snoopin'

just back from a "Recon Mission." walked down to the clearinghouse ( Stamats building ) and no water in the immediate areas. the parking lot was FULL of big trucks reading " First Response" and men in red shirts. i asked a small group if they'd been inside yet and was told no, they had not and were awaiting the ok from those that were currently inside, doing a " structural integrity inspection" of the structure. they go in next and will be doing the assessment of bacteria and air quality. i expected to smell dead things and river smell, but over all that hangs the stench of fuel, heavy, cloying, and MOST unpleasant! it followed me home and now i realize that odor will probably remain in my nostrils and back of my throat all day. UGH! BUT... judging by the high water mark on the facade of the building, there's a chance some of our warehouse inventory survived, thanks to the help received by Jean Kirby, Barb, her husband Scott and a neighbor friend of theirs. ( thank GOD the men were able to operate our f0rklift last Wednesday!) I was told by a red-shirt guy, " I don't think your forced vacation is over just yet." guess now we just wait some more.