Camille and Katrina Were Not Ladies

2008-10-24T13:25:00.000-07:00

I am quite certain in the days to come that we will lose access to the Internet but today I am still free to publish what I think we need to know. Copy and paste the link below into your browser.

http://hotair.com/archives/2008/10/24/video-fred-thompson-warns-of-obama-presidency/

2008-08-29T11:33:00.000-07:00

CELEBRATING? THREE YEARS OF KATRINA
AUGUST 29, 2005 to AUGUST 29, 2008

AND
Remembering Camille
August 17/18, 1969

A Farewell!!!

2007-07-24T13:17:00.000-07:00

This morning is overcast and it probably will rain if we are lucky enough to get one of the scattered storms that arise from the gulf. I have been pondering for quite awhile now of how I will bring my blog to a close. Last evening I watched the panel of candidates that are vying for the presidency and what I observed was a travesty in my opinion. I noted that in the diverse group there was a black man, an indian and a woman. All on the panel gave opinions on a mixture of issues in their hopes of being the one that takes the high office. Are they sincere? Each made comments and took a stance on every controversial issue that was put before them. Several took a partial stand on allowing marriage between homosexuals, the female candidate seems to separate what may be the actions of a future president (her) by recently quoting psalms. Does that mean we can trust her? Okay by now I have at least offended a few people which is my intention. So many of us have been silent because of the fear of repercussions but I am taking a stand now. Yes, I was married for many years (same man) and bore four children. I never had an abortion and if I had found myself in that situation without the benefit of a lawful marriage between a man and woman I would not have aborted it.. there are options to let a life continue. There are many caring people who want a child and will adopt. My blood boils when I realize that saving animals has taken precedence over saving innocent babies still in the mother's womb. There are pictures of dead dogs in garbage cans and that is very sad but not as sad as seeing parts of babies in a garbage can. The elderly and the disabled are being treated as a non- person of no value as they take from the system. I assure you that they are getting only a portion of THEIR money that they paid in as taxes when they worked.

America was founded under God and has been blessed more than any other country. We were a god fearing country, a moral country. As wholesome as apple pie. Then we began thinking that we were doing all these wonderful things on our own (who needs this God we have never seen) and we slowly and steadily began falling. All the problems we have now can only be blamed on our present "anything goes" mentality. I wouldn't have thought that people would openly ridicule the President of the United States. We have become so used to media propaganda that we believe we are entitled to know the stratagem of the Defense Department. The land of the free has been maintained by America for the past 231 yrs. but it took wars to maintain it. We had to fight for our freedom.

So I have watched the panel of Democrats giving their promises to take care of America and next I get to watch the Republicans as they try to counteract what the Democrats said that so many of us disagree with. Will they be sincere in what they propose? Probably not! Morally I can't cast my vote for either party. Shape up America!

As just a footnote.... we are still in a mess from Katrina. Everything is moving very slowly. I have publically documented my writings but have become very disappointed in the lack of response to our ongoing problems so any further writings will not be aired. Thanks to all of you who have visited my blog.

2007-07-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN - GCN

2007-07-22T10:28:00.000-07:00

OUR TROUBLED NAVY - Senator Trent Lott

2007-07-21T19:09:00.000-07:00

Katrina Recovery In Crisis

2007-07-21T18:10:00.000-07:00

click cake

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANITA!!!

Charles Warner families told to get out

2007-07-21T08:23:00.000-07:00

Charles Warner families told to get out: "PASCAGOULA -- An elderly woman relying on oxygen tanks to breathe was forced to relocate Friday from her home of 26 years even though she just paid the month's rent.

The shattered pieces of her life lay scattered in corners and stacked on tables as Agnes Rouse packed boxes, took phones calls and prayed for strength."

Insurance: Catastrophic coverage the answer? -The Clarion-Ledger- Real Mississippi

2007-07-20T05:59:00.000-07:00

Insurance: Catastrophic coverage the answer? -The Clarion-Ledger- Real Mississippi: "Said one: 'Haley has been right on the money for every key Coast issue and we need to encourage him to help get HR 920 passed. If it passes, the Coast will boom and Mississippi will never be last again.'"

2007-07-18T19:02:00.000-07:00

As recovery lags in Gulf, spirits sag too

2007-07-17T18:27:00.000-07:00

I am finally coming out of the Katrina dreamland that I have existed in for two years now. Sure I still ride around looking for progress almost every day but things have become more realistic to me. The homes that are being rebuilt are more beautiful than what existed before the storm but the discerning part of me sees the hopelessness that must exist for a great percentage of people on the coastline. There are so many rules that we must all follow to succeed in life, I agree with that but morally I can't accept that we shouldn't help people who, for whatever reason, can't help themselves. I am not just talking about what is happening here but all over the United States there are "haves" and "have nots" Many faith based volunteers have come to offer their help but the procedure, in my opinion, that they have to follow excludes those who with just minor work could help themselves. For example, they rebuild an entire home for a person but on either side of the house they are working on there may be people who if they had help putting the sheetrock up could then repair the rest of their home. Someone else may just need help with flooring or a roof to give them the "jump start" they need. I don't believe a volunteer would object to that method at all but they would have to be given the freedom to go where they see needs. It would certainly speed recovery for the people who have been in the miserable trailers for two years.

There is something else I would like to say ... browsing around the internet I many times enter forums and people have such terrible thoughts about what is going on down here. They will say to stop whining you didn't have a hurricane, New Orleans did. Yes Sir, Yes M'am, we did have a hurricane and it was far worse than what New Orleans experienced. I have my own opinion about why Mississippi didn't get good coverage on what happened here. I still am of the same opinion, perhaps it was because Katrina wasn't a normal hurricane. Perhaps, if the people in the United States had seen what a destructive force hit us it would have shaken their own fears for their safety. Last August my daughter miscarried and last September I was diagnosed with thyroid disease. Want to hear my way out idea on why these two things occurred so close together? Because we were here during Katrina and we waded in water that contained every contaminant known to modern man. I search for info on the health hazards that would result because of this and I have yet to find anything. The concern has been put solely on our mental health. Why do I feel lied to? Don't we have a right to know? I went out today so I snapped a few pics.

Pascagoula P.O. Gone

Park Taking Shape at M&M Bank

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Biloxi-Ocean Springs Bridge Making Progress

2007-07-14T15:58:00.000-07:00

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Biloxi-Ocean Springs Bridge Making Progress: "'A lot of hard work going into the bridge,' said Kelly Castleberry, as he looked toward the massive construction project.

He's the engineer in charge of overseeing all that work. Castleberry feels good about meeting the November 13th deadline but makes no promises beyond that."

