Installation Underway
Back Soon
Back Soon
Thursday, July 31, 2008
SunHerald.com : 'Just put him back in jail'
SunHerald.com : 'Just put him back in jail': "PASCAGOULA --
The Jackson County Board of Supervisors will ask Gov. Haley Barbour to put Michael David Graham back in the prison system."
The Jackson County Board of Supervisors will ask Gov. Haley Barbour to put Michael David Graham back in the prison system."
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Obama Campaign Contacts GulfCoastNews.com
Obama Campaign Contacts GulfCoastNews.com: "GulfCoastNews.com apparently has the attention of the Elect Barack Obama team. This past Friday, July 25, a staff member with the Obama campaign in Chicago, Illinois called GCN in Biloxi and asked if GCN was planning to send a reporter to the Democratic National Convention in Denver."
WLOX-TV and WLOX.com - Building South Mississippi Together |All Three Drivers Walk Away From I-10 Bridge Accident
WLOX-TV and WLOX.com - Building South Mississippi Together |All Three Drivers Walk Away From I-10 Bridge Accident: "JACKSON COUNTY, MS (WLOX) - Mississippi Highway Patrol Corporal Johnny Poulos couldn't believe what he was seeing Tuesday as he approached the I-10 bridge over the Pascagoula River. It was an 18 wheeler dangling dangerously off the bridge."
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
I remember saying that I would write about Katrina since we are nearing a third anniversary but sometimes life takes over, either fairly or unfairly. Unfortunately, I moved next door to a problem that most likely has existed for years. Here's how the new problem started ... after Katrina there were vast amounts of debri brought to the front of our properties for pickup and heavy equipment with claws scooped the piles up but also the dirt and grass that was in your yard. My right front yard started eroding and got to a point that it was time to try to do something about it. About three weeks ago, on a Saturday, Dave, Anita and I laid the beginning sod. The next day I had the sprinkler going on the sod and walked out later to change it's direction. The neighbor was standing in his drive and trying to be nice I said, "Hello ". That was the first mistake, the second was that I asked, "What do you think?" He angrily said, "You need to take it up and have dirt hauled in here, it will never grow." I said, "I didn't know what to do, so I did something". He exploded, "I just told you what to do but you think you know everything and you won't listen to me." I didn't respond to his anger, I went inside.
Monday morning I had the sprinkler watering the sod and walked out to change its direction and couldn't believe what I saw. He had backed his car, that was loaded with broken concrete, up the hill on my sod and was unloading it from my yard. I said, "Please get off my grass, you are going to tear it up". He sneered and said, "I am not hurting your grass and besides it won't grow anyway." I kept asking that he get off my property and I bet you kn0w what was coming when someone is out of control. He started cursing me and calling me names and topped off this assault with a threatening finger pointed at me, "Don't you dare ever speak to me again." I waited until I got inside before I laughed. This man has set my backyard fence on fire, piled trees in front of my house and trespasses. Did I mention all the sleepless nights when he chose the midnight hour to hammer or blow his driveway?
It was garbage pickup today and I watched as he dragged his garbage can up my sod, in my yard, to put it back in the unsightly mess he has on the property line. The cops have been of no help so it's useless to call them. The picture below of the sod shows spots but it is growing. Actually, I am suspicious of the brown spots. Wouldn't you be? A moving van is also pictured at the neighbor on his right side that have put a "For Sale" sign in their yard.
I bought a Dell PC and the CD drive was bad as were other things, probably the motherboard since it showed that it had two processors and two C drives. I am waiting on a new CPU as without it this one tends to crash. Each time you get a new CPU you lose everything you have and that requires putting it all back. My daughter helps me with most of it. Our nerves are frazzled from living a Katrina life but we never get to name calling. "smile" Only complete strangers do that!
I shall return!
Monday morning I had the sprinkler watering the sod and walked out to change its direction and couldn't believe what I saw. He had backed his car, that was loaded with broken concrete, up the hill on my sod and was unloading it from my yard. I said, "Please get off my grass, you are going to tear it up". He sneered and said, "I am not hurting your grass and besides it won't grow anyway." I kept asking that he get off my property and I bet you kn0w what was coming when someone is out of control. He started cursing me and calling me names and topped off this assault with a threatening finger pointed at me, "Don't you dare ever speak to me again." I waited until I got inside before I laughed. This man has set my backyard fence on fire, piled trees in front of my house and trespasses. Did I mention all the sleepless nights when he chose the midnight hour to hammer or blow his driveway?
