April 18, 2003

All –

Well, the truck seems to be running pretty well after the distributor cap and rotor were replaced. I went back to the garage and told them I was pretty happy – it seems when I worked at the gas station few people would come back to say we did a good job - only if something was wrong.

I met some of Cheryl’s neighbors and cousins Friday night where they made Sushi / Sashimi. My understanding is that Sushi is small bite-sized pieces of very fresh raw fish pressed onto vinegared rice. Sashimi is raw fish cut into different forms that is dipped into a mixture of soy sauce and wasabi (Japanese green horseradish). It was all real good.

On Saturday, they invited me to a Crawfish Boil. It was EXCELLENT! The crawfish are like little lobsters that are cooked for five minutes in a large aluminum pot (like a 120 quart pot) with vegetables, potatoes, mushrooms, garlic, sausage and a lot of spices. The 5-minute time is very critical so I got to do that (I think really they didn’t want me to mess anything else up). When done, the heat is turned off and they sit for 20 minutes – another critical timing job. Then they are pulled out in a large strainer and are dumped on a big round table where you stand around and chow down. The tails have the most meat with a little in the claws. Sucking on the body is very good also. I must have eaten 20 or 25 of them. Met a lot of real nice people there talking about food and motorcycles and Buffalo and a whole lot of other things.

On Sunday I went to church and they really did a fine job presenting for Passion Sunday. The school kids, dressed mainly in black, acted out the reading with sound effects and lighting effects and a wooden cross and mallet. It was very moving. This Saturday the Easter Vigil will be “outside by the fire pit”. I have no idea what to expect but one of the things the priest said was that it will symbolize that we practice our faith not just inside the church walls but outside church as well. I will let you know.

I finally got over to visit with George Getz and his wife. They are friends of the O’Leary’s. I should have looked them up sooner as they lived almost across the street from the Hotel I stayed at for 2 weeks. With the problem I was having with email and the time I spent looking for apartments it got overlooked. We had a nice talk about the area and also about trips to Texas and Mexico. I worked with several people in Matamoras, Mexico while with Lucent and never made it down there but hope to soon.

After talking with Robert Sills on the phone several times I finally got to meet him. I got his name from the Moto Guzzi newsletter contact list. He was the only one listed for Louisiana and is only a few miles from where I am. The only dealer listed for the state is also very close but, alas, they don’t sell Guzzi’s anymore. Robert gave me some ideas on where some nice roads are. (Hint: they are not in Louisiana). So…

On Tuesday (I get Tuesday and Wednesday off) I woke up about 8AM and was on the road by 8:30. Headed north and missed the turn to Mississippi and the road dead-ended at the Louisiana State Penitentiary. I had heard about it as this past weekend they had a big rodeo there where a lot of the prisoners compete. They had a museum there that I went through and they had movies of the rodeo. One of the events is where 4 guys sit at a card table with cards in hand waiting for the bull to be released. These guys don’t seem to move until the bull tosses them somewhere. Last one at the table wins! I guess if you are in prison for the rest of your life you view things differently. Also in the museum they had exhibits on different prison escapes, some uprisings, the couple hundred executions there as well as a cell and things to give an idea of what prison life was like. There were prisoners working in and around the museum – I ask them to watch my bike!

Back on the road I found the road to Mississippi and it is a very nice road – trees provided shade and the road was twisty. After about 40 miles and worried about finding gas I finally hit a little town. There I gassed up and got a cup of coffee and a doughnut. It was about noon and I was anticipating a nice, big early dinner. Met a couple of guys in a pickup who told me about a couple of nice roads – one being the Natchez Trace. Rode about 45 minutes north and hit the beginning of the Trace which is a long, narrow park with a nice road that goes on for 400+ miles ( http://www.nps.gov/natr/ ). I rode it for about 50 miles and then decided to get off and find something to eat. Didn’t find anyplace to eat but saw a sign to Vicksburg. Those guys mentioned Vicksburg but I couldn’t remember why until I got close – Casinos! Asked somebody about the casinos and where a good place to eat would be. They said the casinos were probably the best food. The casinos are on ships “on” the Mississippi – I emphasized on because it seemed to be in a large cement pool with a bit of water in it. I can only assume this is to meet the letter of the law saying the ship needs to be in the river. By the way, I can now say the Mississippi River DOES exist. The buffet was closed till 4:30 and I didn’t want to wait that long so I stopped in the bar, got a beer and ordered a burger and fries. I put a quarter in the video slot machine and promptly lost it. Then I ordered some more beer and paged through all the different games I could play on that one machine and paged through all the instructions. After eating I paid the bill, left a tip and started to walk away. “Wait a minute- how much do I owe for the beers?” Barmaid asked if I was playing video slot machine to which I said yes and she said then all drinks are free. Not bad for a quarter! Left my jacket, gloves and helmet in the bar and walked around. Saw a sign for 5-cent slot machines! Next to them, 1-cent machines!! Was up 47 cents on one – I could hardly control my excitement! Alas, the machine got it all back. Went upstairs and played Blackjack at a $3 table. Played an hour and about broke even. I find it relaxing and enjoyed talking with the other players and the dealer – “Hey, I was winning with the other dealer” or “ How come all the good cards are going to him”. They love me.

Had a relaxing ride home but never got the good meal I was hoping for. Wednesday morning I did go to the Waffle House and had bacon, eggs and waffles with grits. Hadn’t had grits in a while but I like them. Did a little work around the yard and my laundry and then hit it early, as I was still tired from the 400+ mile motorcycle trip.

I was planning to mail this a few days ago and here it is Thursday. Oh well. [Check that, it is now Friday as I proofread]

Trying to hook up with Jean and Tom in New Orleans. Jean’s schedule is very busy but hopefully soon. Asked this guy at work about doing something as he is in the same boat as I – his family is in Houston. Also met a few more people with similar interests like riding and football. Last night I saw a guy in the grocery store with a Bills shirt on – hey, fair game. It’s funny that the days I have off seem harder than the days I work as I try to stay very focused at work but I do miss Maureen and the kids a real lot as well as all you. I am also not looking forward to the summer heat.

I am working on getting a lot of stuff in a web site. I am taking pictures and have the old letters I will put there. Trying to get permission to take pictures at work, which I don’t think will be a problem so you can see my office. Well my cubical. All right a broken chair with a desk in the corner!

Till next time,

Paul