2007-07-12T17:44:00.000-07:00

There is only one other thing that is hotter than the month of July down South and that is the month of August down South. It hasn't rained in Pascagoula for the past four days but amazingly my flowers are still alive, although a little scorched. A steady drizzle would be nice .. I don't think my nerves could handle anything beyond that. Yesterday I went to the doctor complaining that I was extremely tired again. I have a thyroid problem and was put on synthroid and for several months I was feeling great. I wasn't to come back for a year but I called for an appointment as I knew something was wrong. I got the results of my blood test today and the dosage was raised as the level of the hormone was out of whack again. I should be feeling like my old self in a couple of weeks. I know we all have to get something but I was sure hoping I would be the exception. Darn it! Well, here we are two years out from Katrina and we are still recovering. Katrina has, I believe, taught us all a lesson. Not the lesson of "Get out when a storm is in the Gulf". It goes deeper than that. Not only has it taught us to reach out to people, countless volunteers from all of the states have extended helping hands to speed our recovery. They work hard and the joy that radiates from the people they help is all the payment they want. There are so many stories of miracles in our areas, some great, some small. I met a wonderful couple yesterday and the husband gave me a book on local people's experiences during the storm before he left for an appointment. His gracious wife took me through their beautiful home they are rebuilding. As we talked, I listened to what she experienced on returning to find her home destroyed and I noted that the things that were lost didn't take priority over something that had belonged to a loved one. She possessed a calmness of spirit that was pleasant to be in the presence of. Afterwards, I drove around taking pictures. went home, took a pain pill that was prescribed to ease the pain in my legs. An hour later I was pain free but was so sick with an upset stomach that it wasn't worth it.

Beach

Washington Avenue

2007-07-09T18:43:00.000-07:00

The link I have provided below is a very informative blog about post Katrina rebuilding by dedicated volunteers

Reel Relief Productions, LLC

2007-07-06T08:42:00.000-07:00

Help!!! I am burning out ...! Each time I do put a post up I feel that it will be my last as I have been covering happenings in our area since November 05. I have manually copied my writings and am in the process of backing up all the pics I have taken. Kodak put all I had there on a CD (1,036). So now I will get Photo Bucket and Shutterfly to do the same. Our areas are still in need of intervention. Sure casinos are "popping" up all over but that is not helping the people that are in need. When I speak of need I am talking about housing... they have the basic necessities. Volunteers have virtually stopped coming in great numbers. There are apartments scattered around in all the counties but note the word often used in news articles... affordable. All people are not in the same financial category. Then there are the people who have come into our area to "cash in" on our misfortune. The simpliest job has a high price tag. Personally, I have found that saying I have a thyroid problem is undermining the disease that I was unfortunate enough to contract. The synthroid tablet I take every day has done wonders taking the extreme fatigue away but it does nothing to stop an attack on some other part of the body. It now is "messing" with my joints. How crazy an auto immune disease is ... it doesn't recognize the cells in my body and attacks as something foreign. Gee! We have been getting rain and at first my flowers were flourishing ... now they are drowning. It is a trade-off though because the lawn has improved. Why can't I have both? Because of the rain, the beach fireworks were postponed until Saturday in Pascagoula. It didn't stop the locals .. as the neighborhood and surrounding area was like that of a war zone. Afterall, it was the Fourth of July! I am just documenting with this post. I know from time to time that I will be back. The pic below is of a Chevron gas station and convenience store on Ingalls Avenue.

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Ocean Springs Police Seeking Assault Suspect

2007-07-06T08:01:00.000-07:00

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Ocean Springs Police Seeking Assault Suspect: "'Neither of the young ladies felt like they were in danger, until he produced the weapon,' said the Ocean Springs police chief, as he reviewed the facts in a pair of robberies and a sexual assault."

2007-07-04T07:56:00.000-07:00

LARGELY ALONE, RESIDENTS SLOWLY RECLAIM NEW ORLEANS BLOCK BY BLOCK

2007-07-03T20:27:00.000-07:00

STAR SPANGLED BANNER

Gulf Coast News - Your Mississippi Coast News Source

2007-07-03T09:24:00.000-07:00

Gulf Coast News - Your Mississippi Coast News Source : "Only a Fraction of Governor's Katrina Relief Money has been Spent - Clarion Ledger"

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Gamblers Line Up For Hard Rock's Grand Opening

2007-07-01T06:51:00.000-07:00

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Gamblers Line Up For Hard Rock's Grand Opening: "People stood in line long before the Hard Rock opened its doors Saturday morning ready to rock. Once the doors opened, the die hard, hard rockers kept coming, and coming and coming."

Downtown Gulfport

2007-06-30T21:40:00.000-07:00

Gulfport, Mississippi

2007-06-30T21:23:00.000-07:00

I spent Friday and most of Saturday with my daughter Peggy who lives in Gulfport. As promised, I took pictures around the area. My mind, as we drove around a city that was my home for a number of years, was filled with flashbacks of happy times spent there. Many of the downtown buildings are there ... some restored, some still damaged. The beach is very barren, very few homes have returned. Some are under construction amidst a jumble of weeds and remnants of debris. The trees that once lined the beach gave relief from the hot summer sun to the homes nestled under their branches. So many trees are gone, leaving a barren look. One bright spot, palm trees have been planted in the median along Hwy. 90. There are no words that I can use to describe what I saw today. Some of the pictures are uplifting, many are not. Still we go forward .. inch by inch!

VA Hospital

Gulfport, Mississippi (Continued)

2007-06-30T21:21:00.000-07:00

2007-06-28T11:38:00.000-07:00

Eleven�dead in Texas floods; more rain expected - CNN.com

2007-06-28T11:13:00.000-07:00

Eleven�dead in Texas floods; more rain expected - CNN.com: "'This is the worst I've ever seen it in my lifetime,' said Mayor Raymond Whitman, 47, who has lived in Marble Falls his entire life."

SunHerald.com : Slow recovery a surprise to insurance giant Lloyd's

2007-06-28T08:38:00.000-07:00

SunHerald.com : Slow recovery a surprise to insurance giant Lloyd's: "PASS CHRISTIAN --
The recovery's slow pace surprised Lloyd's of London insurance broker Frank Murphy and other insurance executives who toured the Coast Wednesday with two members of the state's wind pool board."

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Local Fishermen Start Cleaning Biloxi Bay

2007-06-28T08:11:00.000-07:00

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Local Fishermen Start Cleaning Biloxi Bay: "Local fishermen have started the process of ridding Biloxi Bay of tens of thousands of cubic yards of debris left behind by Hurricane Katrina. Monday was the first day of a 120 day marine cleanup that also includes St. Martin and Davis Bayous."

