LSU & Mansfield's Boneroo

LSU, LSU - The baseball team won the SEC championship 8 to 2 over Ole Miss this afternoon. Jim and I were in front of the TV rooting them on, screaming, sighing, pounding our knees, throwing our heads back in disgust, jumping up and down in elation and even a few tears. From LSU Sports.net this evening: "Designated hitter Blake Dean’s two-run homer Sunday highlighted a five-run LSU fifth inning, and right-hander Louis Coleman fired six scoreless relief innings to lead the eighth-ranked Tigers to an 8-2 victory over Ole Miss in the SEC Tournament championship game at Regions Park. LSU (43-16-1) won its 20th straight game, establishing a school record. The previous mark of 19 consecutive wins was set by the 1997 club. The Tigers, who trailed 2-1 entering the bottom of the fifth inning, won for the 16th time during the 20-game streak after facing a deficit.

I have procured a student ticket for Clif to the whole super regional (looks like Alex Box Stadium isn't over yet) and hope to procure tickets for Jim this Thursday. It's been a phenomenal year for LSU.

I am now downloading picutures from this year's Mansfield Boneroo, complete with Scott Stone's band out at Sonny Stone's place on Golden Pond. It was so relaxing, so enjoyable/social/fun with people of all ages. Let's let the pictures talk.

Isabel and Neila

Calvert below

Asa Stone (Scott's Son) and Scott's wife Crystal (super mom)

The older gentleman is rocking out to Scott's band.

Scott Stone and the Band played tirelessly and hot.

Mitzi (Sonny's sister, left), Dollye, the wonderful Andrew Stone and the Flower Queen, Brenda Hall.
Dollye just moved back to Mansfield from Florida.
Mr. Stone, Clerk of Court Extraordinaire and Jim Ruffin, Right.

Linda and Neila, Moms extraordinaire

Andrew and Mimi, the most loveable grandmother that I know.
Redux
Brenda and Andrew
Scott Stone and the Band entertaining the crowd.
Mr. Stone in his official vehicle.
Inside Air Conditioning - Yea!
Mansfield Boneroo, Band, Crowd, Crawfish, Brisket and all.
The Girls, Neila, Dollye, Linda
SEC Baseball - Jim and Bill Calvert
Hmmmm - Mr. Ruffin with Andrew, channeling grandchildren.

Ah, the screened porch in front of Golden Pond. Scott (the leader of the band) and Isabel's friend.
Mr. Stone's hut in the woods near Mansfield.
And through this whole afternoon, I found out most of the people were in the pool in the backyard!
Just tons of people and tents EVERYWHERE.
Karen on the deck at the pond.
The original Golden Pond that MaryEstelle and Ollie built.
Karen Calvert, Deputy Clerk of Court, happy to have the day off!

A happy Memorial Day to all of you that have the day off. The private sector will be working, or perhaps just the slave drivers.

Ruffinism for the day: Bravery is the capacity to perform properly even when scared half to death.Omar Bradley

Private Sector Sucks at Times

I was told this afternoon by JRG that I get to work on Monday. And what of Memorial Day? He asked me what War I participated in and that pretty well put an end to a day off. The War of the Roses? The War of the Sexes? The War of the Weary? - most definitely. Haynesville Shale, could I possibly send him down as far as 10,000 feet? Where do I have a good picture of him that says everything?



Ah, yes, his daughter says he looks like a girly-man in this photo. Feel much better now.

It's a mowing the yard weekend, going to Mr. Stone's, barbecuing kind of weekend. No gas. However, Jim and I are planning to head to Rayburn on Sunday to try out the boat. We have to switch the pop-up for the boat so we can bring the boat home to have it serviced.

Ruffinism for the day: “Four things support the world: the learning of the wise, the justice of the great, the prayers of the good, and the valor of the brave”

My Idol

My day is made. David Cook won American Idol last night. Yes I am one of the teeny boppers/middle aged women who has not missed a night since the beginning. Cook was the best singer by far. I have downloaded all of his songs through i-tunes and listen to them on my way to and from work.

