Purls of Hope

My new pal Susie has just put up some books for sale. Please check it out, as she needs our help!
Thanks!
Christine

Here's a list of 100 of the most banned books. Please note I have made the books I have read RED!


1. Scary Stories (Series) by Alvin Schwartz
2. Daddy’s Roommate by Michael Willhoite
3. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
4. The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
6. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
7. Harry Potter (Series) by J.K. Rowling (not yet, but my 10y/o has read all of them)
8. Forever by Judy Blume
9. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
10. Alice (Series) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
11. Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman
12. My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
13. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
14. The Giver by Lois Lowry
15. It’s Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris
16. Goosebumps (Series) by R.L. Stine
17. A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton Peck
18. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
19. Sex by Madonna
20. Earth’s Children (Series) by Jean M. Auel
21. The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
22. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
23. Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
24. Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers
25. In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak
26. The Stupids (Series) by Harry Allard
27. The Witches by Roald Dahl
28. The New Joy of Gay Sex by Charles Silverstein
29. Anastasia Krupnik (Series) by Lois Lowry
30. The Goats by Brock Cole
31. Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane
32. Blubber by Judy Blume
33. Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan
34. Halloween ABC by Eve Merriam
35. We All Fall Down by Robert Cormier
36. Final Exit by Derek Humphry
37. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
38. Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
39. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
40. What’s Happening to my Body? Book for Girls: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Daughters by Lynda Madaras
41. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
42. Beloved by Toni Morrison
43. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
44. The Pigman by Paul Zindel
45. Bumps in the Night by Harry Allard
46. Deenie by Judy Blume
47. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
48. Annie on my Mind by Nancy Garden
49. The Boy Who Lost His Face by Louis Sachar
50. Cross Your Fingers, Spit in Your Hat by Alvin Schwartz
51. A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
52. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
53. Sleeping Beauty Trilogy by A.N. Roquelaure (A. Rice)
54. Asking About Sex and Growing Up by Joanna Cole
55. Cujo by Stephen King
56. James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
57. The Anarchist Cookbook by William Powell
58. Boys and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
59. Ordinary People by Judith Guest
60. American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
61. What’s Happening to my Body? Book for Boys: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Sons by Lynda Madaras
62. Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
63. Crazy Lady by Jane Conly
64. Athletic Shorts by Chris Crutcher
65. Fade by Robert Cormier
66. Guess What? by Mem Fox
67. The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende
68. The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline Cooney
69. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
70. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
71. Native Son by Richard Wright
72. Women on Top: How Real Life Has Changed Women’s Fantasies by Nancy Friday
73. Curses, Hexes and Spells by Daniel Cohen
74. Jack by A.M. Homes
75. Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo A. Anaya
76. Where Did I Come From? by Peter Mayle
77. Carrie by Stephen King
78. Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume
79. On My Honor by Marion Dane Bauer
80. Arizona Kid by Ron Koertge
81. Family Secrets by Norma Klein
82. Mommy Laid An Egg by Babette Cole
83. The Dead Zone by Stephen King
84. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
85. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
86. Always Running by Luis Rodriguez
87. Private Parts by Howard Stern
88. Where’s Waldo? by Martin Hanford
89. Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene
90. Little Black Sambo by Helen Bannerman
91. Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
92. Running Loose by Chris Crutcher
93. Sex Education by Jenny Davis
94. The Drowning of Stephen Jones by Bette Greene
95. Girls and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
96. How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell
97. View from the Cherry Tree by Willo Davis Roberts
98. The Headless Cupid by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
99. The Terrorist by Caroline Cooney
100.Jump Ship to Freedom by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier


Looks like I have a new reading list...he he he

From Sarah's Blog

Christine took the free ColorQuiz.com personality test! "Longs for a tender and sympathetic bond and for a ..." Click here to read the rest of the results.

