Love Bugs, Fire Ants, and What? No Oysters?

Gustav has come and gone, Ike doesn't look like it's going to bother us, and we survived our first evacuation back to our home in Tennessee. Actually, after a great week of visiting old friends, we left our pets in Tennessee to keep my mom busy, we returned to discover our home and our boat unharmed. The boat just rode the storm surge up and back down again in the marina. We learned alot about hurricanes and evacuations, and hope there's not another anytime soon. Thinking Ike would get nasty as well, we've planned more Tennessee events this weekend after which Noah's Armada will return to Louisiana, stinky pets and all!

Unfortunately, this year's crop of love bugs was also unaffected by Gustav. They apparently either love or hate the sound of the push mower, as I was swarmed by them during my entire mowing session yesterday. Nasty little pairs of insects originally from South America, these little critters all eventually die on car bumpers and windshields. Unfortunately, we expect a few more weeks of them. Another discovery: the secret of the fast cross country runners around here has got to be the presence of fire ants. Kids all ran their first Lousiana cross country meet yesterday on what had to be the steamiest day of the year. Fire ant hills were throughout the course and even causing the spectators to move quickly at times. Anyway, Ellie Grace made her debut in cross country...ants, mud and all. Jacob ran the same course as Zeke, and we were all glad to get back in an air conditioned car!

My two budding politicos, Jacob and Ellie, are in midst of student government campaigns. Each using the slogan 'Stick With Stevens'. It's interesting to watch them strategize. They're pretty savvy! Not sure what all Jacob is promising in his campaign speech today, but I think a baked potato bar in the cafeteria and more pep rallies were on the list. Meanwhile, Zeke has decided he wants to transfer to the Jr. ROTC program (here it can count for P.E. credit), so he's going to learn a bit of the military life. Should be interesting! A soccer buddy recruited him. No, I don't think he will have to shave his head, but he should still look pretty handsome in uniform! His first high school swim meet is today, and was preceded by a pasta dinner party earlier in the week complete with cute girls and swimmer camaraderie. He is one happy camper with the exception of one teacher that draws on her eyebrows (very unsymetric and extreme) that they are all scared of. After all, this is the land of voodoo. I think I may be scared of her, too.

Paul and I are providing taxi service and working out like always to stay ahead of the pounds that good food can put on. I keep discovering new ways to cook eggplant (one of my favorite veggies) and fresh shrimp appears on the table frequently. We had planned to bring back a couple hundred oysters for friends in Tennessee this weekend, but were told yesterday that the oyster beds are closed until they can assure they are safe from bacteria stirred up by Gustav. Bummer! Our order is in at the market just in case the beds open in time, and our fingers are crossed. Now I'm craving them worse than ever. How in the world can the Lord expect us to survive long with fire ants, love bugs, and no oysters?