Hanging in Biloxi, MS

Matt had several weeks of work going on in Biloxi toward the end of November and after several trips on his own, he asked us to join him (he was feeling a little lonely). We drove over to Biloxi and spent 3 nights at the Hard Rock Hotel right on the Biloxi coast. The kids had a blast playing in the pool and walking the boardwalk along the beach. But you know what, we could stay at a Holiday Inn up the road and the kids would still have a great time. They just love staying in hotel rooms and swimming in the pools. They always have a blast jumping from bed to bed (which of course is off limits at home) and eating out at the hotel restaurants. Andrew went "hog" wild over all the rock-n-roll memorabilia.

Something interesting though, that I was not fully expecting or prepared for, was that the area is still so torn up and damaged from Hurricane Katrina. There was tons of sand and debris a block or two from the beach, and the sidewalks were completely torn up. There were no gas stations or restaurants on this main coastal 2-lane highway. And apparently pre-Katrina, there were beautiful 100+ year old homes all along this highway, looking out into the gulf waters. Now, there were maybe 5-6 still standing within 10-12 miles. So sad...and several trailers, with swimming pools (that apparently made it through the storm). It was definitely depressing for me to see all this devastation and 2+ years after this horrendous storm. That is just crazy to me. No matter how much you read about it or see it on the news or in pictures, it doesn't really register until you see it in person. And again, this is 2 years after. I can't imagine driving through there a week after that storm!