One Woman's Tale of Woe
All hair removal methods have tricked women with their promises of easy,painless removal - The epilady, scissors, razors, Nair and now...the wax.
My night began as any other normal weeknight. Come home, fix dinner, playwith the kids. I then had the thought that would ring painfully in my mindfor the next few hours: "Maybe I should pull the waxing kit out of themedicine cabinet." So I headed to the site of my demise: the bathroom it wasone of those "cold wax" kits. No melting a clump of hot wax, you just rubthe strips together in your hand, they get warm and you peel them apart andpress them to your leg (or wherever else) and you pull the hair right off.No muss, no fuss. How hard can it be? I mean, I'm not a genius, but I ammechanically inclined enough to figure this out. (YA THINK!?!)
So I pull one of the thin strips out. Its two strips facing each other stucktogether. Instead of rubbing them together, my genius kicks in so I get outthe hair dryer and heat it to 1000 degrees. ("Cold
wax,"yeah...right!) I lay the strip across my thigh. Hold the skin around ittight and pull. It works! OK, so it wasn't the best feeling, but it wasn'ttoo bad. I can do this! Hair removal no longer eludes me! I am She-rah,fighter of all wayward body hair and maker of smooth skin extraordinaire.
With my next wax strip I move north. After checking on the kids, I sneakback into the bathroom, for the ultimate hair fighting championship. I dropmy panties and place one foot on the toilet. Using the same procedure, Iapply the was strip across the right side of my bikini line, covering theright half of my vagina and stretching down to the inside of my butt cheek(Yes, it was a long strip) I inhale deeply and bracemyself....RRRRIIIPPP!!!!
I'm blind!!! Blinded from pain!!!!....OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!! Vision returning, Inotice that I've only managed to pull off half the strip. CRAP!!! Anotherdeep breath and RRIIPP!! Everything is swirly and spotted. I think I maypass out...must stay conscious...Do I hear crashing drums??? Breathe,breathe...OK, back to normal.
I want to see my trophy - a wax covered strip, the one that has caused me so much pain, with my hairy pelt sticking to it. I want to revel in the glorythat is my triumph over body hair. I hold up the strip! There's no hair onit. Where is the hair??? WHERE IS THE WAX???
Slowly I ease my head down, foot still perched on the toilet. I see thehair. The hair that should be on the strip. I touch. I am touching wax.CRAP! I run my fingers over the most sensitive part of my body, which is now covered in cold wax and matted hair.
Then I make the next BIG mistake...remember my foot is still propped up onthe toilet? I know I need to do something. So I put my foot down.DAMN!!!!!!!! I hear the slamming of a cell door. Vagina? Sealed shut! Butt?? Sealed shut!
I penguin walk around the bathroom trying to figure out what to do and think to myself "Please don't let me get the urge to poop. My head may pop off!"What can I do to melt the wax? Hot water!! Hot water melts wax!! I'll runthe hottest water I can stand into the bathtub, get in, immerse thewax-covered bits and the wax should melt and I can gently wipe it off,right??? *WRONG!!!!!!!*
I get in the tub - the water is slightly hotter than that used to tortureprisoners of war or sterilize surgical equipment - I sit. Now, the onlything worse than having your nether regions glued together, is having themglued together and then glued to the bottom of the tub...in scalding hotwater. Which, by the way, doesn't melt cold wax. So, now I'm stuck to thebottom of the tub as though I had cement-epoxied myself to the porcelain!!God bless the man who had convinced me a few months ago to have a phone putin the bathroom!!!!!
I call my friend, thinking surely she has waxed before and has some secretof how to get me undone. It's a very good conversation starter...
"So, my butt and who-ha are glued together to the bottom of the tub!" Thereis a slight pause. She doesn't know any secret tricks for removal but shedoes try to hide her laughter from me. She wants to know exactly where thewax is located, "Are we talking cheeks or hole or who-ha?" She's laughingout loud by now...I can hear her. I give her the rundown and she suggests Icall the number on the side of the box. YEAH!!!!! Right!! I should be thejoke of someone else's night. While we go through various solutions. Iresort to scraping the wax off with a razor. Nothing feels better then tohave your girlie goodies covered in hot wax, glued shut, stuck to the tub in super hot water and then dry-shaving the sticky wax off!! By now the brainis not working, dignity has taken a major hike and I'm pretty sure I'm going to need Post-Traumatic Stress counseling for this event.
My friend is still talking with me when I finally see my saving grace....the lotion they give you to remove the excess wax.What do I really have to lose at this point? I rub some on and OH MY GOD!!!!!!!
The scream probably woke the kids and scared the dickens out of my friend.It's sooo painful, l but I really don't care. "IT WORKS!! It works!!" I geta hearty congratulation from my friend and she hangs up. I successfullyremove the remainder of the wax and then notice to my grief anddespair....THE HAIR IS STILL THERE.......ALL OF IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. So Irecklessly shave it off. Heck, I'm numb by now. Nothing hurts. I could haveamputated my own leg at this point.
Next week I'm going to try hair color......



