It's after midnight now. I haven't blogged in such a long time, I feel if I don't blog now, I might never blog again.

There are many stories to tell. (I'm trying to get a twilight zone meets dragnet feel) It was a Friday. A day like any other.

I was doing my job. I'm a graphic artist at a newspaper. Make ads, do some prepress work. Keep to myself. Somebody came off the streets and said to one of my coworkers, "What's that paint on your car?"

My coworker went outside. I sat at my station. Big windows at the office front. I'm glancing outside, and there's people congregating. Then there's people in the streets, then there's police officers! With Clipboards! I had to spring into action.

Turns out, they've been building this huge parking garage behind the office. It's not really a secret. Some days were like Cloverfield, or Godzilla vs. Anything That's Not Supposed To Move. But, we were good with that. Until now.

I go out into the parking lot. The problem was, someone was contracted to paint the new, multi-story parking garage. They didn't use something called over spray protection.

So over spray cascaded over the building and drifted, like fairy dust, onto many automobiles. Including mine. Oh, I could go on with this subject, but I shall not subjugate you, my personal friends, with such trivialities! I will say, I am not satisfied with the current state of affairs!

Back to that Friday. When I arrived at work that day, I told the news editor, "The President's coming to town Monday. I can take some pics if you need some body." This is not absurd. The president was visiting, and it was about 30 miles outside our... circulation area. But not far from where I leave for work! In other words, I'm on it. :)

The news editor gave a nod and smile. Then we went through the whole over spray debacle. Then, the news editor is having a conversation with another co-worker. And I try to keep to myself. But their conversation goes something like...

News Editor: We don't have anybody!
Coworker: Somebody should go!
News Editor: Everybody's on assignment or out of town!
Coworker: Somebody should go!

I can't listen to this and be dormant. Finally I ask, what? WHAT? News Editor told me the deal, and, for the first time in my life, I looked like the one kid in clash who knew the answer: (this is where you see a pic of me with my right hand stretched well above and over my head, with my gapped tooth mouth establishing its own zip code)

Turns out, the Mississippi National Guard was taking the media out to the Deepwater Horizon Site. Not only that, but they were going to cruise around the barrier islands. I took the tour. Here's a few pics:

In this pic, we're getting situated. I decided to sit in the middle of the plane, so I'd be ready for anything. Here was my view:

Yes, the ultimate rookie seat! I felt as stupid as I do now. I've come a long way. Up Next...

Just a couple of shots from the site. This was a month ago. I know they messed up bad. And I believe many people are working hard to make things right. I hope, when all is said and done, people will remember that many tried to make things right.

This is such a stripped down version of the blog I wanted to do. I'll tell you what happened. We were in this cargo carrier, converted for personnel transport. Including AC.

It was the Guard Guys and Media Guys. We would go up 2,000 feet to travel, then drop down to 1,000 feet or less for the hot spots. That's the Deep Horizon site, or the barrier islands. When we dipped down to 1,000 feet, it got wicked hot.

So towards the end, we went around this island, where rumor had it, there was oil! Sheen! Tar Balls! So we circled this island, Petit Bois, a few times. And it was wicked hot. Eventually, somebody puked. Then other people started puking. It was awkward. Finally, one of the Guard Guys suggested we wing it back home. Good call.

For the record, we didn't see any oil that day. That's not the case today. It is not difficult to find what we were looking for any longer.

I have so many more stories to tell! :) But I'll let it go for now, as I have to work in a few hours. So to speak. Love you all.

:)
TG