Medicine Show 9

Karen and I introduced Karen's cousin Pat to Cajun music the other day as we took him to take part in the 9th annual Medicine Show, which is a tribute to former BeauslSoleil guitarist Tommy Comeaux. The Independent had a great article about The Comeauxtians and their ten year achievement to create the first endowed chair for the college of the arts at ULL in honor of their late friend.

This was the first year that I had been to this event, and it's hard to believe it's been going on for so long without me being aware. BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet started off the night with eight songs. Nothing to lively, but some great music to open up the show. BeauSoliel is probably one of the most widely known Cajun bands on tour with two Grammys in the bag after being nominated for 15 over the past 30 years. I don't think I've seen anyone play with as much passion when Michael Doucet was going solo on the fiddle. He was quite a treat to watch.

My youth won't allow me to expand on the next performer, but LG informed me that Joan Baez was quite the attraction back in her day. I think the exact reference was a "hippie against the Vietnam War who caused quite a stir." The crowd was very welcoming to her, and she was impressive to say the least. Her last song was a tribute to Tommy, and was done acapella. The thousand or so patrons of Grant Street fell silent as she belted out the lyrics. in what was definitely a moving tribute.

The show really got rocking when Geno Delafosse took the stage. He is who the people came to see, and the entire place started dancing, and didn't stop for 45 minutes. While he doesn't hold the accolades that the former two performers are known for, Lafayette was primed to see their hometown (Maurice) boy mix it up. Karen and I always try to give the two-step a whirl, but I think we end up tripping over each other before the song is over. I am blessed to have such a patient wife who continues to put up with my improvisation of Cajun dancing. Lessons may be around the corner though.

Unfortunately we had to miss Sonny Landreth due to an early moring trip to Orlando...which is where I currenlty am.

Merry Christmas

Highest Paid in Baseball

The Yankees are now the proud owners of the four most lucrative contracts in major league baseball after signing Mark Teixeira earlier today. While I'm a little embarrassed of the type of money that's been thrown around lately(especially in this economy), at least it wasn't on Manny, but I'm not holding my breath.

Alex Rodriguez - 270 million + 30 million signing bonus
Derek Jeter - 189 million
Mark Teixeira - 180 million
C.C. Sabathia - 161 million

Let's not forget that a lot of money came off the Yankees books this year, and they are under the $200 million mark of last year, but to do so in such tough times leaves a lot of questions lingering. What makes the Bronx Bombers so impervious to today's financial stranglehold. Mike Lupica dawdled into the Yankees current financial situation a couple of weeks ago in the Daily News.

Marathon-of-a-day

Below is a brief overview of the past 36 hours:

3pm - 6pm - Yard work

7pm-7am - Worked night shift at Opelousas General

8am-10am - Ate breakfast and ran a couple of Christmas errands

11am - 2pm - Officiated a soccer match between New Iberia and Opelousas Catholic (torture)

2pm - 4:30pm - Took a nap

5:00pm - 8:30pm - Dog class with Maggie and my sister (Claire) followed by dinner at Zoes

8:30pm - 10:00pm - Christmas party with Karen and the Gerami dancers

10:00pm - 11:30pm - The Taproom

Midnight - Bed

Bowl Season

I didn't fare to well this year in the deClouet College Football Picks, and have refused to look at my standings in fear of seeing who is in front of me...mainly my betrothed! My last chance at redemption this year is the bowl season picks, and have decided to publish them.

FYI, this is against the spread, and the only thing wagered is $25 at the beginning of the year.

Navy +3
Fresno St. -2.5
South Florida -12.5
Arizona -3
Troy -4.5
Boise State +2.5
Notre Dame +1.5...probably be disappointed for the ninth year in a row!
Florida State -5
Miami +7
La. Tech +1.5
NC state +7
Missouri -13
Maryland -1
Western Michigan +3
Oregon +3
Air Force +2.5
Pitt +3
Boston College -4
Kansas -10
Georgia Tech +4
South Carolina +3.5
Georgia -7.5
Nebraska +2.5
USC -10
Virginia Tech +1.5
Texas Tech -5.5
East Carolina -2
Alabama -10.5
Buffalo +4.5
Texas -9.5
Ball State -2.5
Florida -3

And I already lost two games. Why am I not surprised!

