What I Heard This Week! October 4, 2018
Arlan’s was my first stop this morning for my morning breakfast yogurt, before I sat down to finish this column. Everyone in the checkout line was in a buzz talking about the retired Angleton man that recently won a $1-million in the Lottery. Congratulations, (said with a tad bit of envy.) We all love to play the game…’what would I do if I won the lottery.’
Seen on the internet and immediately repeated right here in this column: ‘According to reports, a woman was hospitalized when doctors determined she had overdosed on multiple items containing toxic levels of pumpkin spice flavors and aromas. The woman was rushed to the emergency room after passersby discovered her slumped over the wheel of her minivan in a Starbucks parking lot. Witnesses say the mother of three was clutching a venti-sized pumpkin spice latte in one hand and a container of pumpkin spice creamer in the other, and there was evidence of multiple recently consumed pumpkin spice baked goods on the passenger seat and the floor. According to sources, three others who assisted the woman were also treated for secondhand exposure to the van’s potent pumpkin spice air freshener and the box of pumpkin spice potpourri candles discovered in the back seat. “At this time of year, the public needs to be aware of the dangers,” a hospital spokesperson told reporters. “Cases of pumpkin spice overdose have nearly tripled since 2012.” According to doctors, people at risk will exhibit the following behaviors: persistent overspending on pumpkin spice infused items, seeking out increasingly intense pumpkin spice encounters, and excessively posting on social media about their latest pumpkin spice experience. The FDA plans to issue a public warning about the dangers of pumpkin spice addiction, sources confirm.’ Isn’t this cute?
Merriam-Webster announced that they added more than 300 words to the latest edition of its official Scrabble dictionary. That means twerk, emoji, facepalm (Used to display frustration, disappointment or embarrassment in an article, comment, or post from another user), ew, bizjet (airplane used for business), Zen, bitcoin, frowny, judgy, puggle (a kind of dog), yowza (approval, excitement, or enthusiasm) and sheeple (people that are easily influenced) are all official words. This may not be important information to you but those of us that play ‘Words with Friends’ are interested. Hope it helps. I’ve lost my mojo, so I need something to help me score.
Until 1949, women were only allowed in the Sazerac Bar in New Orleans on Mardi Gras Day. This changed one September afternoon when owner Seymour Weiss opened his doors to find a group of women who ‘demanded the right to a stiff drink whenever they damn well felt like it.’ Well, not really. That’s a great story but actually he had invited camera friendly “make-up” girls from Godchauz’s Department Store to pack the bar on opening day and then called it the “Storming of the Sazerac,” which continues to be celebrated every year with patrons dressing in 1940s era vintage attire. I think about this when I see all the ladies that park in front of my office on their way to visit the new Wine Revue in downtown LJ. Autumn Barrier is the owner and her theme being upscale vintage burlesque, but she will let you wear whatever you have on…within reason.
The Sazerac cocktail is a New Orleans variation of a cognac or whiskey cocktail, named for the Sazerac de Forge et Fils brand of cognac brandy that served as its original main ingredient. The drink is most traditionally a combination of cognac or rye whiskey, absinthe, Peychaud’s Bitters, and sugar, although bourbon whiskey is sometimes substituted.
Aretha Franklin was a shrewd businesswoman and demanded to be paid in cash before performing. When she died recently, she was terminally ill with pancreatic cancer, but she left no will. Under Michigan law, her four sons will equally divide their mother’s assets.
RECENT BIRTHDAYS: Actor Michael Douglas is 74. Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones is 49. Model Cheryl Tiegs is 71. Actor Mark Hamill is 67. Luke Skywalker in Star Wars. Actor Will Smith is 50. Classical crossover singer Andrea Bocelli is 60. Singer musician Joan Jett is 60. Actor Scott Baio is 58. Chachi on Happy Days. Actor James Hillier is 45. The Crown. News anchor Lou Dobbs is 73. Pro football Hall of Fame Joe Greene is 72. “Mean” Joe Greene when he was playing for Pittsburgh Steelers.
Actor Kevin Sorbo is 60. Hercules. Actress Nia Vardalos is 56. My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Country singer David Frizzell is 77. You’re the Reason God Made Oklahoma. Singer Olivia Newton-John is 70. Tennis player Serena Williams is 37. Actor Wilford Brimley is 84. I wonder if his wonderful moustache is insured. Singer Meat Loaf is 71. Singer Shaun Cassidy is 60. Actress Gwyneth Paltrow is 46.
Rapper Lil’ Wayne is 36. Zydeco singer musician C.J. Chenier is 61. Red Hot Louisiana Band. Actress Janeane Garofalo is 54. Actress Mira Sorvino is 51. Rapper Young Jeezy is 41. Actress Hilary Duff is 31. Singer Jerry Lee Lewis is 83. Nobel Peace laureate Lech Walesa is 75. Singer Phillip Phillips is 28.
