WAY OT & it really sucks

[Coytee]

This sucks (and it does)

Have preliminary reports back on my wifes brothers (and family) house.

This is the bro in law/sis in law who have a daughter with spinal bifida and is who confined to a wheelchair.

They've spent 16 years (her age) getting the house conditioned for her access and her special situation.

They live near New Orleans. They live about an hour south of New

Orleans in a small area called Buras. I've read in some places

that Buras (and that parish) is where the hurricane came in first.

My brother in laws boss took a boat ride and went by their house.

Says the house is 100% gone. He can see no signs of it although

the area is still underwater so he's not positive on what's below the

surface.

To add insult to injury, the BIL was up here the last week,

precluding him from doing anything at home to prepare. His son

was in town from college when they evacuated. He (dad) told the

son to pack all his tools into his work van and drive the work van away

from there.

The son, having been through these "false alarm" hurricanes before,

CHOSE to instead drive out with Mom & sister and left everything

there against dads wishes.

This poor family seems cursed. The reason the bro in law is even

HERE in town was to buy at an auction, some kind of specialized step

van with a man lift attached. He bought it, found out reverse

gear didn't work.

Spent the next few days trying to get it fixed. One shop called

him in the morning & said "if you can get it here TODAY, we can get

it fixed". He dropped everything he was doing & got it to

them. They didn't even get a chance to LOOK at it that day

Had he not been here to buy the van, had reverse WORKED, had the repair

shop not failed him, he would have / could have been at home and

been able to help save more of their stuff.

He works out of these vans as he does some kind of industrial a/c work or something like that.

Oh, and to add icing to the insult that was added to the injury, before

he left Buras, he had a large repair contract. He ordered (at his

expense) all the stuff needed to fix this specific job. Seems he

spent a couple thousand dollars.

Then this happened. So not only is he out the $$ to buy the parts

needed to fix the job, the JOB ITSELF is probably gone so he's out the

income he'd had if he could have finished it. Evidently he came

up here during the time frame it was taking to receive the parts when

the van transmission went bad.

I guess I know where my batwing mower money is going to go now.

[3dzapper]

You're right Richard, that really sucks. At least he and his family are safe though they have to start anew.

I am sending off a hundred dollars to the SA to help feed those displaced by this tragety.

Rick

[Daddy Dee]

Richard,

I agree. It sucks. That is a huge situation of devastation from which

to even think about rebuilding. Hope things go o.k. for them.

[Coytee]

Thanks guys.

I took them all out to dinner last night. We were eating and one of their sons was saying "all is ok, our stuff was on the 2nd floor..."

As we were leaving, the restauraunt had a tv on the wall with the news on. They were showing the devestation. NONE of us had seen any pictures yet and we all just stood there for about 15 minutes, totally dumbfounded as to what we were seeing.

They're going to be staying at my other brother in laws here locally (the fathers brother). My wife is going out today to buy them some furniture so they can get this little apartment set up.

Interestingly, the biggest thing I heard them lament the loss of last night was some kind of "slide board" (??)

Little Maggie (daughter in wheelchair) has this slide board. Evidently, it's like 3' long, 12" wide (only a guess) but it's used to help her slide from her wheelchair to the tub, or to the bed or what ever she might need to get to. Seems it's sold ONLY by prescription which I find to be incredulous. NOW they need to go to a doctor to get a prescription, to get another slideboard...

hmm... methinks I'm off to ebay & see if I can see one listed.

I'm considering having an 'auction' (for lack of better word) here. I'll take any ideas you may have as to the merits of it.

What I was thinking was, having a minimum price on two of my Academies (one might be sold already) and let those that want to bid on it, have at it. The proceeds would then go to my brother in law & family, as opposed to a Klipsch fix. That might assuage someone's angst about paying "X" dollars instead of "X-35% since it's sold on the forum" .

I could attempt my Jolida amp, two (and perhaps 3) Academies right off the bat. Heck, if someone had an interest, I could even look into selling my EV's even though that would be like selling my own children (I've only had them for about 27 years)

Truthfully speaking, I could also offer wifes Rolex & another fancy dancy watch (both which she's been wanting me to list on ebay for her)

Any thoughts?

[3dzapper]

Richsrd, Contact your local TV station informing them of your in-law's plight. Who knows, a viewer may have one of those boards, unused, in the back room.

The reason for a prescription may have to do with payment. I would suspect that your disabled niece is on Medicare? The prescription would allow a medical equipment company to file for reimbursement.

There is so much loss down there, I'm numb.

Rick

[Guest BobG]

You may also want to look at Freecycle.com as they have a great community exchangingunwanted items at no cost.