From the Red Cross Shelter at SLSU

Information on establishing communications in New Orleans

Amateur Radio Volunteers Involved in Katrina Recovery

Amateur Radio Volunteers Involved in Katrina Recovery (Aug 30, 2005) -- Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) volunteers in Louisiana are engaged in the Hurricane Katrina recovery effort, and more are waiting in the wings to help as soon as they can enter storm-ravaged zones. Winds and flooding from the huge storm wreaked havoc in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama after Katrina came ashore early Monday, August 29. Louisiana ARES Section Emergency Coordinator Gary Stratton, K5GLS, told ARRL that some 250 ARES members have been working with the Red Cross and the state's Office of Homeland Security Emergency Preparedness. Much of the affected areas remain flooded and dangerous, however. As a result, state officials have not allowed emergency or other units to enter the flooded zones, and there is still no communication with many coastal areas.

Full Story: http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2005/08/30/1/?nc=1

A Fish in the Bowl

My girlfriend, Jessica, and I had been in Shreveport, LA the since midnight trying to contact various friends and family. I have one list of people who, while I'm very worried about their well being, I know that they know how to take care of themselves.

Not only was my buddy Keith Williams on that list... he was second only to my father. He, like my father, is currently the hardest to track down. Last time I saw him was during the beating given to the Saints by the Ravens but spoke to him briefly yesterday as he was moving his truck to a safe location. He wasn’t even thinking about leaving the city he loves.

With communication being what it is during a disaster one will need to be either lucky or a HAM Radio operator. Calls, IM, and SMS were being placed any way possible to make contact. Leave it to that S.O.B to let everyone know he's alive by getting on FOX News. That sly devil did it by making poignant commentary on the effects of the storm and the history of the city.

Edit (before I got a chance to send this up): Keith was also spotted in a bar where Fox News was interviewing. Everyone here gets the feeling he's become the official French Quarter tour guide to the news crew... Although, I think it'll be a while before we find out for sure.

Update from Shreveport, LA

In shreveport. We stopped in Franklinton, LA to see Jessica's parents. I adopted a chicken. His name is A.C. in honor of my friend of the same name who owns the Chicken Shack.

Quarter Vacation Part 2

Woke up and made it out the door for 8ish. Off to Café du Monde for beignets and people watching. Well, "people watching" was mostly watching a drunk sleep in his coffee. On the way out we ran into Copper Guy (Might be Bronze, I always get them confused) in Jackson Square. He was his usual ornery self as he made only a buck today. I'm trying to figure out what period of time he's working in as it was still pretty early on a Tuesday morning.

After a bit we started our quest for the Nola Madre. We went up and down the streets of the French Quarter finding one clue after another. So fat we have a lot of T & E. Personally, a little T & A would have been nice but none of the clues we were searching had us on Bourbon St. We ran into Bronze guy on Royal and found out his son, Gold Guy, will be back in town soon for the start of tourist season in the fall.

Before too long Jessica realized the dangers of her camera bag. At least how uncomfortable it is. We took a break inside the Shops at Canal Place and while Jessi rested her feet, I was checking out the sights. I know the Acadiana Parishes claim to have the best good looking girls but dayum... *bites palm*

Off to the Riverwalk next to forage for a quick lunch and more shade. All the shops there are such quaint establishments of local flavor: Brooks Brothers, Sharper Image, Victoria's Secret, and of course authentic New Orleans cuisine from the Panda King. (Sure we have a lot of room to talk but we were out of lunch plans after we discovered the restaurant where we had reservations was closed on Tuesdays... Boo on them.) Anyway a quick bite of lunch gave us the carbs needed to support the Daiquiris that came next. Off to the Fudgery we went for... well fudge. This was one of my favorite places to see as the shows are always lively, the people are friendly, and the fudge is mighty tasty. After we to the hotel for a little more Nola Madre research, a shower, and a nap before dinner and the night out.

I've never felt comfortable going to fancy restaurants. The type where two waiters wait on you hand and foot: pulling out your chair, and putting napkins in your lap. To be honest I can't usually afford to go to them. This New Orleans Restaurant month promotion was the perfect chance to. Jessica chose the location, I can't pronounce it. Most of the items on the main menu, I can't pronounce and couldn't afford anyhow. The special promotional menu had English entrees with garnishes and description containing more that I couldn't pronounce. (Yeah, I'm real cultured.) The good news is it was all very good. We even got special forks for the appetizers. Desert came, as did the special dessert spoons. Jessica ordered Crème Brule and if she could have she would have licked the bowl. Jessica would also like to point out that we had a choice between sparkling, spring, or tap water. The river levels made a wonderful vintage for 2005.

Shot mastery

You have to hand it to the shot girl that can not only "get down" but also boogie while controlling her shot tray and not spilling a drop.

# sent from wireless handheld #

Quarter Vacation

Over the next couple of posts I'll be recapping the trip to New Orleans I took with my girlfriend. Laqter we'll also include all the answers we found to the Treasure of the Nola Madre.

We checked into the swanky digs of our room at Loft 523. Two words to describe the room: white and minimalist. (Jessica points out that's actually three words... damn conjunctions.) Notable points include the dual shower heads and a light reminiscent of a giant boobie (therefore, it must be art).

