2007 In Review

In 2007, I am thankful for many wonderful things: my family, friends, my career and last but not least, my hobbies. My immediate and extended family are doing well. I am especially grateful that my younger brother, Shane, safely returned from Iraq for what was essentially his second tour of duty in the Middle East. He is currently in Kosovo amid other UN Peacekeeping troops, in a concerted effort to both stabilize and rebuild that war torn country.
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To all of my friends I say many, many “Thanks” as each of you has helped me this year in some form or fashion. In 2007, I met new friends and continued relationships with my established ones. Random Thought: It is extremely interesting to me (and it has been the subject of many philosophical discussions, both with and without adult beverage overtones) as to how we go about selecting the people that we call “friends.” There certainly is an endearing and alluring quality about them that seems to call us into a friendship with them. I once read a poignant statement that “Friendship is love minus sex and plus reason. Love, however, is friendship plus sex and minus reason” (M. Cooley). A strange little paradigm indeed but by all accounts appears to be true. Friends are like that…figuratively smashing a cymbal right near your ears, in an effort to wake you up to what’s going on in your world. We all need that from time to time. Again, thanks to each of you for that…
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I am certainly glad about my return to Crawford in March. I have been very comfortable and happy doing what I do for the San Antonio Office, along with ancillary assignments across other parts of Texas and the Gulf Coast South, en general. I am especially proud to be part of the Most Improved Branch Office of our company. This office was seventh from the bottom rank (out of seventy-three offices in the entire US) a year ago. Since then, we have worked very hard and diligently in all phases of what we do. This focused and concerted effort has moved us all the way up to the number three office in the entire US!! A little friendly competition is always good...
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My hobbies, of course, include sports. Some things never change. In early ’07 I purchased a Fuji road bike and also began running, as of the latter part of the year. While the running is still in its early, developmental phase I must say that I’ve really come to enjoy and excel at cycling. I completed my first Metric Century this year and continue to look forward to many more of these outdoor adventures in 2008. It sure beats the hell out of laying about on the couch. ...lol
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That's a wrap. Happy New Year Every One !!

Holiday Musings

The Holidays were quite fun and relaxing this year. No rushing about, trying to get to Keystone, Colorado by a certain time, to squeeze in the maximum amount of skiing. No sir...this year was laid back and moved at a much more leisurely pace, indeed.

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Here is a photo of my niece, Ariel, the prototypical teenager. The next one is self-explanatory and was taken at my sister's home. And, the final one is of a Christmas present that I received, here in Austin...it seems that at least one of my "friends" is insinuating that I may have a thinking problem !! Thinker's Anonymous, here

I come...

A Boudreaux-esque Christmas

There are probably ten different events in Louisiana that have a bonfire as their focal point during the holiday season, but nothing comes close to the Christmas Eve Bonfires on the Levee.

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On Christmas Eve, thousands of spectators converge along a stretch of River Road between Lutcher, LA and Gramercy, LA (located between Baton Rouge and N'Awlins) to enjoy the spectacle of dozens of burning bonfires set against the backdrop of the Mississippi River. Although there's no concrete theory about the origins of this tradition, the favorite one bandied about is that the fires help show Santa the way to homes in this area. Viewed from the air, this is truly a unique spectacle, as it does resemble a Santa Airport runway of sorts.

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These bonfires are amazing as a catalyst for the creation of a fun, communal atmosphere for the Holidays. My fav part is the utilization of the fires to both keep warm and (of course) the shooting of fireworks !!

What Does BCS Actually Mean ?

No. 1 Ohio State (11-1) vs No. 2 LSU (11-2)
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ALLSTATE BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, NEW ORLEANS, LA (7:00 PM CT Fox)

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If you like defense, you'll like Ohio State, which allowed only two rushing touchdowns all season. The Tigers' quarterbacks -- Matt Flynn and Ryan Perrilloux -- can both nimbly move around and are the kind of a player that has been a problem for the Buckeyes this year. Both teams have a penchant for winning close games and this bodes well for a game that might have trouble generating excitement over the couple of weeks, given that (as one of my LSU buddies so eloquently put it) "this system is pretty squirrelly and needs to be overhauled". For the record, I love southern colloquialisms.

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Anyway, it's not everyday that your team is in the National Championship Game. So, I will roll with it, at least until a better system does come along. AYYEEHH...GEAUX TIGERS !!

El Paso Del Norte !!

As they approached the Rio Grande from the south, Spanish explorers in the colonial period viewed two mountain ranges rising out of the desert with a deep chasm between. This site they named El Paso del Norte (the Pass of the North), and it became the location of two future border cities, Ciudad Juárez on the south or right bank of the Rio Grande and El Paso, Texas, on the opposite side of the river. The arrival of the first Spanish expedition at the Pass of the North in 1581 marked the beginning of more than 400 years of history in the El Paso area. It was followed in 1598 by the colonizing expedition under Juan de Oñate.qv On April 30, 1598, in a ceremony at a site near present San Elizario, Oñate took formal possession of the entire territory drained by the Rio Grande and brought Spanish civilization to the Pass of the North.

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During the period of the French intervention in Mexico the republican cause under the leadership of Benito Juárez took refuge in El Paso del Norte in August 1865 and remained there for almost a year. With the aid of American arms and munitions the tide began to turn in favor of the Juárez republicans, who returned to Mexico City in triumph in 1867. On September 16, 1888, El Paso del Norte was renamed Ciudad Juárez, and thus the historic name El Paso became the sole possession of the bustling little railroad town at the western tip of Texas.

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The photo above is of El Paso, today, as seen from Fort Bliss's desalination plant, the focus of my recent biz trip to "The Pass of the North." The mountains in the background are nearly thirteen miles away from this location and are easily visible on this clear and cool day. I completely forgot just how far one is able to see in West Texas !!

Ass Kickin' Machine

OK, so I'm not exactly a Butt Kicking machine at running but things are indeed improving relative to my original 10+ minute miles. The gym, the sprints and the real running are all the ingredients needed for a successful running recipe. I call it Runner's Gumbo (It's great in cold weather):

Ingredients:

Tues: Spin Class, 1 hr., approx. 20 miles (obviously a side dish, to start)

Wed: Gym-- 5 miles running on treadmill at 9:30 pace

Thurs: Rode the Parm, 22.5 miles in 1 hr. (another side...they sometime steal the show.)