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alt="Cybernetic Humanoid Responsible for Immediate Sabotage, Thorough Infiltration and Nocturnal Exploration"
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Sort of an RAOK...he he. Look what Stacey sent for me! D- has already called dibs as I have promised her socks...lol. I won a contest on Stacey's Blog and I got my prize!!!! Thanks, Stacey!

D tried to hijack this one, too! I told her no freaking way! He he. Look at the handy work of Shannon. You rock! Are you wondering how or why I got this, well it is from Rox's and my little pet project... The Auction. Go check it out!!!! Shannon, I love the stickers and the candles and the bag and the card....Thank you, thank you!

Look what I got from my friend Lori as a belated birthday present...Woohoo for extended birthdays! I love it. It has socks and sweaters and so much more!!!!! Thank you, Lori!

And last but not least- Months ago I joined the Cigar Knit Along... And I have finally started what seems to be a very quick knit, yahoo.

Oh My Gosh! Have you called the Yarn Harlot's SOS Knit Line. I was laughing my arse off! 877/SOS-KNIT - Go call now and laugh - it's free (US & Canada)

Look, Jen from Monkeyknits sent me a thank you for her socks! I love the card. You are so very welcome and I am glad you love the socks

I've been tagged by Dorothee! Getting me back... ha ha ha
The rules are:

1. Go into your archive.
2. Find your 23rd post (or your 13th, modified by Jaqueline).
3. Find the 5th sentence (or the closest to).
4. Post the text of the sentence in your blog along with these instructions.
5. Tag five some other people to do the same.

Here we go:
23/5 "Well~~~ That was before I saw my fat arse in the mirror." Well that figures... I would get the sentence about my fat arse...wow!
13/5 "It's a picture and one sentence post, from the early days when I couldn't figure out how to put multiple pictures in posts....sorry....he he he
Hmmm...

Who do I tag? I tag you all. Leave a comment so I can check it out!

Just briefly though...

Here's some quizzy stuff:

Your Brain's Pattern

You have a tempered, reasonable way of thinking. You tend to take every new idea in, and meld it with your world view. For you, everything is always changing. Each moment is different. Your thinking process tends to be very natural - with no beginnings or endings.

You chose brown eyes.
Brown eyed people are normally very romantic. You
love to daydream, and sometimes you get
confused with your own fantasies over reality.
You are pretty outgoing, but some days, all you
want to be, is alone, reading, or thinking by
yourself. You have many talents, and you will
probably have a very important job when you're
older.


The Eye color personality test
brought to you by Quizilla

More real content later....

Horoscopes
Virgo
August 23 - September 21Drastic shifts in your emotions might be causing you to doubt certain instincts or feelings you have, dear Virgo. Instead of getting frustrated by your inability to make rational sense of these emotions, enjoy the ride that they are offering you. Having these emotions and being able to express them freely is a great gift. Do not try to hide or suppress anything you feel. If it seems like you are on a roller coaster today, don't try to jump off half way through the ride. You will be much safer if you stay seated until the end.

Well, in case you were wondering, I did finish my pal's socks and they were off in the mail on Saturday. OH PAL, when you read this, I should be almost done with the extra little giftie! Hope you liked the socks and here are the pictures for the rest of you!

Takin' a bath, takin' a bath (watch out the colors ran a bit)

Here they are in thier finished state! If my feet were smaller, I would've kept 'em!
Look at what came for me :)
OOOOO They fit too!

These socks came from Philadelphia, not a suberb, but actually in Philly (according to her blog)
There are 2 postcards from her favorite places in Philly (one is of Boathouse Row and the other is the LOVE statue) Are you dying to know who my sock pal is, huh? huh? She is Christy of Rainbow Chills. Thank you so much, Christy. OMGosh, I forgot to tell you what pattern...geesh, shoot me now, k? Unst from Nancy Bush's Knitting on the Road in Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock Yarn in Brick! Thank you, Thank you!