It was garbage pickup today and I watched as he dragged his garbage can up my sod, in my yard, to put it back in the unsightly mess he has on the property line. The cops have been of no help so it's useless to call them. The picture below of the sod shows spots but it is growing. Actually, I am suspicious of the brown spots. Wouldn't you be? A moving van is also pictured at the neighbor on his right side that have put a "For Sale" sign in their yard.
I bought a Dell PC and the CD drive was bad as were other things, probably the motherboard since it showed that it had two processors and two C drives. I am waiting on a new CPU as without it this one tends to crash. Each time you get a new CPU you lose everything you have and that requires putting it all back. My daughter helps me with most of it. Our nerves are frazzled from living a Katrina life but we never get to name calling. "smile" Only complete strangers do that!I shall return!
Monday, July 28, 2008
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Sunday, July 20, 2008
In July 2005, I had just been in my new residence less than two months and was thinking about the things in this "used" house that would need to be repaired. I was so mentally and physically exhausted from the many moves I had made since the loss of my husband that I didn't know that a hurricane named Cindy would make an appearance on the morning of July 7th as a Tropical Storm. I was awakened by the roar of wind as the storm came in to Pascagoula. There was no way that I could get to my daughter's so I rode out that storm alone. Somehow having someone with you makes everything a little better, doesn't it? In August 2005, I was very aware that a storm was in the gulf so I got busy with preparations around the house until my son-in-law arrived to take me to their house. Most people know the outcome of what happened on that fateful day August 29, 2005 so there is no need to reiterate. As terrifying as it was, I am glad I was with them as there has never been a storm like Katrina.
We are rebuilding and I still ride around looking for progress. I have taken so many pictures the last three years that when looking through my blog I have noticed that there are times when I have repeats. Sorry about that. The temperature has been in the 90's for awhile now. I don't worry about the price of gasoline as one can always control that but in this heat our a/c's run constantly and that can be costly.
We are rebuilding and I still ride around looking for progress. I have taken so many pictures the last three years that when looking through my blog I have noticed that there are times when I have repeats. Sorry about that. The temperature has been in the 90's for awhile now. I don't worry about the price of gasoline as one can always control that but in this heat our a/c's run constantly and that can be costly.
Katrina's Children Critique
My daughter was recently sent a copy of a documentary entitled Katrina's Children and was asked to review it and give her critique. As most of you know, she has five children and has been repairing damage to her home so she passed the CD for my review as to its content until she could give her review. This morning I received an email from Katrina's Children and was asked to give a review also since I had grandchildren involved. So here is my attempt to do the well put together documentary justice.
The setting is in New Orleans and one child was from Buras, Louisiana.
The first thing I noticed was that these children didn't need a script. They spoke and cried naturally about what they had experienced especially in the aftermath of Katrina. There is a longing in all of them for the return of a life they once knew. They have lost not only their homes and possessions but, as one young boy said, a part of themselves. They walk through deserted, desolate neighborhoods and go up to houses that they identify as their homes and all you see is a pile of rubble beyond repair. They will show you pictures that they have drawn which clearly depict their emotions. As I watched, I thought about my carefree happy childhood and that of my own children. I cried for these children and the many more that are out there and hurting.
It's an excellent documentary that I highly recommend that you watch. I also suggest you keep the Kleenex near by, I was teary eyed the entire time. To see a child hurt is heart wrenching. What can we do for them? How can we let them know that life can get better?
