Wednesday, November 28, 2012

My day as a volunteer.

This past Friday I volunteered in Long Beach to help distribute desperately needed items for victims of Hurricane Sandy.  Countless people, as we all know, were severely impacted by this storm.  People lost ALL of their possessions.  Through donations of food, clothing, shoes, toiletries, baby necessities, household cleaning supplies, etc. victims of this horrible storm are able to somewhat start to put their lives back together again.  If you would like to help please donate to the Red Cross.







Sorting the clothes in categories.
These wonderful members of the Sikh faith volunteered their time and delicious food to the victims and volunteers.
We are hoping that they open a restaurant.  The food was the best!
The name of their organization is "Namdhari Sikh Foundation."
To visit their website and learn more about these kind and generous people click here.
                                           
It felt really good to volunteer and meet so many kind people.







Thursday, November 15, 2012

More Marilyn

While browsing the web last night I found some more photos of Marilyn Monroe to add to my Pinterest board.








photos via "LIFE" and "Retronaut."

Good morning.


photo via "Fire Island Pines Historical Preservation Society

I'm back at my home after the storm.  It feels really good to have electricity.  I live in a duplex apartment and the vestibule area did get flooded.  The sheetrock had to be ripped out and the insulation was taken out.  I do see mold forming already.  It really does grow fast.  I'm not sure what the next step is.  I guess that it is going to be treated to stop the growth of the mold.
I am waiting for my car to be hauled away.  The water came over the seats and our development is elevated.
Everyone on the first floor had to move out.  Their apartments are being ripped apart.  What a mess.  Most of those people are elderly and my heart goes out to them.  They lost most of their furniture, cars, etc.
Again, if you want to donate here is a link to the Red Cross.

On a lighter note my home study course for recertification as a personal trainer is almost complete.  I have to take a CPR course.  I am looking for one that it reasonably priced.  I hope to be recertified by next month.

I miss blogging.  Hope to be back here full time again very soon.

I came across an article about Ellen Barkin from "O" magazine.  It is titled "Beauty Upkeep Plan."  There are some helpful hints in it and just some fun reading.     Click here.

Sunday, November 4, 2012

After the storm

Hi everyone,
I am finally at a computer and able to touch base with you.  We don't have power yet.  It is cold and dark and eery.  The storm arrived with a vengeance in our area on Monday night and devastated so many areas here in the northeast.  We were the lucky ones.  I lost my car.  We are cold.  My apartment is a duplex so the downstairs vestibule area flooded but our upstairs was untouched.  We live on a canal so there were boats that got loose all over the place.  There were many gasoline leaks from the boats and vats of gasoline that turned over from the marina.  Our sewer plant was destroyed.  They are working 24/7 to get it up and running again.  Yet they say it will take a full year to repair.  Our complex flooded terribly.  Everyone on the ground floor is still cleaning out and lost many things.  But the structure of our complex is still standing.  We are very grateful. 
So much devastation in New York.  Never did I think that a natural disaster would happen here.  It is something that you watch on the news and your heart breaks for the people, but it is always in another part of the country.  Well, I guess that no one is immune.  And we certainly learned that this past week.
One thing that I do know about us New Yorkers and just people in general is that we are strong,  and we are fighters.  And we will rebuild and try to find some kind of normalcy in our lives again.  That is what is so great about the human spirit.  Something that can never be taken away from you!!!
I'm sure that all my readers from around the world have been seeing pictures of the devastation. If you would like to help you can donate to the Red Cross.  Thank you for helping!!!!
I hope to get to a computer again tomorrow.  I'm glad that I was able to say hello.  Here's hoping that our power comes on.  Please LIPA!!!
Everyone please stay safe!!!!!!  xoxo elyse