Feds: No answers yet on FEMA funding crisis

2007-06-27T22:27:00.000-07:00

Feds: No answers yet on FEMA funding crisis: "Last week FEMA announced it has revised its policy on funding government buildings in a memo received June 18.
The memo sent shock-waves through local government entities and even irritated Governor Haley Barbour so much he blasted the agency in published reports."

Why are they surprised, I'm not.

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Chertoff Says, "We Have To Prepare For The Worst"

2007-06-27T22:08:00.000-07:00

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Chertoff Says, "We Have To Prepare For The Worst": "On a trip to Biloxi Wednesday, the Secretary of Homeland Security said his agency was better equipped to handle Mississippi's next natural disaster. But Michael Chertoff also said FEMA could only do its job if you do yours."

Maybe I am in a bad mood tonight but this article really angers me. We were prepared for the hurricane as we are for all hurricanes. We were not prepared for Katrina. We had all the water and food we needed that would have gone way beyond 72 hours as did all the other people. Common sense would tell you that the surge contaminated all we had and sadly, for so many others, the food and water went with their homes. Also why all the certainty that Mississippi will have another disaster? All hurricanes are not disasters.

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Pascagoula Schools Superintendent Vows To Fight Funding Bill

2007-06-27T08:24:00.000-07:00

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Pascagoula Schools Superintendent Vows To Fight Funding Bill: "'It's an unconstitutional act. We're being disproportionately impacted by a law that's been set specifically targeting this school district.'"

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Murder-Suicide Investigation Involving Vancleave Couple

2007-06-26T21:00:00.000-07:00

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Murder-Suicide Investigation Involving Vancleave Couple: "Besides an occasional dog barking and children playing, it's a quiet day on Southern Pine Street in Vancleave. But sometime after 9:00 Monday night, inside a small trailer, something horrible happened."

2007-06-26T16:40:00.001-07:00

Sorry folks that I haven't been here much lately. I am bored not having anything new to talk about. A lot of time has passed and there have been no "big" changes in Pascagoula. There are small businesses that have not reopened. The homes that are being rebuilt are mostly on Beach Blvd. and Washington Avenue. The homes on east beach were not completely destroyed and they came back rather quickly. West beach was wiped out and it is taking longer. A great swath of Washington Avenue was destroyed and there is much to do but they are showing progress. Out of this great tragedy that befell us, I have been witness to the goodness of people. For instance, today I kept an appointment with a dentist that I had called because I had lost a filling in one of my teeth. Since I personally didn't know any I looked in the directory. The first I called said he was booked. The next never answered the message I left. When I arrived for my appointment, I was shocked when I entered the small building ... it was storm damaged. He told me as he worked on my tooth that he had been practicing for 30 yrs. It was a painless procedure. He certainly knew his profession. Afterwards, we chatted for awhile and I told him that my late husband had worked for doctors and dentists. I took my checkbook from my purse and said, "How much do I owe you"? He said, "Thirty five dollars." I said, "Doctor that isn't enough ... I am going to pay you more". As I was writing the check he very softly said, "So many people are having a tough time and I am trying to help. " Now that is kindness, isn't it? Fema has been reneging on promises made. I want to tell as many people that I can in case you are ever faced with anything like happened to us. They say all kinds of grand things that never materialize. We have been getting a lot of rain. Usually, I complain about the heat and lack of rain killing the plants but now too much rain will kill them.

Clarksdale Press Register

2007-06-25T12:57:00.000-07:00

Clarksdale Press Register: "The enormous impact from Hurricane Katrina should leave Mississippians wondering if they should live 'in harm's way,' State Insurance Commissioner George Dale told Clarksdale Noon Lions Friday.
Dale said Katrina, 'the worst natural disaster in U.S. history,' not only devastated the Gulf Coast and a vast number of other Mississippi communities, but put an undue burden on insurance companies."

FEMA may not fund new school

2007-06-24T09:37:00.000-07:00

FEMA may not fund new school: "A FEMA memo which 'revised' the definition of funding guidelines for government projects is causing major concerns this week for several local entities--most of all the Hancock County School Board.
The memo--which was received by MEMA on June 18-- states that FEMA will not help fund any new construction in areas which are considered 'Coastal High Hazard Areas.'"

SunHerald.com : FEMA tries bombing Coast rebuilding work

2007-06-24T07:55:00.000-07:00

SunHerald.com : FEMA tries bombing Coast rebuilding work: "It seems at a meeting with Barbour last week, FEMA in effect said, 'oh, by the way, we're not going to pay to rebuild any public buildings inside the 'velocity' flood zone.'"

I have mentioned my opinions while living in the aftermath of Katrina that all the delays in rebuilding the Coast has been intentional to move us out regardless of our circumstances or preferences.

2007-06-22T12:54:00.000-07:00

I think that I will write down everything that crosses my mind today. Ought to be interesting huh? Many months ago, I mentioned the lack of humidity in our area, is it like the lake in Chili that disappeared in two months time? I thought about the day that Katrina made landfall and the strange rumbling we heard. I remembered that we had jackets on as we stood on the front porch because it was cold. Most prevalent is the fact that as the raging water came barreling down the street, we were not blown off the porch. I have wondered why the "sonic booms" have stopped, do jets not break the sound barrier anymore? We never get concrete answers .. it's always blamed on global warming.

What do you eat, what toothpaste do you use? Do you eat peanut butter anymore? I don't! It's frightening when "Peter Pan" is not on the grocer's shelves. I read it should be back in July but to me once tainted always tainted. We are to avoid the non brand toothpaste which would be easy but there seems to be no assurance when a brand name like Peter Pan was not safe. My daughter has no idea what to feed her two well cared for dogs anymore. So much of the pet food was tampered with. Funny ... I read an article the other day that said don't feed your dog grapes as it may kill them. So many things seem like nonsense. Manufactured pet foods were responsible for killing numerous pets .. not grapes. By the way, we had german shepherds for many years and not one of them would have eaten a grape if offered.

Crime seems to be on the upswing again .. a convenience store owner was killed yesterday in Biloxi and this morning a Moss Point man was shot and killed in D'Iberville by his estranged wife. People are exhibiting strange behavior. For the past two nights firecrackers are being shot at late hours in the area I live in.

The cities are rebuilding as slowly as the citizens. The casinos are the exception as are condos. Somehow, to me, it all seems wrong when people are still not housed properly. Wouldn't you think that with all the "big money" they put out, to get even more money, some of it could have trickled down to apartment complexes for the ordinary people? Why not be altruistic?

The picture below is of my niece's house on Washington Avenue.