Okay, My Sockapal2za socks are soooo due today...uh, oh. Can you say too much on my plate. Fear not, pal. I am so close to finishing, I can taste it. But.... I have a very painful pain in my neck. Do you think a leftover percacet (from my last c-section) would help???? Also, I wanted to make something special for a present I got for my pal. I promise I will hurrrrrrryyyyyy!

So I am standing in the shower, trying to hot water attack the pain in my neck, I am listening to Bare Naked Ladies... he he... so so so appropriate...lol and I come to the realization that I have no idea what the heck a "Chesterfield" is. Will one or more of my Canadian readers, please, please, please, enlighten me :)

Well, remember last night, when I said I am going to bed. I did and whilst in bed, HWWTS&J had Rockstar INXS on. I sooooo knew Suzie was a goner... I wish her the best of luck! But, back to the story... he's snoring away and I am watching...then at the end he wakes up and talks through the end of the show. Then he gets himself some ice cream, and starts talking to me with ice cream in his mouth. Mind you, at this point I am so tired I can't fall asleep, he is annoying me to no end and making my neck hurt more. I hate, hate, hate when someone is talking to me with food in their mouths and I can't understand them. I hate, hate, hate when someone (HWWTS&J) talks through the most important part of a show. And I hate, hate, hate when I don't get enough sleep....again!

On a happy note, The Harlot is going to be at Rhinebeck!!!! Yay! I will not be like other bloggers, I will not be like other bloggers, I will not be like other bloggers...You will not see pictures of The Harlot on my blog....no.... I am a spunky one of a kind blogger! You'll see what I mean in October...mwahhhhahhhaaa

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?
I am a bit of a yarn snob!
2. Do you spin? Crochet?
I am so learning to spin, thanks to Susie
3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)
Smoke, pets and overly flowery stuff
4. How long have you been knitting?
3 years addictively.
5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Froogle (on sidebar)
6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
Rose
7. Do you have a sweet tooth?
Yep, and so do my love handles, and my butt and my thighs :)
8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
Counted Cross Stitch and trying new things. No plants, they die by my black thumb....he he he
9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I am going to make a link on my sidebar to an ever expanding collection of band and/or artists names!
10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
No neon, please. Other than that, anything goes.
11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
An eleven year old pooch, named Angel. Maybe I'll post a picture one of these days.
12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)
Uh, they've been dashed of late. Ummm, an intelligent president.
13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
I have found KOIGU, thanks to sockapal2za :)
14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
yucky scratchy stuff.
15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
going the route of socks... and I seem to want to make OSW's out of everything.
16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I guess that would be the same as 15.
17. What are you knitting right now?
Uh, please see 15 & 16 and add clapotis, debbie bliss noro scoopneck cardigan.
18. What do you think about ponchos?
No thank you.
19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
Both
20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Aluminum
21. Are you a sock knitter?
Yep, and my foot size is 10 inches :)
22. How did you learn to knit?
Adult Education Class
23. How old is your oldest UFO?
2 years, a baby dress that even if i finished now, wouldn't fit Gracie :)
24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
Hello kitty, and I seem to like monkeys :)
25. What is your favorite holiday?
Birthdays
26. Is there anything that you collect?
stitch markers, the stranger the better.
27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
Interweave Knits
28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?
Nicky Epstein's Knitting Over the Edge
29. Any patterns you have been coveting, but haven't bought for one reason or another??
Orangina, Eris

There you have it... Did you notice I put in my sock size??? I meant to make an additional question for the questionaire...I will do that now on the SP6 blog :)

Ha, so you thought I would make my life easy...no... I love getting mail :)

1. What do you like to knit?
Anything!!! Oh, except scarves, love scarves, just not knit by me :)
2. What fibers do you like?
Uh, I prefer natural or blends ~ no straight acrylic.
3. What type of needles do you use most often?
My favorites are addi turbos and inox (the metal ones)
4. Do you like to knit in the round?
Absolutely!
5. Do you use a magic loop method or any other we should know about? Are you interested in learning a new method?
I love magic loop! Yes, I am game for anything :)
6. oops, I didn't get a question 6 ;)
7. Do you have a favorite place that you shop online?
Knit Picks, gotta go to Knit Picks
8. Do you want to be surprised?
I would be happy either way :)

So where the heck are Ren and Stimpy when you need them?

