Gallbladder gone bye-bye!

Coming up, it's been 6 months since my gallbladder went bye-bye (September 11, 2014). Haven't felt better. Thanks to the folks at Ochsner Health System, things went without a hitch (in fact, I even drank a cup of coffee in the recovery area the same morning!)

The Big Game Times 2

Listening to the LSU-Alabama college football game- it's one hell of a hard-fought contest, regardless of who comes out on top after the game. Tomorrow (as of the date of this posting, anyway), the Saints go against the Buccaneers (or should I say "SUCK-aneers?" ;-) ) Again, both contests are sure to have been pretty interesting, regardless of whom you're rooting for, regardless of your thoughts. Both contests are like epic battles between the Axis and the Allies in World War II, in a sense, because each side says they're better, but in the end, someone's gonna get their ass whipped. Talk about history repeating itself!!

Gotta love that Golden Corral!

Now, folks, I don't usually endorse a product, service, or idea, but I gotta tell ya, the folks at Golden Corral Buffets really know how to feed ya! I had lunch there today with my mom and two of my cousins, and overall, the food was great. A few things I noted:

1. The tuna salad was pretty good.
2. The pizza had a little bit too much sauce- note to the chefs,
TONE DOWN THE SAUCE!
3. The Asian food is almost comparable to what you'd find in a good Asian
restaurant.
4. If you're a lover of chocolate, brace yourself, they've got chocolate up the
ying-yang (even Star Trek's Counselor Troi would be impressed!).
5. The sweet tea is very good.

Need I say more?!!

Want to find out more about where Golden Corral may be near you? click the link and visit their website, then click on the restaurant locator feature. BTW, the one in Kenner, LA near Armstrong International Airport can get crowded on Sundays, so plan accordingly.

La Cuarenta Grande, or the Big 4-0

Hard to believe that I'm turning 40. I've seen a shitload of stuff in my years- the end of the Cold War, a World's Fair, college, job, the Internet, and all sorts of trends from the Macarena to Michael Jackson (may he rest in peace), several US Presidents and Louisiana Governors, and the Saints (of all teams) winning the Super Bowl. I've seen devastation in a city that I care very deeply for, as well as its rebirth (although in a different form than what I expected), the rise and fall of dictators, and I could go on and on.

I kind of think like I'm Steve Carrell in "The 40 Year Old Virgin" in the sense that I'm turning 40 and still ain't gettin' any, but you never know! In any event, I don't know about you guys, but this town's really getting a lot of hot babes coming through (yes, ladies, I'm available!!). It's just a matter of yours truly finding the right fit. But that's a work in progress.

Sadly, it's been almost 9 months to the day since my father died on the crapper at home. I really miss him. But on a brighter note, one of my cousins and his wife had a new baby boy just a few days shy mf my birthday (talk about the ultimate early birthday gift!) Though the heat of Summer oppresses the masses here on the bayou, somehow, I'll manage to chlll during the week I wrote this post (was on vacation from work). Ah, the provebial cirle of life, indeed.

So, what do I REALLY think of turning 40? It's a mixed bag. It's like a big accomplishment knowing that you've survived this long, but at the same time, it's scary in some ways. It's like I'm yearning for more out of life, but can't seem to get the ball rolling the way I want. Perhaps a bit of self discovery may be in order? Could what they say about a midlife crisis be true? What's a man to do?!

Mom's Cataracts- One down, one to go!

Went with mom so she could get the first of two cataract surgeries.
The docs and staff did a wonderful job on her left eye. Right eye's up next in two weeks. She had no problems going in (as well as after, so far), and can now see better than before. Have to keep an eye on her while she heals (no pun intended). Great staff, great docs.

It's one down, one to go (in two weeks). Now I can rest easy until round 2. Whew!

Memorial Day

As I sit here and write this, I wonder what life would be like if it were not for the thousands of men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our great nation. Would we even have an Internet? Would we be free to speak our minds in blogs, on Twitter, Facebook and the like? Probably not. So, if you're reading this message, be sure to stop at 3 PM local time in the USA and give thanks for America's fallen heroes, of ALL wars. If it were not for their heroism, God only knows what would happen.

GOD BLESS AMERICA'S HEROES, WHEREVER YOU ARE.

New Year's Musing

Well, folks, 2008 has come and gone, and just think of all the stuff that has happened. America elects an African-American president, New Orleans continues to (ever so slowly) recover from you-know-who, we see gasoline prices do a roller-coaster ride up then down, the global economy goes into the crapper, and yet time marches on.

We've seen many a great celebrity pass on (we'll miss you, Odetta, George, and so many others), tastes change (who knew that stuff from the 70's could be so hip again, or that ballroom dancing, something our grandparents may have done would be so damn popular?).

In any event, everyone has their own personal recollections of the year just passed. For one, a new PC didn't hurt (thanks, Dell and Microsoft!), I personally was amazed at all the weirdness in the world, but very pissed at all the people killing, lying, stealing and cheating each other (AND YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!!)

Who knows what will happen in 2009? Only the march of time will tell.

Screwed at Kmart

Apparently, the folks at Sears have managed to mess up Kmart even more than it already is. When my mom and I went to a local Kmart and bought a trash bin for the bathroom, they overcharged us by US$4.00- The shelf tag said $8.00, but the cash register said it was $12.00!!! My mom was TOTALLY pissed. Talk about getting screwed royally. Now I'm no lawyer, but aren't the prices in the cash register's computers supposed to match what's shown on the shelf tag? It's the law, if I'm not mistaken.

And, get this, my mother complained to the person who checks your packages when you leave the store, and she was like, "what do I care!" Customer service, my ASS!

NEVER ever again will I be shopping there!!! I don't give a shit if it's the last discount store in the planet. At least Target and WalMart do a hell of a lot better job at getting things right! The folks in Hoffman Estates need to get their asses in gear!!

Hoda's Battle with Breast Cancer-MSNBC.com

When I was sitting around the house on Mardi Gras, we saw Hoda Kotb and Al Roker riding in Argus. It so happened that the Times-Picayune's Dave Walker did a column on Hoda, and in it, she revealed that she is a breast cancer survivor. Who knew? Well, it seems that millions have heard about her battle with the disease via the NBC News program "Today." She even discusses it openly with co-anchor Ann Curry.

It's very poignant, and very important information that all women (and the men in their lives, too!!) should hear. Click the title of this post to view it.