The Robinsons

Sunday, April 30, 2006 Orley and Bonnie left yesterday and already we miss them. Their personalities added a cheer and a charm that brightened up an otherwise not so inviting atmosphere. They were, in my mind, the best part of the group dynamics because they were positive, joyful, encouraging and fun. Orley has a personality that really can’t be authentically duplicated. He is loud, but not obnoxious. His Orleyisms, as I call them, became predictable, but nevertheless funny. "I am the man!" "It’s Friday!" "It’s my birthday!" Orleyisms in themselves are not funny, but when delivered Orley style clear out of the blue, they are. Even going to Lowes with Orley is an adventure. His winsomness when interacting with store personnel just adds a levity and joy to the task. In a few brief moments he had the checkout clerk’s testimony of salvation and encouraged her for this restoration time. When Orley is working, he keeps it light and positive even when the work is...

Hello everybody! The kids and I are back home from a visit to Mj and Josh's, and I thought I should post some pics. I should mention that the Big Bird pic was taken in Rochester but I thought I should toss it in. The one of Harper is him eating his 1st birthday cake, it was so funny, he kept scrunching up his nose at it and most of it ended up on the floor..the wall....on Ariana...! It was awesome to spend almost a week with him, I so love him and his expressions, he is such a mama bug but he loved having us there, especially the girls and Jack. Jack said, at least twice a day "Harper is soooo cute." in almost a whisper, like he couldn't believe just how cute he is. Jack's favorite thing was the beach, he is still asking me if we can go back there and swim and play in the sand. I think Emma's favorite was going to this place called Canopy. Mj found this amazing, beautiful studio where this great woman gives trapeez lessons, so the girls got to have an hour of...

Here's one I think you'll like, Emma.

Here is an interesting link , particularly for Alan (who loves the English). It's a high-speed video of a back draw in pool. Since it's high speed, the shot is really slow. There are more here. Like this one , of a dog catching a bone (requires downloading). I'm supposed to be writing about my meeting with my uBalt advisor, but I'm too tired. Suffice it to say that it went really well, and I'm excited about starting. The program looks (write) up my alley, and my advisor seems like a great guy. We talked for almost two hours. Okay, I'll take some Q&A in the comment box.

Sunday, April 23, 2006 New Orleans is another place of great contrast. We spent the day there yesterday. As we entered the area we saw building after building that had been underwater and completely damaged. It was beyond the term "whole neighborhoods;" it was everywhere. There was almost nothing that had been restored. There were a few "We’re Open" signs, but they definitely needed the sign. Underneath I-10, where we got off, we saw many cars with uplifted hoods and trunk lids and the flood had clearly trashed them. As we made the turn towards downtown we began to see improvement. The business area was up and running. Palm trees had been replanted and the city had been given a facelift. We headed for The French Quarter, where there was a festival, parked easily and began walking. By the end of the day we had walked all through the French Quarter and saw little evidence of destruction. We learned, from the proprietor of a photograph gallery, that the French Quarter ...

You on line? ; )

I'm here in sunny Baltimore, just living it up. I just got back from uBalt where I went to a reading by Rachel DeWoskin, who wrote Foreign Babes in Beijing . It was interesting to revisit my China experiences and hear her perspectives on the country. I watched The Greatest Game Ever Played last night and recommend it. It's about golf, and one of the bonus features on the DVD has some interesting history of the game. I can't find my pen. I have to go.

We drove by miles and miles of destruction looking similar to this tonight. Mostly houses. Some stores and churches. ALL destroyed! ALL! It made me ill with sorrow. Gaping holes. Ghost towns! Ruin and rubble! All representing people like you and me. Not a great picture for we were driving 60mph, but look hard and maybe you'll feel a little of what we're feeling tonight. . .

we went to new orleans today to see the damage there. it is unspeakably disastrous! it's hugely worse than here in size and scope! oh, my. you just can't capture the magnitude of it all on tv or pictures. what we are doing is a drop in the bucket! no! a drop in the ocean! yet, whoever you talk to says, 'if it wasn't for the churches, we wouldn't be as far along as we are!' we also went to the french quaarter and i had some pretty good jamboliah. [sp-1] listened to a lot of jazz! saw a lot of art. went to the public market! went to cafe du monde! saw the mouth of the mighty mississippi river! it was fine all day, but we were happy to leave after supper and the crowd changed to the wild and hairy! yikes! oh yes. we did go to bourbin street. that is the creepiest place i've been to in my whole wide world. very eerie and sad! dad's gone to bed and so must i. we love you guys 'n dolls!

Thursday, April 20, 2006 Yesterday, I worked with a team from a church in Ohio and we gutted a house in Pascagoula. This was sure different from the finish work I had been doing in Gautier. This house was at the beginning stage for sure. The watermark was more than three feet on the walls and there was the presence of the dreaded black mold. We had to wear masks gloves and zippered coverall suits. It was a real experience. We tore drywall off all the walls and ceilings and made a mountain of it at the curb. Then the house had to be sprayed for mold. I was amazed at how much we accomplished with a team of mostly young boys along with five adults. Every one worked hard in a very discouraging situation. What a mess. In a few days it will be ok for a crew to go in and hang drywall. In driving through these neighborhoods I saw many FEMA trailers. In fact, nearly every yard had one. This must have been a very hard hit area. In looking at the map I saw that it’s practically an island surround...

