Monday, September 11, 2017. This Too Has Passed. Back To Second Tenor, Which Heals My Soul. Or Was It The Red Beans And Hot Sausage?
Something in the chemistry of my brain changed on this day thirteen years ago. It took two years for me to get over thinking about it all the time. I still think about it now and then, but other cares have intervened. But who can't say all this?
After working hard and well through the morning, I invoked the magical qualities of a big plate of red beans and rice to cheer me. My choice this week is Abita Roasters in Covington, where is sold a candidate for best red beans in town. The texture and seasoning are perfect. The hot sausage brings the perfect amount of orange, peppery rendered fat. On this side is a corn pancake--an interesting touch I've never seen elsewhere. I return to my empty home--MA departed yesterday evening--and finish my work.
After the radio show, I depart for NPAS's rehearsal hall. There, after a week off, we resume the work on the gospel and spiritual program we have coming up in a month or so. (We're not a religious chorus; it just happens that this is the theme for our next show.) I am not having the best time learning some of this, but it still cheers me up to work on it. If there's one thing I've learned in the last couple of years, it's always to have enjoyable activities outside the work and the worrying.
All that is on my mind mainly because of the stresses of the recent hurricanes. One of my longtime but seldom-pursued hobbies is to keep track of the weather. It's not working when disaster hangs in the balance.
Tuesday, September 12, 2017. Barbecue. Crisis at the home office. I had nearly the entire NOMenu newsletter finished when it happened. The gizmo into which all my computers and ancillary tools started playing three-note beeps. The visual accompaniment was a blank monitor and all the blue lights dead in the internet modem. What the. . .?
The more I look, the worse things get. Did a rogue surge of electricity come though from--Florida, maybe? That state faces five million people without power after the hurricane that just passed through. I remove cables and replace them, turn this or that off and back on, and check a bunch of other possibilities. Nothing yet when I had to leave for the radio station. All I can think about was what would happen if something happened to my data. It's backed up, but. . .
We are visited at the radio show by Alex Hill. He's the owners of two shops selling Dickey's Barbecue. It's a chain out of Texas, but MA and I concur that its cue is more than a little good. Alex brings a box of ribs, brisket, and pork, to make this point again.
When the show ends I head for home, with a stop at Office Depot. My thoughts led to a particular cable that might be causing the problem. Or maybe the surge protector. I re-install both it, and after a few more plug-ins I see the glorious image of the computer monitor. It glows with words. I have only very rarely in my life felt a greater relief.
Dickey's Barbecue Pit. Covington: 69292 LA21. 985-871-2225. Slidell: 61103 Airport Rd. 985-720-0070.
Written by Tom Fitzmorris September 15, 2017 12:01 in
