A blog by photojournalist Val Horvath
I had to shoot a haunted corn maze last night. The first monster jumped out at me, and into the corn I tumbled. My camera went one way, my flash another, my bag another. All witnesses could see were my flailing legs sticking up in the air.
I’ve decided to start training for a 10k. It will take two months. Here is the schedule for the first week:
There is a race I’m going to sign up for in January. Actually, there are three pretty close together. I plan to also keep up my weights and sprints and stadium stairs during this time, and throw in more of the elliptical. And more swimming and biking.
I know I work for a newspaper and all, but really … 1A? Today was the 100-yard dash for media folks at Harrah’s Louisiana Downs in Bossier City. They started us inside their official starting gate and we ran barefoot down the dirt horse track. I didn’t win, but I didn’t lose, either. And I definitely didn’t tumble onto the dirt and cut my head open, so I guess the event can be considered a success.
I rented a chainsaw from Home Depot so I could rid my front yard of the fallen tree. I could not even start the thing, so co-worker Doug Collier had to come over and help with that. He cut off a few branches, but I did most of the work - which involved hauling everything to the curb.
Though far less catastrophic than last time, another tree has fallen in my yard — this time due to Hurricane Ike. It was dead, and I’ve been meaning to cut it down anyway. Luckily it went in the direction it did, because the neighbor’s car was parked in the driveway not five feet away on the other side. What is it with me and trees?
I never knew these things existed until I visited the Cairo Plantation in Dixie yesterday. They build upside-down volcanoes in the sand so they can catch ants. The owners of the plantation thought I was a dumb city girl since I’d never seen them before.
After spending a night on the newsroom floor, our hotel room at the nearby Hilton was a welcome reprieve. It had water damage, though, so for half the week we had to sleep with a dehumidifier and two high-powered industrial-strength fans that were EXTREMELY loud. The place essentially turned into a wind tunnel and sounded like a construction zone.
Me and Adam resorted to eating MRE’s in Crowley. I didn’t think they were too bad, though he might tell you different. Cold beef stew never tasted so good.
I’ll bet some folks can’t make it through a hurricane without a couple jars of Pig Stand barbeque sauce.
4:26pm — Sorry I haven’t updated for so long. The eye passed by without too much craziness, and soon after I went out into the storm with reporter Amanda McElfresh after hearing reports that a that a tree had fallen on a man’s house and killed him. This turned out to be true. Then we drove around town to check out the damage, which was generally pretty light. Mostly trees down, which caused power outages. After coming back to the office and processing some photos, I headed out again with reporter Bruce Brown to a Salvation Army shelter downtown that was super crowded. After that, I was I prepared to sleep under the desk at the Daily Advertiser again, but instead ended up at the Hilton with Terrie and Adam. It was pretty great to sleep in a real bed.
The next morning (yesterday) began at 8am when I went in and was sent to Vermilion Parish, which is south of here, with reporter Cody Daigle to find more damage. Power was off, but other than there there were minor problems. Some roads were flooded. I had a rather embarrassing moment at a sugarcane farmer’s house, but I’ll have to talk about that some other time …
After that I went with Adam to Acadia Parish. Again, damage was minor. The most interesting thing we saw all day was a crazy lady riding around on her bicycle while lugging a full-size cooler. Also, a tree fell in one guy’s front yard and missed crashing into his house by inches.
Today began early when I headed up north towards Krotz Springs and Melville with reporter Claire Taylor. They were still getting bad weather up there and tornado warnings were issued. We didn’t find much and then we headed the complete opposite direction when we heard that a twister had touched down in Crowley. It turned out not to be newsworthy. All in all, the day has felt unproductive thus far, even though I’ve put hundreds of miles on the car.
4:29pm — Word is we’re in the eye now. Winds that were blowing pretty good a few minutes ago have calmed down. It isn’t near as dramatic as I thought it would be, probably because the storm has weakened and isn’t well-formed. I hate sitting around the office waiting. There have been reports of a house fire and trees and power lines are down everywhere in town. I just want to take a picture already - though I may have to settle for a nap.
2:22pm — The toilets don’t flush.
1:44pm — The lights are starting to flicker. The backup generator may have to kick in soon if it hasn’t already. Rain and wind are steady now. Within the next two hours the eyewall and eye should be here. Morgan City and Houma, just down the road, are getting hammered. Photographer Peter Piazza went out a few minutes ago. No way would I do the same. Some of the Industrial Canal levees in New Orleans are being overtopped and there are reports of power outages at the State Capitol. So far everything is worse elsewhere, but we’re about to have our turn.
11:54am — Just finished editing a video on that bakery that stayed open til the last second, and then I had some lunch. They’re doing a pretty good job of keeping us fed. Wind and rain have picked up - actually, the rain is moving quite sideways - but at this point I’ve been through thunderstorms much worse. Everyone in the building is sitting tight.
10:13am — We’re getting a little rain now. I went out with a reporter to a local bakery that was still open, and as far as we know it is the only place that hasn’t locked their doors yet. We also went to a command center at ULL where essential university personnel and a few students have set up camp. Then just as a we found a house with comments like “Geaux Away Gustav” and “We Aint’s Scurred” painted on the plywood boarding up the windows, it started pouring. Suddenly the reporter’s car window decided not to go up. I got pelted in the face with rain while we sped back to the office as I tried to hold it up. Not fun for me, a total disaster for her. She tried to cover the opening with a garbage bag and parked near the loading dock at the paper.
6:42am — I crawled out of my hiding place to peer out the window. It is just getting light. No rain, but winds are starting to gust. It won’t be long now. Some folks are starting to head out, like Daily Advertiser photographer Brad Kemp. He’s going farther south to the courthouse in New Iberia. I think I’m staying here.
1:46am — I’m writing this from under a desk. Many of us have been playing Trivial Pursuit for the last few hours. We never finished. It is sad a room full of journalists couldn’t complete the game. It is quite clear we aren’t up on our 80s and 90s trivia. Who knew Williams Shatner was a huge talking head on Third Rock from the Sun? It isn’t even a little windy yet, but we keep waiting. As I said before, I’m under a desk, huddled inside my sleeping bag. Co-worker Terrie Roberts is laid out on her egg crate pad in the next cubicle. I hope she doesn’t snore.
8:20pm — It is dark now. A few minutes ago the clouds were bright red during a beautiful sunset, though the smell of rain was in the air. The wind and rain should arrive sometime overnight.