Oh, in my younger days, I would have dreamed about him night after night. Now I just think....yeah, I was that young and clear faced once. My hair shined. My skin had elasticity like that and I could raise my arms like that without my bursitis screaming at me from the innermost part of my shoulders. Anyway, good for him. I have been reading the reviews of American Idol in all of the papers but by far the best and most hilarious articles are from Lisa de Moraes of the Washington Post. Read her latest here. She has a good sense of humor about it. She't taken to calling Cook "Thatched Roof" because of his hairdo and Archuletta "Baby Elmo." It's worth the minute or two. She pokes fun at Randy, Paula and Simon as well - and I laughed out loud at her description of Carrie Underwood's outfit. Her previous day's column was rather funny also if you want to read it here.

We had a couple of options for this weekend. We had reservations at the beautiful Bass Buster Inn on Lake Sam Rayburn because we were too late to make camping reservations. Envious?

But, as things would have it, we have just decided to go for a day trip on Sunday so we cancelled our reservations and are now going to Mr. Stone's crawfish boil and concert on Golden Pond on Saturday around the pool and I'm looking forward to seeing the totality of the Calvert family, the Stone family, and friends. They are true friends. There is much to bring to Golden Pond. Bug spray, a chair to watch the concert, adult beverages, ice, cups, swimsuit, hat, camera, a $400,000 Winnebago (oops, don't have that.)

Monday, I want to go "window" truck and fifth wheel shopping. Have no delusions, Clif's summer school and residence at LSU for the summer is paid and also the coveted football season tickets. Outside of winning Lotto or Powerball, we're still plodding along.

I'm so excited for this weekend.

Ruffinism for the day: Better than honor and glory, and History's iron pen,was the thought of duty done and the love of his fellow men. - Richard Watson Gilder

Life is so daily

I have updated pictures of Norman. He's much better since his "gore" incident...we've doctored, we've hidden pills to the point of hiding in steak (he refuses cheese and weiners), we've cleaned and sanitized. He's an animal and we love him very much, channeling Caesar Milan, through Big Daddy.

Yes, the gore wound is healing.

It's been a stressful week, Haynesville Shale Formation still taking its toll here in De Soto Parish. I say that only because I am not a recipient and I have grown weary of the bragadocious folks. It's sort of like having your head dunked in the tub with the apples over and over again.

I have some book information...I just finished "Change of Heart" by Jodi Picoult and sent it on to Jean...it has nothng to do with what is sounds like. I recommend it highly. I'm reading a new Augusten Burroughs book that is quite interesting "The Wolf at the Table" about his totally screwed up dad.

Dave Sedaris has a new book coming out June 3 and I already have my copy reserved. He is hilarious.

Ruffinism for the day: Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. ~Groucho Marx

I'm Back

Well, it's been a mini-break and I don't know why other than doing my extra bookkeeping job for SB after hours has tired me of the computer....enough.

Happy Mother's Day to everyone out there who qualifies. Clif sent me a beautiful flower arrangement through Brenda's Blossom Shop and the actual sisters of Brenda (Connie and Pat) delivered them on Saturday which made it so much more special. Jim and I went to Shreveport today to Barnes & Noble to get me a new book and then to Bed, Bath and Beyond to get me leather placemats to cover my new table.

I got paid by SB for my bookkeeping for her 2007 books and bought me a new breakfast room set in celebration.....just because. Dollye and Jean came over and broke it in. We had adult beverages. It's THAT kind of breakfast room table, as in pub table but I love it.



Norman is on the mend. He's tearing up and down the street once again. Still taking antibiotics and still cleaning the wound but it does not bother him much anymore. I just hope he remembers what happened to him next time he ventures into Billy Ray Bedsole's pastures.

The renovation to Highway 171 in Mansfield is really becoming quite dramatic now. Below is looking North on Jenkins to where the old Shop-a-Lott (on the right) used to be and the old high school and elementary school (straight ahead) used to be.

The new and improved Shop-a-Lott. It's now Chevron, no longer Citgo. Very exciting, eh?

Below is downtown Mansfield, Suzy's flower shop used to be on the right, the Chamber of Commerce used to be straight ahead. The pine trees/brush/kudzu and the ravine are straight ahead. The ravine is already filled in places. Actually straight ahead where those trees are is the end of First Street where I understand Joyce and Calvin Hall lived at one time. I knew it as the Tristan house of late. Anyway they pushed the house into the ravine yesterday. That's Herman Lawson's law office on the right.

More of the same, just closer.

And this used to be the bank drive-in. The ATM is still standing, I think they're going to leave it.

You folks won't recognize Mansfield when you drive through, especially if you've never been here before.

Ruffinism for the day: It is not necessary to change. Survival is not mandatory. ~W. Edwards Deming