Glory!

Glory - adorning worshipful praise or thanksgiving


This is a statement that is constantly shouted by my Uncle Mike when praising God at family prayer meetings. I believe I first heard it expressed by my grandfather after he spoke on moving on to the next life to be with the Lord. He would state how great it'll be to be in heaven, and that those who are still on Earth shouldn't mourn, but rather rejoice. This would be followed with a handful of GLORIES!



Paul deClouet, my grand-pa, passed away this afternoon. His death is not a shock to the family as he has been fighting illness after illness for a while now. He had been in the hospital for some time over the past couple of weeks, and I would often think about him this past week as I passed New Iberia on my way to work in Franklin. I feel fortunate to have been able to visit him this morning. He seemed comfortable and calm. Any attempts to wake him resulted in failure, but he would respond to touch as he seemed to be aggravated by it. Somewhat amusingly. Anyway, all believes he's in a better place.

Glory!

Care for a drink?

A soda display case at the University of Chicago graduate school. While it's captivating in its' display, does it invite you to disrupt the flow of colors for the price of a cold soft-drink?

Ellen's Wedding

This week is an exciting one in the deClouet house as my sister Ellen prepares to marry Michael Rich on Saturday. The two met during in college during a recruiting trip by Ellen. Here we are, seven years later, and we could not be more excited about who Ellen is marrying. Michael is a great guy who we are excited to have as part of our family.

I can remember one of the first times I met Michael. It was at a soccer camp in Lafayette that we assisted in coaching. We tied a bunch of 10 year old kids thanks to my incompetence in putting away the best cross I have ever received (Michael crossed it). I have come to the conclusion that this marriage may end my 26 year run as the deClouet soccer king, as Michael has the ability to de-thrown me. We’ll set up a skills competition later on in the week, but I believe the takeover is inevitable.

Back to the matter at hand. The two are marrying this Saturday at Asbury Methodist. My dad has told me that no expense was spared, so get ready for quite a party. I am extremely proud of my sister, and couldn’t be happier for her. She continues to impress me in every aspect of her life.

David McNeil ?

Apparently, I have been discovered taking graduate physics courses at the University of North Texas under the alias David McNeil. This picture was forwarded to me by a friend who is currently in school at UNT.

"A Tourist in Chinatown"

My wife found this design while doing a little research online. Think it's pretty clever, so I decided to share. Designed by Ellen Hsu and Cassandra Kegler.

New Rivalry

While everyone would like to see that classic American dominance in tennis (McEnroe, Sampras, Agassi) it is nice to see someone challenging Roger Federer for once. Federer is the king of tennis. Some hail him as the best ever as he slowly encroaches on Sampras' 14 grand slams, but tonight last night was Novak Djokovic's night. The 3rd ranked player in the world stunned Federer in straight sets in the quarter final of the Aussie Open, possibly starting a rivalry that men's tennis hasn't seen for the latter half of a decade.

All this talk could be meaningless if the 20 year old drops the ball in the final.

Roddick and Blake are never going to fill the shoes of the Americans before them, so I guess we should just accept that, and wait for the next US phenom to come around.

Maggie meets Monnet

For those of you who are unaware, the deClouet's had a dog before Maggie. Monnet is a golden retriever who has been in the family for 5+ years, and has made Matthew a lot of money that in unaccounted for. Maggie met Monnet tonight, and I believe the two hit it off.

On another note, Maggie went to her first vet visit yesterday. Karen was told that she was born on January 18, 2007 (exactly 1 year old on the day she was found)...our vet is awesome. She received the necessary immunizations, and she is not currently microchipped. We are in the clear.

Karen - "If she was chipped would we HAVE to call the owners?"
Vet - "Well...not if you don't want to."
Karen - "At least we don't have to worry about that."

I think someone needs to attend a class on ethics?

High School Soccer

Last night was my last high school game of the season, until the playoffs. Beau Chene and Teurlings played a surprisingly exciting game with Teurlings winning 2-0. Teurliungs is definitely the strongest team in their division, and should have a well deserved playoff run after years of losing out to St. Louis in division 3.

The crew above consisted of myself John Mikel and Reuban Dejernette. No serious issue in the game despite one send off, but what is High School soccer without one?

Oversleeping

Tonight happens to be one of the many slow nights that I encounter ever since working in rural hospitals ICUs. The bonus is that the down time allows me to get a lot of studying in, and when that becomes monotonous I'm online.

More to the point of this post, there is an alarm clock that I came across that's sure to keep you from sleeping in. I know I ran into this problem quite often while in school, hitting the snooze several times only to find myself late for class or clinical. The SnuzNLuz alarm clock is your solution. It's connected to your network, and is programmed to donate a set amount of money to your choice of UNDESIRABLE charity every time you hit the snooze button. Pretty neat for only $40, and you may become a more productive person.

From the looks of the display the designer of this advertisement is

keeping up with the Democratic Primaries.

What would your charity be?

Camera shy

Cameras, tennis balls, Frisbee, Jack, bright objects...These are the things that frighten Maggie. Once encountered she quickly puts her tail between her legs and scampers off to the next room or around the corner. We're slowly trying to curtail such behavior by introducing objects to her before throwing them in her direction...wait a minute... maybe we shouldn't throw things at her!

