46th edition - May 2014

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF SLIDELL COME JOIN TH E F UN! SAT URDAY • MAY 17 • 2014 • HARBOR CE NT ER

magazine Vol 46 May 2014

Louisiana

Veterans Festival

WE KEEP IT FRESH

SAY KEEP IT POSITIVE

A Full Circle of Family Dental Care Same Day Emergency Service

Gentle, Caring Dentist & Team You Can Trust for Your Whole Family!

Orthodontics for All Ages

No Interest Payment Plans

Sedation & Nitrous Oxide available

Dental Sleep Medicine Most PPO Insurance Accepted

Early morning & Lunchtime Appointments

Oral Cancer & Antioxidant Screenings

Gum Disease Treatment for Total Body Health

One Visit Crowns

Implants Bridges Dentures

Edwin L. Kopfler, D.D.S. Center for Dental Medicine

1101 Robert Blvd • Slidell

985-641-1181

w w w. S l i d e l l D e n t i s t . c o m

SHOP

EAT

PLAY

ENJOY

Olde Towne Antique District

Barbara’s Victorian Closet Mall 8 Vendors! Antiques - Art - Furniture & More!

985-641-1105

ronnie@whodatshoppe.org

Mon-Sat • 7am - 6pm Sunday • 8am - 3pm

311 ROBERT ST. - OLDE TOWNE SLIDELL

Annette’s House of Decor

Just 3 blocks off Front Street

Specializing in Beautiful Custom Drapery

Magnolia House Antiques Mall

NOW THE OFFICIAL RETAILER FOR

Antiques - Vintage Jewelry - Clothing - Dinnerware & More!

Green Oaks Apothecary

Handmade Aromatherapy & Herbal Remedies for Body & Home

Slidell Museum

Relive History! Featuring one-of-a-kind Civil War Displays

Terry Lynn’s Café

Amazing Home-Cooked Food, Desserts & Catering

The Who Dat Shoppe

Sports Team Clothing - Gifts & Unique items and much more!

The Place To Be

Consignment & Antiques • 985-641-4650

985-641-6316

VoodOo Arena Football starts in March!

SHOP LOCAL!

w w w . t h e w h o d at s h o p p e . c o m

www.slidellantiques.co m

Join the fun on facebook: The Who Dat Shoppe

SHOP & ENJOY OLDE TOWNE Green Oaks Apothecary Handmade aromatherapy and herbal remedies for the body and home

2259 Care y St

985-285-9215

www.greenoaksapothecary.com

Great tasting Herbal Tea Blends based on your needs !

Main Course Seared Diver Scallops

U-10 diver scallops with truffled white bean puree with pan warmed arugula in a bacon & cherry tomato vinaigrette

4 courses $55 per person

Pan Seared Mahi Mahi

(+ tax & gratuity)

Seared Mahi filets set in crabmeat & asparagus tip gnocchi then topped with an extra virgin olive oil scallion pesto

Vichyssoise

Oven Roasted Maple Leaf Farms Duck Breast

Eggplant & Brie Soup

Seared & roasted Maple Leaf Farms duck breast over julienne summer squash & zucchini with garlicky brabant potatoes topped with a cherry balsamic reduction

Entrées

Chilled Leek & Kennebec potato soup or With asparagus tips and lump crab

Arugula salad

Grand Marnier balsamic, goat cheese, pistachios, & dried cranberry

Pan Seared Filet Mignon

With potatoes dauphine & asparagus topped with red wine demi glace

Seasonal Dessert

Christophers on Carey Contemporary Creole Cuisine

Fresh

Natural, organic, and bio-degradable Absolutely NO petro-chemicals, parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde, or any other junk!

Local

Inspired

Open for Lunch Tues-Fri ~ 11am-2pm Open for Dinner Wed-Sat ~ 5pm-till

2228 Carey St. • Olde Towne • Slidell • 9 8 5 . 6 4 1 . 4 5 0 1

Offering the best Contemporary Creole Cuisine featuring an abundance of local seafood and produce 4

magazine magazine

Cover Art by

PO Box 4147 • Slidell, LA 70459

www.SlidellMag.com • 985-789-0687

Adam Sambola

Kendra Maness - Editor/Publisher Editor@SlidellMag.com

(isn’t it awesome?!)

Brian Friel - Graphic Design Lee Kreil - Staff Writer EFOP / Sli-Ku / Leadership Northshore

Slidell Magazine now available at all Slidell

Contributing Writers: Donna Bush EFOP / Sli-Ku, Lee Kreil The Storyteller, John Case Jockularity, Corey Hogue Pet Points, Jeff Perret, DVM Slidellicacies, John Maracich, III Crimi-mommly Insane, Leslie Gates Lori Gomez

Advertise with us!

