How does this work?

This, from Al Jazeera today:

"The United States has historically been the world's largest donor to nations in need, but last week let it be known it would accept help from a variety of nations."

Of course, I understand the impulse of nations around the world to help the people affected by Katrina. That makes perfect sense. What makes less sense is the notion that the US *needs* their help. We may need their good will and their prayers, but we should *not* need their financial help.

Should we?

Indecision

And despite the fact that I am preoccupied by the plight of Katrina victims, I find myself also preoccupied with my own stuff.

I am paralyzed by indecision. Last week, when I began thinking that I could take a few weeks away from routine work, I immediately assigned that time to my personal work -- my writing -- my followup to the wonderful week at Squaw. I want to finish the things I started -- the work on the script -- and in my head, that meant taking off for another location for a while. Getting out of my house. Calling it a writing retreat, not a vacation. I thought about heading out to Minnesota and holing up in my Uncle Dick's lakeside cottage. Maybe catch a flight from the Twin Cities to Norfolk for a break, or if I drove to the Twin Cities, just driving down to Norfolk to see Mark, Tracy, Samantha, and Benjamin.

Then I thought maybe I should do some work on MY SUBARU, my personal film about my car. I am so excited about this project -- I feel in touch with the zeitgeist -- and I thought how wonderful it would be to mosey across they country gathering interviews along the way. Salt Lake, Denver, St. Louis -- all the way out to Norfolk!

Then I thought maybe I should pack up my car with clothes, blankets, and towels and head down to Louisiana, perhaps documenting a bit of that story with my camera and my brain. And ultimately I'd drive up to Norfolk.

Now there's this idea that I could just fly out to Norfolk. Stay there for 10 days or two weeks or whatever. I'm sure I could get some writing done, as well as help around the house.

Indecision.

Coffee and a sandwich

I am feeling guilty about having fresh coffee and a sandwich whenever I want them. I mean, come on, people are dying because of my government's carelessness. And I'm able to make coffee, pick a fresh tomato off the vine, toast bread, and enjoy a quiet lunch?

Chaos

So now it's chaos in Louisiana. Chaos! Not a word I expected to encounter with regard to a US city in the 21st century.