But note that orcas are dolphins. Largest dolphin in the world, unsurprisingly.

I heart you.

I always get irked by the whale-ness. "They're dolphins, damnit!"

</recovering marine mammal specialist wannabee>

I knew they weren't whales! I swear! I just had them filed as "random other cool things" instead of specifically under "dolphins."

My classification system might need work, I admit.

D'oh. But this makes me think of Peter Cook saying, "The whale is not actually a fish... it's an insect!"

And it lives on bananas!

We'll let you slide, this time, Strega.

hee

I knew they weren't whales! I swear! I just had them filed as "random other cool things" instead of specifically under "dolphins." My classification system might need work, I admit.

Not at all, it's remarkably similar to mine, though I call it "random other cool knowledge". I shall now put everything interesting in a giant folder entitled "Things That ROCK!!!"

I think I'll just have "things that are whales" and "things that aren't whales."

I bet that's what whales do.

I bet that's what whales do.

I think that, aside from their catchall 'Miscellaneous' category, they would need at least two other categories for "Things that are like ME!" and "Hey, I bet I could eat that!"

I talked to mom this afternoon, and she's suggesting I not go home this weekend. Here's the basic gist of her concerns. A couple of busses were turned away at Monroe and sent to Shreveport instead, they were taken in at Hirsch. These are the "unofficial" ones that are being turned away at various shelters. Step-dad was called for busses to take them to hospitals because they were very dehydrated. Instead, they chose to do triage at the shelter and take bus-like ambulance (I can't remember what they're called Lifesomethingorother) to the hospitals. People taking donations to the shelter are told not to go directly there, but to give the things to law enforcement because they are getting mobbed if they show up at the gates. Step-dad says there have been reports of gang violence, assaults and robberies at the shelters. A lot of the gas stations have run out of gas, and most just shut down. The PD and the Sherriff's department have been told things are going to get very bad this weekend. Everyone has full houses with friends, family and sometimes strangers. Just got off the phone with a friend who was driving around trying to find a gas station open to buy cigarettes, a guy in his jeep in front of her had just grocery bags full of his stuff. It's like the state is just eating itself.

Also the NO office of the place where I work is trying to get a temp office set up in Baton Rouge. I know that Red Cross donations are, and should be at the top of everyone's list, but if you can spare anything, advice, a donation, whatever they are here [link] . We'll be trying to help the NO/BR office finding places to stay or helping their clients with their homes.

I will be going over to Reunion, the shelter here and donating what we have and getting donations and volunteers on Sunday. I'm also going to find out from Habitat where to sign up once the rebuilding begins.

Sorry to drag it out again.

I have a friend who always wants to have a big "where is this going" Talk at like three months, and I've always figured, when she finds the ONE GUY ON EARTH who isn't scared right off by that, he'll be the one for her.

Ah, too bad she didn't meet my best friend when he was single. Every new girlfriend was introduced to me as his fiance, and this was when we lived in the same small city and hung out with each other regularly. I think he used to keep a rolodex full of engagement rings in every conceivable size.

Sorry to drag it out again.

Heather, sweetie, please stop with this. You are going through an incredibly hard time, and doing so much more than a lot of other people are. The very least we can do is listen, and even if that weren't true, I suspect most of us want to. (I would have said all of us, but you know how we are about generalizations)

Also, hugs, and keep doing what seems to be the best thing, but don't forget to take care of yourself and Mr. H.