Email from Beth from October

This is an email from Beth, from October. Looking for a more recent update and will post soon. She did get the update from the city to continue the work on the house. Bellaire Freeranger



Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2008 4:12 PM
Subject: Re: Checking in

I won't have cable at my room for another couple of weeks.

I can't download whatever you sent on my comcast web mail. You can use my school address: bthomas@gc.edu.

Now at the place I am staying, the homeowners association has determined that there was enough water damage to go ahead and remove 5ft of sheetrock downstairs, so I am living in another demolition zone. Tho I am upstairs, the dust, noise and general chaos is not fun. the cats are disturbed. I try to stay with them for a couple hours in the morning at least to calm them but I have to go to work. The almost functional kitchen downstairs is now really not functional- except the fridge, so I have a 4 cup coffee maker and hot plate in my bathroom.

There is only one functioning laundry mat on the island, so I miss being able to launder the cat towels...

I am still waiting like 60% of the island residents to hear if we will be allowed to rebuild or required to demolish and elevate. It could be a year or more (if there is some federal involvement) if we have to totally rebuild...meanwhile many people are leaving the island. I can't blame them!

I am too tired when I come "home" every night to do much of anything except clean up after the cats, feed them and eat a turkey sandwhich (my new diet- I've lost 12 pounds). I go to the Poplar house in the morning to feed the cats and in the evening to get my mail (feed cats) and maybe find a tool in my pile of possibly salvagable tools, to take to the studio for restoration. I lost most of my stuff but I tried to hang on to a few tools to fix maybe later...perhaps a vain attempt to just take some time letting all the little stuff go.

You cannot imagine the collective devastation. I only recently went out on the west end...ALL the homes are damaged to some extent. except the newest construction. I wonder where all the people are living? and in town the same thing...most people had to gut their one story or bottom story...the town is very surreal..and scary in places...

well I need to tend to my night class...

Hope all is well with you and Derek,

Enjoy your home and life! It is so precious!

Love, Beth