FLOOD WHAT NEXT?????????????????????????

AND THE HITS JUST KEEP ON COMING.

2010 HAS NOT BEEN GOOD TO ME. AFTER THREE DAYS OF HARD RAIN OUR 100 YEAR FLOOD PLAIN, WHICH HAS NOT FLOODED IN 209 YEARS DID,

I GOT UP WENT OUT BACK TO CHECK MY NEW TREES I PLANTED IN POTS FOR ARBOR DAY. THE CREEK AT THE BACK OF OUR PROPERTY ACREAGE, 1 ACRE FROM THE HOUSE WAS RUNNING HIGH, WENT INSIDE TO MAKE TEA. BAM BAM BAM, AT THE DOOR--FIREMAN SAID WE HAD 5 MINUTES TO GET OUT. DAM HAD OVER-FLOODED BY 7 FEET, I HAVE 4 STEPS TO THE PORCH. WATER WAS ON THE PORCH. HUSBAND BARELY GOT HIS BIG GMC TRUCK OUT AND UP THE HILL TWO BLOCKS, WHILE DAUGHTER AND I GRABBED THE BIRD AND STUFFED SOME CLOTHES IN A BAG--SHE REMEMBERED HER COMPUTER. A FIREMAN CARRIED ME THROUGH FOUR FEET OF WATER THROUGH THUNDERING RAIN. THE CUMBERLAND RIVER IN NASHVILLE WENT FROM 25 FEET TO 51 LAST NIGHT. STILL HASN'T CRESTED.

WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET INTO OUR SUB-DIVISION DUE TO WATER 8 INCHES OVER THE ROAD.

WE'RE AT A HOTEL FOR NOW. FLOOD INSURANCE PAYS 80%. ALL ON REIMBURSEMENT.
WE ARE SCREWED.

ANYWAY THIS COULD TAKE 60 DAYS OR MORE. UNLESS WHERE WE SETTLE HAS WIRELESS I'LL BE OFFLINE TILL THEN, OR NY HOUSE IS GUTTED AND REBUILT.
:SIGH:

I WILL MISS YOUR BLOGS IF NO CONNECTION AT NEW WEEKLY HOTEL.

GOING TO START SALVAGING IN A FEW HOURS. CAN'T SLEEP.

SO IF NOTHING FROM ME FOR A WHILE. I'M ALIVE JUST WITHOUT INTERNET. LET YOU KNOW TOMORROW NIGHT.

I THINK I WAS CURSED BY A HAITIAN VOODOO WOMAN. BEEN ALL DOWNHILL SINCE.

HOME

Home. Tired. Off to catch up on you. Hopefully no more natural disasters in 2010.

Sorry for taking so long to update. Not a lot of time because I have been sleeping better in the lower temps.

Also I thought I had written but can't find where so if this is old news--apologize in advance.

My computer was assaulted when I walked away and left it alone and open By a foot long lizard. Ate my 'C' key and as I returned it turned with my space bar in its mouth. I screamed, it hissed and raised a black hood at me then took off with my key. So I have a rubber dot to push that sometimes works and maybe not.

They are sending a third of our team home--not me. We are moving from the beach tsunami area to a remote mountain village. We've been told there is no internet service available there so I will be completely out of touch. So please if I don't comment for two or three weeks don't worry or un-friend me. I promise to catch up as soon as I have service.

Hope you are all well, and I tell myself I could still be in Haiti--now during the rainy season like the other two trauma teams.

My daughter tells me the news talks of Haiti but not Chile probably because of political reasons. Even the new president resents us.

We have tremors nearly every day. Now major one lately just enough to stop your heart. MAYBE IT'LL BE EASIER IN THE mountains.

Gotta run. Take care of yourselves.

Thinking of you all

B.♥♥♥

FROM CHILE

This may not get out as internet connection is sketchy at best. I have heard myself called a cold-hearted bitch since my attitude is not horrified by what we have in Chile. I can tell you what they don't have. Kids losing limbs with gangrene since it took three weeks to get them. All buildings demolished. Chile has an earthquake building code since we get them nearly everyday. They don't have dump trucks filled with the dead heading to mass graves. It's rough here. Today we move to the coast with the tsunami damages.

