|
I know this guy. Last year while wife was out of town he drained pool and painted it purple and gold with LSU stenciled into it. True story from last week. For those who are too serious, lighten up, this is meant to brighten things up a little. Oh, Milagro = Milagro Silver, Tequila.
My night at the Houston Astrodome.....forklift fun...Milagro...and Cecil
Posted by Robbie using 24.173.25.196 on September 1, 2005 at 10:41 a.m.
Recent Posts / Browser: MSIE 6.0
I have great respect for what the Red Cross does. They have a lot of people commited to the greater good. That said, they are the epitomy of a gloated political organization.
Before our group of do-gooder scoundrels headed to the Astrodome last night, we actually had a well thought out idea (A first for us) and decided to call ahead first. Im glad we did.
The Red Cross told us in no uncertian terms...unless we had Red Cross training....we were not to come to the Astrodome.
Fine Maam....when can we get this training? Friday morning is our next class. Uhh, Maam...its Wednesday night...you think it might be a little late to set up cots on Friday for 30k people coming in tonight?? CLICK...hello??
We called Judge Eckles office. He basically heads up the Harris County Authority that runs the dome. An exaspperated and pissed off representative told us she had been fielding calls like ours ALL EVENING.
Hundreds of volunteers turned away....and yet...the Red Cross was begging for volunteers at the same time. Right hand, meet Left hand.
Why dont you two get to know each other.
So of course...we head down there anyway. Right into a clusterfack of great proportions. Dozens of La. residents in their personal cars...trying to get in....People holding signs, waiting to greet the buses...A man with a catering vehicle and a ton of donated food, turned away by the Red Cross.
We didnt want to give up that easy. We circled the complex, and finally found a gate that was unmanned, and our little convoy of 8 vehicles barrelled around Reliant Stadium....and cozied up to the Dome.
A cop looked at us...shook his head...laughed...and said "Welcome to the party". Let me say....If anyone wants to F with the 6'6 260 lb Officer Jones of the HPD....I suggest you NOT.
We told him our story...he said he wasnt surprised...He gave us an update that buses were due in the next few hours (It was about 11 pm) as well as a few tips on how to help out. He mentioned that a few tractor trailers could probably use unloading.
In the spirit of Martial Law, we commandeered a fork lift (Lord, please dont let OSHA read this)....and began re-learning how to drive it. Yeah yeah, lift the skids before heading forward...I knew that.
Officer Jones is looking a little nervous about now....but realizes we arent going to tear anything up (on purpose)...and that truck isnt unloading itself.....so, he let us get to work.
We were able to off load a Cental Freight Truck of its entire Ozarka water supply in no time. Time to bring it into the dome right? Uh no, leave it sitting outside...as we arent Red Cross certified...and ARENT ALLOWED INSIDE THE DOME...not even to use the restrooms....porta potties for us.
No biggie. Lets offload this next truck. Why hello Mr Red Cross safety person. WHOA...calm down...you are gonna have a heart attack...uhhh, nossir, I DO NOT have an operators license for this Mustang Forklift. No, the keys were in it and we just thought we would help. Ok, ok...geesh....Im getting off it...calm down.
So, we sit around for a half hour doing NOTHING...while a perfectly good forklift sits there....and a truck full of supplies sits...loaded to the gills. (well not NOTHING...we did have some beer and doritos with us)
Finally, just as we are about to leave...Here they come...
A Yellow bus full of hot, tired, sweaty people. As they come in, it was pretty emotional. We started cheering...yelling....even the stoic Officer Jones was smiling and clapping.
The looks on some of the faces of the people was just GREATNESS.
We met a man named Cecil....said he had not been in the Dome, but rather picked up on side of the road. At that point in time, it didnt really matter.
He had stayed behind in New Orleans to get some overtime hours in with his city job. His wife and ailing aunt had evaqued and were with family in Sorrento. He hadnt heard from them in four days. Within seconds...6 of us had our cellphones out and extended. He grabbed one with MANY THANKS...his hands shaking..he called his people.
As soon as a voice came from the other end...he broke down crying. Everyone one of us in the area suddenly had to look at our shoes ...and walk off a second. Cecil wrapped up his call and hugged EVERY one of us.
After much man love...the Milagro was pulled out from under the seat of a pickup truck....much to the chagrin of the Baptist church group....and after Officer Jones gave us the "I aint seen NOTHIN" glance...We made a toast to air conditioning, Cecil took the first pull, and we passed it around. Even the baptists laughed at the wierdness of the whole scene. After many more thanks, Cecil, with a little pep in his step, went on into the Dome.
Im not sure we did everything the right way....and Im sure we stepped on a few toes...but we did unload a truck...we did leave four pickup truck loads of daipers, formula, toothbrushes, deodorant, and non-perishable food under the protection of Officer Jones.
And im pretty sure we gave some much needed relief to ole Cecil
|
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
