Contact info

O.K. Here is the long awaited contact list. I know that many people are worried about us. The 504 area code seems to be cursed by a defunct network.

Keep in mind that we will be moving around quite a bit.
Email:
sclark88@hotmail.com
nolajacqui@yahoo.com

Jacqui cell: 504.460.1667
Sean cell: 504.495.4265
Paul’s House: 904.460.1030

Jacqui’s Mom (Peggy):727.734.8729

I also intend to maintain this blog to keep you all abreast of our adventures.

I just can’t say it enough, Thanks everyone.

We are all ok.

The past few days have given me a new reverence for technology. Through cell phones and email, we have been able to tally the heartbeats from our loved ones. Most of my fellow refugees have been sitting cozy in Texas and Florida. I am overwhelmed by the sweetness of the refugee treatment by the way.

I am concerned about a few people. Has anyone heard from the Peck Family (Bryon, Katie, and Jakob)? I also want to know where Jeff and Daniel are.....guys, call us.

It is unbelievably sad to see our city in ruins. We have no idea what we have left.... except our selves and our families.

While I am wrapped in sadness about all of this, I am also overwhelmed by the weight of love that is being piled on us from every direction. Admittedly, I am not surprised by this (blush), but I am taken aback by it. Thanks to everyone for the support.

Hurricane Katrina

I really had hoped to find time to update everyone on my fabulous trip to the Midwest, but no sooner did I arrive in New Orleans than I learned that my fair city is under attack by Mother Nature. Hurricane Katrina will be here by Monday and the local population has divided itself into 2 types: those who evacuate and those who drink. The last time I checked the Karaoke Cam on NOLA.com, the Cat's Meow party is still groovin.

The residents of 1731 Clio St. were hurriedly preparing for the greater part of the day before falling into the drinkers’ camp; albeit for a short period of time. The upgrade of this hurricane to a category 4 with aspirations of category 5 brought about a very sobering circumstance.

It would be an understatement to say that our phones have been ringing endlessly due to our loved ones filling our voice mails with warnings of doom. So if your calls were not answered, that is because we have been diligently trying to make responsible decisions.

To ease your darling minds, we are evacuating in a few hours. Our plan is to head East into Florida. We will be cheerfully arriving at one of your homes soon.

I don't want to ruin a good surprise!

Fear not family, we are fine.

Looking to the future

Now, what to do with this pesky degree?

Yup. I went for an interview. I got the job. Whether or not or want it is a whole-nother story.

I never expected to get the first marketing job I applied for after school was over, but I did. I could just take it and enter a world that I am very skeptical of, or keep looking. buh.

Bamma

Is this heaven or Alabama?

Bamma

My new favorite picture. As we should be, on the beach.

Bamma

I have actually owned this tent for about 5 years and this is the first time it has been used. To be quite honest, I was pleased that I remembered how to set it up.

Bamma

Yikes bugs! Gnats, everywhere.

The Last BZA meeting and Bamma

aaah...sigh.
I promised an update, so here it is one week late.

I guess the meeting went as well as it could have. Unfortunately, it doesn't matter in the slightest because the stop work order did not arrive in time and the house has been permanently placed on it's piers next to our home. The temporary cradles have been removed, and the I beams have been taken away.

I would like to say it looks more stable, but it actually looks to me like it is leaning more in our direction. Keep in mind, I am not an expert, and I am slightly biased.

We have had a very emotional week. It can be difficult to see the symbol of our community’s disregard for our safety and well being every time we enter or exit our home.

So… we went to the beach. I learned that we are not as outdoorsy as we think we are. Camping at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores Alabama was so awful it was hilarious.

We had a partially grassy spot between driveways and next to a very still…. retention river (?). We set up camp with our frog friends and got chewed by gnats and skeeters.

The notes sung by the billions of little green frogs are slightly comedic. They reminded me of little old men telling jokes that only they think are funny. I imagine that if you looked closely at them, their little faces all looked like George Burns.

We spent a chunk of our day at the beach fishing in the surf and swimming. It felt really really great.

I almost forgot to mention our vacation dining spot, Hazels, “everybody loves it!’. It was….ummmmm, funny. Props to Hazel, wherever she may be.

There is nothing like a tent in Alabama to help one realize how good it is to be home in a soft bed near good restaurants.

The big picture

It seems as though the last few posts have been out of sequence and are a little unclear.

Thursday: Mom and Bruce came to town with their hotsy totsy convertible. Dotty and I thought this was a gift for us, but alas, it was just a rental car. We will try to overcome our sorrow.
Oh, and I bought a treadmill. SWEET! But I have no place to put it....bummer.

Friday: Mom and Bruce and I went to UNO to pick up my diploma. To my dismay it was actually there.... they did it right. I never need to go back unless Joanne makes me walk. I promise I will make you all sit through one of those ceremonies next time.

Also, Sean and I went to visit the lawyer. By the time we got back, a crew had begun lowering the house next door. I rode my bike to city hall with the quickness. I was told that even thought the work was unauthorized, this sort of thing happens all the time and they had no intentions of sending anyone down there to stop the illegal activity.

I have never felt more crushed in my life. I am desperately fighting to preserve my belief that all good things are possible. I do not want to loose my enchantment with justice.

The meeting is on Monday; I will post an update then.

Also, Sean went fishing and caught 3 trouts and a redfish.
The day ended with a dinner at Adolfos, the restaurant upstairs from the bar sean was playing in. Bruce couldn't come, so it was just William, Mom and I. Paul and Anto met us later.

Saturday: After the farmer's market, we all went out to lunch at Fortissimo: Sean, Myself, Mom, Bruce, Joanne, Dennis, and Christian. It was a great time, I was glad for parts of our families to finally meet.

After Mom and Bruce left, Sean and I began working on the back room. We stayed up until 3 AM and got quite a bit done.

Back on Track

Mom and Bruce left this evening after a wonderful visit. It was an admittedly low-key visit, but nonetheless, eventful. Shortly after they left, we started kicking ass on the “laundry room”.

Make it Funky

Mom, William, Paul, Anto and Alma Ruth went to see Sean "let love rule" Clark play with Rebecca Barry at the Apple Barrel during Sachamo Summer Fest

How's this for ceremony

This is my actual commencement ceremony. Once again....not with a bang but a whimper....no offence intended to the lovely privateer.

What a day! City Hall AND a diploma.  

The BZA Flyer

The flyer.
This is really impossible to read. I did my best, but I couldn't figure out how to resize this appropriately. This is what it says:

This house was moved to 1731 Clio St and then placed without a permit by a city employee.

This act occurred without fines, orders or repercussions.

The house is larger than the lot that it was placed on and has been sitting in decay for almost 2 years.

The fate of this house will be decided by the BZA this coming Monday.

Please help support sustainable and responsible development in our community by letting the city officials know that the rules designed to insure our safety and protect our investments apply to all residents without discrimination