About noon on Sunday, August 25, my Mom called to say she and her boyfriend, Don, with whom she lives, were evacuating because of the coming storm.  They had first thought they would try and ride out the storm, but just decided that morning they would be leaving just as soon as she made a few phone calls and packed a few things….that is the last I have heard directly so far.  They live in Slidell, LA which is just North of New Orleans on the shore of lake Pontchartrain.  I guess it is a fairly small community that has many water inlets and according to the few reports I can find, is almost completely gone.  Today I did get a call from Don’s niece with whom they were supposedly staying farther North, but I guess even they weren’t far enough away and had to evacuate farther.  Everyone is physically fine, but there is still no word on their house yet – I am assuming at this point it is all gone since they only packed a car-full of belongings.

I wanted to tell everyone who has contacted us with their well wishes and concerns, thank you.  I am still in a bit of disbelief, and until I hear more, am hoping for the best, but planning (realistically) for an unfortunate outcome to their home. I will keep everyone post when I can…..

What a fun afternoon!  My good friend Trina is getting married in 40 days (according to her grandmother who is counting down J ) and her wonderful family threw a lovely afternoon tea in her honor.  The party was held at her parent’s house and was catered by her Uncle (who made the most wonderful yummies – handy to have a chef in the family!).  All of Trina’s family and friends are so wonderful it is not surprising I had a great time meeting them all!  So, almost 39 days and counting!!

Friday, and the first event was to stand with our student poster and answer questions from anyone who stops by….it was a long hour. J  The posters were set up on easels in the expo hall where there was a breakfast given by the vendors – so actually, there were quite a few people around.  The next sessions were not till after lunch, which, not wanting to spend the money for more hotel food, I had to buy an umbrella to walk to the mall as it was pouring rain again. It is always amaizing to me that the rain here doesn’t make it any cooler, just more humid!

My evening was terribly exciting including another trip to the gym followed by another walk to the mall attached to the hotel. I have to say the food options around the hotel are not especially great and I had the terribly healthy dinner of fried oysters and French fries as the only other options were scary looking Mexican food and sushi which was being served by non-Asians, never a good sign. I also can’t get over how expensive things are here – I know I am in a hotel(tax on the hotel room is 13%!!), but even the sales tax is 9%! Add that on top of standardized pricing at all the chain stores (Gap, Body Shop, etc.) and I don’t know how people afford it here with lower wages. 

Thankfully, after several restless nights I collapsed in bed by 10 pm and got almost a full night sleep – always a challenge with me and traveling.

Saturday morning was an early one again with the first session at 8 am.  After the first session, which was part 1 of 2, I realized I was really not getting anything out of it so I ditched the second and walked to the mall for lunch again.  In killing some time I found a couple really cute boutiques.  The first, Mignon Faget, was actually recommended by my friend Amy – I had no idea it was going to be so close to my hotel!  I picked up a necklace and bracelet in sterling silver which I am very excited about.  The second boutique was Francesca’s Collections – a fun and eclectic accessories store highlighting inexpensive jewelry with a decidedly New Orleans Flair. 

I am now just getting ready for dinner with my Mom, Don and his two kids, Lyle and Leanne…

I arrived at my conference for the Society of American Archivists on Tuesday evening, a weary and frustrated traveler. The airline had cancelled my Dallas to New Orleans flight then lost my luggage. I am complaining about it first, but it did all turn out ok, just made for a long day.  The up-sides of the day included the fact that I realized my 5:15 pm flight was cancelled, but noticed an earlier flight was still available, since too was it was delayed from the weather.  Since I was in the terminal 3 hours early, I was able to get a seat on the earlier flight before all the other people on my cancelled flight realized (or were even in the airport) what was happening.  I even got into N.O. before my scheduled flight, even with the delay.  The next good thing was my luggage did arrive safe and sound the next morning, but I had a fitful night waking almost ever hour to see if the light on my phone was lit, signaling my luggage was at the bell desk.

After a shaky start, I had most of Wednesday to acclimate and get my poster ready for the conference.  I actually had quite a lovely day.  I used the hotel gym for an hour, walked around the mall attached to the hotel, put my poster together, and then the highlight of the day….a massage and facial at the Ritz-Carlton spa!  It was a wonderful relaxing treat to take the stress off from the earlier day.  I was lucky to get in on 24 hours notice, so I think my travel-karma was still in tact.

Thursday started early with the opening session at 8 AM.  The speaker was the dynamic Andrew Young, former UN Ambassador under the Carter administration.  He gave a very compelling talk (for 60 minutes, without notes!) about the value of archives and how they have increased America’s collective knowledge through research and access.  Additionally, how we, as a professional group, should strive to maintain said free access to all researchers and public alike while emphasizing the collection and accession of marginalized groups whose communal knowledge is under threat of loss.  He gave examples throughout history of marginalized individuals and groups whose knowledge has cured illnesses, averted wars, and changed the social and political direction of American policy.  He also believes it is thought the rediscovery of forgotten or misplaced knowledge and records we will find a cure for AIDS – via archives and their preservation of traditional customs and medicinal practices.

