The 365 - 9/1/17 - Day 40

Happy Friday everyone - And a very well deserved weekend in particular to everyone.   My hope to begin winding down the hurricane focus here on the blog toward this next week.  This has been a very important outlet for me, and I wanted to thank everyone who took the time to read and engage with the blog this week.  Like all of you, I am sure, I am looking forward to at least begin the process of thinking about something else other than what we have before us here in Houston.  People are starting the clean and rebuilding part of all of this, and some layers of "normal" have started to creep in again.  There remains a lot to do and there also are still a great need for many who are not yet back in their homes and who may not get to for months. But the world turns, and with it other issues and other areas of concern arise that need all of our voices and solutions.   My hope is to start to transition this space here to other things as well (subjects willing) and hopefully find something that all of us can appreciate.  Thanks again for letting me have this outlet.  Enjoy the weekend everyone!

Houston, Texas - Nighttime Vigil

The 365 - 8/31/17 - Day 39

Happy Thursday evening everyone - We are winding into a weekend here that I truthfully can not wait for. Here in my part of Houston, the rains have stopped and the sun is shining.  With this, the all important next step of cleanup can start.  I took a long time tonight going through my shots from this afternoon trying to find one that captured the feeling of what I saw just walking down one street of this one neighborhood.  Every home had a huge pile of life possessions sitting in the front waiting for insurance agents to arrive assess their value.  Flooring, drywall, furniture, belongings, memories... all soaked - all ruined - and all waiting for a stranger to come and put a value on it.  It was overwhelming.   I don't think I took that image.  I chose this one for tonight's post as it captured the scale of the work ahead for all us here in town.  We are beginning in a very long process, but none of us are alone in this.   I have seen people across the country and across borders reaching wanting to help.  I have seen the city come together and do whatever it takes to help our neighbors and friends out.   It's going to be a difficult job, but it is one that we will see through.

Houston, Texas - After the Flood

The 365 - 8/30/17 - Day 38

A very happy Wednesday everyone - Last night the sun finally broke through the clouds and began to shine on our neighborhood.  For our part of the city here, the worst of the storm is over, and we can start to look at the rebuilding process. We have thousands in shelters tonight and my attention today has been working to get supplies to those who are in need.  But, the overall feel in the city today has been a positive one, and it has truthfully been 3 days since we could feel that. The image today is one of two boys who definitely found some of the humor in the situation. They took out a paddle board and toured up and down what was once their street.  It's all smiles in this image and soon hopefully more smiles across the city.   Enjoy your sunsets everyone - 

Houston, Texas - The Paddle Tour

The 365 - 8/29/17 - Day 37

Happy Tuesday everyone, and hopefully you are all safe and dry.  I, like most of you I am sure, am tired of bad news.  So my hope over the next few days will be to try to show some of the lighter side of this event that I have witnessed over the last couple of days.   I don't want to betray the absolute seriousness of the city's situation and its continued need for support, but I also find that a constant beating of the war drum only leads to numbness when we need vigilance and care.  So to start this, I offer this image for today.   Taken a few days ago, I ran across a group of young girls floating in an inter tube down the street.  Of course, naturally, this young man decided it was time to impress and attempted to push his bike through the "river."  He was both successful and successfully captured both here and on video.    Enjoy your Tuesday everyone - 

Houston, Texas - Show Off

The 365 - 8/28/17 - Day 36

Happy Monday everyone - Another day complete here with another day of rain.  Continuing from the series shot on Sunday, I ventured into downtown West University to check on water levels from the small bayou that runs through there.  The water had overrun the street in the main section of town and flooded the streets and some of the stores there.  For a good portion of the afternoon I was out, the rain had subsided until this moment here.  This group took cover under the awning, and I noticed the small boy here undeterred by the rain to check to see what was around the next corner.   I think we are all feeling a little bit that way right now-   Enjoy your evening everyone!

Houston, Texas - Peeking the Corner