(BTW, Q. is still too skee-red to ride !! And, the excuses are creative, I must say...)

Fri: Gym --4x, 9:15 mile sprints on treadmill (w/ a slight incline, to spice it up and make things interesting) w/ a one-minute active recovery between.

Sat: Gym -- Spin Class, approx. 20 miles (Hey, desserts happen...)

Sun: Real run, 3 miles, 9:20 pace on the trails. Ran with I.C.E. and the weather was great, sunny and cool.

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There it is, people. I still gotta' get that damn runner's watch, though !! This "not knowing as I'm running thing" is driving me to uhhmmm....drinking. Now there's an excuse !

The Progress Continues...

You know that you're becoming a runner when "Running Jokes" begin to piss you off !! A non-running friend of mine sent this one to me and it did just that. However, I do detect a slight hint of jealousy in there as well. Hmmm...

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Anyway, here's my report:

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Sat: Shitty weather, so Spin Class, 1 hr, approx. 20 miles.

Sun: Treadmill, Ran 5x, 1 mile "sprints" at 9:30 pace, in effort to improve speed...we'll see.

Mon: For Real, Ran 5 miles, somewhere in the 9:30-9:45 range.

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Mental note: 2345-127, I need to get a damn runner's watch !!... so I DO know how fast I'm running.

Scootin' Report

For some unknown reason, I've encountered resistance within myself to posting my running results. I suppose it has something to do with being a novice and therefore not posting very good numbers, to date. To make matters worse is Cameron, my stepson, that twit gloats on and on about his 5:45 5K pace...that, does not help !

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But anyway, here I go (pinching my nose and taking the medicine) with todays five and one half miles: 55:43 or 10.17 per mile. Slow as shit, right ? All I have to say for myself is "give it time" and the Scootin' Report will improve proportionately !!

What A Long, Strange Trip It's Been !!

Ohio State and LSU were considered dead once, but the grateful duo are truckin' on...to the BCS National Championship Title Game that is !!

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LSU and Ohio State have tickets to the title game. (BTW, I'm in need of those, too !!) Everyone else has a pretty good gripe. The latest chapter in this crazy, unpredictable college football season was written Sunday when LSU won the sport's version of the lottery, being picked to play Ohio State for the championship and leaving about a half-dozen other candidates with plenty to complain about. Oh well, that's the BCS for you. Clearly, a play-off system is needed but I don't thing fans of either of these schools will be complaining, at least not this year.

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The Buckeyes were ranked first in November, but surrendered that with a 28-21 loss to a then un-ranked Illinois, that only added fuel to those who said they weren't deserving. But they backed into the BCS game without even playing, beneficiaries of the fact the Big Ten doesn't play a title game while many other conferences do.

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Their opponents will be LSU, a program that appeared on the verge of losing its coach as late as a few hours before kickoff Saturday (college football's drama at its finest). That's when Miles held an angry news conference and said reports he would be leaving the Bayou for Michigan were false. In fact, he said, he had agreed to a new contract to stay in Baton Rouge.

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Then, the Tigers went out and won. Later, they sat calmly and watched chaos reign for the rest of the day. On Sunday, they learned they were in the championship game for the second time in five years.

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There's no disputing it: This college football regular season was crazier than ordering a chocolate martini at a biker bar!!

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Weird, yes. Wacky, probably. A roller coaster ride, indeed. Yes, it was all of that. Or, maybe it was the only fitting way to close out a very imperfect 2007 in college football. Either way, it's on...by that I mean, bring on the Buckeyes !! BTW, what exactly IS a Buckeye? I don't think we have those in the South. ...lol

"Victoria...I Love You, Man !!"

Yesterday was a biz trip day for me, to lovely Victoria, TX. Highway 183 runs Southeast from Austin to the Corpus Christi area, via Victoria. As you may recall from your Texas History class, Corpus used to be the main port of entry into Texas, prior to the ascent of Houston, to that position. Apparently, Hwy 183 was also a historical route to and fro The Coastal Plains, the Central Texas venue and Northwesterly to the High Plain Region (back in the day, it was Indian Domain).

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So, when I began noticing the ever increasing signage, yesterday, I then began to take heed. The stories and historical anecdotes outlined on them were surprisingly interesting. Here are three, of the many and they are basically self-explanatory. BTW, I would have taken better photos except, I swear, the redneck Bubbas kept "buzzing" me with their pick-ups as I stood on the highway's shoulder, trying to frame these shots. Bee-ass-tards !!

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Check them out, if you are in the area. They are cool, indeed...the signs, that is.

Cruising Da' Hood Post

As of late, I've been running around my neighborhood, the green-belt and the school tracks, in an effort to jump-start this running thing. It's going well. The shoes are comfortable and seem to fit well. The low temps have been tres cool. (Side note: I could do without the rain, though. It clearly makes for Bad Hair Days, Damn-it!)

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As of Friday, I'm moving up to four miles but I've not timed myself as yet. Once I get somewhere above five miles then I believe a time trial will be in order, the results of which I may or may not post. ...sniff ; )~

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Clearly, I need to commune further with my Inner Runner because those running shoes are quite sassy! They keep calling my name!

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Now that all of this is going on, however, I suppose there will be a run...on those dorky, little visor-mounted rear view mirrors, down at Academy's or where ever. Inside Voice: "Where the hell is that damn Scooter S.O.B.? Is he back there somewhere?" Nuff said...

Scooter Needs A New Pair of Shoes

After some discussion and fanfare, I've decided to begin running. You heard it right, running. I'll initially utilize it as a cross training item and later add to it, if all goes well and as planned. My first agenda item will be to determine my own pace. Being a sprinter in a prior lifetime, this will take some adjustment on my part.

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These are Asics (duhh..) Gel-Landreth 3's, with a Medium-High arch support and a neutral platform, meaning no pronation or supination (i.e., no slant in either direction). I'm surprised at how much larger of a size I needed, almost two more than my regular shoe size. Thanks to Erin's advise, I was able to get the Russian Lady (she was very nice and cordial, BTW) at the Riverside and S. 1st Runtex to fit me. These shoes are Uber-Cool!