The rest of the day was filled with conference sessions including:

• Three working Models of Digital Archives
• Developing Standardized Metrics for Accessing Use and User Services for Primary Sources
• Communities of Records: Re-Setting the Boundaries of Context

In the evening I did another hour in the gym, did some room services while I took care of e-mail, ordering books for my fall classes and send some physical mail.  I was then feeling some cabin fever so I took about an hour walk down to the French Quarter – I could only stand it outside that long because it was so humid, you could see the air – I have been in gym/spa steam rooms that were not as steamy as it was outside!!

….for me at least, and for about 11 days!  Since I took summer school, I haven’t really felt like it was summer yet, as summer equals free time.  Well, today I turned in my final for class so I have a whole 11 days off!  You ask why such a short time? I am leaving for New Orleans and the annual Society of American Archivists conference, as well as visiting a couple days with my Mother, while I am there.  In the next 11 days, however, I need to create a poster for the conference for our student chapter, prepare a short speech around it and gather all the supplies I will need to put it together while I am in my hotel room. (the conference supplies the poster board so they are all the same size) The day after I return home from this adventure, I start my fall semester…yeash!

And for all my friends out there reading this, I have to say my farewells to you all now as I just found out I am going to have an even more insanely busy fall than I thought before…in addition to my three classes, I just accepted an internship that should last all semester. (more details here on the internship soon…)  It will be really great to get all of this out of the way this semester, but I know now that I will not be as available for ‘fun stuff’ as I have been.   Oh well, it will all be worth it in the end!

So, I have been sitting at my desk all morning working on a paper with the basic theme of ‘the Patriot Act’s impact and influence on the records management industry’…as you can tell by the title this is a scintillating piece full of drama, intrigue and passion…..NOT!! 

I was having a hard time getting into it and after several days of only starts and stops, (and only 2 pages written) as well as an incredibly frustrating morning, I finally found my ‘spoon full of sugar’ in the form of a glass of wine with lunch! 

Ok, I really am not a lush, I promise, (and yes, I know, admitting it is the first step) but let me tell you how much better I have been writing since my libation!

The true test will be when my proof-reader (aka husband) gives it the once over….maybe I will just have to stick with caffeine. J  

I had my yearly appointment with my allergist today and he took me off allergy shots which I had been receiving for over 8 years!  I had the last shots today, and with two swollen arms, so much so I can’t lean them back against the couch while seated from the pain, I can’t say they will be missed AT ALL!

I reached a plateau about 3 years ago and really haven’t gotten much better since then.  I still have symptoms ranging from minor to severe depending on the season and exposure, but unfortunately with allergies, there is no cure, only alleviation of the symptoms.  I still can’t be around cats for any period of time without some of the most severe symptoms coming to the fore. Thankfully, of all the allergens, dogs only rate 2 out of 4 on the scale (I was a 4, the highest reaction, on all but 5 of the 49 tested) which means I can still “squeeze, and hug, and call (Nala) George” (….does anyone else remember that cartoon????)

After a long over-due hair appointment, I got my hair cut and highlighted today.  I really like my stylist, Lisa, and have been going to her for almost 8 years, not long after we moved to San Jose.  Even thought the place I go, 5 color Cowboy, is a bit avant-garde (there is usually someone getting pink or blue hair done while I am there), Lisa has always been great at knowing my limits and knowing what my hair can and won’t do (and what is best for my hair and my style).  Although I am feeling a bit scalped right now, I do like my hair cut and within a couple days I will get used to running my fingers through my hair and it stopping much sooner than I think it will!

I have to admit, I look forward everyday to the chink-scrape-thunk of the mail-person leaving their allotted daily assortment of correspondence, both wanted and un-wanted, in our mailbox.  (the specific sound comes from our flapped mail box, which when opened and pushed again the wall in the vigorous manner needed to toss at least 10 catalogs on average, the loud 'scrape and thunk’ is inevitable when the mail drops to the bottom)  Being a stay-at-home student/wife, I have few interactions (unless you count my morning tea with Katie Couric and Matt Lauer an interaction) so I eagerly look forward to seeing what wonderful things might appear in my mailbox each day around noon. 

Today however, reinforced my amazement of the magical quality of the mail.  I had just finished reading my friend Trina’s blog, which stated they had just sent out their wedding invitations that day, (Saturday) when I heard the familiar chink-scrape and thunk.  Rushing eagerly to the door, but not so quickly as to surprise our poor over-worked mail carrier, (remember the 10 catalogs a day???? It can go up to 50 during the holiday season!!!) I quickly discarded those annoying and completely useless random coupons for ‘one-day blinds’ and got to the good stuff - the beautifully emblazoned wedding invitation from Dick and Trina!  In less than 24 working hours, this piece of mail had been put in a box in SF, sent to a station, scanned, had that little bar code attached to it, sorting onto one truck, made the journey to the south bay, sorted again, placed on a truck and walked directly to my humble front door.  (and I am sure I don’t even begin to know all the various steps in between my invitation saw)  …..and all this for 32 cents!! (well, actually 60 since it was a typical wedding invite with multiple sheets, but you get my point). 

In this digital age, I stop occasionally to marvel at how an e-mail can show up in my in-box with just a couple clicks on my keyboard, but I think it is much more astounding to remember all the millions of pieces of physical mail, which arrive with astounding accuracy, that must be touched, cared for and delivered safely to their destination, regardless of the crappy weather the mail carrier must endure, every day, for the last couple hundred years!!

My hats off to those dedicated and over-looked civil servants at the post office!