Fireworks: A Louisiana Xmas Tradition

I have lived in the state of Louisiana for about six years this time around but the fireworks fetish possessing local residents really hasn't come to my attention until recently. I think the trigger was the fact we moved out of the slums in out into the country.

It seems like every night we are treated with another barrage of artillery fire but no pretty lights as the fireworks are the cheaper type that don't reached way up into the heavens. Nope we basically get the Friday night in Baghdad version minus the cruise missiles and low signature F-117 Nighthawk with radar reducing rubberized skin.

Anyways....

It is cool enough to light up the good ole chimneia and burn this weeks worth of bills and snail mail spam. It is a good bonding exercise and hopefully a good tool to instill fire safety. Fixed a bike and shopped a vegetable stand. Not your Xmas traditions of snow blown Canada but it is nice to wear shorts in December.

Happy Holiday Season to Christians, Jewish, and Pagans alike,

Capitalism: The True Reason for the Season

There is something extremely special about Louisiana. I grew up on the flatlands of Canada and have seen queer sights but none so queer as the one I have seen living here in the bayou. (Kinda stole that from Robert W. Service.)

The whole Xmas parade at 82 degrees where the Red Truck driving Ronald McDonald is more popular than ole Saint Nick. A parade where they throw beads just like Mardi Gras but I did not see any bare chests this year. Only in Louisiana. I don't know if the economic woes as of late drove the attendance skyward but there were some definite characters on hand to beg and act crazy for candy and beads - that was the adults.

I hate Xmas not because it forces us to spend more time with our kids or gives thanks regardless of our chosen religious affiliation but that so many folks go into debt trying to buy every toy off the shelves of Walmart. I hate the expectation for riches from children regardless of how much money you make.

Have a great week,

Last Day of Class

Tonight was the last night of my classes and I will welcome the break until late January. Unlike my undergraduate years, I will not be heading off on a wonderful hiking/climbing trip. I have evolved to a hippy with a job. I will find my wanderlust but I will do so now with plenty of planning and thought. Greece, Scotland, Fiji, or New Zealand.

LSU is heading to the national championship and we bought a deep freeze this weekend. Life can not get any better. Next on the buy for the house list is a oval crock pot.

Oh the Xmas tree is up. This is so unlike growing up as a boy on the Canadian prairies where we would put the tree up in September and not take it down until March. We will have to see how this tree lasts with the feral cat in the house.

Have a nice one,
BD

Suburban Life

Well the last time we spoke the Canucks were sucking on the ice but today they are riding a three game shut out of opponents. I really should blog more.

Things are the dull sweetness that is the lazy suburban life. The grass is in hibernation and LSU is still playing football so I have ever excuse in the world to sit on my ass and turn into a vegetable.

Not much to report other than the fact I got a humidor for my birthday, our kitten is teething, and the fall semester is almost over.

Having a devil of a time scheduling classes for the spring but I will find a way.

Have a nice weekend,

BD