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To all my running friends, buddies and acquaintances out there...here is your fair warning. Be sure to Always Be Closing, as the saying goes, because The Flying Scooter is adding another part to his Game and will be in your rear view mirror very soon !! ; )

Road Trips Rock !!

What do you get when you add a car load of semi-intoxicated Texans, in with 93,000 of their closest LSU friends? Answer: one hell of a party !!

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The road trip to LSU's Death Valley, this weekend, was Big Time Fun. As you know, these things always start off out with an anecdote. This occasion was no different with yours truly as the brunt of the initial ribbing: I was late to my own event!

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Friday: It starts when I was hanging out with Erin (aka, I.C.E.) at her company's noonish golf outing, at Jimmy Clay Golf Course, when it occurred to me that it was past time for me to go. The joke being that my friends know very well that being late is a pet peeve of mine and they were clearly not going to let it slide...at least not until dinner, at Al-T's Cajun Restaurant in Winnie, TX. By then, the subject matter obviously shifted to something more interesting to them at that time, than grilling me: food. As their saying went, I was dubbed "Scooter, the other white meat." Cretins...the whole lot of them. ...lol

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Of course, no road trip would be complete without Walter getting us lost. He is clearly "directionally challenged." So, I asked him "Wally, I love you man...but how in the hell do you get lost by simply going down I-10?" That, my friend, takes skill.

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Saturday: The day begins with Bloody Marys and Breakfast. Then, off to the game. The tailgating experience was awesome !! These clown friends of mine were clearly impressed with the both the ambiance of the pre-game festivities and the numerous, gregarious parties that preceded the game itself.

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Lunch was at Walk-Ons, just off the campus, as Walter and Jeff have seen the ESPN Game Day Dudes eat there before and wanted to do the same. The food was exceptionally good. Of course, Dinner was had with our new Bayou Friends! Everyone wanted to feed "Those Texas Tiger Boyz". I bet we had a dozen offers for dinner...everything from Gumbo, Jambalaya, and Steak to one guy who tried to feed us some kind of "Mystery Meat" concoction. Well...the last one....that was NOT going to happen. We politely smiled, thanked the guy, indicated that we were "already full" and moved on. I was not about to risk spending Sunday at the ER, or worse.

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Then, we strolled into the stadium to watch both the pre-game National Anthem and later a half-time performance by the Country Artist, Lee Greenwood, doing his "God Bless America" rendition. I'm usually not in to that sort of thing but his performance was really quite good. Of course, the Tigers kicked butt. Now, its on to the BCS National Championship Game in N'Awlins in early January 2008.

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As expected and after the game, we went back to some subsequent tailgating fun. BTW, Man Code 3423.7901 precludes me from further commentary on this part of the weekend but I've been known to accept significant monetary or vino bribes. ...lol

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Sunday: A little breakfast and head back to Austin. It was a really fun weekend. No gator, snake or Cajun Women bites noted. It was a success !

Hey Baby !!

Saturday was one of those defining momements in my life. I abided by my "I don't drop friends rule" and what is more, that frickin' Elvis Bastard was definitely in need either of a ass busting or a bullet!! I asked Lula to photograph him, especially if "he wiped out"...from her facial expression, she concurred wholehearedly, well at least as much as the O.U. Guy simulaneously hitting the deck, anyway.

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Saturday was about both maintaining friendships and developing new ones. I gotta say...I'm looking forward to arm-wrestlin' that Lulu Chichy...I hear she's a W.C.B.A. and they always make my day !!

Singular Sensations

The Jetsons ruined everything. Whither the flying cars? And the jet pack in every garage? Weren't we meant to have these by now? Still not all space-age suburban dreams have gone the way of the moving sidewalks and robot maids. Case in point: the jet in every garage, a fantasy of mine slated to turn into reality in the form of ultra-low-cost, single-engine jets. First, I'll need to complete those flying lessons, out at the Taylor Airport...

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The one that currently has my eye is the Eclipse Concept Jet. It is much like their twin jet, the 500. Still, the folks at Eclipse (those coy bastards) won't officially confirm that this single-engine model will ever be sold. This sporty, car-like four-seater has a Pratt & Whitney turbofan mounted atop the fuselage. Its tail is a large v-shaped structure, giving a place for all that jet thrust to go. And, it looks cool, too !!

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I could see Bond zipping around in one of these little devils. Say hello to my leetle friend...

Cooked In Classics

Earlier this week, I golfed with some work buddies at the Matt's El Rancho tournament where liquor vendors of the tequila genre were giving out samples of their wares. One of these had a sample table arranged at the course turn around area, with their lovely and attractive marketing reps (One of which talked two of my buddies into wearing girly, tubing-down-the-Guadalupe River-type of pseudo Cowgirl hats...but that's another story) working it.

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After the round was over, we returned there for dinner. Those same reps were still pouring the Margaritas. So, I go over to get one to have with my meal. No to be outdone by her earlier failed attempt, the primary sales chica (we'll call her) asks me why I wouldn't take one of their "cute" hats to wear during the golf round. So, I tell her that besides clashing with my "Inner Paris Hilton" I actually have a biz question for her, if she can answer it. "Do you possibly know of any new or cool Tequilas that are either out or soon to be released," I ask. The look on her face was a Kodak moment, indeed. She then shifts mental gears proceeds to tell me of a company called Siembra's new tequila line.
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Now, we've all heard of beer-massaged Kobe cows, but tequila serenaded with classical music? Well, that's just silly. Still , such is the ostensible secret behind Siembra Azul, the anejo version of which debuts later this month. Developed by Philadelphia restaurateur David Suro, who returned to his homeland in Mexico's Jalisco Highlands to make it, Siembra Azul is treated --no joke here--to round-the-clock Vivaldi and Mozart classics from the Baroque period, whose mellow rhythms and soothing vibrations supposedly aid in fermentation.
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Now, I thought this gal was pulling my leg again but I let her finish... She went on to say that with only 2,750 cases being produced each year, it may prove challenging for me to get a case to give as Holiday presents to my...ahem, tequila and Margarita-oriented friends. A challenge for Scooter does not go unmet. We'll see about that !!

