Random Thoughts Times Past on a Friday Evening

Sitting here, by the fireplace, this evening, my thoughts were drawn back to my arriving in Alex around this time of the year in 1991.

Times flies doesn't it when you really think about it.  1991, 24 years ago, I was still in my late 30's. When I arrived here the main drag in town was still red brick. I lived in a moderate duplex, occupying the second floor, I called it the Tree House. There was a very large sycamore tree out my back window, in the back room,  which served as my living room.  The squirrels almost were at the window sills.

I, now own a home, only two blocks from where I began, here in Alex. Thinking about it,  I rarely return to my birthplace, really no need.  The friends I grew up with, I have nothing in common with them, actually.  I did go back about 15 years ago to a reunion and once we had gotten around to...who got married, who died, who did this and who did that, there was lil to chit chat about.  These folks that I grew up with, had no real common interest other than we shared except the locale' that we grew, "raised in" (as they say in the South) up in.  They were raising children, making groceries, preparing to send their offsprings off to college, etc. No travels, no concerts, no trips to the wine country, what great dining experience had you had lately, none of that.

Anyways, I was drifting off my thoughts, the fireplace needs another log.

After one lover, two boyfriends, host of would be boyfriends, bachelorhood is more than likely a permanent fixture than a fleeting moment at this age of the cycle.   But one, never really gives up hope, does he.

Life is good, that's the thing here in central La, life is good, we have great water, very good air, less automobile traffic, crime is fairly down, housing prices are stable, historic preservation is on the rise, what more can a person ask for.  Cultural events abound, just you have to drive to some.

Time Passes On.... Doesn't It, on a Friday Night in the Garden District...Throw another log on the fire.

Tis a Wednesday

It's Wednesday, here in Ole Alex, by the Red River, its cold, raining, temps are just above freezing, but it is better than what S'port has today. Cold ,Snowing, Icy, miserable.

Came home from the office and made a fire.  March is just around the corner... Come on March.

Sunday

As I looked back on my blogging experience, I can tell that I am on a marathon run for 2105. I've had 16 posting this year.  My postings haven't always been so frequent, 2014 was 43, 2013 was 18, 2012 was 1, 2011 was 10, 2010 was 25, my highest year was 2007 at 152, then I started this blog in May 2006 with 83 postings.

Its Sunday Funday today in the Garden District. A lil cold, lots of wet, and the wind is there.  The gang stopped by this morning on their way to Sam's to ask if I needed anything;  Just water and maybe a bag of coffee beans.

They were off to get tequila and the fixings for a Sunday Funday of Margaritas, Quesadillas, chips and a gallon of salsa.  This is the younger group, they have Sunday Funday events.  Younger in that they range from 26 to 43 in age, varied group of men, not a twinkette among them, professionals, semi professionals, and one or two finding their own way.  Its a close knit group. I am glad they include me as one of their own, but I have most by at least 30 years, I being 61.

Its always good to have that intergenerational mojo going on, being accepted, being included in their gatherings, etc.  All live in the Garden District here, which makes it nice too.  I get tickled when they are in their mode, gaggling together( gaggle of gays) chiding each other...... Sister Dear, Girl You Shouldn't Have.

It's just a Sunday Funday in the Garden District...

Today was yard work before the rain came.  The banana trees had to come down today, and beds are starting to be chopped back and cleaned.  Its almost time to plant a few sprigs of flowers for the spring.

Banana Trees grow very fast, they freeze even faster, doesn't take a hard freeze to turn them brown, then they become mushy, mushy, and more mushy.  IF you don't take them down right before the temps hit the mid 70's, you will be left with a lil bit of a rotten odor in your garden...We can't have that annoying the neighbor.

I see that the amaryllis are poking their  lil heads through the soil, another three weeks and they will be sending up bloom heads, then about mid to the third week in March, it will be White/Red Amaryllis time. The Iris will come along too here shortly.

Lent!

As you know or might not know, I am an Episcopalian, who attends on certain High Holy Days, and  I do try to tell myself that I am doing ok with that.

Got the ashes on Wednesday, took the Holy Eucharist, and now I have made up my lil old mind, as to what I should do about Lent.

In days and  in years passed I have given up chocolate, whisky, wine, a sundry of other things too,  and made the offer to do good deeds.

This year, in the spirit of self effacing (that is to expunge, wipe out in the Webster Dictionary), I will not consume red meat, for the next 40 or so days, until sunset of Easter Sunday. I dearly, dearly love a great steak.  Grilled on a high heat surface, crusted to perfection, red-juicy-tender in the middle.

So, Saturday night meals at The Camp on Albert, tis where I usually cook the above,no one will have that.  I will do fish, shell fish, flipping fish, salt water fish, fresh water fish, etc, etc.  Maybe a lil chicken, no pork.

