My daughters and I just returned from a five-day visit to St. Bernard Project - a non-profit organization rebuilding homes post-Katrina in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana. Our goal is to raise community awareness about the continued need for assistance in St. Bernard Parish and to raise funds and recruit volunteers for St. Bernard Project.

Cindy and Caitlin Meyer are students at The Evergreen State College. Lindsey Meyer is a student at Black Hills High School.

To visit a blog of our trip go to: http://helpstbernardproject.blogspot.com

Some interesting facts about the county of St. Bernard Parish:

• Katrina destroyed 100% of the homes (27,000 residences), displacing 65,000 residents
• 1800 families are still living in FEMA trailers
• approximately one-half (32,000) of the 65,000 residents have returned
• St. Bernard Project has completed 131 homes, and is currently working on 30 homes
• 60 people are on the waiting list
• St. Bernard Project can rebuild a house with volunteer labor for approximately $13, 500

For more information, visit St. Bernard Project's website: http://www.stbernardproject.org/

How well do you know Olympia? Here's the game: Each Saturday I post a picture from somewhere around Olympia and people try to figure out its location. The first person who gets it correct gets a Creative Commons Winner photo. If that doesn't get you excited then go start your own blog.

History show again and again

How nature point up the folly of men

Godzilla!

I would like to see a speakers corner on Saturday mornings at Capital Lake. I went to one in London and it was one of the most fascinating experiences of my life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWrLGbJOKlg

Enjoy and be inspired with me.

About 14 member of the olympia police department and the washington state patrol shut down an acoustic show taking place underneath the 4th avenue bridge this thursday at around 8pm. This was the second acoustic show to be shutdown in the past two days.

Officers at the scene told the concertgoers they were tresspassing. One officer told the concertgoers to pick up the trash or, "the last one to leave gets ticketed for littering." It was unclear to me if the trash the officer was referring to was from the small crowd or not.

Bridge shows have been happening for the last several years. In the past I have only seen police officers come down to make sure people were not tagging the bridge. Kicking people out for tresspassing appears to be a new trend.

About an hour ago while passing through the artesian well parking lot I saw a band setting up for a free outdoor show. They said they were going to start in about 45 minutes and play for however long they could.

I live on Capitol Way and drive on it daily. I don't understand why the city allows people to place lawn chairs DAY's in advance of the parade. This started Wednesday. People placing chairs right off the road to reserve spots for what a PARADE. Please we have parades in Olympia all the time. Sure this one may be a little different then all the others but it's still a parade. What happened to waking up and making your way to a spot the day of the parade? I think this is a huge eyesore for almost a week to have lawn chairs, ribbons and cones laid out for several blocks on one of our busiest streets. I think the city next year should say no more and anybody that does place chairs out they should drive a huge truck down the street and pick up the chairs like garbage. Or better yet I think I'm going to take my couch downstairs and place it on the street. It's not a pretty couch. Actually it's pretty ugly. I could even let out the hidabed and reserve more spots using that. No...not really. I just think this should end this year. What are your thoughts?