Life As A Bus Ride

In 2005 I had the great pleasure of listening to an audio book of Dr. Wayne Dyer. He was speaking on ‘The Power of Intention’ and I remember him comparing life to a journey in a trolley holding onto a trolley strap. I would like to paraphrase his analogy and compare life to riding on a bus.

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You see this bus takes you wherever you’re supposed to go throughout your whole life. Now the bus is going to stop and it’s going to pick up all kinds of people along the way. Some of them are going to get on and they're going to go for the whole ride, your whole life. Some people are going to get on and only be there for a short time and then get off. Some of them are going to get on and then they're going to get off and you’re going to keep going on in life and somewhere down the road they're going to get on again.

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Surely you can all relate to this? A parent leaves, a friendship falls a part, a family member dies. Now of course not every experience on the bus is a negative one. Falling in love, the birth of a child, starting a new job can bring wonderful people and experiences into your life.You see the fantastic thing about this bus is that it stops exactly where it is supposed to and picks up exactly who it is supposed to pick up.

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As long as you are on this bus, whoever it is supposed to pick up and whoever it is supposed to drop off and however long they are supposed to stay, all of this is part of the perfection of your life. Whether the experience was positive or negative, everyone who shows up in your life shows up exactly on time. I assure you that there are never any mistakes. Each encounter, each experience is something that we attracted into our life.

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The confusing part can be when you try to make sense of it. Why did I attract such a negative experience, a painful experience, a bad relationship with that person? Why is this person in my life so annoying? Well, here is what the "Bus Ride" analogy has taught me these past two years. Once you can accept that the bus of life picks up and drops off exactly who it is supposed to, for as long as it is supposed to, you then need to change the way you look at things. One of my favorite quotes from Dr. Dyer is “when you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”

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Relative to the "negative" experiences, instead of always looking for the ‘why’s, try looking for the ‘what’s. What has this relationship/experience taught me about myself, about life? What can I do to stop repeating the same mistakes and repeating the same experiences over and over again? What can I do differently in order to stop attracting the same type of people into my life over and over?

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Regarding the "good" or fun experiences, he says to not be concerned with it...simply go with the flow and enjoy the ride, as life is intented to be! This was my favorite part.

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We can’t always find the answers to why something happens in our life or why someone shows up, but we can always find a what – what can I bring to this experience, what can I take away (learn) from it, what has it taught me about myself and the world, what can I change within myself? So whether you buy into the bus analogy, changing the way you look at things, or not. I would encourage you to try this! Just try looking for ‘what’s instead of ‘why’s. Try to accept that every experience (positive/negative) has been presented to your life exactly when it was supposed to. I believe that these two simple steps will change your life forever.

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Oh yeah...and I don't want to hear any grief for being philosophical, today. ...lol

El Rancho Whaaat ?

Cruising through the hillcountry on a biz trip on Mondays is usually not very interesting....you know, the work thing, and all. However, this one was different. As I was going down SH 46, in Bergheim, TX, here's what I spotted.

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Also, I'm usually not one for festive, frilly foo-foo decorations but this one was both funny and cool ! Check it out...

Round Rock Outlaw

Yep...that's me, appropriately named. Scooter Da' Bandit. Here's a photo of my friend Stephen and I at this ride, this past Saturday, taking off from the Start (I'm in the Texas jersey in the center, at the base of the balloons and he's to my right). It was loads of fun to ride and cut-up with all of the other riders. I could have ridden all day long. Also, I've come to the conclusion that cyclist are some of the most social of all athletes. Moreover, every ride I've ever done was always loads of fun and a good opportunity to meet new people, some more gregarious than others but interesting nonetheless. That one little vixen still comes to mind, while we were discussing the Tao Te Ching....

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By contrast, runners are serene and quite. For example, Sunday morning I rode with my friend I.C.E. (the closet Hill Billy) around the northern part of 360 and on to the IBM Uptown Classic 10k, near the Dominion. As we pulled up to the event, you could have heard a pin drop... Quite different, indeed. I'm still "considering" doing the running thing but have yet to pull the trigger as yet. Stay tuned...

The Daily Adventures of Scooter

Yesterday was quite the interesting day, to say the least. First, a biz trip to SA to meet with a squirrelly client. That's when I came across the first photo ( right) , in Drippings Springs. (Shhh...don't tell anyone but that is my short cut way into North or West SA, via 281. If they find out, then it'll get really busy out there...so, again...mum's the word about that). Now, I, Scooter, will be going to my cousin, Scooby's, carnival that day. What else would I do, then, anyway??

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Then, it was back to Austin, drop off work stuff, load up cycling stuff and off to the Veloway to ride with Iron Chick Erin, C.B.A. ??, who hypothetically had some very significant work developments to review. (Insert Texas drawl) Shoot, I'll tell you what...I'd kick them in the nuts, when they weren't looking, for less than that! ...sniff

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Anyway, when as I drove up, this (above, left) is what I found in my yard. I just about fell out !! What the hell... And, as I explained to my neighbor Matt, who came over to cajole/congratulate me, I maintain my yard because that is something I do for myself, not that silly HOA. Anyway...I suppose I'll leave it out there for the month. Maybe this will create a brief reprieve from those snippy little letters that they like to send me, periodically...

Veloway Fun-age

This weekend was a usual, cycling stuff going on, kind of weekend. Saturday, was the Veloway...it has become one of my local favorites, primarily because it is easy to ride and quite safe. Without the presence of cars, you can relax and ride as you would like. More importantly, are the cycling buddies I've made out there. Most recently, were the meetings two, in particular, Charles Thibodeaux and Moe.

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Charles is a fellow Cajun Dude and the lead singer of The Bayou Cajun Band, that currently plays on Monday evenings at The Evangeline Cafe, on Brodie Lane. I indicated to him that I would certainly go there, to both check out his band's play and to sample the "groceries" of the restaurant, itself. I'm really looking forward to that experience. It's difficult to find good renditions of either of those, here in Central Texas. Back to the story...