While taking her for a walk today we encountered some smaller dogs, and Maggie displayed a slightly more aggressive side. Thank God for the leash, but I think it was more playful think anything else. Unfortunately the smaller dogs took off before we could probably introduce them. Maybe tomorrow.

It was discovered that Maggie is not afraid of Ducks, so I think there's a chance she may crawl out of her shell. Maggie vs. the ducks...to be continued!

Welcoming a new member

In a rare gathering all deClouets are accounted for, including the newest member Maggie.

Meet Maggie

Karen and I have been toying with the idea of getting a dog ever since Gidget passed, and an opportunity to adopt a homeless one was given to us Friday. Matt (brother) and Paige (girlfriend) found this dog wandering the streets of Lake Charles (a most dreadful city) on Friday, and brought her to Lafayette for us to see. I was a little cautious when I was emailed a picture, but meeting her in person was a different story. Meet Maggie.


We think she is a part boxer/beagle or pit bull/beagle. Possibly two to three years old. She is very harmless, and is scared of most things...including Jack, which leads us to believe she was harmed earlier in her life. It will be a real challenge to get her confident again, but we think she's up for the task.

BTW...Jack's confidence is soaring as he seems to be aware of his dominance over this canine. He purposely enters rooms that are occupied by Maggie, curls his back, and hisses in a way that causes Maggie to find the nearest exit. This was Karen's selling point.

Ghostland Observatory

Karen and I went to Voodoo Fest last year with a bunch of friends, and were introduced to Ghostland Observatory. Montes (pictured above with Aaron Behrens of Ghostland) convinced us to see them instead of Ben Harper. Little did we know that the show would be inside of a closed tent, making it that much more intimate. Needless to say they did not disappoint.

Below is a live track they performed at Austin City Limits this past year. The New Orleans crowd was much more responsive to the music, but you should be able to see why they're such a good live gig. This performance was broadcast on PBS earlier this month.

Slideshow

I have recently added a slideshow to the blog. You'll be navigated to my flickr account when you click any individual picture. We currently only have two groups of pics uploaded, but this will change quickly as we have just started uploading pics to the site.

Ruler of the Roost

For those of you who are unaware of our animal situation, it now consists of the one and only Jack. He is the ruler of the roost, and we tiptoe around him as to not interfere with his posh lifestyle. Pictured above is what I wake to every morning. He always seems to beat me to the bathroom, and Karen has convinced me that his needs supersede ours...so I wait.

The Tax Issue

I've started to take a closer look at the presidential candidates, comparing their stance on issues of importance to me. One major issue is taxes. Traditionally, republicans have promised to decrease while democrats have proposed to increase. Nothing new here except that Mike Huckabee is promoting a consumption tax that he calls the Fair Tax.

Robert Frank, the economist who's book (Economic Naturalist) I blogged about, proposes that this is the only way that we can get a "grip on the national debt, stimulate savings, pay for valuable public services and reduce overseas borrowing." (I feel like I'm writing a paper here)

Like anything in Washington, this plan has its' fair share of critics. It is predicted that massive tax evasion, brought on by the national tax + State taxes, would ensue that would require even higher taxes to compensate.

I'm definitely a novice when it comes to such issues, but I get the perception that this country is heading for a recession-of-sorts. Any thought on the issue would be appreciated as I don't want to fall prey to some guys convincing writing.

This is not an endorsement for Huckabee.

Speed

Vince Young, Devin Hester, Emmit Smith, and Deion Sanders...backwards.
These are athletes who could not run a 40 yard dash as fast as I did during their evaluation at the NFL combine their rookie years.

When the LSU/Ohio State game became a little boring in the fourth quarter, a bunch of people found amusement in running a 40-yard dash. My time was 4.8 seconds followed by 4.5.

The previously mentioned 40-yard dash neophytes ran 4.58, 4.54, 4.56, and 4.57 (backwards) respectively. Seriously, Dieon Sanders ran a backwards 40 in 4.57 seconds.

I have since dropped everything to train for the 2008 NFL combine.

Effective Propaganda

This was a display at the D-Day Museum in New Orleans. Ads like this are the reason we have our freedom today.

Victoria Secret's Secret

I was officiating a soccer game last night between Notre Dame High Scholl and St. Louis. A match of teams on the opposite side of the soccer spectrum, this one did not entertain . A lot of standing around led to mosquitoes eating me alive. At halftime I asked the other official if he had any Off. He didn't, but said he had one better.

I know this is sounding a bit like one of those commercials, but I swear to you it's not. His girlfriend had found that Victoria Secret Vanilla Body Spray works better than insect repellent. She is a doctorate student in ULL's biology program , doing research at the Wetlands, so I figured she knew what she was talking about.

Being desperate I gave it a shot, and I did not have one mosquito attack me for the rest of the night. I did have a lot of teenage boys running by me asking what that fruity smell was. My response, "At least it keeps the mosquitoes away."

LSU vs. Ohio St.