Mike Rich Rose Marie Sand

www.LoriGomezArt.com

facebook.com/slidellmag

MikeRich@mypontchartrain.com Rose@RoseMarieSand.com

Size

www.slidellmag.com

12 MONTHS

1 6 MONTHS MONTH

1/4 Page

200

240

290

per month

1/2 Page

350

380

430

per month

Full Page

610

650

700

per month

Aditorial

650

700

750

per month

985•789•0687

www.SlidellMag.com

5 5

in

Slidell by: Ronnie Dunaway

"Dairy Dan" The Ice Cream Man Prelude:

After nearly 60 years of living in Olde Towne Slidell, there are some things I know for sure. I was born here, played here, educated here, made my living here, and I will die here. I have a lifetime of memories that, for the most part, occurred in just an eight square block area affectionally known as Olde Towne. In fact, what the great city of Slidell has become today was built from these very blocks.

Remember when you could leave your home unlocked and you could roam freely all over town without any real worries?

Remember when your mom sent you out to play and told you to be home when the street lights came on?

Remember when we drank water from a hose, instead of a bottle…caught mosquito hawks and clipped their wings so they couldn’t fly away…when Rock-n-Roll was rocking and rolling? Remember when the really cool cars were coming out of Detroit...the ‘69 Camaro, the ‘67 GTO, the ‘67 GTX, and my favorite, the 1968 Plymouth Road Runner? Beep Beep!

And, remember when you knew the ice cream man by name?

I can remember it like it was yesterday. He was Dairy Dan, The Ice Cream Man. Everybody loved him and he loved everybody. Yes, the 50’s and 60’s were a great period in my life. Being a baby boomer certainly had its perks, and Dairy Dan was one of them.

Sundays were especially memorable. Life in Olde Towne moved at a much slower pace compared to today. I could always count on a few things that would happen every Sunday: Come hell or high water, Mama would fix rump roast, rice and gravy, and green peas. Then later that afternoon, the old 6

ladies of Robert Street would hold a gossip session on Mrs. Powe’s front porch, drink coffee and share stories about one another’s ailments.

But us kids had more important things on our mind. We were waiting for Dairy Dan, who usually arrived in the neighborhood in his big blue and white truck around 3 o’clock every Sunday. You knew he was near as soon as you heard that circus-style music echoing down the street. Sometimes he played Pop Goes the Weasel or Music Box Dancer. It was truly music to our ears. For many of us throughout Slidell, Dairy Dan was the most recognized and anticipated person in town. He ranked right up there with Santa Clause and the Easter Bunny.

But long before Dairy Dan made it to us, we needed money to pay him. This would require some creativity on our part.

I knew from early on we were kind of poor, so I really didn’t like asking my parents for money. And getting an allowance was not even an option. I came from a family with very strong work ethics. Even at an early age, we were expected to have some sort of a job. I didn’t like begging them for money (but if I had to, I would, if that’s what it took to get an ice cream).

Me, my little brother Tommy, and my friend Steve, were quite the entrepreneurs when it came to getting ice cream money. We often did it using just one finger. Looking back at it today, our little fingers have been in some mighty nasty places. Being the oldest, and the ring leader of our little threeman enterprise, it was my job to get us up early and go make money before Dairy Dan arrived on Robert Street. To do the job properly, it took the combined efforts of all three of us, and upwards of 4-5 hours. Plus, leaving the house early was essential if we were going to beat the winos to “work”.

Our first stop would be the Washateria (Tacos and Beer today) at the corner of First and Cousin Street. We would stick our fingers in every coin return slot on every washer and dryer in the building. Then we would run our fingers inside the drums for loose change. Since most people washed their clothes on Saturday night, Sundays were perfect for finding loose change, amongst other items such as pocket knives, rings, and sometimes even car keys. Then we would hit every pay phone in town – and, believe me, they were on every corner. Those phones were so dirty, but we always found some change. Then we would go after the newspaper machines. These were my favorite because (just like today) half the time they didn’t work, and coins would always get stuck inside the coin slot.

So, when no one was looking, we just kicked them a few times until a few coins fell out.

Customers would take grocery carts home with them and discard them in the street. Ironically, the same issue over 50 years ago is even worse today. Steve and I would recover them and return them to the proper store for a small reward of just 50 cents, something we had done at A&P many times.

One day, we recovered 2 carts that belonged to A&P. So, riding our bikes with one hand and pulling the carts with the other, we returned them. That’s when the manager accused us of recovering them from his own parking lot - which was untrue. In fact, we found them down Second and Third Streets. Not only did he refuse to pay us, but he also falsely accused us of lying. So, in retaliation, as I left the parking lot, I took one of the carts and brought it to the Second Street Social Bridge (a story for another day) and rolled it into the canal.

Unfortunately for me, he must have been watching. He walked down to Sears and told my mom. (That’s the way it was in Olde Towne back in the 60’s - everyone knew everyone.)

When she got home, I’m telling you it was like a scene from Mommy Dearest. Our house, the very one I live in today, had two doors in every room. This allowed all of the kids to run in circles, in and out of the rooms. When I saw her coming down the hall with a switch in hand - the chase was on. I must have run in circles around that house a dozen times before I wore her out!

