I Will Make Everything New

2008-12-10T17:02:00.001-08:00

I have a new blog entitled "What Is Truth? " I took notice that when I started the new blog that many of my faithful readers of "Camille and Katrina Were Not Ladies" and "I Will Make Everything New" departed. You came, read and left most times without a comment, sort of like a voyeur. Not a sexual voyeur by any means but one just peering into another's life. I willingly permitted you to look in but then I uttered a hard saying? I declared my catholicity. Already I have received an attack there from someone who talked in the first person as though he or she was God. I answered as I will continue to do no matter how vicious the attack. Come and hear the truth or tell me what you think is the truth. Do you live your faith, do you observe the commandments, I do!

2008-11-07T13:43:00.000-08:00

At the present time, I have been on the internet for 12 1/2 yrs.. I started at Geo Cities with a website entitled "All In The Family". As the title should suggest it was about myself, husband, children and grandchildren. I displayed pictures of our yards with all the beautiful landscaping, flowers etc. All of that was good but I found that my finest contribution would be on my husband's illness during his fight with a cancer of the lymphatic system known as Non Hodgkins Lymphoma. I received many replies from people who had the disease, most of them served in Vietnam and had been in contact with Agent Orange. George's story gave them hope that, with treatment, they could extend their lives. My husband lived for 9 yrs. with the disease and lived well until a fast growing brain tumor caused his death in 1999 from glioblastoma. After his death I took the site down.

From December 1999 to January 2001 I took care of our business affairs along with my daughter, Anita, without whom I couldn't have made it through. In May of 2003, I came back to my hometown in Pascagoula. . In August 2005, Katrina smashed into the coast causing massive damage and because of severe lack of media coverage I began writing about what happened to us with a blog entitled "Camille And Katrina Were Not Ladies. Later I was to add another blog entitled "I Will Make Everything New". This will be my last post to this blog too as now I see a need to reach out to True Catholics not Cafeteria Catholics. So watch for my new blog which I hope to start very soon.

Thanks to all of you who have faithfully read my writings.

A Nation Divided

2008-11-06T19:27:00.000-08:00

Today I returned to the real world, after many days of listening to all the speeches from both candidates. As I listened I felt that I wasn't in America anymore. I heard kill the unborn, let gays have the same privilege of a lawful marriage, bring our troops home and a mention of the need to form a military militia here in America. Who would they be fighting against? Us?

It seems that a Democrat is still a Democrat but a Republican is no longer a Republican that votes on the issues at hand. but simply a Racist. I have learned something pretty late in my life from this campaign .. being born in Mississippi, I have heard our state called racist many times and I would soul search and ask myself "Am I racist"? The answer is no. I have videos on my site of Alan Keyes and Alonzo "Zo". I would have voted for Keyes in an instant and had Alonzo been on the ticket, he would have gotten my vote too. Why? Because they have the same values I have.

The final tally of votes shows that America is divided. Oh! We have always been, in a sense, divided because of different issues but now we are presented with horrific issues that most certainly divide us. It is said, that a nation divided against itself will fall and I fear that we will.

Aftermath

2008-11-06T10:27:00.001-08:00

2008-11-06T09:49:00.000-08:00

2008-11-05T23:39:00.001-08:00

The Treatment of Bush Has Been A Disgrace

Gov. Schwarzenegger Campaigns for McCain-Palin

2008-10-31T20:56:00.001-07:00

2008-10-29T09:15:00.000-07:00

ELEVENTH HOUR ELECTION ALERT - Fr. Corapi

Death Wish Part 1

2008-10-24T10:00:00.001-07:00

Death Wish Part 2

2008-10-24T09:59:00.001-07:00

Commentary: Liberals let loose on Palin and Joe the Plumber - CNN.com

2008-10-24T08:15:00.000-07:00

Commentary: Liberals let loose on Palin and Joe the Plumber - CNN.com: "SAN DIEGO, California (CNN) -- I thought liberals were supposed to be good-hearted, open-minded and non-judgmental.

Tell that to the angry Left's favorite pi�ata, Sarah Palin. As far as liberals are concerned, Palin can do no right just as Barack Obama and Joe Biden can do no wrong. In fact, Biden is catching more passes than an NFL wide receiver.

As Palin herself pointed out in a recent CNN interview, imagine if she had been the one to imply that electing Obama would invite calamity. Biden does it, and the media shrug."

Make Mine Freedom (1948)

2008-10-22T09:51:00.001-07:00

The New Generation Versus America

2008-10-21T09:24:00.000-07:00

Usually, when I put a post up, I talk about everyday life which probably isn't of interest to anyone but me and the people who live that life. Today I want to talk about the "fracas" that is taking place in our country. I consider myself up-to-date on all of it as, by now, we all are. I have listened to all the incumbent speeches, the last was from Senator Joe Biden.

No, I am not going to talk all politics, I also want to speak about the hard times that are in our future. Not too many years ago, we could have handled this crisis but now there seems to be a great divide between us as fellow Americans. We are now labeled "right wing" or "left wing", there is no other choice or so it seems. What about those who, like my Mother often said, use their Common Sense? Has that gone by the wayside? Do we just follow whatever we find that appeals to the eye and only lean toward those we call "intellectual"? In my opinion, that is why we have no working class, they are all in college. Our children need to learn how to work and work hard like their ancestors before them did. A couple of my children had said over the years, I won't work for $5 dollars an hour... they believed from all the propaganda taught them in our schools, society and television entitled them to their unrealistic expectations. We, as they, are reaping the consequences of that behavior. How do I know? I have children as old as Palin and Obama.

Our unborn are not protected by a caring America anymore, they never had a chance to chase the American dream. Because of my age, that I disclosed above, although in good health, I feel that I am in danger too. What about the feminists that want equal rights for women etc. but have not stepped up to defend the vicious attacks against Sara Palin? Something is amiss.

Wake up America, so many of us are counting on you!

2008-10-21T00:22:00.001-07:00

WLOX-TV and WLOX.com - Building South Mississippi Together |Mississippi soldier killed in Iraq

2008-10-16T18:52:00.000-07:00

WLOX-TV and WLOX.com - Building South Mississippi Together |Mississippi soldier killed in Iraq: "JACKSON, MS (AP) - Army Pfc. Christopher A. McCraw was an energetic young man who was looking forward to coming home from Iraq and marrying the mother of his young son. The 23-year-old Columbia native died Tuesday when he came under attack while on a patrol in Baghdad, the Department of Defense said Thursday."

