Welcome to My Mind

New Weblog

After issues with Image::Magick not posting pictures and the template errors after the update of MovableType I have decided to use Wordpress for my weblog. It works really well and I can updated it from my phone. I imported all of the entrees from here to there successfully.

So the new weblog is here.

To the Plantation

Today I decided to take a day trip to something unique in Louisiana. I went to Breaux Bridge and ate at Cafe des Amis. Good food.

I then went the The Nottoway Plantation. A big white mansion that was build before the civil war. The Nottoway Plantation build in 1859. It is currently owned by an Australian. An amazing mansion next to the Mississippi. I took the tour and the tour guide was really in informative. She really knew the house and its history. Many of the furniture was close to period but was not original. The chandeliers were. They were once gas. The moulding around the ceiling was an amazing design.

I then had a concert playing timpani with the Lafayette Concert Band.

A Drive to the Coast

DD and I took a drive south east to check out the area. We drove down to Morgan City and has some chicken BBQ. We then started back and detoured to the coast stopped at the Cypremort Point State Park and at Cypremort Point to see the ocean and watch the sky after the sunset. Then back home to hang out for DD's last night here.

New Orleans with DD

I wanted DD to experience the French Quarter during the day and not packed with Mardi Gras people. I did manage to find the Gumbo Shop so DD could have some Creole food. We each got a different Creole dinner. DD got seafood Okra gumbo, chicken espagnole with rice with garlic mashed potatoes and hot bread budding for dessert. I got chicken andouille gumbo, the Creole combination platter which included shrimp creole, jambalaya, red beans and rice with macque choux corn and a chocolate brownie pie. It was very good.

We then walked around some more in the French Quarter. Lots of street musicians around. One group had a guitar, violin, a washboard and a bucket bass. It was pretty cool to see and they sounded good. We also took a walk down Bourbon Street. DD liked looking at all the people. I got a hand grenade and we hung out on one of the balconies just people watching. When we got tired of walking we went to the car and started home.

Sushi at Tsunami

Taught my Friday Music Appreciation class and being that it is a Friday during lent we went to Tsunami and had sushi. That place has good sushi. Do not remember much else about the day. We probably went home and hung out.

The Cajon Food Experience

I had to teach today and it was my long day. DD got to watch me teach my Music Appreciation and History of Jazz class. During my Pro Tools class, he helped me put some stuff into storage so the studio is a little cleaner.

We then went to Dwight's. There we got all appetizers so DD could sample all the Cajun food. We got fried alligator, boudin and crawfish cakes giving him the authentic Louisiana experience. DD still does not like boudin. It is too strong for him. He did like the alligator and crawfish cakes.

Baton Rouge

DD and I went to find McGee's Landing just outside of Lafayette. Did not really find it but we did eat some good food at a restaurant overlooking some water. There were also 3 pet alligators in a fenced area with 3 turtles sunning in the sun. One turtle was standing on the back of one of the alligators and neither one caring. Just sitting still in the sun.

I then took a drive to Baton Rouge to just check out the city and DD spotted a casino riverboat. So we went in and gambled a little. Some slots and some craps. DD had fun but did not win anything. Drove a little around the city. Nothing special. Just a city. Then back home to hang out.

Lazy Day on Mardi Gras

DD and I slept in really late so we missed the parades in Lafayette. We saw so many and it did rain a little bit so we really did not care. The problem was, not many places were open being that today was Mardi Gras. Which in this town and probably throughout Louisiana it is a state holiday were government offices and other places close. I am off Monday, today and tomorrow. Only some of the chains. So we went to Outback Steakhouse. DD and I have never been in one. DD got a steak and I got something with chicken.

We then went to Fresh Market and got some dessert and watched TV together and talked the rest of the night.

Lazy Day on Mardi Gras.