My grandchildren were ages, 8, 7, 2 and 17 days old when the storm came in on Pascagoula, Mississippi and destroyed their home. During the storm we kept them away from the windows so as not to frighten them further by the horrific destructive force that was taking place outside. The 8 yr. old said doing the storm, "I don't want to die." They have had a rough time at such a young age. They had to sleep on the floor, had to eat whatever we could get together, they were bitten by mosquitoes, they suffered from the heat, they had nothing to play with, they saw all the destruction that no child should have to see, they saw people asking for clothing and food, living in tents and they have seen countless rows of fema trailers. (4500 fema trailers and mobile homes are still in south Mississippi). For 3 yrs. they have been watching their Mom and Dad repair their home. In August 2007, the 7 yr. old who was 9 yrs. old at the time said to me, as we were putting distance between us and an oil refinery explosion, "Nana, I don't think I can take it this time if we lose our house or my things."
Yes my grandchildren are Katrina Children as are children from many cities and parishes in Louisiana and the state of Alabama. I asked earlier in this post, "How can we help them?" Why not add an acknowledgment at the beginning or end of the documentary that recognizes that they are all truly Katrina Children, as indeed they are, and have not been forgotten..
The setting is in New Orleans and one child was from Buras, Louisiana.
The first thing I noticed was that these children didn't need a script. They spoke and cried naturally about what they had experienced especially in the aftermath of Katrina. There is a longing in all of them for the return of a life they once knew. They have lost not only their homes and possessions but, as one young boy said, a part of themselves. They walk through deserted, desolate neighborhoods and go up to houses that they identify as their homes and all you see is a pile of rubble beyond repair. They will show you pictures that they have drawn which clearly depict their emotions. As I watched, I thought about my carefree happy childhood and that of my own children. I cried for these children and the many more that are out there and hurting.
It's an excellent documentary that I highly recommend that you watch. I also suggest you keep the Kleenex near by, I was teary eyed the entire time. To see a child hurt is heart wrenching. What can we do for them? How can we let them know that life can get better?
My grandchildren were ages, 8, 7, 2 and 17 days old when the storm came in on Pascagoula, Mississippi and destroyed their home. During the storm we kept them away from the windows so as not to frighten them further by the horrific destructive force that was taking place outside. The 8 yr. old said doing the storm, "I don't want to die." They have had a rough time at such a young age. They had to sleep on the floor, had to eat whatever we could get together, they were bitten by mosquitoes, they suffered from the heat, they had nothing to play with, they saw all the destruction that no child should have to see, they saw people asking for clothing and food, living in tents and they have seen countless rows of fema trailers. (4500 fema trailers and mobile homes are still in south Mississippi). For 3 yrs. they have been watching their Mom and Dad repair their home. In August 2007, the 7 yr. old who was 9 yrs. old at the time said to me, as we were putting distance between us and an oil refinery explosion, "Nana, I don't think I can take it this time if we lose our house or my things."
Yes my grandchildren are Katrina Children as are children from many cities and parishes in Louisiana and the state of Alabama. I asked earlier in this post, "How can we help them?" Why not add an acknowledgment at the beginning or end of the documentary that recognizes that they are all truly Katrina Children, as indeed they are, and have not been forgotten..
Sunday, July 13, 2008
It's right around the corner. What? I'll give you a hint ... it's something a great number of people voice that they are tired of hearing about. You got it? Yep, Katrina three years later. Most of us go for the sensational so Katrina brought interest at first. It probably was morbidly exciting to see bodies floating in the waters of Katrina or to see videos of houses crushed and people going through clothes piled in dirty parking lots or asking for water and ice in the August heat. There were scenes flashing across television screens all over the world showing bedraggled, exhausted, frightened people. My daughter and I went out as volunteers for an organization in Minnesota to get clothes, small appliances etc. to neighboring residents. We couldn't get in to some areas as they were blocked to traffic for months. Did we think of other people before ourselves, yes we did, especially my daughter. Her home was badly damaged. "Did We Survive Hurricane Katrina or Not"
My contribution has been mostly to my hometown (Pascagoula) that I came back to after so many years away. I have taken pictures of destruction and progress to document. In my writings, I literally put my heart and soul on display for anyone to read about what happened here and the seriousness of the situation. Unfortunately, there have been many hindrances along our road to recovery but still we persevere. To read so many unfavorable comments about us whining and having our hands out for more free "stuff" are hurtful barbs but the majority of us down here are way to0 busy to respond to pettiness. So as a deterrent from all the chaos, we get involved in other projects that will benefit someone else. We don't hold our hands out, we extend our hands out to help others. Anita, my daughter, just recently asked me if I could crochet lap covers for disabled veterans. My answer is always the way I initially respond, "Anita, I can hardly do the things I have to do, also it has been years since I did that handiwork." Well, I mulled it over for a few days and remembered that I had an afghan that would be perfect and if I could still crochet, I would be one ahead.
