Passin' A Good Time on a Saturday Afternoon.

Yesterday, was the neighborhood's annual Mardi Gras Get Together, nope not a block party, we don't have block parties.... we have Neighborhood Get Togethers.

We tend to have them about twice a year, usually on one of the cross streets in the neighborhood.  Cross  Streets connect the three main streets, Albert, White, and Polk.

Jamie Bergeron and the Kickin Cajun Band highlighted the late afternoon with their music.  Jamie is from Lafayette and was "just drivin'  by"...  So, he pulled his tour bus up and threw out a stage, played for a 2 hour set...  The Kickin' Cajuns and Jamie ... sure did inspire folks to dance the "Chank E Chank"...         Everybody passed a good time.  In the coming week, we are headed into Mardi Gras week, ending on midnight February 9th... Fat Tuesday.  The Lil City by the Red, will pass a good time this coming weekend, with three days of parades... the big one on Sunday afternoon, on Super Bowl Sunday.. it should be a festive day fo' sure.

Twice in One Day

I am making a second posting tonight.... its been raining all day here in Louisiana.

So, today around noon I made a fire....

Turned on the Sonos..........

Made Califlower Soup, Healthy For Sure... except for the butter.

Its a quiet night here tonight.... there is something going on .... not sure what ... in My Mind.

Just a Rainy Day

Well..... there are a few matters to talk about today......

On Sunday, I was elected to the Vestry of St James.  An openly gay man, serving in the polity of the Church. I am the third to be elected to be a member, who is openly gay.  This month saw Bishop Michael Curry, of the Episcopal Church USA, tell the Anglican Communion, this.

The below quote was in a blog by the Title "I Should be Laughing"
http://ishouldbelaughing.blogspot.com  The author wrote on Monday January 25, 2016 a posting on the Episcopal Faith.

“They heard from me directly that that’s not something that we’re considering. They basically understand we made our decision, and this is who we are, and we’re committed to being a house of prayer for all.” — Bishop Michael Curry

It appears that the Episcopal Church will not participate, per doctrine of the Anglican Communion, for three years.  

On to other matters, its raining today here in the Deep Deep South...I am spending a quiet day at the home office catching up on filing, emails, and texts.  

First Camellia of the Year

I woke up early, but stay in bed, due to the coldness of this old house (circa 1925).  After I finally got up and made it outside to get some firewood, I had to go to the back porch to retrieve some kindling.  I looked up to see the Camellia with it first bloom of the year.... Such a welcome sight, you know immediately that Spring is just around the corner.....for us at lest.

Where Are You Now

This blog entry has mixed emotions for me......  between the history of the past, the present, and what could be of the future...

As I was traveling the back roads across Louisiana to Texas this past Monday, I noticed cultural changes in some areas and reminders of the past in others... needless to say, there was a stark difference.

It made me think of how "remote" some areas of my state are.  I tend to go the back roads on my trips to see the Doctor in San Antonio, I like the ease of travel, Texas roads are generally 70 to 75 mph even on the two lane ones.  So, why not take in the country, as you travel and see what is happening in the back areas of La and Tx.

Here are some photos.... I really don't have to explain them, they speak for themselves as to the cultural and societal mind set of the locales'.

The two photos above are relics of the Past.  The sign was placed there by the State some years ago, for  historical purposes. The flags were added by a private property owner.  You must consider the mind set of folks, I guess......

As I was traveling through a small town in East Texas,  a few miles from the infamous other small Texas town, Jasper, I saw this banner strung across their Main Street.... how far in time, how far in connectionism, how far in Human Time, the progression is very real for me.

Backward  Folk (Photo 1) then  Folk Embracing Each Other (Photo 3).  They were only 70 miles apart.... but (and there is always a but) ....A Life Time Away from each Other.

The last photo (Photo 4)is the ever changing skyline of that growing MetroPlex... Houston.... I pass through it on my return on Tuesday, just to vary my route a lil bit..and to  get a sight of an ever-growing City.

Good News Again

Well today, I went to see my cardiologist, he happens to be a good friend also.  He usually does a lil' bit of fussing at me concerning my AFib, Cholesterol levels, Blood Pressure, etc etc.....

However, today, I received a pat on the back, in his terms, clean in the eyes.... no noticeable cholesterol.  BP good, (must be the gym routine), AFib is okie dokie....no felt signs...

So, I stopped at my favorite men's shop, its a family affair, Father and Son owners, they carry upper level of men's wear... So, I picked up some new socks..... I always like socks that make an understatement, just a hint if you look at a man's footwear and socks...it tells a Story...!!

