Wowzers, Batman

Imagine you are in your late sixties, (or if you already are, I guess you don't have to imagine) and you have worked hard to make you home and yard look nice. You decided to move your manufactured home to an area with lots of shade, big pine trees, old oak trees, the home just embedded in the splendors of nature. You keep your yard nice and neat, you put a chainlink fence around to protect your property and allow you to see what you have achieved at a glance. You go as so far as to add a new roof and new storage shed where you piddle around with tools and other "man" things. You are on a fixed income and are happy with life. Then one day you hear of this terrible hurricane coming at you. Well, with little time to prepare anything, you hope for the best, go to the local church (which doubles as the shelter), say a few prayers, and bury your head as the eye of the storm passes over you.

You walk home, unable to drive down the street because of all the fallen trees. As you are walking you keep second guessing yourself and your significant others want for a fortress of tress and cursing nature. The lengthy walk home builds up anticipation and apprehension with every weary step. You stop in front of where you home is suppose to be, eyes shifting, searching like wild animal for a way out of a cage. You can't see you home because of the 27 trees blown over in your yard(literally, I counted them all). Finally after fighting and prying the sap laden trees apart you find your home to have three trees resting on it uneasily. Your front door is no longer the beaker of welcome for you children, grandchildren, and friends that it once was. Now it mocks you as the dangerous enemy you never get too close to, waiting to snap and creek with you inside. You realize your home is broken, much like you heart at this moment. With sad desperation you do what you can to move personal affects from the home, throwing away most of it. All you can do now is wait for the insurance money so you can start all over again. You wonder if all those years of premiums will yield a return enough to bring you back to the standard of living you had prior to the Worst Natural Disaster in this countries history. The answer...No, you don't, but a positive attitude and family that cares, is the right start to putting things back together.

This little old couple owned this home. They did not have enough insurance to cover what they had put into the home, they will probably loose thousands and thousands of dollars worth of property, time, and effort because of the storm. When I met with them you couldn't tell if they were in a bad spot or not. They were all smiles, thank-your, and very hospitable. We went next door to a relatives house where they served me the best sweet tea I could handle on a 90+ degree day. They filled out the appropriate paperwork, I gave them their check, and bade them good luck. I will, more than likely, never see them again. But with all the bad that has happened to them, they have still maintained the keys to making it through. Smiles and Positive attitudes. I am not going to go into some PSA about how you need to have a good attitude and smiles are contagious and all that cliche, repetitive crap. But, I find the fortitude of people amazing everyday. God sure knew what He was doing.

Bye Bye Fun

The novelty has worn off. Can't be said anymore simply than that. Peaked at 13 days. This affliction is known as the two week stare. The time when you have eaten out more than you care to and everything begins to run together and you can't tell homes and insured apart. You just silently look into the distance with no real thoughts in you mind. I think the real straw that broke the camel's back was the "no end in sight" undertones I receive from the coordinators when I interject the X amount of days till I go home quips. But, alas, I must make the best of it, bury my head, and force through the work. The work, itself, has increased dramatically and is no longer the easy walk in the park I have was settling in to. No, now it involves 3 hours of windshield time and tens of thousands of more dollars. I have already issued around 75 checks since I have been here. To quote and old business professor of mine, "that's a chunk of change."

Yet, I am definitely the youngest person here. Youngest by age (as I usually am at any corporate gathering) and youngest by experience. This is the small fish in the large pond surrounded by bigger fish, nastier predators, and out numbered by the worms two dozen to one senario that has become cliche. This in itself makes things more challenging. I am dealing with adjusters who have been doing this for 15 years, actually I think the next person who has been working with the company for the least amount of time has six years under his belt. My year and a half is but a mere drop in the bucket for these people. This is good because of the experience they can pass along, but I can't help but think they look down upon me for being a neophyte. I don't know why, they are all very nice, with the cockiness developed by years in this business. Maybe it is my lack of confidence that brings me to this conclusion. This lack of confidence could be a result of the magnitude of time consuming claims and devastation I am seeing and hearing about. I know this is unlike what I have done before any other storm, then again, it could just be lack of sleep. Whose to know, but at least I have this blog to vent my thoughts and direct me in the line of acceptance. Tomorrow I am going to wake up and catch that second wind until it brings me home.

More is yet to come

Thanks for all the birthday wishes. I appreciate all the calls and warm thoughts. They changed my territory today, so it's going to get a bit more interesting. There are power lines down everywhere, whole fields of trees are leaning or cut down about ten feet up. Helicopters are constantly flying over. This is unlike any hurricane damage I have ever seen and I not even talking about the hard hit areas. So, stay tuned in and would put some good stuff up. Thanks again for all the birthday thoughts.

Love Is In the Air

Yes, love is definitely in the air, but not the love you see in movies or even some of the novels with the half naked people on the cover (you know the ones where the man's hair is longer than the women's and if it wasn't for the steroid chiseled abbs you couldn't tell who was whom). The love I have seen comes in the special form of bugs. Millions of love bugs have come to mate in the aftermath of the storm. Who would have guessed 175 mile an hour winds could be considered foreplay. Nevertheless, these bugs are butt-to-butt and everywhere. I am sure they are spawning questions in the minds of 3 and 4 years old. Questions parents dread even when the kids reach the teenage years. But thanks to the discovery channel and National Geographic at least there are teaching aids.

Mostly I'm glad college football has started. Not because of some unnatural allegiance I have for a university I never went to, but because it means there is something else on the TV besides Katrina coverage. I actually stopped watching television last Friday. I couldn't watch it any more. I see enough depressing living situations and filth already, that by the end of the day I can't take anymore. Not that I don't get constant updates from the people I talk with. A buddy of mine, I was his best man, went home yesterday, after not being allowed into Slidell, to see the condition of his house. This is the first house he bought for him and his wife. I haven't been able to get in touch with him for the result. Another friend of mine had a place in Waveland, MS. We had all gone there for a weeks vacation a couple of years ago. He told me yesterday his camp house was gone, nothing there. His camp was fully furnished, nicer than most of the places I see everyday. Totally wiped away.

Houses are being sold over the phone, Baton Rouge has doubled in size, places all over LA are being snatched up for businesses and homes. I am toying with the idea of selling my home for a huge profit and moving back in with Mom and Dad. They said when I moved out I would always have a place at their home, and by being the oldest and smartest (yeah I said it,Laura and Sarah), I would eventually end up dealing with it at some point. So why wait for the inheritance, I will just take it now. I wonder if my parents could handle me? I wouldn't be the only 26 year old living at home, and I am the favorite. Don't worry these are mere petty threats...Maybe.

Two sheds were no match for Two giant old oak trees

It was the Best of Times, It was the Worst of Times

The picture below was one of the fairly minor claims I have inspected over the past couple of days. One of many...many trees on homes I have seen since arriving here. I also saw a 10,000 square foot metal building, well, I saw one wall and a few metal I-beams. That was all that was left. Trees broken in half twenty feet up have become the norm.

Today I learned about convenience. Still fuming about having to use dial-up internet, I left the hotel this morning at 6:15. I then waited in line to buy gas, only ten minutes, nothing compared to prime times. From that point I drove the 40 minutes to where my first claim was located, eating my cold bagel and drinking my Frappacino (coffee flavored, I don't mess around with frilly mocha or vanilla). Finding the location was not difficult at all, thanks to the handy dandy GPS sitting on my dashboard connected to my computer. This program even tells me where to turn, if only it was woman's voice and not a monotoned computerman I would be set. I worked my claim and traveled on to the next one. Well, the computer let me down, this place was like uncharted territory. I was able to call the insured from my cell phone, but could not understand completely what she said. So I did the best I could and I found myself very lost in what I now understand to be the back ass Louisiana. I was taking bets with myself on whether I would see a shirtless man in overalls playing banjo or drive unknowingly into a full on Voodoo ritual. Then I realized, My GPS doesn't work, my cell phone doesn't work, if I run out of gas there is none in this parish, I am pretty much on my own. No outside life lines, no mommy to save me from the monsters, it was just me. I quickly though back to my Boy Scout days listing off the necessities in order..."I have water, food, my car can be shelter...But what about a book, or TV, or something to pass the time." Wow, if the men of the 1800's could see me now, I am sure a wuss I would be. I found the claim, fortunately, but I never did get great cell coverage. I had lost the easily accessible, always when I need it, just because I am bored friend at my side. But as the day went on, finally got cell coverage, ten minutes from my hotel. I showed up here started to download, dial-up, and noticed it would take over two hours to finish. Fighting back the urge to treat my laptop as a Frisbee, I went to talk the time away with the boss, only to find the high speed was back up. I finished my work in less than five minutes. I realized getting the high speed internet was high point of my day. That of course made me question the how spoiled I really am. But, do I give it the name "Spoiled," or do I say Fortunate? I say fortunate, and not because it make me look better, but because I have worked for my comforts. But, then what does that justify and imply. I don't know, but I am pretty sure this will come up again in further post. Maybe some reflection time will be needed to know how fortunate I am, how fortunate most of us are...