2008-10-14T19:31:00.000-07:00

GOD BLESS AMERICA

CLICK ON LINK

2008-10-14T19:09:00.001-07:00

click on tub

Alan Keyes Speaks to his Friends

2008-10-10T07:56:00.001-07:00

Wisconsin voter warns McCain about socialism, ACORN

2008-10-09T13:24:00.001-07:00

2008-10-03T16:54:00.000-07:00

I think that when I occasionally spoke about agendas and smoke screens as a cover up for what was coming in the future came to light yesterday when the government "sold" us out of the American existence we have known for many years. Am I one of those misinformants as they call bloggers? No, I am speaking about what I know. Most of my life was lived in the "middle class". If you don't know who middle class people were, I will tell you. At one time, they were called the backbone of America. All were hardworkers who paid their taxes and bills without having the government or collectors prod them. They didn't want what the "Joneses" had, they lived within their means. Those independent people didn't rely on the government to save them and thus be owned by them. That's what is happening now, the federal government is taking over and that will lead to socialism. I don't want that, do you?

I complained, as most people say, about the hype that was being put on us doing the hurricanes and our voices of experience were not being heard ... we don't need to get out for every storm that enters the gulf. The same tactic was used with the Wall Street crisis, panic the people and they will submit. Well, we didn't panic, in Mississippi alone there were many emails and calls jamming the circuits to our state representatives saying, "We don't want this, let it crash"! People from all over the country were trying to stop the bail out as majority rules but, in this case, the majority was completely ignored. Even though we weren't heard, $22,000 will be added to each taxpayer and will have to be paid back in three years. Wall Street didn't crash, America did!

For days now, I have had this tight feeling in my chest as a result of what has transpired. It's not a pending heart attack but one of impending doom. If this could happen, what comes next?

An interesting quote below:

I once said, "We will bury you," and I got into trouble with it. Of course we will not bury you with a shovel. Your own working class will bury you.
Nikita Khrushchev, Speech in Yugoslavia, Aug. 24, 1963
Russian Soviet politician (1894 - 1971)

My Birthday

2008-09-25T14:25:00.000-07:00

Since I love Fall so much, to have been born in September was perfect. I awakened to a gorgeous day, the morning temperature was a cool 59 degrees. I made it through another year that brought only a few tears and lots of laughter. Things are definitely looking up. Thanks to Dave and Anita and Bruce and Peggy for a perfect celebration.

2008-09-20T16:44:00.000-07:00

Do you know what this is? "A vacuum cleaner that matches the recliner"? It is a product made by "Shop Vac" whose products are usually great. It vacuums leaves and mulches them too. We tried it out today and it works well, of course there will still be some raking because the trees in my yard are huge and drop a mountain of leaves. My birthday is fast approaching so Dave and Anita gave me an early gift. Anita and I ran it through a test and laughed as we vacuumed, the leaves were falling the entire time. I will update you on how I determine how to put this sharp machine to a productive and work lessening usefulness.

As for hurricanes, I haven't even tuned in to the weather channels as I am just living a normal life at this time. Yesterday I returned all the things I had inside since August 30th to the back porch. I also watch the New Orleans Saints football game every Sunday .. on September 7 they won over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24-20 and on September 14 they lost to the Washington Redskins 24-29. That's the Saints, win one lose one. We go from elation to the bottom of the pit but still we stay loyal to them.

I haven't much to say at this time .. just stepped out of my "glass" house and put on my "rose colored glasses" long enough to say hello.

Will be back!

2008-09-13T16:12:00.000-07:00

Washington Avenue

2008-09-13T12:34:00.001-07:00

Although we were spared a direct hit by Hurricane Ike, we had flooding in low lying areas. No major damage to report. Ironically, on two major anniversaries we had two hurricanes to contend with. Katrina struck on August 29, 2005 and we found ourselves in a mass exodus on August 31, 2008. as we sought refuge in Atlanta, GA until Gustav made landfall on September 1, 2008. Another hurricane named Ike became a threat as 911 drew near. On September 11, 2008, we were feeling the effects of the storm. That evening as I lay down to rest a feeling of peace surrounded me. The sound of the wind lullabied me to sleep.

We have gone through too many things to mention here over the past three years. A minority of people and the media criticize every decision that we make in regards to our safety and under that guise they take the liberty of insulting us. While America is still free, we have the right to think for ourselves.

Yesterday, my daughter, Anita and I drove around taking pictures and videos. We walked all the way down to Pascagoula's new pier and as we turned around to go back we had to keep our eyes closed because of the blowing sand. Later we discussed how free we felt as we played and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The scene was awesome!

Scalloped Lace

As We Played Building Went On

2008-09-12T22:14:00.000-07:00

Our Brush With Ike

2008-09-12T17:33:00.000-07:00

The last 24 hours have been absolutely exhausting. Just leaving my house to be with my daughter and her family meant I had to pack up once again what I would need. I have not quite recuperated from our trip to Atlanta, Ga where we made an attempt to put distance between ourselves and Gustav ... then along comes Ike. I am very happy to say that we came through very well. Last evening the winds were gusting at 30 to 40 mph as it passed us. There was not much rain in our area and personally I am very glad as I live off River Road and the Pascagoula River was rising and spilling over its banks. Had I stayed in my house I would have been trapped as the bridge to my left went underwater and the road to my right was beginning to flood when I left the house but I knew that I could return for a couple of hours and relax as we were at low tide. I returned to daughter's house about 6PM last evening. After a relatively uneventful night, at 10AM this morning I packed and started winding my way back home and this is what I found on the same road I came out on. I made a feeble attempt to drive a short distance through the water before I backed out ... there was a current.

A little later Anita and I went to take pictures. I have still shots of Beach Boulevard but I can't top her video. My video lasts a minute and the syrupy voice you hear is mine but don't let it fool you, "I am tough as nails". "smile" Will post a few more pictures tomorrow.

Hurricane Ike

2008-09-11T12:25:00.000-07:00

These are pictures I took before noon today of how Hurricane Ike is affecting our area. I am at my daughter's house as the area I live in has been evacuated because of the rising of the Pascagoula River. I might add that I am dictating and Anita is typing on her laptop as we speak. I miss my computer.

I have such an aversion to water that I can't even look at a glass of it. I have told you before that Moss Point's water is so dirty and brown that I have a hard time bathing in it - I jump in and jump out. But I think it's more that because I am afraid of water that I complain about the color of it.

Two weeks ago we found ourselves evacuating to Atlanta, GA because of Hurricane Gustav and now I have had to evacuate from my home off River Road because of rising water.

We were always sorry that during Katrina the Terrible that we were not able to take pictures. So I have my camera this time and a fully-loaded battery. If worse comes to worse -- I'll have pictures.

EAST INVASION - Featured Story - SunHerald.com

2008-09-06T11:56:00.000-07:00

EAST INVASION - Featured Story - SunHerald.com: "PASCAGOULA -- Jackson County residents felt the effects earlier this week when thousands of Louisianans clogged Interstate 10 and U.S. 90 instead of taking the contraflow route north in evacuating from Hurricane Gustav.

Emergency Management Director Butch Loper said Friday that what happened made evacuation more difficult for his county. Luckily, the storm stayed on course and spared Jackson County a major hit.

