That I really, really, really love and appreciate all of the folks who have or will come to this area to help rebuild after Katrina. The generosity of our fellow citizens is humbling/overwhelming/unbelievable etc etc.

That if the members of congress and the executive branch of the Federal government would do the same thing they *might* understand why things are really not back to normal and that they are liable for the damage caused from the failed levees. (Can't you just see them gutting homes, planting trees, framing new homes, waiting in line at the SBA loan place, fighting with insurance adjusters? Would it make a difference if they invested some sweat equity into the recovery?) If they did this I might consider changing the ringtone on my cell phone. It has been "Oh, Canada" since September 2005.

That it takes more than the 47 minutes of "Extreme Home Makeover" to repair even minor damage caused by the storm. My house still needs some exterior paint and I have a water mark on my bedroom wall from the hole that was put in the roof by a branch spear. Imagine folks with more devastating damage.

That my dear friend/Godfather to our son who is a contractor hates to answer his phone. He has more work than he can handle and it kills him to tell people in such need that he just can not help them for months. (His own home was reduced to a pile of 6 bricks.)

That things are getting better and better every day. So much better that when all of these volunteers are in front of me in line at Starbucks I sometimes want to scream: "Please, Please, Please get out of my way. I am trying to get to work and make money to repair my home.....I love that you are here, but STEP AWAY FROM MY COFFEE and no one will get hurt!" Even when we had no power, no water, no phones, and the wind was still blowing....we found a way to make coffee. (I love Coleman stoves)