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Emeril's Gulf Coast Fish House Makes Its Debut On The Coast

2007-06-21T15:44:00.000-07:00

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Emeril's Gulf Coast Fish House Makes Its Debut On The Coast: "Emeril Lagasse says he never really thought work would bring him to the coast.

'I never dreamed of doing a restaurant on the Gulf Coast, because I come here to relax. I don't come here to work,' says Lagasse."

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: South Mississippi Ready To Send Relief To Charleston

2007-06-19T16:12:00.000-07:00

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: South Mississippi Ready To Send Relief To Charleston: "'We can't say enough about all the help that we got,' Gulfport fire chief Pat Sullivan said. 'And it's time to pay back.'"

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Volunteer Carpenters From North Carolina Return To Build A Church In One Week

2007-06-17T20:44:00.000-07:00

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Volunteer Carpenters From North Carolina Return To Build A Church In One Week: "Giveans was just a boy when fire claimed the original Pearlington United Methodist Church in 1930, and he was there when Katrina claimed the second one in 2005. So not rebuilding was never an option for him."

2007-06-17T18:28:00.000-07:00

2007-06-15T22:53:00.000-07:00

Why does it seem that when catastrophe strikes that terrible tragedies seem to continue. There are numerous people who had rebuilt their homes only to have them destroyed again by fire. It has been a short time since the entire Coast was rejoicing when two lanes of the Bay St. Louis bridge opened to traffic. Yesterday nine construction workers fell from scaffolding when a pillar collapsed and plunged them into the Bay. Eight of them were rescued and taken to the hospital where one of them died from injuries. Today the body of the ninth victim was recovered. The memory that two people lost their lives building the bridge will remain with all who live here.

The next two pictures are not very pretty .. just a pile of rubble now.. the old Pascagoula post office. Whatever is built, will certainly be nicer than the Fema trailer.

There are many things taking place all along the Coast. None of it is fast but still we are inching our way to recovery. We will overcome. Katrina was said to be unprecedented, shouldn't have happened. Well folks, we have a lot of "shouldn't have happened" in our world today. The Attorney General of Mississippi has filed a lawsuit against the Governor of Mississippi and the NAACP is threatening to sue the city of Biloxi for not having a proportionate number of blacks in a particular school. I see both of these issues as a "ploy".

I didn't take many pictures today but I did get one of new construction.

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Divers Find Body Of Missing Construction Worker

2007-06-15T18:30:00.000-07:00

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Divers Find Body Of Missing Construction Worker: "About 26 hours after construction accident at the Bay St. Louis Bridge, crews recovered the body of a missing worker. The man, who has not been identified, was one of nine workers thrown into the bay when scaffolding collapsed. Thursday, one of those rescued also died."

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: OSHA Fined Archer Western For Similar Accident In 2002

2007-06-15T14:51:00.000-07:00

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: OSHA Fined Archer Western For Similar Accident In 2002: "The contractor building the bridge is a partnership between two large construction companies. Granite and Archer Western are two separate firms that joined forces to build the multi million dollar bridge."

2007-06-15T09:46:00.000-07:00

The Search Continues For Missing Construction Worker
Less than a month after the Coast celebrated the opening of the Bay Bridge, that scene of celebration is now the site of tragedy. One construction worker died, and another remains missing after a concrete column holding some scaffolding gave way on the unfinished side of the bridge Thursday. Krystal Allan talked to some young witnesses who saw the accident as it happened.

2007-06-14T19:43:00.000-07:00

One Dead, One Missing In Bay Bridge Accident

One worker has died, and the search is still on for another worker after an accident at the Bay St. Louis Bridge Thursday afternoon. Divers are searching the underwater debris for the last victim. Just before 1pm, nine workers fell into the water after a column form collapsed during a concrete pour. Eight of the men were pulled from the water. One man died at the hospital, but the other seven are in stable condition.

Mississippi Squirrel Revival - Ray Stevens

2007-06-14T17:22:00.000-07:00

2007-06-13T08:27:00.000-07:00

I haven't been blogging much lately, not because I don't have anything to say, because I don't dare to say the things I want to. Will I be banned from blogging if I speak about the State or Federal government? Can I say that all the aide that has been given to us has become a hindrance to the ordinary citizen? Interest is focused on taking the opportunity to build what we didn't have instead of rebuilding (to code of course) what was there. The governor is asking the feds for an additional 150 million, with 75 million allotted, to upgrade the smaller cities away from the Coast solely on anticipation of further growth in their areas. I lived in those areas, we had our main residence there for 26 yrs. until I sold it in 2004. Would I go back? NO! The Coast is only 1 to 1 1/2 hrs. away from these very small towns and although Hattiesburg is near, it is a college town. The water and sewage system on the immediate coast has not been repaired, it seems to have shifted north of Internet 10. The Mississippi Cottage is not the Katrina Cottage that I have pictures of on my blog. I have seen one and they will be small "shotgun" houses on wheels. I can't see many people purchasing them after the 2 yr. deadline is reached. Well, I could go on and on with what I think but I will stop for today.

Personally, the small dead oak I had in the front yard was taken down this morning by the power company. The lawn service people I had hired earlier were suppose to take it down for $150.00 but here's the catch. I was told that I would have to pay the dump fee when they hauled it away. I asked how much that would be and the main guy said only $25.00 but they might have to make as many as a half dozen trips. So I said, "Okay, so it will cost me $300.00"? He said, "I can't say for sure because it might be more than that." I literally said, "Go away"!

2007-06-12T09:05:00.000-07:00

Tear-Filled Memorial Honors Young Moss Point Soldier

Sergeant Terrance Smith never got a chance to meet his daughter Marshelle, now 18-months-old.

Sergeant Terrance Smith, a 25-year-old fallen soldier from Moss Point is remembered as a hard working, loveable and admirable young man. The National Guardsman was killed two years ago when a roadside bomb exploded near his vehicle outside of Baghdad. Monday, his family paused to remember the life of this young soldier. Keli Rabon has the story.

2007-06-11T10:48:00.000-07:00

Pascagoula, Mississippi

2007-06-10T08:22:00.000-07:00

Pascagoula, Mississippi

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Operation TLC Is Helping The Coast Build Back Green In Its 100 Homes In 100 Days Mission

2007-06-09T20:36:00.000-07:00

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Operation TLC Is Helping The Coast Build Back Green In Its 100 Homes In 100 Days Mission: "It's day 72 of its 100 homes in100 days mission and Operation TLC says it has a new ally as it helps the coast build back by its July 3rd deadline."

2007-06-07T11:47:00.000-07:00

Fisheries Rules Under Protest
Commercial and recreational fishing groups have made a last-minute push against new proposed regulations for the Gulf of Mexico's red snapper fishery, saying stricter quotas and shrimp trawling limits would deal a severe blow to their business. But many seemed resigned to the reality that federal fisheries regulators are expected today to approve 80 percent cuts in fishing quotas and other measures to help revive the Gulf's ailing snapper population.