Contraflow is designed to route all traffic from New Orleans north into Mississippi on I-55 and I-59."

Evacuees return to battered New Orleans

2008-09-04T09:05:00.000-07:00

Evacuees return to battered New Orleans: "Meanwhile, other residents are returning to a city that has been shaken but by no means devastated to the extent it was by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. That storm and its aftermath damaged or destroyed thousands of homes in New Orleans; it put 80 percent of the city underwater. By contrast, enforcement inspectors had found eight collapsed houses in New Orleans by Wednesday and 57 others in danger of collapsing."

Not all unkempt people are evacuees but all evacuees are unkempt

2008-09-03T14:57:00.000-07:00

I can say this without rancor nor am I poking fun at a serious situation but merely pointing out my perspective on what it means to find, that because of a disaster, you have become an evacuee. In an earlier post, I talked about carrying our luggage and other paraphernalia to our rooms without hotel assistance. The elevator did work so that eased our predicament in that we didn't have to climb the stairs to the 16th floor. To lessen how many trips we would have to make I had three tote bags on my left arm and a cardboard box full of snacks for the children braced against my right hip. My son-in-law held the door for me using his left hand as his right arm was weighted down with what he was transporting to our costly retreat. I dropped the box and the management stood there and watched it all without lending any assistance. My daughter has always told me that there is a dignity surrounding me but, after over a 10 hour harrowing nightmarish drive, I arrived looking more like something "the cat dragged in". I checked my shoes before we went in to make sure that I wasn't trailing toilet tissue behind me. There was a strong possibility that could be after all the dirty restrooms we stopped at on the way to our "vacation retreat". Any makeup I started out with had melted away in the heat. My slacks were wrinkled and my shirt sported various stains, my hair was covered with a scarf but still it was an unruly mess.

In my life, when I prepared for a "vacation" there were new clothes, shoes etc. and I stayed well-groomed but we weren't preparing for a vacation, we were getting out of harms way and should something unforeseen happen on our trip we had things like flashlights, batteries and food that did not need refrigeration. Lots of cash in case places wouldn't accept credit cards or checks. If I could name only one thing that we learned from Katrina .. that would be .. we know how to survive. On our return trip, when we arrived in Mobile, AL, Mississippi cars were side by side in the two lanes going home and many of us will never leave again.

A Safe Haven

2008-09-03T10:45:00.000-07:00

Today I am walking around "zombie like" after driving more than 10 hours to get to safety and more than 7 hrs. to get back home. Turns out, it wasn't safe at all in many ways. We were involved in a mass exodus and unless you have been in one there should be no comments like, "Well even though the storm didn't do what it was predicted to do, you did the right thing." Since I love doing new things at least once and survive, I am sure that after I recuperate that I will say, "Never again but I have that notch on my belt too." We were trapped, no way out, all we could do was go with the flow. In spurts, the traffic would start moving until you were forced to travel at 75mph to 85mph and you found yourself flying to "safety". I remember that I hydroplaned a couple of times after the rainstorm but Hey! What the heck! I was safe. Another incident, a semi in the far left lane came to a stop and another semi that was near moved next to it and stopped. Our lanes started moving slowly and as I glanced to the left there was a car laying on its side. My daughter asked later if I saw the man that ran in front of her and she almost hit him. Because we had to keep moving, we don't know if he made it or not. In another wreck a 2yr. old child was killed. I am sure that there were many more that we didn't hear about. I wouldn't let any of the 5 grandkids ride with me but I took Judge, the family dog. I worried about him but thought maybe if I had a wreck that possibly he would survive as he was asleep on the backseat and thus relaxed. As for me, I was tense and if I wasn't killed from the intial crash the 300lbs. of pressure from the airbag would have finished the job. Later we all talked about the nonsense of running from predicted danger to real danger. We concluded that for us, it is safer at home.

Our lodgings were a big disappointment, we found ourselves still trying to survive. When we arrived at the hotel and were paying for our rooms, we were told that if any of you smoke in the rooms there will be a $250 dollar fine. I could almost hear the cash register bells going off. Dogs can stay in the room and we all know that no matter how clean the dog, they smell like a dog but the smell of a cigarette is more offensive to what seems like the majority of people. Many hotels serve a complimentary Continental breakfast and the one we stayed at did too but we arrived late, 130AM Monday morning and missed the breakfast because we needed sleep more than food. So Tuesday morning when we were preparing to leave I went to ask if the breakfast was still being served and it was so I told the man that we would be down shortly and he called after me, "It is no longer complimentary, you have to pay for it." I didn't see any security at all. A couple of times I had to go to my car for an item and a feeling of dread would wash over me that there was no protection for me but I am sure that if I had drank one of the three bottles of water in my room that were tagged with a note that said, "If you drink this bottle of water, it will cost you $3.", that a siren would have sounded. I think that FEMA is still reimbursing these hotels and they are being fleeced but the people who are fleeing to maybe find a safer place are sometimes being mistreated.

I was anxious to get home to assess the damage and this is all I found in my backyard.

Well, We Did It Again - We Evacuated

2008-09-02T17:30:00.000-07:00

Against our better judgment we evacuated but never again. It was the most dangerous thing I have ever done in my life. A wild ride with 2 adults and 5 children in one car. I drove my car and had as my companion, Judge, their dog. We were on our way to Atlanta, Ga and certainly were not lonely for companionship. We must have had the two million people that evacuated from New Orleans alongside us. My car idles 5mph without my foot on the gas pedal and we did lots of idling, stopping, starting, fast braking that took us close to the rear end of cars. We went through a heavy rainfall that became as dark as night so we pulled off to the side of the interstate and waited as the two million people passed. How could they see anything, we couldn't? We arrived in Atlanta at night and all we had lighting our way was the red tail lights of the cars. Anita was driving and I was right behind her and every signal she gave me to go right or left became actually perfectly synchronized as we weaved our way to the west side of Georgia to find the hotel where we had reserved rooms. Dave had drawn a map and so finding it was no problem.

We went inside to pay for our rooms and were told we had two rooms on the 16th floor. 16th floor? I looked to see if they had elevators We asked for a cart to bring our belongings from the car and were told they only had 3 carts and they were in use. We had to carry all our things up and it took several trips. We were at a "first class" hotel that, in my opinion, certainly was not. We settled down finally and looked for news of the coast hurricane. CNN was following the storm closely and just like it was when Katrina devastated the Mississippi Coast, only New Orleans was mentioned. Of course, we could tell from the pictures shown that nothing devastating happened as in 2005. A neighbor called to tell me that my house was fine. Whew!! Dave and Anita's home did okay too but I will let her tell you about it. We arrived in Pascagoula at 2PM this afternoon and everything was as it was when we left. My neighborhood had some tree limbs down and I had a half of a limb down in backyard. No devastation here. There is no way that we can continue to just pack up and evacuate elsewhere and risk our lives on the interstate. Monday was Labor Day and it passed without our giving a thought to it. We should have stayed home and grilled hamburgers and enjoyed ourselves.