I was asked about any problems with my yellow fever vaccine--I had flu-like symptoms fever aching muscles and a hard knot at the injection site that is still there.

No word on how much longer here.

Got bit by a green lizard on my arm. Have to take antibiotics. Try to read your blogs when internet works.

All of you take care. Hope to be home soon. Pray for no serious earthquakes causing another tsunami since we'll be on the coast.

One good thing their bitch of a president doesn't want us here any longer than necessary maybe she'll send us home.



For LOCI Fans--our Bobby does love fire.







And Alex finds him amusing:

Here I am in Santiago, Chile compared to Haiti its a resort. Lots of devastation and injured but big machinery already clearing and building being shored up, One hospital olasped the other is okay. Midnight at home 2 am right now just off shift so 12 hours before I go back sgain.
Thought I'd do triage. But Dr wright discovered I'd been a closer for Dr. Mac and since his has gotten pregnant I have been promoted (so they say)
Portable buildings set up. In surgery 6 hours after set up. Feet hurt.

Had to get the yellow fever booster as mine is up in three months to be safe. Still on the malaria pills for a week then can stop.

Told to watch out for lizards. Lots of lizards that bite not poisonous but can cause bad infections. Snakes. Not so many bugs. There are bugs but you don't breath them. Still mosquito netting to sleep with. Six nurses in my tent. We have guards at our door.

Temp is 53degress 80 during the day.

They are trying to open roads to the coast. Don't know yet if I'll be going there. Depends on Dr.Wright.

Oh we had an 'aftershock' as we debarked.--you call 5.5 aftershock I'll call it earthquake. Like rolling on a small ship in the sea. I just laid on the ground and hoped a fissure didn't open under me.


The president doesn't want us here but shs has no choice she is a bitch,

Flowers and creatures here including big cats, but more out in the mountains; though that's close by.

You're all in my thoughts before I go to sleep.

Take care If you put me in prayers or just good thoughts have it be about no ore aftershocks. Thank you.

So my friends my life goes from worse to unknown. Because I am a member of USA Trauma Unit and we have been called up to go to Chile. I am now waiting at the Detroit airport for my connective flight to San Antonio. Trauma Team 2 & 3 went to Haiti. It doesn't count that I got permission to go with Dr. Msc and DWB For 8 weeks. If I refuse to go I lose my spot. I have been sick with a respiratory viral infection but its about gone. Well enough I passed the physical to go.

Have no idea what am going into. Know there are still strong aftershocks, looting and gangs. We have a military escort but not the one on one that DWB had. They are stricter about work hours--8 on 12 off eight on etc.

Think of me. Won't know what city I'm going to until briefed in San Antonio. My baby who is twenty cried. Husband shrugged. Friends want me to quit but I worked long and hard to get on the best trauma team in the US not giving it up. Anyway may be good thing. Time to think. Conditions will be better than Haiti.

Just please no bugs. Will try to keep in contact but don't worry about me. I will be thinking of all of you.

Hugs to you all.

Barbra♥♥♥

Home

I am safe and sound at home. Glad to be home. This morning my boss' boss called me seems the Attending doctors over trauma had a bit of a tantrum at my treatment for my altruistic work.

He made me an offer to come back I could not refuse including a $2 an hour raise. Several new benefits. Will go in and sign the contract today. Yea me.

I have another week off to 'recuperate'.

On-the home front my daughter is happy to have me home. My husband is turning on the charm and the man oozes it anyway damn him. My problem is I still love him, but still separate bedrooms. I need time. Divorce is out of the question, I am NOT PAYING ALIMONY. The bitch had the nerve to call me and ask me to leave him. I believe my answer was 'Fuck you no wait my husband has been doing that.

Will now work on my internet things. let me know if i have missed your writings or anything in your life . My inquiring mind needs to know.

Missed you all.

BARBRA

GO TEAM USA(sorry my Canadian friends, I must remain true to my country. but I pull for you when the USA IS OUT OF IT.

Shaun White, Apollo Ohno and Evan Lysachek. They're my guys. And my ice dancers Davis & White.

