09/15/05: Wow, what a week

Long time no update. So here goes.

This week it was back to everyday challenges of work and family for us here at The Rolling Duffel Project. Soccer is starting up for our young children, so we're running around trying to buy shoes, shin guards, make phone calls and all that fun stuff. In addition, both Kendall and I had to attend to some work issues that we'd let slide while we were frantically working to deliver rolling duffels to the evacuees here in Dallas. And for the record, for those of you who were wondering (you know who you are!) my car is worse. It goes forward now; that's good. But in the pouring rain this afternoon, the windshield wiper decided it would be a fine time to go on strike, and it did - in the position right in front of my head. Then it started smoking under the hood. Lovely.

But that's okay, we can work around it - and Kendall has been. She was able to make a shopping run this week to purchase 30 more rolling duffels, and the filler items for 60 rollling duffels. Tomorrow, we'll start assembling the bags again and prepare to head out over the weekend to put more suitcases into the hands of families who don't have one and really, really need one.

In addition, our order came in from Alex at Trophies, Inc., for the small Koozie Cooler bags. We now have a large quantity of them on hand, and the price from Alex, who was happy to help when he heard about the project, was well worth it. We'll be able to put two Koozie bags in each rolling duffel, and may have some left to hand out individually to children. These little coolers are great - they're a perfect size for kids to store small toys, little car collections, crayons and the like. They'd also be perfect for ladies to use as a makeup bag, or men as a shaving kit. Of course, they work as coolers and lunchboxes as well.

If you're reading this from Dallas, and know of a shelter or place where hurricane families are staying, post in comments or drop us an email. We don't have to just hit Reunion Arena - we'll be happy to deliver wherever the need may be.

I'll post again in the next couple of days, after "the bag ladies" make another run at it. Take care, everyone... and thank you!