I have always been opposed to LSU for as long as I remember. I think it began as my dad not liking them on the surface because of his rivalry with a college buddy. Consequently, as one who looked up to his father I routed for the other team.

Years pass and I find myself still not liking LSU (football), and I stop to ask myself, "Why?" The only conclusion that I can come up with is the obsessiveness of their fan base. I have never encountered a group of people who feel that they are entitled to everything. It's not the obsessive nature of their loyalty, but their arrogance that rubs me the wrong way. I'll give credit where it's due, and LSU deserves the countries respect for the last eight years (prior to this they have been largely irrelevant).

That being said, tonight I am entering the lion's den. My cousin is throwing an LSU party, and I have already begun receiving malicious messages regarding the game. Go Ohio State, and by the way I picked LSU in the picks...I want the candy!

Simple Minded

I find it more an more challenging to communicate with patients that I encounter while working at these rural hospitals. Their population is very simple minded in that they are only concerned with the needs of the moment. Absolutely no thought is given to the long term effects of some decisions. One elderly man that I ran in to was battling end stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (caused by smoking). When asked why he let himself get this bad before quitting he responded with, "I didn't know smoking was bad for you." WOW

The challenge of informing the less educated about current health issues and life style changes is more prevalent than I imagined. According to the Center for Disease Control, chronic conditions account for 70-75 % of health care costs in the US.

To think that just a little life style modification can prevent so much disease is overwhelming, at least in my eyes.

1997 - 2008

Today is a sad day for us as we had to put Gidget down today. She became more anemic and less responsive to the medication. It is believed by the vet that she probably had some type of bone marrow disease or cancer. Needless to say, she is will be missed by Karen, Linda, and I.

Gidget

Gidget will have been to the vet three times this week after tomorrow's visit. She is battling some serious adverse reactions to her heart worm treatment. Her mood and demeanor remind us of Rascal before we had to let him go, so these are troubling times at the Gard house. I believe that she'll pull through. Tomorrow morning's visit will give us a better look at her response to the steroids.

On a lighter note the picture above shows Jack in the background healthy as an ox. You can't tell, but he's rolling around in an attempt to get a rise out of the sick.

Painting

Karen has started another painting project, this time in the den. She recently finished painting the two bedrooms in which two of the walls were brick. Let me tell you that painting brick is no small feat. It is backbreaking, tireless work that I would not wish on my worst enemy.

After she finished priming 2/3 of the brick wall in the den I decided that I would lend a helping hand. Twenty minutes later I declared, "There's got to be an easier way to do this! Why don't we buy as painting gun?"

Karen replied, "I think those cost like $2,000 or something."

To which I said, "No way...let's go check."





$59.00 and twenty minutes later the priming was complete. I will never use a paintbrush again, thanks to my Wide Shot Power Painter, available at your neighborhood Lowes.

Comments

A handful of people have complained to me that they are having trouble posting comments. After checking the settings I realized that they were somewhat restrictive, so the necessary changes were made. Hope this solves the problem.

Hell Freezing Over

In a victory that will be seen as larger than life Nick Albarodo has was the 2007 Fantasy Crack Football League. Two years after a complete drafting meltdown (Adam Viniteri and Raven's Def in third and fifth round) Nick has rebounded the way few have and claimed ultimate glory. Not since NC St. miraculous victory over Houston has an underdog of such proportions beat the odds.

In total dominant fashion Albarodo outwitted last year's champs, Matt deClouet and Elliot Taylor, in a 129 - 92 Fantasy Crack V Championship victory. In doing so he won the $400 prize and his name on the trophy. Congrats Albo

New Year's Day

The deClouet's have an annual tradition of gathering at my Uncle Michael's house on New Year's Day to watch the bowl games. Each attendee attempts to guess the score of every game, and the winners get to choose a prize...usually candy that is shared with everyone. For the record, Karen and I won two of the 6 bowl games for the day!

Other accomplishments include dominating my cousin Paul in arm wrestling, getting humiliated by my father in a disc golf competition, and claiming to run a sub-six minute mile (probably not)!



It must be said that I worked New Year's Eve, so on Tuesday I was running off two hours of sleep, and it showed. Twelve hours and eight beers later I met my match. Fatigue overcame me, and I missed the Sugar Bowl. Thank God it wasn't a good game! Does anyone know if I won?

Recognition

Karen and I owe our relationship to the accomplishments of her mother, Linda Gard. When we first became friends Karen would wow me with stories of her mom's illustrious careers. Country singer and US Air Force veteran are a few of the titles that were held. Her album Staying Together cracked the top 100 in country music at #99. I immediately wanted to become a member of the Gard family, and it was then that I began my 10 year plan to lure her in.

On a different note, Linda Gard was recognized for her career in the Air Force in today's veteran spotlight in The Daily Advertiser. Her story of boarding Air Force One for a pinning ceremony is described in today's accent section. This online link is the interview that was held by newspaper. I think that this weekly recognition of veterans shines a small light on those who gave so much. I believe they aren't given enough thanks for their sacrifice, and this spotlight during such controversial times is a constant reminder of who we have to thank for what we have.

Happy New Years, and thanks Mrs. Linda!