Fun Fest

June 23, 2006

Bayou Lacombe Crab Cookoff Festival

Admission is only $2!!


Sample local foods, like marinated crab claws, boudin balls, gumbo,
soft shell crab poboys, fried catfish, crawfish, shrimp, and boiled crabs.

Eleven bands will entertain during the two day festival.

It's easy to find. Take I-12 to exit 74, proceed toward 190(a right coming from Covington, a left coming from Mississippi). Take a right on 190 and follow the crowd (about 2 miles).
For more info, click here

If it's too hot for you outside, stay home and watch TV.
See if you can find this program:

New Orleans Music in Exile

a "Starz InBlack Original Production"

New Orleans musicians were forced from the city to live in exile.

A great documentary featuring Kermit Ruffins, Eddie Bo, Irma Thomas, Dr. John and more.



for more info, check out their website

Or surf the internet. Here are a few good links to start with



World Class New Orleans
A site dedicated "to the resurrection of New Orleans, Louisiana. Our rich culture, care for one another, and roll-up-our-sleeves tenacity will lead New Orleans into a new golden era. "...everyone who knows New Orleans loves it because it is the most down-to-earth, real place in the country. There is no poser action in this city. It is the real deal--what you see is what you get."

An hilarious entry about New Orleans' City Hall and Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome

We're still recovering from Katrina and we still know how to laugh every once in a while!

Laissez les bontemps roullez.

Post K Crime

June 22, 2006

Hurricane Crime

Excellent post detailing the timeline of NOLA crime since the storm
Click here

Heroes

June 22, 2006

Heroes

Too often people confer the title "hero" to people that don't really fit the definition.
You know, like a football player for running a winning touchdown or
someone like Bruce Lee who "turned the little guy into a tough guy";
or Angelina Jolie who adopts kids left and right. Sure, these people can be considered heroes. I guess the term "hero" is subjective.


I have found some heroes lately in the local news.


There's the 81 year old River Ridge man who kept his cool while being
held hostage by a scum sucking police killing madman.

Here's a link to an audio/video
story of his experience .
- kudos to Jennifer Zdon of the TP for this story.


I think Mr. Lala's a hero.

The hostage situation ended peacefully. Before breaking into this elderly man's home, the criminal (scumbag muthaf___er),
Johnny Cheeks, shot a local sheriff three times in the back. This young cop had a wife and two small
kids.

I think Captain Gonzalez is a hero.


The National Guard is arriving in New Orleans this week.



These guys are gung ho about helping the city push back on crime. For their bravery,
dedication and all around great attitude, I think they are ALL heroes.

To the critics out there, who have "katrina fatigue", read this

Since Katrina, there have been countless volunteers coming down to the Gulf Coast to help tear down ruined buildings, clean up debris, serve food and help Katrina's victims in innumerable ways. These people use their vacations and their own money to do this. These folks are truly heroes.




For the past 9+ months we the people of the Storm's legacy have had to co-exist with the huge trucks hauling debris away. There are still a lot of these people around, picking up and hauling away tree stumps and other miscellaneous Katrina debris. Sure they're making a scad of money, but this is hard work and they do it 7 days a week.


These people are heroes to me.


So many people have had to rebuild their homes and their lives after losing everything to the storm. They live in tents, FEMA trailers, with friends and family. They have to deal with FEMA, mortgage companies, lawyers, contractors and their day-to-day chores. All of the people I've met and observed are doing this with a "can do" attitude. Sure, they get down once in a while; they're human. But they carry on.
They are surely heroes.


If you get a chance,go to the Discovery Channel and look for the program "Drowning New Orleans".

Excellent program detailing the timeline of events that led to the flooding of NOLA from Katrina. Riveting.

Discontent is the first necessity of progress.
Thomas A. Edison

Nature Heals

Got our asses back on the Trace last night.

It was beautiful and not as hot as we thought it would be. We did 12 miles in 90 minutes.

All in all, the Trace is healing from what Katrina did to it. There are some - not a lot - of downed trees. There's a bunch of trees that are now growing bent over, but growing nonetheless!! The one section that really blew us away was the little lilly pond.



It was a dried up mud hole!!! We're something like 30 inches short of rain this year and it's starting to take its toll on places. But nature prevails. Despite the mud hole, there was a group of pretty pink flowers at the back of "the pond".


Glad to report that "the honkeys" made it thru Katrina



It was a great ride and we got high off the endorphins!!! Hope to do it again tonite!

The National Guard will have 300 soldiers in New Orleans by weeks end, along with a number of Louisiana State Troopers. It's a sad but needed turn of events. People in the city - and all around this area - are weary.

Bitchin

June 20, 2006




Don't know why I'm creating a blog. I mean, I love reading other blogs, get lots of interesting info, laughter and tears from others.

Whatever

Today I've got a touch of the Post K mood.
I'm pissed off.

P.O.'d at the City of NOLA for letting the crime become so out of hand.

P.O.'d at the welfare hoes that are demanding mixed income neighborhoods where they want them.


What in the world makes these people think that they can to dictate where the government should build their homes?? Hello!!! The government is paying your way, you selfish bastards! Get a job, become responsible. I'm so damned tired of hearing all your crap!

I've worked for over thirty years to pay your way. Take care of your kids - bring them in at night. If you see something wrong, FIX IT!


There, I feel a little bit better.

The Katrina blues, that's what it is.

So many people still not living in their own homes. How do they do it, day in and day out? I work with at least a dozen people who lost everything. I've gotten over my survivor's guilt, but nonetheless feel like I need to be doing something for them.

Another thing bothering me is how this area is percieved across the country/world. This weekend's murder of 5 teens must have folks rolling their eyes, thinking how primitive we are. I know I shouldn't care what folks think. It's just that since the storm the only type of people you see being interviewed are the toothless yokels living in trailer parks or the overly dramatic angry women of color. But everyone was affected by this storm.

I need to get over it, I know. And I try. But driving thru it on my daily commute keeps it in the front of my mind. I can't articulate quite what I feel, but Chris Rose can. (and always does).

Thanks, Chris

Yeah, they care...
HOUSTON -- Former first lady Barbara Bush contributed money to a hurricane-relief fund on the condition that it be spent to buy educational software from her son Neil's company.