9 NIGHTS TO GO

Nine more nights to go then home to what? Haven't had much time to think about it. Usually just too damn tired.

The injured still keep coming though the clinic. many coming in with illnesses.

The health experts here are worried about a cholera outbreak as we have had several cases already. Had to send two nurses home that weren't vaccinated for it. Less and less staff as the Haitian disaster becomes old news. Plenty of supplies. Just not enough volunteers.

Not doing another stint though. Can't take it.

My day.

Go into work. On my feet 18 hours, at least do get an hour for lunch. Off then to the showers, Salt water to wash, clear to rinse. Spray body with bug spray. Get another nurse to spray back. Must be covered head to toe. Try to sleep. Sometimes can sometimes takes a while and I internet till exhaustion overtakes me. Get up and go eat. Have lost 15 pounds I didn't need to loose. Can see indentations between my ribs. I'd rather it come off my breasts but I never loose it there. My back would appreciate it though. Keep losing I may get down to that "perfect 24 inch" waistline. Which at six feet is too small,

Daughter says they had snow last night again. Its been several years since we have had any snow so we do while I'm out of country. Usually just cold.

Then I try to net again. Right now I am suppose to be sleeping. Am off until tomorrow at 3 am. Its a balmy 84 degrees right now. Dark. Humid. Sound of buzzing bugs outside my mosquito net.

They say violence is breaking out more and more throughout the city. Haven't been around any of that....yet, and I have Nick and he is armed and knows how to use all those weapons he carries on himself. Automatic and knife visible. Plus he tells me his body is a lethal weapon and having seen him in his T-shirt and seen the steel bulges in his arms I believe it.

Smell of death still clings to everything. And the BUGS never go away. No wonder there is so much disease. The whole country needs to be sprayed.

Trying to get to everyone's blog when since I can't sleep and don't like taking sleeping pill but in another hour I will or will be too tired and dangerous in the OR.

No praise, my friends...yeah yeah I am wonderful yada yada yada, send me normal tell me of your day.

Oh, and if you dare to be brave enough to walk around outside without a mask--little tiny black gnats try to fly up your nose. I HATE HATE HATE BUGS.

Barbra♥♥♥

Worked last night. 18 hours on my feet in surgery, And still they come. If you have LiveJournal account my drama for the night is there I don't have the energy to re-write it. The link is on this page. Am awake after four hours of see because so hot. will go back to work at 8 tonight. BUGS BUGS BUGS> I am beginning to develop a phobias to them. Flying crawling hopping inching buzzing. Insert SCREAM LOUD HERE.


Miss reading your blogs will take time now to go since can't sleep if satellite holds up. Hope all of you are well. Only 13 more shifts to go then I am outta here. No amount of money, or begging will keep me. Family already up in arms for my second sign up but I couldn't let Dr. MaC down. He wants me to come to Yemen with him, due to the drought. He is already committed, but I'd end up divorced.


Children are grown. My husband has proven himself unfaithful quite a blow to find it out during all of this. Twenty years OF faithfulness, I feel like a fool. Divorce is out of the question since his parents are in their 80s and bad health. I love his Mom as if she were my own so I am stuck. So not having a good time here and nothing to go back to but broken dreams. Hell I might let one of the doctors talk me into staying or maybe go to Yemen. I just can't seem to care.

But this is my Vincent site not my crying site so sorry, I have to go through and catch up on all the goings on.

Miss you all and love your comments on the home front--normal, I crave normal. Think I'll go see a voodoo priestess. Buy some charms today. Maybe make his penis fall off. Since I won't be using it.

Rain.
Heat.
Tired.
Still smell of death I imagine will linger for years.

Have lost 15 pounds in two weeks, ten I didn't need to lose. Can see the indentation in my ribs. SIGH.

Good news get three days off before starting second two weeks. My marine arranged water transportation to Jamaica a cabana with hot tub and private beach. Hot water and room service and hopefully NO BUGS.

Leaving this afternoon. Back in Haiti on Thursday morning then back to work and then home 19th.

miss you all. Love to you and yours. take care.

B♥♥♥