Trip of a lifetime, anybody?

Ok, this is nuts! But life is too short and I am bored out of my scull.
Is there anyone here that would want to take two weeks off from work and drive to New Orleans to help some people? Since day one, I've wanted to go to New Orleans and help when our country needed us most, not some other country...although I would help anywhere as well. We could all debate this with tons of views, but truth is, people sit there needing our help and I don't believe the US has done enough for our own people. I was and consider myself a Marine till the end and felt it was a perfect time to help, I contacted the Red Cross when Katrina hit wanting to go and do something, never got a responce. If I had a liscence, I would have driven.
Then I got busy, forgot for awhile, then contacted other agencies down there...still no responce. Well I finally got a responce and I want to go. Donate a weeks work. So I may fly there, but I'd rather drive. I lost my liscence for drinking years ago and don't get it back till next year. Yup, I planning one hell of a road trip in my 32 roadster when completed and I've got the paper in my hand.
But what I'm wondering, would anybody be willing to go help some people, and drive my 34 coupe 20 hours with me to New Orleans? Yes, you have to be crazy! This car is still an unfinished car, infact...it was built in 5 days. But I will tighten it up before a real road trip. I'll get all the patch panels in, door rubber, and extend the exaust to the rear of the car. Right now, you could ring your clothes out and recycle gas! Even when buttoned up, this is no simple ride, it is... excuse the word...hardcore.
I've been surrounded with a lot of shitty things this year and lost a lot of people I thought were friends till the end. Life is a constant surprise... be careful. But if you as well are bored, wanna do something meaningful, and take one hell of a ride. Pm me please. Taking a flight will happen if I get no responce, and be just as meanigful to me, but I thought we could throw in some adventure. Life is too short!

We could sleep on the road, or maybe stay at some Hambers garages, hahaaa. Maybe some other Hambers may want to join in on one hell of a reliabilty run?

Pic of the car in question... Uh, yeah...its Questionable!

I'm questioning putting this here, but F it, here it goes!

 

Check with habitat for humanity. I know a guy that took his motorhome down there and works 2 weeks building houses (they will teach you all you need to know) and then takes 2 weeks off and plays golf. If I we were closer I would definately consider it...looks like a fun ride!
Good luck.

 

I went when Katrina came through. It was a good feeling to help out. My present job won't let go at this time.

I gottta ask.... is the young lady going too? Not that it would matter, but she could be hard on the concentration.

 

I work in the new orlean area, six days a week. Mawlins is not a safe place to be. They dont want any help, they want handouts, free money. nawlin is not safe, your car would be stolen and cut for scrap wiyhin three hours. Cops are not going to help, they are crooked too.

The reason nawlin has not been rebuild on the level as surrounding town are the people themselves. Crime rate is very high, murder rate is high. nawlin is not a safe city Companies are leaving the city daily, big companies.

 

Wow Brownbag!
I'm not so green, but thanks you for your concern, truely. There is an armed guard where I'll stay in the 9th corridor. Like I said, I am a former Marine, trained in hand to hand combat, I was one point away from being a sharpshooter, although I'm not bringing any weapons. Like I said, I'm real bored with everything right now, and nothing is much of a challehge and or fun. You've only made it sound more exciting, and maybe a noble way to go if I get stuck. The girl is'nt coming.... gals are more dangerous then guns, thugs, and theives. Maybe I will bring some weapons. Hahaaaa.

 

pm lgh1157 He's living there now. And he desperately needs hot rod company! -stick

 

Not trying to be one, But this is the word I have gotten from three people that I know,... Two former military, one law enforcement.
just a heads up for you.

 

Harmsway, what do you mean? You hear it's dangerous? If so, I gotta tell you...I'm more excited. Not to lose my life, but to try and do something. I was trained to go to war, never got the chance,nor did I want to. But I would like to try and do something for people that need some help. And if they dont want my help, then perfect....I'll have had one hell of a ride and realized that the world does suck. No dissrespect to any of you guys, I understand you are trying to help and its much appreciated. I wanna here more! But I also wanna do something, life bores me, always has. I use to throw big shows and events hoping to meet great people and change the mundane . But I also opened up doors to people I'd rather not have. This way is just another angle to help some people and keep me occupied. I hope to meet some great people and have new doors opened. If not, F it... At least I know I tried...then I can just be a misserable old man.

 

Maybe you should volunteer to be a "Big brother" and help some kids that deserve it. I feel bad for those folks but I think you are a day late and a dollar short to help the katrina gang. Why don't you road trip to SoCal for an adventure? You can crash here in the OC for a night or two and meet about a fukin million more car guys around here, that'd be an adventure. Thanks for the picture. God Bless America.

 

Hahahahaaaaa...You guys rule.