WLBT 3 - Jackson, MS: Mississippi Gets "F" in Eminent Domain Reform

2007-06-07T10:07:00.000-07:00

WLBT 3 - Jackson, MS: Mississippi Gets "F" in Eminent Domain Reform: "Eminent domain, or the state's power to take over private property, has always been a concern for home and small business owners."

2007-06-06T20:57:00.000-07:00

My daughter ordered an interactive game called "Wii". I bet you have heard of it and probably have one yourself. I went over to her house today and we played. What a fun form of exercise, I am sure that tomorrow more than my knee will hurt. I was excellent at bowling, golf wasn't too bad. Playing baseball, I never hit the ball but when I was the pitcher, I struck them out. It was fun. On my return home, I took pictures of new construction.

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Affordable Housing Crisis May Worsen

2007-06-06T18:18:00.000-07:00

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Affordable Housing Crisis May Worsen: "Owning a modest home remains but a dream for thousands of South Mississippi residents. They've been priced out of the market."

2007-06-06T06:55:00.000-07:00

Waveland Police Officer Shot, In Stable Condition
One man is dead, and a Waveland Police officer shot after a four hour stand-off in Waveland. It started shortly before 10 last night at 630 Hope Street. When police responded to a call there, a man on the property started shooting at them. Relatives identify the gunman who died as 52year old Wilford Asher. The Waveland Officer shot has been identified as Charlie Lipps. He is listed in stable condition at Hancock Medical Center. The Mississippi Highway Patrol is investigating the shoot-out .

2007-06-03T11:35:00.000-07:00

I am taking advantage of this lazy Sunday afternoon only because it seems my right knee is wearing out before I do. It doesn't matter how high our energy levels are .. if something hurts.. we slow down. Me too! The only solution for the knee problem is surgery. Since I have known people who had the surgery and afterwards walked with a pronounced limp, I am avoiding the inevitable. Besides who will clean the raingutters? Maybe you will recall the blue tarp the neighbor had between our property.

In mid April. I saw the trash guys putting all the neighbor's containers in my front yard. Every Tuesday there are two pickups, one for trash and another for garbage. I went out to tell them that the cans weren't mine. The neighbor's wife came out to see what we were talking about and I asked that they not put their "stuff" on my side. I was backed up by the guy saying that we are to keep trash or garbage in front of our house. He added that when the garbage collectors come around that they will not pick up any of the things you have out here as it has to be in a city receptacle. I went back inside and thought that everything would be okay but on the night of May 3rd, this awful tarp went up between our houses. The cops came and demanded he take it down but he didn't. On June 1st, two fence guys were cementing posts on the line to put up a fence. I asked that they do the front of my fence to match what he had. Now I am happy to say there is a much neater "barrier" between us. Come Tuesday, I will see if he puts his trash and garbage at the front of his house. I doubt it! This guy is the "King of Easement" ... he just eases right on over to your property!

Progress "down our way" is still moving slowly. I think before we recover, people my age will have most likely departed this earth, my youngest of four daughters, will be middleage and my grandchildren will be the future leaders in our communities. What kind of outlook is that you may say ... realistic.

As soon as my knee is better, I will be out scouting for pictures.

2007-05-31T16:32:00.000-07:00

Mississippi Foresters Will Help Battle Florida Wildfires
The Mississippi Forestry Commission is responding to a call for help from the State of Florida. A team of foresters from our state will help battle the enormous wildfires that have already burned more than a half million acres in North Florida and Georgia. Steve Phillips spoke with team members about their "mutual aid" assignment.

2007-05-30T08:56:00.000-07:00

Pascagoula, Mississippi

2007-05-29T20:57:00.000-07:00

From time to time I feel as though I should post, although my heart isn't in it. Through Site Meter I am aware of who comes to my site and so "This is for you and thanks for your interest". I don't think my problem is boredom, as I am not easily bored. Katrina has revealed the good and the bad that has arisen because a disaster put Mississippi in the spotlight, albeit late. We are the state that people love to hate. Yep, that's us! I had my "rose colored" glasses on for awhile and thought that at last what I had always hoped for, was happening. I was wrong .. the slurs have never stopped. We are fat, lazy, ignorant, hillbillies and we should apologize for slavery. The Sun Herald newspaper online has an article on the subject and is taking a poll asking if we would apologize. The last time I looked "NO" was 79%. If Governor Barbour apologizes for the state, I guess that would be great but, you see, I had nothing to do with slavery so I have nothing to apologize for. Other people speaking for us destroys our individuality.

We have been a suffering people on the Coast and a great deal of money was earmarked for our recovery but it was held up because of the 10% match and then to add insult to injury it was put in the same Bill for getting our soldiers out of Iraq. President Bush had said he would veto getting out of Iraq at this time so they put us in hoping he wouldn't veto. Is that caring about us? To put us against all the guys that are fighting and losing their lives for our country was a low blow. Personally, it made me fearful of what the new regime is going to inflict upon us all.

I have read that more than 40,000 immigrants are in our state, where are they? Where do the stay? We have thousands of our people with no shelter except Fema trailers. The conclusion that I have come to is that we can't always believe what we read.

Although regular gasoline is $3.06 a gallon, that doesn't stop me from riding around looking for pictures of construction. Dave, Anita and children spent Memorial Day at my home. I made hamburgers the old fashioned way .. in a skillet. Sure beats McDonald's. I never understood the "hoopla" on such a solemn occasion. Life is not one big party.

Gulf Coast News - Your Mississippi Coast News Source

2007-05-29T05:11:00.000-07:00

Gulf Coast News - Your Mississippi Coast News Source: "Why Are Gasoline Prices So High? - GCN Opinion"

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Coast Businesses Get A Taste Of What's In Store For Summer Tourism

2007-05-28T08:09:00.000-07:00

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Coast Businesses Get A Taste Of What's In Store For Summer Tourism: "'We're from New Orleans. What brought us out here is the beaches. We like to come here and vacation for the good beaches, the jet good skiing and the people here,' says Andy Vu, Louisiana."

SunHerald.com : Homepage

2007-05-27T05:57:00.000-07:00

SunHerald.com : Homepage: "Out of respect for those who served, some 1,100 active duty and retired military, their families and civilians placed about 16,500 American flags on Saturday in less than 30 minutes at Biloxi National Cemetery."