So now there is Hannah, Ike and Josephine and maybe we will get all three of them or none of them. Either way I am staying home. I can't take the panic anymore, it is not living the life you have been given when you run away from it. If I am to die in a hurricane, I will go out praying not running.

2008-08-29T17:50:00.000-07:00

On August 28, 2005, in preparation for a hurricane that was in the Gulf, I left my home to go stay with a daughter and her family that lived about 1/2 mile from the beach in Pascagoula. I could have stayed at home but I chose to be with them rather than staying barricaded (plywood on windows ) in the house waiting to see what was going to happen. Well, most of you know what happened ..... we were to be participants in the fury of a storm named Katrina. The night before the storm none of us slept very well and were already exhausted the next morning when Katrina was going to pay us a very unexpected visit.

I am almost ashamed to say that we were heckling the hurricane and saying it probably was all a bunch of hype. My daughter and son in law were not born when Camille hit the Gulf Coast but I was. I resided in Gulfport at that time and had already experienced the unexpected and the unprecedented but somehow the old cliche "experience is the best teacher" didn't hold true for my not forcefully suggesting that we leave.

It was about 930AM when this fast moving water started rolling down the street, filling the yards very quickly and continued rising to frightening heights until it seems it was in the house in a matter of minutes. God was definitely with us as the plywood on the windows prevented glass breakage and the raging water from rushing inside and possibly collapsing the house. Had that happened, we have no doubt that we would have died that day. We huddled in an upstairs hallway at the top of the stairway with the four little children, a dog and five cats (four newborn kittens). We had seen the neighborhood houses, when looking out an upstairs window, with water reaching their roofs and their cars parked in driveways completely submerged as was the son in laws truck.

After no response from 911, we began praying without cessation. We learned later that what we each asked for was that the children's lives be spared. We remained in a state of terror until finally the water began to recede and we felt that we were going to survive. We didn't know then the extent of the widespread destruction all along our coastline and that the aftermath was going to take a lot more courage to survive than the actual storm.

2008-08-29T10:40:00.001-07:00

CELEBRATING? THREE YEARS OF KATRINA

AUGUST 29, 2005 to AUGUST 29, 2008

2008-08-27T16:18:00.001-07:00

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

2008-08-27T11:24:00.000-07:00

Not only will the projected President of the United States have a strange and foreign sounding name, our hurricanes at this late date seem to be following suit. As Gustav decides whom it will wreak havoc on, I know that I should be making preparations just in case it is our area but I can't. Strangely, I have become lax just trying to figure out what is happening. There is a phrase that plays and replays in my mind, "the Russians are coming, the Russians are coming". We can't seem to get back up from the blow that we took here from Katrina. There are no shelters for us .. in vain we try to find rooms in hotels that are miles away. I, for one, am tired. I will not board up the windows etc., I intend to just close the door behind me as I leave my house and go to my daughter's as I did doing Katrina. Will we be safe? Who knows? Maybe as safe as one can be having Chevron refinery so close to my daughter's that now puts out 365,ooo barrels of oil a day. There's that haunting word again, "Oil". It seems to be prevalent in the news today.

Three years later and not much progress. I read recently that one of the coast's cities put their country club back that cost millions of dollars. A lot of "hoopla" was made over that accomplishment. I apparently am different in that I see the suffering of the PEOPLE and , yes, they do suffer. There are still 4000 in Fema trailers or mobile homes. Do they hope for their world to get better as President Elect Obama says so often or should action be taken? I go for the latter.

WLOX-TV and WLOX.com - Building South Mississippi Together |Another Mississippi Soldier Dies In The War On Terror

2008-08-23T06:46:00.000-07:00

WLOX-TV and WLOX.com - Building South Mississippi Together |Another Mississippi Soldier Dies In The War On Terror: "GREENWOOD, Miss. (AP) - The Department of Defense says a soldier from Greenwood has been killed in Iraq. The military says 40-year-old Sgt. 1st Class George Stanciel died Aug. 19 of wounds suffered when the base he was at came under mortar attack."

WLOX-TV and WLOX.com - Building South Mississippi Together |Mississippi Soldier Killed In Afghanistan

2008-08-19T14:36:00.000-07:00

WLOX-TV and WLOX.com - Building South Mississippi Together |Mississippi Soldier Killed In Afghanistan: "JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - A 101st Airborne Division officer from Oxford was killed in Afghanistan after his vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb and attacked by insurgents, military officials said Tuesday. Army 1st Lt. Donald C. Carwile, 29, died Aug. 15 along with another soldier, Pfc. Paul E. Conlon Jr., 21, of Somerville, Mass., the Department of Defense said Tuesday in a news release."

WLOX-TV and WLOX.com - Building South Mississippi Together |South Mississippians Remember Hurricane Camille

2008-08-18T15:04:00.000-07:00

WLOX-TV and WLOX.com - Building South Mississippi Together |South Mississippians Remember Hurricane Camille: "BILOXI, MS (WLOX) - Sunday people all over the coast remembered the lives lost during Hurricane Camille. The storm of 1969 devastated the coast and nearly 200 people were killed or never found as a result of the storm."

Publish Post

Bush to visit Gulf Coast as Katrina anniversary nears | clarionledger.com | The Clarion-Ledger

2008-08-17T22:47:00.000-07:00

Bush to visit Gulf Coast as Katrina anniversary nears | clarionledger.com | The Clarion-Ledger: "NEW ORLEANS — President Bush will visit New Orleans and the Mississippi Coast on Wednesday to check out the recovery from Hurricane Katrina.

The White House said Friday that Bush is expected to deliver an afternoon speech in New Orleans, then travel to the Mississippi Coast for dinner with community leaders.

Katrina struck August 29, 2005, flooding 80 percent of New Orleans and wiping out Mississippi coastal communities. At least 1,800 people died.

The federal government has poured billions of dollars into the rebuilding effort.

Local officials plan commemorative ceremonies August 29."

Looking Back To 2005

2008-08-14T10:41:00.000-07:00

083005.pdf (application/pdf Object)

2008-08-13T11:00:00.000-07:00

Bush says Russia must 'keep its word' - The White House- msnbc.com: "WASHINGTON - President Bush, expressing his concern over Russia's military actions against neighboring Georgia, on Wednesday said he is sending Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Tbilisi to show support for the Georgian government."

