See? Now wasn't "writing a column for CW.com" on your top ten list of things you never thought you'd do?

Heh.

Seriously, hang in there. Your story was worth sharing, as I always love first-person reports from the scene, personally. I also love the interdenominational stories from your experience. This is where faith groups can really shine, no matter what the faith.

And keep us posted on your progress, whenever you get internet access!

:-)

-CW

This is hard to believe, I know, but we STILL HAVE NO LANDLINE PHONES OUT HERE!!! Where Verizon gets the nerve to call itself a telephone company, I have no idea. (I'm just waiting for them to have the nerve to send me a bill this month. Oh, is the wrath of CB ever gonna descend upon them.) I just got an email that said they anticipate getting service back to the area by December 14th!!! Thank the good Lord for cell phones.

Cable TV and internet service is still very sketchy. It's on, it's off, it's on, it's off... Only about three days ago did it seem to be operating for at least most of the day and/or night. Except now my TV just went off again, about five minutes ago. Sigh (as Chris W. would say).But there's good news to report: In the aftermath of this disaster, I'm reminded of why I purchased property out here in the first place. The townsfolk are amazing. It restored my wavering faith in humankind to see everyone pull together (since FEMA and the Red Cross were nowhere to be found for the first solid week), sharing food, water, batteries, clothes and bathrooms, and creating sleeping accommodations for those whose houses were totally destroyed.

And while FEMA and the Red Cross were getting their acts together, who shows up at my door two days after the flood but five young men (the oldest couldn't have been more than 19) from the Church of the Latter Day Saints — Romney's people! — asking if they could help in getting my appliances out of the house and onto the curb. They carried everything out, including my beloved soggy couch (a new one has since been delivered, but I hate it because it's not broken in, like my fabulous old one, though it beats the hell out of the cot), and they wouldn't accept a dime for their work.

Then, about two weeks later, an international Buddhist organization came to town and gave every family $600.

And last night, I attended a concert that was hosted by a Catholic Church, in an auditorium in Brooklyn, for the relief of the beach and bay towns. The bands that played were all locals from Breezy Point, Broad Channel, Long Beach, and the Rockaways. It was a terrific event, and it pulled in tons of money. And the best part was at the end, when one of the town's Emerald Societies marched through the place wearing kilts and playing the bagpipes. LOL! Too much fun.

I'll be tied up with repairs, and screaming at Verizon, for the next couple of weeks. But I'll be back to give my liberal friends hell, and dump on Obama, just as soon as I can.

xxxooo

It's an honor and a privilege to know all of ya.. :D

Michale
0110

PS. Tell the red cross to provide some red wine ;)

Holy ... sorry to hear! Had been wondering where you'd been. Missing the election could be considered a blessing though. I know I certainly don't miss all of the negative campaign ads.

Anyways, thoughts are with you. Hope everything starts getting back to normal soon and you're back online!

-David

I had wondered where ya been.. I hadn't put 2 and 2 together and never even thought of ya in the midst of Sandy.. What a maroon!

I definitely can feel for ya, though... Our family survived the Great Willamette Flood of 1996..

https://www.google.com/search?num=10&hl=en&safe=off&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1920&bih=890&q=Willammette+Flood+1996&oq=Willammette+Flood+1996&gs_l=img.3...1367.7827.0.8018.22.22.0.0.0.0.87.1740.22.22.0.cpsugrpq2..0.0...1.1.lwUurz55qiY

Ironically enough, we were planning on moving the following week, so every shred of personal stuff and mementos we owned was stacked in boxes in the garage.. When the waters receded, it looked like one big giant sponge. The silver lining is that it was all in one place so it made it easier to throw away. :(

Congrats to you and my liberal friends. (Michale must wanna shoot himself.)

You have NO idea!!! :^D If I didn't love this country so much, I was ready to pack up the wife and move to somewhere more pleasant...

Like Iran!!! :^/ hehehehehe

Anywho, stay safe and definitely keep us updated!

Michale
096

The happiest time of my life? Eleven years old, a whole summer in Long Beach, on the boardwalk, playing pinball in the arcade, swimming through the surf. I see pictures from the area, and familiar landmarks from my childhood are rubble, or just gone. They say you can't go back, but now I can't even try.

My best wishes to you and yours. Please keep us posted on the recovery is going - the National Press is losing interest.