2007-05-24T22:46:00.000-07:00

The actual construction of a condo complex being built in Pascagoula started in 2005 before Katrina made landfall. At that time there was only one unit that had been framed. With approximately three more to be built, it appears that it will be near completion before the year ends. You enter from either Martin Street or Geerkins Street which border each side. I may be wrong on one side being Geerkins but I can always change it. They are very nice and they are housing but not affordable for many. We have problems along the Coast but housing still remains the biggest. I am driving around at least three days each week looking for new construction or repaired homes. If the area was "booming", I wouldn't have to "look" for houses, would I?

When I re-read some of my earlier posts and noted how enthusiastically I wrote, I realized that my inspiration to write has subsided. Why you may ask? This storm that we were unfortunate to experience and the subsequent damage is not what my blog has been about. It has always been about the people. WLOX has an article on today about the senior citizens in our coastal areas and how much they have been forgotten. Most had lived in their own homes, some in retirement condos. When Katrina destroyed or damaged what they had, it became an impossibility for them to rebuild again or replace all that was lost. It takes near a lifetime to pay for a home and most people can't do that. It's a fact that seniors in other states wouldn't be able to do it either. Many have left the area and gone to live with family. All of the ones interviewed wanted to maintain their independence as did the ones who had to go with family members. I can understand why they feel forgotten. They deserve to spend their remaining years comfortably and independent.

Personally, I am doing well, one of the lucky ones! Mentally, I am like everyone else. My daughter had spoken with a Project Recovery person who came to her door a few months ago and was told that what was happening to us was that we were still in survival mode. When the storm came ashore our adrenaline rose in response to what was happening as it would with any serious happening in all of our lives. The problem, the aftermath has been filled with obstacles and the adrenaline stays at a peak and has caused short term memory loss in many of us regardless of our ages. It would be interesting to know the number of people here who in mid conversation stop and say, "Now ..what was I saying?"

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Pass Christian Rotary, Mennonites Get Rebuilding Aid From Illinois

2007-05-22T19:04:00.000-07:00

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Pass Christian Rotary, Mennonites Get Rebuilding Aid From Illinois: "Pass Christian's mayor is preparing for another important trip in his city's recovery efforts. Chipper McDermott is going to Naperville, Illinois to help that community raise money for his city's rebirth. Naperville has promised $2 million to the Pass, so new homes can be built."

SunHerald.com : Bank robbery a big blowout

2007-05-22T17:27:00.000-07:00

SunHerald.com : Bank robbery a big blowout: "GULFPORT --
A couple of suspects were in custody within minutes of the robbery of a Gulfport bank, after a chase down Interstate 10 ended in a blowout at D'Iberville.

Fredrik Werner Waters, 44, of Biloxi and Rhonda Lee Girouard, 42, of St. Martin each were charged with robbery."

2007-05-20T15:37:00.000-07:00

I just looked at the date and realized that I haven't posted. Viewers of my blog probably have become accustomed to just CLICK and there she is talking about everything. It's not unusual that I am tired, we all are. First we endured the horror of the storm and, for almost two years, we have been living it every second, every hour, every day. Whew! Of course we don't talk Katrina every day, we also have our daily lives to contend with To tolerate my bizarre neighbor and still remain christian in thought and action is something I have to wrestle with every day. There is good news, two lanes of the Bay St. Louis (not Bay of St. Louis or St. Louis bay) bridge are now allowing us to connect. Biloxi's bridge will probably have a couple of lanes open this fall. I kind of laughed a little as I wrote this as when we cross the bridges there aren't many places to go except the casinos. The way we pronounce names or precede the names of the bayous like Bayou Bernard, Bayou Cassotte come from our french heritage. Now what is not widely known, we may pronounce bayou as ba-you or ba-yo ... choosing the one that rolls more smoothly when spoken. For instance, I used to live in Bayou View pronounced Ba-yo View. Maddening, isn't it? Yesterday, we (Dave, Anita and Kids) went on a casual outing to the park The little girl in red is Yvonne.

Beach Park

Where's the Water?

The splashpad was great for the kids and I enjoyed watching but I also took the pictures below of new construction or progressive construction in Pascagoula.

Beach Homes

Beach

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Miss. Gulf Coast Marks Milestone In Katrina Recovery With Bridge Opening

2007-05-17T22:09:00.000-07:00

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Miss. Gulf Coast Marks Milestone In Katrina Recovery With Bridge Opening: "Residents of Mississippi's Gulf Coast were celebrating a milestone in the region's recovery from Hurricane Katrina on Thursday with the opening of a two-mile bridge that replaces one destroyed by the storm more than 20 months ago."

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Suspect Surrenders In Moss Point Shooting

2007-05-17T08:23:00.000-07:00

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Suspect Surrenders In Moss Point Shooting: "A suspect wanted in connection with a fatal shooting has surrendered to Moss Point police.

Police Detective Jeff Smith said Edward Brown of Moss Point, whose age was not available, was being held in the city jail pending an initial court appearance."

100 Homes in 100 Days hits halfway point, updates community on progress

2007-05-16T08:00:00.000-07:00

100 Homes in 100 Days hits halfway point, updates community on progress: "PASCAGOULA -- Organizations supporting the 100 Homes in 100 Days project got their second wind Tuesday, marking the 51st day of the program's mission to repair or rebuild 100 homes in Pascagoula by July 4."

SunHerald.com : Lightning turns Taylor into fireman

2007-05-16T07:32:00.000-07:00

SunHerald.com : Lightning turns Taylor into fireman: "WASHINGTON --
Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Bay St. Louis, was sleeping soundly early May 4 in his brother's house in Kiln when a lightning bolt cracked through the night sky."

2007-05-16T07:16:00.000-07:00

Margaritaville To Become A Neighbor Of Grand Biloxi

Jimmy Buffett and Harrah's Entertainment announced a new partnership that opens in 2010. The $700 million expansion at Harrah's Grand Biloxi property will include a Margaritaville Casino and Resort. As Brad Kessie reports, Harrah's announcement reinforces a post Katrina promise it made to reinvest in Biloxi. And it brings some additional star power to the Biloxi casino market.

Coast under mental strain - The Clarion-Ledger

2007-05-15T19:24:00.000-07:00

Coast under mental strain - The Clarion-Ledger: "'Yes, Mississippians are resilient,' he added. 'But they're also tired.'"

