The Jambalaya News - 02/03/14, Vol. 5, No. 23

02 FEBRUARY 13, 2014

Vol. 5 • No. 23

February 13, 2014 • Volume 5 • Issue 23

715 Kirby St. Lake Charles, LA 70601 Phone: 337-436-7800 Fax: 337-990-0262 www.louisianajam.com Publisher Phil de Albuquerque phil@louisianajam.com Executive Editor Lauren de Albuquerque lauren@louisianajam.com Contributors Nicole Shuff Arabie Julie Bergeron George Cline Angie Kay Dilmore Jim Doyle Dan Ellender Braylin Jenkins Mike McHugh Roger Miller Mary Louise Ruehr Karla Tullos David Yantis Sales sales@louisianajam.com Graphics Art/Production Director Burn Rourk Art Assistant Sarah Bercier Associate Photographer Johnny Owens Cajun Pirate Photgraphy Business Office Manager Jeanie Taggart

Legal Disclaimer The views expressed by Louisiana Jam columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Louisiana Jam, its editors or staff.

Louisiana Jam is solely owned, published by Jambalaya Media, LLC, 715 Kirby Street, Lake Charles Louisiana 70601.

Phone (337) 436-7800. Whilst every effort was made to ensure the information in this magazine was correct at the time of going to press, the publishers cannot accept legal responsibility for any errors or omissions, nor can they accept responsibility of the standing of advertisers nor by the editorial contributions. Louisiana Jam cannot be held responsible for the return of unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or illustrations, even if they are sent to us accompanied by a self-addressed envelope. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher.

Copyright 2013 Louisiana Jam all rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without prior written permission is prohibited.

Vol. 5 • No. 23

COVER STORY 31 Your Wedding at Graywood Plantation REGULARS 6 We Are SWLA! 8 The Dang Yankee 8 Adoption Corner 9 Tips from Tip 10 Huntin’ Tales 11 Stir Dat Pot 12 Doyle’s Place 13 Soul Matters FEATURES 5 The Heavenly History of the King Cake 1 4 Minutes Make the Difference 15 The Flu and Heart Disease 16 Heart-healthy Eating 17 Get a Super Smile!

18 Menopause and Heart Health 20 Wedding Traditions 23 Fun Valentine’s Day Facts 25 Maid of Honor Duties 26 Gifts for Your Attendants and Groomsmen 27 Bridal Shower Games THE SPICE OF SWLA 34 Tarzan!

36 Events Guide 37 Family Fun Night at the Movies 38 Red Hot Books 40 Nightlife Guide 42 Lake City Beat!

44 Society Spice 47 Funbolaya 48 Cajun Classifieds 55 Gator Tales

On cover: Graywood Plantation, photo by Emily Fuselier Photography

5 11 34 37 38 44 FEBRUARY 13, 2014 03

A Note From Lauren Sneaux Days Yes, it actually happened. Our entire parish, and more, shut down because of the weather. And we’re not talking about hurricanes.

We actually had snow days, or “sneaux days” as they’re called down here.

When we first came to Southwest Louisiana, we heard there had been an ice storm several years earlier that had crippled the area for days due to power outages and so forth. It was a rare event and one not likely to happen for a very long time, we were assured.

Of course, we were also told that even though Lake Charles is not far from the Gulf Coast and that hurricanes are always a possibility, we shouldn’t worry, because they were infrequent. The last big hurricane was in 1957. Famous last words.

So we had years of crazy hurricane weather and all the aggravation that comes with it. And then last year, there was zero, zilch, nada. Nothing even came close.

Nothing brewing in the Gulf all season. But last fall, I heard someone mention that the Farmer’s Almanac was predicting a really, really cold winter. And when the Farmer’s Almanac makes a prediction, everyone listens.

Sure enough, winter roared in

04 FEBRUARY 13, 2014

like a lion. And it’s still here. And it’s horrible. I might as well be back in Boston with all the brown and gray around me and the dead semi-tropical plants, the belowfreezing nights, the cats that are eating us out of house and home because when it gets cold, the cats EAT. There’s frost on the grass and there are ice pellets, for crying out loud. Isn’t this Louisiana? This is just ridiculous.

Even Phil, who usually has no idea if it’s hot or cold, has been complaining. He’ll watch the weather report and assure me that tomorrow it will be in the 60s.

“But it’s dropping to 25 tomorrow night,” I point out. It’s a vicious cycle. Warms up a little and then wham! It’s back to running the water all night and wrapping the pipes and not wanting to get out of bed in the morning because the living, breathing heating pads with paws and claws and whiskers are piled on top of me, keeping me delightfully warm.

When I was a child, snow days in Boston were always spent outdoors making snowmen and having snowball fights, unless a storm was raging outside, in which case, there were all sorts of fun things to do indoors—games, drawing, and my favorite, reading. The dads usually had to go to work, so it was a whole day of kids and their

moms, since all of the moms were housewives.

Coming in out of the snow was a big ordeal when you lived on the top floor of a three-decker. My aunt Jeanette had a fit if I tracked slush and water up to the third floor and was always hiding behind her door on the middle floor to catch me dripping on her stairs.

And some kind of a lecture would invariably follow. It made me want to go back to school, and I hated school.

Once safely upstairs, Mom would have hot cocoa and cookies, and we’d sit at the kitchen table looking out at the snow falling in the backyard, and she’d worry about the birds and hope they had enough to eat. (She used to throw bread down to the birds from our back porch but Jeanette put a stop to that, too. She didn’t like birds.)

A snow day on a Friday was a special bonus—that meant an unexpected long weekend. Snowstorms during school vacations were a rip-off, because we had the time off, anyway. And since we went to Catholic school, we never had extra days tacked on at the end of the school year to make up for time lost in the winter.

So here I am, decades later in Southwest Louisiana, and everything is shut down because of bad winter weather. For me, it wasn’t

the same because there really wasn’t any snow, just those ice pellets that everyone thought was snow and wanted to be snow. It was freezing and nasty, not pretty the way the new snow looks when it blankets everything, and I didn’t get that warm, cozy feeling of being safe and secure inside while the snow swirled outside.

And of course, I didn’t feel isolated because of Facebook. I know what everyone did and especially, what they ate. The big favorite was gumbo, followed by hearty soups and chili and red beans and rice.

Lots of fires were lit and cocktails consumed and movies watched.

Me, I was up until 2 a.m. the night before getting The Jam out a day early, and I slept until past noon the next day. And just walked behind our house to the office and continued to work because I could. So no, it wasn’t the same.

Not at all.

Lauren de Albuquerque

Vol. 5 • No. 23

By Jackie Bergeron The King Cake (also known as Twelfth Cake, King’s Cake, or Three Kings Cake) is one of the most visual (and yummiest) symbols of the Mardi Gras season. King Cakes come in a variety of sizes and are flavored with some of the most delectable, and sometimes interesting, fillings. And as we bite into the sweet and savory treat, we hope to find the little plastic baby to become ruler of the party and receive good luck for the coming year.

But the original tradition of the King Cake did not pose a happy ending to the finder of the trinket.

To truly understand the significance and tradition of the King Cake, we must also understand the history of Twelfth Night as their stories are one and the same.

Twelfth Night (or Epiphany) has its roots in the pre-Christian religions of Western Eu-

Vol. 5 • No. 23

rope. Pagans of ancient Italy would celebrate the festival of Saturnalia in honor of Saturn, the god of agriculture and civilization. Saturnalia commemorated the death and rebirth of nature and in its earliest, and most barbarous form, human sacrifice was performed to protect fertility and prosperity.

A fava bean cake would be baked with a coin or a bean hidden inside.

Men from the tribe would eat a piece of cake and whoever found the trinket would be named “Sacred King” of the tribe for a year. J.G. Frazier, author of The Golden Bough, wrote that the tradition was “to choose a man who played the part and enjoyed all the traditionary privileges of Saturn for a season, and then died, whether by his own or another’s hand, whether by knife or fire or on the gallows-tree.” His blood would then be returned to the soil in the character of the good god who gave

his life for the world and to ensure a successful harvest.

After the death of Christ, Christianity extended its influence and dominated the religions before it.

Some of the local customs were adopted into Christian tradition for easier conversion from the old religion to the new. In the fourth century, St. Augustine, a highly influential preacher in the Western world, romanticized and glamorized the story of the Epiphany: Three kings, or the Magi, traveled in search of the Christ Child and took a circular route to confuse King Herod who was following the them so he could find and kill the baby. It took 12 days from the birth of the child to find him. When they arrived at the manger, the three kings showered the infant with gifts.

Christians adopted and renamed the “King Cake” in honor of the Magi and the bean or coin represented the Christ Child, which was hidden to signify the difficulty of finding the infant. The celebration was then moved from the winter solstice of December 20 to January 6, 12 days after the birth of Christ.

By the 16th century, with the implementation of the Gregorian calendar, Twelfth Night became a staple as the high families of Europe donned

their regalia and held parties to celebrate the start of the carnival season of foolery, feasting, and revelry, and to end the 12 days of Christmas. The cake would be divided and the finder of the bean or pea would become ruler of the party and would have to host the next one, usually held the following weekend. These parties would continue until Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras, when the following day of Ash Wednesday started the Lenten season of fasting and cleansing.

This tradition was carried to Louisiana by the French and Spanish during the 18th century. It has evolved into the carnival celebration that still carries on across the state today. But it wasn’t until the 1950s that bakers starting using plastic babies as the token of choice and the public began buying the cakes in large numbers.

Lake Charles celebrates this centuries-old tradition with Twelfth Night held at the Lake Charles Civic Center on January 6. As you walk in the door, you are handed a piece of cake and everyone eats the piece looking for the coveted token. And luckily, we can enjoy this special treat for the duration of the season. So grab a slice and enjoy your favorite filling or enjoy it plain! Either way, it is our tastiest custom yet. Allons Mange, Mes Amis!!

FEBRUARY 13, 2014 05

New Board of Directors for Habitat Craig Ryan has been named the president of Habitat for Humanity: Calcasieu Area Inc.’s 2014 board of directors, according to Lenn Knapp, executive director. William M. Moore, was named vice president of the board of directors. Robert Shannon and Susie Cox are the board’s co-secretaries. Other board members are Margaret Jackson, Lucille Jones, Bruce Swindle, Alvin Brass, and Donna Bailey. A new addition to the board is Marilyn Fay Guillory. For more information on Habitat for Humanity: Calcasieu Area Inc., call 497-0129.

SOWELA Receives Gift from Lake Charles Toyota

Southwest District Livestock Show & Rodeo Announces Hall of Fame Inductees

Southwest Louisiana Technical Community College (SOWELA) received a $5,000 gift from Lake Charles Toyota to help fund scholarships for the College’s automotive-related programs.

“We’re making an investment in students,” said Phillip Tarver.

“For the most part, these students are working on their own, putting themselves through school, and this gift provides an opportunity to participate in their development.” Founded in 1938, SOWELA is a member of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System.

Commemorating a history that has spanned 75 years, the Southwest District Livestock Show & Rodeo held its inaugural Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony recently. Inductees into the Southwest District Livestock Show & Rodeo Hall of Fame for 2014 include: J. C. “Jake” Barman, Joseph L. Baronet, William Thomas “W.T.” Burton, Henry George “Harry” Chalkley, Jr., Charles “C.C.” Collet, Clifton J. Derouen, Arthur L. Gayle, Sr., John E. Jackson, The Honorable Glenn Conway LeBleu, Robert J. Marcantel, Carroll H. McCall, C. H. “Buddy” Unkel and L.G. “Louie” Wittler.

Free Community Seminar on Back and Neck Pain CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital will hold a free community seminar on the latest treatment options for neck and back pain on Thursday, February 27 at L’Auberge Casino Resort. The seminar will begin at 6 p.m. in the Cypress Room. Local neurosurgeon Brian Kelley, D.O., will discuss common causes, risk factors and the latest back and neck pain treatment options. Back and neck pain are two of the most common health problems in the U.S. and a leading cause of lost time on the job.

Seating for the seminar is limited. To register, call 491-7577.

Entergy Donates to Abraham’s Tent Entergy is pleased to be able to present Abraham’s Tent with a $5,000 check in support of its food bank.

Mr. Phillip Tarver of Lake Charles Toyota and Dr. Neil Aspin wall, Chancellor of SOWELA.

Family & Youth Announces 2014 Officers of the Board of Directors Buddy Hamic, human resources director of Calcasieu Parish Sheriff ’s Office, will serve as chair of the Family & Youth Board. Ann Barilleaux, marketing consultant of CenterPoint Energy, will serve as vice chair.

Mark Hanudel, of R&H Refractory Services, will serve as secretary.

Paul Pettefer, owner and VP of Laundry World, will serve as treasurer.

The immediate past president is Leslie Harless, marketing director of First Federal Bank. Family & Youth Board of Directors also welcomes Nora Popillion, public relations of Delta Downs Casino, Emily Abshire, agent aspirant of State Farm Insurance/JLLC Rep; and Alirio Zambrano, Refining Division of CITGO Petroleum Corporation.

LAMC Hosts Lunch and Learn Feb. 26 The Senior Circle Chapter at Lake Area Medical Center is hosting “The Heart Matters” Lunch and Learn Wednesday, February 26, at the Lake Charles Country Club at noon. The speaker will be Cardiologist, Michael C. Turner, M.D. Senior Circle is open to men and women ages 50 and better. To RSVP, call (337) 475-4018 by Monday, February 24.

