Kicks

I belong to a few other forums. On one of them a member sent me a song he wrote about people's spirit during this time of crisis. I added photos to it to make a "montage" type of video. There's a few things I'd still like to edit, but this is what I have so far: http://www.livaudaisnet.com/katrina/hope.html It would probably be better to right-click the link from the webpage and take the "Save target as" option to save it to a folder on your PC and then play it from your PC. Kicks

Supposable, the color of the belt should get darker as you ascend in rank, from white to black: white – 9th gup yellow- 8th gup orange- 7th gup green- 6th gup blue- 5th gup purple- 4th gup purple with red stripe- 3rd gup red- 2nd gup red with black stripe- 1st gup cho dan bo, aka poom (half red/half black)- black

I used these: http://www.mileskimball.com/jump.jsp?itemType=PRODUCT&iProductID=5389 and holders like these: http://currentcatalog.com/productDetail~subCatID~702~superprodid~11454.asp

Pacificshore, Thank you so very much. You're a Saint! I added photos to the original post. They show the condition of my office where my collection of MA magazines are.

I lost all my old martial arts magazines (Black Belt, TaeKwonDo Times, etc) to flooding from Hurricane Katrina. Does anybody have any that they don't want and are ready to throw them out? If so can me and the kids have them? You can email me webfut001 at hotmail . com , or send me a pm (private message). Thanks http://www.livaudaisnet.com/katrina/mold01.jpg Mold growing on the walls of my once flooded office. http://www.livaudaisnet.com/katrina/magazines.jpg My old martial arts magazines are in the black binder on the left and in the cardboard holder in the center next to a row of very moldy genealogy magazines. Everything is wet, molded, and contaminated.

Remember at the end of Rocky Horror Picture Show when Dr. Frank-N-Furter sang the song I'm Going Home? Well, that's me today! After four weeks and a day...I'm going home! All I have left to pack up is this PC. I've got a few days supplies of food and water. So as long as the power, water, and sewage is good I'll be there to stay. I don't know if I'll have internet access, so I may not be on for a while. I'll spend today cleaning out the house and starting to do some home repairs outside. I've cleared most of the fallen branches. The grass is pretty high but my lawn mower got flooded, so I'll have ttry to fix it (yikes!) or go get a new one. Anyway, I'm looking forward to getting my home life back in somewhat of order. My work (employment) is a whole new story. That's going to take months. Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and prayers. God bless you all. Kicks

Laurie, I've been seeing a lot of firemen, police, and disaster teams from NY around here. Thanks for all y'all are doing to help us. I've also seen a lot of rescue teams and National Guardsmen from Oklahoma, so anyboby from the OK, thank you too. Wisconsin has sent many utility crews here. It was a Wisconsin crew that got power back up in my neighborhood. Thank you WI. I know many other states have sent people in, and many people came on their own from all around. Not being in the city that often I haven't seen them all, but I truely thank them all.

I went by our dojang the other day. It got about a foot of water inside. We have wood floors, they are warped. All our heavy bags got soaked, as well as our mat and some furniture and other equipment. The owners threw all that stuff out in the trash. I don't know when we'll be back in there, or if they will even open up. Meanwhile, two good friends of mine have TKD schools in the New Orleans area. One lost everything to Katrina. She was able to go back and find a few momentos. The other guy lost his job due to Katrina, there's no clients here for him. So he's in Colorado, near Pike's Peak. He won't be coming back. I might end up taking over his school. This would be my first time running a school. But I'd hate to see those kids lose out on their training. My kids and I know all of them very well since we go train there sometimes. So it won't be too big a shock for them, but it might be for me! LOL

