ODD COUPLE?

What GENIUS on God's earth put roast beef with swiss cheese, a little mayo, a little yellow (my preference) mustard, and tomato? Hey, I did for lunch! WOW! I'm a gen.....oops, nope, it wasn't my idea. But, whoever came up with it....they are a GENIUS.

Side note: Loved attending the St. Paul's Basketball Tournament in the 80's, Coach Gene Bennett had a nice spread in the Hospitality Room. One thing that was on the sandwich tray? You guessed it: Roast Beef and Swiss on White Bread. Simply Genius!

Hope you enjoyed your lunch today.

Viva Gene Bennett

Viva Independence Basketball

Viva the inventor of the Roast Beef and Swiss Sandwich

Peace Upon You

Black 8 Track Tape

1.75 miles on the Dreadmill this a.m........during my walk/jog routine my iPod played from a select group of 268 songs I have playlisted as "Golden Oldies". This is a very select group that is ever evolving. To make the group you have to be stand out for some reason......you have to make me want to sing along.....dance (not a pretty sight)......give my goose bumps.....or just be a solid oldie but goodie.

Today two of the songs that played very close together on that playlist Massachusetts and To Love Somebody..........woosh...........I was transported back in time to my days at Southeastern. Hanging with my buddies Greg Marten and Tommy Bolton. We had a black 8 track tape, the "cover" was ripped off so it was black with no identification of what album it was......but we knew.....it was the Bee Gees.....we had other 8 tracks.........I should say, they had other 8 tracks...............T & G had green cars, Bolton's a Green and White (or cream?) Cutlass 442 and Greg had a Green Toyota Corolla much like the picture above.....just not as pimped out as the picture shows.......life was "great" back then, no worries, just fun.........Jim's Fried Chicken.....a Monkey...........The Brent Apartments...........hiding in the closet............gin and tonics............Orange Street Park..............Livingston Parish Softball Champs.............Saturday mornings playing softball and booray in Satsuma.........playingng 11 vs. 9 against the Satsuma Seedticks......The Edgar Winter Group..... the Help Session...........$1 six-packs of beer........Crab bait.......Biloxi.......Greyhound Buses.......could Artie Moore run home in the time it took to go inside and call him on the phone (he answers the phone!!! freaking fast)...........Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young.....................lots of good memories.

Luckily for me both Greg and Tommy's parents liked me. Nothing wrong with that.

We would often stop at Marten's Grocery to get luncheon meat sandwiches where Mr. Frank Marten would grill us on our plans for the day. He kept up with us and the rest of his tribe to make sure we were doing the right thing. Mr. Marten was great. He was like a father to me (He knew to watch over me since my parents lived so far away....or maybe he just felt sorry for me, I believe it was the prior). He showed lots of interest in what I was doing and was always quick to help in any way he could. He came by the frat house one day to take me to Thibodaux to go see Greg play for Southeastern against hated rivals Nicholls. He left us way too soon. I loved that man!

Out on Pleasant Ridge Road the Boltons lived on some quiet, shady land. I always wanted to live out on Pleasant Ridge Road. Man could Mrs. Bolton cook. OMG, pure country cooking at its best. She knew that I was hungry.....she would feed me anytime of the day or night, lucky me. Mr. Bolton was the principal at Annie Eastman Elementary where I student taught. Good man.....good heart. Not a big talker, so you better listen when he spoke.

Was there a better time in my life?.....no worries.....no cares.....great friends.......fun, fun, fun.........people to take care of me..........I was quite blessed to have been mentored by Mr. Marten and Mr. Bolton and fed by Mrs. Marten (did I mention that great Italian cooking, shame on me) and Mrs. Bolton.

God Bless Mr. and Mrs. Marten

God Bless Mr. and Mrs. Bolton

Viva Greg

Viva Tommy

Viva the Baltimore Orioles

Viva Tower of Power

Peace Upon You

Resolutionary, of sorts.....

When the calendar flips to January 1st I have generally pre-thought out a Resolution for the upcoming New Year. Only to abandon it shortly into the month, say maybe Jan. 3rd or 4th. One year I gave up French Fries, yes, French Fries (wtf was I thinking) that lasted just a few hours on January 1.

Last year I dieted (boy does that suck) and had a moderate weight loss. But, about Easter time C. J. and I went on vacation. Of course during travel times once must partake of the cuisine of the locals so as to keep them happy and keep you happy while traveling (you know, so you end up liking the trip). Couple that with the fact that it is a tough job being a self-imposed Food Critic. This all makes for disaster, yes, I fell off the Dreadmill. Actually, I was pretty much like the cats in the picture, not really on it, I was using it in this instance as a figure of speech. I must pause now and look up figure of speech. After a short time on dictionary.com I believe I am still within a general range of good English, check that mediocre English.

Onwoard nonetheless! Fast forward to this year and I have actually started getting on the Dreadmill. Depending on the music or the television program that is on t.v. (obviously located in the room with the treadmill) that 30 minutes on the Dreadmill can be shear hell or shear hell or somewhat plausible.

The mind games I play with my mind (insert joke here, shut up Rick) about getting on that Dreaded Dreadmill are something out of the Twilight Zone. Yet, when I am finished walking/jogging on it, I do feel better. It is that initial step on that is so harrowing.

Good news is that I have gotten past my usual Jan. 3rd or 4th failure day. Bad news, still have nearly half the month to go.

Here's hoping you are still holding to your New Year's Resolution!
To reference the movie What about Bob? It takes Baby Steps.

Viva the Treadmill
Viva C. J.
Good Health and Much Fortune to You
Peace Upon You

Happy New Year

May 2009 be the best year of your life.

2008 was great,

time to move onward and upward.

Viva Cindy Jean

Viva My family, friends, and blog readers

Peace Upon You.