2008-08-07T19:08:00.000-07:00

It's raining here tonight but I think it's too late to save flowers or lawns. For the past three years we have had droughts and very high temperatures ... today was 96 degrees. I love a rainy night with the roll of distant thunder. It's very pleasant to me. Yes, sometimes we have what I call normal weather and sometimes we have had fierce hurricanes. On August 29th, it will be three years since Katrina came into our lives and devastated our cities. Not any one area in Pascagoula is completely rebuilt and spruced up. I drove around today and I noticed only a few cars or none on the route I took. Where are the people? Well, if they are like me, they are staying close to their homes. Why? I haven't the vaguest! Could we just be tired of surviving, waiting and apprehensive that something that shouldn't have happened may happen again? Will another hurricane take a "swipe" at us and destroy what we have struggled to put back? I am able to ask all the above questions because it is the way I feel. Maybe the handful of people I see in Wal-Mart or in grocery stores and gas stations is an indication that people are having a rough time making ends meet. And maybe, like me, they stay home to protect what they still have.

Post Office

Fema Trailer In Back

Market Street

Market Street Crossing Hwy 90

You can see from the pictures why I ask, "Where are the people"?

2008-08-02T16:44:00.000-07:00

I believe that if I had been locked in a room for the past three years with no communication to the outside world that I would have been able to tell each year that the anniversary of Katrina was drawing near. I can't speak for anyone but myself so I am going to try to tell you how I feel. I, my daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren should have died that day but we didn't. Somehow I had the sensation that we were lifted above the tragedy that was happening below We prayed incessantly, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, our voices loud and clear as we asked for God's mercy. What has happened to me is that I still feel like I am suspended in air just waiting for the other shoe to drop and then I will make my descent. Is that anyway to live, of course not, but that is how it is for me and maybe many more people. They call what has happened to us mental illness but I call it an emotional illness. Death can come suddenly as in a car crash where many are killed instantly or from a long illness where you are under heavy sedation. To be alive and vibrant and KNOW that you are going to die was nightmarish enough but the way you knew you would die was even more horrendous. The house would have eventually collapsed or you would drown. You know how most things that happen in our life are recalled by what we call a "trigger"? A song or a word might bring the event back to you to relive. That's what the month of August is to many of us now ... a trigger.

My new PC is great. My old one couldn't burn music CD's but this one can so I have been purchasing songs from Amazon I have to be careful as I have what I call an obsessive personality and I know that I will have zillions of songs before I finally tire of it or Amazon has no more to sell me.

Until later.

2008-07-31T12:01:00.000-07:00

Installation Underway
Back Soon

SunHerald.com : 'Just put him back in jail'

2008-07-31T07:30:00.000-07:00

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."

Obama Campaign Contacts GulfCoastNews.com

2008-07-30T16:17:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-30T10:19:00.000-07:00

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."

2008-07-29T17:19:00.000-07:00

The following pictures of construction were taken in Pascagoula today. They can't possibly show the vastness of what is there, I was impressed. Location is Old Mobile Highway that crosses over Chico Road heading West.

2008-07-29T08:24:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-07-28T11:07:00.000-07:00

Well I am working with only a part of my new computer until a new CPU arrives. In the meantime, for your entertainment and to vent my frustration, I have pictures below looking from my front door toward a neighbor with deep seated problems. HELP!

Be back as soon as I can!

2008-07-26T08:52:00.000-07:00

I am setting up a new PC and it's a pain. Anything on my blog that requires a plug in is not working at the time but will hopefully return to normal soon.

2008-07-20T20:39:00.000-07:00

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.

Katrina's Children Critique

2008-07-20T10:18:00.000-07:00

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..

2008-07-13T11:39:00.000-07:00

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!

Oh no! Tagged Again!

2008-07-08T18:49:00.000-07:00

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.

2008-07-07T06:22:00.000-07:00

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.

2008-07-04T18:42:00.001-07:00

2008-07-02T12:27:00.001-07:00

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

2008-06-27T07:26:00.000-07:00

Just a short post to catch you up on what I have been doing especially to explain the montage video posted below. We are still rebuilding and will be for a long time. I drove around for only a short time yesterday and today snapping a few pics as it seems when gas prices rise the additives that give good mileage are no longer "added". Personally, my fence that was burned back in December by a neighbor's explosive attempt at burning trash was repaired less than a week ago, by HIM.

I will write later about all the pros and cons happening down here. Until then...!

Pascagoula, Mississippi

2008-06-26T15:42:00.001-07:00

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

FOXNews.com - Scuffles Break out Between Wisconsin Flood Victims in Line for Food Vouchers - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News

2008-06-23T18:59:00.000-07:00

FOXNews.com - Scuffles Break out Between Wisconsin Flood Victims in Line for Food Vouchers - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News: "MILWAUKEE — Pushing and shoving broke out among some of the 2,500 people hit hard by recent floods who lined up outside a county office early Monday in hopes of collecting free food vouchers."

2008-06-23T18:42:00.000-07:00

Arte Y Pico at http://arteypico.blogspot.com/

My daughter Anita at "Did we Survive Hurricane Katrina or Not" received the above award and was to choose five of her favorite blogs and, wonder of wonders, I was one of them. I don't know if this proves my blog worthy but it sure proves I am loved. Thank you Anita.

WLOX-TV and WLOX.com - Building South Mississippi Together |Red Cross Volunteers To Assist Midwest Flood Victims

2008-06-19T06:26:00.000-07:00

WLOX-TV and WLOX.com - Building South Mississippi Together |Red Cross Volunteers To Assist Midwest Flood Victims: "GAUTIER (WLOX) -- The American Red Cross holds many disaster response workshops through out the year. But the group meeting Wednesday in Gautier was one of many across South Mississippi getting ready to take what they've learned on the road."

SunHerald.com : The trees laugh last, start growing after being sculpted

2008-06-15T12:44:00.000-07:00

SunHerald.com : The trees laugh last, start growing after being sculpted: "'There is an old saying about how you can't fool Mother Nature,' said Vincent Creel, Biloxi public affairs manager. 'Mother Nature can sure fool us.'"

2008-06-14T20:28:00.000-07:00

Cong. Gene Taylor Sends Sharply Critical Letter to FEMA Over Agency's "No Ice" Policy

All this talk about FEMA taking ice away from disaster victims prompted my memory of a happening in my life. It was in mid June of 1983. We had moved from our home in Gulfport to the Lumberton area and put the vacated home up for sale. We hired a landscaper to maintain the yard until it sold. The house was devoid of all furniture and the utilities had been turned off. We drove down one weekend to check on the house and the yard was in bad shape. My husband was livid but I said that when he drove back down that Monday for work that I and the young daughter would come with him and I would get the yard in shape again. So we packed all the necessary equipment in the bed of his truck and he dropped us off at the house. I put the ice chest inside the house to keep it out of the sun and within 3 hrs. I had the yard looking pretty good. My young daughter had worked all this time with me so I sent her inside to rest. I never seem to know when enough is enough. The yard was full 0f pine trees and the shingled roof looked like a thatched one as it was thickly covered with straw. I couldn't take the blower with me as it would be a hindrance as I tried to get off the ladder, so I threw a broom up on the roof. Now I must tell you that I have always been able to climb "up" but I have never been able to climb "down". Rather quickly I had all the straw off the roof and it was time for my descent. I called over and over for my daughter to come hold the ladder steady and she didn't hear me. She had fallen asleep. So for over 2 hrs. I was on the roof with a blazing sun sapping the life out of me. I became dizzy, nauseous, weak and finally disoriented. I laid down on the roof and that's how my husband found me. I have no memory of how he got me down but I remember he propped me up against a shed that was in the yard and got the ice chest and started cooling me down. He put ice all over me .. head, chest, arms, legs, back of my neck. He had the daughter hold cold drink cans to my head. It took awhile but I rallied, his quick response saved my life that day. Heat stroke or heat exhaustion happens very quickly.

