| Author | Message | ||
     Bigeasy |
I live in New Orleans and I used to love this place. This is my rant about all the crap that is going on here. I am sorry I seem so negitive and cant spell worth a darn. I have fractured 2 of my ribs and am taking some pain killers to work. I stayed during the storm and requested no help from anyone. I ended up helping alot of poeple in the process with food, water and protection. I am tired as we have been short 4 people in my job. In fact I am exhausted to the point I feel like giving in. I cant express my feelings to others as I seem to be the glue that is holding everything togather. So I am posting it here because I have no where else to turn. Havent had a dayh off in 3 months and I am about to lose it. I have been reading this site since I bought my beloved 2004 xb12s. I also do not post often but try to listen and post when i have something to add to the disscussion. My house and everything in it was destoyed. Thank God I keep my bikes at my office. I have had to start all over again and I have worked so hard to get where I am. I only have a GED and am military exp. My partener in business has broke his leg and can no longer help me. Just 3 days ago I fell at work and cracked 2 ribs. Man this injury has been painlul!! I kepp telling my self to put my down and keep going dont quit. Believe it or not business for me has never been better! But I am so short on help I dont know how much longer I can last. I am better off then most but I am so tired I cant see straight. This town lost it when that storm hit! I was in 1 gun fight and almost had to kill somebody in another. There are now check points all over the city where you must show "ID and papers" and you are also treated very rudely at said check points. Your car is searched with no reason, the military patrols the neibor hoods. There are piles of garabage eveywhere with files and magots still. I have done my part to clean and help others to do the same. Now the hood boys are back making it hard on everyone! Gunshots, 11 of them in front of my apartment last saturday! My girl who I love to death calling me at work and I am telling her how to load my 45 and stay behind cover over the phone. The police are crooked as hell, but ther are a few who are the real deal. I want to say ••• it and sell everything and move on. But in the back of mind I think "Hell no draw the line in the sand and drive on!". My mental state is not good and besides my girl my buell is one of my only releases. I dont know you erik but I dont give a ••• what the naysayers talk about the bike I have bought in 04. To me it is one of the few things in my world that puts a smile on my face. In fact I think it is the only thing keeping me in tact at the moment. Hitting that perfect corner makes mr smile and the exhaust note makes me smile even more. I kill the jap bikes on a regular basis even though I paper I shouldnt. You can buy the most powerfull rice rocket u can but in the end 99 percent it comes down to the rider. Ever day in my city I see the shit in the paper 99 percent bad, it makes me sick to even look at it. My ride is all I had left after that dam strom. If I had to choose I am happy that is the way it turned out. I know I am rabbleing and cant spell (pain pills and acohol)but I cant express my fears and fustrations to my my boys in the kitchen as it might break them. Just tonight I my partner took orders and I cooked them for a killer rush during the worl cup. After We went to my friends bar to unwind and as I am helping he out of my car (he is on cruches at the moment and still worked a 12 hour shift, u rock dail!) some asshat asked me for money or a smoke! Normally I would have taken it in stride. But tonight I lost my temper and told the •••••••• to get a dam job and that there are help wanted signs from new orleans to pesicola! I wont say what happen next. Thank for listening to my ramblings as right now I dont have anyone to rant them to. If I said some of the things I am thinking it might hurt my guys morale. Art | ||
| Oldog |
Sorry to hear this Art I remember you posting before the storm hit glad that you made it through alive. I wish that I had more to give you than words it sucks.. I can't agree more when I am troubled a good long ride helps me, prayer helps too. I have to say that I admire you for standing firm it, Sounds like you have a wonderful Girl that is standing by you in the midst of it all You feed a number of ppl daily, you have cleaned up, helped your friends and comunity, When others do the wrong thing YOU are doing the right thing! YOU ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE! EVERY one has limits don't be too hard on your self, most folks would have cut and run Especialy when the shooting started. and some times we all loose our tempers shit happens. I could not do what you are doing, if you don't mind I will say a prayer for your safety and that of your loved ones ok? and ask for a blessing for you. May GOD reward your courage, renew your strength, and bless you NOW and in the days to come, May his grace strengthen you for what is ahead and keep you and your loved ones and friends safe in this tribulation. your friend Jim.. | ||
| Mattwhite |
Wow. I guess the news guys get too tired to hang in there after the initial story is over. I didn't know it was still so bad down there. I'm working in Jackson right now and all of us northern boys were shocked when our waitress said they didn't have power for 6 weeks even this far inland. Hang in there, get the release on the bike whenever you can. Feel free to rant as much as you need. Good luck, and if you decide to leave and start over some where else there's nothing wrong with that, either. | ||
| Terminator |
Dont think theres anything anyone can say to that, apart from "we're listening". I hope there will come a time when you can look back and realise you are that little bit stronger for staying with it! Its been a help to me when ive been low to think theres always someone worse off than me. Dont mean to sound condecending, but there usually is!!! You are obviously one of lifes "fighters" and you've made it thus far, you must now summon up strength to carry on. "WHAT DOES NOT KILL ME , MAKES ME STRONGER" Theres nothing practical i can do , except to say you are in my thoughts. How about trying to rekindle the interest of the Media, you should e mail everyone and anyone, including the British media, perhaps embarass your govt. into action? | ||
