Thursday BARB UP September 7, 2017

I’m not thinking about politics right now, I’m thinking about my mom and the thousands of elderly people in Florida who fear the traffic and the congestion and so, instead of taking action, stay put. I spent hours on and off the phone with my Mother last night, looking for flights and options for her. I was so close in convincing her to go to Boston, and take a train from there. I’d even go to Boston to escort her. But no. The worry of getting to the airport was too great. All options, all met with the same concern of “How will I get there?” If my father were still alive, it would be worse for her, his lack of mobility a concern as she tried to make a decision for two. Oh the stress that would have been on her. But now, she’s thinking of herself, and what she has to do to survive. There are other hardcore folks in the midst, all who have faith in the hurricane proof window panes and whatever else exists to protect Floridians during an Irma. My mother is as ever a fighter. Confident in her ability to survive. And so, I need to hold down the fort, in the comfort of my home, look after my family and wait out Irma, hoping she leaves my Mom–and millions of others–unharmed.

Hils:“I go back over my own shortcomings and the mistakes we made. I take responsibility for all of them. You can blame the data, blame the message, blame anything you want — but I was the candidate. It was my campaign. Those were my decisions.”

Laverne Cox: It feels like some weird fantasy that I’ve had since Destiny’s Child. It feels amazing that I get to be a part of this brand that has already inspired me and be working with a woman who has especially been a huge inspiration to me and so many folks around the world.”

Kate Winslet: “There’s a certain sense of satisfaction after having had three children and being 41 years old, and actually feeling probably fitter and stronger than ever. It was like, I can put some of that physical strength to good use.”

Maya Musk: “I’m living proof that you can find work for an older woman; I’ve never worked so much as I do now.”

Tina Fey’s Mean Girls tickets go on sale October 3.

And now it’s time for another edition of Betsy DeVos WTF.

How can you not love Cher?

Yoga!

Thanksgiving era sex.

And now have a laugh with Ali Wong.

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If you’d like to help those affected by Hurricane Harvey, here are some organizations to check out.

The Coalition for the Homeless is an umbrella organization coordinating shelters and orgs across the city.

Coastal Bend Disaster Recovery Group: “Our mission is to strengthen long term recovery by addressing unmet, disaster-related needs of individuals in the community. Membership is open to anyone who supports our misssion and signs our Code of Ethics Agreement.”

Corpus Christi Food Bank: “The Food Bank of Corpus Christi reduces hunger in South Texas through food distribution and nutrition education.”

Galveston County Food Bank: “Lead the fight to end hunger in Galveston County.”

Heart to Heart had a disaster response team and mobile medical unit deploying Friday morning from Kansas City to arrive in Texas ahead of the storm.

Houston Food Bank:”Children, families and seniors in Southeast Texas are in need of food, water and supplies.”

Portlight is a local grassroots organization that provides disaster aid to the disabled specifically: “Hurricane Harvey has wreaked havoc over the east coast of Texas and isn’t going to let up anytime soon, the Partnership has set up a hotline (800) 626-4959 to refer people with disabilities who may be in the affected areas to locate services and resources they may need.”

Samaritan’s Purse disaster relief units are now pre-positioned in Texas as residents continue to struggle with rain, flooding, and destruction caused by Hurricane Harvey.

Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR): “Families urgently need your help.”

SPCA of Texas: “As the organization prepares to deploy disaster response efforts in North Texas to assist the Gulf Coast, support for this effort and for all of our programs and services is critical.”

Texas Diaper Bank : food banks don’t supply diapers, which people desperately need.