Biloxi Blues

Tuesday last week while on my way to work I received an almost tearful phone call from Holly.

Our home in Biloxi has been on the market since November and the realtor had just called to tell us that our A/C was blowing hot air, that water was leaking through the ceiling and onto the floors where it had been soaking for who knows how long.

I flew there Wednesday night to assess the damage and get contractors to begin repairs. All in all the damage turned out to be pretty manageable. The floors were an easy fix and a trusted contractor friend has begun repairing the damage to the ceiling. The A/C guy came and he and I got up in the attic where I showed him what I could see that was wrong and what I expected to be fixed. He apologized profusely. Apparently the crew that was working for him at the time of our install has since been fired for a series of shoddy installs. He is working to make it right.

My friend Matt Forester was able to take off and fly over there with me. We landed in New Orleans late and did an 2AM tour of the coastline destruction on Hwy 90 from Bay St. Louis to Biloxi. In the process, I got pulled over for speeding (60 in a 45) in Long Beach. I had consumed one Scotch on the plane so I had to be interrogated by a bored cop and do the drink test (breathalizer) on the side of the road. I passed. He asked me about my job and what I was doing in town and asked Matt a bunch of random questions too. Thankfully he ended up asking us to slow down and let us go.

We ate mighty fine fried Oyster Po-Boys and had all the sweet tea we could drink at The Ole Biloxi Schooner with friend David Skinner for Thursday lunch. Thursday night we ate Pizza and played the Nintendo Wii with adopted Dad Doug Leavengood and friend Jordan Sikkema. Friday and Saturday were mostly spent managing the A/C contractors and doing other small fixes around the house. I did stay up late Friday night (until 5AM-ish) drinking beer and discussing theology w/ neighbor Kevin Moore and friends Scott/Angela Moore and had to be up again at 8AM w/ the arrival of contractors... I was a little tired.

Finally today, I loaded up and drove to BSL to attend Lagniappe Church on my way to the airport in NoLA. While there i got to see even more old friends- Andy & Cammie Chapman, Curt & Kelly Moore, Ron & Linda Junkin among others.

All in all it was a good, productive weekend. I've attached some pictures of the minor damage as well of some pictures of the maturing landscape.

B

Water Damage.

Water Damage.


Batch's foot through the ceiling damage (a mis-step in the attic).

Maturing Landscapes.

And another view.

The youth from Christ The King Houston (where we are members now) visited Lagniappe this summer for a week of service and this is the very cool sign they left as a rememberance.