Brian Stewart, MD, Elected 2014 President of WCCH Medical Staff Anthony “Chip” Arnould of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Pearl Cole of Abraham’s Tent.

06 FEBRUARY 13, 2014

Brian Stewart, MD, family medicine physician, was recently elected president of West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital’s Medical Staff. As Vol. 5 • No. 23

president, Dr. Stewart will work to ensure the quality and efficiency of clinical services and performance within the hospital. Dr. Stewart practices alongside Dr. Jose’ Gonzales, family medicine physician, at the Family Practice Center of Sulphur located at 2509 Maplewood Drive in Sulphur. He is a graduate of LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans, and completed his family medicine residency at University Medical Center in Lafayette.

Dr. Brian Stewart

Memorial Health System Names VP of Business Development Jason Rashall has joined the Lake Charles Memorial Health System as Vice President of Business Development. He is responsible for implementing growth opportunities, physician recruitment and government advocacy. Rashall is a native of Lake Charles and a 1993 graduate of McNeese State University. He also achieved his MBA from LSU in 1997. Prior to joining the Dr. Jason Rashall Memorial Healthy System, Mr. Rashall served as Vice President of Physician Alignment for CHRISTUS St. Patrick Medical Group in Lake Charles. He was also the Vice President of Operations at Medical Provider Services, Inc. in Lake Charles and Regional Director of Managed Care for IASIS Healthcare Corporation’s Texas region. Mr. Rashall has worked in the medical field since 1997.

Dr. Gilbert Presents at Expert Forum Imperial Health Endocrinologist Dr. Timothy Gilbert recently pre-

Vol. 5 • No. 23

sented a series of best practices and advanced medical professional training to over 200 endocrinology healthcare providers at the 2014 Expert Forum for Insulin Pump and Continuous Glucose Monitoring Technology Conference, held in Los Angeles, CA, January 24-25. The event was sponsored by Medtronic Diabetes and Bayer Health Care. Dr. Gilbert, a Lake Charles native and graduate of McNeese State University, was one of the first physicians in the United States to utilize the new FDA Dr. Timothy Gilbert approved artificial pancreas technology. For more information, call (337) 310-3670 or log on to www.imperialhealth.com.

Center for Orthopaedics Staff Member Earns Advanced Degree Jessica Veillon, a certified athletic trainer with the Center For Orthopaedics Sports Medicine Program in Lake Charles, an affiliate of Imperial Health, recently earned a Master of Science degree in exercise science from University of Louisiana at Monroe. Veillon, a Westlake native, received an undergraduate degree in athletic training from McNeese State University. While at University of Louisiana at Monroe, Veillon served as a graduate assistant and athletic trainer for the ULM sports program. She is a certified member of the National Athletic Jessica Veillon Trainer’s Association. For more information about the Center For Orthopaedics Sports Medicine Program, log on to www.centerforortho.com.

FEBRUARY 13, 2014 07

Mending Fences My next-door neighbor and I recently engaged in a game of chicken, and I lost. We did not play chicken the traditional way, mind you, where two guys drive cars toward each other to see who flinches first. Neither of us carried enough life insurance for that sort of thing.

No, this was chicken lite—a lower stakes version in which typical late middle-aged suburban men engage. Such men don’t play this game using anything faster than lawn tractors, but even those were too much for us. We instead opted to employ a less-animate, and thus less risky object—namely, our shared privacy fence.

The fence in question was several years old, having replaced the original one that had been converted to campfire kindling courtesy of Hurricane Rita. Unfortunately, the contractor who built the new one

was less discriminate about his choice of wood than your average termite colony. So after a few years, it took on the appearance of one those wooden footbridges you see in an Indiana Jones movie, after it breaks loose and sits dangling into the chasm that it had previously spanned.

Here’s how the game worked.

We each sat in our respective lounge chairs, gazing out the window at the deteriorating fence, waiting to see which one of us would be the first to become sufficiently disgusted with its condition to finally go out and fix it.

It had the all the makings of a tough contest. We were both sufficiently lazy to have earned multiple medals if there were such a thing as a Laziness Olympics. I believed I had the edge, however, as far as my tolerance for squalor was concerned. I

possess the capacity to allow my roof to degrade to where my wife and I would have to take umbrellas to bed with us. He, on the other hand, couldn’t tolerate the sight of a chipped nose on his garden gnome.

And so I waited, certain that the morning would come when I’d look out the window to see my neighbor there with hammer and shovel in hand, pulling out the rotted posts and sinking in fresh ones. But I was to be proven wrong, due to an unexpected factor that I had not foreseen— that factor being my wife.

The game had dragged on for months in a total deadlock, the fence now in a condition where an errant gust from my leaf blower might push it over. It was the fence-chicken equivalent of a triple overtime. That’s when my wife pipes up and tells me I better fix the thing before it topples into her precious azaleas.

So, it was me instead, with the hammer and shovel and treated lumber. I labored to remove the old posts, now reduced to the size of broom handles but secured in place with enough concrete to build a highway exit ramp. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught my neighbor standing on the porch in his slippers, smiling while he sipped on a cup of coffee.

“Why didn’t your wife speak up first and make you come out here and do this?” I asked.

“Because,” he said, “The garden gnome is out front. The fence wouldn’t have come close to touching it when it fell.”

Mike McHugh has been writing for the Jambalaya News since 2009. He also contributes stories to the “Not Your Mother’s Book” anthology series and makes public speaking appearances. You can follow him on Twitter @dang_yankee.

Featured by LAPAW Rescue • Contact us at www.lapaw.org In spite of his name, Houston is a Louisiana boy to the core! A beagle/hound mix, he is very handsome, and friendly with other dogs as well as people.

He loves toys, especially a ball and a game of catch with human friends. He weighs about 45-50 pounds and is about 18 months old--full grown with lots of puppy play left in him. He is eager to please and is quite smart. Our guess is that he would be the star of any obedience class. He loves being outside but doesn’t mind sleeping in an inside 08 FEBRUARY 13, 2014

kennel at night. He needs a large fenced yard or acreage for running and play time with his family. Though not kid-tested, he has a gentle nature and we suspect would love to have some around, especially those around the age of 8 or 9. If you have room in your heart and home, please consider this sweet boy. He is hoping to spend the rest of his life with a loving family with plenty of time for playing ball with his new best friends. For more information, call or email 478-7294; lapaw@ bellsouth.net Vol. 5 • No. 23

which has given us kid-glove treatment and alleviated the worries of traffic road block stops. The cost of taxi service as opposed to the cost of legal services to deal with the consequences of over-the-limit alcohol consumption is a no-brainer. I give my personal shout-out to A1 Dependable Taxi.

Thank you for taking care of us!

Call a Cab We are in the midst of our Mardi Gras season, the time of the year many of us love to partake in various Krewe festivities, including some spectacularly fun balls.

There are very few of us who enjoy these events without consuming at least a little of the adult beverages that accompany them. I have previously mentioned the incongruence of over-consumption of alcohol and getting behind the wheel.

Although not drinking more alcohol than can be processed by your body while maintaining a legal blood alcohol content level of less than .08 is permissible, there are other solutions to keep you out of the hands of authorities and prevent you from causing a tragedy.

A designated driver readily comes to mind, but not all of us have one. It can be very inconvenient for a friend or family member to drive you to the ball and return as the midnight hour comes to bring you back home. Accordingly, we have used one of the Lake Charles cab services for years,

Vol. 5 • No. 23

E-Cigarettes Under Scrutiny E-cigarettes, vaping or whatever you want to call it is now coming under the scrutiny of those that want to exert even more control of our lives. Yes, not even the FDA or other governmental health agency has put forth any restrictions on the use of vaporized flavoring with or without any nicotine content. But “They” who cannot stand anyone doing anything that has not been controlled will try and constrain any specifically unauthorized activity.

Is there no end to the diminishing of our everyday rights to just be human? I do not nor have I ever “vaped,” but as a former longtime cigarette user, I can readily understand the desire to get away from smoking while satisfying the addictive craving of nicotine. It is not rocket science to know that water vapor is far, far less harmless than burnt tobacco to ingest.

Some of these products do not even have the nicotine component in them and are just flavored liquid. Suddenly, there is this worry that youngsters will now consume

water vapor, a truly dangerous thing to do--not! If there are no bigger concerns than water vapor, then we have lost it as a society.

In regard to smoking and the reaction of some people, I am reminded of the occasion when an old friend of mine was holding a cigar at a restaurant where a group of us were together for dinner. The maitre-d’ came to the table remarking that the dinners at a nearby table objected to the smoke from the cigar. My friend displayed his never lit cigar and inquired as to the ability of the complainers to perceive its smoke. The embarrassed table quickly left with red faces.

Supermarket Roundup With all the cold weather we have been having, the mind quickly goes to warm, comforting food— such as a hot, steaming bowl of gumbo. For this issue, we will price some popular gumbo ingredients.

We will need some rice to serve it over, flour for the roux, chicken, sausage and some Tabasco. The prices were gathered on Wednesday, February 5 and reflect the posted price on the shelf where the

product was placed for sale. The stores we checked were: Albertsons-Country Club Road, Market Basket-Nelson, Kroger-McNeese Street and Walmart-Nelson Road.

Rice, long grain, 16-ounce package, store brand: Albertsons $.99, Market Basket (no 16-ounce, 32-ounce $1), Kroger $.88, Walmart $.88.

Gold Medal AP Flour, 32-ounce package: Albertsons $2.19, Market Basket $1.79, Kroger $1.79, Walmart $1.58.

Whole chicken, per pound: Albertsons $.88, Market Basket $1.09 ($7.79 with additional $10 purchase), Kroger $.98, Walmart $.99.

Richard’s Smoked Sausage, 16-ounce package: Albertsons $6.49, Market Basket $4.99, Kroger $5.99, Walmart $5.98.

Tabasco Pepper Sauce, 2-ounce bottle: Albertsons $1.79, Market Basket $1.55, Kroger $1.69, Walmart $1.34.

FEBRUARY 13, 2014 09

Hunting Deer From Horseback No, I have not been raiding cow patties for hallucinogenic mushrooms. I have never done acid. And I have not been drinking. This all took place in the ‘90s at my friend Bob Phipps’s Bolan Hall Plantation across the Broad River from Hilton Head, South Carolina. In a previous column, “Roughing It” was about angling his fish farms while strolling down the levee and catching bass

10 FEBRUARY 13, 2014

on one side and redfish on the other. In “Trophy Buck,” also set there, I proved that I am not an adept deer hunter. Now we’re going to be “Hunting Deer From Horseback.”

Over after-dinner coffee following a quail hunt, Bobby and I were animatedly reliving a fine hunt. They’re always good if you mix pen-raised with wild birds, have feeders out, over a dozen

coveys on the property, and two great Pointers and a pointing Labrador. It was then Bobby shared his brainstorm.

“I had a smashing idea, Roger,” Bob said in his English boarding school accent mixed into South Carolina drawl. It is a lyrical language of its own. “I decided to hunt deer from horseback tomorrow. The weather is perfect for it.

It’s warming up from the freeze, sun’s out and the weather is just so for the deer to bed out on the knolls.”

“Huh?” I replied with my usual rapier wit.

“Oh, yes. Called a couple of friends to join us. It’ll be such fun!” Bob ended with a delighted clap of his hands, a jolly Winston Churchill minus the cigar.

“Just how does this hunting deer on horseback work?” I queried. My only experience with that had been on the family farm in Ardoin Cove, south of Lacassine. The minute I swung off the horse the deer, some hundreds of yards away, fled. This explanation I had to hear and Bob delighted in educating me.

I learned it works like this.

First, you have to have 11,500 acres of old plantation whose sole purpose is wild game hunting.

Next you have to have trained horses, a barn, and tack for five horses. The equines are trained to walk along, stop when the reins are dropped and not react to either shotguns going off in their ears or deer jumping, for that matter.

The shotguns are also part

of the plan. They are 12-gauge Model ‘97 Winchesters, the precursor to the beloved Winchester Model 12 pump shotguns. Model ’97’s have a trigger that must be pulled back in order to shoot that first shot and one rides with it uncocked. This is for safety’s sake.

If a horse stumbles or trips, the unsuspecting rider may tumble and his shotgun smack to the ground but it won’t fire. Riding with a cocked Model ‘97 is instant banishment back to the barn and NO future invitations.

The riders are some 30 yards apart in threes with Bobby and Jeff, the game manager, trailing behind. You are shooting double ought buckshot as deer slugs could do real damage to you, even at that range, as well as to a very expensive horse. Riders also must wear shooting glasses in case of an errant BB. The deer normally flush and run away left or right of the horses but occasionally, go straight away. Riders can only shoot at the deer once it passes the horse. In case of a straight away flush, the center hunter has that one, simple lane of fire. Got all that? Sure you do.

After breakfast, we headed to the barn, saddled and bridled the horses, met the guests and rode out to the open rice fields that haven’t been planted since the Great Depression. Much of the brush and trees have been keep cleared so it resembles any old rice field in Louisiana left fallow. There were islands of brush and trees that had been allowed on the knolls for the Vol. 5 • No. 23

deer to bed down in and the quail to covey up.

