Let there be a Krewe
When First Draft first began, back before there was
dirt, one of the things we tried to do on a regular
basis was give people ways to make their voices heard.
Call your congressperson on this issue. Write a letter
to these guys. Donate to this cause. Don't despair
because you can't do everything, but don't sit there
doing nothing. Do not be daunted by the enormity of
the world's misery. Do what you can.
And it wasn't always huge: The money you'd spend at
the drive-thru can save a kitten or buy a book or send
a card; the e-mail or phone call that goes out into
the void might travel until it hits somebody you never
even considered. The point was to say, look, you have
opportunities in front of you to do things, and you
can take them. You don't have to, but it's not like
you don't have a chance.
From March 29 through April 1, Scout and I are going
to be in New Orleans. Mr. A, too. We're going to work
with a wrecking crew that's gutting houses, and we're
going to be spending time in some of the places
Scout's been before, talking to people in an effort to
tell their ongoing stories. We're going to be lending
a hand where we can.
And we'd like YOU to join us.
Here is a preliminary schedule:
Fri 3/30--Dinner and evening out for music
Sat 3/31--Work gutting a home
Sun 4/1--"Misery Tour" of city
What we'd like you to do right now is comment with
your e-mail address or send that address to us
(e-mails for Scout and I are on the right --->) so we
can add you to the First Draft NOLA E-mail List.
It'll be a chance to come together as a bunch of blog
readers and writers and do something good for this
place Scout's brought so vividly to life in her work.
We hope you'll come along.
--Athenae & Scout
can't go, but here's what i can do - if you're bringing a camera, get your interviews on tape(dvcam, preferably, but i can use anything) and i'll cut something together for you. i just did something for spocko over his little brouhaha. i've got that vid and footage i shot in nola when i was there in april up on my youtube channel - search "danmcenroe".
if you're interested, reply to the e-mail addy attached to this post.
Posted by: dan mcenroe | January 22, 2007 at 13:21
virgotex@gmail.com
Please put me on the list. I am not yet sure I can make the trip, but I'd like to.
If I can't make the trip, I will definitely lend support in whatever way I can- $$ or something else.
Posted by: virgotex | January 22, 2007 at 13:27
Put me on the list.
Posted by: Grandmère Mimi | January 22, 2007 at 13:42
Aw, man, my mom's already bought her ticket to come visit that week or I would be there. Let us know if we can help with $, and if you get a chance to check out Carrollton and give us a report on the state of things there, that would be great.
Thanks for doing this.
Posted by: slim | January 22, 2007 at 14:48
This may dovetail with existing plans, no promises.
keep us all posted, and prep the PayPal account - we should at least buy you guys work gloves and respirators (for the mold).
Posted by: mdhatter | January 22, 2007 at 15:22
Please put me on the list, too. I can't promise I can attend but, being freshly divorced, it's certainly a possibility.
I hope I can join you. Thanks for doing this.
Posted by: Sinfonian | January 22, 2007 at 16:04
Would that I could. Bless you.
Posted by: thebewilderness | January 22, 2007 at 18:15
I replied to Scout's e-mail. You can probably count me in.
Posted by: Ripley | January 22, 2007 at 19:24
I wish I could join you, but I just no longer have that kind of stamina, to work that long. If $$ help let me know and I will do what I can that way. Oh, how I wish I could join you.
Posted by: Hoppy | January 22, 2007 at 20:24
Well, I'll probably be unable to go but I will certainly support the effort, and see if there are others in my area who could do something about it.
But you never know, stranger things have happened!
Posted by: Duckman GR | January 22, 2007 at 21:36
Oh, I really want to. Let me check my schedule and see if I can make it ($ is snug at present, blasted car problems). However, if I do have a new car by then and can find a place to stay that doesn't kill my budget, I am in. Also, might be able to share a room w/folks. I am tight w/my usual haunt (a BnB on the edge of the Qtr - Esplanade/Rampart), and might be able to score some rooms (helping out a local biz while helping locals! Bonus!).
Scout, I will send you my e-mail!
Elspeth
Posted by: Elspeth R | January 22, 2007 at 21:43
Hmmmm, maybe I can beam down or something. I also will definitely donate to make sure you have the best quality respirators you need. A relative lived there and had had to leave another visited right after the flooding and got "The Katrina Kough" which was based on the mold, but nobody talked about it because that would be informing people about the dangers and they really just wanted us all to shut up.
So, protective gear is a MUST for those precious lung sacks!
Posted by: spocko | January 22, 2007 at 22:27
We will definitely be wearing protective gear
Posted by: scout prime | January 22, 2007 at 22:46
Scout, I live here and I'll be joining you. I have a spare room, too.
Posted by: dangerblond | January 23, 2007 at 08:56
Cool dangerblond!!!
Posted by: scout prime | January 23, 2007 at 09:14
not just respirators, good gloves too.
Gotta protect those bloggin' fingers.
Posted by: mdhatter | January 23, 2007 at 14:47
A
You please know you and Mr A are of course welcome to stay @ the compound....we'd love to have you all.
Scout - no arguement - you staying w/ us.
Posted by: lb0313 | January 24, 2007 at 16:34
Crap. Mr. jezebel and I thought we were going to be able to make it and were getting really excited about the trip. We've got a work conflict now -- don't know if we can get around it but so far not looking good. If we can get there, we will.
Posted by: jezebel | February 06, 2007 at 18:44
This is still on, right?
I've cleared my schedule ... still hoping for flight prices to drop a bit, but worst case scenario, I could drive. I'd rather not ...
I'll get my hotel reservation done today. I'm planning to be there, barring unforeseen circumstances.
Posted by: Sinfonian | February 13, 2007 at 09:33
Yes Sinfonian...it's on.
I emailed you
Posted by: scoutprime | February 14, 2007 at 18:52
I'm not a blogger, not much of a writer, but I'd like to help. Just moved here from Los Angeles. My house might be finished, but it looks more like April. I'm renting an unfurnished place from a friend. Sleeping on an air matress, but there's a big screened in porch, room for anyone who can bring their own bed.
Posted by: Sarah | March 09, 2007 at 16:42
Scout,
Please check out the wiki for the Geek Dinner that we're throwing in your honor, and add your list of participants.
http://thinknola.com/wiki/Geek_Dinner_3
It will be great to see you again!
Posted by: Maitri | March 12, 2007 at 12:00
I'm officially IN.
Flight and hotel are booked. See you soon!
Posted by: Sinfonian | March 14, 2007 at 13:49
I don't know of any of you will be checking this, but a box of 11 3M P100 respirators have been shipped to your location for you all to wear during your house gutting chores. I don't want you to get sick from mold.
We Vulcan's understand hostile environments and want to protect our friends when they are in them.
Posted by: spocko | March 23, 2007 at 17:55
I just found this blog from a link from Eschaton.
You know, I am actually going to be visiting friends in NO from March 38 to April 3. I would be happy to be of help (not that I know much about either construction or demolition) and I am going to be in town, so I will contact you once I'm there, let you know where I'm staying, and give you my cell phone number.
so stay tuned. I just found about this, and I may be able to help. I'd love to be of some use, if I can be .... this sound *much* better than just touring bars in the French quarter.
Posted by: Diana Jarvis | March 25, 2007 at 20:12
hello !
Posted by: Best regards | June 01, 2007 at 11:44