Holy Hannah, I am finally back and let me tell you it was a Son Of A Bitch!  My family and I just got back from our evacutation adventure and the 5 hour drive only took 10 freakin' hours!!!!!!!  I only complain because it took 8 to get there.  I must say that I was glad to have somewhere to go and to have some place to come back to.  Some of my relatives are still displaced because of Katrina and Rita sent a few of them over the edge (mentally) but that is for another blog.  Today you get the Paganista Story of evacuation and return.  We decided to go East rather than West (aren't we the cheeky monkies?!) and made it in to Mississippi.  Unfortunately Rita got wind of our shennanigens (did I spell that right?) and lit out right after us.  She gave chase, snaking through the Texas/Louisiana border and rather than trek on into the dirty MS she threw a tornado or 2 or 3 our way (BITCH!).  One fellow was killed when his mobile home was struck by one of Rita's minnions.  We lost power for a bit but that was it.  We went out to enjoy the winds and check out my families old farm and those god forsaken acres of okra, pepper and peas we used to work before school and church to sell at market when I was a girl (Aww the memories). I will post some of the photos later this week.  I am so glad that callmeroger and my bestest friend Myclette  and countless others affected were safe and sound upon my return.  Although we were advised to stay inside in the county I am from in MS we ventured out anyway to see who we could help.  There is a large community of elderly in our immediate area.  Many were all alone and very happy for the loud and rambunctious company we provided along with some water, flashlights and hot food (My gran's house still has the gas stove that she refused to "up-grade" to electric so we were able to cook)  I didn't eat much because I was so nervous and worried about the weather and the Tornadic activity.  We saw one from afar which was way to close for my comfort!  I couldn't believe that I wasn't hungry because I am a "robust" gal and had just ended a 2 day fast in honor of the coming of Autumn (Go figure.......literally). 

On the trip back we took the long way to avoid traffic on I-10 (of course, we found out later that the traffic was better than what we faced on our alternate route).  Jasper, Texas was just terrible, there were trees down everywhere and almost always on top of a power line.  Every other home we saw had a tree on it or through it. We went through town after town only to find no power and much too our chagrin no Gas.  Cleveland, Tx was out, Splendora, New Caney..ect all out.  We finally found some about 57 miles from Houston in a town whose name I can't remember right now.  Thank Goodness!  The line was long but it only took about 30 minutes to gas-up and move out.  And here I am in one piece and ready to get back to work.  I want to say "HOW DO" (a little Mississippi came back with me and I will be slaughtering the English language with it for a few days until I get "citified" again as my Uncle Rooster would say.  Yeah Uncle Rooster.....I went there!   Anyway I have a lot to do including calling Myclette  to bend her ear about my trip and find out about her's.  It's Right Fine to be back ya'll.

Goddess Bless, Halleluia and pass the cornbread and milk!