Guest Post from Tom Wright, in Brandon, Mississippi

Sunday, August 31, 2008
WAITING ON GUSTAV ...
I remember how it was three years ago before we knew of the potential for the danger that was to come. There was a sense of excitement, an anticipation, that something was going to happen but it was more like the feeling that we got waiting for the first day of school to start. A little buzz of emotional electricity. There wasn't a "carnival" like atmosphere, we'd been through hurricanes and their after effects before and know how serious they can be, but folks just went about their daily lives on a bright and sunny summer day.

Now, I live in the central part of Mississippi, in Brandon, just ten miles east of the capitol city, Jackson. When a hurricane hits our coast, believe it or not, we feel the affects, not anything like they do on the coast, but it sometimes gets nasty, a lot of strong wind and a whole lot of rain. When Katrina hit, it was like nothing we'd seen in a long time, at least since Hurricane Camille. The actual storm was something to behold. The wind was like nothing that I'd ever seen and the torrential downpour was a virtual "frog strangler". In my neighborhood there are a lot of old and very large pine and oak trees, many that were uprooted or just snapped off. Many trees came down on houses, destroying a good bit of the house, if not the whole thing. We were without electricity for over a week - it was August and it was Mississippi and it was hot.



At my house we were lucky. A large tree was snapped off at the base and came down on my storage barn and my wife's car, barely grazing the house. A huge pine tree in my neighbor's back yard, behind my house, snapped and barely missed my house, wrecking my back fence. This was nothing compared to the damage that others experienced.







There was utter chaos as Katrina hit. Folks waited until the last minute to evacuate and there were tremendous traffic jams on the roads from the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Louisiana, Alabama and even Texas. The motels and hotels were full all of the way to north Mississippi. After the storm, well, you know the story. I want to say in support of my much criticized state, that good Samaritans came out of the woodwork, providing shelter, gasoline, food and even money to the evacuees.

This time it's different. Folks are taking things much more seriously. The highways from Louisiana and the Mississippi Gulf Coast have already been turned into "contra-flow" highways, meaning that traffic can only head one way - north or east. Shelters have already been opened and mandatory evacuations have been ordered. I heard on public radio that, before Katrina, Bourbon Street in New Orleans was "party central", but last night it was almost deserted - a wise move.

If anyone is interested in listening to what is going on in the way of preparing for the storm, you can listen online to Mississippi Public Radio, which is broadcasting storm info non-stop.
You can listen online at:

http://radio.mpbonline.org/MPB_Live

We'll see what happens. The anticipation and anxiety is definitely here, even though the day has dawned bright and sunny and humid. We'll keep you posted. Wish us luck and keep us in your prayers.

Thank you, Tom, for your memories and photos from Katrina and your thoughts on Gustav. If any of you have photos and/or thoughts you would like to share here on Mama and Me from PDX, e-mail them to me, and I will post them for you. We continue to pray for everyone's safety.

Tom graduated from Corvallis High School in 1964. Be sure to take a look at the CHS Class of 64.

UPDATE:

Here's some information/comments from another dear Mississippi friend, Fredna Gibson.

How about Tom Wright???? He did an excellent job describing how Katrina affected our part of the state.
I don't think people realize that hurricane Katrina hit the Mississippi Gulf Coast, not New Orleans. New Orleans received damage from flood waters when their dams breached. New Orleans also got so much more national media attention than the coast because of the devastation from flooding.

The MS Gulf Coast, on the other hand, was wiped off the face of the earth. I don't think people actually realize that.

It will break your heart (three years later) to drive down Beach Blvd from Ocean Springs to Long Beach, there is nothing left but a few casinos. In fact, you can't drive all the way to Long Beach!!! All of the beautiful antebellum homes are gone, none have been rebuilt. It looks like a giant hand reached down and scaped the coast clean.

I have cried every time we have visited the coast. I have family in Gulfport, they will be traumatized for the rest of their lives as a result of Katrina.

We are all praying that the Lord will calm the storm so that the damage will be minimal.

And just now, Fredna e-mailed to say, "I think we dodged a bullet this time with Gustav, thank you Jesus!!! Thank everyone for your prayers." Amen.

I wish, I pray ...