But, my mom was smart. She hid behind a door and when I came through, she got off a couple good swings. She was so mad at me. She made me get in the canal, retrieve the cart, wash it, and push it back to A&P. And if that wasn’t enough, I had to apologize to the manager.

All that for Dairy Dan. And, you know something... I would do it all over again for

Another great way we made money was by scouring the bar room parking lots. Currie’s was the best. Them drunks were always losing money and we worked that parking lot like crime scene investigators. By the time we went home for rump roast, we usually were $3-$5 dollars richer. Which was plenty enough to feed our ice cream addiction.

However, the most profitable of all my jobs would also lead to the demise of my money making ideas. Back then, my mom worked in the catalog room at Sears in Tammany Mall.

I should have known working near her would come back to haunt me, and it did. I got into a dispute with the manager of the A&P in Tammany Mall. I might have only been 9 or 10 years old; but over a half century later, I still know he was wrong on all counts.

7

just one more soft serve from Dairy Dan The Ice Cream Man.

STEP INTO SUMMER

WITHOUT

VARICOSE VEINS! • Personalized vein care by a Board Certified surgeon • Specializing in the treatment of varicose veins & spider veins • Comfortable outpatient setting

Venous-Neuropathy Treatment Center Dr. William V. Huval, M.D., FACS

985-718-4732

133 Cousin Street • Slidell, LA vntcenters@gmail.com

Attorneys & Counselors at Law

Successions

Probate • Last Will & Testaments Trust • Power of Attorney

Real Estate

S. Michele Blanchard Phone: 985-641-4010 Fax: 985-605-5010

All American Title Agency, L.L.C. A Full Service Title Agency

REAL ESTATE CLOSINGS

Commercial, Residental & Refinancing Abstarct • Title Insurance • Title Examinations Christina Lowrance Manager

Slidell Office • 303 S. Military Rd., Ste. 3

ATTORNEYS:

Denise D. Lindsey, Michael Tassin, Jr., S. Michele Blanchard 8

Phone: Fax:

Yep, Dairy Dan was the real deal. There will never be another one like him. He always wore a white uniform, black bow tie, and one of those perky white paper caps. I didn’t know it at the time, but Dairy Dan would become one of my favorite memories for the rest of my life. He was indeed special. He was always so kind and patient with us. He often put a little free ice cream in a cup for Tommy’s dog, Pudgy.

Of course, Dairy Dan’s claim to fame was his soft serve ice cream. I loved watching him make my ice cream. He knew how to make the perfect soft serve so it would never lean and fall off the cone. It was all in the way he twisted his wrist. A true art form.

My favorite was a chocolate double-decker. It was gigantic and it only cost about 25 cents. Milk shakes were 35 cents and a banana split was about 45 cents. In all the years he sold ice cream, I don’t think Dairy Dan’s ice cream, menu, or attitude ever changed.

AIREY BLANCHARD LAW OFFICE

303 S. Military Rd. Ste. 3 Slidell, LA 70461

Back to Sundays: After lunch, the kids would all just hang out and wait for Dairy Dan. Sure enough, around 3 o’clock he would be rolling up Robert Street. You had to be ready because when he stopped, kids would pour out into the street. Within a couple minutes, the line was 20 kids deep.

985-641-8002 985-605-5035

I miss Dairy Dan. I miss my childhood and I miss my mom and dad.

Today, if I could be granted just one wish, I would ask that every child in Slidell could experience Dairy Dan the way we did in the 50’s and 60’s.

Note: Dairy Dan’s real name was Davis Edward Kennedy. He was born in Talisheek, La. in 1912. He was a member of the Kennedy Dairy Farm family and, at one time, worked at the White Kitchen Restaurant in charge of the slot machines.

He was happily married for 75 years to Gladys E. Bowden Kennedy.

Dairy Dan died in 2003. May he rest in the peace and joy that he gave so many people.

SLIDELL • LA • 70458 985•643•5678

1808 FRONT STREET

PURCHASE YOUR NAIL TODAY!

$100 Nail Sponsorship includes a chance to win great prizes, including $10,000 in a drawing raffle to be held at the Grand Opening Gala and recognition in the Chamber Building History Book.

Help us refurbish your new Chamber building and you could win $10,000!

OUR NEW ADDRESS

Make a note of

WE HAVE MOVED!

$10,000 GIVEAWAY!

Thursday, May 22, 2014 5pm - 8pm

Grand OpeninG Gala

www.estchamber.com

Join us for our

The Chamber MARKETPLACE is accepting applications for artists.

Call us to find out how the MARKETPLACE can be YOUR place!

CALLING ALL ARTISTS

Adam invites locals and tourists alike to glimpse the flavor and feel that makes our region, and his art, so unique.

ADAM SAMBOLA

Adam Sambola, creator of the crawfish character, “RedBean”, is a Slidell resident and Louisiana native.