I am sure that I will be writing again off and on until the Anniversary. Until then!
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Oh no! Tagged Again!
My grandson George has a blog now and he tagged me to answer the 5 questions listed below, so here goes. The Procrastinator
TUESDAY JULY 8, 2008
Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.
1) What were you doing 5 years ago?
I was preparing to move to Pascagoula and arrived there in May of 2003 and we all took up residency together. I showed all the talents that a grandmother possesses like making egg bread for you (French Toast if you add powered sugar). Sometimes I flexed my muscles when I stepped in at times to defend not because the scolding you were getting was harsh but because that's just the way a grandmother is. We had fun playing card games unless I thought you cheated. To me it didn't matter how young you were, fair is fair... ask your Mom. I enjoyed the two years I was there and all the fun times we had.
2) What are 5 things on your to-do list for today?
1. I am going to try to stay awake.
2. Make spaghetti with mushrooms.
3. Watch TV.
4. Browse Internet.
5. Stay cool.
3) What are 5 snacks you enjoy?
Cashews, cereal, hershey bar with almonds (the big one). bananas, milk
4) What are five things you would do if you were a billionaire?
1. Buy all of my grandkids something they always wanted.
2. Buy something for kids that I don't know.
3. Give more to charities.
4. I would buy a yacht for the fishermen and sunbathers in the family.
5. I would buy my own family evacuation bus in case of hurricanes.
5) What are five jobs you’ve had?
1. A Wife.
2. A Mother.
3. A Grandmother.
4. A Yardman.
5. A rain gutter cleaner.
TUESDAY JULY 8, 2008
Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.
1) What were you doing 5 years ago?
I was preparing to move to Pascagoula and arrived there in May of 2003 and we all took up residency together. I showed all the talents that a grandmother possesses like making egg bread for you (French Toast if you add powered sugar). Sometimes I flexed my muscles when I stepped in at times to defend not because the scolding you were getting was harsh but because that's just the way a grandmother is. We had fun playing card games unless I thought you cheated. To me it didn't matter how young you were, fair is fair... ask your Mom. I enjoyed the two years I was there and all the fun times we had.
2) What are 5 things on your to-do list for today?
1. I am going to try to stay awake.
2. Make spaghetti with mushrooms.
3. Watch TV.
4. Browse Internet.
5. Stay cool.
3) What are 5 snacks you enjoy?
Cashews, cereal, hershey bar with almonds (the big one). bananas, milk
4) What are five things you would do if you were a billionaire?
1. Buy all of my grandkids something they always wanted.
2. Buy something for kids that I don't know.
3. Give more to charities.
4. I would buy a yacht for the fishermen and sunbathers in the family.
5. I would buy my own family evacuation bus in case of hurricanes.
5) What are five jobs you’ve had?
1. A Wife.
2. A Mother.
3. A Grandmother.
4. A Yardman.
5. A rain gutter cleaner.
Monday, July 7, 2008
The Fourth of July has come and gone once again. Although the day was an enjoyable one spent with Anita, Dave and the children, I reneged on attending the fireworks display that evening. My reasoning on my reluctance to go was when a person grows older they have seen many fireworks displays and that all of them are virtually the same as previous years, so I stayed home. Well, that may have been my thought at the time but as it turned out my lack of enthusiasm was because I was tired. I have an ever-changing thyroid problem and it became apparent yesterday as I fell asleep many times during the day. I actually was surprised when I awoke this morning fairly refreshed and ready to do something constructive.
Our days are hot and humid here, which is normal but what hasn't been normal this year is there are no bees, butterflies, hummingbirds etc. that are needed to make flowers grow. I literally have two flowers ... a Cosmos and a now beginning to die Poinsettia. I have said that I have seen many fireworks displays and I can also say that I have never experienced a time when flowers refuse to grow and a Christmas flower that refuses to die.
