By TERRY R. CASSREINO
MADISON (Saturday, Oct. 16, 2010) – When the Univerisity of Mississippi announced this week that its new mascot will be a black bear, my thoughts raced back some 12 years to a fateful day in Oxford that forever changed my life.
Col. Rebel, Ole Miss’ much maligned mascot, played a key role that day – as did the Ole Miss cheerleaders and a large contingent of friends. With their help, I staged an elaborate wedding proposal on Saturday, Sept. 5, 1998, for the woman who ultimately became my beautiful wife.
Pam and I were married on Saturday, May 15, 1999, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Madison. The wedding was unforgettable, as I’m sure most are. But our journey officially began eight months earlier on the Ole Miss campus.
A little about Mississippi, a little about Louisiana, a little about New Orleans and A LOT about our adoption story. This blog and our adoption story is dedicated to Camryn and Matthew Cassreino so that you both will know. Copyright 2021 by Terry R. Cassreino
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Another day in Madison County
By TERRY R. CASSREINO
GLUCKSTADT, Miss. (Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2010) -- The children are long asleep and I'm back in my office in our house updating our family blog for the first time in a long, long time.
My family and I have been on a whirlwind these past few months, wrapping up life in our rental home in Pearl River, La.; packing up our house in June for the move back to Gluckstadt; actually moving in July and then settling in.
We've been back here in our house since early July -- and it's still kind of difficult to believe it. In one sense, it's like we never left; in another, I still feel sad that things didn't work out in Southeast Louisiana.
GLUCKSTADT, Miss. (Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2010) -- The children are long asleep and I'm back in my office in our house updating our family blog for the first time in a long, long time.
My family and I have been on a whirlwind these past few months, wrapping up life in our rental home in Pearl River, La.; packing up our house in June for the move back to Gluckstadt; actually moving in July and then settling in.
We've been back here in our house since early July -- and it's still kind of difficult to believe it. In one sense, it's like we never left; in another, I still feel sad that things didn't work out in Southeast Louisiana.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Unmistakable odor of oil fills the Mississippi Gulf Coast air
By Terry R. Cassreino
GULFPORT (Sunday, May 23, 2010) – A steady, late afternoon breeze from the south cooled the beach across from the Courtyard Inn near downtown – and with it came the unmistakable, strong odor of oil.
This was not the odor of gasoline or a lawn mower.
This was no doubt oil, part of the thousands of barrels of crude that have continued to spew for more than a month from a leak at an underwater well some 5,000 feet beneath the surface of the Gulf of Mexico off the Louisiana Coast.
But save for the strong stench of oil, you wouldn’t have known the biggest ecological disaster was taking place miles south of here. It was business as usual along the Mississippi Coast on Saturday as visitors and residents relaxed on the beach unfazed by the oil spill.
GULFPORT (Sunday, May 23, 2010) – A steady, late afternoon breeze from the south cooled the beach across from the Courtyard Inn near downtown – and with it came the unmistakable, strong odor of oil.
This was not the odor of gasoline or a lawn mower.This was no doubt oil, part of the thousands of barrels of crude that have continued to spew for more than a month from a leak at an underwater well some 5,000 feet beneath the surface of the Gulf of Mexico off the Louisiana Coast.
But save for the strong stench of oil, you wouldn’t have known the biggest ecological disaster was taking place miles south of here. It was business as usual along the Mississippi Coast on Saturday as visitors and residents relaxed on the beach unfazed by the oil spill.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Yazoo City Tornado: Photos from the Storm
By TERRY R. CASSREINO
YAZOO CITY (Sunday, April 25, 2010) -- I just filed my story for The New York Times, uploaded my personal photos and am ready to share the pictures with my blog and readers. I'll file written text and few more photos later.
But for now, the following slide show must do.
I will say this: The damage was devastating throughout Yazoo City. Many people lost everything they had, including their homes. Many homes will have to be bulldozed. Many victims are staying with family and friends.
The destruction reminded me of Katrina's wind damage -- certainly not the tidal surge. And, of course, the response by the state, the Salvation Army and the American Red Cross appearaed to be impressive.