The other part of Lent, calls for you to perform "good deeds" to your fellow man.  Most usually say, "they will be nicer to folks", but you are suppose to do More. Being nicer should be an everyday occurrence.  With, Good Deeds, you should embrace the unwashed, the vagrant, the homeless, the down trodden, do something for your fellow man that you would not normally do.  My Good Deeds, will be to extend the hand of friendship and compassion to the folks that inhabit my ever changing neighborhood, in hopes that they see more than that of an aging baby boomer, driving a $50K truck, living in a restored bungalow, on a brick street, in the Garden District of Alexandria.

Ash Wednesday

I should, I know, Go down the street to St. James to get my ashes.  But I am not feeling it this morning.  I know.

I'm not in a morose mood, but a lil off kilter.

I did find a new blog to read, a guy around my age or within my age group, who writes very well, lives in the West, Colorado, I believe.

His blog reminds me of my former days in Baton Rouge, with the wide berth of friends, acquaintances, close friends, and others.  That was years ago.

Also, it was noted by one of my "reads" that a blogger had passed away.  I read that Wayne Juneau, a Louisiana Man, living on the East Coast had passed away.  Wayne would comment on my blog postings from time to time.

Its Ash Wednesday!!!!!

Well... I relented, gave my self a self talk  and walked down to St James.  Here is a photo of The Church taken last year right after the snow event.

Blooming

Today, as I was riding around town, I noticed that the Swamp Maples were in full bloom.  It's the first sign that spring is just around the corner and crawfish season is upon us.  Now the forecast tonight is a lil bit of a winter mix, but temps should be back to fairly normal for this time of the year, in a week or so.

Hmmm

Today, is Alexandria's big Mardi Gras Parade, its begins at 2pm.  Its been a weekend of parade this and parade that, which is good for the local economy.

Most of my friends have tromped down to Texas Ave to drink, eat, eat drink, eat, drink, drink and watch the parade.

I just was not feeling it today.  Not sure why, just wasn't.  Its overcast, 58 degrees with a slight wind. Maybe its the day, maybe its something else... who knows at this point.  I am sure I will realize it sooner or later here soon, just a semi funk mood.

So, here I sit, on the porch, watching a quiet Sunday afternoon pass.  Which as the coonasses say, "Aint a bad thang cher"!!!!!

Things are moving ahead!!!!!

Things are picking up around here in more ways than one.  For the last few years my blog has been sort of staying in the back shadows, never gathering any site visits, other than the other bloggers I read.

But, and there is always a But, isn't it..... Now for some reason, whether I am commenting on others, or have others posted on the blogs I read, site visits have increased.

Now, is this a good thing or a not so good thing, I write for my own enjoyment, to read about myself from time to time, to see where I have been and what brought me to that place in time.  I haven't made up my mind, as to whether I like it or not, but I am well over 6K page visits now, back a in early 2014 I think I was at 2500 page views  visits... things have rushed ahead..

Abe's birthday today.....And as we approach Friday the 13th, Valentine's Day on Feb 14, George W's Birthday on the 16th,  Shove Tuesday on 17th, and Ash Wednesday on Feb 18... gee the stars were lined up weren't they...starting with tomorrow.

A Thought

Years Ago, I had a blog on Diaryland.com, then after a boyfriend found the blog, I took it down.  I then when with blogspot.com, I have had this blog since 2006, so I think, if my memory serves me right, I have been blogging since either 1999 or 2000.

One of my favorite blogs has been "From the Ashes", written by a guy from New York City about his daily life, the comings/goings of boyfriends, FBs, and his interaction with the clientele with his work.  He was a bartender, at a high end bar in Manhattan.

So, his last entry was three years ago, his last post was on Wednesday, June 22, 2011.

I know that blogging can get somewhat tenaciousness, a lil bit overweighed, etc.

His name was Tommy Rico, his pseudonym,  not his own.  We corresponded back and forth, he began his blog in 2003.  I enjoyed reading about this life in The City, his adventures, his mishaps, his relationships, and what I found so amazing was his view of the world as it relates to New York City.

But.. Poof... he never logged anything else, I lost his contact information when I went to a MAC.

Its a shame, I think, that bloggers for reasons of themselves stop, without signing off, just disappear. It is sort of a lil bit of a mourning response from me, not knowing if he had passed away, hopped a freighter to a distant land, got run over by a city bus....or whatever.

Just my thoughts on a semi sunny day in the deep deep South.

Time is ticking towards Fat Tuesday and Ash Wednesday

It's February 1st today, time is ticking away, Mardi Gras balls are happening all over the place, parades are kicking in.

Here in Alexandria, we will have our first night parade in about a week.  It will begin in Pineville, the city on the other side of the river, cross over the bridge and end by our city hall.

Then as Fat Tuesday approaches, that weekend, there will be three parades here in Alexandria, culminating with the big parade on Sunday, (Sunday before Fat Tuesday).

On That Sunday, As with my custom, I will ride the bike down to Rick Fegurson's Flower Shop, eat a lil gumbo, drink a beer, catch a few throws, ride the bike back to the house.

Not much happening here other than the above stated events.