Crepe Myrtle ....

The Garden District has many trees ... its the oldest part of the Lil City by the Red.. our street was bricked in 1903, dedicated in 1898, .. The only thing standing down downtown after the Yankees burned it down was the Catholic Cathedral... The Good Father stood at the front door and dared the Yankee Catholics with excommunication ... He Won.... then they burnt the rest of the Lil City by the Red...

But if I had to say.... it's the endurance of the native Crepe Myrtles that have lasted through the generations here... Most are light pink, some are white.. a few watermelon.. but mostly light pink.

The trunks are weathered, gnarled, and have stood the test of homeowners, that murdered them from time to time....   The Priest, two houses down, murdered his... this year...

But each to their own..  Here is a neighbors oldest one.. just the trunk of the tree...



Gnarled... Standing Tall.. Not murdered.......

Thursday....

As I sit here at the window of the home office, I got the Arvee (Cajun French meaning craving) for some cookies..


There is a little bakery shop that specializes in cupcakes and cookies.... in the Lil City by the Red

Its call "Little Cakes with Big Attitudes"... I have brought cupcakes for desert for dinner parties there before... all local and really good.....

So, to satisfy my Arvee, I ordered dozen sugar, dozen oatmeal raisin, dozen peanut butter cookies.

I believe I am going to give the peanut butter cookies to the old folks down the street......they haven't been out of their house since March 16th... either..

I'm waiting for the Chief Lesbian to bring the Beast back home.. she has been using it for a lil' while now.. she is having it Covid Cleaned by some detailers here in town....  today started sort of early for me.. so I finished a lil bit earlier than expected today...

There is an Episcopal Priest who moved into the neighborhood a few months ago, him. his wife. and three adult children... the girl is of college age and seems to attract gay boys by the squad.. They come giggling out.. she is becoming a Young Fag Hag at an early age... the other two children are adult age guys who, seem to have set their own paths and we see them infrequently.

So, life is on the observation curve now.. we all seem to have become interested in the passing of who's going there and with whom...  All nosey neighbors.. sitting on our porches.. watching the comings and goings of the Priest's Home and what new gay boys the Girl has acquired for the afternoon pool party.

10th Week

On Sunday, started the 10th week of working from Home... ..

June 5th, is the day the Governor here in Louisiana is going to declare Phase One either a success or not a success, I don't want to use the word failure.

I am not sure what just what I will be doing or where I will be working from... either home or the Courthouse... we do have some protocols at the office.. ...

I am not feeling very healthy today... for some reason.. maybe lack of riding the bike.. getting out.. its been raining here for the last four days.. off and on... and its projected to do so the rest of the week..

I can say this... its getting old after 10 weeks of being here, I haven't been to a grocery store.. haven't gotten any of my prescriptions at the drugstore, both have been delivered by the Chief Lesbian or the Drugstore.

I tend to take naps... which are not good.. I had been averaging about 2 miles a day walking around the house ... I am down to 3/4 of a mile... sedimentary . which is not a good thing.. either for health or mental health...

Lets see what this week and next week bring... I am still fearful of going back to the office....however it might be something that has to happen.. I will certainly be masked and gloved up.. and take the necessary precautions ....

Quiet Day ....

Today..... was Quiet for the most part....

Early in the day, I had the Chief Lesbian and her partner for morning coffee on the front porch.. 8:15am.... Then Ms. B dropped by to visit, then neighbor Tate dropped by... all were gone by 9am..

Washed the coffee cups..

Then after we all socially distanced.. they all left ....

The rest of the day I saw no one, not even a jogger..

No walking of dogs by owners.....

I took a lil nap...

Had a small lite supper..

In bed as I type.... it will be CNN or Netflix till 730 or 8.... then the pill and cpap..

Nite nite.... Quiet Day

A Rainy Wednesday

Today for some reason, not known to the writer our staff meeting via Zoom was canceled....


Some what frustrating ... however, its the Lil City by the Red...


So, I decided for myself to master Zoom and hold some video conversations with my peers and a few subordinates to get the feel and try to improve my working knowledge of this platform.

I have to say all but (and there is always another but) joined me in the conversation .. People if we are going to have this platform, more folks are going to have to learn to achieve some level of operational success... Please....that's my feelings.. Personally..

Its the new wave of the future..   I have always enjoyed FaceTime, most people I know don't like it.. hear me Again..... People... its the new wave of the Present.. Here... Now....

FaceTime or Zoom... or any other communication platform that achieves some level of success.