A Good Trip Part 2

Here I am, waiting to see the good Doctor, I have seen twice a year, for seven years.  I'm waiting to hear the results of my MRI, which took place in December 2015.  So, the good doctor and I had a great talk.  He usually spends about 30 to 40 minutes with me, we discuss all aspects of my life, etc etc.  He does a DRE. Always finds it small, firm, with no touchable bumps or indentions.  This time was no exception.

So The Report

The MRI did produce a "focal point" very very very small less than 3mm. No tumor, just a focal point. It could have been from all the scar tissue of the 8 biopsies I have had, each biopsy had 12 sticks in it, so I have had 96 sticks in my abnormally small little prostate. My PSA has been falling and the last one on Jan 8th was 1.4.

So, we will continue to do PSAs every 90 days, bi annual visits each year, and monitor monitor...

A Good Trip Part 1

Here I am at the UTHSC in San Antonio, its early in the morning when this photo was taken.  The Center is dedicated to all Urology.  I've been coming here for Seven Years Now....

Yep, tis Saturday Evening.

Had the usual folks over for supper tonight.  We had New York Strips from the local butcher shop...  I had seven for supper, eight  including my self.  We had greens from Inglewood, A French Rhone and then I did open a 2005 Breckenridge from CA.  It as quite nice.... . I really can't describe to you the feeling, when you walk through the door, at the local butcher shop, everyone looks up and says Howdy... How can we serve you.  Shopping local is a big plus here for me.


I was chatting with the owner of the butcher shop  who told me he was ready for deer season to be over this year... I think  it has about one more week till the season closes.  He has made enough sausage, backstrap, and deer chili to supply every body here in the Parish... he said its one of the largest seasons he has ever seen.

I made a few rounds today as usual.

Taking tomorrow easy to prepare for that 440 mile drive on Monday to San Antonio, for the Doctor visit.  The appointment is Tuesday.  I might have someone going with me, so I might be able to have them drive back on Tuesday, since the appointment is early in the morning.

Morning in the Lil Big City by the Red

I woke up this morning to an overcast, semi dense fog early, its now gone. But I had a chance to run out and take a photo of the backyard. There is an 8 foot fence surrounding the property, making it a very private compound. Good Fences Make Good Neighbors... as the old adage states.  I really like the backyard for many reasons, at night you can see all the planes, blinking, up high in the air as they cross the airways, the fire pit on the "rapides" brick patio serves us well toward the end of the seasons, the screened in back porch is has been a great addition. That screen porch was built according to the standards of back porches circa 1925.  I screened in with copper screen, which should last me, it as a 1.5  on 10 slant (it drops to the front of the porch 1.5 inches from the back of the porch), so the blowing rain will drain off very fast, as in a hurricane etc.

Note Number 2

Well... I went ahead and changed a lil more that I thought I would..... I better stop while I am ahead... cause I almost lost the whole Blog.... .. Gee... !!

So this is it for a lil while

Well Let's See

This is the new look for the blog, maybe.  I haven't changed the background here or the layout in years..

So, I thought I would look at changing a few things, first the background.  I took a photo of the red bricks in front of the house to see If I liked it.  One of my daily reads, seems to change his blog photos on his heading.  I am not sure really how to do that, I am a lil' limited in my knowledge on how the blogger dashboard works...Really.

So, I am taking it slow and see how it goes......

Any Comments

Monday in Louisiana

The new Governor, John Bel Edwards, is sworn in at noon today, High Noon... just like the cowboy movies of the 50s'.... OK Corral.... Shoot Out ..on a dusty street at..... High Noon.

Jindal and his crew, I say that together, along with the current Legislature, leaves the State in one hell of a fiscal mess... I am not sure its all Jindal, His Crew, and the Legislature's fault... but I do think they did play a major part in the Mess.

Edwards, No relation to the Former Governor Edwards, has put together a collation of Demos and Reps... to round out his administration.

Good Luck Mister Governor... You wanted This.. Load your Wagon and your gun...cause the Indians have their Arrows Sharp.

Can't we All Just get along for a few months, try to solve the problems....

Its Monday in Louisiana......

Its Monday on the Red Bricks, here on the Red River...

Thoughts... Time.... and Bloggers

On May 6th of this year, my current blog will celebrate 10 years.  I read my entry on that date, May 6, 2006.  It was noted that I had been blogging 8 years by then.

Bloggers come and go... they get burned out, they pass away, sometimes folks find the blog and their anonymity is lost.  Others just fade away.  I almost faded away in 2012... Glad I didn't.

Anonymity is not exactly what my concern is. I don't think I have that anonymity actually.  Now, I don't give my blog out to my friends.  If they find it, I'm ok with it.... I just don't try to make it Public.