Dame Matthews and Tim Reynolds - Christmas Song

One of my favorite Dave tunes, especially around this time of year. Hope you enjoy and have a great weekend.

The Dog Fence and Karen's Super-Human Power

It was thought that the stump grindings might accidentally cut the electric wiring that keeps Maggie in check while she's in the back yard. There are no obstacles that stand in the way of freedom, except the electric fence.

Today I saw her sitting abnormally close to the border. Puppy class teacher would kill me for doing this, but I started to call her across the border that she has come to know as no-dog-land.

Karen: "Don't call her across. She already knows not to go there."

Me: "How are we going to know if the fence is working."

Karen: While placing her hand over the border. "It works."

Me: "What do you mean it works?"

Karen: "I can feel the electric current."

I see some serious testing of this power in the future.

The Yard : Phase 1 Completed

Hurricane Gustov did a number on our house as we took down some trees prior to the storm, and lost most of our fence in the process. The house didn't incur any damage, but a massive red oak was towering over us threatening destruction if given the right motivation.

Yesterday saw the first phase of our backyard plan start and finish with the taking down of that oak and the clearing of the brush near the fence-line. The backyard is , now, completely exposed, but the side of the house looks a lot better. Bob's Tree Preservation was the company we used ( you learn a lot after using the wrong person the first time around), and is the company we intend to use when we decide to plant a couple of trees as replacements (not until phase 4). They definitely do quality work, and I recommend them if you have any work to do on your trees.

Next phase is a new fence. Anybody have any recommendations?

A before picture prior to Hurricane Gustov. The 30 year old pines are being taken down.

The pines first and now the red oak. Nature hates us right now.

Exposed

The oak in the front got a little trimming as one the workers showed me how to "dress" an oak.

The Day the Earth Stood Still

Despspite holding the belief that Keanu Reeves is the worst actor in Hollywood, Karen and I decided to give The Day the Earth Stood Still a chance. The preview looked pretty enticing, and Keanu's role is that of an alien. Showing no emotion is his thing as we saw in the Matrix trilogy, so maybe this one has a chance...right?



Wrong! Other than a couple of powerful acting moments between Jennifer Connelly and Jaden Smith the movie failed to deliver. The film is up for a couple of awards, but neither has to do with acting nor the plot. The message is a good one, but I'll let you discover that for yourselves.

Josh Ritter - You Don't Make it Easy Babe

There's nothing better than discovering an artist you love who's released several albums as every one that's purchased is like a new release. Just started listening to Hello Starling, and am, not surprisingly, impressed. While he's not currently on tour, he has announced a live performance with a 24-piece orchestra in Ireland on July 4th. Any takers?

You Don't Make it Easy Babe

The new Pan American

I believe the last time I was so disappointed was when my sister told me the ending to The Sixth Sense BEFORE I had a chance to view it. That was exactly how I felt Sunday afternoon after spending three hours (horrible construction traffic) driving to New Orleans only to find out that one of the teams I was suppose to be officiating was a no-show. I've made this trek a hundred time in the past three years for the same reason, and I have never had a team not show up.

I was suppose to officiate an important match in the ISLANO soccer league in New Orleans. It's considered to be the most competitive soccer in the state, and it's top teams could compete for the Lamar Hunt trophy if the right incentive was given. On any given Sunday Pan American Stadium is filled with a couple of hundred (a thousand come playoff time) fans watching great soccer. Barbeque and beer keeps them satisfied during each of the five games throughout the day as they wait in anticiaption for the final "showcase" game, which can be heard on the local hispainc radio stations. Last year was one of the most intense officiaitng atmospheres I've been a part of, and I continue to put aside an entire day for hopes of having such experiences.

Unfortunately, I was disappointed Sunday, but I did get to check out the new facility. New Orleans and the federal government spent a quarter of a million dollars renovating Pan American Stadium after Katrina, and I can say that it rivals any stadium in the state in terms of quality and intimacy. Below are a few of ther pics.

After learning of my tragedy Karen decided to give it a go, and will be thinking of trying out for AFC next year!

Renovated stands and new turf. A few of the high schools play there footbll/soccer games here.

It's no STM scoreboard, but definitely an upgrade.

Tyler, myself, and a few locals (Katie and Darren)

The Big Frost of '08

I usually have my camera with me at all times, and if it's not on my person then it can be found in the car. Unfortunately I wasn't able to have during the "The Big Frost of '08." I had never seen snowflakes this large, and it was coming down like confetti in Time's Square on New Year's Day. I was tempted to make a snow angel while I was enjoying the weather, but scrubs don't necessarily make the best snow gear.

A couple of pics taken with the iPhone. Thanks Steve Jobs!

This is the beginning of the snow storm, before we knew that our lives were in peril!

Two hours later.

The morning after at OGH

I was the first in the ICU to brave the elements, must to my mother-in-law's dismay as she kept checking up on me. Leave it to a deClouet to take pictures while driving ion the snow. Fortunately I-49 was as congested as it is on Christmas Day, making my trip last a hair under thirty minutes...I was going 50.

A neighbor's snowman. I guess we'll have to wait another decade before we see something like that!

Working on a budget?

After learning the the Yanks inked C.C. Sabathia for $160m/7 years I read the following interview on one of my favorite Yankee blogs, The LoHud Yankees:

We asked Brian Cashmam how he got to Oakland last night.

“Commercial flight,” he said.

“Not private?” I asked.

“We’re not the Red Sox,” Cashman said with a laugh.

C.C. will make Jaba's salary in his first four innings of work, but I'm ecstatic he's in pinstripes!

Snowing in Opelousas

It's 4:00 in the morning, and the entire mood of the hospital staff has changed because it's snowing outside. Not the kind of snow that we remember from 7 years ago, but the kind that piles on cars and initiates snow-ball fights. I was in a small one a few moments ago (on break of course)!

Pretty exciting stuff!

Vincent Tree Farm

Karen, Maggie, and I braved the 80% chance of rain yesterday for the opportunity to find our Christmas Tree. Last year I jumped on the Gard bandwagon of getting the tree at Vincent's tree farm in Kaplan. A twenty minute drive coupled with my two female friends and a fresh Vincent bag of oranges makes for an ideal afternoon, especially after cutting down the perfect Carolina Blue Spruce. Lucky for us it didn't rain.

And the search begins

Karen finds the perfect tree. Aftewr getting it placing it in the stand I quickly noticed a large patch of dead branches...so it has a little character!

The MANual labor. Check out the gloves...prepared!

Maggie's contribution as Santa's Little Helper.

A wedding in Sulfur

A truly valued friend of mine was married over the weekend, and the above picture was the site of the ceremony (you can see a silhouette of the castle in the upper right ). Chateau de Bon Reve is located in Sulfur, Constructed was completed early last year, and is an as memorable a place as any to have a wedding...especially the site above as Karen and I drove up at sunset.

The new bride was a friend of mine while I was in nursing school at Mcneese, and I credit her and her parents for getting me through...home cooking and a family atmosphere goes a long way when you're away from home. I was privileged enough to be present during the beginning of her relationship with her new groom, and am pleased to see it blossom to what it is today. Congrats you two. The wedding was truly memorable.

On another note, Saturday marks the day that I was able to tie my first tie. A little late in life is better than not at all, but I learned how to do it here, and the picture below is evidence of my success, the Windsor knot

Three more until 30

Karen reached a stage in which she is beginning to dread birthdays as they represent the whithering away of youth. I, personally, think that's unfounded, but to each his own. Karen turns 27 today, so if you have a moment send her a birthday cheer!

For the record Karen, I still see you as that youthful 19 year old that I fell in love with eight years ago. Hope you have a great birthday.

A picture from a breakfast shop in New York's "Upper West Side." You can see that Karen is plotting some sort of evil deed on her unsuspecting husband, or at least that's what I see.

Karen's Latest

Here are a few of the pieces that have taken up my wife's time the past couple of months. These are 6'x4', so you can appreciate the detail that's placed in every one. Karen describes them as "explorations of form, detail, time, and gravity. They are non-objective experiments." Hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

A first time for everything!

I think this is the first time that I've gone longer than a week without posting, so please forgive me as I seem to be cured from my apathetic state.

The past couple of weeks have been filled with littler news as I've been putting in some major hours at the General. Aside from the Case Ole run, there has been little to report...



...until today. I received a package in the Cooper Life Fund. It contained a first-place medal for my age group in the Case Ole Run. After working a twelve-hour shift the night before I had left the race shortly after finishing, not thinking that I would win anything...being that six to seven people finished in front of me. This marks my first such medal in any running event, and not a moment to soon as my last race was a catastrophe!