 

Man, that's awesome of you, really, to give up your own time to help out. The ninth ward and east bank areas still look really bad. I just spent 7 days in N.O. at childrens hospital for my daughters surgery, BTW, its only an 1 1/2 hr. ride to the Biloxi area and Cruisin the Coast is coming in a few weeks, if you need a hotrod fix come to Biloxi, course they'll be tons of streetrods too.

 

Nawlins wasn't a safe city before the storm. For a small city it had a very high crime and murder rate. I believe it was number one or two in the country for a city of it's size. That being said I am sure that there are areas that where one needs to still be careful. But if you want to contribute your time for the greater good, then do it. You might want to consider doing with a larger group. There are still alot of organizations sending members to that area (including Mississippi) who are helping the folks down there get back on their feet. A local high school had 12 kids (girls and boys) spend 4 weeks down there this summer helping re-build the area.

 

Aren't Camden and Newark closer?

 

I'm definetly going! Question is, does anyone wanna drive? If not, I'll just fly down and take a road trip when I get the papers back.

Serioulsy stoked on everyone's insight, as I really have'nt been watching on whats happening. But I'm not afraid, so maybe I should just go by myself. I have buddies kids that are over in Iraq, doing two tours. These are the guys I worry about, not me. I'll be fine. I'll keep you guys posted if nobody wants to take the ride and I go by myself.

Looked into those Big Brother programs, very cool. But I'd rather do some recon type shit and back to my regular scheduled program. I need some adventure, but don't wanna sign up to work for the goverment. I did enough hurry up and waiting, and can only take so much of being told what to do.

If I do drive with someone, I would like to stop and meet a few of you, check out whats happening around the states.

 

A local church sent some teen volunteers to N.O. earlier this year. Their experience was very good and they were pretty shocked to learn how other people are living.

Hook up with a group that has some contacts and travel light. I think your car would be a liability for you down there.

 

I like where your heads at man. I rolled down there the day the storm hit to do my thing. (nothing criminal, just storm chasing emergency work). I didnt make it home till that November. 100 hour weeks on average, and I saw the lowest of the low. Theres jobs, and money for people of La. to have, but the truth is they are too lazy to get up and do something. Everyone down there wants a handout. If the people who lived there cared about their city, they would have it in alot better repair than it is today. When the work rolled in from Gov. and private contracts we hired hundreds of local workers/laborers etc. Most were lowlife criminals, and crooks. They knew money was flying out of government hands and they did anything they could to get it. Someone beat and robbed my coworker after flaging him down for help.

You want to help someone.......find someone who needs it, not someone too lazy to do anything themself

Good Luck, ROB

 

I fuckin hear ya bro
shits just not right now, real bored
heading to wilmington NC in two weeks
4 car garage, serious fixer up house, 5 min from surf at wrightsville
trucks almost ready for some road time
pm your number and will talk
I be fuckin amped for you to join me

 

oh ya your 34 is fuckin killin it
hope my 32 looks that right

 

Alright, heres the fuckin deal. . . . . . .

I live here, i live uptown, i work here, i put up a post about moving here and everybody talked crazy shit, yeah this town is fucked up and dangerous, but right now as we speak, college students are walking down the street, kids are playing in the parks, nuns were eating at my work today and im sure a few guys were cruising round on their bikes with guns and the guy who washes the dishes at the reataurant i work at is smoking crack right about now [ no joke, he got off at 5pm, its 5:35 now, so yeah he probably hittin the pipe ]. But people are "living" here. My point is - there are alot of people here, not just drug dealers and hookers - although there is alot of them

NYC, Detroit, L.A, New Orleans, they are all pretty fucked up places.

Some of you guys are saying, fuck the people who want a hand out, what about the people here struggling to make there lives better ?, the firemen, the teachers, the cops, the kids who volunteer and on and on.

My wife and I came here because she is opening a highschool in some fucked up ghetto ass neighbourhood, we came here for the same reasons you wanna come here.

I got a place for you to stay a 6 ft private gated fence for your hotrod and some food on the table - seriously, if you wanna come here and help, I think you rule.

People talk about it alot, but you are doing it. You are welcome at my home anytime

Pming you back

L

 

So, exactly how are you going to help? You have not mentioned that. Are you going to help rebuild a house for an elderly person or what? How will you decide who you help?

I think you have a great idea, but I really think you need to come down with at least a small crew and, of course, money. The government red tape is a decade long and is corrupt as the city on New Orleans is famous for. You need to remember, this city and it's government was founded on coruption. Katrina washed a lot of it out into the spotlight. You and everyone who has helped or wants to help needs to realize, that unfortunately, what that city is going through is how things have been done there since the days of pirates running the city. No one is going to just give you money to build or help build. Maybe you can go around and help people who are working on their home or something, but that may be it. You won't have to worry about the government getting involved with you, because they are only involved on paper themselves. They could really give a damn.

