You can pre-order O.A.R.’s next studio disc, Stories Of A Stranger, here. I’ve already ordered the Limited Edition version and cannot wait until it’s in my hands! Not much to report for myself, I do have an update on Gabe and Brad’s situation though.

Well, the news has gotten worse and better for us. Let me explain. First of all, as you have all seen, the conditions in New Orleans “proper” are just falling apart. Looters (stealing shoes and jerseys, nice), fires, flooding, chaos, shooting at helicopters trying to evacuate people to Houston?! I don’t think it can get much worse. Diseases, no power – just terrible. I keep thinking about the kids I work with – some of them may not make this and it makes me sick.

However, we live in Kenner, which is about 10-12 miles WEST of the city. The west side did not get hit as hard as the east side and the city of New Orleans. Now, that is not to say it did not suffer any damage – it did – but it is not as bad as the city. From everything we can find out – internet, TV, friends, etc……….our house is probably ok as far as flooding goes. This is not set in stone for sure – but this is what we have good reason to believe. So that is one REALLY good thing. (Word is that if your house survived this with no flooding, the value might double or triple! Sell, sell!! :) Now, we could get back there and a tree could have fallen on our roof, or a car could have been put on the top of our house by the wind – there still could be HUGE damage to our house. We just don’t know. Time will tell. Unfortunately, the media loves covering the city, they are not too interested in the suburbs.

Ok. Parts of Kenner already have power, and City of Kenner police (we are a city and have our own mayor, police, etc.) are letting people back in on Monday to see their houses and view damage. You can’t stay on Monday though – just check your damage, get anything valuable, and leave. Brad talked to his boss yesterday. They need him at the plant – his boss is there, they are getting power today or tomorrow (they have their own power plant at the plant) Brad is a maintenance engineer, and is needed to fix machines that have been damaged and to start up that plant. Dow has apartments in Baton Rouge for Dow employees that cannot live in their homes. So, the plan as of 9:30 am eastern standard time on Thursday, 9-1-05, is to drive into Kenner on Monday, assess damage, then drive to Baton Rouge and stay in a Dow Apartment indefinitely. Brad has to get back to work, there is a press release saying that I may be needed to teach in another parish where students from the New Orleans area have registered (kids are going to school all over the state and in TX, AL, etc).

We have so many questions – we have bills to pay – will we get paid? I think we are going to call Visa, Toyota, and Countrywide Mortgages this morning and let them know the situation. Sometimes I am fine, sometimes I am a mess. Currently, I am feeling stressed. This is just unbelievable. We are driving to Michigan today, then back to Ohio on Saturday night. We are taking things day by day. Kenner might change their mind and not allow people back on Monday, we just don’t know. I will keep you all posted.