Tuesday, September 27, 2005

Balloon Classic Pictures

















A few weeks ago we went to the Balloon Classic in Colorado Springs. This year, Xander just LOVED it. In past years he wasn't so aware, making this year even more special for us! Even on the mornings that we don't go down to the park we can see the launch from our kitchen Window.

Thursday, September 01, 2005

Reality

I am so worried about people. Things are getting even worse now that there is so much violence.
There is an excellent story on Salon. Turns out, "In 2001, FEMA warned that a hurricane striking New Orleans was one of the three most likely disasters in the U.S. But the Bush administration cut New Orleans flood control funding by 44 percent to pay for the Iraq war."

http://www.salon.com/opinion/blumenthal/2005/08/31/disaster_preparation/
(you have to sit through an ad to see it, but big deal)

I always think about people with special needs at times like this. Xander's diet is so strict, he somewhat needs routine (although compared to many kids with ASD we are lucky that he likes trying new things)- after a few days of not being at home there would be trouble. I really feel for the poor and handicapped that were left behind. Unlocking Autism has set up a fund to go directly to families with ASD children in their time of need.
https://www.unlockingautism.org/ssl/shop/proddetail.asp?prod=GDRP_donation
(Like I'm pretending people read all this :)
Also, the American Red Cross needs help
http://store.yahoo.com/redcross-donate2/

We're running in negative numbers ourselves but we have more than so many others do right now. We have water, we have food, we have a roof over our heads and we have each other. So many people aren't that lucky.

I've also been thinking so much about what cities can do to evacuate- at this time they are unsure who left and who didn't, causing even MORE disorganization and confusion. It doesn't seem like things are going very well right now, I can only hope that these people get the help they need soon before there is more bloodshed.