SP6....
Well, we have been given our groups (Idiot Proof here: The Hostesses, that is)
I am checking out all of my participants blogs and getting ready to match. Some of you, I know and some of you, I am a reader of your blog! HINT

I hope you don't mind getting me as a hostess, you know the impatience and all!

I have much planned for you chickadees!

Update soon!

Please note: LONG WINDED POST (includes a little humor, if you are up to it)

Funny Link

~~~~~~~~~

This first section, I found on someone else's blog as a link, I'm sorry I've forgotten who, comment me and I will give you proper credit:

Impeach, Remove, Jail In the often and rightly quoted words of Bill Clinton, "There's nothing wrong with America that can't be fixed by what's right with America." We see now how individuals and groups around the country continue to act in any way they can to help their fellow citizens in Louisiana, Mississippi and other devastated places near the Gulf of Mexico. They refuse to stand idly by and wait for President Bush and his morally-bankrupt, pirate administration to respond in an appropriately urgent and compassionate manner to the escalating agony and desperation of our fellow citizens. As we know, this agony and desperation was caused in large part by a near complete absence of adequate federal government funding, preparedness, and leadership. We the people will continue to help Americans and non-Americans alike, with or without the participation or approval of George W. Bush and his Neo-Conservative cohorts. While it is true that what is most important right now is to rescue, feed, house, and in any way possible care for those immediately affected by the disaster, it is equally true that in the long run those directly responsible for aggravating the tragic situation must be held accountable. The mounting evidence of the Bush administration's criminal mismanagement of the nation, as well as its consistently arrogant disregard for our planet's people and natural environments must be confronted immediately. Those who voted for Bush last year, or who have continually supported his outlaw administration in its destructively dishonest conduct -- including not only extremist conservatives but also politically-calculating democrats -- need not hang their heads or avert their eyes now. What they can and ought to do is join the increasing numbers of Americans who are demanding that impeachment proceedings be initiated as soon as possible. Members of the Bush Administration responsible for the blatant lies and self-serving manipulations that have fanned the flames of disaster from Iraq to New Orleans must be prosecuted as our laws require. We must insist on this. Furthermore, we must not allow these disgracefully unpatriotic public servants to be pardoned by any future president as Gerald Ford did for Richard Nixon. Please call or write your government representatives and help get the scoundrels out of government and in prison where they belong. Do not allow the subject to be changed, do not be distracted. The time to act is now. Take back your country. - Viggo Mortensen.
Stolen from www.percevalpress.com

~~~~~~

My friend Tweed has forwarded to me via email the two following excerpts (Thanks Tweed)

Friday, September 2nd, 2005
Dear Mr. Bush: Any idea where all our helicopters are? It's Day 5 of Hurricane Katrina and thousands remain stranded in New Orleans and need to be airlifted. Where on earth could you have misplaced all our military choppers? Do you need help finding them? I once lost my car in a Sears parking lot. Man, was that a drag.

Also, any idea where all our national guard soldiers are? We could really use them right now for the type of thing they signed up to do like helping with national disasters. How come they weren't there to begin with?

Last Thursday I was in south Florida and sat outside while the eye of Hurricane Katrina passed over my head. It was only a Category 1 then but it was pretty nasty. Eleven people died and, as of today, there were still homes without power. That night the weatherman said this storm was on its way to New Orleans. That was Thursday! Did anybody tell you? I know you didn't want to interrupt your vacation and I know how you don't like to get bad news. Plus, you had fundraisers to go to and mothers of dead soldiers to ignore and smear. You sure showed her!

I especially like how, the day after the hurricane, instead of flying to Louisiana, you flew to San Diego to party with your business peeps. Don't let people criticize you for this -- after all, the hurricane was over and what the heck could you do, put your finger in the dike?

And don't listen to those who, in the coming days, will reveal how you specifically reduced the Army Corps of Engineers' budget for New Orleans this summer for the third year in a row. You just tell them that even if you hadn't cut the money to fix those levees, there weren't going to be any Army engineers to fix them anyway because you had a much more important construction job for them -- BUILDING DEMOCRACY IN IRAQ!

