ADVENT, ANYONE?

From The Curt Jester (with my highlighting):

Being that this is the first week of Advent I thought it might be useful to give some information about this season. Advent is a shortened form of the the word Advertisement, of course you probably already knew that. This time of year we get blasted by advertisements day and night to buy gifts and to attend sales. There are some groups that contend that Advertisement actually starts on Black Friday and that this is in fact the first day of the Celebration that merchandisers consider Good Friday. During the season of Advertisement we are suppose to be of good cheer for some amorphous reason that is never quite mentioned. Rumor has it that it all leads up to the event of some child born a while ago that takes place on Christmas Day. Who this child was is not important, just that we should know that the season is all about family and buying stuff. During Advertisement people say Happy Holiday’s to each other. The reason for this is that during this time Malls decorate with lots of Holly so people have considered this to be Holly days. There are also other joyful greetings like Season Greetings and 40 percent off. People spend time in thanks that they have not yet exceeded their credit limit and they might forget that they have a Savior, but they will remember the savings. During the season of Advertisement the days are still 24 hours but are measured in shopping days instead. It is also a tradition for this season to be some what penitential. Penances such as having to park in overflow parking two miles away from the mall are common. After Christmas comes Advertisementide. This is the ad season of after Christmas sales and even more discounts. Later on in the shopping season comes the season of Lent. This is because you have to get money lent to you to pay off your shopping bills.

There are also some customs associated with Advertisement such as the Advertisement Wreath. Each week you take all of your junk mail and roll it up and tighten it with a rubber band and place it in your Advertisement Wreath. The third week it is traditional to use advertisements from red tag sales. You can also make or order an Advertisement Calendar.  though most calendars come without advertisements this is a special edition where you mark off shopping days so you know when to panic when you haven’t got everything on your list. So relax and have a happy Advertisement for whatever reason we are suppose to be sellebrating.

HONEY!! WHERE ARE MY PANTS WITH THE ELASTIC WAISTBAND?!?!

Turkey, ham, candied yams, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, crawfish corn stuffing, sausage stuffing, cornbread stuffing, deviled eggs, vegetable tray, pecan pie, apple pie, pumpkin pie, bread pudding... and I'm sure I've missed something!!  OH EM GEE, what a feast!! I'm sure I ate way too much!!

I think everyone had a great time yesterday.  After dinner we watched the Saints-Dallas game.  Worked off a few pounds just sweating through the 2nd half!!  GEAUX SAINTS!!

After riding the Valk to work this morning, I'm watching a cold front pass through, hopefully quick enough to get the rain out of here before I leave for home this evening. It's pouring outside right now (12PM).

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my family and friends!  May God continue to bless you all.  Hopefully we can all stop for a moment today to acknowledge all that we have to be thankful for...  family, friends, health, all which lead to true happiness. (you might notice I left out "wealth" which does NOT lead to TRUE happiness.)  I, personally, want to especially thank God for my family and all the love, joy, sadness, hope, sorrow, anger, laughter, hurting, and healing, support and strength that comes with being a family.  May we never forget what it means to be "family". 

THEY SAY IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY!!

Happy Birthday, Gisselle!!!

THANKS GIVING

Since this Thursday is Thanksgiving, I want to share with you all just some of what I am thankful for.

1.  A loving and forgiving God, who sent his Son to redeem us, in spite of our sinfulness and unwillingness or inability to change.
2.  A loving wife, mother, and best friend.  The person who completes me, and without whom I would never have known what true happiness is.  Thank you, sweetheart.  I love you!
3.  Children and grandchildren who are kind, generous, and loving.
4.  Children-in-law who love my kids, and complement (as opposed to compliment) them in so many ways.
5.  My siblings, siblings-in-law, nephews, nieces, their spouses and children.  As wild, wacky, and crazy as we are, I would not trade my family for anyone or anything!!  What can I say, we are just FUN to be around!!!
6.  Good friends and co-workers, both present and past (Miss ya, Big J!!).
7.  The opportunity to serve my brothers and sisters in Christ through the Church as a deacon.
8.  My mom and dad who taught me about love, and honor, and courage, and responsibility.  I miss them.
9.  Days that are sunny and warm, and perfect for riding motorcycles.
10.  Oh, and I'd be remiss if I didn't mention The Shed, Texas de  Brazil, Casa Garcia, Central American Restaurant, etc...  I love me some grits!!!

Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving!!!  Bring on the BIRD!!!  And STUFFING!!!

CONGRATS!!!

I just want to shout out a "WAY TO GO" to my favorite grandson!!  He's a high school senior and consequently has been sending out applications to a few of the colleges/universities with good pharmacy programs.  Friday he heard back from his first one.  He received his first (hopefully of many) acceptance letter from Auburn University!!  Awesome!  We are really proud of him!!

It isn't LSU, but at least they're Tigers!!

JUDAS, WOULD YOU BETRAY ME WITH A KISS?

From Erin over at And Sometimes Tea:

In Spain Pope Benedict XVI is offering, once again, a truthful view of the matter--that a life lived in communion with Christ is a life that is full, and rich, and joyful, but a life lived apart from Him in pursuit of worldly pleasures and treasures is a life dessicated, empty, and ultimately meaningless and sad. As meaningless and sad, in fact, as betraying love with a kiss aimed at hate--no, not like the poor misguided handful of protesters, but like Judas, who is their true model, and whose fate may God spare any of us from sharing.

