You don't see that everyday...

So. This is Mardi Gras, freshman year. This is how I remember New Orleans. The general consensus among Louisiana-natives seems to be that some day, New Orleans will show the same old colors and come back full force. Now that the levies have broken for a second time, when that will occur is a matter of debate.

The past month just goes to show that the phrase "Everyone said..." is a dangerous phrase. Everyone said that New Orleans would never flood. Everyone said that a Hurricane would never get as far inland as Sheveport. Everyone said...

Here's a basic rundown of the past three days:

Wednesday- I spend 12 hours laying out the paper by myself (though with the moral support of Curt and Erin), renounce the unjust gods of journalism who are ruining my social and academic life. I was unaware that you could love something with the core of your being (I love you, Conglomerate!) and hate it in the depths of your soul (but quit leeching the life-blood out of everything I do!).

Thursday- Dad arrives for Parents and family weekend. We bond by cleaning Tim's carpet and going to an intramural football game between TKE A and TKE B. TKE A wins, but only after Tim breaks one of the fingers in his right hand. BREAKS HIS FINGER. Goodwin may be small, but apparently he's a TANK if you're tackling him. We spent the next four hours in the Emergency room. Dislocation. No fracture. Potential sprain. Neither of us watched the doctor pop his joint back into place... but we both heard it. TKE A wins. Tim wins, if you know what I mean.

Today- Ribbon cutting ceremony in the SUB. The new bookstore actually looks like a respectable establishment at a 20K per year private college instead of a Circle K that sells notebooks. I wish I had time to work. I'd be proud to work there. Not that there will be much chance:

Centenary College closes no later than 4:30 pm today, because Hurricane Rita is expected to drop 6 to 25 inches of rain on Shreveport. 6 to 25? If that seems like a vague interval and you're having trouble grasping the difference between half a foot of rain and more than two feet of water... well then you have a pretty good idea of how those of us who have no idea what's coming at us feel.

Classes are canceled Monday and Tuesday. Whether or not the school reopens Wednesday depends on Nature, with a capital "N."