2007-05-15T16:21:00.000-07:00

Everything is so depressing in our area that I had to force myself to go out today. Sure people are moving about ... taking care of business as usual. You and I know that there are people who don't seem to see the same things as another does. What do I see? I see the same residents that were on Beach Blvd. and Washington Ave. trying to make a comeback, I see people living in trailers outside their homes as they struggle with repairs just to make it habitable and I see glaring poverty. When I returned to my hometown in 2003, I decided to step at least onto the porch of an old house I had lived in with my parents and siblings. There was an older lady sitting in a rocker visiting with two younger women. I introduced myself and we chatted awhile. Rather sternly she said, "I hope you are not trying to buy this house because I won't sell, I love it." She continued, "Of course, it was much prettier before the highway came through and tore down homes and trees." The house was literally falling down but she saw beauty and I saw poverty. Katrina destroyed what was left of the house. No way could I have known that my impromptu visit was a final goodbye. Over the years, I have had beautiful homes and beautiful possessions. In 2005, I moved from my daughter's home and bought a modest little, old house and am quite comfortable living as simple as I do. How could I make such a transition one might ask. Simple .... I had already known poverty!

Beach

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Moss Point Police Seeking Suspect In Deadly Shooting

2007-05-14T21:36:00.000-07:00

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Moss Point Police Seeking Suspect In Deadly Shooting: "Jackson County Coroner Vicki Broadus says Rananda Davis, 30, was shot once in the head. He was pronounced dead at Singing River Hospital around 2pm."

2007-05-14T18:29:00.000-07:00

Today I don't have anything to write about that would be of much interest to anyone. Sometimes I wonder if anything I have blogged since November 2005 was found interesting. Then I realized that I am writing about living in the wake of Katrina and that it is just another chapter in MY life. Your life is probably being lived so much differently then mine. My daughter, Anita was always coming up with ideas on how we could entertain ourselves. The outings we went on were enjoyable but, after nearly 21 months, the ideas have dwindled. I guess I'll have to put my "thinking cap" on and come up with something different for Memorial Day.

Another daughter, Peggy, came to pick me up Friday and we visited every flower nursery in Gulfport. I also found a simple table and chairs for my backporch ... nothing fancy. I wanted to be able to use it to pot new plants and not worry about getting dirt on it.

Mother's Day was a good one. The daughters and grandkids gave me lots of flowers so I stayed home today to plant them. I also have read the local news and found nothing really interesting. Schools closing, schools merging. Grand plans from the cities as usual. Hopefully, tomorrow I will take pictures of new construction.

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: News & Video

2007-05-14T11:25:00.000-07:00

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: News & Video: "Marsha Thompson Reports On Unused Homeland Security Management Center"

SunHerald.com : Mississippi natives have big plans for Coast tourism

2007-05-14T07:12:00.000-07:00

SunHerald.com : Mississippi natives have big plans for Coast tourism: "BILOXI --
They were both born in Pascagoula but it was in Margaritaville where the paths of Jimmy Buffett and Charles Atwood finally met.

Atwood returns to the Coast this week as Harrah's Entertainment announces with grand style plans to expand onto the Biloxi beachfront. Biloxi Mayor A.J. Holloway said the announcement would come Tuesday."

Happy Mother's Day!

2007-05-13T09:44:00.000-07:00

SunHerald.com : Mississippi soldier killed in Iraq

2007-05-12T18:34:00.000-07:00

SunHerald.com : Mississippi soldier killed in Iraq: "JACKSON --
JACKSON - A Mississippi native serving in Iraq was killed by a roadside bomb Thursday.

The Department of Defense and the family of U.S. Army Sgt. Jason W. Vaughn confirmed his death Friday."

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: More Chinese catfish samples test positive for illegal antibiotics

2007-05-09T23:08:00.000-07:00

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: More Chinese catfish samples test positive for illegal antibiotics: "JACKSON, Miss. Seven more Mississippi grocery stores have been ordered to stop selling Chinese catfish after samples of the fish tested positive for illegal antibiotics."

2007-05-09T23:03:00.000-07:00

Lately, I have been questioning why I persist in doing things that are bound to fail ... all odds against success. Then I reason that there is a slim chance for anybody to beat the odds and maybe it will be me. A reasonable person living in an area that has been in an ongoing drought would not plant delicate flowers but I do ... because a few may survive. The seemingly impossible can happen, it did today. My daughter saw that I had been putting statues and gazing balls in my flower beds so she offered me her concrete birdbath which I readily accepted. On my visit today I saw it was lying in the drive in two pieces waiting for my son-in-law to bring it to my house. On leaving I asked, "Anita can I take the birdbath?" She said, "Mom you can't lift concrete, even Dave has trouble." "The top alone is 200lbs. and the base is twice that." She continued loading the back of my car with plants she had given me from her yard. I walked over and easily picked up the top and brought it to the car and went to get the base. Yes, the base, was heavy and awkward but I picked it up and carried it to the car. I had help from my daughter sliding it into the car. We marvelled at what I had done. How could I, who finds carrying a gallon of milk heavy, carry concrete and not be winded? It's simple really ... I never thought for a moment that I couldn't do it. Before going home, I took pictures of new construction. The first two pictures are of the back of a house that faces the beach.

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Atlantic's First Named Storm Of 2007 Forms Early, 3 Weeks Before Season's Official Start

2007-05-09T11:02:00.000-07:00

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Atlantic's First Named Storm Of 2007 Forms Early, 3 Weeks Before Season's Official Start: "The first named storm of the year formed Wednesday off the southeastern U.S. coast, more than three weeks before the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season, forecasters said."

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Turkey Creek Achieves Historic Designation

2007-05-09T08:33:00.000-07:00

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Turkey Creek Achieves Historic Designation: "The occasion is national recognition of Turkey Creek and its addition to the National Register of Historic Places.

Modest homes now fill this community, which was organized by freed slaves just after the Civil War. Turkey Creek was nominated to the National Register two years ago."

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Indiana Firm To Build Cottages For Mississippi Katrina Families

2007-05-09T08:08:00.000-07:00

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Indiana Firm To Build Cottages For Mississippi Katrina Families: "Mike Womack, director of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, said the award for the Park Model cottages went to Forest River Housing Inc., of Elkhart, Ind."

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Damaged Gulfport Condo Finally Cleared Off Waterfront

2007-05-08T19:21:00.000-07:00

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Damaged Gulfport Condo Finally Cleared Off Waterfront: "What was left of Chateau de la Mer teetered on pilings just above Highway 90. And then, with a simple push of a track hoe shovel, the first battered and beaten section of the condo complex toppled over. Johnny Frazier runs EZ Haul, the company hired to tear down the condos."

SunHerald.com : Street repaving has four-year plan

2007-05-07T10:21:00.000-07:00

SunHerald.com : Street repaving has four-year plan: "PASCAGOULA --
City leaders are sinking more than $1.4 million into paving projects over the next four years.

Brian Nelson, the city's public works director, said the city is focusing its efforts on the streets in worst shape."