On a normal vacation I wouldn't dare touch my laptop. This time is special as Jessica and I started working on solving the puzzle to find the Treasure of the Nola Madre. Unfortunately, while we lived in the greater New Orleans area all or most of our lives, neither of us are very good at history (...well local history. Jessica likes general history and I saw Ken Burns Jazz. My father on the other hand knows more than most but I digress). We did some research on a few items to search for in the morning so I'm not going to spoil anything for those also searching.

To space out arriving at the hotel and going to Bourbon Street, we made it to the Natchez Dinner Cruise. Jessica believes more restaurants need to take a cue in buffet management from the Natchez: Two lines of identical items each with dual serving pans of the popular items. Jessica noted the praline chicken did not resemble pralines in any way except the stray pecan that found its way into the recipe. She deducted the staff thought it wouldn't be popular, hence only having one pan per side. The bread pudding was the highlight for her. I skipped in favor of an Old Fashioned.

After dinner we went to the top deck for the Dukes of Dixieland Jazz band. Nobody was dancing so we took it upon ourselves to get some started. Good idea because it was a ton of fun; Bad idea because Jessica wasn't wearing the right shoes and received a couple of blisters for her dancing efforts. Either way it was fabulous.

Off to Monday night on Bourbon. I figured since on BourboCam we spend so much time outside the Cat's Meow, we should actually see what it looks like
from the front of the stage. It's a lot like the back except more neon. Dave was working like normal (by normal he was making sure my camera was full of cleavage shots of the fairer patrons... god bless him). He was taking everyone through the paces including Madonna, Elvis, and his own rendition of The Boss and Jessica Simpson (Jessica's note: Thank god he didn't put on Daisy Dukes... or that orange bikini.)

I'll be back later with the Tuesday recap. For now I'm heading to Utopia for Wolfgang's Homemade Bikini Contest.

I love my girlfriend... *bites palm*

Actual conversation from tonights show after "quitting" to carry one cute girl who was looking for love off camera:

Well I have to get back before they really think I quit. You two are great, don't change a thing.
What time do you get off work?
Midnight. What's up?
We were wondering if you wanted to come home and make out with us.

IlovemygirlfriendIlovemygirlfriendIlovemygirlfriend
IlovemygirlfriendIlovemygirlfriend

2005 Red Dress Run

This is BourboJeff. I’m at One-Eyed Jacks on Tolouse for the New Orleans Hash House Harriers 2005 Red Dress Run. With me is Steven Erwin, fearless lunatic and certified leader of the Hashers… or is that the other way around?

This is a thing [the hashers] have done every year, and they have been known for their crazy and wild events. Just how did the Red Dress Run come about?

In New Orleans [the hash] started out with eight or twelve of us, but the Red Dress Runs started in San Francisco. The hashers there did it, and they still have the largest one… about twelve-hundred people but you can go to the biggest or come to the best and that’s in New Orleans.

Is this the only event where you break out the red dresses?

Absolutely! We put on red dresses one time, about two weeks, to promote the event, but this is it. It’s got to be about the red dress, and it has to be in August.

This event always draws hashers from around the country and a few walk-ups who hear about the event through sources like nola.com and word of mouth. How many participants do you expect today?

Well the largest crowd is 300 but today I think it was more publicized so we may have a pretty big crowd… I can’t guess yet because the numbers aren’t available.

We’ll have to get those numbers later. Now it’s coming up on noon, and I’m in a freaking red sequined prom dress…

And no, it doesn’t make your butt look big… [laughs]

Well I was worried about that, but why August?

Well because it’s hot and there’s nothing else going on, so why not?

Separate the turkeys out, right?

Yeah yeah, you know there’s no tourists here, the restaurants are slow, the hotels are slow, and the hash is related to that.

The heat and beer causes some to get a little crazy. What’s the dumbest thing you witnessed someone do at the Red Dress Run?

The dumbest thing I’ve ever seen somebody at a red dress run was you putting that red dress on.

[laughs] Yeah, I’m going to have some chafing on my underarms after this…

The sequins, you know, you need some Vaseline on those sequins.

Thanks for the tip. thank you, Steven. More information about the Hash can be found on their website: www.neworleanshash.com

Links to photo galleries of the event:

• Coverage by nola.com
• Gallery from the Bleach Eating Freaks

Rain Delay

One really well placed thunderstorm and a hole in the balcony can really ruin your night... more specifically your camera.

Cool thing was Bourbon Street bacame one big wet t-shirt contest for anyone who couldn't make it to cover in time.

Not cool: No camera to film it.

Good thing there's always next week.

Mail Call!

Mike from OH writes:

My wife and I are coming to NOLA for the first time, in a couple weeks. What’s the first thing we should do?

Thanks for the email, Mike. We took your question to the streets and the most common answer from those surveyed was: Get Drunk. My esteemed co-host, Brooke, did recommend stopping by the hotel and dropping off the luggage and children first. Also, as everyone we talked to also happened to have a drink in their hands we think the results were a bit skewed.

- bourbojeff