On Day 3, when you finally left your vacation home, I have to say I was moved by how you had your Air Force One pilot descend from the clouds as you flew over New Orleans so you could catch a quick look of the disaster. Hey, I know you couldn't stop and grab a bullhorn and stand on some rubble and act like a commander in chief. Been there done that.

There will be those who will try to politicize this tragedy and try to use it against you. Just have your people keep pointing that out. Respond to nothing. Even those pesky scientists who predicted this would happen because the water in the Gulf of Mexico is getting hotter and hotter making a storm like this inevitable. Ignore them and all their global warming Chicken Littles. There is nothing unusual about a hurricane that was so wide it would be like having one F-4 tornado that stretched from New York to Cleveland.

No, Mr. Bush, you just stay the course. It's not your fault that 30 percent of New Orleans lives in poverty or that tens of thousands had no transportation to get out of town. C'mon, they're black! I mean, it's not like this happened to Kennebunkport. Can you imagine leaving white people on their roofs for five days? Don't make me laugh! Race has nothing -- NOTHING -- to do with this!

You hang in there, Mr. Bush. Just try to find a few of our Army helicopters and send them there. Pretend the people of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast are near Tikrit.

Yours, Michael Moore
http://www.michaelmoore.com/

P.S. That annoying mother, Cindy Sheehan, is no longer at your ranch. She and dozens of other relatives of the Iraqi War dead are now driving across the country, stopping in many cities along the way. Maybe you can catch up with them before they get to DC on September 21st.

~~~~~~~

This was in the Houston Chronicle 4 years ago. It's amazingly prescient. . .
Paper: Houston ChronicleDate: SAT 12/01/01Section: APage: 29 MetfrontEdition: 3 STAR
KEEPING ITS HEAD ABOVE WATER:New Orleans faces doomsday cenario
By ERIC BERGER, Houston Chronicle Science WriterStaff
New Orleans is sinking.
And its main buffer from a hurricane , the protective Mississippi River delta, is quickly eroding away, leaving the historic city perilously close to disaster.
So vulnerable, in fact, that earlier this year the Federal Emergency Management Agency ranked the potential damage to New Orleans as among the three likeliest, most castastrophic disasters facing this country.
The other two? A massive earthquake in San Francisco, and, almost prophetically, a terrorist attack on New York City.
The New Orleans hurricane scenario may be the deadliest of all.
In the face of an approaching storm, scientists say, the city's less-than-adequate evacuation routes would strand 250,000 people or more, and probably kill one of 10 left behind as the city drowned under 20 feet of water. Thousands of refugees could land in Houston.
Economically, the toll would be shattering.
Southern Louisiana produces one-third of the country's seafood, one-fifth of its oil and one-quarter of its natural gas. The city's tourism, lifeblood of the French Quarter, would cease to exist. The Big Easy might never recover.
And, given New Orleans ' precarious perch, some academics wonder if it should be rebuilt at all.
It's been 36 years since Hurricane Betsy buried New Orleans 8 feet deep. Since then a deteriorating ecosystem and increased development have left the city in an ever more precarious position. Yet the problem went unaddressed for decades by a laissez-faire government, experts said.
"To some extent, I think we've been lulled to sleep," said Marc Levitan, director of Louisiana State University's hurricane center.
Hurricane season ended Friday, and for the second straight year no hurricanes hit the United States. But the season nonetheless continued a long-term trend of more active seasons, forecasters said. Tropical Storm Allison became this country's most destructive tropical storm ever.
Yet despite the damage Allison wrought upon Houston, dropping more than 3 feet of water in some areas, a few days later much of the city returned to normal as bloated bayous drained into the Gulf of Mexico.
The same storm dumped a mere 5 inches on New Orleans , nearly overwhelming the city's pump system. If an Allison-type storm were to strike New Orleans , or a Category 3 storm or greater with at least 111 mph winds, the results would be cataclysmic, New Orleans planners said.
"Any significant water that comes into this city is a dangerous threat," Walter Maestri, Jefferson Parish emergency management director, told Scientific American for an October article.
"Even though I have to plan for it, I don't even want to think about the loss of life a huge hurricane would cause."