SHRIMP BOIL this weekend. Did you know that until recently, every single car raffle ticket was pulled from a hopper and placed on a board along with the ticket owner’s name. It took a really long time, but it was so exciting to see the last ticket drawn, but now they just draw the 9 runner-up’s and the car winner. Change is good. 😊 With this fundraiser, Rotarians make lots of money and then give it all back to our community, so pick up a couple of plates of fried fish, shrimp, and the fixings to help support our community. Remember that it’s in LJ now. October 7, 2018, from 11:30 – 4 p.m.
New Montessori school at Chapelwood United Methodist Church. Check it out.
When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving much advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a gentle and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.” – Henri Nouwen
The mosquito population. We spray and spray with pesticides which is so unhealthy. Why don’t we all just hang a bat house in our yard and the mosquito population would take care of itself.
In 1948, voters of BISD elected to create the Brazosport Junior College District. In 1968, Dr. J.R. Jackson served as the first president and the college opened with 879 students. In 1970, twenty-five students graduated, and the name became Brazosport College. In 1978, Dr. W.A. Bass became president until Dr. John Grable assumed the position in 1988 after serving as VP for 11 years. In 1996, Dr. Millicent Valek moved to our area and was named the new president. Under her direction the college has blossomed with The Corporate Learning Center, The Children’s Center, BASF Center for Process Technology, The Byron & Sandra Sadler Health Professions/Science Complex, Dow Academic Center, the student pavilion, library expansion, BCPC Welding Technologies Laboratory, and the Freeport LNG Crafts Academy, all successfully added to the campus. Both of my children have helped further their college education by taking dual-credit classes in high school and attending Brazosport College during summers, Christmas breaks and after high school. It is such an affordable option. We say, congratulations to Brazosport College, and all the instructors and employees. You are such a terrific friend of our community and our children.
The person that sent the following, encouraged all of us to share with friends, family and co-workers. So, grab your hanky:
“This past week I was on a four and a half hour, nonstop flight from Seattle, Washington, to Atlanta, Georgia. In all my years of traveling, I have learned that each time a plane has the opportunity to stop, there is potential for unexpected challenges. Flight delays, weather and airline crews can create unanticipated challenges on any trip. Therefore, I always try to fly nonstop between my destinations.
About an hour into this particular flight, the Captain’s voice rang over the intercom. He asked if there was a physician or nurse on the plane. If so, he asked them to identify themselves by ringing the flight attendant call button beside their seat. I listened carefully but heard no one ring their bell. I immediately began to wonder what was happening.
In a few minutes the Captain informed us that there was a medical emergency on board and asked again if there was a physician or a nurse who could help. When there was no response, we were told that we were going to make an emergency stop in Denver, Colorado. He apologized but told us that there would be a medical emergency team waiting to meet us at the gate and that we would probably only be delayed by about thirty minutes. Though it was necessary, we knew we would all be inconvenienced by the extra stop.
About half an hour later, we landed at Denver International Airport and the medical crew immediately came on board. However, everything took longer than had previously been expected. An elderly gentleman, about 95 years old, had suddenly taken ill. It was not clear whether he had experienced a stroke or heart attack.
Even after the gentleman was carried off the plane, we still sat there for quite a while. The original “short” stop turned into about an hour and a half.
When we finally pushed back from the gate and were in the air, the pilot apologized profusely for the unavoidable delay. He said that since the stop had taken longer than expected, those passengers who needed to make connections in Atlanta would miss their flights but would automatically be booked on the next flight out.
You could almost hear the moans and groans throughout the airplane of everyone who was being inconvenienced by the unexpected stop. Then the pilot did one of the classiest things I have personally ever seen or heard anyone do. He spoke into the intercom and said, “Ladies and gentlemen, I thought you might be interested in one bit of information. The elderly gentleman who was taken off the plane was a Marine in WWII. I am holding in my hand a copy of the Congressional Medal of Honor that was awarded to him and signed by President Harry Truman in 1945.”
The pilot went on to say, “I realize that we have all been inconvenienced today. However, in light of the fact that this gentleman was a war hero and was inconvenienced for four years of his life in order that we might experience the freedoms that we enjoy today, I thought you all should know this.”
Immediately the airplane was filled with applause. Everyone was cheering and so pleased to know that the gentleman had been cared for in a way that was fitting and appropriate. As we continued to fly, I thought to myself, “Isn’t that interesting? We were concerned that we were inconvenienced for a couple of hours and yet, this gentleman’s entire life was interrupted and inconvenienced for over four years while he went and fought in a war to protect the freedoms and values that we love and hold dear in this country today.”
I breathed a prayer for the gentleman and asked God to bless him for all he had done to help us understand what freedom is all about.”
Let’s do more than say the ‘Pledge of Allegiance.’ Let’s start living it.
In closing, I just pulled up the 10-day forecast. 10% to 90% chance of rain expected every single day. Hah. So, I pulled up the 14-day-trend. Yep, rain expected every single day until October 17th. I didn’t have the nerve to click on the 3-month forecast. I would rather live dangerously and not know. Stay dry and thanks for reading this.