Dear America, I suppose we should introduce ourselves: We're South Louisiana. We have arrived on your doorstep on short notice and we apologize for that, but we never were much for waiting around for invitations. We're not much on formalities like that. And we might be staying around your town for a while, enrolling in your schools and looking for jobs, so we wanted to tell you a few things about us. We know you didn't ask for this and neither did we, so we're just going to have to make the best of it. First of all, we thank you. For your money, your water, your food, your prayers, your boats and buses and the men and women of your National Guards, fire departments, hospitals and everyone else who has come to our rescue. We're a fiercely proud and independent people, and we don't cotton much to outside interference, but we're not ashamed to accept help when we need it. And right now, we need it. Just don't get carried away. For instance, once we get around to fishing again, don't try to tell us what kind of lures work best in your waters. We're not going to listen. We're stubborn that way. You probably already know that we talk funny and listen to strange music and eat things you'd probably hire an exterminator to get out of your yard. We dance even if there's no radio. We drink at funerals. We talk too much and laugh too loud and live too large and, frankly, we're suspicious of others who don't. But we'll try not to judge you while we're in your town. Everybody loves their home, we know that. But we love South Louisiana with a ferocity that borders on the pathological. Sometimes we bury our dead in LSU sweatshirts. Often we don't make sense. You may wonder why, for instance - if we could only carry one small bag of belongings with us on our journey to your state - why in God's name did we bring a pair of shrimp boots? We can't really explain that. It is what it is. You've probably heard that many of us stayed behind. As bad as it is, many of us cannot fathom a life outside of our border, out in that place we call Elsewhere. The only way you could understand that is if you have been there, and so many of you have. So you realize that when you strip away all the craziness and bars and parades and music and architecture and all that hooey, really, the best thing about where we come from is us. We are what made this place a national treasure. We're good people. And don't be afraid to ask us how to pronounce our names. It happens all the time. When you meet us now and you look into our eyes, you will see the saddest story ever told. Our hearts are broken into a thousand pieces. But don't pity us. We're gonna make it. We're resilient. After all, we've been rooting for the Saints for 35 years. That's got to count for something. OK, maybe something else you should know is that we make jokes at inappropriate times. But what the hell. And one more thing: In our part of the country, we're used to having visitors. It's our way of life. So when all this is over and we move back home, we will repay to you the hospitality and generosity of spirit you offer to us in this season of our despair. That is our promise. That is our faith. The people of South Louisiana http://www.livaudaisnet.com/katrina/091005_Get%20Well.jpg

Goju_boi, Good luck to you, be safe. I'm still evacuated, a refugee, from Katrina. I haven't moved back home since we left August 27th, 4 weeks ago today. Power and water came back last week, but we didn't have sewage until Thursday. We couldn't move back because Hurricane Rita was a threat to our levee system and I didn't want to chance moving back into a potential flood zone. As of yesterday several levees that were repaired from Katrina have either been toppled or water has seeped through and breached them again. Neighborhoods are being flooded again, and just after being pumped dry earlier this week. Also, we have absolutely no food in our house back in Metairie. We took most of the non-perishables with us. All the food in the refrigerator spoiled went power was out for a few weeks. Groceries are fairly limited in the town I'm in, and we're running out of money. FEMA and Red Cross haven't been any help, we still haven't gotten any finical aid. We have made two trips to a town about 50 miles away to buy some groceries, but gas is in limited supply and very expensive. Hurricane Rita is expected to stall out and continue to drop rain on us. I'll have to wait till Sunday or Monday to see if my neighborhood is safe to move back. Meanwhile, its peanut butter and banana sandwiches for me. Kicks

I was asked to post all my photos. Here are the links: http://www.livaudaisnet.com/katrina/katrina01.htm http://www.livaudaisnet.com/katrina/katrina02.htm http://www.livaudaisnet.com/katrina/katrina03.htm http://www.livaudaisnet.com/katrina/katrina04.htm http://www.livaudaisnet.com/katrina/katrina05.htm http://www.livaudaisnet.com/katrina/katrina06.htm Turn speakers on http://gmagic.com/katrina/

WE are still enjoying our time at the LaPlace Academy of Martial Arts. The instructor is helping us refine our Chun-Ji forms and has taught us a kama kata, first time ever I even held a kama. We've done some sparring and last Saturday he let me teach a two hour class on Hapkido to his students. We all had a great time. I promised him I'd make a CD with all my techniques and combinations. I also asked about tuition and he said he wasn't charging me, but when it was time to leave I could drop a donation in the box for what ever I felt I want to donate. That's plenty fair enough in my book.

Turn speakers on, click link: http://gmagic.com/katrina/

here's a few more photos I took: http://www.livaudaisnet.com/katrina/katrina04.htm

Thanks Adohan, but I think we found a place that is just right. This school does point sparring, not the WTF style we are used to, but thay are wonderful people. The owner-master instructor is the kindest of gentlemen, and very knowledgable (he probably even knows how to spell knowledgable correctly!). He has spent a lot of time working with Shannon and Ross over the past three days we've been there. His students are very respectable, and very talented. Last night when Shannon came home from TKD she was laughing with Ross. My wife said it was so good to hear her laugh again. She hadn't laughed like that since before we evacuated. I think being in this environment is helping her get her mind off the evacuation and relocating. She is doing something that is "normal" to her, even though its a different style. She sparred for two hours tonight and LOVED it. But, thanks again Adohan for your offer to help locate a school.