Happy Easter! I hope today was a wonderful family day for all of you. I missed you. Special days are not quite the special times they should be without family. I look forward to the next time we can all be together even if it's packing up 10 Alden Ave. Dad

April 16, 2006 Easter Sunday I can’t remember a better Easter service! There were so many elements of the service and all so meaningful and well done. Pastor Ted Pagel, Jr. and his assoc. pastors did and excellent job of orchestrating a real celebration of Easter. One might wonder if baptisms and infant dedication should be a part of an Easter celebration, but they fit in beautifully and added meaning. The church, meaning the people … the bride of Christ, doesn’t just exist, but is alive and well. Pastor Ted preached from Revelation about Christ’s coming again and the choir sang a wonderful musical with video drama support. That’s a lot of stuff in one service and it was so good time just flew by. I’m not doing it justice in my report, but the fact that I’m trying is evidence in itself. I don’t usually feel this strongly about church services. I’ve slipped into journaling once a week instead of daily as I once was doing. Perhaps the days are not different or memorable enough, or I’m ad...

Here I am on Long Island. John and Eileen, Stephanie's dad and step-mom, have given us a beautiful 2001 Hyundai Elantra. It's a total problem solver for us as our loaned pick-up truck died in Baltimore last week. They acquired the car from Llana, Stephanie's sister, who was going to trade it in when she bought her new car. But they only offered her $400, so John, who is a mechanic (a body man) took it instead and was going to fix up the damage on the body and sell it for $3800. He didn't fix it, but the problems are only superficial, and he says that the engine is "stellar." I drove it yesterday and it was a fun, speedy little car. I just spent the last two nights getting insurance and then getting the car registered. It only took 20 minutes to do that last part, which to everyone involved seems a small miracle in itself. Baltimore was a fun trip. I wasn't thrilled with our performance, perhaps because I took my glasses off to look more like Menc...

Happy happy anniversary Al and Anitarae!!!!:0) How wonderful and amazing- 40 years!!!!! Could you ever have imagined you would be spending it the way you are? It just says so much about who you are. I'm so happy to have both of you as part of my family. To have you as part of my family, and so happily together is a double blessing.I just wanted to let you know that it means much to me to see you guys side by side doing such incredible things. You, individualy and unifed, are inspiring. So cheers, and feel all the happiness, and love that we send to you from Ithaca!!

Sunday, April 09, 2006 Now we are one week into this assignment and a little more aware of the way this relief work is handled. In just looking at the whole big mess in its immensity I could only wonder just where does anyone begin? I’ve felt that way sometimes when I had to clean up my mess in the basement, but that’s a ridiculous analogy. NDR, the Nazarene Disaster Response team here is focusing on rebuilding in this area of Gautier and Ocean Springs. I think they are trying to limit their effort to a 30 mile radius for now and then move on to another area at a later date. I’m not totally clear on the process, but I believe that after receiving a phone call request for help, an assessor is sent to that site to determine what needs to be done and how high on the priority list it should be placed. There are specific criteria which determine its place on that list. Since NDR has already used up its gov’t. funds. A person with the money for materials is considered first because it is pos...

DON'T MESS WITH OLDIES An older lady gets pulled over for speeding... Older Woman: Is there a problem, Officer? Officer: Ma'am, you were speeding. Older Woman: Oh, I see. Officer: Can I see your license please? Older Woman: I'd give it to you but I don't have one. Officer: Don't have one? Older Woman: Lost it, 4 years ago for drunk driving. Officer: I see...Can I see your vehicle registration papers please. Older Woman: I can't do that. Officer: Why not? Older Woman: I stole this car. Officer: Stole it? Older Woman: Yes, and I killed and hacked up the owner. Officer: You what? Older Woman: His body parts are in plastic bags in the trunk if you want to see. The Officer looks at the woman and slowly backs away to his car and calls for back up. Within minutes 5 police cars circle the car. A senior officer slowly approaches the car, clasping his half drawn gun. Officer 2: Ma'am, could you step out of your vehicle please! The woman steps out of her vehicle. Olde...

April 2, 2006 It’s Sunday afternoon and we are actually in Mississippi. I am excited for lots of reasons. Actually, I am feeling many emotions right now. I am thankful because we have arrived safely once more. I admit that I worry when we move. There is still much stress involved with the hooking up and pulling of the Montana. Each time we arrive safely I thank the Lord and surely His hand is on us. I am excited about being here and being involved with Katrina relief. This effort is much different than I had imagined. It is not a ROAM project, but it is under the covering of the Church of the Nazarene through Compassionate Ministries. It is actually a Nazarene Disaster Relief work. NDR was formed and incorporated as a separate entity so federal funds could be procured. Bob Cantrell, a real live wire, was appointed to direct the work and has been here for six months and will continue for another year. Prior to this he had organized his own ministry, called Integrity Ministries, to do si...

Okay. What DOES the Katrina disaster look like in APRIL? Go with me into your imagination, will you? Are you ready for a time of sorrow? Okay then. Take all your kid’s toys, sports equipment and books. Tear them up and throw them around a room! Soak everything with mud and water! Now, take all the dishes out of your cupboards and cabinets. Break them violently and scatter them on top of the toys. Then, viciously tear apart all your furniture and fling it all around the same room. Add a few trees, bushes and flowers into the mix. Perhaps a stop or street sign. And, okay, a lamp post! Continue this process with your food, jewelry, your sound equipment, your tv, your tools, your hobbies your books and family collectables. All of them. Crush them. Mix them all together. And then when your done doing that. . . take the room and blow that apart, too! Add some stuff that flew in from the next neighborhood! See that heap? That is what we see all these months after Katrina struck! As we drove t...