January 11-26, 2009

January 11-26, 2009

Ahhh, our new best friend Heater of Doom. We like to name all warm things that find their way into our lives, such as The Blanket Formerly Known as Big Nasty. Lane gave us Heater of Doom. January 11.

The incredibly cool, abandoned, Lindy Boggs Medical Center. Picture taken from N. Jefferson Davis Parkway. January 12

Sarah rides her bike through sprawling City Park.

City Park trees.

Moss hanging from trees.

A unlikely place for a picnic. City Park.

These toilet planters are all over our neighborhood, around St. Louis Street. Lane claims to have installed some of them.

Jazz bar on Bourbon Street. January 15. Picture taken by Sarah. SH.

Yes, it does get cold sometimes. Here's what happened around the long-broken water main on St. Louis street on the 30 degree morning of January 16.

Having two days off work together, we escaped the cold by renting this little yellow car.

2009 Chevy Aveo with 2700 miles. Tiny, goes forever on a tank of gas, made by a company that won't exist in 10 years, in a country that won't exist in 20 years, on a planet that won't be inhabitable in 50 years.

Sarah on the Algiers ferry, trying to comprehend the complicated New Orleans map.

Notice how all the roads bend with the curves in the river. That's what makes it so confusing.

We drive two hours south of the city to Boothville, which is as close as a person can drive to the Mississipi River delta. These areas were under over 20 feet of turbulent storm surge water during Katrina, leaving almost nothing left standing for a 40-mile stretch.

The fishing boats have of course returned in force. SH

The narrow highway winds through the marshes, offering a wide variety of strange sights. SH

The highway only continues a few miles past Boothville. This sums up the view. SH

And this sums up the view, debris everywhere left over from the storm surge, debris that came from the nearby coastal industrial/fishing areas. SH

Me resting on the rental car. SH

Debris next to the roadway. SH

Lost pickup truck. SH

"Welcome. You have reached the Southernmost point in Louisiana. Gateway to the Gulf." Where the highway dead ends.

We start taking dead end side roads off the dead end highway, deeper into the marshes. Boats stuck in the trees.

Once a very large houseboat.

Little boat stuck underneath the big houseboat.

Heading back north towards New Orleans, through dozens of little devastated communities.

Life really is simpler down here, as a matter of fact, the people are just downright lazy.

The road dead ends again in the far Southeastern edge of the New Orleans metro area. Notice, that someone has spaypainted "Please Stop" on the cement barricade.

We spent the night at a hotel in Slidell, just northeast of New Orleans. Here's Sarah's picture perfect waffle at a Waffle House. January 17.

We took highway 90 from Slidell to New Orleans, 30 more miles of marshes filled with storm debris.

Same camper from the other angle.

Sarah views the wreckage.

This marooned boat is small compared to many others.

Curiousity got the best of me.

Old fishing vessel.

Sarah also can't help herself.

The cabin. From the notices on the walls, looks not to have been a privately owned vessel.

Looking inside the partially flooded hull.

Right across the highway are several more wrecks.

Inside the houseboat in the previous picture.

Back home. Looking straight up the wall of the church, at the cloudy sky illuminuted by some faraway spotlight.

Our power was out.

Sarah's photographic habits are rubbing off on me.

This picture ended up as my Windows Desktop background.

I slowly melted this styrofoam cup by holding it near Heater of Doom.

Pumping station on Broad Street, that I pass everyday on my way to work.

Pumping station pipes going into the water.

"Do Not Demolish". Side street near the intersection of Broad Street and Tulane Avenue.

The old Falstaff Brewery on Broad Street is being converted into apartments.

Sarah sleeps in the church.

Picture Sarah took of me before after work one evening.

Watch out where you drive.

At work, January 24. Assistant Manager Brian cooks food up on the grill in front of the store.

Store Manager Miguel serves it all up.

Back home later. Lane comes up to our room to hang out for a couple hours.

Slow shutter picture of Sarah painting.

Sarah's fingers.

Just in case the first picture of her fingers wansn't good enough for you.

January 25. The bulletin board on the second floor of the church, still a few things hanging after all these years.

Pumping station on St. Louis Street.

Sarah at work. That's my fellow meatcutter Bill in the background.

My coworker Chance.

Sarah riding down relaxing Fontainbleau Street after work, the best route we've found.

Many of the homes on Fontainbleau have been fully restored, but not all of them.

Now that's just tough luck. First of all Katrina puts you in a trailer, then a tree falls right on the middle of your trailer. This was taken in the much poorer neighborhood south of Broad Street.

"3 Dog Under House 10/1"

We rented a nice but cheap motel room on January 25, which is strangely located in the same neighborhood where the previous two pictures were taken. The Crescent Palms Hotel. Highly recommended. SH

Practicing for Taliban in motel bathroom.

I spoke with this very friendly volunteer woman across the street from the motel after checking out. Such volunteers are no longer a common sight, as I've heard they were right after the storm. January 26.

With the day off work, I decide to explore the poor areas south of Broad Street further.

So, there was a shopping cart inside of this house when it burnt down. Probably means that squatters accidentally started the fire.

Hmmmm, suspicious. They need to question that cat. Rescued 2 fish! Really, there was time for that?

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