Dear friends, I have been into Jefferson Parish twice before today. I went back and saw much improvement. My street was lined with crews working on the utility lines. My company's store now has power, but the sewage still isn't functional. Then I went in to New Orleans with a crew from my company to retrieve what computer equipment we could salvage. It was an awful trip. New Orleans really took a nasty punch from Katrina. I've never seen anything like I saw today. I thought I would never see anything like I saw today. My office building is in an area that was flooded by the breach in the 17th Street Canal. The land is now dry, but covered with mud. All the grass is dead. It is a very gloomy sight. It doesn't look anything like it used to. I compare it to two photographs of the same scene, one is in color and one is in gray scale (or black and white). We drove past downed power line and branches. Most of the streets have been cleared of fallen trees, or the trees were just cut away to clear the street. My office building has several levels, the offices are at street level and the warehouse is about 5 feet above street level. The warehouse didn't get any flood water in it, but the offices had once had about 4 feet of water. We went in with protective clothing, rubber boots, dust mask, and flash lights. But the smell, the feel of the air, was the most horrible thing I've ever expierenced. I can still smell it, and taste it. Mold and mildew was all over the wall, furniture, pictures, parts of the carpet, everything! The furniture had floated around in the flood waters and came down in random places when the water receeded. All the furniture, walls, art prints, and computers were destroyed. You can see some photos at: http://www.livaudaisnet.com/katrina/katrina03.htm We have our work cut out for us to rebuild. Other photos are posted at: http://www.livaudaisnet.com/katrina/katrina01.htm

Yes, both Ross and I are 4th dans, and Shannon is a 2nd dan. Ross wasn't too upset with the dropping a rank because he knows that many MA school (no matter what style or organization) do not allow someone his age to be that high a level. To him, rank is no big deal. He is only interested in perfecting his skill, learning more, and sharing it with fellow students. Shannon was bummed out, she's supposed to start testing for 3rd dan this December with her final test in June 2006. I based the $2,500 fee on the fact that I know a TaeKwonDo Plus school around my house that charges $70 per student. Since this is a franchise (McDojo) I'm guessing they all charge the same fee. I could be wrong. I didn't discuss money with the guy. Oh, tkdkid, I didn't lose my house. Most of the lost homes were either outside the levee system, or inside and got flooded when the levees breached. My house is on the opposite side of where the 17th Street Canal levee breached. Flooding from rain waters only reached my door step. I was lucky because several of my neighbors did get water inside their homes. I sustained some roof damage, exterior wall damage, and downed fences and trees. Then with the loss of power, a whole frig full of food (smelly!!!!! ). Tomorrow (Monday) we are invited to attend another Taekwondo school in this area. They seem very interested in have three black belts from a different organization train with them and exchange knowledge. They also want to help storm victims and refugees. It's a small school, but seems like a nice place to be.

As you know, my family and I are "displaced citizens" (the politically correct word for refugee). We evacuated the New Orleans area on Saturday August 27th. We are now in a small town about 25 miles from home. My two kids and I practice WTF TaeKwonDo and still want to go to training, so last week we visited and worked out with a TaeKwonDo Plus school in this area. We enjoyed the class even though it was not the WTF style we practice. The instructor and students were very nice and courtious to us. After class the instructor called the owner, who said that we can train with them while we are in exile (4 - 8 weeks), but we would have to join the ITA and pay for a full year (about $2,500 for all three of us) and each drop a rank (we are black belts). I'm out of work right now, looking to apply for food stamps, unemployment, FEMA and Red Cross aid. Thanks for nothing buddy!

This is what I saw this week when I went to check on my house: http://www.livaudaisnet.com/katrina/katrina01.htm click on thumbnail to view larger photo

To see aerial photos of the floods around New Orleans, go to this map index and click on a box. When the photo comes up it may re-size itsself to fit within your screen. If so, move your mouse over the photo and look for a small square box to appear. Click on it to zoom in to the photo. New Orleans: http://ngs.woc.noaa.gov/katrina/090E29M_KATRINA.HTM Superdome is here: http://ngs.woc.noaa.gov/storms/katrina/24429370.jpg This photo shows a lot of flooding over the interstate: http://ngs.woc.noaa.gov/storms/katrina/24426522.jpg Jefferson Parish (where I live): http://ngs.woc.noaa.gov/katrina/090E30A_KATRINA.HTM My house is in this area: http://ngs.woc.noaa.gov/storms/katrina/24425025.jpg Squares on top row in the center of the index page show the 17th Street Canal breach and the flooding of Lakeview area. See http://ngs.woc.noaa.gov/storms/katrina/24425575.jpg