I look at this blue, blue sky and think, "Oh, I wish that was all that was on the horizon in the Gulf of Mexico." Please join Mama and me in our prayers for the safety of everyone potentially in harm's way from Hurricane Gustav. We've been talking on the phone with loved ones in Mississippi about their preparations, and everyone is taking the situation seriously, just like they did Katrina.

This photo shows the front of the Emergency Room wall, on the right, and the top of the drive-through cover at Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital on NW 23rd, walking distance from where we live. I don't know why that smokestack is there. I mean I don't know what is in the building it is on. Does anyone know about it, please? Thanks.

Europa on Park

Yesterday after work I rode the bus to the west side of the river, got off next to the
First and Main building site, and walked a few blocks west to the last Music on Main of this summer. Photos will be posted soon, I promise--I took so many that I need some time to look over them.

Anyway, after listening to some fine music outdoors, I walked a few more blocks to catch a bus home, looking here, looking there, like I always do. Of course, I must also own up to the fact that I look down a lot, making sure where my feet are going.

On SW Park, this vignette at the Europa caught my eye.




All of you photo bloggers out there will find this as much fun as I did, I think. Yesterday Jill at Salem Oregon Daily Photo commented, Do you really go to work or just wander around the streets? You have so many great street shots!!

Here’s my answering comment: Thanks, Jill, I do work a 40-hour week, but walking is so easy here, what with these super days of good weather that are so comfortable after work, with well-maintained sidewalks, the sun shining, a breeze blowing, and a TriMet ride home nearby. I can't help myself, I often take walks around downtown, camera at the ready. It's purely paradise.

My alternate ABC Wednesday F post

Originally I had intended to use this Botkier purse with fringe as my ABC Wednesday F, so I thought it only fitting to go ahead and post it today.

I saw it in the window at Saks Fifth Avenue.

August 26, 2008 - ABC Wednesday - F is for Flying and a few more "F" words

Construction workers prepare steel forms for flying from the flat bed truck to the site of the new skyscraper, First and Main, just west of the Willamette River.

Here's a close up of the forms, on the fly.

In looking at them, I wonder if they are steel rebars, those reinforcement bars that go into poured concrete, into columns maybe. If my dear husband LeRoy were alive, he'd tell me exactly what they are--he was a construction worker and a carpenter. I know his career is one of the reasons buildings and bridges fascinate me so.

What's black and white and red all over, again?

How's this for another serendipitous juxtaposition of like colors? While there is a good deal of gray in this photo, look at the red lights and reflectors on the parking enforcement scooter (far right, going out of the photo), the man's bicycle helmet, the back of the trailer (or whatever you call these vehicles), the reflectors on the bike and on the trailer, the flag atop the pole at the back of the trailer, and the usual spots on the back of the Volvo, as well as the circle Smart Park sign on the pole.

It was the bicycle commuters that caught my eye. I've seen lots of these around Portland, always flying a tall flag to alert vehicles to the trailer behind the bicycle. And I didn't see anything else of interest until I downloaded the photo.

Someone commented on my first WRABARAO for more Ruby Tuesday posts. post that it would have made a perfect Ruby Tuesday photo, so when I saw this I thought, "Why not? I'll try this Ruby Tuesday thing with this photo."

Look at the Mr. Linky list at Work of the Poet for more Ruby Tuesday posts.

Here's to serendipity and creative fun for all.

When I saw this storefront on East Burnside, I immediately thought about Monday's announcement of the next group of celebrities for our favorite TV show. Well, our favorite variety/reality show. Our favorite drama is "The Closer." One more thing, though, to tell you the truth. This season's "So You Think You Can Dance" kept us enthralled week after week, too. Kailey and I are going to their live show at the Rose Garden on Sept. 21. I can't wait! I hope they bring that door because I want to see Twitch and Katee do that wonderful dance. And I want to see whatever Joshua does, period. He was my favorite all along.

Anyway, on "Good Morning America" the actual celebrity list for DWTS will be revealed. As I type this Sunday evening for post Monday morning, there is some gossipy info available with a Google search, but who knows for real. I do know that Mama and I get a kick out of watching the celebrities and the professionals dance together. We thoroughly enjoy host Tom Bergeron and have grown to like co-host Samanatha Harris. The live music and singers are outstanding. And we have a blast with the judges, their reactions and comments.

I found this about Viscount Dance Studios online. And this, 724 E. Burnside St., Portland, OR 97214. (503) 226-3262

Peace

I want to wish a safe trip home to everyone at the Olympics,from all around the world.

This is another one of my miniature art cars. I assembled, glued, stickered and painted it last summer.

In my eyes

The sun, the shadows, both large and small,

The myriad sharp and soft greens you see,
The ubiquitous blue sky above it all,

So appears Portland's perfect weather, observed by me.

What's black and white and red all over?

The scene: I'm sitting on a green metal bench across the river from work, in the park named Chapman Square. I'm on my lunch hour. Beside me on the bench I have my camera at the ready, my sweet ice tea, my half peanut butter sandwich, and half of a plain muffin sprinkled with chocolate chips.
The action: A woman wearing a red helmet, riding a red scooter, passes in front of me at the corner. I grab my camera, take one photo as she crosses SW 3rd, swivel to my left and take the photo you see above.
The serendipity: When I download the photo, I immediately know I could not have planned this photo any better.
The joy: I hope you share it with me as you take in the colors, the juxtapositions, the action.

The look of love

Tuesday evening I looked up from the computer when Mama said, "Look where Duncan has his head now." The camera sat right beside the computer, so I quickly got this first photograph as Mama talked to the little ol' man. I can't tell you how many times he has looked up at her like this over the years, his sweet little head resting on her arm. I guess he heard the camera because he looked at me, so I asked Mama to look at me and smile.

Even with the dimness of available light making them not so clear and crisp, I just love these two photos.

ABC Wednesday - E is for egg, as in the ornamental device egg and dart

Wikipedia has this to say about egg-and-dart.

Here's what I have to say about egg-and-dart. Last week I took these two photos at the Hamilton Building,529 SW 3rd Avenue, downtown Portland. In fact, I was looking for ABC Wednesday subjects as well as architectural details to photograph for a contest sponsored by the Architectural Heritage Center.

I walked along, stopping here and there, looking up at the riches of downtown Portland. When I realized that I could lean against a wall in the doorway of the Hamilton Building, parallel with the street, and focus with my zoom completely out of the way of others on the sidewalk, I settled in for the moment. When I looked through the camera, I got even more excited. Just two days before I had discovered egg-and-dart in the dictionary, complete with an illustration. I looked, thinking, "I've seen this downtown. I just know it." If realized that if I could find some photogenic egg-and-dart, I could, to paraphrase, shoot two projects with one click. Happy at the Hamilton, I took lots of photos, moving from the wall to first one column, then the second one where I zoomed out and discovered the reflection of the last column and the brilliant blue sky in the window.

Of all those photos, I picked these two for ABC Wednesday.





Here's what Wikipedia has to say about the Hamilton Building--The Hamilton Building is a historic office building in downtown Portland, Oregon. It went through a renovation in 1977, and was listed on National Register of Historic Places in March of that year. It is the neighbor of the Dekum Building, a fellow NHRP listing on Third Avenue.

The building, completed in 1893, is an anomaly among its contemporaries. While many buildings built during the late 19th century were often ornate, the Hamilton building has little decoration. It is said that architects Whidden & Lewis designed a ground-breaking building, built decades ahead of later (and similar) trends in commercial architecture. Decoration comes in the form of granite-clad cast iron entry columns and cable mouldings, set against a Japanese-brick facade.

The Hamilton Building is 6 stories tall, and is named after Hamilton Corbett, son of Henry Corbett. It is also the first building in Portland designed in the Classical Revival style.

Bar Avignon, délicieux

Here's the refreshing, tasted-just-right margarita I had at Bar Avignon, right before I took Photo #5 of the Deux Chevaux from yesterday's post. It was our first visit to Leland's new work place, two blocks from where he lives and on an easy one-transfer bus line for us.

About Bar Avignon, From the June 25, 2008, Oregonian:

Summer sipping

Just in time for the season of carefree loafing, Bar Avignon opens Friday night on Southeast Division Street. Wildwood's long-time wine director, Randy Goodman, and wife Nancy Hunt, who helped open Wildwood in 1994 and went on to run the bar at groundbreaking Mexican restaurant Cafe Azul, have long wanted to open a casual bar in their neighborhood. The 50-seat lounge will emphasize affordable wines from around the world, with 25 glass pours, single-malt scotches, artisan bourbons and offbeat sherries, plus a handful of classic cocktails for good measure.