For the wealthy of New Orleans, Katrina was a God send. It washed out a lot of the human garbage that they couldn't get rid of politically. It was an enema. That is why the older, poor neighborhoods are still in ruin. They do not want the poor people to come back. They are waiting out for a chance to throw up townhomes, condos and skyscrapers.

So, I salute your effort and wish you well. Don't go alone, don't try to be a hero and do not take your hot rod. If you do, you will be very pissed on the way home. Fly down, contact a church of your choice and ask what you can do.

 

I applaud your desire and motivation...go do it!
However, one thing you might want to think about is not going to New Orleans, and instead going to one of the other states down there that was also decimated. New Orleans has been playing the race card and the Blue State with a Red State president card since the very beginning, and because NO is a famous destination spot, that got a ton of play on the media...but other cities and other states were leveled, and were then overlooked. I forget what city it is, but the plantation house of Jefferson Davis, the Confederate President--a national historic site--was wiped off its foundation. Nothing left of it but a big empty spot where the house stood. And the entire town it was in was hit the same.

It'd be cool to go to New Orleans, but the states and citizens that didn't get all the coverage would probably appreciate the help a lot more.

-Brad

 

I'll help anyway I can. I know construction,welding,design,sign painting, I was a cook in the Marine Corp, whatever. Was'nt going to go down there blind, talked with these people... Emergency Communities. This is the email I got...

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Emergency Communities!
We
currently run a community center in the Lower Ninth Ward, the hardest
hit
neighborhood in New Orleans proper still suffering substantial
post-Katrina
damage. Our work consists of preparation and service of three hot meals
a
day, which includes clean-up of the kitchen, serving line area and dish
washing, site maintenance and beautification, some office-type work,
and we
do off-site work including house gutting, yard work and have started
rebuilding. Our after school program for children in the Lower Nine is
now
up and running!

We work seven days a week, with Sunday being one of our busiest days.
Lodging and meals are provided in exchange for volunteers to commit to
a 40+
hour work week.

Not sure when I'll go, thought maybe 1st of Oct., but its not dead set. It would cost me 250 bucks to fly there, not bad. But I was thinking of really making an adventure out of it and taking the car. Like I said, I'd have to do some major work to get her there...but more goals to meet. Plus I work better with a deadline looming. Not sure bout it all really.... But I know I'm going to go and exsperience it wheather its good or bad. I'm not exspecting it to be fun in the sun, I'm ready for a warzone if thats what it is. Either way, I'm sure I'll learn something...good or bad. Two people have shown interest in going...we'll see what happens. Thanks people.

 

Brad....drop any info if you can. Maybe could stop there along the way if I take the car. Does'nt matter way really,just wanna help out. Yeah, I'm a little late...but, I'm trying.

Always wanted to go to New Orleans, but never made it. I drank and was pretty crazy, figured I'd never make it back. Thats kinda why I wanted to go now that I've been sober a bunch of years. I would certainly stop anywhere I could to learn more, help out, and exsperience life. Thanks

 

Right after Katrina hit my bro in law packed up an enclosed trailer with all his construction tools and stuff and headed for N.O. when he got there several locals basically told him they didnt want or need his help so he told them fine and went down the coast aways into Alabama and was welcomed with work and hospitality

Edit Not trying to discourage your intentions .I think its a great thing your wanting to do. but there are many others in that region that are hurting and in need help aswell good luck with your adventure

 

When people wanna help, why do some people try and discourage others ?

The question you gotta ask yourself is - what are you doing, just reading the fuckin paper and making uninformed decisions ?

Dirtyest Devil - you are doing it and that rules !!!!

Come down man.

L

 

FOR REAL

 

I agree Brad.. I live in Louisiana and I'm almost tired of hearng poor N.O. this and poor N.O. that. Most of the ones complaining are the ones that won't work and don't want help. They want it handed to them on a platter. Now, the Mississippi coastal towns were demolished. Totally wiped out. They got no help to amount to nothing. They are the ones that need help in my opinion.

 

Don't forget a lot of the midwest with all the flooding or how about that Kansas town wiped off the map? People lost their homes and businesses too. Funny I have never heard any of them whine about it though. It makes you wonder why we only briefly hear about the devistation in those places, but I promise you they are still struggling and rebuilding.

There are opportunities all around us to help those in just as much need without even having to venture out of our own towns. Check with your local PD, churches, fire department, Salvation Army, etc, etc.

Good luck, stay safe whatever you decide and LEAVE THE HOT ROD AT HOME of you're determined to go to NO.

I'm not discouraging you from helping anyone, by all means, do something, anything.

 

A great thread Mr Devil,and I can see your going and thats it.When I started reading I thought "how selfless is that",but after the advice of the local guys I can only think I wouldn't let my boys go.We hear all the time of people giving up their lives to go to foreign lands to help the needy then get robbed,raped,murdered or a combination of all 3.Is the blonde going?

 

Good luck, hope you get to go.

Dave