I  follow three bloggers very closely.  They  all, live West of me.  All are Gay, Like myself.  They each write in their own styles, but there is a common thread that runs among all of us, I believe.  We all  care  about our friends, our communities. Each is very different in many ways... different locale', different perspectives, different roles in Life.

I have met one of my daily reads, one of the three bloggers I read on a consistent basis.  One blogger has traveled to see me, for a brief visit, to put a face with the blog, I have had the opportunity to travel to see him when I was doing audits of prisons on a national level.

I have been lucky to maintain these bloggers in my blog life.  I have had one blogger pass away, his blog was "On Transmigration". He was from Louisiana, but lived in Delaware.  I appreciated his honesty some years ago when he would comment on one of my past relationships.  I have kept  his blog on my list so folks can read him, so he won't be forgotten.

Another blogger that I have not heard from in a very long time, almost five years now, is "From the Ashes" by Tommy Rico.  He just disappeared... poof...His blog is still on my list also.

Time does go on.. I am thankful that I am still here to write my thoughts...

Ya' Kno'

Saturday.... Hmmm

I have been troubled by a lil sinus congestion/infection for the last couple of days,  I am doing the natural approach, ingesting warm salt water.  Washing it all out..

My Doctor friend, said "Stop, here is Cipro"... forget all natural.. I'll follow the doctors orders.

I got up this morning, traveled out to the organic farm, picked up Lisa and mine's cream, from the organic dairy.  Didn't buy any veggies, was not in the mood.

Later today, I will go out and pay a few bills from local stores, we still operate with store accounts here, local stores bill for the previous month, payable by the 10th of the forgoing month.  Its still fairly local here ya' kno'.

John is in Canada this week and next, Bob is about as lost as a goose. They have been together for 30 years.  I'm sure when you have a constant in your life and that is removed, you feel a need to be around folks.  Bob is having supper with Tommy B and myself tonight, if I can muster up the energy to go.  I would prefer to stay in a cook.  But, got to go with the flow... ya' kno'

Its a typical Saturday... Ya' Kno'  Deep in the Heart of Louisiana

Its Tuesday, January 5th..... All Day.

My Momma, God Rest Her Soul, use to say that, she would say the month, day, and then say "All Day"

She had other sayings as well.

I found myself getting out of bed this morning saying.. "Its January the 5th, All Day"  I had a flashback to Momma..

I remember her sayings like this on a crisp, cold, (for Louisiana) day.

I'm two weeks out from heading back to SA to meet again with the good Dr.

January is stacked in the middle with doctor appts. All routine at this point.

The conversations from my trip back to where I was born, have floated through my mind in the last 24 hours or so.  I think it was one of my better trips back.  The HeBeGee Bs were still presence, but not in force, in my mind, as they have been in the past.

I cleaned out the icebox this morning, of all the leftovers.

Thoughts, Things, and Time Continue On

Today, I am on the road, leaving around mid afternoon to make the trek back to the ancestral home of my birth.

I'm headed down to visit with my sister and brother and other kin folks.

Sometimes, I dread the trip, its about 125 miles one way. Its not the travel time, nor the visit actually, its rather the trip down memory lane as I travel that road.  The road is La. Hwy One, the first blacktopped, North to South roadway in Louisiana.  I have traveled it so many times, that I know every lil stop and every lil bend in the road.

Its the Memories, of going Back...... But my sister, is making an effort to bring us together, so I am  grateful for that.  She is hosting a supper tonight, offer for me to spend the night at her town home.  I'll put a smile on and gather myself up and travel that road.

Other Thoughts of Today........

On Feb. 15th of this year, I will have been on the Red Bricks for 25 years.  On Feb 4th of this year, I will have been in the public sector working for 42 years; beginning my public service career at the college I graduated from, working in the college student housing section. It wasn't a very important job, but it began my public service career.

Somewhere Deep

New Year's Day


Deep in the heart of Central La.


I rose early, having went to bed early, last night.  I did go over to Bradly's last night for a visit with the gang around 8pm, had a dry tonic, no alcohol.

Came home, snuggled into bed, gave thanks for all that I had let myself enter into this year.. gee another tale for sure at some point in time.

I was in bed for 9pm watching CNN for a short time, then around midnight, came the pop of firecrackers, then a barrage of bam bam bam... not firecrackers, I had never heard so many pistol shots in my years of being here in the heart of the city.

I woke up rather sort of sluggish this morning, due to the meds for the sinus, had coffee, made the phone calls to family, then it was off to B&J's for the black-eyed peas, cabbage, and cornbread.  We did celebrate with a nice Miner Chardonnay that I had taken over.

It was home by 245pm.

About to make a fire in the fireplace, ease into compfy clothes, and pass the new year's day into history.

All Here in the Deep Deep South