Jean Francis Thursday evening

This continues to be an incredible week in River Ridge. One highlight for me yesterday was seeing one of the worst areas destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, the Lower Ninth Ward. As we crossed the bridge over the Mississippi River to the Lower Ninth, we saw that the levee had been repaired and behind it was a large field with dozens upon dozens of cement slabs where houses used to be -- only patches of a driveway or a front stoop or sidewalk to suggest where once a family had lived. We entered several buildings still standing to view the damage. In one church that was still standing, the cushioned pews were covered in now baked mud, a grand piano had been overturned and a three inch layer of muck covered the carpeting. Someone was living in a gutted home, a sleeping bag and cans of food were in a corner. I had never experienced such widespread devastation in my life and I hope I never do again. Seeing how many thousands of people whose lives have been forever changed by Katrina only inspires me to work harder.

Speaking of work, we're coming along nicely in the house we've been in -- taping wallboard seams, spackling, more spackling and the sanding and sanding and sanding. Did I mention that I sanded today -- all day? The walls are all primed and tomorrow we hope to paint with color. Yeah, something besides white to work with. Today the heat index was only 110 degrees, yesterday it was 118!