I feel drained

[SoxFan]

I had a contentious Board of Aldermen meeting tonight; the good-old-boys (and girl) are tying up my nominee for a vacant school board seat for no reason other than to punush me for not being bought and paid for. And, of course, the budget process just started, which means that one longtime alderman has to begin his annual tirade about how any attempt to tighten up the budget means that "youze all are cuttins da services dat da peoples need". Frustrating.

Then, I learned that there was a major fire in my ward. At least 40 families are without homes tonight after their apartment building burned. I spent the last few hours delivering bottled water, cookies, and juice to the makeshift shelter, and coordinating with the local Red Cross folks. While it put the political nonsense of earlier in the evening in perspective, it has left me emotionally worn out.

I'm going to bed. I have to check back in with the Red Cross in the morning to make sure the social service agencies and the city are all on the same sheet of music.

Goodnight all...