Here are the photos:
YAZOO CITY (Sunday, April 25, 2010) -- I just filed my story for The New York Times, uploaded my personal photos and am ready to share the pictures with my blog and readers. I'll file written text and few more photos later.
But for now, the following slide show must do.
I will say this: The damage was devastating throughout Yazoo City. Many people lost everything they had, including their homes. Many homes will have to be bulldozed. Many victims are staying with family and friends.
The destruction reminded me of Katrina's wind damage -- certainly not the tidal surge. And, of course, the response by the state, the Salvation Army and the American Red Cross appearaed to be impressive.
Here are the photos:
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Mardi Gras 2010 sadly draws to a close
By TERRY R. CASSREINO
NEW ORLEANS, La. (Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010) – Weeks of balls and parades come to an end tonight at midnight when Mardi Gras gives way to Ash Wednesday.
I’m exhausted. From parading Saturday night in Endymion to taking my wife and children to parades in New Orleans and suburban Metairie, I find myself drained from all the driving, the toting around of the parade ladder and this year’s unusually cold weather.
Oh, and by the way, it was COLD. When I staked a spot at 7:30 a.m. this morning in Metairie for today’s parades, the temperature was a cold 35 degrees. It warmed to 45 today – but was still one of the colder Mardi Gras in memory.
Hey, but we all still had a great time.
And because pictures speak louder – and better – than words, I am sharing below a slide show from Lundi Gras and Mardi Gras. As always, click the photo for a larger version. Enjoy.
Copyright 2010 by Terry R. Cassreino. All rights reserved.
Lundi Gras 2010
Mardi Gras 2010
NEW ORLEANS, La. (Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010) – Weeks of balls and parades come to an end tonight at midnight when Mardi Gras gives way to Ash Wednesday.
I’m exhausted. From parading Saturday night in Endymion to taking my wife and children to parades in New Orleans and suburban Metairie, I find myself drained from all the driving, the toting around of the parade ladder and this year’s unusually cold weather.
Oh, and by the way, it was COLD. When I staked a spot at 7:30 a.m. this morning in Metairie for today’s parades, the temperature was a cold 35 degrees. It warmed to 45 today – but was still one of the colder Mardi Gras in memory.
Hey, but we all still had a great time.
And because pictures speak louder – and better – than words, I am sharing below a slide show from Lundi Gras and Mardi Gras. As always, click the photo for a larger version. Enjoy.
Copyright 2010 by Terry R. Cassreino. All rights reserved.
Lundi Gras 2010
Mardi Gras 2010
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Happy Mardi Gras 2010
By TERRY R. CASSREINO
NEW ORLEANS (Sunday, Feb. 14, 2010) -- I'm still exhausted.
After a full day of activities with the Krewe of Endymion on Saturday -- including the parade that night and the Endymion Extravaganza following in the Superdome -- Pam and I didn't get home until 2:30 a.m.
This year's event was spectacular. The crowds were simply amazing, literally wall-to-wall all along the parade route that took the procession through Mid-City and into downtown New Orleans.
In my six years of riding in Endymion, I have never seem the crowds that large.
While I don't have a nice representation of photos showing the floats, I am posting a slideshow giving you an idea of the enormity of the crowds. And they were huge. I hope you enjoy this -- and have a great Mardi Gras in 2010.
Copyright 2010 by Terry R. Cassreino. All rights reserved.
NEW ORLEANS (Sunday, Feb. 14, 2010) -- I'm still exhausted.
After a full day of activities with the Krewe of Endymion on Saturday -- including the parade that night and the Endymion Extravaganza following in the Superdome -- Pam and I didn't get home until 2:30 a.m.
This year's event was spectacular. The crowds were simply amazing, literally wall-to-wall all along the parade route that took the procession through Mid-City and into downtown New Orleans.
In my six years of riding in Endymion, I have never seem the crowds that large.
While I don't have a nice representation of photos showing the floats, I am posting a slideshow giving you an idea of the enormity of the crowds. And they were huge. I hope you enjoy this -- and have a great Mardi Gras in 2010.
Copyright 2010 by Terry R. Cassreino. All rights reserved.
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