About 60 miles of the lower Mississippi is closed to traffic, and the ships are stacking up north of the closure and south, in the Gulf where the river empties.

Only one area has its water inlet still closed--the east bank of Plaquemines Parish (that's lowest on the river.) Water is being trucked in for drinking and cooking. (I guess deodorant should also be trucked in.)

The Coast Guard and other agencies seem to have responded quickly and efficiently, getting booms out almost immediately to contain the oil slick.

It appears that the captain and crew on the tug that did the damage don't have the licenses and certifications they should.

I am impressed with the response speed.


I called the library this morning to find out about the progress on the great repaving project. It's not done yet. (Why am I not surprised?) Bea (librarian) suggested calling the Tulane cops Sunday to see if would be open Monday. I asked her if there was any fuel smell in the air and she said no.


Do you leave notes for yourself around the house etc.? I'm looking at one by the computer that says "check AC bird nest." I had to think for a moment about that.

As long as there has been an AC in this window, the birds have built nests there each spring.

The new AC (from a year or so ago) is no exception, except that instead of putting their nest on top of the unit, they have sort of squeezed it in beside it.

I figured the birds had long since kicked the kids out and gone elsewhere for the summer, but I keep hearing little chirping noises, even when the AC is off. One of these days I'll have to look again.

And now CC is trying to figure where the chirping is coming from. While she does that she is also keeping my printer from flying away. (That's one of her favorite perches--close enough to get some chin-scritching.)

I just realized that it will be August a week from tomorrow. No wonder all the stores are having sales on assorted school supplies!