well, my trip to seattle and continuing "evacuation" have slightly changed my goals in life right now. so the whole "month without plastic thing" isn't a priority at this moment. i feel like having looked at how much plastic i have used is a good incentive to cut down. and i have, for sure, cut down my consumption in many ways, but i know to do away with plastic properly will require an amount of focus, time, and energy that i won't be able to devote to it at this moment in time.

so, hurricane gustav wasn't as bad as we all thought it was going to be, which is such a blessing, praise the LORD. however, things in new orleans and the rest of souther louisiana are far from perfect right now. there is still a lot of debris and the sewage systems aren't running perfectly. things will be improving significantly in the coming weeks, though. it is just pretty interesting to be in the midst of anticipating a storm to come wreck your home. i've never really experienced that and honestly, i don't think i would like to do it again.

however, i had a great time in seattle. not a bad place to be stuck at all. i am thankful that my plans took me in this direction in the first place. i'll be honest, part of me wants to move here so badly. and maybe it will be my next stop on my "tour of america." maybe i should make a new goal to see how many states i can live in by the time i am 30. i already have OK, FL, NY, CO, TN, and LA under my belt. so that's six down, 44 to go!!!

but i am anxious to return to New Orleans. God led me there for a reason, to help rebuild. so i know that this is the time for me to go and lend my hands and my heart. my LORD will take care of my future for me.