Benefit for Telia

OK, here we go. I've started kicking it off and this is what I've posted in other forums:

Telia got severely bushwhacked by Hurricane Ike. She and her family were not hurt physically but it has cost her thousands of dollars. She's not some rich girl with an Escalade who's complaining about her entitlements. In fact, she hasn't complained about anything. She's doing what she can to take care of her family and that means standing in line for hours to get every little thing and that's even if you can find any little thing. It's cost her family thousands of dollars in insurance deductibles, a generator they could ill-afford to buy, and loads of gasoline to run the damn thing. On top of that, it's still hot down there but they can't open many of the windows or the family will be croaked by the fumes from the generator. It still looks like it will be weeks before they get power back. She's in Houston and it didn't get the level of devastation of Galveston but times are very, very hard down there.

I've talked with hexx and Charm and Bibi about putting together a benefit and all have been very generous in offering to help make it happen. I've still got to think about the best way / place to do it but I lean toward the Eden Ballroom because she put so much into building it and she's never taken one dime from the tipjar there. Neither have I and we have giggled over her saving up a couple of hundred bucks but she wouldn't take it because she considered it charity and she's a proud lady, rightfully so.

I was talking to her as the eye approached because she had already lost Internet access and I was her weather radar. Power went out while we spoke and it continued getting worse until even cell communication was impossible but that wasn't before I heard panic setting in. Even now it brings tears to my eyes as she's one tough lady and both of us knew she was in for one hell of a rough ride. This is going to blow a secret but it's worth it so you really know this wonderful woman. We love to play the super-sexy rock god couple but even Shirley Temple would approve of the way we actually relate to each other. One thing of the many things I love about her is that she's not even remotely impressed by the rock god image. So, I'm kind of the eccentric uncle to a wonderful family and that family needs a little help.

hexx and I have talked a lot and it looks like 10/4, likely from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., would be the best date as it's close enough to get some help for her but distant enough that there's some time to plan this out. I'll update again as it becomes more clear how this will play. I know I'm going to close the show at 5:00 p.m. because I'm going to play until my fingers fall off but that's about all that's known at this moment for scheduling.