Read more here.

THIS AND THAT

I am, at some point, going to get my life back and will start posting regularly again.  In the interim...  went to New Orleans Food & Spirits for lunch today.  It was a real treat, as we don't go there anymore since starting the diet.  Couldn't help thinking back to the days when Young Wade, Little Lori, Dr. Bob, Big J and I would go there at least once a week!  Good times... good times... sigh... 

A quick shout-out and congrats to DIL1 for getting a promotion at her workplace.  It's nice to be rewarded for being a hard-working and dedicated employee.  You deserve it!!

Thanksgiving is bearing down on us, and it looks to be an especially good one this year (even without the awesome election results).  Looks like H2W's parents are coming, and her mom indicates that she wants to do all the cooking!  AND, hopefully SIL-O and family will be coming, as well.  What a treat it will be to see everyone again!!

More exciting news!  S2, and possibly S3, will be coming for Mardi Gras!!  Not only that, but my brother is considering coming, too, which would be totally rad (trying not to say "awesome" so much, but it would be awesome!)!!  The door is open to any others that would like to make it an event.  Maybe T&K from the big D-town?  Hoping that H1/DIL1 will make it in.  Trying to give lots of notice so that plans can be made.

That's all I've got for now.  Take care and God bless!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MAJOR DAD!!!

I had to get it in before midnight!!  Hope your birthday weekend is great!!  Thanks for the dinner and the movie was (s)awsome!! In 3-D, no less!

GEE, BUT IT'S GREAT TO BE BACK HOME*

*Home is where I want to B-E-E-E-e-e-e-e! -



Back from an AWESOME road trip weekend!  Linda and I, Major Dad and his friend Greg spent some 20+ hours on our motorcycles cruising the highways and byways of SE Louisiana, Mississippi and a little corner of Tennessee (better known as Memphis).

Day one was Friday, which began with breakfast at the Chateau ( "the Teau") Coffee Café, after which we hit the road.  We took US-61 (Airline Hwy in NOLA) and rode it all the way to Natchez, MS.  After a quick lunch we hit the Natchez Trace and followed it to Jackson, MS.  The weather was sunny and beautiful, the ride was peaceful (50MPH on the trace) and scenic.  Toward dusk we started to see quite a few deer along the side of the road.  When it was time for a gas stop, we were on the outskirts of Jackson, so we decided to "hole up" for the night at a Comfort Inn.  After checking in, we went to the IHOP next door for supper, then it was back to the rooms to get some sleep.

Saturday morning we hit the road around 8 AM.  A stop for a quick breakfast at Mickie D's, then we hopped onto I-55 and headed North for a ways.  At our first gas stop we got off I-55 and onto US 51.  It was a scenic two-lane highway that paralleled I-55.  Along the way we stopped at several small country (and I emphasize "country") establishments for refreshments and a bit of leg stretching.  Seems that we were still a bit stiff from the day before... go figure!!  We arrived in Memphis at around 5:00 or 5:30 PM and checked into the La Quinta Inn that Linda and I had stayed at after our Katrina evacuation.  Ah... the memories keep on comin'!!  After check-in and a quick freshen-up, we got back on the bikes and headed into downtown Memphis, to Charlie Vergos' Rendevous restaurant for some genuine dry-rub (although we didn't know it at the time) BBQ.  After a 20 minute wait we found ourselves seated at a nice corner table.  It was ribs all around, large of course, with a split plate of ribs and brisket for me.  Good food, and great company!!  Leaving the Rendezvous, we took a short stroll over to Beale Street to take in the sights and sounds, then it was back to the hotel, with a quick stop at Coldstone Creamery for dessert.  Once again, it was "lights out", as everyone was pretty well worn out from two days of riding.

Sunday morning we checked out of the La Quinta and headed to Brother Juniper's restaurant, next to the University of Memphis campus.  It was a pleasant surprise to see that they have become so popular that they bought the coffee shop in the area adjacent to the original restaurant and made it into a coffee bar/waiting area.  The restaurant area is a little bit more roomy and comfortable now.  Again, about a 20 minute wait for a table, and then we sat down to some excellent omelettes, home fries, toast, cheese grits, biscuits and gravy, coffee, OJ, all most excellent breakfast fare!!  I had my favorite, the Garden and the Lamb omelette.  Made with spinach and roasted lamb.  DEEEEE-LISH!!!  After breakfast we gassed up and headed South once again.  We hopped on US-51 again, and drove by Graceland.  We say Elvis' airplane, one of his caddies, and lots of people lined up at the entrance.  It was Elvis everything (including the Heartbreak Hotel) for several city blocks.  After several hours on US-51 it was obvious that the horses wanted to be back in the barn, so we got back on I-55 and headed on home.  The only breaks at that point were a couple of gas stops, lunch at a Subway, and then we were home, once again.

All in all it was three really beautiful days weather-wise, with wonderful traveling companions, and I think everyone enjoyed themselves and have the aches and pains to prove it (not to mention some pretty sunburned cheeks and noses)!!!

We're already looking forward to our next ride, hopefully with more family members and friends to come along.  Maybe not quite such a long ride this time.  Perhaps the Shed?  Maybe try the one in Lafayette?

Anyway, it is great to be back home!!