Indeed, during such a tragedy, we are all affected in some way no matter how far away we may live. The news is keeping us informed, but I tend to think sometimes too much news is unhealthy. I have limited the amount of time I will watch the coverage of Katrina's devastation. WHen watching it, I become enraged to see the looting, and people thinking its OK to do it. However, when I see someone tell how they clung to a tree for 3-4 hours during the time water was crashing over their heads and they survived ......I have hope.

Rambling here - but again, GREAT post Sarah, and something we all need to think about - how all the bad news is affecting our own mental health issues !

I decided to start a new hobby - painting. Something I have never done, but had bought some supplies to give it a try. Last night while my county in VA was having tornado's as a result of Katrina, I started to paint. WHile I will never become famous ( !!!!! ) , I found it relaxing, and it really really took all my thought to work on it.......which prevented me from thinking about the disaster . NOT that I am forgetting what everyone in the Gulf States are going thru, but a nice mental health break for ME.