We rode about 90 feet apart, ablaze in orange vests and hats, ambermatic shooting glassed and tense in anticipation under azure skies. We resembled gaudy cavalry scouts of old, our weapons’ stocks on our hips, barrels pointed up. The only sounds were horse hooves crushing grass, the occasional whir of wings, creaks from saddles and the barge horns from the river that seemed ever so far away.

About 45 minutes into the hunt the first doe jumped to my right front, straight up out of the open rice field. With a leap, hop and a jump or two, the doe was a hundred yards away; its raised tail white flagging it away. No one reacted in time and I thought, “Damn, where the hell did she come from.”

I turned and glanced back at Bob and Jeff. They both had Cheshire grins that shushed me as talking, much less cursing loudly, is forbidden while stalking deer.

Later, two deer broke from a brushed and three-pine treed knoll too far away for a shot. We rode on for about an hour. Suddenly, a four-point buck sprang from the grass and with a marvelous snap shot by the female rider to my left, it toppled. Voices broke the silence that had become the norm and seemed outrageously loud as compliments and quips filled the cool air. Jeff dismounted, lariat in hand and tied off the deer’s hooves for transport and remounted. Then the other horses seemingly caught our mood and pranced their way back to the barn, Jeff trailing far behind us with our deer.

That was it for the day. Every one else seemed to be having, as Bobby would say, “such fun.” As for me, I was absolutely spent.

The entire morning had been exhilarating, enchanting, exhausting and an unforgettable experience. On a later trip, I learned to exhilarate in, revel in, and become part of the silent stalking epiphany. I even took down an eight-point buck, but not before several truly laughable misses. I say, hunting deer from horseback is “a smashing good time!”

Vol. 5 • No. 23

spicy. The name is given to most seafood dishes that have a spicy red sauce and contain seafood. Fra Diavolo was also the name of an Italian guerrilla leader who, along with his “Bands of the Holy Faith,” fought against the French in the early 1800s.

This dish is fairly simple because you are using leftover marinara sauce.

What’s that, you say?

You don’t have any leftover homemade marinara sauce? Not to worry. Feel free to use your favorite jar sauce. I promise not to tell.

This is a good dish to have in your “wheelhouse” because it can be served with crusty bread as an appetizer or with pasta as a main dish. Throw in a nice green salad and you’ve hit a home run.

Shrimp Fra Diavolo Hello everybody!

The other day, I was confronted with a small problem. I had some beautiful 21-25 shrimp and wasn’t sure what I was going to do with them. So, I took a look in the fridge and noticed some leftover marinara sauce and said to myself, “Shrimp Fra Diavolo.” Actually, what I said was more along the lines of, “Come on David….. think!” And Shrimp Fra Diavolo was what I thought of first.

Fra Diavolo means “brother devil” so as you may have guessed, this dish can be a bit

a large skillet until hot and add the shrimp. Bounce them around until they’re nearly cooked, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate.

Add the rest of the olive oil to the skillet along with the bacon, onion and garlic. Toss that around over high heat for about 3-4 minutes, until nice and browned. Add the shrimp and any juices on the plate. That’s flavor, Baby. Add the marinara sauce and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.

Transfer to bowls if you’ll be serving as an appetizer with bread or over pasta as an entrée. Garnish with the fresh parsley and parmesan cheese.

And there you have it. A quick and easy way to use up some leftover shrimp and marinara sauce that is sure to be a hit!

See ya’ll next time and don’t forget to “Stir Dat Pot!”

What You’ll Need 1 ½ pounds of peeled and deveined shrimp ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper (a bit more if you like it spicy) Salt and fresh ground black pepper 1 onion, diced 6 strips of thick bacon diced (if you have pancetta, great) 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 cups marinara sauce 1 tablespoon flat leaf parsley ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese What You’ll Do In a glass bowl, toss the shrimp with half the olive oil and crushed red pepper, season with salt and pepper and let stand for at least 15 minutes. Heat FEBRUARY 13, 2014 11

Time Passing and Well Spent I guess this is the flip.

Many of you have been kind enough to wonder what ever happened to me and have called The Jam office to say so. My great friends Lauren and Phil de Albuquerque convinced me to try this again. So here goes.

I have noticed many things about being chronically ill, but maintained very well, thank you, on treatment every day. For you newbies out there, I have kidney failure and I do dialysis daily,

12 FEBRUARY 13, 2014

or almost daily. And until this all got started I absolutely hated needles. Passed out once giving a blood test. Now I stick myself every day. Twice. Go figure. Really, today it is a comforting sensation, giving me control of my life to a degree I wouldn’t have thought possible three years ago.

In many ways my problems have taken the worry out of living and left only the good things. And with 1,075 days on the waiting list a transplant is increasingly

possible. Hope is alive.

Lots of scenes have come and gone since last I wrote you. We have all passed a lot of water since then, as Samuel Goldwyn reportedly said. But considering everything, I’m not too shabby and certainly nowhere near the end.

So save your condolences for the truly ill, like my friend Amanda Sisco in Tennessee.

Amanda was about seven or eight years behind me at Central High School in Bolivar and looked like the rest of the Sisco girls, blond hair, rosy cheeks flush with life, tall, striking figure. And that was when she was twelve. Last time I saw her was at the CHS Band Reunion (yes, I was a band nerd and remain so) many months ago. She posted on Facebook last week that she has cancer, inoperable and incurable. She questioned whether the advanced chemotherapy needed to give her a few more months is worth it.

For me, Amanda, although I can understand and sympathize with the need to let go and go gently, I’m not through with this life yet. I have a lot of living to do, and by God I’m going to do it. I hope you find peace in whatever decision you make.

I’ve had a lot of great experiences and want more. With this bit of writing I do from time to time and my persona in the courtroom I cut a pretty wide swath through our little city.

My latest project has been buying and restoring a conspicuously green 1995 Lincoln with its handicap tag. I feel 20 years younger when I drive it. All that makes me about as anonymous as a fart in a Smart car.

When I have something in court, I invariably run into old friends who have heard about my problem but haven’t seen me lately. They give me a now-familiar greeting: “Damn, Jim, you look great!” which is Greek (or maybe Latin) for: “Damn, Jim, I thought you were dead!” I take it as the compliment they mean and laugh along with them.

There are many people who make it possible for me to continue my law practice. If I didn’t have that, my life would be hollow and empty. First on the list is

Hunter Lundy, who is probably the best man I know aside from my brother. Then my three sons Sean Broussard, Stratton, and Harry. All the judges I run across are next, and the lawyers I fight another.

Like Patton said of war, “God help me, I do love it so!”

Terry Thibodeaux and his wife Tina, among my longest friendships in life, invited me to go to their Mardi Gras ball last weekend. To make sure I didn’t crap out at the last minute, I invited a very special young lady to go with me, and although my dancing days are pretty much over, the smile on my face never faded watching Phil D. use his Clown School skills playing a Hobbit. Clark and Robbie Gunderson were at the next table.

I swear, neither one of them has aged in the 30 years I’ve known them. Pretty girls were everywhere and the inescapable palpations of an oldies band interspersed with rap from the DJ made me very glad to be there.

You see time pass, not in yourself, but in those around you. My oldest grandson David is 15. The twins, who will always be my little girls, are wearing bras, for God’s sake! And I looked for Terry as a guy with dark brown hair, a beard to match, and a penguin suit. His hair is now white; ditto for the beard; and as the immediate past King of the Krewe he wore a white tux, white socks and white shoes.

The effect was startling.

So, in the end, this is about lessons. Life. Time passing and wellspent. Friends. Family. A profession I love. The ability to share my thoughts with all of you.

I know you’re not all believers and I respect that. But as I often tell my friends, you have to accept the fact there is a golden string, which connects us all. That string, that Spirit, is God for me. Maybe a higher power for you.

Whether pearly gates or sudden darkness await us we all owe it to each other to be present in this life and be thankful for each day we’re watching the grass grow out from above and not up from below.

Thanks to all of you for waiting.

I’ll have less somber thoughts next time, I promise.

See you on the flip.

Vol. 5 • No. 23

It’s All About LOVE...

February gets many of us thinking of love, the loves we have, the loves we’ve lost, the loves that never came to be.

Love is what speaks to me. Love and memories are what I feel and see from your loved ones that have passed on. Love is the most important lesson in our lives.

Why oh why is it so difficult for all of us to love ourselves and one another? We run from it instead, push it away, act as though it doesn’t even exist. Who are we trying to fool?

If you have a great love in your life -- regardless of its form -- celebrate. Your love might be a spouse, friend, an animal, a mission – all of the above, or something else entirely! Love matters, and having a relationship or an endeavor to pour your love into is a great gift. Celebrate, and nourish it.

But first, nourish yourself.

Otherwise, it’s just a matter of time before you’ll be running on empty, if you aren’t already.

Listening Never start doubting the existence of God. Doubt kills the inner voice, because doubt has such a loud voice of its own. All you hear are your own doubts, and they will so often drown out the inner voice that is always talking to you in the background. Not always of course, and never forever, because your inner voice will always find another way for itself to be heard by you, and to get its real message through to you in some way or another.

When you fight against listening to your inner soul, you give power to the outer voice. Then, you begin to stop hearing your Vol. 5 • No. 23

inner truth flows out over all of you, but when you don’t listen, its message does get louder and louder.

Start to take notice of your inner voice, listen to it more and more, and then start to follow it. Just make sure that it is also connected with the Holy Spirit, which purifies each message for you, making sure it is being blessed with the love of God. If we take the time to feel the love in our own hearts before we offer it to others, then we realize

how full our hearts already are.

We are happy to be ourselves, and we can accept, enjoy, and cherish the love the comes back.

“The fruit of the Spirit is love.”

Why? Because nothing but love can expel and conquer our selfishness. Love conquers selfishness....

We must all learn to release our past traumas and let in the love that’s here for us now. Don’t waste the precious time that God has given you to love.

From my heart to yours, Nicole

inner voice.

Fighting strengthens fear, because all fighting is fear-based.

Love never fights, it just listens.

It tries to become one with you.

Love can’t fight alone.

I’m learning all about fear versus love in the relationships in my own personal life. It’s definitely not an easy lesson.

Another method of becoming more aware of inner messages is to just try to see messages in your daily life. A car pulls in front of you suddenly, or you are late for work because of a train, for example. These happenings are talking to you, because they are all connected. Everything is connected to everything else. Everything happens for a reason. Everything is trying to show and teach you something. Everything is an opportunity for growth.

There is a lesson about love in every life experience that you will ever go through. Look for this love, and when you find it, there is a message linked to it, which is coming to you.

A way of learning to hear your inner voice is to embrace the love in your heart. The love in your heart feels the truth in that voice.

You will know that it’s not coming to you from your ego, or that your mind is making it up, but that it is real. You will know this because your heart is the seat of God in you. It is the power house of God’s love that powers you, and which is positioned there.

Your soul connects to love, and to God’s oneness, and it hears the voice of God, just as much as it connects to His love.

Truth tends to be whispered in feelings. Most of the time we are too busy to hear the truth. The FEBRUARY 13, 2014 13

When a compromised artery in the heart causes a major heart attack, each second matters. As time passes, the muscles of the heart weaken and the ability for it to continue beating diminishes. The time it takes to get from the point of heart attack to a hospital bed can mean the difference between a treatable event and an irreversible condition.

For patients in rural areas, that time has the potential to stretch too far. CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital is working to narrow the gap for those patients to increase their chances for effective treatment.

“Southwest Louisiana has several rural areas, which means there is a large contingent of people who could benefit from consolidated cardiology services designed specifically to connect rural cardiac patients with skilled and staffed cardiac cath labs,” said interventional cardiologist Thomas Mulhearn, MD, who noted the need for improved immediate care for rural patients.

According to Dr. Mulhearn, only a handful of hospitals operate 24-hour cath labs.

Getting rural patients to those labs is the primary goal of Southwest Louisiana’s newly launched STEMI Network – named after the most serious type of heart attack: a ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction. When patients suffer this life-threatening event, immediate treatment is necessary and typically involves a balloon

14 FEBRUARY 13, 2014

angioplasty or stent.

Director of Cardiovascular Services Tim Bean says smaller hospitals have agreed to partner with the STEMI Network.

The STEMI Network allows for a proactive approach to treatment by connecting everyone from the EMS providers to referring physicians.

“When a person has a heart attack, the emergency response team responds with an electrocardiogram to determine the type of attack. If it’s a major cardiac event, a call is immediately placed to the STEMI Network line, which goes directly to a cardiologist on call,” Dr. Mulhearn said. “After that call is placed, the cath lab team is activated. When the patient gets to the Regional Heart Center, the cardiologist already has the information on-hand, and a room prepared. This cuts precious minutes from the traditional intervention process—and when it comes to an occluded artery in the heart, minutes make the difference.”

In cases where transfer time is longer than 60 minutes, the patient will be taken to the closest emergency room first and given clot-busting drugs that will allow for further transport to the nearest cath lab.

“When healthcare teams work together for the betterment of patients, quality of care—and quality of life—are the inevitable result,” Bean said.

For more information, call the CHRISTUS St. Patrick Regional Heart Center at (337) 436-2511.