New Orleans is essentially a bowl ringed by levees that protect the city from the Mississippi River to its south and Lake Pontchartrain to the north. The bottom of the bowl is 14 feet below sea level, and efforts to keep it dry are only digging a deeper hole.
During routine rainfalls the city's dozens of pumps push water uphill into the lake. This, in turn, draws water from the ground, further drying the ground and sinking it deeper, a problem known as subsidence.
This problem also faces Houston as water wells have sucked the ground dry. Houston's solution is a plan to convert to surface drinking water. For New Orleans , eliminating pumping during a rainfall is not an option, so the city continues to sink.
A big storm, scientists said, would likely block four of five evacuation routes long before it hit. Those left behind would have no power or transportation, and little food or medicine, and no prospects for a return to normal any time soon.
"The bowl would be full," Levitan said. "There's simply no place for the water to drain."
Estimates for pumping the city dry after a huge storm vary from six to 16 weeks. Hundreds of thousands would be homeless, their residences destroyed.
The only solution, scientists, politicians and other Louisiana officials agree, is to take large-scale steps to minimize the risks, such as rebuilding the protective delta.
Every two miles of marsh between New Orleans and the Gulf reduces a storm surge - which in some cases is 20 feet or higher - by half a foot.
In 1990, the Breaux Act, named for its author, Sen. John Breaux, D-La., created a task force of several federal agencies to address the severe wetlands loss in coastal Louisiana. The act has brought about $40 million a year for wetland restoration projects, but it hasn't been enough.
"It's kind of been like trying to give aspirin to a cancer patient," said Len Bahr, director of Louisiana Gov. Mike Foster's coastal activities office.
The state loses about 25 square miles of land a year, the equivalent of about one football field every 15 minutes. The fishing industry, without marshes, swamps and fertile wetlands, could lose a projected $37 billion by the year 2050.
University of New Orleans researchers studied the impact of Breaux Act projects on the vanishing wetlands and estimated that only 2 percent of the loss has been averted. Clearly, Bahr said, there is a need for something much bigger. There is some evidence this finally may be happening.
A consortium of local, state and federal agencies is studying a $2 billion to $3 billion plan to divert sediment from the Mississippi River back into the delta. Because the river is leveed all the way to the Gulf, where sediment is dumped into deep water, nothing is left to replenish the receding delta.
Other possible projects include restoration of barrier reefs and perhaps a large gate to prevent Lake Pontchartrain from overflowing and drowning the city.
All are multibillion-dollar projects. A plan to restore the Florida Everglades attracted $4 billion in federal funding, but the state had to match it dollar for dollar. In Louisiana, so far, there's only been a willingness to match 15 or 25 cents.
"Our state still looks for a 100 percent federal bailout, but that's just not going to happen," said University of New Orleans geologist Shea Penland, a delta expert.
"We have an image and credibility problem. We have to convince our country that they need to take us seriously, that they can trust us to do a science-based restoration program."


Well, that's it for now, kidlets! I am off to gather some food for the Katrina victims that my oldest's school is getting together, I wonder if I can fit a couple of cabinets in her backpack?

Okay, so we know I am already mad, but then you have to read this. How mad do you think I am now? ARRGGGGHHHHH!

So... (Fair warning colorful words used ahead, if easily offended DON'T READ)

I have decided that I am mad about the response time for Hurricane Katrina Victims! I try really hard to not get too political, but here goes.

I really truly despise the actions of those of you who voted for that Jackass that we have for a president! His mother is a word I won't even type. I'll give you a hint *begins with a c and ends with a unt* There I've said it.

I mean, come on, we will as a whole, impeach a president over a freakin' blow job, but not for being responsible for thousands dying and not just from Katrina but in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now, please don't be fooled, I am extremely patriotic. I would go to war if called upon, even if I don't agree, because it is one of the prices of living here, but gosh, they are supposed to help when something bad happens!

And as for Trent Lott, FUCK YOU, I personally don't give a rat's ass that you lost your house, you have money and a job, go buy another one, or how about helping those less fortunate then yourself!