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Moe, is a very gregarious and unique sort of fellow. He looks to be no more than 55-60 years old but actually is 67 and he can, quite amazingly, ride nearly as fast as much younger cyclists. Of note, here, is that he recently completed the Hotter'N Hell Hundred, in Wichita Falls, TX. Very impressive for anyone but especially for this older gentleman.

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As it turns out, these two guys know each other from both previous event rides and from the Veloway, itself. So, Charles shared a very funny story recently, about riding out at there once, with a friend of his from out of town. I queried him if it was Boudreaux, himself...but he said it was not. (So much for that potential joke.).

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Back to Charles' story... It begins when some old guy on a road bike passes them up, during a ride one day. Not to be outdone, they pursue the old cyclist. Ironically, neither he nor his friend can actually catch up with him, for like three or four laps !! So, they gave up. Later that morning, they see this same old guy sitting on the bench, relaxing, under the oak tree near the entrance of the Veloway park. So, they go over to introduce themselves and subsequently have a good laugh at themselves, as they explained to Moe what they attempted to do, earlier.

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This is the stuff comedic cycling legends are made from...

No Better Days

Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So, throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. --Mark Twain

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Today, I think I shall take his and Gary Larson's advice. I'll be playing golf later this afternoon. And, yes, I believe that may be considered by some to be "playing hookey." But, HEY, what better day to have fun than today? I think we should all do this more often...

Traumatized Tebow

Despite all this "spin" of Florida Quarterback Tim Tebow's Heisman-esque Sainthood by the UF Athletic Dept., he has secrets he doesn't want to get out. Yes, besides being the perfect athlete, going out and bringing 20,000 people to the Lord on Missionary trips, and coaching the School for the Deaf's football team in his spare time he has certain traits he keeps in the closet. These are indeed Shocking Facts that you might not know:

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(1) Believes the Hokie Pokie is what it is all about.

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(2) CAN believe it's not butter!

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(3) Doesn't tip the talent at Hooters! (He'll burn for that one !!)

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(4) Dances in the shower to Wham's, Wake Me Up Before You Go Go.

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(5) Whenever he is up for some giggles he goes home throws in The Pride of the Yankees into the DVD player and fast forward to when "Lou" Gehrig gets amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and just laughs and laughs and laughs.

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(6) He Shot JR.

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(7) Writes NSF checks for Girl Scout cookies.

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(8) Is so simple even a caveman can do him!

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(9) Is so good that the NCAA should pass a bylaw requiring the names on the backs of all the 84 other Florida Gators to read “NOT TEBOW.” This way, no one will turn on their TV sets, see a blue Florida Gator jersey under a pile and grow excited, only to cry uncontrollably when they realize that the Florida Gator in question is not #15 Tim Tebow but someone else!! (Of course he has been known to cry himself....see above, post LSU Ass-Whippin' Game on Saturday Night in Death Valley).

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10) Orders apple martinis.

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(11) Is Mark Foley's illegitimate son.

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(12) Thinks that The Waterboy accurately reflect life in Louisiana. (Announcer's voice: And here he comes #15....) (Now, Bobby Boucher's voice: Moma says, you Da' Devil, Mista' Tebow! Rrrreeeeee !! And then, there was the sound of extremely sincere contact).

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(13) Gives Kirk Herbstreet hair styling tips.

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(14) Convinced Marcia Clark to make OJ try on the glove.

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(15) Gave Nick Saban PR advice to say "I'm not going to be the next coach at Alabama."

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(16) Thinks Tiger Stadium is cheering for him (see "Caveman" analogy in #8, above).

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(17) Thought the Gator Chomp meant "love you this much!"

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(18) Puts his mouth on the public water fountain (major Eeeyyehh Factor here).

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(19) Led the PETA effort to prevent LSU from replacing Mike V.

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and Finally (20) Invented new Coke and the Weedeater.

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Let's give a big round of Tiger Bait applause for Mr. Tebow !!

Scooter Indicted !!

Last Friday, Scooter, the well-known stagehand and "go-fer" at his uncle's theater where the Muppet Show was filmed during the mid-70's, was indicted on five felony counts by a grand jury, including two counts of obstruction, two counts of lying under oath, and one count of attempting to undermine a federal investigation. Under these charges, he could face up to 30 years in prison and $1.25 million in fines.
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Over the last two years, an ongoing investigation has been trying to determine where a leak came from, outing covert CIA agent Miss Piggy shortly after her husband, Kermit the Frog, wrote an Op-Ed piece for the New York Times that criticized the current administration's reasons for going to war.
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At a press conference last week, Special Prosecutor Sam the Eagle spoke to reporters about the indictment, going to great lengths to point out that it was not his job to determine whether the war against the "Spittin' Image" puppets was justified.
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"I am here to see to it that justice is done," Sam the Eagle insisted. "And to show the world that we will not tolerate these weirdos. Someone leaked Miss Piggy's name to the press, and I have enough proof to justify bringing charges against Mr. Scooter." Sam the Eagle, i.e., The Prosecutor, who has worked for decades to improve to moral fabric of these United States, was chosen by the current administration specifically to investigate the leak. Some conservatives, however, such as Gonzo the Great and Rowlf the Dog, have made it clear that the Special Prosecutor may have overstepped his original mandate.

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"He was told to look in to the leak itself," said one source, who asked not to be identified. "But, because he couldn't find anything proving the leak was an organized effort, he brought out this indictment to make it look like he had accomplished something over the past two years."
Others, including Miss Piggy's Husband, Kermit the Frog, have praised Sam the Eagle, saying that it was all but impossible to come up with any useful information concerning the leak because of Scooter's lies.

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"My wife's life may have been put in danger," said Kermit at a press conference shortly after the indictment was read, "and Scooter, among others, lied about their connection to it. I look forward to the follow-up investigation."

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The investigation is ongoing, and while the Special Prosecutor says that the remaining part consists mostly of "tying up loose ends," sources close to the investigation say that the focus has moved from Scooter to Fozzy Bear after it was revealed that this was where Scooter learned the identity of Piggy.

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Scooter leaves the courthouse...( see photo, above). Some insiders insist that this case has implications that reach even further.