Hunt's simple food menu is focused on bar nibbles such as panini, bruschetta and cheese-and-charcuterie plates. The couple envisions Avignon as a place where people can drop by after work, after dinner and in between. Mark Annen, who gave Park Kitchen and Noble Rot their distinctive classy-casual interiors, designed a space that Goodman calls "pretty and rustic, more feminine than masculine."

"I think in Portland," Goodman says, "people are looking for different options where they don't need to make a huge financial or time commitment." (2138 S.E. Division St., 503-517-0808, 4-midnight Wednesday-Sunday; www.baravignon.com)

Un, Deux--Deux Chevaux

Driving on July 31, from downtown to the Southeast, with Lamont and Mama on board, when I slowed at an intersection I saw this cute little car. I grabbed the camera from the seat beside me and quickly got Photo #1 and Photo #2. I couldn't back up to get a better photo because another vehicle was right behind me. So, I held the camera up to the window, pointed it back toward the car and clicked off Photos #3 and #2.
Photo #1

Photo #2

Photo #3

Photo #4


Little did I know that a couple of hours later, after the three of us and Lindsay had had a good time at Bar Avignon, that Leland would look up from behind the counter where he worked diligently preparing orders and say, "Mom, look at that car," then point with his chin out the front door, onto SE Division. Thus, Photo #5. I believe it's the same Deux Chevaux, but there is every possibility that more than one shiny, maroon and black beauty lives in Portland.
Photo #5


Thanks to Snapper at Gabriola Daily Photo for his post that helped me identify the car.

Reflecting on Michael Phelps' accomplishments

Merriam-Webster Online defines accomplishment several ways, one of which is a special skill or ability acquired by training or practice.

I've just seen Phelps, Aaron Peirsol, Brendan Hansen, and Jason Lezak win the gold medal in the 400 medley rely. And as a mother, I know how Phelps' mom felt just now when he made his way up through the crowd of photographers, and she was able to reach out and touch her son. Even if he had not won the eight golds, he'd still be her son, she'd still be filled with love for him, still have that connection that transcends.

What it all says to me is, as parents, when we can, the best we can, we nurture our children and their dreams. We're blessed to have the chance to do so. And we can let them know with something as simple as a touch what they mean to us.

Thursday, 102, Friday 100, Saturday predicted 100--in Portland.

Once we left REI Thursda, I got my camera out again, just in case something caught my eye. It didn't take long, either. Here's the framework that obviously used to hold a different water tower. Right after I snapped this photo, I looked up at Lamont and said, "That looks like an alien spaceship that grew legs." He laughed, dutiful son that he is!

Those temps in the headline come from the Portland airport, wherever it's read out there on the Columbia River, northeast of our apartment. Around the metro area, and out into the nearby countryside, some places reported 100, 101, 102, and 104 degrees today! After work I was talking to my bud Eve, down in Mississippi, on the phone, telling her how we were fine once we got situated in our chairs in front of fans. "You don't have AC?" she yelped. "No, we've never had it up here," I replied. "We could buy one of those little window units, but we'd probably need three of them to make a difference." Then I went on to explain that we really didn't need any AC because it doesn't get this hot that often. In fact, starting Monday our predicted high temps range in the 70s. And just two weeks ago, our night temps were in the cool 50s--wonderful sleeping weather.

Let me tell you something that made Mama and me laugh Friday night. We're sitting at the table, in front of one fan that sits in the window and another fan across the living room, pointed right at us, eating some Breyers Lactose Free vanilla ice cream. In between spoonfuls, she looks at me, in all seriousness and says, "I think it's cooling off quicker tonight than it did last night." I look back at her and say, "Do you think it might have something to do with the fact that we're sitting in front of two fans on high, eating ice cream?" Then we laughed and laughed. Good memories are made of such moments.

It's doggone hot in Portland. And I'm thinking this water tower looks pretty cool.