Vol. 5 • No. 23

The Flu Is Especially Serious For Those With Heart Disease The 2014 flu season is quite active, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Thirty-eight states report widespread activity, including Louisiana. It is expected to continue to be prevalent through March.

The flu can cause additional strain on the heart, a particular concern for people living with heart disease. Death from the flu is more common among people with heart disease than among people with any other chronic condition. The risk of dying from a heart attack increases by as much as a third during flu outbreaks, according to research by the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

“Because people get the flu every year, we tend to think of it as a bad cold, but it can be a potentially life-threatening condition for people who aren’t

Vol. 5 • No. 23

in optimum health,” said John Winterton, MD, FACC, cardiologist with the Heart & Vascular Center and medical staff member of West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital.

The flu can strike suddenly. Its symptoms usually include fever, chills, cough, runny or stuff y nose, body aches, sore throat, headaches, and fatigue.

Dr. Winterton explained that the flu virus can put the heart at risk because of inflammation. As the body’s immune system fights off the inflammation, it increases blood flow to the affected area, delivering specialized cells to combat the threat. The blood vessels expand and contract to accommodate the increase in activity. This can cause previous stable plaque in artery walls to rupture, resulting in a blood clot and heart attack.

If you have heart disease,

you’re at increased risk of complications from the flu, including pneumonia, dehydration, and respiratory failure.

“This shouldn’t cause panic among those with heart disease, if they should catch the flu, but it hopefully explains the seriousness of having the flu if you also have heart disease,” said Dr. Winterton. “The best thing you can do is to try to avoid getting the flu in the first place. Focus on prevention.”

Flu shots are usually available beginning in November, but if you haven’t gotten one yet, Dr. Winterton said it’s not too late. “Get it now, to protect yourself from flu activity that will likely continue through the spring,” he advised.

It is recommended by many health organizations, including the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology, that people with heart disease

get a flu shot every year.

Once the flu shot is given, it usually takes a week or two for the immunity boost to kick in; while you’re not completely immune to the flu, you’re much less likely to get it. If you do get the flu, it is usually a mild case of it.

In addition to the flu shot, staying away from people who have the flu will lessen your exposure. “It’ seems obvious but this point bears repeating: avoid people who are sick and if you are sick, stay home,” said Dr. Winterton.

Washing your hands frequently is a good practice, as well as keeping your hands away from your face.

Because the flu can be serious and even deadly for those with heart disease, talk with your doctor about your concerns and about getting a flu shot. It does a body, and your heart, good.

FEBRUARY 13, 2014 15

When it comes to your heart, what you eat matters. Follow these tips for heart-healthy eating: 1. Eat less saturated and trans fat. Stay away from fatty meats, fried foods, cakes, and cookies.

2. Cut down on sodium. Look for the low-sodium or “no salt added” types of canned soups, vegetables, snack foods, and lunch meats.

3. Get more fiber. Fiber is found in vegetables, fruits and whole grains.

Take this list with you the next time you go food shopping: Vegetables & Fruits Eat a variety of vegetables and fruits.

• Fresh vegetables such as tomatoes, cabbage, broccoli, and spinach • Leafy greens for salads • Canned vegetables low in sodium • Frozen vegetables without added butter or sauces • Fresh fruits such as apples, oranges, bananas, pears, and peaches • Canned fruit in 100% juice, not syrup • Frozen or dried fruit (unsweetened) Milk & Milk Products Look for fat-free or low-fat milk products. Or choose soy products with added calcium.

• Fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk • Fat-free or low-fat yogurt • Cheese (3 grams of fat or less per serving)

16 FEBRUARY 13, 2014

• Soy-based drinks with added calcium (soymilk) Breads, Cereals & Grains For products with more than one ingredient, make sure whole wheat or another whole grain is listed first.

• 100% whole-wheat bread • Whole-grain breakfast cereals like oatmeal • Whole grains such as brown or wild rice, barley, and bulgur • Whole-wheat or whole-grain pasta Meat, Beans, Eggs & Nuts Choose lean cuts of meat and other foods with protein.

• Seafood, including fish and shellfish • Chicken and turkey breast without skin • Pork: leg, shoulder, tenderloin • Beef: round, sirloin, tenderloin, extra lean ground beef • Beans, lentils, and peas • Eggs and egg substitutes • Nuts and seeds Fats & Oils Cut back on saturated fat and look for products with no trans fats.

• Margarine and spreads (soft, tub, or liquid) with no trans fats • Vegetable oil (canola, olive, peanut, or sesame) • Non-stick cooking spray • Light or fat-free salad dressing and mayonnaise

Vol. 5 • No. 23

American Heart Association Announces Leadership for SWLA Heart Ball The American Heart Association recently announced that Janie Doucet Fruge’ will chair the 2014 Southwest Louisiana Heart Ball. Fruge’ assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer of West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital in July 2013. Prior to serving in her most recent role as Chief Operating Officer, Fruge’ served as Chief Nursing Officer/Vice President of Patient Care at the organization. She holds a Bachelor of Science in nursing from McNeese State University and Masters of Science in business administra-

tion and nursing from the University of Phoenix.

In addition to serving the hospital in her current capacity,

Fruge’ also serves on the Board of Directors for the Calcasieu Medical Society Foundation, as well as the Chamber SWLA Alliance. She is also a member of

the American Heart Association’s Circle of Red. She has been with WCCH for 19 years.

“I’m honored to be named chair of the 2014 Southwest Louisiana Heart Ball. The funds raised at the ball are critical to fighting our nation’s number one killer – heart disease. By holding fundraising events like this, the American Heart Association is keeping its mission on the forefront – to fight cardiovascular diseases and stroke,” said Fruge.

Cardiovascular disease is the

No. 1 killer of both men and women in the United States. The Heart Ball is a national effort by the American Heart Association to help fight heart disease and stroke by raising money to support lifesaving research, programs and education.

The 2014 Southwest Louisiana Heart Ball will be held Saturday, May 31, 2014 at L’Auberge Casino Resort. The Heart Ball’s goal is to raise $130,000. For more information, please contact Matthew Welsh at 337-2498935 or matthew.welsh@heart. org or visit http://swlaheartball. ahaevents.org.

Get a Super Smile!

One of the first things a person notices about someone is their smile, and proper care of your smile starts from a young age! February is National Children’s Dental Health Month and the American Dental Association has guidelines that will help keep your children’s teeth healthy for many years.

It is generally recommended that your child have their first visit with the dentist around one year of age, or within six months after the first tooth comes in.

This visit is usually brief with little treatment. This gives the child an opportunity to meet the dentist and see the office in a non-threatening way. After the initial visit, it’s recommended that children visit the dentist every six months to maintain proper dental health and treat any problems that develop.

When children are young, most parents help with the twice daily cleaning of their teeth. As children become more independent, it is important that they learn how to brush and floss properly. There are a vast number of toothbrushes and toothpastes geared toward children on the market today.

Many of the brushes have lights, music, or timers to help children Vol. 5 • No. 23

brush for the recommended two minutes twice a day. Be sure the toothpaste contains fluoride, an important mineral that protects teeth from acid damage.

Here are some additional tips to keep your child’s mouth healthy: • Avoid anything sugary that sits in the mouth against the child’s teeth.

• During infancy place only formula, milk or breast milk in bottles. Avoid filling the bottle with liquids such as sugar water, juice or soft drinks.

• Infants should finish their bedtime and naptime bottles before going to bed.

• If your child uses a pacifier, provide one that is clean – don’t dip it in sugar or honey, or put it in your mouth before giving it to the child.

• Encourage children to drink from a cup by their first birthday and discourage frequent or prolonged use of sippy cups.

• Serve nutritious snacks and limit sweets to mealtime.

Following these tips and regular dental cleanings will put your child on the path to good dental health for a lifetime! When it’s time for your child’s next cleaning contact Oak Park Dental at (337) 478-3232 or online at oak-

parkdental.com; or contact Acadian Dental at (337) 310-1800 or online at smilesbyacadian.com.

On Friday, February 14, area residents are encouraged to visit Oak Park Dental’s 13th Annual FREE Valentine’s Day Clinic! Doors open at 8 a.m.,

and patients will be seen on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Everyone is welcome, especially unemployed and uninsured. This event is sponsored by American Press, Dairy Barn, K-JON, KPLC, KYKZ, Southern Records and Stine.

FEBRUARY 13, 2014 17

Hot flashes, cold sweats, mood swings and fatigue are just a few symptoms of menopause. Though uncomfortable, these symptoms pose no real threat to your health. However, a potentially serious symptom that usually accompanies hot flashes is heart palpitations.

If you are aware of your heart beating, doctors say take notice, you are probably having heart palpitations. Also known as an irregular heartbeat or cardiac arrhythmia, heart palpitations can hit anyone at anytime and usually go hand in hand with menopause.

“You should definitely see your primary care physician, sometimes even be evaluated by a cardiologist for heart monitoring and testing,” says Dr. Gisele McKinney, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital for Women. “Incidents of heart attack and stroke in women have

18 FEBRUARY 13, 2014

increased dramatically over the last 20 years.”

Heart palpitations come with the sensation of your heart skipping a beat or beating too many times within a specific time period. They usually occur sporadically over a period of two to three months. In some cases, women have been known to experience heart rates of up to 200 beats per minute when experiencing heart palpitations.

Heart palpitations during menopause are generally caused by fluctuating hormones. Constantly changing levels of estrogen and progesterone can wreak havoc on your body, causing your heart to pound aggressively or your body to sweat profusely.

Dr. McKinney experienced her own arrhythmia with her heart beating over a normal rate during a recent pregnancy. She wore a heart monitor and took medication to get her heart rate down to a safe level. It is a condition she did not have when she was younger and one she attributes to age and genetics.

If you look all the way back to the 1960s, Dr. McKinney says incidents of heart attack and stroke in women have jumped up by 40 percent.

Today, more women have jobs, sometimes two, which can increase stress. The United States also has the highest obesity rate of any country in the industrialized world.

“The most common cause of heart palpitations is ingesting too many stimulants,” says Dr. Fernando Ruiz, an Interventional and Nuclear Cardiologist at the Heart & Vascular Center.

“Alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, decongestants, and diet pills all contain chemicals that stimulate the heart. Too many of these stimulants can cause your heart to beat out of control.”

Other causes of heart palpitations, such as anemia, hypoglycemia, and certain thyroid conditions could be more serious and require medical attention.

On occasion, heart palpitations can be an indicator of heart disease or valve disorders.

Although many people think of heart disease as a man’s problem, women can and do get heart disease.

In fact, heart disease is the number one killer of women in the U.S. It is also a leading cause of disability among women.

“The most common cause of heart disease is narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries,” Dr. Ruiz says. “This happens slowly over time and is the major reason people have heart

attacks. Prevention is important: two-thirds of women who have a heart attack fail to make a full recovery.”

Symptoms of heart palpitations, especially in women, can appear like heartburn but could be a sign of a much more serious condition such as a heart attack. Unlike men, women usually do not experience a more typical presentation such as tightening or pain in the arm.

While those symptoms can and do happen, women tend to have more atypical symptoms and people have a tendency of ignoring them. Dr. McKinney says you cannot determine what is benign and what is not, stressing any cardiac related symptoms should be taken seriously.

Women between the ages of 35 and 55 could be experiencing symptoms of pre-menopause, which is the stage just before menopause. The majority of pre-menopausal women experience some sort of menopausal symptoms, ranging from the mild to the intense. This stage can last up to seven years.

Dr. McKinney strongly recommends women in this phase of life adopt a healthier lifestyle if they haven’t already done so.

“Exercise and diet play a big part in how your symptoms can take over your life or make it better,” Dr. McKinney says. “If you are more sedentary your symptoms tend to be worse and less able to be tolerated than if you are more active.”

Vol. 5 • No. 23

Vol. 5 • No. 23

FEBRUARY 13, 2014 19

While most wedding traditions involve the bride walking down the aisle on her father’s arm, wearing a white dress and carrying a bouquet of flowers, there are a variety of traditions in other cultures that are both colorful and unique. And the history behind them is just as interesting.

The Rings The engagement ring is said to date back to medieval times, symbolizing the intention of a couple to marry. Diamonds have been customarily used for centuries. According to the ancient Greeks, the diamond’s fire reflected the love a man had for a woman. They also believed that the diamonds were small pieces that fell from the stars.

Ancient Egyptians were believed to be the first culture to wear gold wedding rings, with the unbroken circle of the ring symbolizing eternity.

The ring is placed in the ring finger of the left hand. According to Roman tradition, the left

20 FEBRUARY 13, 2014

hand is generally used less often than the right, and the third finger is the only one that cannot be moved in isolation from the other fingers, thereby giving extra protection to the ring.

In the United States, wedding rings were originally worn only by wives, but by the 20th century, it became customary for husbands to wear them as well, due to a push by jewelers who wanted to increase their sales.

The Shower Once engaged, a bridal shower takes place before a couple’s wedding, with the intention of “showering” them with gifts. The shower is the modern day replacement of the bridal dowry given by the bride’s family in bygone days (although some countries still expect a dowry from the bride).

Legend has it that the first shower took place in Holland when a young maiden fell in love with a poor miller. Her father forbade the marriage, but friends “showered” the bride with gifts so she could marry without a dowry. In the past, the bride’s female friends only attended the bridal shower,

but today, a couple’s shower, attended by both the engaged couple and their friends and family, is also common.

