On my way out of town.

I'm heading off to a remote mountain getaway for 4 days. Running water may be possible but internet is definitely out.

I'll post when I get back. keep on voting!

--maddog

Upcoming stories...

1. Death by Cheeseburger!
2. Crackhead Bobby skips his seizure meds. Medicates with malt liquor!
3. Snooze for 5 miles on an interstate? Car is Definitely in the ditch!
4. Bouncing babies, bleeding heads.

Which one do you want to hear first? Vote on the comments link below.

--maddog

Where has maddog been?

Depression is a monster. An ass-kicking, sneak-up-behind-you-when-you're-not-looking monster.

I'm on the snap-back.

Nothing can keep the maddog down.

ARRR!

more to come

--maddog

Mom's Home

Whew! I was worried!

My mom is my hero.

--maddog

More awesome mom-ness...

My phone rings. The caller ID says "MOM mobile."

We chat a bit. Here's a few quotes from Super-Mom:

"..You wouldn't believe the smell, hon... It's incredible."

"We don't have power at the clinic but we do at the hospital. Without air conditioning the air quality is pretty bad. We spend the day at the clinic until 5 and then go back to the hospital and clean some more. We're trying to get more rooms ready for patients."

I'm amazed at my mom's fortitude. She sounds tired. She also sounds cheerful and happy. She's doing something she loves. I can imagine. I think I'd be in the same mood in her shoes.

Then she says, "Wait! ...Do you have formula?"

I'm a bit confused

"Do you have enough formula for your baby? What kind of formula do you use..."

I hear another voice in the background.

Now I get it!

Mom says, "Hon, I'll call you back." *Click*

Go, Mom Go!!

--maddog

My mom is still the coolest.

My mom, who makes planes land to save lives, has shipped out to Baton Rouge with less than 12 hours notice. She's been helping to set up, clean out and get running a hospital that was abandoned in the flood. They've already started seeing patients and are setting up clinics in local schools and public buildings.

She's working with limited medical supplies, armed escorts and stifling temperatures in the 90's. (No A/C). She's been eating MREs and bottled water. Through my dad, she reports:

"...the smell of rotting food and dead bodies is everywhere, and the level of filth in the hospital and the schools is appalling. The hospial was abandoned in haste in the face of the hurricane, and perishable food was left in meat lockers and coolers and refrigerators, which then lost power. Patients were evacuated by staff, but the dead remained behind in the morgue and in the OR. When she and others are not treating patients they are cleaning - shoveling, mopping, scrubbing, bleaching, disinfecting, bagging, hauling."

...and treating what patients come in. She fears that as the word gets out, the facilities will be overwhelmed and they will run out of supplies. Their support and supply infrastructure is non-existent and re-supply is spotty and inconsistent at best.

She sleeps on a cot in the hospital when she's not out working.

Did I mention that my mom will be 61 years old in November?

Awesome!! Go, Mom Go!

--maddog