| M2nc |
On the coast of North Carolina we have lived through more than two dozen hurricanes and two major floods in the fourteen years we have lived here. Each time we were spare the devastation but have seen our neighbors lose everything. We have become very good at preparing for then, evacuating and rebuilding. I have my own generator in the Barn with seven 5 gallon cans of gas, enough for a week with no power, something we have learned with experience. We stock food and water so we can sustain ourselves in case of emergency. We provided power and meals to my neighbors after Floyd. The night before the emergency crews, National Guard and Power Crews from five states were staged inland waiting for the storm to pass. The morning after the storms they drive in and start getting the place straight. The hardest hit was for my wife seeing her grandmother's neighborhood bought out by the Federal Government after Floyd and leveled. Her parents were divorced and she would spend most of her summers growing up with grandma. It is hard riding through the neighborhoods that were leveled. The place we lived when my oldest was born is gone. We evacuated to Durham during Fran and after the storm the floods came. I had to evacuate the family because our Neighborhood flooded. Our place was spare but the National Guard had check points and I had to drive through water covered roads in my truck to get home. The floods after Fran and Floyd were nothing in comparison to the events after Katrina, I can only imagine. Rant anytime, we will always listen. | ||
| Cowboy |
Hey man I feel for you. I had 3 daughters and a son living there before the storm.My son did buy land in Miss. (north of the lake). 2 of the girls have bought land north of lake, and the third is looking. Two of the girls are nurses and the third is a court reporter, I get some real horror stories from them. coping with the storm was one thing. but having to deal with some of the scum that lives there was just more than they were willing to put up with.Hopefully not all of the sorry Bxxxxxds will return. Good luck to you. be careful. | ||
| Road_thing |
Hang in, Art, it'll get better. And you'll still be there! rt | ||
| U4euh |
We are very glad to see you posting again, had some us worried for some time. Your business and family are your life, do what you have to do. If it comes to a point of giving in, no shame, you still have family. When it is all said and done, that is what is the most important. We will always be here, if helps rant away. Sometimes it is just as much a release for us as it is more for you. We do not look down on you, more like up to you for sticking you guns. AttaBoy! Keep on keepin on. JIM ps-take it easy on the ribs! (Message edited by u4euh on July 05, 2006) | ||
| Bigeasy |
Thank you all for the kind words. They have really helped me to get back up dust myself off and drive on. I have considered backing up, but I have made it this far. So I think I will see this through to the end. I am much better prepared with supplies now. I have built bunk beds in my office at the back of the bar for me and crazy line cooks. We have cases of MRE's, lots of water, flashlights, AMMO and even got some NVGs. Also have a huge generator to run my walk in freezer, cooler and my office. Tire plug kits extra tires for the bikes. Oh and lets not forget the bigscreen tv with ps2 and tourist trophy! Very important piece of survival kit!!! Once again thank you. Just was having a down moment when I wrote that. Oldog your post along with the others made me feel alot better. Oh and yes she is a very special girl. She also rides a Blast and can handle a 12 gauge when it counts!! Art | ||
| Oldog |
Sounds a lot better there Art watch the ribs, and rant as needed as U4 said we're here.  | ||
| Zxzer04 |
Hell, I would just look at your picture on your profile and realize it all could be worse...had me crying there  . Can't imagine how hard it is there...Just getting supplies must be rough, and things most of us take for granted. Looks like you are handling things better than most. And making life better for others, seems to me no one could ask for more. | ||
| 2000m2 |
Man, breaks my heart. I grew up in New Orleans and left in '98 for school, then the Navy. I passed through in March when I was moving from DC to San Diego and everything was still a mess. The politicians are definitely not helping things at all down there. Makes me sick how those fools keep getting elected, it's always the same crew popping up. Different names backed by the same families/groups. Thanks for posting, the ranting sounds like it is well deserved. What bar do you own? My family is all still in New Orleans. Most of them were ok in the storm, except for my fathers parents. They lost everything, 6' of water and roof blown off. Sucks... } (Message edited by 2000m2 on July 05, 2006) | ||
| Road_thing |
Keep on keepin' on, Art! Where's your place? My in-laws live uptown, within a couple of blocks of the Olde College Inn on Carrollton. I get to NOLA a couple or three times a year, maybe I can swing by and let you feed me... rt | ||
| Indy_bueller |
Hang in there Art. I wish I could do more for you than provide moral support right now. Do you guys need anything down there? | ||
| Blake |
Hang tough Art. You are an inspiration. Might have to swing by and visit in a few weeks if you are up for it.  | ||
| Bigeasy |
Thanks guys. I am in uptown at the riverbend. Cooter Browns Bar and Grill. I own the kitchen and another guy owns the bar. Drop by anytime! Indy, thanks for the offer but we are ok. Just tired of looking at all stuff that is happening and all the stuff that is not. On a better note my new helmet shipped today! I order a shark Duhamel and some sidi boots. I've heard good things about this helmet, we shall see.  | ||
| Road_thing |
Cooter's?? Wow, we may have already met! I've been in there several times, but not since Katrina. I'll make it a point to visit next time I'm in town! rt | ||
| Buellgirlie |
bigeasy - keep up the good work! your contributions to the world will not go unnoticed. and, take it easy on the pain meds and alcohol (just go to sleep on the pain meds). i've got broken and fractured ribs from a racing crash and am healing too - i've only tried drinking 3x in the last month because of it and it made me super woozy! hang on, your luck will turn. and luck favors the hard working and prepared. take care, D |
