And the wind blew in – so I drove out.

On my second day as night host at McKinney Falls State Park (almost a month ago) I received the call to go to Louisiana and volunteer with the American Red Cross. The assignment was to work at the headquarters in Baton Rouge, in Transportation – that is dealing with all of the rental cars and trucks used by the staff. Instead of working in Transportation, when I arrived at the headquarters, they felt that I was needed more in Facilities – that is securing agreements to use facilities such as warehouses, parking lots, schools and churches for Red Cross functions. I got two agreements signed, one for acreage to be used by a kitchen and the other a church to be used as a shelter. Then I sat around waiting for something else to do. I did some inventorying in a warehouse and helped set up a new warehouse inventory. Then I was sent to Alexandria, where I worked at getting the signed releases for church shelter facilities and doing the final inspections of those facilities. Then I was called back to Baton Rouge where I sat waiting for work again. I helped move rental cars and trucks back to the rental agencies – so I guess I did do some work in Transportation. My last day was spent with several other volunteers packing up the cots and mattresses from a shelter. I am quite discouraged about the lack of real work for me during this disaster. I feel that in the future I will not go out on an assignment without more assurance that I will be used to the fullest.

On returning to Texas I went back to my job at McKinney Falls State Park. The night host job had been filled, but I was welcomed back as a maintenance host – that is going through the various areas taking care of litter and servicing bathrooms etc. I have only been back for two days, but I am enjoying it immensely. My time at the park will be up on October 10th and I will head north to Gary’s house while I get my ailing truck serviced again. Gary has also agreed to install steps on the van for me at a good price.

What will be next remains to be seen!