Anyone else as weather weary as I am? Just glanced out the window and realized The Divine seems to be playing an April Fools joke on us. Okay, maybe it's really sleet, but whatever you call it, it's just not funny.

Anyone headed to Mexico?

P

Perhaps it's the heat, but this s**t is really getting me pissed off. This is bound to set back the effort to stop the Olympia City Council from changing building height restrictions.

The Olympian

Advocates for the houseless-homeless-mobil homeless (rv-car campers) continue their grassroots efforts in Lacey and Olympia, as evidenced by recent Olympian and olyblog reports.

• Olympia council to discuss RV parking rules tonight Eugene, Ore., tells how it successfully controlled problem
• Lacey ban on tent city challenged
• "We all have a part..."
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Hello all -

I may soon be setting up a fairly simple (well let's hope so) web site for a non-profit as yet to be formed.

Would those of you with experience with this please offer advice on services you've used, local vs. out-of-town, small vs. large, cheap vs. not so cheap. I'm willing to hear it all, the good, the bad and the ugly.

Greetings all -

I'm asking anyone with photos, video clips and stories to share to help me with a multimedia project to help those still struggling with unmet needs following the devasting floods of December 3 last year. Long after the news attack helicopters have roared off to the Next Big Thing people continue to live with their homes in ruin and lives turned upside down.

It's not all bad work coming from our esteemed corporate daily. Reporter Christian Hill and photographer Steve Herppich spent quite some time at Camp Quixote the last few days and you can see the results. I think they did a commendable job and I thank them for their effort.

Lessons in Humanity story

Photo gallery

And now is an excellent time to remind all that the camp can always use volunteers. Drop us a line at www.campquixoteoly.googlepages.com

Blessings +

Here's the text of an email sent me today by a friend who works in disaster relief and long term recovery efforts. Thought Dave's perspective on what's going on in Lewis County (and other flood areas) is instructive. I witnessed exactly the second disaster thing in the Gulf Coast a few weeks after Hurricane Katrina struck, where entire semi-truck convoys had arrived stuffed with used clothing, at least half of it rags. The "generosity" of others ended up creating an enormous solid waste disposal problem.

In case it hasn't been clear from all the media accounts and press releases over the past couple of weeks, please consider from this point on an absolute embargo, prohibition, ban, whatever on any donations of clothing or household items of any kind, especially to Lewis County.

The donations issue has created a major crisis in Centralia and Chehalis in particular. In the disaster relief/response community, this is typically called the "disaster that follows the disaster." I'm not at liberty to hare all that I know about the extent of the problem politically or among the voluntary agencies in Lewis County, but the bottom line is "no donations, period."

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I’ve been making runs to Rochester and Chehalis area with flood relief supplies the last few days. Most of the material – toiletries, food, water, diapers and an entire truck load of pet food – is coming from generous people in my church, St. John’s Episcopal and others at St. Benedict’s Episcopal Church, Lacey. More runs coming this week.

I’ve posted some images from my travels to my Flickr site tonight and as I acquire more this week I’ll get them up.

Keep those supplies coming. Prayers too. It’s mighty rough down there.

Three events this weekend bring Olympia's tent city, Camp Quixote, into focus. You're certainly invited to any and all.

Friday, 7:30 p.m. Traditions Cafe - 300 5th Ave SW Heartsparkle Players' Playback Theatre presents Stories of Finding Home In collaboration with Camp Quixote, an independent free-form tent city in Olympia, formed by the Poor People's Union, who believe shelter, dignity and mental and physical health to be basic human entitlements. Playback Theatre is a spontaneous collaboration between performers and audience. People tell moments from their lives, then watch them re-created with movement, music and dialogue. (downtown Olympia on the corner of 5th and Water) Cost: $5.00 to $10.00 (No one is turned away and group rates available)

Saturday 10 a.m. First Christian Church, 7th and Franklin, Olympia, Plan to participate in a public information meeting on the camp's move to this downtown faith community's covered parking lot December 29. The public is invited to learn about Camp Q, meet residents and supporters, ask questions and hear how you can individually support this community of houseless people.

Saturday 4 to 6:30 p.m. First United Methodist Church, Legion Way at Boundry St. Christmas party for Camp Q residents, friends, supporters, volunteers and just about anyone else who would like to break bread with the group. Come bake cookies, enjoy light dinner and music.

Merry Christmas from Camp Quixote.

Needed: bicycle trailer or maybe parts to build one.

A resident of Camp Quixote, Mark, needs a bike trailer to haul around his laundry, work tools and the like. Any able to help? Send me an e-mail.