Pizza, Parade and Blue Moon

DD and I went back to Deano's. The same pizza place we went to on Friday and got the same pizza. DD really liked it and wanted it again. Then went to Office Depot to get him a bigger flash drive to put pictures on. We then parked and walked across the street to see the parade. I caught another stuffed animal. This time a colorful dog. It looked like something a little kid would have. So I found Malory, a cute little 2 year old near me, and gave it to her. She smiled and grabbed a hold of it real tight. I made her happy.

DD and I then went back to the Blue Moon Saloon for some more music and dancing. This time being a day before Mardi Gras, it was really crowed so very little dancing this time. I happened to sit next to an old woman who's husband of 47 years just passed away. She is out with her 2 sons having fun and celebrating life following his wishes. I also saw a former student there. That just might be the 1st time since I have lived here which is unusual for me. In Galveston I ran into my former and current students all the time around town. DD had fun there also.

Mardi Gras in New Orleans

DD and I started to head down to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. We stopped at Chicken on the Bayou which is somewhere near Henderson. A popular place. DD and I had an alligator po-boy. DD's 1st alligator and really liked it. Though not my 1st alligator, it is the best I have had. We arrived in New Orleans and found a place to park. The Thoth parade was already in progress. We found a spot to watch. The floats are amazing. Better than the Galveston floats and the Lafayette ones. There were also throwing really good beads and other stuff like stuffed animals and fake spears. DD managed to catch a spear and gave it to me. He can not exactly take it on the plane.

When that parade stopped we walked along the parade route to Canal Street. It was so crowded. There was an area of just ladders for people to stand on during the parade. Lots of ladders there and some others along the parade route. I then showed DD Bourbon Street. Though crowded, the beads being thrown from the balconies were crap beads. There were better beads being though off the balconies in Galveston. Galveston is much more fun than Bourbon Street for Mardi Gras.

We then went to get something at Arby's on Canal Street. Apparently, you can not use the bathroom unless you have a receipt. This was also true in McDonalds. When I went to the bathroom, girls were also going into the guys bathroom to use the stalls. Did not bother me but I did warn DD. DD thought it was weird and has told everyone he talks to when he talked about our New Orleans trip.

We then stayed on Canal Street to watch the Bacchus. Also amazing and elaborate floats. Some were 3 levels and some had 4 floats put together. After that parade DD and I started are long walk back to the car. The Endymion parade followed immediately after it. This parade is usually on Saturday but because of the major storm it was postponed to today. Also elaborate float and got my 4th stuffed animal. This time a cute orange fish. It was so cool being there during Mardi Gras. DD thought it was the highlight of his trip to see me. We were both so tired and our feet hurt from all the standing and walking. Going to New Orleans was something I always wanted to do for a long time. It was really fun.

Major Weather and a Parade

Today we experienced some major weather. Lots of rain and wind. On the weather channel was a tornado warning. Found out later that there was a tornado in Rayne which is 30 minutes from where I live. After the storm passed, DD and I ate at Athena, a really good Greek place that happens to be at a gas station. We then went to a Lafayette Mardi Gras parade. This is my 3rd parade this year and I caught my 3rd stuff thing. This time a flower.

Then DD and I went to the Blue Moon. Good band and good Cajun music. DD and I danced with a lot of different girls and was really tired when we got home.

DD's Here for Mardi Gras

DD came in yesterday after a lot of delays, being put on stand by and almost be stranded in Houston. Went for Johnny Carino's for dinner.

Today DD came with me to school. I only had my 3 hour, 1 day a week Music Appreciation class. We then went to eat pizza at Deano's. We got a large pizza with black olives, fresh mushrooms and Louisiana smoked sausage (that they make fresh at the pizza place). It was so good with the sausage. DD and I talked about it all day. When home to drop some stuff off and then to downtown for the parade.

The parade was fun. Lots of nice floats and we caught beads. They still threw crap beads like the last parade and no great beads or even good beads as far as I could see and mostly the same kind of beads. After 2 parades it seems that Galveston parades through better and more variety of beads. I did get another stuffed animal. This time a dog. So that is 2 parade I have been to here and I have got a stuffed animal at both.