The pictures below were taken on July 4th in a short drive around Pascagoula.
My daughter Anita and I have always enjoyed doing a variety of projects together. She usually finds that such a project exists and I willingly enter into it with her. We have an apostolate making mission rosaries. Mission rosaries are simple to make using twine and different colored beads. So far, we have shipped to Africa and Florida.
Friday, July 4, 2008
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
I got tagged by Anita over at "Did We Survive Hurricane or Not"
“The rules of the game get posted at the beginning. Each player answers the questions about themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.”
1) What were you doing 5 years ago?
For the first 5 months of that year I was packing, throwing out, giving away "things" I had accumulated over the years so that I could move back to my hometown.
2) What are 5 things on your to-do list for today?
1. Weed the monkey grass that lines the sidewalk.
2. Scrape paint off a wicker mirror that I sprayed.
3. Drive around taking pictures of new construction.
4. Do a little reading and of course browse the Internet.
5. Say my daily prayers.
3) What are 5 snacks you enjoy?
Cashews, cereal, hershey bar with almonds (the big one). bananas, milk
4) What are five things you would do if you were a billionaire?
1. I enjoy giving to people and with more money I would do much more.
2. I would go to Paris if I could get there without having to fly.
3. I would have a professional gardener take all the dead plants out of my yard on a regular basis and put in new ones.
4. I would hire a handyman that specializes in doing the difficult work around the house, like cleaning rain gutters and changing light bulbs that can't be reached easily.
5. I would buy a yacht and go fishing for the big ones.
5) What are five jobs you’ve had?
1. My first job was as a box office cashier at a movie theater.
2. My second was at Ingalls Shipyard where I served as an executive secretary.
3. A Wife
4. A Mother
5. Did doctors and merchants general ledgers (bookkeeper) also served in the capacity of personnel manager and when husband died I served as CEO of company.
Okay now comes the tough part of this... I do not have anyone to send this to. Annitta!! So here's what I will do, I am going to tag everyone on the list that I received. How about that?
1. George of the appropriately titled blog The Procrastinator
2. Pisceshanna from Cost of Living
3. Mama T at Life Changes after Birth
4. AlexnStephensMommy over at Toddler Tactics
5. Anita at Did We Survive Hurricane Katrina or Not
“The rules of the game get posted at the beginning. Each player answers the questions about themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.”
1) What were you doing 5 years ago?
For the first 5 months of that year I was packing, throwing out, giving away "things" I had accumulated over the years so that I could move back to my hometown.
2) What are 5 things on your to-do list for today?
1. Weed the monkey grass that lines the sidewalk.
2. Scrape paint off a wicker mirror that I sprayed.
3. Drive around taking pictures of new construction.
4. Do a little reading and of course browse the Internet.
5. Say my daily prayers.
3) What are 5 snacks you enjoy?
Cashews, cereal, hershey bar with almonds (the big one). bananas, milk
4) What are five things you would do if you were a billionaire?
1. I enjoy giving to people and with more money I would do much more.
2. I would go to Paris if I could get there without having to fly.
3. I would have a professional gardener take all the dead plants out of my yard on a regular basis and put in new ones.
4. I would hire a handyman that specializes in doing the difficult work around the house, like cleaning rain gutters and changing light bulbs that can't be reached easily.
5. I would buy a yacht and go fishing for the big ones.
5) What are five jobs you’ve had?
1. My first job was as a box office cashier at a movie theater.
2. My second was at Ingalls Shipyard where I served as an executive secretary.
3. A Wife
4. A Mother
5. Did doctors and merchants general ledgers (bookkeeper) also served in the capacity of personnel manager and when husband died I served as CEO of company.
Okay now comes the tough part of this... I do not have anyone to send this to. Annitta!! So here's what I will do, I am going to tag everyone on the list that I received. How about that?
1. George of the appropriately titled blog The Procrastinator
2. Pisceshanna from Cost of Living
3. Mama T at Life Changes after Birth
4. AlexnStephensMommy over at Toddler Tactics
5. Anita at Did We Survive Hurricane Katrina or Not
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)