Its raining ... what can I say.... and I haven't had any lunch.. tuna in the can, marinaded artichoke hearts... at lest it is something.

Its Raining ..!!!


What do You do on a Rainy Day in May.... when you have completed a stint at the Home Office....

You play with your photos....  You get out the Magnolia Grandiflora Photos... from the BackYard

Its About to Rise Again..........

So..... Hmmmm...............


The Chief Lesbian has been "rumored" by her crawfish boil......when the Parish Health Officer a Doctor of Good Standing came out yesterday and said..... Rapides Parish... gets a "F"for social distancing ... it turned some folks' heads... around....

No More Parties People on the Front Yards People... .. None... I say None... even with standing 6 to 10 feet apart....

In my years of administering to the Public and Imprisoned Populations.... when you state something and give people a little bit of an "Out"..... they will take that Little Bit of an "Out".... and and make it.......... a BIG O U T and Never Look or think Again..... Roll On BIG OUT.....

I, certainly sat in bed, last night, begin to ponder  my going down to that yard and pulling my chair away from everyone... only to have people approach me and say "you're not shaking my hand" ... I said "Nope and not even an Arm Bump either".  They walked away in a huff and puff...

As I was thinking last night, why was I so stupid... why did I go down there, two blocks away...

What was I thinking..... was it the Scotch .. or Need for a lil human contact... Group conversation.. .. ..Who Knows... I am going to be self isolating again here for 10 days..... ... Again.. More Self Reflection...... I am tired of Self Reflection.......

..............but I don't want to see the crematorium just yet...

Its Monday and I am Here

Here at the Home Office.....

Here on the Brick Street in the Lil City by the Red....

I was informed by the Big Boss via a text conversation yesterday that began with me offering him  to attend St. James next Sunday or Wednesday via Zoom, that I would be staying home until further notice...

The Spirit World moves in ways of the Unknown.... or someone heard my questions

I would hope it was the Spirit World...

Anywho...Anyway...

I am typing and saying Thank You........... to what Ever Power lead the discussion with the Big Boss who's election in 6 months away....

Have to get back to work here.... Doing research on some Parole Matters today.....


My View from the Office at Home....

Words of Jack

The Chief Lesbian and her partner hosted a crawfish boil for some local medical workers, small group, very open air, OutDoors, Fans, Socially Distancing etc...

I rode the bike over and sat for about 20 minutes to see the interaction and hear other folks.

There were several neighbors there, one of them was Jack, who had lost his wife last year.

Jack approached, said hi, positioned his chair about 8 feet from me.  Jack, is a retired La State Trooper... Always known for his opinions, where you want to hear them or not.. .. He's Just Jack.

He looked at me, ask how I was doing, how I was holding up, All ok from my end.. and I returned the questions and he replied.. he was ok.

Then Jack, in Jack's way  ..... Said this, "You Know Tom, People don't understand, when you come into this world and the Doctor slaps you on your butt to get you to cry, folks  don't realize all he is telling you right then is .. Its going to be a lil painful from time to time... in this world you just entered and you just got to take it."


Words of Jack.... .... Yep Jack.. it is a lil painful, sometimes.. but we all hope to get through it together.

This morning I am going to go to St. James by way of Zoom.... We are not having any Church down the street.. but Father Tim is having Morning Prayer.... at 1030am via Zoom.... I  Zoom'd here the other day with a group from St. James.....

The Word.....

I got Word today, that the Courthouse might go to full staff on Monday... that in itself, poses a risk for All.... The Courthouse was built in the WPA era... Its got old germs...

I'm not too enthusiastic about any return at this time... there are four of us who have some immune conflicts, in our office..we all have been working from home.... I would rather keep working from home.. breathing good air since I have a screened from door and totally screened in back porch.. The weather has been very cool.....of late.

I don't cherish going into the office at the Courthouse with its old air circulation system.. .. Covid will be lurking around the corner for sure... I don't share an office, which is good...but I don't like to take chances with Covid lurking  being around........ who knows where it is.. over there at the Courthouse.

The Good Doctor placed me on 2000 IUs of Vitamin D 3 today, to help with the immune fight against any Covid Spore that is floating by.. if I randomly come in contact with it.. there are several studies saying it helps with the respiratory system when it is attacked by the Covid Bug.. You may want to Google Vitamin D3 and Covid 19... it brings up some fairly decent reading 

Now back to the dilemma ..... I want to keep my job, I am only 36 months from a second retirement, but if push comes to shove..... This white headed bald old man..... is heading to back to the front porch..