Traditionally, the shower is organized by the bride’s maid of honor and her attendants.

In the past, it was always a breach of etiquette to have the bride’s family throw the shower, because the main point of a shower is to give gifts to the bride and it could seem as if her family were asking for gifts.

Today, while it’s still a faux pas for an engaged couple to throw their own shower, pretty much anyone else can host one.

Family members frequently step in, especially when common sense dictates such a solution. Sometimes several of the bride’s friends or relatives may host the shower together—sharing the expenses and the organizing. Let individual circumstances be your guide when determining who should serve as host.

Bachelor/ Bachelorette Party The bachelor and bachelorette party are two of the most anticipated events before the wedding. The bachelor or “stag” party is held for

the groom shortly before he enters marriage to celebrate his “last night of freedom.” A bachelorette party is held for the bride-to-be. The term hen party or hen night is more common in England, Ireland, and Australia, while the term bachelorette party is more common here in the United States. The task of organizing a bachelor or bachelorette party is often traditionally assigned to a sibling, the best man or the maid of honor. Despite its reputation, a bachelor or bachelorette party is simply a party given in honor of the groom and bride-to-be in the style that is common to that social circle. And whatever happens at the party, stays at the party!

The Wedding Gown Before the last century, brides wore their best dress and the color chosen was thought to influence their life.

Traditionally, the blue wedding dress denoted purity, not white. It wasn’t until Queen Victoria wed Prince Albert in 1840 that white came to symbolize the purity of a bride.

Today, traditional white, ivory or pale peach are still the most usual choices.

Brides from other countries wear a specific color customary to their nation. A blue wedding dress is a traditional color to don if you are in Russia. Ancient Hebrew brides also incorporated blue into their wedding gowns as trim color, usually on a white wedding gown.

Brides in Northern China wear a red one-piece frock called a qi pao, embroidered with elaborate gold and silver designs. The color red is considered good luck--a strong Vol. 5 • No. 23

color that can keep away evil spirits in China.

In Japan, a bride will dress in a traditional white Japanese wedding kimono called a shiro-maku. The color signifies serenity and patience. Korean bridal outfits consist of an elaborately embroidered and layered gown with a red skirt and yellow jacket symbolizing joy and life.

In India, the traditional dress worn by the bride is a sari, often red to ward off evil spirits. In recent years, Spanish brides have increasingly opted to wear white silk dresses. But, a truly traditional Spanish bride’s wedding gown is quite different. Black is the preferred color in Spain. It’s meant to symbolize the bride’s character that is just about to be uncovered by the groom.

Customs and Superstitions Throughout history, customs and superstitions were thought to bring good and bad luck, happiness, success, good health and even large families to a

Vol. 5 • No. 23

bride and groom. The saying “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a silver sixpence in your shoe” comes from the Victorian era.

“Something old “signifies the bride’s link with her past life, so she wears something old or a used object on her wedding day. “Something new” represents the future. “Something borrowed” should be something from a happily married friend or relative. “Something blue” symbolizes purity and love, and the “silver sixpence” ensures future wealth.

For good luck, Hawaiian brides wear seven strands of pikaki flowers. In Belgium, it is tradition for the bride to carry an embroidered handkerchief with her name on it. It is then framed and hung in the family home until the next family bride adds her name and carries it down the aisle. Many Greek brides believe a lump of sugar in their wedding glove will bring sweetness in their married life.

FEBRUARY 13, 2014 21

22 FEBRUARY 13, 2014

Vol. 5 • No. 23

Greeting Cards • Approximately 145 million Valentines are sent in the U.S. each year, according to estimates by the U.S. Greeting Card Association.

• Women purchase approximately 85 percent of all Valentines.

• Over 50 percent of all Valentine’s Day cards are purchased in the six days prior to the holiday.

• Teachers will receive the most cards, followed by children, mothers, wives, sweethearts and pets.

Flowers • 73 percent of people who buy flowers for Valentine’s Day are men, while only 27 percent are women.

• 15 percent of women in

Vol. 5 • No. 23

the US send themselves flowers on Valentine’s Day.

Roses • The red rose was the favorite flower of Venus, the Roman goddess of love.

• Red roses are considered the flower of love because the color red stands for strong romantic feelings.

• 189 million stems of roses are sold in the U.S. on Valentine’s Day. • California produces 60 percent of American roses, but the greater number sold on Valentine’s Day in the U.S. are imported, mostly from South America.

• Approximately 110 million roses, mostly red, will be sold and delivered

within the three-day Valentine’s Day time period.

Miscellaneous Facts • In addition to the U.S., Valentine’s Day is celebrated in Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, France, Australia, Denmark and Italy.

• The most fantastic gift of love is the Taj Mahal in India, built by Mughal Emperor Shahjahan as a memorial to his wife.

• In the 1800s, doctors commonly advised their heartbroken patients to eat chocolate, claiming it would sooth their pain. To this day, many women find comfort in a box of chocolates when dealing with heartbreak.

• A love knot is a symbol of undying love, as its twisting loops have no beginning and no end. In the past, they were made of ribbon or drawn on paper to prove one’s eternal love.

• Every Valentine’s Day, the Italian city of Verona, where Shakespeare’s lovers Romeo and Juliet lived, receives about 1,000 letters addressed to Juliet.

• About 3 percent of pet owners will give Valentine’s Day gifts to their pets.

• Approximately 220,000 women are proposed to on Valentine’s Day each year.

• In the U.S., 64 percent of men do not make plans in advance for a romantic Valentine’s Day with their sweethearts.

FEBRUARY 13, 2014 23

24 FEBRUARY 13, 2014

Vol. 5 • No. 23

The maid of honor has some specific wedding-day duties that go beyond smiling and keeping the bride happy. They could include: • Helping the bride dress and dealing with her hair, jewelry and any weddingday jitters.

• Checking last-minute details, such as instructions for the photographer, cake delivery, etc.

• Acting as a messenger between the bride and groom (and various family members).

• Handling any dress and veil issues.

• Holding the bride’s bouquet for the duration of the wedding ceremony.

• Witnessing the marriage

Vol. 5 • No. 23

license signing.

• Being part of the receiving line at the reception or act as a greeter.

• Toasting the bride and groom.

• Participating in the first dance at a formal reception (partnered with the best man).

If the bride has help from family members, the groom or lots of bridesmaids who want to pitch in, the maid of honor’s responsibilities could be limited to wedding day ceremonial functions and a few other helpful contributions. But it’s always good to know that you may have to go the extra mile to make sure the bride’s day is perfect.

FEBRUARY 13, 2014 25

Gifts for Your Attendants and Groomsmen

They’ve been with you every step of the way — through good times and bad. They mean everything to you. And now that you’re ready to say, “I do,” they’re ready to stand beside you on the biggest day of your life.

26 FEBRUARY 13, 2014

How do you thank these special people who will make your wedding complete?

Bridesmaids Your bridesmaids will be purchasing dresses, shoes

and accessories, organizing your shower and bachelorette party, pitching in for a fabulous shower gift, and will be a major support for you on your big day. How do you show them how grateful you are?

Make sure you treat your attendants to hair and makeup styling the day of the wedding.

They will love it and you’ll be assured that everyone will look perfect!

Many brides give their attendants matching jewelry to go with their dresses, so everyone has a uniform look. Not only is this practical, it’s also a big savings for the ladies, as jewelry can be pricey. But there are a lot of other options to consider: Monogrammed items never

go out of style. Personalize the following options: • Flip flops • Cosmetic bags • Beach blankets • Robes • Tote bag stuffed with goodies (bath gel, soap, lotions, etc.)

• Terry slippers • Manicure sets • Pashmina shawls or scarves • Bridal party water bottles

Then there are liquor-related gifts: • Hand-painted bridal party wine or champagne glasses • Set of bridal party shot glasses • A bottle of wine or champagne with a personalized bottle label

Vol. 5 • No. 23

• Monogrammed wine cooler tote Gift certificates to favorite restaurants, stores, health spas and tanning salons will always be appreciated. And if you can afford it, a girls’ weekend away will be a blast!

Groomsmen Your groomsmen will be renting tuxes, planning your bachelor party, escorting guests to their seats and helping out on the big day. How to repay them? Here are a few ways to say thank you!

A gift for the home bar is always popular: •Personalized beer mug or flasks •Shot glass sets •Corkscrews/bottle openers •Give each groomsmen/ usher a bottle of their favorite liquor Engraving a functional item with the groomsmen’s initials

Vol. 5 • No. 23

personalizes your gift. Engrave or monogram one of these options: • Pocket knife or pocket multi-tools • Corkscrews/bottle openers • Wristwatches • Cufflinks • Money clips • Lighters • Pens • Business card holders • Wallets

sion • Sporting event • Casino night (or a Vegas trip, if it’s in the budget) • Concert • Golfing Maid of Honor and Best Man Since they have more re-

sponsibilities, they should get something extra. In addition to the gift you give your attendants, give them a gift certificate to a restaurant or wine shop; tickets to the theater, a round of golf—you know them very well, and you know what floats their boat.

Avid sports fans will appreciate a gift that relates to their love of the game or the great outdoors, such as: • Golf equipment • Fishing gear • Camping equipment • Game tickets • Gifts featuring logos of their favorite sports team.

Another option is to organize a group outing for you and the boys (on you, of course).

Popular ideas are: • Camping or fishing excur-

FEBRUARY 13, 2014 27

There’s a lot more to a bridal shower than just opening gifts and sipping punch. Fun games make a memorable day even better!

Purse Raid This is the purse version of the scavenger hunt: Before the shower, create a list of standard items you might have in your purse -- start with the basics (a compact, credit cards, keys) and work your way up to more random or risqué objects (condoms, dog treats). The host calls out the items on the list and the first guest to pull the object from their purse wins a small prize.

28 FEBRUARY 13, 2014

Memory At the beginning of the shower, the bride shares her and her fiance’s “love story” with the group, bringing up key events (where they met, how he proposed, etc.). After opening the gifts, the host surprises the guests by asking questions about what the bride shared earlier. Throw in curveballs with questions like “How many

Vol. 5 • No. 23

times was ‘love’ used in the story?” The person with the closest number gets a special prize.

Words of Wisdom Tuck a blank card into the shower invitations for guests to share their advice for a happy marriage – this can also be in the form of a recipe, a poem or funny story, and so on. At the party, guests take turns reading their words of wisdom to the group, and everyone tries to guess who gave that piece of advice. After all the cards have been read, the host can compile them in a scrapbook as a keepsake for the bride.

Memory Lane Mysteries This game is every bride’s sentimental favorite. When you send out each guest’s shower invitations, include a blank note card along with a request to write down his or her favorite memory of the

Vol. 5 • No. 23

bride, groom or the couple.

When they arrive, have your guests drop their memories into a box. At the shower, read each memory out loud and ask the bride and/or groom to guess which guest wrote it.

From childhood memories to milestone moments, each card reflects the personal bond that each guest has with the couple.

And, at the end of the day, the bride has a stack of personal keepsakes to cherish always.

Guess Whose Underwear This is a just-for-fun idea for a lingerie shower. On the invites, ask each guest to bring underwear or lingerie gifts that match their personality and style. Hang a clothesline across the room and have everyone hang their underwear on as they arrive. The bride-to-be then has to guess which lingerie gift is from whom. At the end of the day, she goes home with a new lingerie wardrobe!

FEBRUARY 13, 2014 29

30 FEBRUARY 13, 2014

Vol. 5 • No. 23

He did it! Mr. Right popped the question and you enthusiastically said, “Yes!” Next comes the giddy but often grueling months of wedding planning.

So many details! The first decision most brides and grooms determine is the venue. Where should you have your wedding and reception?

Gray Plantation may be the perfect answer! Located on the pristine grounds at Graywood in Lake Charles, Gray Plantation offers couples endless options and solutions to create the wedding of their dreams.

Whether you desire an informal lakeside wedding with a relaxed reception or a lavish fairytale extravaganza, Gray Plantation can accommodate your needs. The golf course offers a lush backdrop to any wedding and the Clubhouse, with the casual Cypress Grill, the elegant Evergreen Room, and a sprawling verandah overlooking the lovely greens, accommodates

Vol. 5 • No. 23

receptions up to 350 guests.

“This is a perfect spot to have a wedding,” said Amanda Prejean, Gray Plantation’s event coordinator and director of sales and marketing, aka “The Wedding Planner.”

Making Dreams Come True Prejean will plan any party a client requests -- rehearsal dinners, bridal and baby showers, reunions, retirement celebrations, business meetings -- but weddings are by far her favorite. She’s good at what she does because she revels in the details and loves making brides happy.

“I can help as much as possible or as little as needed,” said Prejean. “Whatever the couple needs. Usually brides want some kind of input from me. I’m more than happy to do that.” A bride and her entourage visit with Prejean and tell her their vision for the wedding.

Prejean makes it happen. “I’ve helped plan large weddings, small weddings, young couples, older couples, couples

By Angie Kay Dilmore renewing their vows. I cater to each individual couple.”

Laci Smalley rode in a 1963 red convertible Corvette to meet her groom Chuck, who waited expectantly beneath a white tent overlooking the lake.

Stately oaks offered shade on the pleasant April day last year.