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"This is big, really big," said Dr. Teeth, the leader of the house band during the Muppet Show's five seasons on the air. "If the bear is fingered, he's going to squeal like a pig, if you catch my drift. Names will be named. It's going to get ugly."

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Scooter worked for the Muppet Show, where it is believed he learned of Piggy's covert status, for almost twenty years before he was let go after his uncle, who owned the theater, passed away. Some insiders insist that that this caused a serious rift between him and Piggy's husband, Kermit, which eventually lead to the leaking of classified information.

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Seen leaving the courthouse after the indictment was read, Scooter appeared upbeat. "I'm going to go home and rest up," he told reporters. "I've got a busy day tomorrow." "Quite frankly...I don't know what these people are talking about ! (...sniff of defiance)
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Fozzy Bear has been decidedly quiet during these proceedings, but when confronted by reporters outside his home at Yellowstone National Park, Fozzy was quoted as saying, "I plan to have a nice weekend, and I hope you all do, too. Wakka wakka."
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More on this story as it develops...

Didactic Doctor Daddy-O

In 1947, a relatively unknown art professor from Chicago named Dr. Vernon Winslow, started a show highlighting black music in New Orleans on WJMR — a white-owned radio station. Unknown to most listeners, Dr. Winslow wrote the scripts, selected the music, and taught the white DJ, "Poppa Stoppa" how to sound black. So, Dr. Winslow, after being fired for taking to the microphone when the white DJ was a no-show, went on to WWEZ and became New Orleans' first black DJ — "Doctor Daddy-O." He was ubercool.

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However, in early days, he was forced to ride up the freight elevator to the station because of his race, Winslow was later convinced by white record producer Cosimo Matassa to broadcast from his studio. Within one year, The "Doctor Daddy O" show was the top rated radio program in New Orleans and Winslow was one of the top ten DJs in the country. His program ran until the early 80's. I fondly recall listening to his radio show during Summer Vacation stays in The City (as the locals generally refer to "N'Awlins").

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Anyway, his programs not only introduced us to the musical art forms of Blues, Zydeco and classical but more importantly, he introduced us to other art forms that were then unknown to us, like the visual art forms. These were rhetorical items he discussed in art classes he taught at Dillard University, in New Orleans, beginning in 1936. He inspired his listeners to visit museums and to check out both local artists and those in the publications of their local libraries. He was fond of saying "Don't forget, Dudes and Dudettes, people create art, art bears beauty, beauty inspires goodness, and goodness...well...it makes the world go 'round." I don't think that I'll ever forget that expression...

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So, when I recently listened to the Subdudes' highlight song, Poor Man's Paradise, on their new release Street Symphony, a flood of memories came rushing back to me about this guy, who I haven't thought about in years!! Sadly, he passed away in 1993.

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We will always remember you, Doctor Daddy-O...

Tour de Vin...Austin Style!!

Friends and acquaintances of mine know that right after college football (The SEC varietal, specifically) food and wine are my second most intense passion/interest/obsession....call it what you like. I suppose it goes back to the days of my teenage youth, working in Summers and holidays with my uncle, who was a chef at Antoine's Restaurant in New Orleans (which, BTW was established in 1840 and is the country's oldest family-run restaurant...that's another story onto itself).
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AnyWho, the Wine & Food Foundation of Texas and Whole Foods Market partner up to host the fifth annual Tour de Vin on Thursday, October 4, from 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. on the pictureque rooftop plaza of Whole Foods Market at 6th Street and Lamar. Featuring wines and cuisine from around the world, a silent auction (always lots of fun!) and live music from Patricia Vonne, this unique tasting has become a treasured event for Austin wine and food lovers, over the years. I encourage everyone to check it out...

Bizarre Columbus Courthouse Ruling

Columbus, OH (AP) - A seven-year old boy was at the center of a Franklin County courtroom drama yesterday when he challenged a court ruling over who should have custody of him. The boy has a history of being beaten by his parents and the judge initially awarded custody to his aunt, in keeping with child custody law and regulation requiring that familyunity be maintained to the highest degree possible.

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The boy surprised the court when he proclaimed that his aunt beat him more than his parents and he adamantly refused to live with her. When the judge then suggested that he live with his grandparents, the boy cried and said that they also beat him. After considering the remainder of the immediate family and learning that domestic violence was apparently a way of life among them, the judge took the unprecedented step of allowing the boy to propose who should have custody of him.

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After two recesses to check legal references and confer with the child welfare officials, the judge granted temporary custody to the University of Michigan Wolverines, whom the boy firmly believes are not capable of beating anyone!!

Cave Without A Name

Recently, my business travels brought me to lovely Boerne, TX, located on the Northwest side of San Antonio, just off of I-10. In the process, I ran across this really cool place. I mean, after all, its internal temperature is 66 degrees year around.

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The cave has formations of Stalactites, Stalagmites, Soda Straws, Cave Drapery, really interesting Flowstones (that look like running liquid rock) and Rimstone. It also has a series of dams, after all, it is a subterranean "Pirated Stream Passage" for the Guadalupe River. (Would that be a Texas Pirated Stream Passage, I asked? Indeed, said the tour guide lady, indeed!!)

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Check it out if you're in the area or are looking for something different to do. They even hold classical music concerts in the cave, performed by the horn or string section of the San Antonio philharmonic orchestra. See their website for details.

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I suppose we can learn and experience new things everyday.

What-The-Dickens

As bizarre as this may seem, I actually enjoy select children's books. They help my creative side to revisit ideas that we, as jaded adults, take for granted. While vacationing recently (and consequently visiting relatives) dear Uncle Scooter was requisitioned to read this "new favorite book." So, I obliged and found it to be quite interesting.

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Without giving away too much, it is a story about a newly hatched orphan creature who finds that he has an attraction to teeth, a crush on a cat named McCavity and a penchant for getting into trouble (this last part being something to which I surely could identify as a part of my youth, being the little rogue cretin that I was, according to Sister Mary Katherine and all her various and sundry nun teacher friends). Anyway, where was I before digressing...oh yeah, the orphan dude befriends Dinah, a skibbereen, and they find that the world is much stranger than they thought !! Who says that there are no such things as tooth fairies, anyway?