Hey Bush Clan, put your money where your mouths are, and pay for some of this out of your own pockets, we can fundraise without you!

We need to take back our Country!!!!

But in the meantime, we need to donate any way we can! There are many emails, and bloggers passing around useful information, go, donate, treat people as you would want to be treated. Oh, and be thankful for the bed you sleep in, the roof over your head, and that you can even drive, regardless of the gas prices. Think of the poor people without food and water, as you are eating and drinking.

Better yet, I profess a challenge... How many of you could not eat or drink anything from sun up to sunset? Betcha don't even have the will power! Try it, it is an enlightening experience. Remember the people who haven't eaten anything in days with every hunger pain!

RANT OVER!

I have a gripe. I do believe that I make it quite clear to EVERYONE, that stupidity irks, irritates, angers, etc. me!
The worst is when it is a question with the answer right dab smack under your nose ~ IN WORDS EVEN!
The ill feelings I feel when faced with sheer stupidity makes me want to strangulate...Lucky are those of you who are in blogland and offend me :)

I am sorry for the rant, but I want to have fun at my Tuesday night group and can't if I have pent up rage. Thanks for reading, and if you stopped, that's okay too.

This is a picture of my sockapal2za socks lounging in the sun on Saturday! (I know, I was making some people worry, with no updates)

Were you looking for a close up????And this is Monday night, just in time for Tuesday is Knitalong Day!

Don't forget about the Hurricane Katrina Donation Drive and my very kind friend Dorothee's contest for some smashing German Sock Wool! Check it out! Be warned, there will be no answers from me, but I will always consider bribes ;) (Just kidding Dorothee)

ETA: Those green thingies sticking out of my finished sock are sock blockers by Fiber Trends, bought especially for Sockapal2za!

Check out the side bar, much going on at Chez Shteeni!

Lots O’ Stuff:

Did you like the sock yarn that Dorothee sent me form Germany? She is having a contest on her blog for the same yarn different color. Don’t ask me for the answer, I’m not telling, besides I really forgot :)



Don’t forget that we are having auctions at http://www.hurricanekatrinadonationdrive.blogspot.com/

Also, let’s not forget the ongoing charities and such that will need our help, now that everyone is setting their sites on the Hurricane Disaster Relief.

Okay time for a meme:

Been tagged!
10 years ago I was: Just starting to date HWWTS&J.
5 years ago I was: Pregnant with child # 3.
1 year ago I was: Pregnant with child #5.
Yesterday: I got my arse in gear, to finish my sockapal2za socks!
5 snacks I enjoy: anything salty, sweet and bad for me!
5 songs I know all the words to: Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen), Suck My Kiss (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Blister in the Sun (Violent Femmes), and Mr. Brightside (The Killers), November Rain (GNR)
5 things I would do with 100 million dollars: same as the last time I answered this. (Will try to find the link)
5 places I would run away to: Colorado, California, Hawaii, Bahamas, Maine (sick of FL and these would be temporary, kind of vacation like, due to the fact that I love where I live, just not the town I live in)
5 things I would never wear: wife beater, those hideous hair barrettes with the huge bows, anything too froofy, super take the batteries out neon, eyebrow ring (nose ring, yes, eyebrow ring, no)
5 favorite TV shows: Gilmore Girls (shut up), Cops, AMW, 24, Medium
5 bad habits: I will not admit to any bad habits ( No evidence for HWWTS&J
5 biggest joys: All five of my children (on most days)
5 favorite toys: Remote, Stereo, Car, Knitting Paraphernalia, YARN.
5 fictional characters I would date: Indiana Jones, Luke Skywalker, Bo (Days of Our Lives, shut up, I know you watch stuff too), OOO Shawn Brady too while we are talking DOL anyways. ETA: OMG, Thank you Melanie, I forgot about Luke from Gilmore Girls and his nephew too! (Don't have 5 kids unless you are prepared for major brain farts)
5 people I tag to do this: Oh, just tag yourself and leave me a comment that you’ve done it so I can read it!

Well, I had previously promised some knitting content and Thank yous! I am very sorry, but I feel that the thank you's can wait a couple of days. I am trying to get together some donations and buyers for an auction to send money down to the Katrina Victims. Rox and I have joined forces and are organizing a little auction. Do you have something you would like to donate? Maybe you, too, are strapped for money right now, but can justify "buying" something. Won't you stop by? I will put a bloglines button up for your ease of updating!

Here's the link

Hurricane Katrina Donation Drive Blog