“My husband is really into antique cars and motorcycles,” said Smalley. “We set up some antique motorcycles to add to the vintage effect. It was pretty fantastic – the best day of my life.” The couple left the reception in an antique taxi.

Prejean offers brides suggestions, takes care of all the rentals such as tents and table linens, confers with the chef on the menu, helps decorate, and attends each wedding to ensure that the couple’s big day is a success. If a bride has questions regarding other services such as florists, invitations, photographers, DJs and musicians, Prejean provides a preferred

vendor list.

“Amanda helped tremendously,” said Smalley. “She helped us choose menu items and colors for tablecloths and chairs. She helped coordinate the colors for the flowers.

Amanda took care of everything.”

Prejean’s services are especially welcome to busy brides who might live out of town and don’t have time to do a lot of planning and detail work. Alicia Shaughnessy and her groom Joe were married at Gray Plantation last November. They live in Houston but their roots are in Southwest Louisiana. It was important to them to have someone in Lake Charles attend to the details and be good at communicating remotely.

“Amanda was easy to work with. She was very responsive and accommodating,” said Shaughnessy.

Some brides hire their own wedding planner. Prejean

FEBRUARY 13, 2014 31

gladly works hand in hand with another wedding planner to ensure a successful wedding for the bride and groom.

Is a Rainy Wedding Day Truly Good Luck?

Outdoor weddings are inherently a gamble. No one can control or predict the weather, especially here in Southwest Louisiana. But no worries with Prejean at the helm. “We always have a backup plan,” she said.

“In the event of rain, couples can opt to get married under the chandelier in the Evergreen Room or host their ceremony in our Cypress Grill area.” Laci and Chuck took a chance on an outdoor wedding. “We knew there was a possibility it could rain,” said Laci. “But because of Amanda’s backup plan, I wasn’t nervous at all. I knew it would be a very nice ceremony, either way. Luckily, we had great beautiful weather.”

Lauren Todd and her hus-

32 FEBRUARY 13, 2014

band Ty held their reception at Gray Plantation Clubhouse last April. It rained lightly that evening. The staff met the guests at their cars with umbrellas – all 350 of them! “It was our largest wedding ever,” said Prejean.

“Amanda was phenomenal,” said Lauren’s mother Jeannie McGlathery. “She met with my daughter and me and our own wedding planner multiple times. She bent over backwards to make sure everyone was accommodated. Amanda attended to details from beginning to end. She made the day very special. If we had a question, she did her best to find the answer and get back to us quickly.

And she always had a smile on her face.”

Exceptional Cuisine Next to a bride’s stunning gown, weddings are often remembered for the delicious food. Such is the case at Gray

Plantation. “That’s one of the biggest compliments I get,” said Prejean. “The food is delicious.”

Gray Plantation hired a new chef last year, Corey Leger.

“Corey has worked in high end restaurants in New Orleans so he has that Cajun-style cuisine,” said Prejean. “He makes much of the food in-house, so everything is fresh and delicious. He revamped the Cajun pork loin and it continues to be one of our favorites. And his bread pudding is really good.”

Leger is currently in the process of re-writing their menu to compliment his own personal style. The Smalleys and their guests enjoyed bacon-wrapped shrimp in a jalapeno cream sauce, catfish strips, Cajun pork tenderloin, chicken salad on croissants, and spinach and artichoke dip. “The food was fantastic!” she said.

Party in a Southern Plantation Setting After the wedding ceremony, whether on the Gray Plantation grounds or elsewhere, the bridal party and guests retreat to the Clubhouse for the reception. They might celebrate their day in the Evergreen Room, the Cypress Grill, the verandah, or any combination of the three.

Prejean describes the Evergreen Room as “homey.”

Indeed, the floor to ceiling windows and crown moldings evoke an era of gentility. Four stately columns in the center of the room surround the dance floor. Shiny crystals and clear glass baubles hang from the chandelier.

White tulle enmeshed with twinkling white lights sweeps from the candlelit fixture and cascades down the ivory columns, creating a magical enchanting atmosphere for the bride and groom’s first dance as husband and wife.

“The couple’s first dance is my favorite part of the wedding reception,” she said.

“The hard part is over and they can simply enjoy their night. It makes me really happy, knowing I had a part in it.” The Evergreen Room can accommodate 90 guests for a sit down banquet or 150 people in a cocktail party setting. For larger guest lists, up to 350 people, the festivities can comfortably spill over onto the veranda and into the Cypress Grill.

Lauren and Ty wanted the traditional fairytale wedding, and the Evergreen Room accommodated their needs to a tee. According to McGlathery, Lauren wanted the reception to have a feeling of home.

“After looking at several wedding venues, Lauren chose Gray Plantation because it had that “at home” feel,” said McGlathery. “The whole atmosphere lended itself to that feeling of being home. Our guests were able to relax and enjoy the reception as if they were in our own living room.” At the end of the evening, Lauren said to her mother, “Thank you for giving me the wedding and reception I’d always dreamed about.”

Because they grew up in Louisiana and they had guests from all over the country, Alicia and Joe Shaughnessy wanted to showcase Louisiana and its unique food and culture.

“We wanted the wedding to be authentically Southern,” said Alicia. “We wanted our guests to experience a big party atmosphere.” Their menu included gumbo and Natchitoches meat pies. They hired a jazz band from New Orleans. When the horns pronounced a Second Line dance, Alicia and Joe carried umbrellas and led the procession. Guests waved napkins and followed the couple as they exited their fun-filled wedding reception.

The Latest in Wedding Trends Every year, Prejean sees new trends in the world of weddings. Some years, autumn is the most popular season. This past year, she saw more spring weddings. She believes wedding themes and color choices may Vol. 5 • No. 23

play a role. “I’ve been seeing a lot of softer colors – blush pinks and champagnes,” said Prejean.

Nadie Hirsch Cagley and her husband Michael were married this past January. Nadie’s wedding ideas were modern and simplistic. She wanted to create a magical white winter-wonderland. Her bridesmaids wore champagne dresses and Nadie wore ivory. The columns and chandelier over the dance floor were draped with lights and tulle to create a canopy effect.

They placed white flowers and hydrangeas in clear vases for table centerpieces. Tables and chairs were covered in ivory linen. “It was wonderful,” Nadie said. “I wouldn’t have wanted my wedding reception to be anywhere else.”

Another new trend Prejean sees is a rustic theme with burlap and wood accents. “Each wedding is unique and different,” she said. While the bridal dance may be her favorite part of the evening, it’s the father/ daughter dance that gets her the most teary-eyed. But she’s seeing new trends there, as well.

“Some fathers and daughters are getting away from the traditional slow dance and mixing it up with a fun choreographed dance,” said Prejean. “Rather than it being sad or sentimental, they can joke around and have fun together.”

Pin Your Party One trend Prejean sees a lot

Vol. 5 • No. 23

lately is the do-it-yourself approach to weddings.

Many couples have a tight budget. To save on spending, the bride, or her friends and relatives, will make the centerpieces, party favors, and room decorations themselves.

One mother of the bride even sewed all the table linens herself. Where do these brides get their decorating ideas? The social networking website Pinterest, of course! Cagley found many of the ideas for her white winter wonderland wedding on Pinterest. In addition to saving on expenses, another benefit of DIY wedding projects is that it creates a personal touch at the reception.

A Drink in One Hand, A Canape in the Other...

According to Prejean, cocktail parties are the way to go when planning a wedding.

Fewer couples choose the more formal seated multi-course affair. “It’s the more up-to-date way to do a wedding,” she said.

“We’re bringing two families together. We might as well have them walking around, mingling,

getting to know each other.” A cocktail party is more festive.

It invites people to get up and dance. And though the food is bite-sized, there’s plenty of it.

“The guests will not leave hungry,” added Prejean.

If you are a bride-to-be and are contemplating where to have your wedding and reception, consider Gray Plantation, especially if you want an outdoor wedding.

Gray Plantation includes the 18-hole golf course, pro shop, Clubhouse and the Cypress Grill restaurant.

The golf complex is part of Graywood and is located on Big Lake Road

in South Lake Charles. You do not have to be a member of the Graywood community to use the facilities at Gray Plantation.

For more information on planning a wedding or any party at Gray Plantation, call Amanda Prejean at 337-562-1206, extension 3; email her at amanda@ graywoodllc.com; or go to the website, http://graywoodllc. com, and click on Banquets.

FEBRUARY 13, 2014 33

TARZAN! Coming to Central School The much-anticipated Disney’s TARZAN is almost here!

Presented by Kerry A. Onxley; CTC Artistic Director, Taylor

Simon; CTC Associate Director and Joseph Boyette, Vocal Director, this family musical makes its debut on Thursday,

February 20 at Central School Theatre. Based on Edgar Rice Burrough’s Tarzan of the Apes and the smash-hit 1999 Disney

animated film, TARZAN tells the story of a shipwreck leaving an infant orphaned on the West African shore.

The helpless baby Tarzan is taken under the protection of a gorilla tribe and becomes part of their family. When he eventually encounters his first human--Jane Porter, a curious young explorer--both their worlds are transformed forever.

This production features music and lyrics by pop icon Phil Collins including the Grammy and Oscar winning song, “You’ll Be in My Heart,” and book by Tony Award-winning playwright, David Henry Hwang.

Onxley states, “This is truly a student-generated show. The students are involved in all aspects from set painting to costume designs to publicity.

It is a total learning experience for the children.”

The school performance will be held at the Central School of the Arts & Humanities Center (809 Kirby Street) located in downtown Lake Charles on Thursday, February 20. Ticket prices are $7 per person including students, teachers, chaperones, parents and bus drivers. THERE IS LIMITED SEATING. Public performances will be held Friday and Saturday, February 21-22 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, February 23 at 3 p.m. Ticket prices are $15 for adults and $13 for students and can be purchased on at www.childrenstheatre.cc or by contacting the theatre at (337) 433-7323.

ON GUIDE COVER: The adventure is coming as John Paul Primeaux center, as Tarzan, and gorillas (left to right), Jillian Engel, Noelie Puckett and Maegan McBroom prepare roles for CTC’s upcoming Disney’s TARZAN!

34 FEBRUARY 13, 2014

Vol. 5 • No. 23

Navajo Weaving: Tradition Devised Theatre at & Trade Ongoing Exhibit McNeese Feb. 12-16 Stark Museum of Art in Orange, Texas announces its newest exhibition, Navajo Weaving: Tradition & Trade. It presents an expansive and diverse collection of weavings from the 1800s to present day, including rare textiles neverbefore-seen by the general public. Visitors will have the opportunity to walk into a replica Trading Post, complete with staples from every day life. Each museumgoer will be given a piece of fabric to weave into a stationary loom located at the Museum to create a “community” weaving. Tours, classes, workshops, interactive weaving sessions, and events will occur on select dates throughout the duration of the exhibition. For more information, go to starkmuseum.org.

McNeese State University Theatre kicks off its spring season Feb. 12-16 with a couple of firsts—its first Devised Theatre production and its inaugural presentation in the new Black Box Theatre in the Shearman Fine Arts Center. Presentations are at 7:30 p.m. Wed.-Sat. Feb. 12-15, with a 2 p.m. matinee Sun., Feb. 16.

Ticket prices are $15 for adults, $10 for McNeese faculty/staff, senior citizens and youth, and free for McNeese students with a current ID. For more information, call 475-5040.

‘For the Love of Watercolor’ Feb. 13 For the Love of Watercolor,” an exhibit of works by students of local artist Sue Zimmermann, will open with a reception from 5-8 p.m. Thurs., Feb. 13, at the Galley by the Lake/Creative Arts Center, 106 Pryce Street. The show is a collection of watercolor paintings created in class under Zimmermann’s instruction. The artists exhibiting are Terry Anderson, Beth Fontenot, Davy Funderburk,

Regina Lee, Bobbie Moon, Judy Newman, Debbie Self, Wanda Stanton, and Sue Zimmermann.

The exhibit will be open through Feb. 15. For more information, call 436-1008 or visit www.suezimmermann.com.

Million Dollar Quartet at Lutcher Theater Feb. 14 Million Dollar Quartet is the Tony® award-winning Broadway musical, inspired by the electrifying true story of the famed recording session where Sam Phillips, the “Father of Rock ‘n’ Roll” brought together icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins for one unforgettable night.

Tickets range from $35-$65. Two performances will be held at 2 and 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 14 at the Lutcher Theater in Orange, Texas. For tickets, call (409)-886-5535.

Park to Park Half Marathon Feb. 15 Come out to the Park to Park Half Marathon and One Mile Fun Run/Walk on Saturday, Feb. 15, at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 301 Center Circle Ave., in Sulphur.

The half marathon kicks off at 7:30

a.m., and the one mile begins at 8 a.m. This year’s beneficiary is Deb Boyles, who is fighting breast cancer. All proceeds from the one miler benefit her Kick Cancer fund.The Sulphur High School Cross Country Team will be a beneficiary of the Half Marathon again this year. For more information or to participate, contact AunJelle Burton at (337) 842-5879 or ajattack@gmail.com.

