Haliburton Road

This morning, after more fruitless phone calls and emails, i decided to head south to Venice, LA, and politely barge into the headquarters of the BP clean up. I was fed up with the poor communication, upset at the fact that i learn more on CNN than i do reading regional papers and websites or by talking to locals, and to be honest, pissed off that i'm down here with more experience than most and being completely ignored.

Venice is the closest "town" to the Deepwater Horizon, and the first to reap the whirlwind of this massive human error. It is appropriately named, however. If you moved the French Quarter here, you would not be able to tell the difference between it and the Italian sister city. Aside, of course, from the larger proportion of intoxicated, obese Americans on display between Jackson Square and North Rampart St.

First stop was the the local Sheriff's command post. Despite a fairly intense grilling (by me, surprising i know) I learned nothing, other than to keep driving and look for "a marina over there". Marina was found. Along with a sight i'll not soon forget, Hazmat workers, covered in oil, resting in the shade of a stilted condo complex, exhausted, yet enjoying basic forms of camaraderie, all the while chugging water, sharing stories and slapping shoulders. "i want to go to there".

Alas it will not be so. The BP HQ was right across the street and i soon found myself explaining my experience and my situation to the head of BP beached oil clean-up (who also happened to be the smarmiest Cajun you can imagine). He explained that they were only training locals, and that despite my previous experience i should contact the CRCL, (which i have everyday for a week). BUT i got the name of the vol. coordinator in charge of pre-oil beaching preparation, and continued arguing until i got his number... so tomorrow a fruitFUL phone call will be place.

BTW, and no shit, the street just before the Venice Marina turn off.... Haliburton Road.