when someone dies it's hard to understand why...

the feelings of shock and disbelief

of denial and sorrow

swirling thoughts a kaleidoscope of emotions

why Tyler? Why my friend? Why so young?

old people die, not children (especially not healthy ones)

that is the way it is supposed to be

what happened to change the course of things?

I don't understand.

My  heart is so heavy...my eyes sting with tears

I don't know why he died so young...but

I do know that I miss him and am glad that we were

friends, even for so brief a time

Rest in peace until we meet again.

Written for son, who lost his friend Tyler Rupp on November 5, 2008.

September 11, 2008   4:15pm

The Empire Flood Gates are now open...
but will close at 7pm to prevent the potential

 flooding of Highway 23. The gate will remain

open until 7pm to allow boats and vessels to

 reach safe harbor.

PLAQUEMINES PARISH CALLS FOR

VOLUNTARY EVACUATION

Belle Chasse, LA – Due to the threat of high winds

and tidal surge from Hurricane Ike, Plaquemines

Parish is calling for a voluntary evacuation this afternoon

Here's the Beverage list with recipes...It's is policy to follow

Goldschläger

Combine Goldschläger, apple brandy and sugar in cocktail glass.

Kahlúa

Goldschläger

Combine Goldschläger, Rumplemintz and Jim Beam in an empty soup can.

NO ONE MAY ENTER THE PARISH AFTER 6PM SUNDAY.                                     

At that point, roadblocks will be in place and the parish will be under lockdown.
THIS IS A ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY. Anyone who violates this curfew will be subject to arrest and will be brought to Angola State Prison.
 

THERE ARE NO SHELTERS IN PLACE IN THE PARISH.

NEWS RELEASE
SEPT 1, 2008-10:00AM Gustav Update

Belle Chasse, LA -   Power is out across all of Plaquemines Parish.  A transformer is down south of Oakville and a number of power lines downed due to wind and falling limbs.   While there are a number of downed poles and trees, there is no significant damage to report.  No structures have suffered any serious damage as of this hour.   Again, power is out across the entire parish, including Belle Chasse.
There is some concern about the river levels and potential over topping.  The river levels are quite high at this time…but there has been no over topping yet.  The West Point a la Hache ferry ramp is under water…and there is a partially submerged barge that could break away and pose a threat to the river levee.   The situation is being monitored very carefully.

There are also reports of water in the Belle Chasse Tunnel.

But as of this hour- all of the back levees, the levee repairs and the temporary levee built across Highway 23 are holding up and at this time, there is no reason to believe they will not provide adequate protection for Plaquemines Parish.

There are still strong winds, surge and rain as Gustav's outer bands move across the Parish.

it's been more than a decade and I love him still.

I haven't always made the right choices, and sometimes I've made the wrong choices more  than once, but this a choice that I can live with.

I wish I could make you happy, like I used to.

Please don't give me any excuses, your unhappiness shows in everything you do.

You don't smile anymore, and you are always aggravated.

Of course, when I ask, I get your standard, "I don't know, I just am"

or "I just woke up that way".

I don't know when things changed for you.

Life has stayed the same.

Are you bored now?

The littlest things make you angry...

... the dog bowl,

... running out of milk,

... the price of gas,

... having committed to something and not wanting to do it,

... no smoke,

... no fun,

... working,

... being off of work??

I don't know what to do.

I feel like I am losing you, and have no idea how to stop it.

I love you.

But I will not be your proverbial punching bag.

If it is not my fault, DO NOT take it out on me.

I am not the SOLE cause of all your problems!

I did not chose your parents or their flaws.

I did not chose the mother of your children, nor did I chose the age of which you became a parent.

I did not ask you to drop out of school and work full time at the age of 15.

I did not ask for anything, except your love.

If I cannot have the ONE thing that I ask of you, then I WILL NOT take on everything that I did not ask for.

You make me sick.

The lyrics state " inside your ugly, ugly like me", well they may as well have written this at my birth and chose it for the background music of that useless event.

I am ugly on the inside, and make no apologies.

I do not ask for your agreement nor your acceptance.

This is who I am, for better or worse.

I am UGLY on the inside and I like it.

HOWEVER, you have chosen to become a person that I do not recognize anymore.

The good in you has been replaced with a fourth street version of your old self.

You are constantly talking about people behind their backs, like there is nothing better for you to do.. Here's an idea, how about, the next time, you feel like talking about someone, (of which you are making up most of it and exaggerating at best) try going put additional clothes on. That should take awhile considering you are likely half naked to begin with.

Here's the thing, I am talking about you (only because you are too dumb to realize that I am talking to you) BUT.... there is a reason. I am left with the questions, WHY? WTF? Etc... and having to deal with your offspring in the aftermath of your self destruction.... I did not ask to be your keeper, your conscience, or your fashion adviser, nor did I ever ask for the role of raising YOU as well your children. But I picked up where you left off, or left out, or whatever, and finished raising those boys to the best of my ability considering their age at the time, and yet, here I am, years later... I am the one they come to when they need something, not you.. WHY?, You may ask, it is quite simple, they can count on ME. When have you ever, EVER, ever, been there for what really matters? I am not referring to getting a teenager laid, buying him alcohol, teaching him how to be a womanizer, encouraging him to drop out and work full time, having your boyfriend introduce him to drugs, ruining his marriage, under the guise of "well he wasn't happy" What the F*^K ever with that. I am done.

Do you hear me?, D-O-N-E!!!!!! done done done done done done!!!!

You go ahead and do whatever it is that you do. And I will continue to pretend that I have no clue and that everything is great... and when they need me, I will be too busy to help. Unfortunately, they will still not go to you, they will find someone else, and that is sad.

So as of today, here is my final piece of advise....

Stick your head in the sand, and continue to take the credit of work done by others, while hoping that they do not walk in and hear you talking shit about them, and quite possibly punch you in the F@&*%G face.

That is all. IMDun.

Seriously people... Have you looked in the mirror, perhaps at your birth certificate or drivers' license???

Is it even possible for some of you to dress and act your age?

Take NOTICE: You are not 18 or 21 or even 25 for that matter - dressing like you are doesn't make you appear to be that age, it makes you appear like a jackass wearing a kids clothes!

You are not a child anymore, you cannot do the things children do and use the excuse of immaturity or age to get away with it.

Just

for one day, take into consideration that there are people that care about you, but cannot possibly be around you, because of the choices that you make on a daily basis. Do those people matter to you anymore? or is it more important for you to prance around in your birthday suit pretending that NO ONE is TALKING about how absolutely AWFUL you look?

Someone