2008-06-14T06:48:00.000-07:00

Somebody pinch me please! What is happening to America? Most of this morning I have been speaking the name of our probable next president, you know, sort of testing with what ease it might roll off my tongue. ... President Barack Hussein Obama. It was strange and foreign coming after such presidents as Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton to name a few. I also was thinking of suspected terrorists, detained in Cuba, that have been given a constitutional right to be tried in our courts. One of them is thought to be the mastermind behind the 9/11 attack. Have we forgotten?

Foreign Terrorists Have Constitutional Rights

I was also thinking of the terrible tragedy in Iowa which scientists have basically said is no big deal, it's a 500 year flood. How do they know that with any certainty and why do they seem to minimize a tragedy when they say it has happened before? How many people from the 1500's are here to lend credibility to their statement? Global Warming is not acceptable as being the cause of most of our "nature gone wild" tragedies.

Oh well, maybe I think too much!

Weather Manipulation?

2008-06-12T10:48:00.001-07:00

I had gotten into a pattern lately of posting on Sunday but for the past couple of days since I find myself homebound because of a sinus infection, I have more time to write. What I am going to write are my thoughts on the severe weather we are experiencing. You who read this will probably say I am nuts and you may be correct but all the same I love intrigue and possible conspiracy on the part of maybe not our government but definitely something or someone is manipulating our weather. My thoughts have gone back countless times to Hurricane Camille in 1969 where in an attempt to lessen the storm's fury, hurricane planes were sent up and "ice crystals" were dropped into the eye wall. Well, the rest is history ...wind velocity meters broke at 200MPH. How about those contrails in the sky and the very strange looking airplane that we have seen fly over many times while the contrails are being formed. There was one that really unnerved me ... in the clear blue sky there was only one contrail ...a huge X. We have seen so many that we now call them chemtrails. There are many of us who "look up" and are amazed at what we see. I am reminded of the fantastic laser show at Disney World in Florida and how much more advanced we are now. In 2005, Mississippi and Louisiana lost their homes and 3 yrs. later the entire Country is finding themselves in the same boat with floods, tornadoes and looming foreclosures. etc. Those on the Coast who have managed to put a roof over their heads again will possibly meet their demise by the unfair taxation that is being put on them by the counties and if they should get past that ... insurance premiums will do them in. Regular gasoline is 4 dollars a gallon and rising each day but we are told that we need to evacuate if another storm threatens. For those of us who need assistance, State buses will transport us to God knows where. I was born during wartime years and I will not be transported to unknown destinations. I realize writing this that I have joined the ranks of the "kooks" but so be it. I think we all need to be more vigilant.

SunHerald.com : FEMA getting heat on ice

2008-06-07T07:30:00.000-07:00

SunHerald.com : FEMA getting heat on ice: "Ben Smilowitz, executive director for the Disaster Accountability Project, said Friday ice brought in for the public is a necessity after a hurricane and criticized FEMA's decision to deliver it only for medical emergencies or life-saving reasons."

YOU GOTTA SEE THIS

2008-06-06T08:14:00.000-07:00

I have put a link to an article that is in the newspaper this morning on the home of my daughter and son-in-law, Peggy and Bruce. It is absolutely gorgeous!

WELCOME TO PARADISE

SunHerald.com : FEMA: No ice after a storm

2008-06-05T06:25:00.000-07:00

SunHerald.com : FEMA: No ice after a storm: "'We want to make sure we're providing ice as a life-saving item and not a comfort item,' she said. 'We're not insensitive to comfort. That's why we're pushing people to get prepared and be able to help themselves.'"

"Ice is a comfort item? I think Country Fried Steak topped with white gravy would have been a comfort. Ice is not a necessity when heat stroke was very prevalent here? They are pushing people to help themselves? FEMA you have all the answers, tell us how to make ice with no electricity so you won't have to decide, does this require us to be sensitive or insensitive ?"

SunHerald.com : Celebration day: Beauvoir reopens on Davis' 200th birthday

2008-06-04T07:55:00.000-07:00

SunHerald.com : Celebration day: Beauvoir reopens on Davis' 200th birthday: "The incongruity of people and sounds was obvious - women in hooped skirts, men in Confederate gray and cannon fire contrasted with moms in shorts pushing 21st century strollers and loud road repair machines. It would give Davis pause if he were to miraculously return on his 200th birthday, but he'd feel right at home. The house looks as it did when he left in 1889 and died in New Orleans."

WLOX-TV and WLOX.com - Building South Mississippi Together |Rock Pioneer Bo Diddley Dies At Age 79

2008-06-02T11:40:00.000-07:00

WLOX-TV and WLOX.com - Building South Mississippi Together |Rock Pioneer Bo Diddley Dies At Age 79: "JACKSONVILLE, FL (AP) -- Bo Diddley, a founding father of rock 'n' roll whose distinctive 'shave and a haircut, two bits' rhythm and innovative guitar effects inspired legions of other musicians, died Monday after months of ill health. He was 79."

Bo Didley TNT show

2008-06-02T11:30:00.001-07:00

Hurricane seasonal warnings almost useless, experts say | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

2008-06-01T14:28:00.000-07:00

Hurricane seasonal warnings almost useless, experts say | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle: "They can pretty accurately predict an above- or below-average season, even predict the likelihood a major storm will hit SOMEWHERE along the U.S. coast. Beyond that, they're not promising anything."

2008-06-01T10:28:00.000-07:00

Today is Sunday and I am almost "boarded up" in the house. The weather has been very hot and is in much need of rain. Friday Dave and Anita cut the grass for me as I sometimes am not quite up to the chore. Anita came in after cutting the front yard and said the noise of the lawnmower had chased a snake out from the monkey grass which lines the front walkway. While Dave was cutting the back yard small newly hatched frogs were jumping up into the air. Lots of them. I don't want to turn on the sprinklers as more will come for water. Poor creatures.