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Things that make you go "Hmmm..."

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What's more, I specifically recall books simply not being this cool, when I was a kid. No offense intended to Dr. Seuss fans or other, similar type authors. Anyway, I highly recommend it to both kids and used-to-be-kids alike !!

GAME DAY COUNTDOWN

There are 4 days, 21 hours, 58 minutes, and 52 seconds left until the action begins, on ESPN! More importantly, is the dearth of wager discussions by my Mississippi State acquaintances. Those guys are scared, as well they should be. The poem to the right was given to me by a friend of my nephew, who resides in Baton Rouge. This friend is a freshman this Fall and she will be attending games in the student section, for the first time. That experience is tantamount to riding a roller coaster for the first time.

For those of you who do not know this about me: "Hi, I am Scooter and I'm a College Football addict." I watch games both on TV and in person, follow recruiting and love to party in traditional bayou tailgate fashion!! Cooking at these parties is definitely my speciality, true to my heritage...along with the beverage consumption, of course.

More notably, is the experience of a Saturday night in Tiger Stadium. If you haven't been there, it is very difficult to explain...95,000 screaming Cajun yahoos, the electricity and the smell of bourbon in the air is other worldly. It gives me goose bumps, just thinking about it. It provides visitors an empathetic feel for what the Christians "gladiators" experienced, being sent by Cesar to their demise in the Roman Coliseum. This is especially true when 'Bama or Those Nasty Gators from Florida roll into BR town.

These games are comparable to tribal warfare. It sounds like a great time, doesn't it? Only when your team wins. Losing coaches frequently finds "For Sale" signs hammered into their lawn on Sunday mornings, following these bigger games.

Anyway, this is the beginning of The Tigers' march to the BCS National Championship Game. I would love nothing more than to put a spanking on those USC Trojan Wussies, for their "shuck and give action," back in 2003. However, we'll just have to wait until January for that to come to fruition. We should start a second countdown clock for that game, as well.

I can hear The Drum Cadences rumbling, right now: http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=5200&ATCLID=177310&SPID=2544&SPSID=31765

As you may have already deduced...trash talk comes cheap relative to discussions of playing on The Old Gridiron, in The SEC.

Fun With Vino and Cheese

I always seem to lose these notes, following one of these events. So, I decided to post them so that does not continue to be an issue...

Wine Tasting Notes

"I drink it when I’m Happy and when I’m sad. Sometimes I drink it when I’m alone. When I have company I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I’m not hungry and drink it when I am. Otherwise I never touch it - unless I’m thirsty.” Madame Lily Bollinger, founder of Bollinger Champagnes

WINE (with CHEESE PAIRING, below)

White:

Charles Shaw, Two Buck Chuck

Just Kidding… BTW, this is a very good, everyday type of wine. For the price, there is no better Chard, Cab or Merlot (Yes, contrary to Sideways, there will always be Merlot lovers).

Kim Crawford, Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, 2006

Concentrated and complex, with vivid passion fruit, grapefruit and tangy peach flavors. Vibrant minerality and tangy lime juice acidity keep thumping through the finish. Wine Spectator: 92 points

Fromage: Brie, Cow, France

Incognito, Viognier, Lodi, 2005

The appearance is light straw, with a greenish tint. It has aromas of peach, cold blossoms, and noble apricot. The mouth feel is creamy, smooth, weighty, medium-bodied and tart, and the mouth filling peaches and cream flavors are joined by a big warm kick in the glass. Wine Enthusiast: 90 points

Fromage: Humboldt Fog, Goat, California

Treana, Viognier/Marsanne, Central Coast, Mer Soleil Vineyard, 2004

This wine displays the elegant varietal characteristics of Viognier and Marsanne. This alluring blend offers floral aromas of citrus, honeysuckle and jasmine followed by ripe flavors of stone fruit with rich honey overtones. High-toned citrus notes and a solid minerality lend excellent balance. The mouthfeel is lush and full with a broad mid-palate while bright acidity cleans the palate and lends ease and versatility to food-pairing. Wine Enthusiast: 94 points

Fromage: Comte, Cow, France

Red:

A to Z, Sangiovese Rose, Oregon, 2006

This beautiful pink/magenta Rose with inviting aromas are full of fresh pure strawberries, watermelon (yes…watermelon) raspberries, cherries, wildflowers, herbs de Provence and what the French call petit fruits rouge with notes of cinnamon and nutmeg. This stunning wine is juicy, bright and lush at the same time, finishing clean and crisp. Great for hot Texas days.
Scooter Speak: 90 points

Fromage: Mimolette, Cow, France

Belles Soeurs, Willamette Valley, Pinot Noir, 2003

Supple, silky and generous. Not a huge wine, but has enormous flavors, from raspberry to cherry to smoky spice and weaving in floral and mineral notes, persisting on the long, long finish. Tremendous refinement.
Wine Spectator Score: 93

Fromage: Gruyere, Cow, Swiss

Kilikanoon, Clare Valley, Prodigal, Grenache, 2004

On the nose, perfumed aromas of cherries, chocolate and leather, that combine well with the dusty, spicy oak flavors. A big Grenache style, with richly perfumed plum, cherry and chocolate fruit flavors. Although dry, the wine possesses a real "sweet fruit" character that is reinforced by the warm alcohol finish. Subtle oak influence and firm tannins have produced a wine that is balanced with pronounced flavour persistence. Wine Advocate Score: 92 points

Fromage: Petit Basque, Sheep, Spanish Basque Country

Altos de LUZON, 2004, Jumilla

The seriously endowed 2004 Altos de Luzon is a blend of 50% old vine Mourvedre (52 years) and equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo, aged 12 months in a combination of French and American oak. A dense ruby/purple color is followed by beautiful aromas of smoky licorice, black currants, cherries, and earth. Offering wonderful ripeness, an alluring texture, sweet tannin, and adequate acidity, it certainly over-delivers for its price. Drink it over the next 2-4 years.
Wine Advocate Score: 90 Pts.

