Ladies and Gentlemen, the entire world is SLIGHTLY fucked up!

 Well, almost 2 years into COVID, and the world is more fucked up than ever.  Russia's possibly on the verge of invading Ukraine,  Joe Biden has been in office a little over 1 year as US President (and I sure as hell can't stand Jen Psaki, that snarky little shit!),  prices of a lot of things are going up (not to mention, some items have had shortages), and I'm still working from home  (thanks Delta and Omicron!) 

Since my previous post, mom and I are fully vaccinated and boosted with Pfizer's COVID vaccine, and the government was giving out 4 free tests per household, just in case.  

Had to have a deep cleaning of my teeth by my dentist (not something that would qualify as fun, but when ya gotta, ya gotta...).  

There is hope on the horizon for Mardi Gras 2022 to make a big comeback after 1 year of no parades and shit.  Also, sometime in March, the Big Book Sale gets going again at Pontchartrain Center in Kenner (I get a lot of computer books and stuff there).  

Now there was a snarky, little bitch named Hurricane Ida who fucked up much of Southeast Louisiana, and she made her wrath known on the anniversary of another snarky, little bitch named Katrina, of all days!  No power for about a month, no landline for 2 to 3 months, and Grand Isle, LA got really fucked up.  Boy, I was PISSED!

 With all the shit hitting the fan, I wonder if ANYONE could maintain their sanity in all this.  It's been a struggle, but I'm still here, though at times, things can get depressing...

On the bright side, at least am learning how to use Ubuntu on one of my old laptops, just in case I need to use it for work or whatever.  We've even had relatives over for chow, with no problems. Christmas wasn't bad either- got a few good things.  

Until next post....

COVID 19 QUARANTINE MUSINGS

Hard to believe but it's been a year since COVID fucked up everything in our lives.

Remote working, social distancing, wearing masks, washing your hands and all that can make a geek go nuts, especially when you can't get out of the house much, except to go to the doctor, and brief outings to get your haircut and a Starbucks or getting cash at the bank.  When they FINALLY got the vaccine out to the public, there was hope. Got my first one (Pfizer)  a couple of weeks prior to writing this post, and awaiting the 2nd one a week after Easter- ironic, ain't it, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ one day, and resurrecting a sense of normalcy a few days later!  

Saltgrass Steakhouse, y'all better save me a New York Strip, baked potato,  and a slice of that carrot cake, because when this shit blows over, it's PARTY TIME!!!

Holiday Thoughts

In this time where two faiths are celebrating miracles, I am reminded that all the commercialism in the world can't compare to the birth of Jesus at Christmas, or to the oil in a  Jewish temple menorah lasting for 8 days after it was desecrated and subsequently restored by Judda Maccabee and company to commemorate Chanukah.
 
Think about it- if everyone who reads this posting would stop and take the time to take stock of what really matters in our lives during the holidays, perhaps the world can become a better place. The holidays should be a time for togetherness and celebrating miracles, not making a fast Dollar. Save the commercialism for another day, and cherish the love of family and friends as we gather together to create celebrate the wonders around us all.

Two religious parallels, two miracles. Better than a money grab, if you ask me!

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.