I read again that the state, in case of a hurricane threat, will send buses to pick up people if they have no way to evacuate. Taking your own vehicle is sort of frowned on as it always causes traffic congestion and now, with the price of gasoline, it's a good time don't you think for all of us to board a State bus that will take us away from the coast? I certainly don't feel that way. There are catastrophes all around us and for some reason Mississippi and Louisiana are the two most singled out states that they say do not prepare for disasters. Everyone should know that no matter where you live, you can't stock up on medication. Luckily, for a lot of us, one lone pharmasist gave us what we needed. We had a lot of non perishable food and water but all that was destroyed. In my lifetime, I have been in a couple of shelters and many times what is predicted to happen doesn't happen. Those of a certain age with health problems will not make it out alive or later it will hasten their death.. It's miserable. You are just as hot, hungry and thirsty. Dave, Anita and I used ingenuity and survived. We were in control and found a way. If I read one more article on us being complacent, I will explode.

On a lighter note, about the weather and strange things happening. Every Christmas, I have always had a couple of poinsettia flowers which never lived past Christmas. They usually shriveled up and died before the season ended. This past year I put the two I had outside in freezing weather in their pots. No big deal there as they like cold. Even when the heat arrived and stormy weather blew them around the driveway, they survived (Like Katrina). They are now planted in my yard, one is still "red"... I took the picture this morning.

Chevron And Dupont Post-Katrina Expansions Show Corporate Opportunism At Worst > Gulf Coast Update > Sierra Club

2008-05-28T22:31:00.000-07:00

Chevron And Dupont Post-Katrina Expansions Show Corporate Opportunism At Worst > Gulf Coast Update > Sierra Club

BOOMING AND SPLASHING

2008-05-27T14:26:00.000-07:00

I am thinking about going out next week to take a few pictures to show you. I haven't been doing that for awhile now as there is nothing new in the way of development ..... that speaks for the rest of the Coast too. But let me tell you ... we are certainly Ka-Booming and Splash Padding. I don't see that as development when people are in trailers and nothing much has been done for them in the way of affordable housing. People are worried about insurance on their homes and cars. The cost of food is outrageous as is gasoline. June 1st is the beginning of hurricane season and I am here to tell you that in 3 yrs. there have been no shelters built. If we are ordered to leave the area most of us won't be able to afford the gas or hotel prices. I recently read where Apple Computer is going to locate in Ridgeland, Mississippi, just north of Jackson. How does that help us? Development seems to continue going north of us. Despite what the news reports, it is far from the truth. I have been reading about disasters around our country over the past years and it seems the aide money was never of benefit to the people. So we are not being picked on ... it seems to be a natural order. Them first and peons last or never.

Well, that's my "two cents worth" you might say but, to us, it's our life.

Chaplet of Divine Mercy in Song - New Version

2008-05-25T12:18:00.001-07:00

I PREFER A TANDEM

2008-05-25T09:29:00.000-07:00

Today is shaping up to be a very hot Sunday on the Coast which certainly isn't the climate that is required to produce a nice lawn or flowers. As time passes down here, it becomes less desirable to plant a garden. Why? Because this August will be 3 yrs. since Katrina destroyed our way of life and life for most of us hasn't gotten any better. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that something is wrong. All the money that "poured" into Mississippi hasn't accomplished much or should I say, it wasn't put toward what was intended ... to help us in our recovery.

Agendas of all kinds are thriving it seems. Gulfport put a city wide no smoking ban on restaurants, businesses and bars (casinos excluded). Restaurants and businesses are closing. Can't anyone see that this isn't solely a health issue? It's control. The gasoline crisis, in my opinion, is another form of control. Despite the casinos exempt status on the smoking ban, recently the Beau Rivage, that draws the most celebrities laid off 200 employees. The reason given is that because of the high cost of fuel, Floridians and other states are not coming. There's another reason, again, in my opinion, it looks bad on the coast. Why would anyone come again?

I recall that I remarked in one of my posts when bicycle paths were proposed for the two bridges built under the harmless guise that the citizens could enjoy a nice ride and the scenery. Not anyone in their right mind would ride on the path as it is too hot down here in the summer. Well, both of the bridges have the paths and I thought maybe there was thought put into it after all.

Nothing makes sense to me anymore. I have often wondered about the people who run our country and states. They are enormously wealthy. How can they possibly relate to the problems most people have? When they fuel up their jets or helicopters, will they be thinking about those on bicycles? I think not!

If you are computer savvy .. start searching the Internet. Try Hurricane Hugo in 1989. It gave me chills.

2008-05-16T16:54:00.000-07:00

My Daughter's Neighborhood in Palm Bay, Florida

2008-05-16T07:11:00.000-07:00

Cancer Treatment Inventor Discovers Way to Burn Salt Water for Fuel

Stormy Weather video sheet music

2008-05-15T12:26:00.001-07:00

WLOX-TV and WLOX.com - Building South Mississippi Together |DOPPLER RADAR is sponsored by MISSISSIPPI POWER CO.

2008-05-15T12:22:00.000-07:00

WLOX-TV and WLOX.com - Building South Mississippi Together |DOPPLER RADAR is sponsored by MISSISSIPPI POWER CO.

2008-05-14T08:12:00.000-07:00

A daughter lives in Palm Bay, Florida and hasn't been able to go back to the neighborhood. When sensational news makes headlines and eventually dies out, the tragedy still goes on for the people. I received this from my daughter this morning. The food she mentions is her attempt to save the meat she bought with her "stimulus" check.

"Hey Mama...I am at a library in another town..ours is closed. I can't call because I can't recharge my cell very easy...Walgreens let me charge it up after I talked to you..plus it is a prepaid cell...you can call, but I can't talk long. Power is still off....they are working on it round the clock...guess the lines melted. We are filthy and trying to save our food....each day it warms up a little more....160 homes destroyed...they say they arrested someone for arson...guess they caught him trying to set another one. Please pray this is over soon..the kids are miserable as you can imagine. I'll be in touch soon."

2008-05-12T17:07:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day was a very good one. Dave, Anita and their children spent both Saturday and Sunday with me. My daughter Anita always gets me something unique because she puts thought into what she will do and what she knows I like. Before coming back to my hometown I lived in a rural area for years and all kinds of wildlife was around me. I particularly liked watching the antics of the squirrels especially when they jumped from tree to tree. We had squirrel feeders and when I moved home, I brought two with me. Just sentiment on my part because the wood was starting to rot. Last year I disposed of one but tucked the other away in the garage. I remember thinking how sentimental I am. It was of no use to me and really not pretty but still I kept it. I was presented with all kinds of presents and one was a new squirrel feeder. Click on pictures to enlarge them for best view.

I remembered I had one too and it was put on the fence.

This morning I was within 6 ft. of my subject. Looks like he posed for me.