DD was hungry so we went to a burger place that opened in 1947. DD got a burger and I got a ham sandwich. My ham sandwich was really good. I love ham. Then home. More Mardi Gras fun awaits.

Mardi Gras Parade in Lafayette

I just saw my 1st Mardi Gras parade in Lafayette, Louisiana (also known as Mardi Gras Central). Nice floats, lots of throws. Not as many variety of beads than the Galveston parades. It was still fun. I did catch a small stuffed alligator. It is so cute.

The Birthday Weblog

I started this web log 5 years ago as a way to force myself to see something new when I lived in Marin County.
1st Years Web Log's Birthday Entry

By the 2nd years web log birthday, I moved to another state, became a professor at a college teaching music and made some new friends.
2nd Years Web Log's Birthday Entry

By the 3rd years web log I met Jennifer and she became my girlfriend.
3rd Years Web Log's Birthday Entry

By the 4th years weblog, I began composing compositions again. I had written a string orchestra piece, reorchestrating my older compositions and composing new pieces for the steel band.
4th Years Web Log's Birthday Entry

By the 5th years web log, I had build the music program the largest that is as probably ever been and it was the largest the steel drum had ever been.
5th Years Web Log's Birthday Entry

By the 6th years web log, everything started falling apart. I still had who I thought was my perfect girl, was still a college professor, music department chair and choir director. I had a piece being performed by a professional music ensemble at a new music festival. It was also the 1st time I have ever experienced a hurricane and the after effects of a city after it hit.
6th Years Web Log's Birthday Entry

The 7th year everything had gone to hell. I lost my college gig because of budget cuts, the hurricane and a really stupid president. Stupid because a lot of the students left and went to neighbouring college which had record enrollment. You know why? Because students were pissed and left the college. No vision.

To add to last years hell year, Mom's Mom, Nana, the one I could call me 2nd Mom passed away. So I was almost in the same position I was when I started this Weblog. No gig and few friends in the area (many left after the hurricane). The only difference is that San Francisco was really pretty and I could pick any direction to go and see something new. This time I am in Texas and you can drive anywhere and still not see nothing new.
Last Years Web Log's Birthday Entry

I thought which became the 2 years of hell (which began with Hurricane Ike) was over but to make it officially the exact same place I was the year when I created this weblog, I would have to have no girlfriend. So much for having at least one positive thing come from that hell. I guess I seem to enjoy having things I love taken away from me. I should have stopped believing in someone who could not believe in herself or even know her own feelings.

The 2 years off hell officially ended when I received an offer to be a professor at a college on Louisiana. The classes at this college have more students than they ever did at my last college. There is also lots of culture and new kinds of food here. And I am in Mardi Gras central. I think it is time to explore this new area and to really explore myself. Last year birthday entry I wrote "I am hoping that this year a new and exciting adventure awaits." The new adventure has begun.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WEB LOG!!!!!!
                    

Time for an Update

So it has been over a month since I have written here. This semester has been a whole lot smoother then last semester. I never realized how draining teaching a Saturday class was. I also have all my lectures on power point with listening guides for the music I play during class. And all the power points, listening guides and music for each lecture are in their own folder. This might sound a little anal but it makes things so much easier when having to teach 6 classes. This year it is all about making things easier.

This semester I am teaching 3 Music Appreciation classes, a History of Jazz class and 2 Pro Tools classes. After spending a semester fixing and cleaning up the mess that was left for me in the studio (including computers and mixing boards not working) before I started teaching last semester, I finally have more than half of my problems solved. I added 3 more workstations (which in the original class formation was not able to fit them), updated all the software and finally replaced the large recording board. Now the class is much easier to teach.

Now that I have made things easier teaching, I have more time for myself. Now I have the daunting task of making new friends and new contacts. I have moved to 3 different states in the last decade and it is getting old having to start over again and again. Having more time for myself has giving me a lot of time to think. Think about where I am, how I got here and the past mistakes I have made. The mistakes were the things I should have done but did not take advantage of and things that went on longer that it should have.

From now on, I am going to take advantage of everything around me.