Lake Charles Symphony Concert 2 Feb. 15 The Lake Charles Symphony will partner with the Black Heritage Festival and will commission a 8-12 minute symphony to be accompanied by a local high school chorus. The program also includes the Copland Lincoln Portrait and Symphony No. 4 in G Major by Gustav Mahler. The programs begins at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 15 at the Rosa Hart Theatre at the Lake Charles Civic Center. For more information, go to www.lcsymphony.com.

Annual Mardi Gras Run Feb. 22 Annual run sponsored by Le Krewe de la Originals et Les Enfants and the Duck Festival Association features an early morning chicken run in Gueydan beginning at 9 a.m., lunch, live music, an auction and a dance. Parade begins at 3 p.m.

Dance starts at 5 p.m.

Vinton Mardi Gras Celebration Feb. 22 Friday, Feb. 14: Spirograph Fun Join us from 3:30-4:30 p.m.in the ArtSpace and play with this classic geometric drawing toy that produces mathematical roulette curves.

Friday, Feb. 21: Playdough Fun Join us in the ArtSpace from 3:30-4:30 p.m. and build something fun with Playdough!

Friday, Feb. 28: Swirl’n Paint Join us from 3:30-4:30 p.m. in the ArtSpace and experiment with exciting designs using our Swirl’n Spin art machine!

The Children’s Museum is located at 327 Broad Street downtown Lake Charles. Museum hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Admission is $7.50 for children and adults. Call 433-9420 or visit www.swlakids.org.

36 FEBRUARY 13, 2014

In Downtown Vinton, Krewe des Gratis will host a gumbo cook-off at 10 a.m. and a parade at 2 p.m. ending at Knights of Columbus Hall where the gumbo judging will begin at 3 p.m.

Krewe of the Golden Years MG Ball Feb. 24 Calcasieu Council on Aging presents the Krewe of the Golden Year’s 20th Annual Mardi Gras Ball on Mon., Feb. 24, from 10 a.m.1 p.m. in the Lake Charles Civic Center Coliseum. All attendants Vol. 5 • No. 23

are encouraged to wear a mask and dress for the occasion in their favorite Mardi Gras attire. Includes continental breakfast, live entertainment and lunch. Prepare for an entourage of Kings and Queens representing Calcasieu Parish nursing homes, senior living facilities and the Krewe of Krewes. Free for seniors 60 and over, who are residents of Calcasieu Parish. For more information, call 474-2583.

Volunteers of America’s Beats & Eats March 7 Volunteers of America will hold its Beats & Eats fundraiser on Fri., March 7 from 6 to 9 pm at Treasures of Marilyn’s in Lake Charles. The casual event will feature a dinner buffet and dancing

to music by Tommy Shreve, Danny Kimball & Friends. Products and services donated by area businesses will be auctioned. Additionally, there will be a raffle for a Gift Card Bundle valued at $555. Raffle tickets are being sold in advance for only $5, and you do not have to be present to win. Tickets are $40 per person or $300 for a reserved table of 10 before February 21. Tickets are $50 per person after February 21 upon availability. For more information, call (337) 497-0034.

Run with the Nuns Motorcycle Ride and Charity Event March 8 CHRISTUS St. Patrick Foundation is revving up for the fourth annual

Labor Day (Paramount, 2014) I don’t always research movies before seeing them. Labor Day was such a film. If it’s possible to see a great film that is hard to watch, this is one.

Labor Day takes place during the Labor Day weekend. It’s told

by Henry Wheeler, a young man remembering his adolescence in 1987. His father walks out on him and his mother, and one day another man shows up. On the surface, Frank Chambers (Josh Brolin) looks just like your normal menacing, escaped con and murderer, which he is. But eventually we learn that this big dark, strapping man has his own tragic secret. (No, he’s not the Incredible Hulk. It’s even more tragic than that.)

Doesn’t this sound like a wonderful, upbeat movie? I wish I could say Vol. 5 • No. 23

so. Because Kate Winslett, as Adele Wheeler, gives us a performance that is uncanny in its detail and complexity. As a lone mother, she seems to be adjusting to living with her son Henry, but then somehow loses her nerve and becomes a shaking, comatose mess. Then in a rare trip with her son to pick up groceries, along comes Frank. For some reason, he picks Adele out as his ticket to freedom. Why her?

Meanwhile Henry, narrator of the movie and Adele’s long-suffering male replacement (yes, it’s weird) reeks of teenage angst (or is it lust?) centered on every girl he sees. This movie, in fact, is an epidemic of angst. You really feel sorry for Henry when Frank moves into their house.

The boy had things pretty good.

Now Henry and his mom are living

Run with the Nuns Motorcycle Ride and Charity Event, which will take place on Saturday, March 8, at presenting sponsor Isle of Capri Casino Hotel at 9 a.m. The pre-registration deadline is Tuesday, February 25.

Registration is $30 for each driver and $20 for each passenger and includes an event t-shirt for registration by deadline, lunch, medal and door prize ticket. The ride will depart Isle at 9:45 a.m. and will make its way on a 100-mile journey through Southwest Louisiana. There will also be a rice and gravy cook-off during the event.

The entry fee is $150 per team and includes meat, rice and water for cooking. For more information or to register, visit www.stpatrickfoundation.org or call (337) 430-5353. in fear and angst with a dangerous killer. But every so often, Henry comes out with these humorous and courageous exchanges with adults who question him about the family’s strange behavior. (Are you buying this razor for yourself, Henry? Yes Sir. Practicing, eh? Yes Sir. Well, keep the cap on. Yes Sir, I was planning on it.)

That this ridiculously implausible plot works at all is really a tribute to the clever direction and flashbacks involving Frank and his life. Surely something in his past is going to explain why he moves in with Adele instead of hitching a ride out of town.

Labor Day is so into the ‘80s that you’ll probably remember things you’d forgotten, like big eyeglasses and jumpsuits and pre-Nintendo video games, and station wagons,

Empty Bowl Salvation Army Fundraiser March 13 The Salvation Army will hold its sixth “Empty Bowl” dinner at L’Auberge Casino Resort Thurs., March 13, from 6-9 p.m. Guests will enjoy a variety of soups provided by 13 of Lake Charles’ premier chefs. In addition, each guest will be given a handmade one-of-a-kind ceramic bowl designed by local artisans. Chris Miller and the Bayou Roots will entertain. Sponsorships are available on several different levels along with individual tickets. For further information, call (337) 433-4155. and , and wait! I was happy not remembering these things.

And that’s the problem with Labor Day. You will be much happier if you don’t see it. Yes, it boasts quality directing and acting and scripting and even cinematography. But as its title suggests, the movie is a chore to sit through. For one thing the film moves as slow as molasses. You’ll find yourself wanting the ending to happen, just to get it over with and find out what’s really going on here.

Good luck.

To be fair, I went to this film thinking it was time to review another chick-flick (Think The Notebook.) But Labor Day is somewhere between a suspense movie and a documentary on The Stockholm Syndrome. (That’s a spoiler. Don’t look it up, it gives away the whole movie.)

Devoted Kate Winslett fans will find this movie a real display of her fine acting skills. But it will be a labor of love for them to enjoy it. This is not a good date movie. I repeat. This is not a good date movie. That being said, I kind of liked it. I’m still trying to figure out why.

Labor Day is rated PG-13, for 13-yearold angst and psychological trauma.

FEBRUARY 13, 2014 37

What’s Love Got to Do with It?

Forget the diamonds and chocolate. What could be better than three literary love stories for Valentine’s Day? In The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion, professor Don Tillman, 39, works in the Genet-

38 FEBRUARY 13, 2014

ics Department of a university in Australia. He’s being encouraged to find a bride; he agrees, in principle, because, after all, married men live longer. But, he says, “There is something about me that women find unappealing.”

Yes, there is something: He displays behavior consistent with Asperger’s syndrome on the autism spectrum. For example, on meeting someone, he instantly estimates their age and body mass index; he’s generally oblivious to many behavioral clues; subtlety and sarcasm escape him. He’s a brilliant guy, but in some ways he’s as dumb as a rock. Think of Sheldon on The Big Bang Theory.

One woman looks him in the eye and tells him, “Most adults with Asperger’s syndrome don’t know they have it.” This is not unlike the little boy in The Sixth Sense looking at Bruce Willis and saying “I see dead people.”

As Don begins the search for a marriage partner, he announces to his friends, “I may have found a solution to the Wife Problem.”

He’s devised a questionnaire “to filter out the time wasters” — those women who are incompatible with his standards for living.

But after he’s questioned 304 women, every one of them has been ruled out. His friend Gene asks, “You don’t think you’re setting the bar just a tiny bit high?”

But Don points out that he’s “collecting data to support life’s most critical decision. Compromise would be totally inappropriate.”

Gene introduces him to Rosie, who is “patently unsuitable” according to the questionnaire, but whom Don finds entertaining.

She’s also interested in his exper-

tise regarding DNA, because she’d like to find her biological father.

He decides to help her.

At one point, Don tells the reader, “It dawned on me that I had not designed the questionnaire to find a woman I could accept but to find someone who might accept me.” The book is very fun, but often in an understated way. Adult language.

Trains and Lovers by Alexander McCall Smith is the story of four strangers — three men and one woman — who meet on a train and share stories of how love has touched their lives. The passengers are of various ages; one is American, another is Australian. They spend four hours toVol. 5 • No. 23

gether traveling from Scotland to London and disclose much about each other in their brief reminiscences. And sometimes as one tells his or her story, the thoughts of the others are revealed to us.

The various passengers lay bare their feelings: “Love had transformed the world for me,” says one. “Love is nothing out of the ordinary, even if we think it is,” says our narrator. “But for each person who is made happy by love, there will be many for whom it turns out to be a cause of regret. That is because it can be so fleeting; one moment it may take our breath away, the next it may leave us bereft.”

Andrew tells of falling in love at first sight. “There is a difference, I think, between falling in love and knowing it. You know it when you surrender to the feeling; you put your hands up and say, ‘That’s it,’ or something like that.”

For David, love was cruel, “so very, very hard to bear. So hard that sometimes you just sit there and let the misery wash over you; the misery, the emptiness.” But “He had no regrets about this, because what he had had was so important to him that he would never have wished that it had not happened.” Andrew points out that “The new lover, of a few weeks standing, may seem more precious than friends of decades.”

The stories make the reader think as well as feel. The prolific McCall Smith has a genuine quality about his writing, as well as a tenderness toward humanity, with realistic characters. In this case, Vol. 5 • No. 23

I don’t think I’ll remember the characters so much, but there are a couple of scenes I’ll never forget. This book is not part of one of his many series. It stands alone as a little gem. It’s just lovely.

The Last Enchantments by Charles Finch is a coming-ofage saga of young adults playing out the last of their capricious days before they have to face the responsibilities of being “grownups.” The year is 2005. Will Baker is a young American man of privilege. The recent Yale graduate is leaving his live-in girlfriend behind for a year to do graduate studies in English literature at Oxford University. The two promise to be true to one another.

But once in England, he almost immediately falls for the waiflike Sophie, who seems unable to decide how to relate to him. His circle of friends is populated with a diverse band of well-defined

individual characters, each with interests and problems of his/ her own. They are from different parts of the world, different belief systems and socioeconomic levels. Plus, there’s an older man who gives him advice.

These not-necessarily-likable 20-somethings drink a lot, rebel a bit (or too much), bed-hop, and share deep thoughts, silliness, passion, and tragedy. The book has quite a few impassioned intellectual conversations about literature, philosophy, and politics that stirred my thoughts right into their vortex. As an American, Will is in a position to compare the class systems and social mores of the mix of cultures.

The writing is pleasant, and Finch creates a definite sense of place; I was transported to Oxford and walked among the people he introduces. I was able to enjoy this excellent program

on Macmillan Audio. It’s always a thrill when a good reader is able to bring so many different characters to life so distinctly with just his voice. Adult situations and language.

Copyright © 2014 by Mary Louise Ruehr.

FEBRUARY 13, 2014 39

Thursday, Feb. 13 Ryan Pelton’s “Tribute to the King” 7 p.m. @ Mikko Live Tuesday - Saturday Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Dr., Kinder The Coleman Brothers 8 p.m. @ The Caribbean Cove @ Isle of Capri Casino 100 Westlake Ave, Westlake Joe Harmon & the Harmonics 8:30 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Dr., Kinder “Thursday Dollar Night” 9 p.m. @ Cowboys Night Club $1 Beer & Bar All Night!

5329 Common St., Lake Charles DJ Crush 10 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Jack Daniel’s Bar & Grill 777 Ave. L’Auberge, Lake Charles “Flipping Thursdays!”

10:30 p.m. @ My Place Bar Free shot, Heads or Tails!