After work I rode the bus to the Pearl District so that I could meet Lamont at the REI store. I don't know what the temperature was, but I certainly gravitated towards the shady side of the street! Whew, it was hot! (And now, four hours later, it's still hot. The thermometer in the east-facing kitchen window reads 87 degrees, at 9:10 p.m.)

This water tower atop the Chown Pella Lofts has long fascinated me. Today I thought, "Wonder how hot that water is inside there? Wonder if there is still water in there? What am I doing out here, wondering about this, when I ought to be walking on to REI?"


So I took a couple more shots, including this closer one, and went on my merry way. The intriguing water tower appears to be made of wood, doesn't it?


Lamont and the rest of them, Lindsay, Leland and Kailey (when she can fit it in due to her work schedule) have been hiking and/or camping lately. They're getting ready for a multiple-night-trip in the middle of September. Being a mama and all, I wanted to look at the GPS-locater-thingeys. Way too often people get lost and/or hurt or some such up here while out enjoying the gorgeous Pacific Northwest. Lamont had looked at a few of them onine; REI has one that we can probably afford, as well as the subscription service to make it function the way we want it to do when they are out in the wilderness. It's called SPOT. I'm going to check with a few folks at work, to get their input, too, before we make a purchase.

Believe it or not--and Mama said she thinks she remembers it right--the weather guy reported it got to over 100 degrees here today and is forecast to do so on Friday and Saturday. Yet, while at REI I looked at the raincoats on the clearance rack! I found a Marmot, a breathable one, on sale, that fit, that had a hood, that I can layer under, that was way longer than my green Helly Hansen. So, on a day when I really wouldn't mind standing in the rain with absolutely no coat on because I know I'd get cooled off rather quickly, I bought a new rain coat. Ain't the variety of life grand?

Here's a bit about the Chown Pella building, now lofts of various size and enormous prices, at 416 NW 13th Ave: Nearly 100 years ago, Portland Hack & Dray changed its name to Oregon Transfer Company and moved into a new four-story building at the corner of NW 13th and Glisan. Business was good and a year later a company, owned by city fathers Ben Holladay, George Weidler, and William Halsey, added a six-story structure next door. The two buildings operated as one from that time on. Over many years, Coca Cola, Wrigley, National Lock, Cudahy Packing, Ponds, and others warehoused products there. This was especially convenient when the old Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railroad provided both freight and passenger service from North Bank Terminal, located just around the corner at NW 11th and Hoyt. This "neighborhood" railroad service continued until after World War I.

In 1979 Oregon Transfer Co. outgrew its space and Frank and Elenor Chown moved in their Window and Door Division of the Chown Company. Operations continued for nine years: clearly the neighborhood had begun its transformation from an industrial area to what it is today. Now, as this building begins a new life in a revitalized neighborhood, the Chown family name continues to endure. It's a landmark that sets itself apart -- Portland's Chown Pella.

I found that info at the original real estate site for the lofts. There are five for sale right now, ranging from 963 sq. ft. for $379,000 to 1,156 sq. ft. for $597,000. Need I point out that Mama and I mostly go through the Pearl District, looking, window shopping and/or dining? We couldn't ever afford to live there. Besides, we don't want to own or be responsible for all that goes with owning.

Providing protection and a shadow

On this brick wall, a mundane metal cage protects the caution light while, thanks to the bright sunshine, it also provides an intriguing shadow.

ABC Wednesday - D is for Delicate and Dinner

Hydrangea, delicate blossoms


Hydrangea, dinner blossoms


In our Northwest Hills neighborhood, a hydrangea bush about six feet tall stands beside a nearby house, robustly growing in a narrow dirt-filled garden space between the sidewalk and the house. When I walked by one morning, taking a different route to the bus for variety's sake, I stopped to take a few photos of the lovely blossoms.

Back-In Angle

Let me just say that this parking space presented me with a challenge. It's on the corner of SW 3rd and Ankeny where Voodoo Doughnut operates 24 hours a day, according to their Web site. That's for another post.


It took a maneuver or two, but I finally made it, inside the line, the bumper not bumped. This one and only time I've tried this was in March, when Mama felt like making her first outing to the Bijou Cafe, a little over a month after she came home from the skilled nursing facility. On our last trip to the Bijou, we rode the bus there, then went on our MAX ride.