His award winning “Cajun Series”, with its candy-like colors, includes seafood characters enjoying all the lifestyle of Louisiana. “RedBean” has attracted collectors throughout the country and the world, and is a festival favorite – appearing on numerous posters for area events.

The Chamber is proud to showcase Adam’s artwork in his large and beautifully renovated gallery, located on the bottom floor. Moving his popular art gallery to the new Chamber building was an easy decision for Adam. “I have enjoyed my partnership with the Chamber and being a Chamber member.

I was honored to paint the former Chamber building for the cover of their 2011 Business Connection and to have my gallery in this historic building. I think the Marketplace is a great way to showcase all of talented artists we have here in Slidell and will introduce a lot of visitors to artists they may not have seen before. It’s a very exciting time for the community!”

THE CHAMBER MARKETPLACE artist SPOTLIGHT

SUN

BAYOU JAM “Witness” Heritage Park • 5:30pm

25

Weight Loss Seminar SMH Founders Bldg.

7pm

Ambassador Meeting TBD • Noon

Y! A Y

MON

Ambassador Meeting TBD • Noon

“7 Threats to your Family Security” Airey & Blanchard Law 6-8:30pm

USMC Band Memorial Day Concert Harbor Center

YIPPEE!

$

TUE

Meet the Artist Joel Geiger Pontch Inv Mgt • 6pm

Free Business Counseling Chamber Boardroom

BY RSV. ONLY • 9am

Grand Opening Esthetic MD 3-5pm

WED

Chamber Luncheon Ochsner Northshore The Den • 11:30am

May

THU

Business After Hours STARC & Patton’s Patton’s • 5-7pm

Business After Hours Microtel Hotel Pearl River • 5-7pm

Business After Hours Airey & Blanchard Law All American Title 5-7pm

29

CHAMBER GRAND OPENING GALA & $10,000 GIVEAWAY 1808 FRONT STREET 5-8PM

22

15

8

Business After Hours Silver Slipper Casino 5-7pm

Communications Committee Olde Towne Soda Shop • Noon

1

HURRY! Time’s running out!

Purchase your nail TODAY!

Friend’s of Harbor Center 10 Year Gala

Randy Smith Golf Royal Golf Club • Noon

FRI 3

Red Fish Series The Dock • 12am-12pm

SAT

Harbor Center • 10am-10pm The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Cutting Edge Theater • 8pm

LA Veteran’s Festival

Pearl Williams Breakfast Speaker: Dian Lusher Pinewood Club • 8am

Books Are Fun Sale Ochsner Northshore 8am-3pm

SYFA Golf Tournament Royal Golf Club • 11am

Canoe Tours Big Branch Marsh

1808 Front Street

31

Ray Edmond’s Benefit Ponies and Parties • 7pm

24

“Kiss Me, Kate” • Slidell Little Theatre 8pm

Mixed Media Juried Art Exhibition Slidell Cultural Center SHOW RUNS THRU 6/14

17

“Kiss Me, Kate” • Slidell Little Theatre 8pm

SMH Lunch & Learn Osteoarthitis Founder’s Building • 11:30am

30

23

16

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare • Cutting Edge Theater • 8pm

Dragon Boat Festival Tchefuncte River • 8am-3pm

10

“Kiss Me, Kate” • Slidell Little Theatre 8pm

Public Policy Committee Chamber Boardroom • 8am

9

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare • Cutting Edge Theater • 8pm

Northshore Boat ‘n Fishing Show • Fri-Sun • Harbor Center

2

985 • 643 • 5678 www.estchamber.com

5PM - 8PM

“Dino Marshall” Live Dinner Show Sapphire Restaurant • 5-9pm

28

“The Rafters” Live Dinner Show Sapphire Restaurant • 5-9pm

21

“Vince Vance” Live Dinner Show Sapphire Restaurant • 5-9pm

14

7

Senior Spring Celebration John Slidell Gym • 11am

30

CHAMBER GRAND OPENING GALA THURSDAY • MAY 22 • 2014 at our new home YOUR

27

20

13

6

Financial Workshop Pontchartrain Investment Mgt. 6pm

29

CHANCE TO WIN $10,000

Memorial Day

26

19

12

Cinco De Mayo

5

28

WOO-HOO!

“Kiss Me, Kate” Slidell Little Theatre 2pm

18

“Kiss Me, Kate” Slidell Little Theatre 2pm

Mother’s Day

11

Northshore Boat ‘n Fishing Show Harbor Center

“Kiss Me, Kate” Slidell Little Theatre 2pm

4

Annie • Cutting Edge Theater 2pm

BAYOU JAM Big Al & the Heavyweights Heritage Park • 5:30pm

OLDE TOWNE STREET FAIR

27

www.estchamber.com

Look for the RED Fleur de Lis For more info: 643-5678

Chamber Events!

2 0 1 4

Y

A

M

The

Sponsored by

Storyteller Mrs. Eunice Stringer Case

T

his is a story to which everyone can relate. It is a story about mothers - yours and mine. It would be insulting to the reader to say that my mother was special. Most mothers are special. The story of my mother starts with the fact that she passed away on March 27, 2014 at the age of 102 years, 7 months and 15 days.

same thing about yours. Mixed in with the accolades of praise, I want you to be cognizant of what happened in this world over the 102 years that she lived. If your mother lived for a shorter time, her world changed too.

I want you to think about the lack of facilities available to our mothers that we take for granted and the achievements they accomplished regardless. I want you to realize that they experienced - firsthand - advancements in technology, philosophy, and social attitudes that changed so very significantly. Yes, she lived during a period when mankind made the greatest advancements of any era in history. Living during this period alone, makes them unique for the changes they saw and the necessity for them having to adapt.

If your Mother is deceased, I hope that in the next few paragraphs, mixed with words that are unique to my mother’s life, you will find something that takes you back to the memories of your own. I hope, as you read this, you will get that warm loving feeling that only comes from happy memories. Yes, Mother’s Day is a day for remembering.

My dad died twenty years ago and I still miss him. When Mother recently passed however, even though I am 67 years old, I felt orphaned, abandoned - or you might say, given away. I do not remember asking my mother for advice in the last twenty years, but I knew she was there for me if I needed her. The emptiness of them

both now having passed hurts me to the pit of my stomach. It is frightening, much like when I was a child, getting lost from them in a large crowd. It is almost a panic feeling.

Yes, I will tell you a great deal about how loving my mother was. I am sure you can tell me the

For just a moment, let your mind form pictures.

Black and white ones would be best. Let it form pictures of a time when, in most communities, there were no automobiles. The roads were filled with horses, mules, buggies and wagons. Now let your sense of smell absorb those fragrances - the smell of wheat, oats, animal and human sweat.

In most homes, there was no electricity, indoor plumbing, and certainly no telephones. Now, in shades of sepia, let your mind picture the Great Depression. Hungry, protruding-ribbed children and gaunt, sunken-faced mothers and grandmothers riding in the crudest of vehicles as their families sought work, anywhere, of any kind.

Finally, in color, let your mind picture the horrors of World War II - the bright red, fiery explosions of the bombardments, and yes, the crimson, blood stained soil that absorbed the life of so many of their kinsmen and classmates. This would be repeated in Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf Wars and other minor conflicts. It does not matter how minor the conflict, the loss of a son or daughter or a grandchild is emotionally catastrophic.

On the social front, picture if you will the appearance and disappearance of “White Only” signs on lunch counters, restrooms and water fountains. Picture the landing on the moon. It is as if civilization came full circle over this era.

Into this world, my mother and yours (if she was of that era) was not only born, but thrived in the midst of hardship.

The year she was born, the first automobile arrived in her little village. The vehicle was powered by steam. I am sure that it turned heads as it traveled the dusty, unpaved and mostly un-graveled roads.

I don’t know if this automobile was one of my mother’s first cognizant memories or not, but it could have been. She told me about the first airplane she saw as it soared just above the treetops. She said it looked like it was made of sheets, and the pilot hung his head over the open cockpit and waved to her.

She lived through 18 different presidents starting with Taft and ending with Obama. She felt the effects of two World Wars. Until the day she died, she was influenced by the memories of the Great Depression. Together, she and I saw the first television either of us had seen. That was around 1950.

She took her first airplane ride, which was in a private plane, after she was 70 years old. She bundled up in a scarf, coat and cap - thinking the plane would be the open cockpit type she had seen as a child. She watched on television as Neil Armstrong made his first step on the moon and she heard the famous “giant step for mankind” speech.

She was adventuresome. In her 80’s, she slept in a tent on the ground for three nights on a family camping trip. She floated the Bogue Chitto River on an inner tube. In her early 90’s, she rode on a dirt bike. She was known as the FUN one. After all, she was a product of the Roaring 20’s, although a conservative one.

Just about two years ago, my sister got a call from Silver Cross, the facility where Mother lived the last few years of her life. My sister was told that Mother was not doing well and we should consider going to her bedside. My sister could not go, so I was to leave the next afternoon. Just prior to leaving, I got a call from my sister saying that I did not have to go. “Why?” I asked.

She answered, “You won’t believe this John, but Mother won a rock-n-roll dance contest today doing the Charleston. Her picture is going to be in the paper.”

I am sure your mother had many of the same attributes of resilience and determination my mother had. She and my father were the most hospitable couple you have ever been around. After his death, she continued that tradition. She was loving, caring, spiritually obedient, unselfishness, and the list goes on and on.

MAY

FRI 2

Tickets: $20-$25

SAT 3 FRI 9

SAT 10

SAT 17 Final Showing

All shows start at 8PM. Online Booking will close 1 hour prior to engagement.

JUNE

Fri 6 Sat 7 Fri 13 Sat 14 Fri 20 Sat 21 Disney’s ONE WEEKEND ONLY!

JUNE 27-29

Sleeping

Beauty

Tickets: Adults $16.50 Children 16 and under $12.50

Cutting Edge Theater 747 Robert Blvd. Slidell

985-649-3727

CuttingEdgeTheater.com 13

Let’s talk about how we can make these a reality for

!

Think Clearly Have More Energy Understand Your Body Make Self-Care a Priority Experience Improved Health

Healthier living can be fun and EASY! Now Offering: • • • •

My mother was a major contributor in the development of my spiritual life.

She taught me the basics that I can sum up in the title of a few songs that she sang as she did her daily chores: “What a friend we have in Jesus”, “Take it to the Lord in Prayer”, and “Standing on the Promises.”

When Mother’s home was sold, we found notes that she had made. She kept a prayer list and she prayed for people by name. It appears that she prayed for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren by name every day.

She also prayed for her friends and relatives who she thought may need to “find the Lord”.

Mother’s favorite season was the fall. The hot days of summer, the gardening, harvesting and canning gave way to the cool breezes of late September. Again, she observed in Nature what she felt to be a pattern for Life. For hours, she would watch squirrels and comment about how thrifty they were to be storing their winter’s food, always pointing out a lesson to be learned from that.

Maybe Mother missed her calling. When we were sick, she was at her best.

That is when she stopped all of her chores and centered her attention totally on us. Cool rags on our foreheads to check the fever, warm bedding to ease the chills, and her gentle touch - I still remember as if it were yesterday. She would tell us stories to pass the time. She was the ultimate storyteller. If you have ever read my story, “The Tales of Wags”, I go into this in detail.

Grocery Store Tours Weekly Meal Plans, Shopping Lists, and Recipes Clean Eating Support Groups Pantry Purges

Kelly Lutman Certified Health Coach

985-768-8898

Kelly@pur suewellnessfor you.com

Does your Retirement & Wealth Preservation Plan provide you with the flexibility and protection you need and deserve?

My mother had a green thumb. She could stick a nail in the soil and it would grow. From her vegetable gardens, we were nourished with good, wholesome food, cooked to perfection with love and care. There was not a single fast food chain in my hometown until well after I graduated from high school. There was no reason for them. Food was too good at home.

In the spring, she would go to the woods and tie a ribbon around the wild plants she wanted to bring back to her yard: dogwoods, redbuds, huckleberry and so on. In the fall, she would take her favorite tool, a sharpshooter shovel, and locate the trees that could only be recognized by the ribbons, since the leaves and blooms had long since departed with the changing season. She would carefully replant them in our yard and, over the years, she transformed a bare, two-acre hill into a thing of beauty. Today we would call Garden Spot and have them deliver and plant our entire landscaping.

I have a friend that told me that life is about the line between the digits. Of course, the first digit in my mother’s life was the day she was born. The last digit was March 27, 2014 - the day she passed. The space between those two dates she filled to the fullest with an exemplary life. Certainly, she had her faults. But, as children most of us did not see them and we do not remember them. I am sure you often reflect on how your mother filled the lines between the digits.

I will close with two questions and a statement: Are we as resilient and as adaptable to change as our Mother’s generation was? And finally, now that our Mothers are gone, who will pray for us?

Mothers have done that for their children since the beginning of time.

If your mother is still alive, visit her. If you can’t visit, call her right now.

If you are unsure, call us today!

Chuck Sabadie

Tania Fuselier

Jay Badeaux

ElderCareLA • 2019 2nd St. Slidell, LA • 985-718-4191 14

 John Case May 2014

100% USDA Prime Steaks and other Fine Dishes 2306 Front Street, Suite 19, Slidell, LA 70458 Reservations Recommended (985) 288- 4166

www.sapphiredining.com

“The Gem of the Northshore” Trout Mandich Supreme

Housemade Cannolis

Eggplant Sticks

Lloyd and Joel English invite you to re-visit the flavor of “Mandich”

Make your reservations now - Limited Seating

Live Dinner Shows Wednesday - May 21st

Wednesday - May 28th

“The Rafters”

Dino Marshall

“Mr. Las Vegas” and his tribute to

and a tribute to

featuring

Phat 2sDay

Fats Domino

Wednesday - June 4th The Golden Voice of

Laurin Munsch Take a Journey through the past “New Orleans Style” with the popular hits of days gone by and many local classics

featuring

Little Richard

Wednesday - June 11th Mark Monistere

Take a trip down memory lane with Mark as he croons the likes of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Tony Bennett and Buble original hits in his

Tribute to

Michael Buble

with

“The RAFTERS” Dinner Shows are $75 per person and include sales tax, gratuity, and a complete meal with appetizer, salad, choice of 4 entrees, 2 sides, desert, coffee, tea, and soft drinks

empting T the

Sponsored by:

April showers bring May flowers! What a welcome site after the dull, gray winter we had. While I love snuggling with my puppies with a fire is roaring in the fireplace, I think we definitely have had enough cold this past year. (Not to compare us with the folks up North - those poor souls!) All the rich, beautiful colors of summer flowers, like the azaleas throughout my neighborhood, really feed my soul. So much that I'd rather be outside with some good music on the radio working in the gardens than in the kitchen over a hot stove!

