My ONE Entry! 8-31-05.………..2335 What a day!! With the exception of a couple of 30 minute or hour long catnaps, I have been awake since 0800 yesterday, the 30th. That’s about 40 hours so far. Think I’ll stay up for a couple more before I give in. Ya’ll know that I was about to leave when I typed my last entry. Well, things weren’t good as far as finding a hotel in La. (go figure!) so I ended up getting an hour long nap yesterday afternoon before the phone woke me, and I gave up, not being able to go back to sleep. I went to my usual Tuesday night hangout, frustrated, and had a couple of beers and a nice dinner. I really needed that, and the time with friends. Loaded up one of my co-workers and took off for south Louisiana shortly before midnight. I hate that drive, staying up all night and driving and then having to be up all day working. Well, we got to the heliport for our 0600 check-in, and took another nap in the truck. We were awakened by the rest of the crew, and had to muster up at the pad. That’s where we got the news. There would be no helicopter flight. We were riding a boat. UGH!!!!! So at 0900 we boarded the boat, and waited another hour for the rest of the crew to make it. Finally got what we thought to be everyone aboard and we still didn’t go anywhere. We were still missing 3 guys……essential personal. So a couple hours later they show. By this tiem it is 1100, and everyone is starving, as most of us hadn’t eaten since dinner the day before. So we took up a collection for pizza. Ended getting about 120.00 in the pot, called it in, and sent a guy for it. An hour went by…..Another hour went by. Called the guy, and the pizza shop won’t have it ready for another hour or so. So we cancelled the order and told him to go somewhere else. An hour later he shows with fried chicken. I HATE chicken, for the most part. So I forced down a couple of pieces and a few cookies…..not nearly worth the 10 mucks I tossed in the pot. ERR! Anyhow, we finally got moving and an hour later we were through the canal system, and almost to open water. Another 7 hours, right at sunset, we got to the rig. Surprisingly, it has not sustained much damage. We get organized, get something dead in out trembling tummies (the boat ride, although not bad, was pretty rough.) Got orientated to the rig, and got to work. Got all of our systems tested, and started cleaning and greasing our equipment. Thanks to some awesome teamwork - something that I have come to expect from the crews that I have worked with - we were done in a very timely manner. Got in, got showered, and was gonna eat until I realized that chicken was being served tonight. UGH! So I’m here in bed, killing time, and wishing I was being more productive. ALSO!! I think I need to write a little about the situation in New Orleans. That is all that is in the news, and I am kinda aggravated by it. My mom and I got into an argument about this this morning, but I stand my my conviction. If there are people stuck in N.O., and this is NOT a universal statement, but for the most part, you asked for it. I am sorry if I offended anyone with my statements here, but this is how I feel. The average person can walk an average of 15-20 miles in a day, under decent to hard conditions……That has been my experience. Anyhow, these folks knew for 5 days that a strengthening storm was headed their way, and they stayed in a city (AKA Sin City…..Home of Voodoo,) that is shaped like a bowl, that sits below sea level, that the government has been saying for years that a major storm would swamp. How stupid can you get. Kinda like the story about the guy that was stuck on his roof with rising flood waters….first a man came along in a canoe trying to save him, but he refused help, saying the Lord would save him, then a man came in a boat to save him, and again he refused, saying that the Lord would save him, an then a helicopter came and tried to reach him, and again he refused help, saying that the Lord would spare him. The waters rose, washed him away and he was drowned. When he arrived at the gates of Heaven, he asked the Lord why he was not spared…..The Lord replied that he first sent a canoe, then a boat, then a helicopter, and he refused all the help the Lord sent him. Morale of the story…..the Lord will help those that help themselves. These people refused to help themselves, did not pull together and take their friends, family, and neighbors away, out of the city with them. They waited with their hands outstretched. Now they will get their just desserts. Again, I don’t believe that this covers 100% of the people there, but for many, there were other avenues for them to escape, had they the drive and determination to step up and take care of themselves, but they did not. They waited for what was given to them, and this is what they have now. I do feel sorry for all those folks, please don’t get me wrong, but I think they are partly to blame for their situation. Anyhow. I’ll try to get a photo bucket account going when I get home, and share some of the pictures that I’m taking. I miss ya’ll. Please sleep well, say your prayers, take care, and God bless. Riggy.