com right after Julia told me what happened. Apparently a bomb went off around 3:30 EST at LAX, right in the terminal, strangely, however, it wasn't a huge explosive designed for maximum damage. Seems like it was a small one, blew up in the Tom Bradly International Terminal. Only one fatality, poor guy sitting next to the garbage can it was stashed in was cut open when the metal can ripped apart. There was some sort of gas released when the device blew. No-one is sure what it is, but they've got the terminal quarantined for now and government officials are on site trying to determine the nature of the gas.
Crazy Goddamn world we live in these days. Julia's nervous about flying back later in the week, and honestly so am I. LAX is shut down for now, bomb squads are combing the rest of the place in case there's more goodies stashed away. I imagine all the major airports have buttoned down their security for now, similar to the way they did during the aftermath of 9/11. I figured those Middle Eastern pricks would try some sort of attack once Obama was in office, to test the waters, so to speak, I just didn't think it would happen less than 30 days after he took office.
I'm exhausted, going to get some sleep. FEMA was nice enough to provide us with trailers to live in while we worked. Quarters are tight, I share mine with Reggie Jennings and Gary McGrane, two guys from my team down South. Reggie snores like a freaking Shar Pei with asthma and Gary can't get through the night without gassing the trailer with one of his legendary farts. Good times indeed. I talked to Abigail and the kids. They're back at our house, everyone safe and sound. Joe and Suzette were both wiped out from two days with Grammy at the beach. Makes me long for my childhood years again.
-Joe
PS: This is kind of therapeutic, think I'll keep up with it, maybe show Julia and the kids one day.
Crazy Goddamn world we live in these days. Julia's nervous about flying back later in the week, and honestly so am I. LAX is shut down for now, bomb squads are combing the rest of the place in case there's more goodies stashed away. I imagine all the major airports have buttoned down their security for now, similar to the way they did during the aftermath of 9/11. I figured those Middle Eastern pricks would try some sort of attack once Obama was in office, to test the waters, so to speak, I just didn't think it would happen less than 30 days after he took office.
I'm exhausted, going to get some sleep. FEMA was nice enough to provide us with trailers to live in while we worked. Quarters are tight, I share mine with Reggie Jennings and Gary McGrane, two guys from my team down South. Reggie snores like a freaking Shar Pei with asthma and Gary can't get through the night without gassing the trailer with one of his legendary farts. Good times indeed. I talked to Abigail and the kids. They're back at our house, everyone safe and sound. Joe and Suzette were both wiped out from two days with Grammy at the beach. Makes me long for my childhood years again.
-Joe
PS: This is kind of therapeutic, think I'll keep up with it, maybe show Julia and the kids one day.
Day 1: The Beginning Of The End
Sunday
Feb 8, 2009
I've spent over 20 years working for FPL in South Florida, running power lines and repairing transformers. Good honest work, no doubt, and it can get quite hellish, especially after a hurricane rips through the state, toppling trees and knocking over poles. I've spent the last 10 days in Kentucky, courtesy of FEMA, overseeing a massive restoration project that has been a cold miserable son a bitch to preside over. I can't wait to get back home and walk outside without the snot freezing my nostrils shut.
My wife, Julia, is currently in Houston. She's a junior partner for a law firm in West Palm Beach. It's one of those firms that specializes in real estate and the like, none of that cool John Grisham shit for her. Most times when she tells me about her job I'm lost by the third sentence. Even she admits it's pretty dry stuff, but between the two of us we pull in good money and haven't had to go without. She's due back in West Palm by Thursday, I'm hoping to be right behind her before the weekend hits. Our kids, Joey Jr. (age 9) and Suzette (age 6) are being watched Julia's mother Abigail (age 68). Ha, she'd kill me for mentioning her real age.
Abigail has been staying with the kids at our house in Wellington during the week, then taking them down to her condo in Key Largo for the weekend. No-one's complaining down there, that's for sure. Kid's love their Grammy and the feelings go both ways. Plus Junior loves the beach and Key Largo's got plenty of beach side property, Grammy's included.
My name is Joseph Daniel Baker, I'm 42 years old, and this is my attempt to start an e-journal. For Christmas I got this cool as hell Blueberry, or whatever the hell they call it, and I've finally figured out how to do more than shoot funny emails to my buddies and check sports scores with this crazy thing. I used to write as a kid, and Julia keeps pushing me to do it again, says it will be therapeutic. I don't know why I need therapy, but I figure I got nothing to lose at this point, so here I go.
We're almost finished running power to this little town called Pleasureville, a town to the Northwest of Lexington, with a population that may exceed a thousand residents in the next 10 years. It's a town full of hard working people, not much money there, but the people seem mostly like good folks. Food banks have been keeping them fed, and shelters in Frankfort have taken in many of the people who would have froze to death were it not for the kindness of strangers. There's still quite a few 'good ole boys' that insisted on staying behind, they've been burning through their firewood at an alarming rate, but as long as they've got cold beer and warm Spam they seem to be pretty well adjusted. Most of them have been helping my team clean up debris in the roads so we can get our trucks where they need to be for the power restoration.
I can't wait to get back home. This cold weather reminds me of why I live in Florida. Wife's calling me. Hope I can take this call without losing what I've written.
-Joe
Feb 8, 2009
I've spent over 20 years working for FPL in South Florida, running power lines and repairing transformers. Good honest work, no doubt, and it can get quite hellish, especially after a hurricane rips through the state, toppling trees and knocking over poles. I've spent the last 10 days in Kentucky, courtesy of FEMA, overseeing a massive restoration project that has been a cold miserable son a bitch to preside over. I can't wait to get back home and walk outside without the snot freezing my nostrils shut.
My wife, Julia, is currently in Houston. She's a junior partner for a law firm in West Palm Beach. It's one of those firms that specializes in real estate and the like, none of that cool John Grisham shit for her. Most times when she tells me about her job I'm lost by the third sentence. Even she admits it's pretty dry stuff, but between the two of us we pull in good money and haven't had to go without. She's due back in West Palm by Thursday, I'm hoping to be right behind her before the weekend hits. Our kids, Joey Jr. (age 9) and Suzette (age 6) are being watched Julia's mother Abigail (age 68). Ha, she'd kill me for mentioning her real age.
Abigail has been staying with the kids at our house in Wellington during the week, then taking them down to her condo in Key Largo for the weekend. No-one's complaining down there, that's for sure. Kid's love their Grammy and the feelings go both ways. Plus Junior loves the beach and Key Largo's got plenty of beach side property, Grammy's included.
My name is Joseph Daniel Baker, I'm 42 years old, and this is my attempt to start an e-journal. For Christmas I got this cool as hell Blueberry, or whatever the hell they call it, and I've finally figured out how to do more than shoot funny emails to my buddies and check sports scores with this crazy thing. I used to write as a kid, and Julia keeps pushing me to do it again, says it will be therapeutic. I don't know why I need therapy, but I figure I got nothing to lose at this point, so here I go.
We're almost finished running power to this little town called Pleasureville, a town to the Northwest of Lexington, with a population that may exceed a thousand residents in the next 10 years. It's a town full of hard working people, not much money there, but the people seem mostly like good folks. Food banks have been keeping them fed, and shelters in Frankfort have taken in many of the people who would have froze to death were it not for the kindness of strangers. There's still quite a few 'good ole boys' that insisted on staying behind, they've been burning through their firewood at an alarming rate, but as long as they've got cold beer and warm Spam they seem to be pretty well adjusted. Most of them have been helping my team clean up debris in the roads so we can get our trucks where they need to be for the power restoration.
I can't wait to get back home. This cold weather reminds me of why I live in Florida. Wife's calling me. Hope I can take this call without losing what I've written.
-Joe
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