630 Prien Lake Rd., Lake Charles

Friday, Feb. 14 Stacy Bearden Valentine’s Day & Jazz 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. @ Pioneer Club 127 Broad St., Lake Charles Thomas Townsley, Ron Yyle, & the Medicaid String Band 7 p.m. @ Stellar Beans 319 Broad St., Lake Charles Twangster’s Union 8 p.m. @ The Caribbean Cove @ Isle of Capri Casino 100 Westlake Ave, Westlake Mark Henry Live Valentine’s Day Serenade 9 p.m. @ Cigar Club 1700 Prien Lake Rd., Lake Charles 40 FEBRUARY 13, 2014

BB and Company 9 p.m. @ Gator Lounge Delta Downs Racetrack 2717 Delta Downs Drive, Vinton The New Orleans Suspects 10 p.m. @ Luna Live 710 Ryan St, Lake Charles DJ Crush 10 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Jack Daniel’s Bar & Grill 777 Avenue L’Auberge, Lake Charles

Saturday, Feb. 15 Tim Norris in Concert 7 p.m. @ Stellar Beans 319 Broad St., Lake Charles Mickey Gilley 7 p.m. @ Delta Event Center Delta Downs Racetrack 2717 Delta Downs Drive, Vinton Ryan Harris & Killin Time Band 8 p.m. @ The Caribbean Cove @ Isle of Capri Casino 100 Westlake Ave, Westlake Kory Fontenot aka 9 p.m. @ Cigar Club 1700 Prien Lake Rd., Lake Charles BB and Company 9 p.m. @ Gator Lounge Delta Downs Racetrack 2717 Delta Downs Drive, Vinton DJ Crush 10 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Jack Daniel’s Bar & Grill 777 Ave. L’Auberge, Lake Charles

Sunday, Feb. 16 Street Side Jazz Band 11 a.m. @ Luna Bar & Grill 719 Ryan St., Lake Charles

Monday, Feb. 17 “Lucky Monday!”

Midnight @ My Place Bar Win a $50 Bar Tab! 630 Prien Lake Rd., Lake Charles

Tuesday, Feb. 18 Karaoke w/ DJ David Verrett 8 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Jack Daniel’s Bar & Grill 777 Ave. L’Auberge, Lake Charles “Ladies Night!”

8:30 p.m. @ My Place Bar Women get $1 Well & Wines 630 Prien Lake Rd., Lake Charles DJ San-D 10 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Jack Daniel’s Bar & Grill 777 Ave. L’Auberge, Lake Charles

Wednesday, Feb. 19 Dueling Pianos Ladies Night: 5 to 12 p.m.

8 p.m. @ The Caribbean Cove @ Isle of Capri Casino 100 Westlake Ave., Westlake Karaoke 2014 @ Mikko Live 8 p.m. @ Coushatta Casino 777 Coushatta Dr., Kinder “Wasted Wednesdays!” w/ DJ Dispo 8:30 p.m. @ My Place Bar Get $1 Pitchers & $2 Wells 630 Prien Lake Rd., Lake Charles

“Saturday Night Party Time” 9 p.m. @ Cowboys Night Club $1 Beer & Bar 12 - 2 a.m.

5329 Common St., Lake Charles

Joe Ecker Live 9 p.m. @ Cigar Club 1700 Prien Lake Rd., Lake Charles

Sam Pace & the Gilded Grit 10 p.m. @ Luna Live 710 Ryan St, Lake Charles

D13 10 p.m. @ Luna Live 710 Ryan St, Lake Charles Vol. 5 • No. 23

Thursday, Feb. 20 Brandon Ledet & Creole Touch 8 p.m. @ The Caribbean Cove @ Isle of Capri Casino 100 Westlake Ave, Westlake “Thursday Dollar Night” 9 p.m. @ Cowboys Night Club $1 Beer & Bar All Night!

5329 Common St., Lake Charles DJ CaGe 10 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Jack Daniel’s Bar & Grill 777 Ave. L’Auberge, Lake Charles “Flipping Thursdays!”

10:30 p.m. @ My Place Bar Free shot, Heads or Tails!

630 Prien Lake Rd., Lake Charles

Friday, Feb. 21

RKW Show Live 9 p.m. @ Cigar Club 1700 Prien Lake Rd., Lake Charles Karaoke with $3 Cover 9 p.m. @ Frosty Factory 4688 Common St., Lake Charles Larry Tillery 9 p.m. @ Gator Lounge Delta Downs Racetrack 2717 Delta Downs Drive, Vinton DJ CaGe 10 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Jack Daniel’s Bar & Grill 777 Ave. L’Auberge, Lake Charles

Saturday, Feb. 22 Phillip Zachary in Concert 7 p.m. @ Stellar Beans 319 Broad St., Lake Charles

Acoustic Commons 7 p.m. @ Stellar Beans 319 Broad St., Lake Charles

Wayne Dylan Live 9 p.m. @ Cigar Club 1700 Prien Lake Rd., Lake Charles

Herbie Stutes & The Grand Shin 8 p.m. @ The Caribbean Cove @ Isle of Capri Casino 100 Westlake Ave, Westlake

Karaoke with $3 Cover 9 p.m. @ Frosty Factory 4688 Common St., Lake Charles

Vol. 5 • No. 23

Larry Tillery 9 p.m. @ Gator Lounge Delta Downs Racetrack 2717 Delta Downs Drive, Vinton “Saturday Night Party Time” 9 p.m. @ Cowboys Night Club $1 Beer & Bar 12 - 2 a.m.

5329 Common St., Lake Charles GAL Holiday & The Honky Tonk Review!

10 p.m. @ Luna Live 710 Ryan St., Lake Charles DJ CaGe 10 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Jack Daniel’s Bar & Grill 777 Ave. L’Auberge, Lake Charles

Sunday, Feb. 23 Stacy Bearden Sunday Jazz Brunch 11:30 - 1:30 p.m. @ Pioneer Club 127 Broad St., Lake Charles

Monday, Feb. 24 “Lucky Monday!”

Midnight @ My Place Bar Win a $50 Bar Tab!

630 Prien Lake Rd., Lake Charles

Tuesday, Feb. 25 Ryan Pelton’s “Tribute to the King” 5 & 7 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Dr., Kinder Karaoke w/ DJ David Verrett 8 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Jack Daniel’s Bar & Grill 777 Ave. L’Auberge, Lake Charles “Ladies Night!”

8:30 p.m. @ My Place Bar Women get$1 Well & Wines 630 Prien Lake Rd., Lake Charles

Wednesday, Feb. 26 Ryan Pelton’s “Tribute to the King” 7 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Dr., Kinder Brian Moore Live 9 p.m. @ Cigar Club 1700 E. Prien Lake Rd. Lake Charles

FEBRUARY 13, 2014 41

Switching gears, I am very excited about all the many festivals, concert series, etc. coming up. I love that Lake Charles is known as the “Festival Capital of Louisiana.” That means we have more fun. I have a friend from the Midwest who said that out of Florida, California, New York and other major cities, he has the most fun with the people of Southwest Louisiana. Now that’s an honor!

One of the events I am personally looking forward to will be a Masquerade at Heist in downtown Lake Charles on February 28. I will also get to ride with Krewe De Charlie Sioux in the Children’s Parade. It was not until this year that I attended my first Mardi Gras Ball, thanks to Barry Whitten of Krewe de Carnivale. It was so much fun. There will also be numerous events taking place at venues like Luna Live, as well as those planned by independent groups like Neon Natives, JME Group and Alexander and Burris LLC. I’m also anticipating the Black Heritage Festival of Louisiana this year, coming up on March 8 and the concert series, Live @ the Lakefront which will be held on March 14, 21 and 28. There will be other events in the next few months and I look forward to getting in on the fun. Be sure to jump in and participate— perhaps attend one that you have never been to before or wouldn’t usually be interested in.

The Mardi Gras season is still going strong and will go out with a bang due to the many parades, parties and other events that commemorate its final days. If you have not yet visited the Mardi Gras Museum inside of Central School on Kirkman and Kirby Streets, you must. It boasts the world’s largest display of Mardi Gras costumes and there’s plenty of historical information and interactive displays for the family to enjoy.

Be on the lookout for McNeese State University’s radio station, KBYS 88.3 FM. You’ll be able to listen to their music on www.kbys. fm, with the website launch soon to take place. They also have a Facebook page. This could not have

come at a better time with all of the events the university is planning to commemorate their 75th anniversary. Banners will hold their famed Rouge et Blanc event on campus this year if that gives you any indication of how huge this will be.

Speaking of anniversaries, the City of Sulphur is also getting ready to celebrate. This year marks their centennial with major surprises in store. Smash Mouth will be the headlining performer for all of their events and the museums, galleries and even libraries will basically

be gold mines full of even greater treasures during this marvelous time for the city.

In closing, I have met some very talented and driven people in our area and hope there are more of you out there. I would like to say thank you to all of you for allowing me to do what I love. With that said, please continue supporting those around you who aspire to have more than the average school/ job lifestyle. Cherish each moment, person and experience. Make it a great one, Southwest Louisiana!

So Much Going On! “Wait a few moments and the weather will change.” This is definitely true in Southwest Louisiana and I am very thankful for this little saying. I had the official launch party for my new venture “HeyBrayJ” on Wednesday, January 29.

At noon on that day, I made the final decision to not postpone the event. The ice definitely puts our region in somewhat of a frenzy, but I am thankful we value life so greatly.

Safety was a major concern for me; a person cannot be replaced, but an event can be rescheduled.

I am very grateful to everyone who attended our launch party and must again say thank you to our supporters for making sure our featured music artists (Dakota Harp, DOSHA, Kimberly Stegall and Throne Room Music Artist Xavier) were compensated for their time, and that the party never stopped with my favorite DJ in the area, DJ TySki. While we did launch HeyBrayJ and gave a sneak peek at our new site heybrayj.com powered by The Lab Design Group, the main purpose was to finally get independent film, music, photography and business people in one room to network. Networking was exactly what happened, with many new contacts made and new projects in the works following the event. We have since added more elements to our website and have started the Facebook page, Hey Bray J, which helps to continue networking opportunities. Thanks so much to Phil and Lauren de Albuquerque, along with everyone who attended. It meant so much to me.

42 FEBRUARY 13, 2014

Vol. 5 • No. 23

Vol. 5 • No. 23

FEBRUARY 13, 2014 43

ANNUAL 5K ZOMBIE RUN

Taylor Spence and Ashley Pfantz

Ashli Waldrep and Amanda White

Bailey and Krystal Knapp

The zombies and runners were all geared up for the second annual 5k run hosted by Fusion Five, SWLA’s Young Professionals organization at Camp Edgewood. After running for their lives and finding their way back to the safety zone, runners and zombies were reunited for a little rest and recovery with food (no brains!) and music from Lucy in Disguise.

A creepy good time!

Dawn Newell and CoCo Roblest

Anna Theriot, Katie Hooper and Cassie Cubbison

MARDI GRAS MADNESS The Lake Charles Civic Center was rocking tonight with various Mardi Gras Balls in full swing. Revelers in costumes and formals came out to party, and party they did! What fun to go from floor to floor and talk to excited guests and krewe members as they got their Mardi Gras on. It’s a long season this year, so there are plenty more balls to come!

Laissez les bons temps rouler!

Lauren and Phil de Albuquerque, Krewe de Feteurs

Joseph Bushnell and Sadonna Braxton, Krewe of Hearts 44 FEBRUARY 13, 2014

Matt Bell and Matt Redd, Krewe of Barataria

Ron and Judy Brennan with Larry Smith, Krewe de Feteurs

John and Leah Howell with Steven and Robyn Settoon and Peter and Ashley Eisen, at Krewe of Barataria Vol. 5 • No. 23

SOUTHWEST 75TH ANNUAL LIVESTOCK & RODEO At the Burton Coliseum Complex, big and little fans came out for the greatest hooking horns, bucking horse show on dirt.

Professional rodeo competitors, champions and national contestants from across the nation brought their A game to SWLA. Yeee haw to another rootin’ tootin’ good rodeo time!

Brady and Aubree Walling

Jarratt and Emma Trahan

Vol. 5 • No. 23

Dylan and Brittanie Duran with JoLynne Sutherland

Jordan Doyle and Bekah Sweezey

Korie King, Charlie Little and Kristyn Boswell

FEBRUARY 13, 2014 45

WORD OF HOPE YOUTH REVIVAL Word of Hope Family Worship Center hosted “It’s Over: Youth Revival Valentine’s Edition” recently.

Love was in the air as young people from all over the country united to experience a powerful movement of God’s word spoken through dance, praise and worship, rappers, steppers and more.

Praise to our youth for taking a stand, encouraging changed lives forever!

Raphaela Clark and Darius Clayton

Chris John, Charlie Williams V and Charlie Williams IV

46 FEBRUARY 13, 2014

Riyana Marshall, Lillie Winston and Nekeo Burton

Chasady Shannon and Ireahna Moore

Bayleigh and Briana Allison, Jessie Jack, Deanna Alfred and Megan Cross

Vol. 5 • No. 23

! e n i t n e l a V y M Be

Be Mine Champagne Chocolates Cupid February

Greeting Card Hearts Kisses Me and You Red Roses

Romance Secret Admirer Special Day True Love Valentine

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Players take turns connecting two dots.

When you make a square, put your initials in the box and take another turn. When all dots are connected, the player with the most boxes wins.

Vol. 5 • No. 23

FEBRUARY 13, 2014 47

48 FEBRUARY 13, 2014

Vol. 5 • No. 23

Vol. 5 • No. 23

FEBRUARY 13, 2014 49

50 FEBRUARY 13, 2014

Vol. 5 • No. 23

Vol. 5 • No. 23

FEBRUARY 13, 2014 51

52 FEBRUARY 13, 2014

Vol. 5 • No. 23

Vol. 5 • No. 23

FEBRUARY 13, 2014 53

54 FEBRUARY 13, 2014

Vol. 5 • No. 23

Vol. 5 • No. 23

FEBRUARY 13, 2014 55