On Monday we will be allowed to enter Jefferson Parish to take photos of our property for insurance claims. We will also secure the property and grab the things we will need until we will be allowed to move back in. Right now I'm at my father-in-law's house in a small town called La Place, about 20 miles from my house. People are sitting in their parked cars only the highways leading in to Jefferson Parish so they have a place in line to enter the parish tomorrow. I'm seeing and hearing many, many helicopters (Coast Guard, Military, Police, and Commercial) flying in and out of the city. I'm also seeing military cargo planes flying in and out. Its a constant buzz. I saw a few Black Hawks flying in too. I just heard on the news that there was a civilian helicopter crash this evening in New Orleans. Both people in it survived. I wonder if they were shot at. Some Corps of Engineers were shot at today and the police shot and killed the sniper and five others that were with him. Its crazy here! My brother-in-law was going in with me tomorrow with his truck but he just backed out. So I'll go in with my wife and oldest son in the Saturn and hope I can drive my truck out with the things we need. I'm bringing a chain saw in case I have to cut my way out. Parish officials said they will get us as close to our property as they can but we can expect to have to hike in. We are bringing food and water for the day. There are no utilities, no water or power. We are told to take all out food out our refrigerators and bury it in our yards because there will be no garbage pickup for weeks or months. Gotta go. I'll keep y'all posted. Kicks

Thanks all. The news media keeps saying that we can go back on Monday just to take photos, grab a few things, and get out for at least a month or two. But the Parish (county) hasn't given the official word. I don't think they can. I think the the Guard or some national government body has to give the OK when they feel its safe to go back. As of now I'm gathering family and friends with rifles and shotguns to assist me on my return trip.

Thank you, Shorin Ryuu

Update from kicks: we are still doing ok for now. we have moved locations again. we are in our 4th location since leaving home Saturday night. I only have two pair of shorts and 3 T-shirts. my wife and kids have about the same. That and our family photos is all we have. family and friends are helping us out with places to stay and meals. We don't know yet when we can go inspect our house. We are hearing stories of mass looting, riots, and death. One of our stores (I work for a local wholesale and retail distributor) was looted. My main office building, where i work, is under water. Our other store survived the storm and flood but we don't know if it was looted. People are calling in to the radio stations asking them to have the police come remove the dead bodies in the streets. One person called and said that there are some dead two year kids in the gutter by her house and no parents around. The convention center, where just last month we enjoyed so much wonderful competition at the AAU junior olympics,. is now being used as a make-shift shelter. but their is no power, no water, no food, no bedding. People are fighting there and some are dying. Police are reports incidents of rapes and beatings. They are piling up dead bodies around the convention center. Its pitiful. Very sad. A friend in Baton Rouge who has a TKD school is organizing a fund raiser to help some of us displaced TKD folks. Several of us are in the Baton Rouge, Lafayette area. They are so sweet. I wish I could do something to help others also, but I have nothing. That makes me sad not being able to help. I'll keep in touch.

thank you for thoughts and prayers. its hell, total hell here. i evacuated twice, the first place wasn't far enough away. we lost power before the storm even hit land. we are now in baton rouge. the house im in just had minor damage. my home..i dont know. i live near lake pontchatrain, that big lake that is now splilling into new orleans. yesterday i heard tha a hopital neaT my hosue had 6 feet water in the lobby. i didn't turn my gas off when i left home..rushed out too quicklly. if i dont get back before electricity is turned on the spark could lite my house on fire, some are already burning and fire dept can't get to them because the entire area in and around new orleans in flooded. peopel are still on roof tops. snakes, rodents, fire ants, alligators, and such are a hazard. we still don't know how many people are still trapped in their attics and cant get out because of flood waters. many have drowned in their attics. i heard we may be able to go back in a week but only to get important items, assest damage and secure as best we can from further damage and looters. im not worried about ny stuffd. my family is OK. i just dont know if i'll have my job anymore. my compant my be wiped out. there's no electricity and will probably be oput for weeks to months. water won't be drained for weeks or months. our fresh water system is polluted. business and homes are destroyed. there is no more economy here. new orleans is a tourism town. you can't get here. bridges and road are destroyed or impassable. every person living here will be starting over. no one is uneffected. this will even affect you. have you seen the price of fuel. our oil rigs in the gulf are down. where are those reserves??? we will rebuild. we will survive. we need help though. pray for us.