2008-05-09T20:36:00.001-07:00

I am slowly stopping my writings on Katrina as we all have a lot of problems (meaning all of you) and I believe there are many more lurking just over the horizon. With the means of communication that we have now, I am positive that you know about the killing of the unborn. There is a movement on that you may not know about yet and that is the right to kill a child up to three yrs. old if they are defective in anyway. Frightening isn't it? In less obvious ways, euthanasia has been practiced for many years. How do I know? My mother was "snowed" out as a nurse told me. That was in 1978. They give morphine shots until it finally stops their breathing. A nurse had the right to refuse to participate because they didn't want to be the one that gave the shot that took a life. So then lets go to 1999 when I lost my husband. Was he "snowed" out? Yes he was. Who did it hurt? Me! They refused further treatment and had me sign a release to hasten his death. Sorry that I am being so blunt but that's how it was. The way that it should have been is to have given him palliative care with sedation until a natural death. Should I speak out about these occurrences? I think that I should. Maybe a few people will see where we are headed but on a much grander scale.

I go to the doctor about every six months for a thyroid condition that I have. In the beginning when I reported a side effect from the medication I was always referred to another specialist of some kind. A complete disregard that maybe the medication was causing the problem. Now I don't say anything. I put on my biggest smile and say I feel wonderful.

In the political arena, Senator Obama mentioned guns and religion in the same sentence and that people turn to both as they are bitter about their economic situation. So maybe, under the guise for our safety, we will be disarmed and our freedom to worship abolished. The slogan CHANGE is upsetting. . For the first time, we have candidates where we will choose the lesser evil.

"Religion is an expression of material realities and economic injustice. Thus, problems in religion are ultimately problems in society. Religion is not the disease, but merely a symptom. It is used by oppressors to make people feel better about the distress they experience due to being poor and exploited. The first requisite for the happiness of the people is the abolition of religion."

Karl Marx

SunHerald.com : SS Hurricane Camille demolition begins

2008-05-06T21:33:00.000-07:00

SunHerald.com : SS Hurricane Camille demolition begins: "GULFPORT --
A crowd of locals gathered early this morning along the beach here to snap some final photos and say 'farewell' to the SS Hurricane Camille."

2008-04-30T20:57:00.000-07:00

The Katrina video below was taken by my daughter Anita. As you will see, there has been progress but many vacant lots still exist.

Re: Katrina Pascagoula

2008-04-30T18:56:00.001-07:00

SunHerald.com : SS Camille to sail on final voyage

2008-04-30T10:00:00.000-07:00

SunHerald.com : SS Camille to sail on final voyage: "The SS Hurricane Camille has sat in the same spot since late summer 1969, and now City Hall wants the owner, Lucille Moody, to clean up the property. If not, the city will demolish what's left of the 72-foot tugboat, clean the land and send Moody the bill."

WLOX-TV and WLOX.com - Building South Mississippi Together |Two "Dead Tree" Sculptures Show Signs Of Life

2008-04-29T12:02:00.000-07:00

WLOX-TV and WLOX.com - Building South Mississippi Together |Two "Dead Tree" Sculptures Show Signs Of Life: "BILOXI (WLOX) -- If you're ever on Highway 90, you've probably seen the bird and fish sculptures made out of dead trees. What you may not have noticed is the resilience of those trees."

We are fueling' the pain

2008-04-29T10:10:00.000-07:00

We are fueling' the pain: "Don Redman, AAA spokesman for Mississippi, said a driver of an average-size sedan is paying about 2 cents more a mile, or $300 per year, on gasoline. People are still planning their summer road trips, he said, but are choosing destinations closer to home.

He said that because gas is sold in a competitive market, proximity to refineries such as Chevron's Pascagoula refinery do not have much of an impact on prices."

SunHerald.com : Truckers make off with 400 gallons of diesel fuel

2008-04-29T09:55:00.000-07:00

SunHerald.com : Truckers make off with 400 gallons of diesel fuel: "Two tractor-trailer rigs pulled up to a gas pump at the Wade Quick Stop and BP gas station late Thursday night or early Friday morning and stole $1,600 worth of diesel."

2008-04-25T13:30:00.000-07:00

Let There Be Shade

The weather is beautiful today, so I am in the yards doing what you do to maintain one -- like lots of weeding, mowing and planting. We need a little rain and although it is forecast a week in advance, it hasn't rained yet. I put a sprinkler in the side yard and it was hitting three side windows but I thought I would clean the windows at the same time. Good idea huh? NO!! When I came inside for a cup of coffee, there was water inside. Shoot! Well I have tried many things since I lost my husband not because I have any desire to do something different but because it always becomes necessary. So now I will attempt to replace the dried out "putty" or "caulk"?

I think most of us down here are just going on with our lives in spite of the problems. My daughter sent me a couple of articles and they made me angry. Yes Southerners can get angry. Don't kick us when we are down .. give us a chance to stand on our feet. If a person is coming here only to gather news and to speak ill of the people .. don't come again. Of course, things look bad down here .. we had a major disaster. By the way, we didn't have zillions of Waffle Houses or zillions of Dollar General stores before the storm. It was meant as a "put down" I am sure. Stupid!

As for our clogged arteries, let me ask how many of you out there really believe you are going to live way past the usual time span given to each of us? We are dying at approximately the age that people through the centuries arrived at. We have become too self-centered. Men and women are lifting their faces, parts of their bodies, starving to attain the enviable figure .. by all means don't go out in public if your "Abs" aren't rock hard. In aspiring for wealth and acclaim we are losing compassion for our fellowman. We all have some very rough times coming and thinking that it can't happen to you would be foolish. Maybe it won't come in the form of a hurricane or a tornado but how about famine or a foreclosure on your homes? In the blink of an eye, it can change quickly.

Oh! I hope you don't think that I believe I will be around to see the above maple trees reach a height to shade the house. They will one day benefit someone. I'll see you again.

Sifting for truth in Katrina's wake

KSU Salem students see lingering Katrina impact

SunHerald.com : FOUR BANKS ROBBED

2008-04-19T06:26:00.000-07:00

SunHerald.com : FOUR BANKS ROBBED: "Authorities were hard-pressed to explain the sudden rise in bank heists. The cases are believed to be unrelated."

WLOX-TV and WLOX.com - Building South Mississippi Together |Biloxi Bank Robbery The Third Today

2008-04-18T16:34:00.000-07:00

WLOX-TV and WLOX.com - Building South Mississippi Together |Biloxi Bank Robbery The Third Today: "This is the third bank robbery today in South Mississippi. Police have already captured suspects in the other two robberies in D'Iberville and Waveland."

WLOX-TV and WLOX.com - Building South Mississippi Together |Two Bank Robberies This Morning

2008-04-18T13:09:00.000-07:00

WLOX-TV and WLOX.com - Building South Mississippi Together |Two Bank Robberies This Morning: "There have been two bank robberies this morning on the coast. The first occurred at the Hancock Bank in D'Iberville. One suspect has been caught and the search is on for a second."

2008-04-16T06:36:00.001-07:00

Most articles about the Catholic Church that I belong to start out somewhat normal but, as usual, the news takes the "good" and permeates it with "bad". For the few of you that may come to my site, please read or listen to what the Vicar of Christ has to say.

Eternal Word Television Network

2008-04-16T06:06:00.000-07:00

Pope Benedict XVI is in America!!