I call this the Tale of Two Trailers 

Watermelon and Time

Today I arrived at the Holiday Inn Express in Dehnam Springs. Our outpost was changed as a result of no one being allowed into Hammond. The extent of damage I have seen so far, basically from the highway, has been very little. I know there are some area's around here with out power, but nothing too major. Our biggest concern, as sad as it is, is the high speed internet is not working and we have to make due with dial-up.

Everyone I come in contact with seems to be at the end of their ropes. Seeing how this is only the second day and rumors have it of not letting anyone in New Orleans for some time, I don't think the hope is going to get any better. These people do not know the condition of their homes and getting through on the phones if virtually impossible, even for me. The attitude is very somber, with the exception of five people staying a few rooms down from me. When I opened the door to leave the makeshift office, I was nearly barreled down by flashes of kids running the balcony. They ranged in ages from three to eight, and each one of them had no shoes and a mouthful of watermelon. They were laughing, screaming, and generally being kids. But judging from the smiles on their faces you would never have known Gov. Blanco had declared Marshall Law a few hours earlier or how wives were sucked away from the hands of their husbands as flood waters filled the homes. Today was just another adventure to them, a different playground for the innocent of mind. Don't we all wish for such a time we can be so light hearted and not thought of as a fool.

I am not completely sure, but I think I will be working claims in a parish around Baton Rouge. This will keep me away from the majority of the flooded areas. My biggest fear now is the disease and "Toxic Soup" as it has been called. I think I will be away from that area and out of most harms way. Most of the adjusters I have talked to, ones with 15-20 years experience, say this is the worst they have ever seen. Suddenly I have a craving for watermelon and the hope of pleasant dreams.

Paul Revere Rides again

Every time a hurricane comes through it reminds me of when Paul revere made his ride. It is a bunch of "the storm is coming the storm is coming." This is usually followed by mass hysteria and the occasion tears from loved ones. But I see it as a way to hurry up, pack virtually everything I own, and wait around for the command to leave. Then I sit as plans crumble and change all around me. Some may say we follow the military's Hurry up and Wait policy. But, as all of you hopefully know, and some may be even harboring refugees, Katrina did some damage. This means I am leaving.

So, tomorrow, maybe, I will become a resident of the Days Inn in Hammond, LA. That is assuming they have power, and open roads, and means for our company to operate. I figured trying to work 15 hour days and keeping in touch with all my friends and family will be a little difficult. So I have decided to try and post updates on my blog every couple of days or so. This way any who is bored can say "I wonder what David is up to," (knowing you spend most of your time doing that already) can simply log on to the internet and say..."Damn, I'm glad I'm not him." So let the good times roll South Louisiana, here I come.

Midget Mania

Last night I saw something both interesting and disturbing at the same time. I went to the baseball game at the local league we have here in town. It is not a minor league team, nor is it affiliated with any MLB team, but they have lots of promotionals to get the butts in the seats. Lasts night's promotional was midget wrestling. I dare say there was not a politically correct person in the whole party, not that being PC is something I seek out or strive for. The midgets were hyped up in there spandex and bouncing off the ropes like small children in a candy shop. Although this sight was some what humerous, with the planned moves and poorly attempted smack talk, I think the spectators were more of the problem to me.

You have your typical wrestle watching, trailor living, Nascar fans hooping and hollaring about laughing at the show. They weren't laughing with the midgets, they were laughing at them. This makes you wonder if the midgets know they were being laughed at, and if they did indeed know, why do they continue to put themselves in public spotlight. Is it they are so comfortable with themselves and there current status that they know they are one step above circus performers, or is the need to stand out and be famous so great people with risk there dignity all as a result of self concsiousness? Does this help or do they go home at the end of the day bragging about what was said and who won the fixed wrestling match?

But, I think it goes back to another problem I have noticed and probably noted in this blog. Lack of compasion combined with low self image that force people act in negative manner to others. Does this mean there mother/father...beat them, touched them, didn't hold them enough, held them too much, dropped them, I don't know, nor do I want to. I know it is sad how people just don't care about other people in this world. Not unless they can gain something from them. So gaurd your morals, values, and well being. Push them away so you can stand out in a crowd of your peers by crash comments and mean stabs at others.