I come home tomorrow (Saturday) evening. I can't wait to see everyone. I've been through de-briefing here, and will go through another session in Sac sometime in the next week. There is an interesting phenomenon occuring in people who have responded to this particular disaster -- the level of intensity of our environment and jobs here is such that many are having trouble "letting go" of it and "re-entering" their lives. We've had a number of post-deployed Red Cross personnel calling us in tears, wanting updates on certain people and issues. It will be interesting to see how the next couple of weeks feel to me, although I plan to re-enter my life hitting the ground running. I now have confidence that I can re-enter the workforce and survive, professionally and personally. So I'll be looking for a hospital-type job as soon as I get back. I think that will help with my de-briefing process also. I was asked to extend my deployment until Oct. 17th, but that would mean more time away from the kids, missing Matt's birthday, and working with another manager whose style just doesn't jibe with mine. So I'm coming home. An din a couple of weeks when I've processed a few things in my mind, I am going to write an article about everything I've seen and heard here.

I am working in the main hurricane shelter in the town of Monroe, LA. It's in the northern part of the state, and we have many different kinds of evacuees here. Many of them were evacuated to shelters during and after Hurricane Katrina, and then were re-evacuated from those shelters to my shelter during Hurricane Rita. Needless to say, Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome is a big problem here. I am working as the assistant shelter manager during the hours of 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. We have in the neighborhood of 1300 evacuees we're caring for, as well as about 60 Red Cross staff, and numerous National guardsmen (many ogf whome were evacuees themselves, and are deployed partly because they have no homes to go to).

I have met many incredible people here, and have heard many stories, but have limited writing time. I will post as I can. Keep us all in your thoughts and prayers.

Just a quick note to let you know that I have been called up for deployment with the Red Cross, Disaster Health Services. I am assigned to the Wal-Mart shelter in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I leave tonight from Sacramento International Airport at 10:58 on Delta Airlines. I fly into Atlanta around 6:30 a.m. I have a 4-hour layover, then fly from Atlanta to Baton Rouge, arriving at about 11:45 a.m. I will take a shuttle to the shelter. If my plane is diverted away from Baton Rouge, I have instructions on how to proceed, and will still eventually arrive at the Baton Rouge shelter. My deployment will last approximately three weeks.

I will send word by phone as soon as possible that I've arrived safely, and will communicate as much as I possibly can, by phone and mail. I do not have a cell phone with me, as ours will not work outside of Sacramento. This is as much as I know so far.

Keep the evacuees and shelter staff in your thoughts and prayers.

Yesterday (9/12) was my birthday...I'm not dealing with getting older very well, but it was good anyway. Kaylin and Jessica cooked a wonderful dinner for me and gave me a flower pot and flower bulbs. I also got Baskin Robbins gift certificates (I'm addicted to their chocolate malts) and cute cards. Then later on in the evening Hoyin came and picked me up and we met Nicole, Avi, Avi's mom, Sinatra, Sin's man, and some others for the Virgo Birthday Party of Doom at the '40. We sang karaoke, and just for experiments and kicks, I hit on a tall geeky guy (my type). It was a total flop -- I think I'm losing my touch...:)

Tonight I'm doing laundry and house stuff , watching Dog Bounty Hunter, drinking tea, and starting to pack for my Red Cross deployment coming up probably on Sunday. I'm too restless to sleep.