Fromage: Mancheca, Sheep, Spain

Dessert/Port:

Chateau Guiraud, 1st CRU, Sauternes, 2001

Golden yellow in color. Butterscotch and vanilla, with hints of ripe apples. Full-bodied, with lots of sweetness and a spicy apricot and honey aftertaste. Excellent concentration and balance. Loads of botrytis character on the finish. Intense and hard not to drink it all because it's so luscious and rich. Wine Advocate: 94pts; Wine Spectator: 96 pts

Fromage: Verde Dolce, Gorgonzola, Cow, Italy

Royal Tokaji, Aszu 5 Puttonyos, 2000

Alluring aromas of gingersnap cookies, apricot and orange marmalade. Sweet, yet deftly balanced by lively structure. Fine lingering finish, where the harmony really shows. It’s easy to see why the Royal Hungarian Family so loved this stuff…
Wine Spectator Score: 93

Fromage: Mille Foglie, Cow, Italy


Alvear Pedro Ximenex, Solera, 1927

The impressive 1927 Pedro Ximenez Solera, from a Solera system begun nearly 80 years ago, boasts a dark amber color as well as an extraordinary nose of creme brulee, liquefied nuts, marmalade, and maple syrup. Huge and viscous, yet neither cloyingly sweet nor heavy, it is a profound effort. It is meant to be drunk alone at the end of a meal. Robert Parker (Wine Advocate): 96 Points

Pairing: Skip the cheese… Chocolate Nibits & Pecan Halves

Have a Great Weekend, everyone !!

Vacation Time !!

Destin is the destination city for me, next week. It is in the Florida Panhandle and is commonly known in the Southeast as "The World's Luckiest Fishing Village." It has grown from a historic fishing village to a premier resort destination that it is today. It doesn't hurt that it is the hometown of Emmitt Smith, for all you old time Dallas Cowboy fans.

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The city sits along the coast in the Panhandle, at the end of a peninsula separating Choctawhatchee Bay from the Gulf of Mexico. It is famous for its beautiful emerald-colored waters and sugar-white sand beaches, hence, its other nickname: The Emerald Coast. The beaches are the best, anywhere. As a matter of fact, the quartz sand there is so clean that it actually emits a little squeak when you walk on it.

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I've enjoyed going there for years and it should be lots of fun !!

Todos estamos hechos del mismo barro pero no del mismo

(We are all made of the same clay but not from the same mold. Mexican proverb)

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I'm not much on this zodiac stuff but I thought this one was such fun and therefore worth sharing... After reading this I know why past relationships didn't work out....It's all clear to me, now !!

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"Hi, I'm Scooter and I'm a Monday Morning Quarterback..."

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VIRGO - The One that Waits. Dominant in relationships. Someone loves them right now. Always wants the last word. Caring. Smart. Loud. Loyal. Easy to talk to. Everything you ever wanted. Easy to please.

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SCORPIO - The Addict. EXTREMELY adorable. Intelligent. Loves to joke. Very Good sense of humor. Energetic. Predict future. GREAT kisser. Always get what they want. Attractive. Easy going. Loves being in long relationships. Talkative. Romantic. Caring.

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LIBRA - The BEST One. Nice to everyone they meet, Unless they get bad vibes from the person they're meeting. Their Love is one of a kind, but if done wrong, they cut you off like it's nothing. Silly, fun and sweet. Have own unique appeal. Most caring person you will ever meet! However not the kind of person you wanna mess with .... you might end up crying...

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ARIES - The Liar. Outgoing. Lovable. Spontaneous. Not one to mess with. Funny. Excellent kisser EXTREMELY adorable. Loves relationships, Addictive. Loud.

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AQUARIUS - Does It In The Water. Trustworthy. Attractive. Great kisser. One of a kind. Loves being in long-term relationships. Extremely energetic. Unpredictable. Will exceed your expectations. Not a Fighter, But will Knock your lights out.

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GEMINI - Irresistible. Nice. Love is one of a kind. Great listeners Very Good in the you know where... Lover not a fighter, but will still knock you out. Trustworthy. Always happy. Loud. Talkative. Outgoing VERY FORGIVING. Loves to make out. Has a beautiful smile. Generous. Strong. THE MOST IRRESISTIBLE.

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LEO - The Lion. Great talker. Attractive and passionate. Laid back. Knows how to have fun. Is really good at almost anything. Great kisser. Unpredictable. Outgoing. Down to earth. Addictive. Attractive. Loud. Loves being in long relationships. Talkative. Not one to mess with. Rare to find. Good when found.

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CANCER - The Cutie. MOST AMAZING KISSER. Very high appeal. Love is one of a kind. Very romantic. Most caring person you will ever meet! Entirely creative. Extremely random and proud of it. Freak. Spontaneous. Great telling stories. Not a Fighter, But will Knock your lights out if it comes down to it. Someone you should hold on to.

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PISCES - The Partner for Life. Caring and kind. Smart. Center of attention. High appeal. Has the last word. Good to find, hard to keep. Fun to be around. Extremely weird but in a good way. Good Sense of Humor!!! Thoughtful. Always gets what he or she wants. Loves to joke. Very popular. Silly, fun and sweet.

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CAPRICORN - The Passionate Lover. Love to bust. Nice. Sassy. Intelligent. Sexy. Predict future. Irresistible. Loves being in long relationships. Great talker. Always gets what he or she wants. Cool. Loves to own Gemini's in sports. Extremely fun. Loves to joke. Smart.

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TAURUS - The Tramp. Aggressive. Loves being in long relationships. Likes to give a good fight for what they want. Extremely outgoing. Loves to help people in times of need. Good kisser. Good personality. Stubborn. A caring person. One of a kind. Not one to mess with. Are the most attractive people on earth!

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SAGITTARIUS - The Promiscuous One. Spontaneous. High appeal. Rare to find. Great when found. Loves being in long relationships. So much love to give. Not one to mess with. Very pretty. Very romantic. Nice to everyone they meet. Their Love is one of a kind. Silly, fun and sweet. Have own unique appeal. Most caring person you will ever meet! Amazing in the you know where..!!! Not the kind of person you wanna mess with- you might end up crying.

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I should have known something bad was going to happen when it read "Not one to mess with." But, wait a minute....they all say that !!