Thursday/Friday from Camp Costal

Thursday
This should have been yesterday's post, but we got back late last night.

The day was spent between 2 sites, with the group split between those sites and Lowes. We'll finish up all 3 home sites today. The 4th site, which is interior painting, has just materialized – actually it's the paint that has just materialized, so that's on for today and possibly tomorrow.
We went to Mobile Ala after work to have a look around and to have dinner. The dinner was really good, and I think everyone had a good time and enjoyed themselves. Mobile is kind of quiet. We were in the historic district, and it had a small town Main Street feel to it. We walked around before dinner, Graham and Garrett took “artsy” photos, but there were very few people walking around. As we left after dinner, which was around 10, it seemed to be waking up a bit from when we arrived. We got back to Camp at 11:30 and fell into bed (which is why this blog posting is a bit late).

Bill just reported to me that several busses carrying around 160 volunteers is due to arrive tomorrow. After that, according to Jackie, the numbers dwindle, which is part of the reason the Camp is slated to close in August.

Something that I was hoping for: to see hwy 90 between Gulfport and Biloxi look better that it did in Feb 07 – and it looked much better. There are more homes and businesses being built along the beach road, and there is more landscaping and some tern nesting areas being put in. But, the VA complex still looks like it has the original storm damage, there are numerous vacant lots, and the Waffle House sign in front of the empty lot is still there. A lot of the redevelopment is high end and high rise, which is probably changing the original look of the area.

Something else – Waveland and Bayside look much better. Hwy 90 has more businesses and hardly any debris on the roadsides. The neighborhoods are coming back slowly, but again it may not be the same people who were displaced by the storm.

Friday
Today our group split again, half going to a house between Camp and I-10, and the other half finishing the leftover items at the other 3. I'm happy to report that all of the painting (ceilings and walls) was finished at the house near I-10, as were the leftovers at the other sites. We've finished our work and are enjoying our leisure this evening.

Some recollections:
-boiled peanuts in a crock pot: gas station on I-10 in Alabama
-Bobby Duval: cajun
-daily thunder storms
-Doc from Michigan: funnier than heck (since it is a Church sponsored blog)
-mango smoothies
-Dave's voice
-relaxing in the Cafe Blue Hills: formerly the old mess tent
-Kiln library parking lot: public WiFi
-Jackie's big smile
-96° and humid
-ice cold water and shade
-24 oz can of “Budweiser & Clamato”: same gas station on I-10 (I'm not drinking it!!)
-Ben, his wife, and their 3 kids: their newly painted home which replaces the trailer that the storm swept away nearly 3 years ago, his wife's smile, his kid's red cheeks, and the many times he said “thank you” to us.
-laughing and working during the day, and laughing and relaxing in the evening, and at all times enjoying the company of my 7 great companions.

Andy