I like to start a new herb garden at this time of year. Don't get me wrong, I still cook during the summer months. There is nothing like fresh summer fruit, veggies and fresh herbs.

But, at this time of year, I look for fast, easy and lite recipes. I'm not a huge fan of BarB-Q, though I am of grilling. I guess what I mean is that I don't care for the taste of BarB-Q sauce saturated food. But make a butter based sauce with fresh garlic and herbs and I'm all in!

There's also something about a sunny day that seems to give us a little extra energy.

Story and Art

by Lori Gomez

Palette months seem to get. When I was kid, I would be outside till the sun went down and not think twice about it. Now, I try to plan my outings for early in the morning or late afternoon. I try to avoid the middle of the day at all cost if possible.

Anyhow, just yesterday I stopped on the side of the road and bought some Creole tomatoes and fresh cucumbers from the farmer on Gause Blvd. I was so excited that as soon as I got home, I made me a very simple cucumber and tomato salad with some Italian dressing. It was supposed to be for dinner but ended up being my lunch. I couldn't help myself, it was so good.

Looks like I'll be heading back over there to get some more. This time, I'll try to resist temptation and share. It could be worst - at least it's healthy food!

It makes me want to get out the house and do something. That is, until the really scorching months - then it's time to be in the air-conditioning. I don't know if it's just me but the older I get, the hotter the summer

During the summer, I tend to do a lot of different sandwiches and salads. Neither needs to be dull or boring. My favorites are grilled chicken or turkey sandwiches. In my family, they are regulars this time of year.

Fresh. Local. Delicious.

1337 Gause Blvd #102, Slidell Located behind Copeland’s

985-649-6151 7am-2pm

7 days a week

Grilled Chicken Sandwiches 3 or 4 chicken breast sliced against the grain in 1/2 inch slices 4 rolls your choice (I like pistolettes) 4 tbsp. olive oil 3 tbsp. lemon juice 1 tsp. chili powder 1/4 tsp. thyme 1/4 tsp. oregano 1/4 tsp. garlic powder or 1 clove minced garlic Salt and pepper to taste 1 avocado sliced 8 strips of cooked bacon Ranch dressing In a bowl, mix together olive oil, lemon juice, and seasonings Add chicken and let sit about 20 minutes Meantime, toast the bread. Sometimes we make garlic toast Grill chicken. It shouldn't take long since you are using smaller pieces Top bread with chicken, then bacon, then avocado Top with a little ranch dressing and the top bun and enjoy!

NOTE: Instead of chicken, sometimes I get turkey patties from Sams.

You can also forget the bread and create a really good salad with the rest of the ingredients on a bed of spring lettuce.

Fish Tacos are another favorite summer dish. There are several ways to do these. Here is my summer version:

Fish Tacos 2 lbs of fish (your choice). I use catfish or tilapia cut into 1/2 inch strips 1 onion sliced thin 1 clove of garlic, finely diced 2 tbsp. olive oil 1/2 lemon Salt and pepper to taste Sauté onion till caramelized

Mix all of the salsa ingredients together Use a leaf of lettuce or a flour tortilla wrap. Top with the fish and onion mixture, then a scoop of the salsa.

NOTE: There are several variations for this. You could just use grilled fish or fried fish strips with a tartar sauce. Anyway you do it, it’s yummy!

For a very simple salad which can be served by itself, on crackers or as a sandwich, Chicken Salad is the way to go:

Chicken Salad 1 whole rotisserie chicken ½ cup celery finely chopped ¼ cup green onion finely chopped 1 tbsp. yellow mustard ½ to ¾ cup mayonnaise ½ tbsp. hot wing sauce ½ tsp. of your favorite seasoning Remove all of the skin and discard Remove all of the meat from the bones and chop into small pieces Place meat and remaining ingredients into a bowl and mix Taste. You decide if you want to add seasoning. Sometimes it’s not necessary if the chicken has a lot of flavor.

That’s it! Serve in lettuce wraps, on toast or crackers.

NOTE: I buy really good rotisserie chicken at Sam’s. If you don’t want to go through the trouble of cleaning a rotisserie chicken, simply cook up 4 breasts in a little olive oil and use that. But remember if you do use a rotisserie chicken, boil up those bones with a bay leaf and some veggies and make yourself a nice stock for later. Just simmer for at least 1 ½ hours to get all the flavor out it. Let it cool completely. Strain out all of the bones and veggies and freeze.

Now invite some friends over for some dinner. Have a glass of wine and put on some good music. This should be a great way to start the summer!

