Gray on Gray Beach Photo

 

It is a Typical Gulf Coast Scene, Yet...

It may be a typical Gulf Coast Scene, but, I don't take it for granted, especially after Katrina, then the BP Oil spill.

It is SO nice to watch people enjoying the beach and the fishing piers, and of course, to enjoy them myself.

Be Encouraged

A sign of our time.Be encouraged. Someone thought it was worth prime signage to remind us that God Loves us as we go about our days' business. Maybe all travelling through this area will be a little kinder, and take time to bless and be blessed.

This sign is found on Pass Road, Gulfport, MS, Harrison County.

Speaking of blessings--the other day I had just pulled into a parking lot and was making my way to a store. An older gentleman came out pushing a cart and I thought, "I should offer to take the cart."

Then, he said, "Excuse me, May I ask a favor of you?" (I noticed he wore the Catholic Priest collar). I said, "sure"--(why didn't I think of that?) which I would have anyway special collar or not.

He said, "Could you take my cart if you are going that direction?" (Hmmm). Of course I said, "Sure." But then I said something that surprised me and I have no idea where it came from. I am not Catholic, mind you. --I asked, "Bless me, Father?"

Right then and there, he took my hand and prayed over me. I noticed his hands quivered. I don't know if the quivering was because age related or the power of God that he felt. He ended giving the blessing with the sign of the cross over me. We then parted and went about our days. I don't know if it was an unusual experience for him, but it sure was for me. I can't imagine that elderly priests do a whole lot of random blessing of non-Catholic strangers in parking lots.

Original Water Fowl Photos

Birds of a Feather...by Suzi Gravenstuk 7/29/11

The Mississippi Gulf Coast is blessed with a vibrant and varied water fowl population.


Mornings tend to be especially active. 


These photos were taken just off Keesler Air Force Base, Gate 1 at Forrester St.


The Biloxi Back Bay borders the Northern side of KAFB.

Proposal for Dog Parks Along HWY 90 Beaches

We all have our idiosyncracies. One of many that I have is frustration with a disregard for rules/laws/ordinances. But, the greater frustration is the failure to enforce ordinances. I have been told that a lack of funds is the impediment to ordinances being enforced along HWY 90 Sand Beaches. 

So, why is this my business at all? Why can't I just change the direction of my view, or pretend that I just don't see what I am seeing?

It seems possible to me that the public welfare is at risk when ordinances are being violated. Isn't that why ordinances were developed to begin with? Surely those in positions of authority do not purposefully make useless ordinances because they have nothing better to do... Think of the funds that has been put into the ordinance signs--why pay for the signs if ordinances were not to be enforced?

Before I make a bunch of people upset with me--I like dogs. I used to have a Lab that loved water even better than a treat. But, as a responsible human owned by a lab, I would make sure that she was allowed wherever I took her and was prepared to take care of her needs during the outing. 

What business is it of mine if ordinances are obeyed?

I am a local resident that walks the Sand Beaches regularly, especially around Long Beach. I pay taxes. The economy of Harrison County is closely tied to the conditions of the beaches.

As a local, I love seeing our beaches come alive with visitors again, especially after the BP Oil catastrophe in the Summer of 2010. 

I believe Harrison County Sand Beach Department is doing an excellent job in keeping the beaches looking nice and enjoyable. This IS important to the welfare of locals--as so many businesses are tied to the tourist industry and the tourist industry is tied to the beach, fishing, boating, and other water sports.

What if it would benefit tourism if dogs were allowed on the beach? Would that create harmful and unhealthy conditions--which is why dog ordinances were developed anyway? What if Harrison County established doggy parks along the beach? BUT--because this could be an expensive undertaking--charge admittance to the doggy parks.

I still take a bag to pick up litter and potentially hurtful items in the sand as I go. This is good exercise. It would be better if people would be more thoughtful and not litter.

I have had opportunity to meet many other locals who also frequent the beaches and piers. It seems I always talk to those who back up my efforts to pick up litter. These folks also claim to not litter themselves and are also upset that others are trashing our environment. While talking to locals I have queried the general interest in developing a Volunteer Beach Patrol. I did not take names; but, if we were allowed to form a volunteer group--I believe it would not be difficult to  do so and to quickly make a positive impact.

       

Rather than a calling the volunteer group--a patrol--possibly they would be thought of as Sand Beach Ambassadors, or Sand Beach Stewards. I can tell you for certain if a local gets out and mixes with the public on the beach--that person will be inundated with questions--. Volunteers should be able to answer questions about fish, tides, jelly fish stings...

Actually, it is possible that local businesses would sponsor Beach Ambassadors (or Stewards). Pending approval, possibly Beach Stewards could pass out coupons to local businesses while they mix with the public and answer questions.

The Sand Beach Ambassadors should also have special vests, t'shirts, caps--which hopefully could be paid for by sponsors. We should also make T'shirts/Muscle shirts/Caps and wristbands with a catchy saying that would indicate support of Ordinances, fishing rules-regs, ecology. 

I believe locals and tourists would buy them and it would help remind everyone to be remember not to litter, etc.

I believe we could get sponsors for these items, then sell at a very reasonable price, giving a good number away to people we randomly catch doing proper environmental things, like putting trash in a receptacle.

To Summarize; I have been thinking of this program a good while. I believe it is a reasonable way to take some problems and irritants and create something good and lasting to replace them with.

I am including my photo because some people would recognize me from our beach chats. If you are interested in this project, please email me at: goalfocus@gmail.com .

Thank you,
Suzi Gravenstuk, Resident, Long Beach MS
Home: 228-206-5683

Krinkles Place: Day 7 part 3 Mississippi Beach

I stumbled upon this post in research. I share it because it gives a visitors opinion of the Long Beach shores post BP without ANY influence on my part.

Krinkles Place: Day 7 part 3 Mississippi Beach

BP Worker, Michael from Chicago

Suzi met Michael on during her morning Beach Adventure. (Beach Story to follow.) This is one way Michael's friends can see that he is doing ok.

Ok, a small story... Suzi left for her beachwalk about 8:00AM, but everywhere she looked there seemed to be teams of BP Beach Workers. Not wanting to be in the way, especially after her encounter (another story) with Robert, the Coast Guard Guy.

She wandered over past the bridge to South Beach Boulevard in Bay-Waveland. She was very happy to find a solitary place for her walk with no BP Workers. No offense to BP workers, Thank God for them. Suzi just longs for her Beach Walks to be returned to normal (without the litter). She misses her pier fishing people.

Anyway, she found this perfect mile for sand walking. (Turn left after crossing the bridge if you are coming from the East.) She parked in the parking lot at Bootler and S. Beach. You will recognize the spot because it is just South of St. Stanislaus.

Crossing the street there is an easy path to get down to the sand beach. Immediately South of that is a group of rocks. That is your land mark and how the mile is measured. (Suzi measured it with her car tripmeter).

At least for today, it was nice sand (other than occasional litter) all the way to the bridge to just pass the bridge heading North (you walk under the bridge.

Some Pelicans and other water fowl were out. The water was cool and clear near the shore. On her return to Long Beach Suzi noted that the BP workers had moved even further West and SouthWest to Henderson Point. Hopefully, that is just a preventative measure. She decided to stop in Pass Christian for a few photos. Suzi did not intend to disrupt any of the workers. Her plan was to show the team work from a distance if possible with her camera, and to photograph some of the new awesome equipment being used in the BP Beach Clean-up operation.

That was how she and Michael met. Michael was so friendly, you would think he was local (pre-oil spill|some of us have become rather grumbly lately).

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