February 2007 Archives

Come Back Inn

Patsy and I picked up some sandwiches and stopped by Mom's for lunch. Patsy had an oyster po-boy, I had the Joe Don (Ham, roast beef, and swiss) po-boy, and Mom had a shrimp po-boy. We split a stuffed artichoke. We had a nice visit and the food was excellent. Come Back Inn has been one of my faves since I was a kid. They have the best roast beef in town. The place is looking pretty spiffy these days. The dining room still has picnic tables but they're covered with tablecloths now and the other tables are all new. Still a great place to eat.

I’m sure everyone here has experienced the “Internal Server Error” message. It was happening with increasing frequency both in posting new entries and making comments. I know it frustrated everyone, especially ME. Crossing my fingers now, I think we may have the worst of that behind us. There were many, many causes for it but the biggest one was resolved last night. Although my lax maintenance didn’t have anything to do with our problems, I still need to be a little more diligent on website maintenance than I have been. The blogs have grown tremendously since we started them. Number of entries, number of pictures, number of comments, number of readers, etc. It's impossible for me to sift through all of those files without a somewhat more organized system.

For this blog and the CrabAppleLane Blog, I’m going to start using FlickR for our posted pictures. I’m doing this for a few reasons but the biggest one is maintenance. Unfortunately, I only have one FlickR account. Unless you want to open your own FlickR account (If you do, I recommend you give their free account a try), send your photos and words to me with your blog password and I’ll be happy to post them for you. I can do a few cool things now. For instance, look at the picture below. Click here to enlarge.

We now have a great deal more space for pictures and I’ve only scratched the surface on the possibilities. Please do not feel like you’re imposing on me by sending your stuff to me. This is my preference. It will make my maintenance easier.

This will not affect any other kind of non-picture posting.

Mardi Gras Dessert - February 20, 2007

I think all of the Ferraras love strawberries. They are grown right up the road from Bush, LA in places called Pontchatoula, Hammond, Tickfaw, Independence, Natalbany, or Springfield. I think we have relatives still living there. The ones shown here are from Tickfaw. Louisiana strawberries don’t travel as well as their California cousins but they are a real treat. We have farmers bring their flats all up and down Louisiana highways and you can generally buy them the same day they’re picked. The season lasts from mid-February through the end of April or so. These early strawberries are the ones I like best. Patsy doesn’t care for the little pastry cups that grocers like to put next to the strawberries in the produce section for making strawberry shortcake. She prefers to use pound cake. Doesn’t matter much to me. If she’s willing to make it (Although I made the whipped cream and chopped the strawberries this time) and she’s also willing to let me eat half of it ... well, pound cake it is.

Mardi Gras Dessert - February 20, 2007

Update: I post this picture in the full realization that we only made enough for about two servings each of this stuff. It will surely be gone by tomorrow and I'll be at the local Waffle House, IHOP, or Denny's later this week paying about seven bucks for something they call strawberry shortcake. And that would be OK if I hadn't eaten this first.

Happy Birthday, Kevin

Have a day.

Bunk (David) has reached the finals of the Georgia State Wrestling Championships. The Gwinnett Daily Post has a picture of him in action and he's also mentioned in an article in the same paper.

Update (February 18): David finished second.

Happy Birthday, Janine

Have a day

February 16.
On this day . . .

1948 Sang solo
1949 Got material and dress pattern; cut out part of dress
1950 Painted toenails
1952 DeLaSalle prom—went with Pat Murray
1957 Robbie born 7:19 p.m., 9 lbs 2.5 oz, 22.5 long, Mercy Hospital
1958 Spent day at Ferrara’s
1959 Sam’s salary raised to $400. Sam’s parents came over. Received shoes and summer pajamas. 2nd birthday.
1960 Robbie’s 1st party, age 3. Had a few neighbors in for cake and ice cream. Received two turtles from us; shoes from F’s; pillow from Mom. (Aside: Janine was born at 7:30 next morning after a two-hour labor, weighing 8 lbs. 13.5 oz., 22” long)
1961 Had a party for Robbie’s 4th. Nice presents.
1985 Lunch at Cornucopia. $5.95 buffet. Very good.
1987 Robbie’s 30th.
1988 Robbie’s 31st. Mardi Gras. Gorgeous day.
1989 Robbie’s 32nd. Gave shirt.
1990 Robbie’s 33rd. Lars will spend weekend. K&K at Mariott for company meeting.

Happy Valentine's Day

Got plans?

There are so many interesting tidbits about Valentine’s Day that I thought I might share a few. My favorite tidbit comes courtesy of Wikipedia:

In Slovenia, a proverb says that "St Valentine brings the keys of roots," so on February 14, plants and flowers start to grow. Valentine's Day has been celebrated as the day when the first works in the vineyards and on the fields commence. It is also said that birds propose to each other or marry on that day.

I think that last sentence a bit fanciful but who cares? It's harmless fancy and I like it. Another tidbit comes from The History Channel:

According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl -- who may have been his jailor's daughter -- who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today.

Also a bit fanciful. When I was a kid, people used to route their Valentine cards by mail through Valentine, Nebraska so they’d have a Valentine postmark. I don’t remember how to do that and I’m not sure that it can even still be done.

They celebrate it a bit differently in Saudi Arabia. Had to include that because it contains a committee with my all-time favorite title: The Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice.

Watch out for these guys and have a Happy Valentine’s Day. Have a red Rose on me

Williams Cemetery - Bush, LA - February 11, 2007

This is a rather remote, very well-tended cemetery about two miles from our house. For some added perspective, the Louisiana Purchase was completed in 1803.

Williams Cemetery - Bush, LA - February 11, 2007

Another one from Williams Cemetery. The cross in the tree line (Center of the image above the wide marker) in this image was accidental but I like it. Didn't see it when I shot it.

The signs went up today. We will hopefully open on March 1st. Phil got disappointing news today. He was told he would not have his liquor license in time to sell alcohol and snacks for Mardi Gras. He was never planning to be open before Mardi Gras, but he was hoping to at least sell beer & fries. He is in a prime parade location and the exposure would have been good. For a city that's trying to rebuild, they sure do make start up businesses go through a lot of red tape. The liquor license is being held up by the state electrical inspector. In order to have a liquor license, he has to have walls. Well, the walls are not finished yet because we're still waiting on the electrical inspector - 9 days and counting. Cross your fingers all goes well over the next couple of weeks.

Phil will have a VIP night two nights before opening, to give his staff an opportunity to practice. So keep your calendars open on Tuesday, Feb. 27th.

I know Spader and Sambora. Can live with both although I don't think anyone would confuse us. Had to look the other two up.

Ken Stott. I don't see it.
Rudolph Steiner. Don't see this, either.

Plan to get in line at the bookstore at midnight on the day of its release? We're just going to go the Amazon route. It will be in our mailbox same day. I also don't intend to try to read it in one sitting. I've never done that even once in my life. Speculation has J.K. Rowling writing other books after this release about the wizard world she's created but I think this one due out on July 21 will do it for me. I've read them all so far and want to know how it turns out but I don't have much interest beyond that. She's had a good run.

Hope everyone was wearing their seat belts...