Recipes and Essays

It passed us by and we became neighbors

It passed us by and we became neighbors

Just walked in my garden, sun shining, light breeze in the air. Although the city has experienced power loss in thousands of homes as a result of downed power lines, my house has electrical power, no damage to trees at all. Rita spared Houston, just 

Hope with Caution

Hope with Caution

Good news is my focus right now in the shelter. First, I’ve got access to WiFi and was able to bring my laptop on my backpack. It’s good to have another communication option, along with my battery-operated radio. It looks like we will have lesser 

A catastrophic medical emergency

A catastrophic medical emergency

I was unable to evacuate. After ten hours on Interstate 10 headed for San Antonio and safety (My hometown, so I have lots of family there), the highway became immobile. It became a completely stalled parking lot. Traffic was moving at the rate of one 

Goodbye Houston for a while

Goodbye Houston for a while

Just 2 days ago I was helping evacuees at the Reliant Arena. Now I myself am loading my car and preparing to evacuate in the morning, given the path of Rita towards us and Matagorda Bay. So, amigas, amigos, I and a few hundred thousand 

Oh, my.  Rita

Oh, my. Rita

Can you believe it? We in Houston may have to evacuate. Dang. All the temporary residents/evacuees of the Reliant Complex are gone. Those who were not able to be relocated to places here in our city have been bused to Fort Chafee Arkansas, this because 

Publishers, Creators and Users of Materials for Hispanic Catholics

Publishers, Creators and Users of Materials for Hispanic Catholics

As I look toward the upcoming conference, “In Our Own Tongues,” and prepare my remarks scheduled for a panel, I’m helped by Mary’s pointing to Fernando Gros‘ blog which points to Ryan Bolger’s blog. The discussion is about the cultural shifts around web practices and 

Bush and Hitler

Bush and Hitler

I’ve often thought about the similarity between Hitler and Bush, in that they both led their countries to an invasion based on fabrication, and fear and with popular support. I don’t think that we are bound by our history nor family background, but it is 

Bright ideas from FEMA

Bright ideas from FEMA

I’ll share what gave me a rueful smile early in the Astrodome experience. Remember the big bright idea that FEMA had, to move the Katrina survivors to cruise ships? The ships had already arrived here, docked and ready. Local leaders roundly rejected it. There were 

Urgent Need for Medicines & Acceptance

Urgent Need for Medicines & Acceptance

Texas is helping provide free medications for persons living with HIV who lost their medications and insurance documents during Katrina.Refer anyone in need to Texas Department of Health site. Excellent news that some drug companies are giving the medicines free to Katrina survivors, or at 

Exhaustion – Rest – Organizing

Exhaustion – Rest – Organizing

The low power radio station by/for Katrina Astrodome survivors went on the air yesterday, noon. More on that later. Rebuilding after Katrina is daunting, but it is an opportunity for positive change. After a rest and prayer….time to organize. I’m guided by these ideas: 1)