uh......r00k.

[Cydney]

nice to hear from you. very nice actually.

glad everyone is ok.

Second that.

[JesterBlaze]

Rook's OK.. Woot!!!

[MrBigglesworth]

One ok, one to go. I read this the other day about Slidell:

The best fried shrimp po' boys in the New Orleans area are found at a little place called "Check In, Check Out" in Slidell. The original location is a former gas station/convenience store that made such intensely overstuffed, exquisitely flavorful sandwiches that it was transformed into a grubby diner, although the Rude Pundit's always just picked up his po' boy and returned to wherever he was staying, munching on the sweet and salty shrimp as he drove away.

Referring to the Check In, Check Out in the present tense is a bit overly optimistic today, for Slidell sits across Lake Ponchartrain, northeast of New Orleans, and it was in the path of the eyewall of Hurricane Katrina. Little is known about what's happened to Slidell, a small city of over 30,000 people, because, if Mayor C. Ray Nagin of New Orleans is correct, it is now underwater. Parts of the main bridge that connected Slidell to New Orleans, known as the Twin Span on I-10, are gone. The approaches from the northwest, from Hammond and Covington, are lakes.

For years, the citizens of Slidell argued about the destruction of the wetlands that provided at least some protection from the massive lake. Save Our Wetlands, an environmental organization in Louisiana, even filed lawsuits to prevent development that would destroy the wetlands, specifically citing the protection from hurricane tidal surges as a primary concern. Of course, by 2004, it was far, far too little, far, far too late, and the development that had occurred since the 1960s, with the draining of wetlands for highways and homes, with the bypassing of environmental impact studies before the Army Corps of Engineers permitted the construction of a huge addition to Slidell in the 1970s, had eaten away far too much of that buffer zone. There's no telling if the wetlands, left alone or restored, would have helped Slidell yesterday, but there's a good chance the complete devastation that appears to have occurred might have been mitigated. But greed will always will out. It will always will out.

[iceman99]

ROOK!!!!!!!!!!

Glad to see that you are OK sir.... THAT IS THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY DAY!!!!!

[VitoStallion]

Hey guys ...

thanks for te prayers and thoughts.

It has been one hell of an experience. I am now in Indianpolis where my parents live.

We evacuated on Sunday to Mobile ... wrong choice, as you now know (last I heard is that they are still without electricity) ... then went to Montgomery and now to Indy.

Slidell, where I live took the storm about at 11 o'clock on the eye. I live right on the water on the shores of Lake Pontrchartrasin. Aerial shots still show a structure ... don't know much more than that.

I finally got my ex out of New Orleans last night. She was trapped inside Memorial Hospital, now evacutated. I will be picking her up in St. Louis today. She relays stories of gunfire etc ... stuff right out of a science fiction novel.

Sorry, I do not have much time to chat because I am on the road again.

Thank god that my three sons , wife and ex-wife are ok and away from that very sad area. We will regroup, but it will take some time.

Thanks again for the toughts and prayers. I will be back in touch.

r00k
tired but still kicking

Ahhhhhh, glad you're ok

[r00k]

Back in the saddle again ... an export for Sunday game will be forthcoming against division rival WV. Can't spend as much time as I would like but at least there will be something put together.

I am writing this from my new temp home in Indy since I cannot return to Slidell for awhile; however, aerial views of my house are very encouraging. My neighorhood had mixed damage depending which on the direction that your house faced. It looks like I will be returning to a house ... unlike the many unfortunate others that you have witnessed on TV.

Reconstruction of the area's natural employment ties have been significantly cut off due to the destruction of the 6 mile bridge (called the Twin Spans & less than a mile by water form my house) that connects Slidell to the general New Orleans area . I have no idea how the "new" New Orleans will be reconstructed and I have no doubt that there will be a reconstruction ... but where is a question.

Again, thanks to all for your concern, thoughts and prayers. There are those that are still in need of your thoughts and prayers. I highly encourage any monetary support to a reputable charity to help those individuals.

and finally, I am very worried about Jave ... Gulfport was indeed obliterated ... with a sustained sledge hammer of wind and water. It would be very comforting to hear from him. More than likely, he will not be as lucky as I was.

Good to be back even if it is a few miles away from home,

r00k

[Cringer]

Well, thanks for the effort of making an export, I can honestly say I didn't expect one. I know you have a couple things higher on the priority list now (which I usually don't allow but am making an exception for you ).

Thanks for checking in again, and sounds like pretty good news about your house so far. Hope it stays that way.

Agreed on Jave. Sure hope we hear from him soon.

[MrBigglesworth]

Does anyone know Jave's real name?

[Cringer]

Does anyone know Jave's real name?

Not sure if his email address is his real name or not, but I was using it to look at some stuff earlier.....

[Suicane]

Is he in other leagues that guys maybe would know his real name?

[Cringer]

Is he in other leagues that guys maybe would know his real name?

Joe might know. But as of right now this is the only league he is in that I know of.

[Matt]

Is he in other leagues that guys maybe would know his real name?

Joe might know. But as of right now this is the only league he is in that I know of.

michael Jeter?

[Cringer]

yeah, but after googling it, i don't think thats his name. :scratchhead:

[Suicane]

Lets keep in mind (I know it goes without saying really) that contacting us is probably the last thing on his mind.

[Cringer]

Lets keep in mind (I know it goes without saying really) that contacting us is probably the last thing on his mind.

But....but this is the Imperial League. Aren't we world famous and everyone's #1 priority? :?: