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Randoms along the bayou.

Posted in Random stuff on July 5, 2011 by bayoucreole

Last week my daughter decided that, she was through with the “creamy crack” and after four months without a relaxer, she decided it was time for the big chop.  Sunday at 3 a.m. us vampires decided that, it was THEE time and I cut all of her relaxed hair from her head.

She looks gorgeous!! She’s officially 100% natural and loves it!  BERJAYABERJAYA

Her “teeny-weeny afro” really suits her.  When it was all said and done she said that, she felt free. I bet she does.  Life is too short, even at 17 to be worrying  about hair.  Wear your hair how you choose…DO YOU!

I’m still using the creamy crack.

 I bet all the white folks who read my blog are like,”what the heck is a big chop and  creamy crack?” LOL

A big chop is when a person has relaxed hair and they cut it all off to their new growth (the part that has no relaxer).

 Because so much hair is cut off, it’s referred to as a “big chop.”

Creamy crack is what we call a relaxer. Don’t matter what kind it is…if ya have a relaxer, ya using da creamy crack.

Speaking of YellowJacket, her step-mom was robbed last week at a discount store on Palmetto St.  Seems like, she went in the store to cash a check and to buy a few things but, some dudes must have been  in the store scoping for people cashing checks. The minute she walked out of the store, two dudes walked up on her, one in the front, one on the side. The dude on the side stuck a gun in her side and told her that, they saw her in there so they knew she had it so, just give it up. She gave it up and they didn’t shoot her…THANK GOD!

When she was telling me about her experience, the scene from Treme when Harley was robbed and  killed just kept flashing in my head.

It’s getting crazier by the second man. Something’s gotta be done to get a handle on all of the crime.

I quit the crazy weekend gig. My friend who is the director over there is sad but, it was time for me to go. 

 When they accepted a patient and the man was walking around  talking  about  he was  gonna RAPE somebody in there and…

 they found 22 BULLETS in his roommates dresser(still haven’t found the gun),

 it  was time for me to get the shit outta that joint!

Extra money is nice but, I ain’t trying to die or get raped behind it…damn!

YellowJacket’s and my birthday are in a few days. She’ll be 17 and I’ll be..

not 17…lol…I’ll be 48.

I don’t have a problem telling my age, I’ve never looked it anyway. That really pissed me off when I was a pregnant. I was 29 and everyone thought I was a pregnant teen…I mean EVERYONE!    A minister actually came over to me and started ministering to me about being young and pregnant and how my life was not over.

When I told that nut that, I was 29 years old and married he looked as if I had threatened to shoot his foot off( but, back then, I may have and I just don’t remember.)  Then, he went on to say,”oh, I thought you were a teenager.”

Me: that’s what you get for thinking…ya thought wrong. 

Sometimes, looking 10 years younger than what you really are isn’t always a great thing. When you’re in your twenties and you still look like a kid, it isn’t the most desired thing. I’ve just gotten to the point in life where, I finally appreciate that I don’t look my age. 

Although, a cashier at Walmart just carded me the other day. I was like, come on man! I’m in my 40′s and this mess is still going  on?! 

My kids are out of the way…just about. I don’t think I’m going to have the empty nest syndrome problem. NavySeal and I are already making plans for their exit. For the first time, I’m actually thinking of leaving my beloved city.  We both love Jacksonville, Florida so, we’re considering moving there in a few years. 

 If this crime keeps going the way it is, it won’t be too hard of a choice.

My dad being home is getting more difficult. He’s at the stage where he doesn’t think he’s bad off but he really is.  Last week , he walked into the kitchen fully dressed in his suit. 

me: where ya going dad?

him: to class.

me: they have services already?

him:yeah, sunday school

me: dad, it’s tuesday.

him: today tuesday?

me: yep.

 Conversations like that one are getting more frequent. And his mobility is decreasing as well.  Alzheimer’s is one of the diseases that keeps on giving.  I have to remind the rest of my family to just check everything…doors, stove…you name it.  Telling a person with Alzheimer’s that, they forgot to lock the door does no good because…they’re gonna forget again.  Just lock the door and keep rolling. It’s not too bad yet but, I have no idea how bad it’s gonna get.

I’ve seen a lot of cases…some not so bad, some all the way back to infantile stage.  I have a SIL whose mom had it so bad that, she had to put her in a home. I hope it doesn’t come to that but, if it does, I may have to do some finagling to get the best outcome for his situation.

Only time will tell.

That’s all I got today. I’ll have more this week.

Handicap Harassment…Who Knew?

Posted in A lil bit about me. with tags , , on June 17, 2011 by bayoucreole

The other day, NS and I went to Cafe du Monde for some beignets.

We parked in the handicap parking spot.

When we pulled up, there was a lady getting out of her car right next to us.

When she got out of her car, she didn’t walk to the front of  her car towards Cafe du Monde,

she walked to the rear and looked over at mine to see if I had a handicap license plate.

YEAH, I HAVE A HANDICAP PLATE WITH YOUR NOSEY BUTT!

Boy, people sure don’t like it when you pull up in one of those handicap spots unless, you’re getting out the car with a wooden leg and a kick stand!

Before I received the plate, I used to have one of the hang tags that hang from the rear view mirror.

I’d hang it up after I moved into the parking space because, if you just leave it hanging, the heat will crack it.

You would not believe how many people would see us pulling in a parking spot and yell, “YOU AIN’T HANDICAPPED!” without so much as seeing if I had legs.

Call it my crazy NOLA sense of humor but, I think that shit is so funny every time it happens.

Well, there was this one time…..

I don’t think it’s their loyalty toward the handicapped that makes them go into a tangent.

I think they’re pissed off because they can’t park there.

Really close…

by the door.

In fact, I know it.

When NS had his surgery, he had a soft cast and was walking with crutches.

Even then, when we got out of the car

…the comments were still being made.

How the hell you see a man with a soft cast on, walking with crutches

and ya still yelling about someone being  not handicapped?

This one woman was going in on him.

NS has the patience of Job, he just let her rant.

I got tired of her though and went in for the kill and shut her down.

I mean damn! The man has a cast AND crutches!

It’s worse around Christmas time when everyone’s out shopping, looking for parking spaces…goodness!

I know some people park in the handicap spot and they don’t have a tag or anything but,

I have THEE handicap license plate on my car…not the hang tag.

and I’m still getting harassed by folks.

Although not as much since I have the plate.

I guess it’s more legal to them somehow…lol

Hating on the handicapped…who knew?

BERJAYA

The New Disneyland

Posted in things that make me smile with tags , , , , , on June 11, 2011 by bayoucreole

Someone sent me this video to watch and I was glad they did. It put the biggest damned smile on my face!

 

Those dudes thought they were going to teach a few lessons and ended up getting schooled! 

LOVE IT!!

 Makes me wanna go back.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Hot Fun in the Summertime.

Posted in New Orleans Festivals with tags , , , on June 8, 2011 by bayoucreole

I didn’t do too much this weekend. Sunday, I went to the oyster fest which was great!  I was amazed to find  out that, it’s only been around for 2 years…the turnout was huge.

Now, I’m not an oyster eater but, NS had an oyster po-boy from Acme and he says it was very tasty!

BERJAYA

there he is standing in line to get it.

I would have gotten a pic of the “eryster sammich” but, I blinked and it was gone!

BERJAYA

Even though the sun wasn’t out, you could still feel the heat! Everyone seemed to be having a wonderful time…kinda hard not to when there’s food, drinks and music all around you.

BERJAYA

Y’all know I’m a fan of Zydeco and Rockin Dopsie Jr!

 I thought I was gonna see his brother, Dwayne out there but was pleasantly surprised to see Rockin’  Dopsie! The man can really put on a show and the crowd just loves him!

BERJAYA

I love this shot! I don’t know how I got the thumbs up in it but, this pic pretty much says it all about the entire fest!

After listening to Dopsie, NS headed over to get some shrimp and oyster egg rolls

BERJAYA

and then, we spotted Antoine’s out there with their famous Baked Alaska!  There was no way, I was leaving without trying it out.

BERJAYA

ya had to eat it really fast though! With that kinda heat…it was melting real quick.

BERJAYA

I think  I’m gonna have to add this festival to my already long list of festivals to hit.  I wonder how many I actually go to…seems like a lot.

Oh well, that’s one of the many reasons I love being home I guess.

As I’ve said, even though I don’t eat oysters, I would have gone anyway.

 The money is going to a good cause

 …and I was even able to pick up a cute lil t-shirt  to show my support.

BERJAYA

Ya shuck’em and ya slurp ‘em

Posted in New Orleans Festivals with tags , on June 4, 2011 by bayoucreole

I know it’s hot as hell out here and all but, if you can stand the heat and want something to do,

the Erster (Oysters to folks not from the area) Festival is this weekend in the French Quarters.

I don’t eat them but, NavySeal and PurpleKnight can go through a bunch of ‘em so, we’re heading out.

I’ll find something to eat out there that’s for sure.

The music lineup  is great with,  Treme Brass Band, Irma Thomas, and Rockin Dopsie all scheduled to appear this weekend.

Another weekend of food and fun…go grab some y’all!

 

How Much Can You Take On The Job?

Posted in A lil bit about me. with tags , , , , on June 3, 2011 by bayoucreole

Yesterday, I had to attend a lil meeting at my weekend gig…y’all know, the one with all the loony workers and patients.  A lot of the employees are not happy at that place.

In fact, they’re down right miserable.

It’s a terrible thing when you work in a place and you don’t feel valued.

The director of nurses has cussed out more than a few of the nurses and assistants.

The administrator walks over the staff  like they’re trash.

But what troubles me more is working alongside people who feel as if they have no control over their current situation.

As if they have no other choice but, to remain there.

I’ve asked a few  of the nurses and their assistants why is it that they remain in a facility that they hate.

I mean to be honest, this profession is not like a lot of others.

The nurses can leave that place today and have another job the same day.

There’s a huge demand for nursing assistants as well and yet, they stay

…in a place they hate.

One nurse told me,”God’s gonna make a way for me to leave here.”  When I asked her if she had applied for any other jobs, her answer was no.

Well, God’s not gonna plop the job in your lap.  You have to at least put some applications out there.

Most of the people complaining have been there for 3-6 years and yet, they go to work everyday.

I know folks have responsibilities and all but, my thing is….if you hate it so much, why are you not planning an exit strategy?

Me, when a job gets on my nerves to that point…

I bounce.

No two weeks notice…nada.

DEUCES!

When I was a floor nurse, I’d tell  everyone and anyone that, I walked in looking for  a job…I have no problem leaving looking for one.

People tend to label you crazy when you say stuff like that.

I don’t know why because , we should never feel “trapped” to work anywhere.

Shoot, I’ve quit jobs that didn’t get on my nerves.

Like when the Saints won the Superbowl and I wanted to go to the parade.

The  job wouldn’t give me the day off so,

I quit.

Had another job the next day.

Life is just too stressful and hard as it is

without giving 40 hours a week to a job that gives you a migraine at the thought of going to it

…or a heart attack.

One of the nurses just suffered a “slight” heart attack from stress.

Yet, she’s there 5 days a week

…looking as if she’s dead inside.

Why do we torment ourselves so much?

I remember when I was 27 years old, I was working at Sears in the Lakeforest Plaza. I had been there since I was 18 and I just dreaded going to that place.

One day I came home from work  screaming about how much I hated that job. My dad looked at me said “so quit.”

I was almost in shock because, it had never dawned on me to just quit.

And then, I thought about it.

Why work in a place that is destroying me internally

…giving me headaches, stomach pains and diarrhea just at the thought of going there.

So, I quit.

I immediately felt a burden lifted.

I felt free.

Ever since that experience, I will never work at a place that will rob me of my peace of mind or my health.

If I am at a place that tries to do that,

I  plan my exit strategy.

I’ve encouraged  my husband to do the same.

Years ago, he was employed as an officer with a state agency and  also in school for his master’s in criminal justice.

He had this one particular boss who tried to make it hard as possible for him on the job.

It was stressing him out.

I sat him down and spoke to him the same words my dad said to me,”go ahead and quit.”

My profession allowed  me to carry the weight  until he received his master’s.

He quit the stressful job and very shortly afterwards,

received his master’s degree.

I get that we all can’t be Oprah and make a mint doing something we absolutely  love and “feels like breathing” to us.

But, we shouldn’t feel like indentured servants either.

Life is just too short to be that miserable.

Are you taking just too much b.s. on the job?

And are you planning an exit strategy if you are?

A Food and Wine Experience

Posted in New Orleans Festivals, nola resturants with tags , , , , , on May 29, 2011 by bayoucreole

Well, I’m back on the blog train! My mind was derailed a minute with my dad coming home and all. Being a member of the sandwich generation, having to take care of your  kids and your parent is hard work…that’s another post for another day though.

Today, I’m throwing out a post about the Food and Wine Experience I just had at The Convention Center. The event was the entire week but, NavySeal and I only went to the grand tasting event.  It was truly grand indeed!

Good LAWD!  They had so much food and wine in that place…you really have to pace yourself because your senses go into overload.

BERJAYA

The ambiance was awesome. Low lighting, nice music playing, tastefully decorated, the room temp was perfect which was really appreciated because, they were doing some serious cooking in that joint!

BERJAYAWhen you first arrive, they hand you a wine glass and a small tray for you to put your samples of food on. After that, it’s a free fall…sample as many dishes and wines as your little tummy can handle!

I was like a kid in a candy store!

NavySeal is a wine buff so, he was handling that angle. When I sampled wine, I only took a sip or two and tossed the rest.

Ida been drunk within the first 30 minutes of the experience if I didn’t. The experience was three hours long.

The food on the other hand was another thing!

BERJAYAWe sampled so many dishes but, this one here  was exceptional.It’s a pasta with pesto and ravioli from Andrea’s restaurant. The line was long to get it but, it was worth the wait and the lines moved fast.

BERJAYAHere’s  a crawfish salad. The flavors were out of this world and it was so cool and crisp…just what we needed because, it was 95 degrees outside.

BERJAYAThis lil trio is Seafood Gumbo;Warm Apple Tarte Tatin (whatever that means) and Bananas Foster Cheesecake;Wood -Grilled Tomahawk Steak with John Folse Blue Cheese and Mushroom.  These are some of the award-winning dishes. The gumbo was really good but, I didn’t like the steak or the desserts.

The only thing the Bananas Foster Cheesecake did was remind me that Brennan’s was in the house with their Bananas Foster!

I headed over there for a  dish and it was slap yo’ momma good!

Nope, no pic of that…I killed it before I could reach for the camera.

So many restaurants with so many dishes.

This is the one event where you want to walk in there starving!

Many of the big name restaurants like Arnaud’s, Mr.B’s Bistro,Commander’s Palace and Galatoire’s participate in this event.

The wines were great as well…I think they had over 1,000 wines there. My favorite  was Chassagne-Montrachet…didn’t toss any of THAT one out!

Now, I know why it’s called  ”king of white wines”.

BERJAYAThe crowd was huge but, they had enough room for everyone to move around freely. My only suggestion would be to have more places for folks to sit…they could have used a few more chairs in there.

BERJAYANext year (yes, I’m already planning for next year), we’re going to add a few more days to our experience. I’d like catch a some seminars and attend the grand tasting event Friday as well as Saturday. Some restaurants were only there on Friday and I’ll be able to catch them as well.

BERJAYA

There was  a Louisiana Seafood Cook-off going on as well with 10 Chefs competing for the big win.

BERJAYA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BERJAYA I wish I could tell you who won but, I was too busy grubbin’ to pay attention.

The event isn’t free (this one  was $90 pp) but, the money all goes to charity…it’s more than worth it.  It’s a fabulous way to kill three hours in the city.

Eating and drinking wine…my life in the Big Easy.

My favorite festival,Vieux -To -Do  is in two weeks…the trio of festivals.

The Cajun-Zydeo, La. Seafood and Tomato Fest all in one in the French Quarters.

I got my Zydeco two-step together and I’m ready to go!

Now, I just have to teach the hubby so I can have a partner out there…should be interesting.

Have a great day y’all!

 

Happy Mother’s Day

Posted in holidays with tags , on May 7, 2011 by bayoucreole

Wishing all the beautiful ladies a very Happy Mother’s Day!!!  RELAX and enjoy your day!

BERJAYA

Bayoucreole's mom at 32 years old.

BERJAYA

Bayoucreole at 32 years old

HAPPY EASTER!

Posted in holidays with tags , , , , , , on April 24, 2011 by bayoucreole

Wishing you and yours a very, very Happy Easter!   It’s gonna be a pretty day down here in the Big Easy. I suspect that I’ll be smelling a whole lotta crawfish boil and charcoal coming from a bunch of  yards today. Me and my crew are going out for dinner today…I’m not cooking. 

Nope, heading to the French Quarters and we’re having dinner at Olivier’s  if it isn’t too crowded. I’ve never been there before  so I wanna give them a play and see how it is. I’ll be blogging about the experience as my restaurant of the month.. which I’ve been seriously slacking  and will be getting back to.

 I have to fix the easter baskets this morning. I always fix four baskets.

The kids each get one (yeah, even at 19 and almost 17, they still look for baskets),

a  house basket (that’s code for… when you’re finish eating all of the  candy in your basket, you can eat the left over candy and it’s in this  basket just sitting around the house)

…and NavySeal’s basket. Yeah, he looks forward to his basket and will pout like a big baby if he doesn’t get it.

I live in a house of spoiled-rotten people.

My baskets are always traditional  NOLA  baskets with Elmer’s candy… like my mom used to make. I fill  it with their favorite jellybeans and some  other stuff but, the base of the basket always start here…

BERJAYA

That’s another one of the many Louisiana food culture things…eating Elmer’s candy for Easter.  Ms. Denise  Trowbridge did a wonderful blog about this tradition. 

In addition to their baskets, have to send my brother(The Oracle) his easter candy so, I make sure I purchase enough Heavenly Hash to ship along with his bricks of CDM coffee.

You Louisiana folks would just die if you couldn’t get a care package from home…I’ll tell ya!

Yesterday, the hubby and I went to Petco with  Happy and Dyson for them to get their vaccinations.  It’s probably the first time that, Happy(the rescue dog) ever received them.  

He was so well-behaved. It was super-crowded and he just took it all in stride. I’m still trying to figure out why they abused and neglected him. He is a wonderful dog.  Abusers don’t really need a reason though… do they?

Dyson on the other hand, acted like a donkey!  Growling, barking and acted a plum-nilly fool and then, I noticed his nose started bleeding.

I’ve never had a dog whose nose bled or had seizures before and he’s doing both.

We’re gonna have to get a panel workup on him to see what’s going on. I’m noticing that, it happens every time he’s really excited so, I hope that gives us a clue.

I’m just hoping he doesn’t have a tumor.  We just buried Sassie a year ago…I couldn’t handle another loss.

The second season of Treme begins tonight…can’t wait to see what this season brings and how it will affect those of us who are emotionally tied into it all.

Over at Back-of-Town, they do a really wonderful job of going through each episode and writing about how it affects so many of us. Looking forward to going through another season with you guys!

Well, that’s all I got today…gotta get these baskets done before my people wake up.

Have a wonderful time with family and friends today!

 




It’s Festival Time.

Posted in New Orleans Festivals with tags , , , , on April 10, 2011 by bayoucreole

This weekend was an extremely busy one.  For starters…my dad is home again. He returned Saturday but, that’s another post in itself.  Sunday was myyyy dayyyy.  The French Quarter Fest was this weekend and ya know, I love me some festivals!  This is my favorite time of the year.  The strawberry fest in Ponchatula was also this weekend but, I went a few years ago and I didn’t really have fun at that one.

The French Quarter Fest is da bomb so, if ya ever planning a trip to the city…that’s a really great time to visit. The weather isn’t hot as hell yet and you still get the NOLA  party flava.  We arrived out there around 3:00 and walked around trying to figure out what booths we wanted to hit. Even though it was super crowded, the lines were moving fast at the booths.

I started with crab cakes with a creamy crawfish sauce, NS  had crawfish pasta.

I followed that with some crawfish bread(I was on a crawfish kick) and NS had an alligator sausage kabob. I had never eaten gator meat before…lawd, that stuff was good!

Guess I’ll be getting gator meat at the festivals now.

Naw, we don’t have any pics of the food…we killed that stuff before I could get the camera out.

The closest we got to one was…

BERJAYA

NS catching me while I was taking a swig of coke…  I love how the wind blew my hat,reminds me of  Hee-Haw.LOL

The music was plentiful.   We didn’t go into Jackson Square…just hung out along the mighty Mississippi at Woldenberg Park

BERJAYA

and headed for the Cajun/Zydeco tent. Y’all know I love me some Zydeco and Rockin’ Doopsie  Jr. was closing out the fest…there was no way I was missing Doopsie! He is one hell of a performer!

BERJAYA

BERJAYA

Doopsie had the crowd on their feet and totally engaged. I lost my voice from screaming so much and I danced the entire time…so did a lot of other folks.

BERJAYA

I’m gonna learn this zydeco two-step if it kills me.  The energy out there was so festive…

BERJAYA

just lovin’ life man…just lovin life.  The weather was beyond gorgeous, the food was fantastic, the music… off the chain.

She was everything I love about her and more.

Show’em how we do it  in Louisiana Doopsie…