On Friday I realized that I could free up the time to volunteer for a couple of weeks. And that was the whole idea behind my giving up teaching for independent coding, so I decided that it was a moral imperative to do so. For once, there’s a real need, and I can help. So I got out of all my responsibilities, and I have two weeks to groove at the big party at the Astrodome.

I’ve been busy getting ready, but it all went well. Work responsibilities are satisfied, play responsibilities are in a reasonably happy state, and if I stay in touch, they’ll all remain that way.

I started this entry on the plane down. I’m very excited. I want to blog for real while I’m here, but don’t know if I’ll have time. I wasn’t even able to find a place to stay the first night.

So I came straight to the dome and did a night shift. I was told that I would never be able to get in, but it wasn’t difficult and I got the nice little Volunteer band without going through any official registration process. I slept on a cot in the clothing sorting room and was jolted awake by the announcement system starting back up, less than four hours later, but I’m still pretty charged. I just need to call the Youth Hostel so I can get one good night’s sleep and a shower.

The system dynamics here are understandably horrible, but better than they are reported to have been a week ago. A call goes out for lots-and-lots of volunteers, and 30 minutes later they have next to nothing to do. A few hours ago, the building I was serving food in had run out while the Astrodome-proper was closing full feeding stations for lack of demand. For approximately two minutes, we were told “Don’t feed anyone but evacuees– we don’t have the food!”, before they realized that we a good deal more food than we needed.

I’m in one of the main computer labs now, in the Astrodome. Very excited. I’ll say more later.