New Construction - Pascagoula

2007-05-06T19:55:00.000-07:00

M & M Bank

Pascagoula Library

2007-05-06T11:24:00.000-07:00

Each day it seems, I grow more weary. Maybe it's because I give much of my attention to what is going on in our storm riddled area and see the underlying outcome of what is transpiring. Governor Barbour said in an article that living cheap on the Coast is gone. People of modest income can no longer live close to the water in their "little" houses but people who can afford to build to code (the wealthy) can. To me, it makes no sense as the modest income people ("worker bees") play a big part in keeping the "wealthy" on the beaches. Renters occupy the majority of the FEMA trailers as they wait for rental properties to become available to them. It will soon be 2 yrs. and that hasn't happened. Also building to code is nonsense ... there wasn't anything that could stand against Katrina. Somewhere in one of my many posts, I talked about the hotel in Gulfport that was part of the Grand Casino. I mentioned to many people over the years that it was leaning to the right. After Katrina made landfall, the lean to the right was very pronounced.... it was taken down. Homes that had structures of steel were destroyed. The steel remaining was twisted and worthless.

The most disheartening thing that is happening here is that we, the people, aren't fighting for our rights, we are just laying down for the count. One, two, three. You're OUT!

Pictures taken in Pascagoula yesterday .......

Lake Avenue

2007-05-05T22:33:00.000-07:00

Tornadoes in Kansas and Oklahoma

SunHerald.com : Cheap living on Coast is over

2007-05-05T16:32:00.000-07:00

SunHerald.com : Cheap living on Coast is over: "The days of people of modest means living near the lapping waters of the Mississippi Sound may be drawing to an end, Barbour conceded when asked. Mississippi was one of the last places in the country where such was still the case."

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Volunteers Help Clean And Restore D'Iberville Marsh

2007-05-05T10:44:00.000-07:00

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Volunteers Help Clean And Restore D'Iberville Marsh: "Volunteers helped unclog the wetlands around Fountain Pier in D'Iberville Friday morning.

Picking through the marsh grasses, they're finding plenty of storm debris."

2007-05-04T20:50:00.000-07:00

Today has been a very hectic day. To have the police at my house at approximately 9:30AM isn't something I am use to. They came back again at 4:30PM and said what happened is revenge on the neighbor's part because I asked that they not put their garbage cans in front of my house. He was ordered this morning to take the "eyesore" down but, he didn't, instead he drove iron bars into the ground from the corner of my fence to the concrete pillar that cities use to mark property lines. He also put his garbage can on my side again, just not in front of the house. Needless to say, my yard doesn't look good. I don't know what he is trying to prove, the line has always been there. The police will patrol. Even if I hadn't been delayed and frazzled by the bizarre actions of a neighbor, I couldn't take pictures because of the rain. As soon as the skies clear, I will be driving around looking for progress.

This doesn't look any better, does it?

2007-05-04T10:18:00.000-07:00

There were actually three patrol cars here. All they could do was tell the neighbor to take down the contraption even if he thought it was on his property because it is an eyesore. So at this time the neighbor is trespassing all over my side yard with a huge measuring tape. I guess he didn't hear eyesore or obstruction of view.

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Katrina Victim "Will" Identified As Pass Christian Man

2007-05-04T10:13:00.000-07:00

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Katrina Victim "Will" Identified As Pass Christian Man: "Coroner Gary Hargrove made a big announcement Friday morning on WLOX News. One of the two unknown Katrina victims has been identified.

The man known as 'Will' has now been identified as James L. Blair, a 78-year-old male. He lived on Hurricane Circle in Pass Christian."

Neighbors

2007-05-04T08:59:00.000-07:00

Every once in awhile I veer from the storm and touch on my personal life .. this is one of those times. What do you do with a neighbor that is driving you crazy? Unfortunately, subdivisions have houses that are very close to the neighbor on either side. I spent months out of the two years that I have been here trying to get a neighbor to stop blowing leaves off his driveway into my side yard. I am happy to say that has stopped but putting garbage cans and debris in the front of my house hasn't. So two weeks ago when the pickup guys were there I went out to tell them that all the "junk" wasn't mine. We are to put "our" garbage in front of our property as there are fines for what you put out as garbage ... like paint cans or old batteries. His wife came out to see what we were talking about and said to me that she didn't understand why I objected to it. The "guys" explained to her that it was to be in front of their property and in the proper containers before they will take it. They didn't take anything they had out that day. When that happens it remains in front of my house for weeks. At this time, there is an open container of garbage sitting out there since Tuesday that wasn't picked up.

Late last night I heard hammering noises at my side window and when I looked out I couldn't believe the "tacky" mess I saw. What in the world is he doing now? It is over the property line and attached to my side fence.

This can be seen as you drive down the street .. the flowers I have planted pale in comparison to this. We still haven't gotten much rain, only a slight drizzle!

2007-05-03T18:48:00.000-07:00

Waiting On The Rain

WLOX Weather Forecast

Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed
Hi 82 F Lo 75 F Isolated T-Storms	Hi 78 F Lo 70 F Numerous T-Storms	Hi 81 F Lo 68 F Few T-Storms	Hi 80 F Lo 69 F Isolated T-Storms	Hi 80 F Lo 69 F Few T-Storms	Hi 80 F Lo 68 F Scattered T-Storms	Hi 79 F Lo 67 F Scattered T-Storms

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Your Hometown News - Moss Point/Escatawpa

2007-05-02T22:08:00.000-07:00

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Your Hometown News - Moss Point/Escatawpa: "A homeowner in Moss Point has been waiting on the second phase of the grant program so she can move on with her life. It's been difficult and while other agencies could lend a helping hand, they also are waiting on the state to decide her fate. Nancy Hall shared her frustration with Action Reporter A.J. Giardina."

2007-05-02T20:47:00.000-07:00

New Construction-Pascagoula

We have a chance for rain tomorrow but if that doesn't happen it's okay because I have another plan for my yards. I intend to fill the yards with decorative statues ... some will be pretty and some will be whimsical. The drought we are going through is nothing new in our area. Usually when the rains come the plants grow, flowers bloom and then comes July. The plants and flowers burn to a crisp. We know this but still we plant with hopes that this time it will be different. BUT just in case, I am starting something new.

I will be out soon looking for interesting pictures to show you. New construction is getting harder to find but as soon as the people who are in the FEMA trailers can cut through the "red tape" and assistance comes to their aid, there will be a bulding boom. It just isn't happening at this point in time.

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Biloxi Bridge Clears Major Hurdle

2007-05-02T18:38:00.000-07:00

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Biloxi Bridge Clears Major Hurdle: "State Transportation officials say to be able to open two lanes of the Biloxi bridge traffic in November, they must first complete three or four projects considered to be major challenges. Now MDOT officials are pleased to say, 'One down.'"