I would hope that everything can be worked out... They are bringing all of the staff back to the Courthouse they say on Monday... and only allow 150 members of the Public into the Courthouse..
There is about 300 of us, in four separate Elected Officials Offices.. that occupy the old Building.. 

I'll wait and see.... hope for the Best.... and see where it goes....

Stale.... Every Movement is Slow.. Stale... Yuck!!!!

Life is stale .... There is No Movement.... Public Life has ground to a standstill

Phase One begins on May 15, 2020 here in Louisiana... it is for 21 days... considering from what I have seen in the last two days.... we might be back to stay home if the Spike Appears...

I got out to go to  the atm yesterday... this town was crawling with folks all sitting outside at the cafes etc... and social distancing was out the window...   I rolled up to the atm, the car in front of me, he had his glove on and his sanitary wipe getting his money... same routine I use..

The Pubic Work Force  25% of them, can only go to the Courthouse at one time.... we do not have Court until July 1st, which is a Wednesday.... all civil and criminal matters have been put off till then by the La Supreme Court...until July 1.

Another 21 days... that will mean I have been working from home since March 16th.....

A Walk Inspired by Another Blogger's Post

As I read my daily "reads" on my blog list... I am always inquisitive to know about the surroundings of the blog writers..

Today, Jimmy, let the world see a lil bit of his territory .. I found that so satisfying that I could see a lil bit into the world of "If your wearing shoes, your overdressed".

So, I thought it was very nice to see..  others have shared from time to time, so have I, but I wanted to get out of the house...... So I took a walk around the block.. and here are some photographs.....

A Neighbor's Gate

The Chief Lesbian's Home

One of my oldest friends home

Another Neighbor's Home

Then the truly neglected, abandoned, Beauty... waiting for Love

Hmm... I just don't know any More.......

Today, I got out just a lil bit...

To pay the hardware store bill......

To pay for the new shirts at the local gentleman's shop.......

I did not encounter anyone...

I was masked and gloved, had the sanitized wipes ....

It was Unreal..

I got the hee bee jee bees... ... and came home... took a bath ... threw the canvas shoes in the washer along with the shirt and cargo shorts...

It was a lil bit unreal (let me say that one more time).....,, to see the Lil City by the Red....

I chose to go early.. so I would not face any others ..customers that is... bright, early, when the hardware store and gentleman's shop had their doors still locked.. knock knock who's there.

Here, take my check and let me haul ass away.. back to the comfort and some what safety of the home on the Red Brick Street of the Lil City by the Red....

Now,  the Legislature, this afternoon.....  .. those Red Neck Morans,......... are trying to take away the Power of the Governor to declare an emergency.. to give it to the Locals... cause they want  open up the Casinos . and Hair Salons...  and what ever they deem as a good business...

So, goes politics in Louisiana....

Last Night.......

Saturday Nights in the Lil City by the Red,  always is a special night.  Most folks host small suppers, not really any large gatherings, but small suppers from 3 to 8 folks.. lively discussions about politics, neighborhood matters, who's doing this-who's doing that..

The Covid has brought all of that to a Halt!!!

To try to regain some symbol of Normality ... the Fabs and I thought about a social distancing back porch 8 feet apart, tray on the lap, bring your own paper plate and disposable wine glass......

I told them I will light up the back porch and we could try that...

Here is the back porch (second photo) ........... and then there is the Pork Chops grilled with Dizzy Pig Dust and a South Carolina BBQ sauce for Sunday Supper... the First photo ... and that is Sunday Supper with a some English Peas in a nice butter/vermouth sauce.

I worked most of the day on Non Medical Furloughs for Offenders... just one of my task as the Corrections Professional in the Office.

Yesterday ....

Well, staying home, I tend to fall back on old standards for cooking, no special this or that....

So, last night I was in a Quandary on what to place in the large, ever so growing, belly of mine..other than my fairly stocked wine cellars, I have cheese from the St James Cheese Company, New Orleans and meat/seafood from the local market.

So, noting that .............

I just had a hankering for Crawfish Stew... Stew.. is in a reddish brown gravy, and you use shrimp stock to make it


Tonight the Fabulous Fags are coming for a social distancing supper... those two on one porch swing, me on the other .. 26 feet apart... and we will have Crawfish Stew with Pine Island, La Rice.. and the ever popular green salad with Penzey's  Sunny Paris sprinkles.

This is the crawfish stew and the ever popular green salad from last night.............