sandy continues, on and on and on

I continue to volunteer with Friends of Freeport and continue to be amazed- and not necessarily in the positive way- at the destruction and devastation wreaked by Superstorm Sandy.  It is more than 500 days after the storm came ashore and caused  all kinds of damage to our homes and the homes in neighboring communities and there continue to be people who are displaced, or who live in small sections of their storm ravaged homes.  It boggles the mind that this can still be the case so long after the storm, and makes me question so much about the federal, state and local assistance that has been promised to those who are struggling.
I go to homes and speak with family members and home owners and am shocked to learn that there is still so much that is not "normal" in their lives.  The bulk of the organizations that are offering assistance are working at a snail's pace and funding continues to be one of the major issues that all are facing.  I understand the need for the checks and balances systems that have been put in place to prevent theft and fraud from the organizations and government entities, but for the families who are struggling these protections create huge boondoggles and red tape that has prevented forward motion.
It saddens me to no end and makes me feel hopeless, though I refuse to sit down and go quietly.
Cooperative and condominium housing that is common along the shores of  Long Island continue to be considered a "gray" area and the funding that is available to homeowners is not necessarily available to dwellers of these housing communities.  Really? this long after a storm still considered a "gray" area... i guess it will never be a green area and funds that should be assisting will never be released.

There's a big Yellow ball in the sky and it is heating things up!

This has been the winter of our discontent here on Long Island, and across many parts of the country with more snow and colder temperatures for longer times than most of us recall in a long while.  There have been a few moments of reprieve and today is one of them. Most of the snow has melted, except of course in those areas where the piles are six feet tall, and covered in black shmutz. I, for one, am extremely glad that we have "sprung forward" and that it stays light longer into the evening, when this happens I know that warmer weather cannot be far behind and I am so ready for it this year.  I am hearing about a storm that might hit us on Thursday with some more of the withe stuff, but I am not going to let that ruin my smile today.