I welcome your feedback! If you have any recipe requests, please feel free to email me at: LoriGomezArt@charter.net

Remove from pan and add fish to the same pan Season with salt and pepper When the fish is almost done, add the garlic and caramelized onions Squeeze lemon over the top. This will also deglaze the pan and pick up all those great flavors.

Set aside while you prepare the salsa topping:

Salsa topping 2 or 3 tomatoes chopped 2 green onions topped 2 cups lettuce chopped 1/4 red bell pepper chopped (optional) 2 tbsp. fresh parsley or cilantro chopped 1/2 tbsp. hot wing sauce 1/2 lemon, juiced 1 avocado (optional) Salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste

This beautiful butterfly artwork is made entirely from Mardi Gras beads.

Using thousands of individual beads cut from their strands, as well as beads of varying sizes, Lori is able to give the artwork intensly vibrant coloring and 3-dimensional depth You can enjoy more of Lori’s art on facebook or by visiting: www.LoriGomezArt.com 17 19

Making ₵ents

of your money

by Mike Rich

Financial security is not an impossible dream.

You just have to do something about it.

“There is no use trying,” said Alice. “One can’t believe impossible things.”

“I daresay you haven’t had much practice,” said the Queen. “When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” ~ Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll, 1865.

After years of observing people and how they handle their money, it’s apparent to us here at Pontchartrain Investment Management that many folks are siding with Alice’s friend the Queen these days. Despite their poor savings habits, little or no life or disability insurance to protect their family, irresponsible use of credit, and no realistic plan for their money, a lot of people seem to think that if they simply believe that their financial situation will work

Meet-the-Artist Night Join us for a beautiful evening filled with art, wines and food featuring the popular metal artist,

Joel Geiger I.D.EEL DESIGN

Tuesday, May 27, 2014 6:00 PM INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

2242 Carey St. Olde Towne, Slidell, LA

Call For Reservations

985-605-5066

www.mypontchartrain.com

Investment Services • Annuities • Retirement Planning

Life, Disability, and Long Term Care Insurance

Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor, member FINRA/SIPC.

18

out (rather than actually doing something about it), their belief will become reality. Now, it’s possible that some of these folks will get lucky, but, for most of them, it’s not probable.

However, they continue to hope that “it will all work out.” Just like in a fairy tale. Hmmm.

Well, believing in impossible things might work for the Queen in Lewis Carroll’s story, but, for us mere mortals and our money? I don’t think so. There is no magic wand that will undo years of financial procrastination and excuses for inaction, especially when it comes to saving and investing for the things you might want, like retiring someday. So, because achieving a comfortable retirement for most people is a choice that requires action, Andy, Chris, Steve, Robin, and I would rather bank on the more traditional ways of getting there. An impossible dream? Far from it. Although we can’t make any guarantees, there are some things you can do right now that could make your retirement hopes a reality. Read on.

1. Get real about how much money you will need in retirement and work with us to design a plan to get there.

Many people are in denial about how long their retirement might last. Consider this: for a married couple, age 65, there’s a 92% chance that at least one spouse will live to age 80.1 That’s a long time, and you or your spouse might live a whole lot longer. Retirement generally means that the money you need to live on has to come from someplace other than a paycheck, so much of our work with clients focuses on how to replace that check. One of the things we love to do is show how the time value of money works and what a powerful concept it is. Even if you choose to put your money in a savings account that earns a pittance, if you save regularly and keep it up long enough, you’ll accumulate a nest egg for the future. But, make no mistake: if you don’t save money on your own now, it’s a pretty safe bet that you won’t have any in the future. If you are serious about starting or re-starting your savings and investment plan, call us for a free consultation.

2. Don’t make the mistake of putting all of your retirement money in your 401(k) or tax-deductible IRA. We can’t know for sure about future tax rates and whether they will be higher or lower than they are now, but we do know that, under current federal law, any money coming out of a qualified retirement plan will be taxed as ordinary income. The last thing we want for our clients is to have all of their retirement money taxed before they have a chance to spend it. When it comes to investing, tax diversification is just as important as asset allocation, but tax planning has to happen long before you are ready to start using your money.

Call us for an appointment and we’ll get to work on a strategy.

3. Let an insurance company protect your assets.

When we talk about insurance with our clients so they can protect their hardearned assets in a risk-filled world, many times we hear, “That’s not going to happen to me, so I’ll just take my chances.” This comment is generally followed by arms being folded across the chest and a self-assured look on the face. You know what, Mr. or Mrs. Client? You might be right. But, what if you’re wrong?

If you die unexpectedly (it’s almost always unexpectedly), does your family have a way to replace the millions of dollars you could have earned over 20, 30, or 40 years of working, had you lived? If you become disabled and can’t earn an income, where will your family get money? If you cause a bad car accident and are sued for a million bucks, will your property and casualty insurance cover the tab, or will the plaintiff ’s attorney gleefully start grabbing for every bit of cash you have, including your income and your retirement money? Impossible, you say? This stuff happens every day to regular people, just like us. Insurance premiums are a small price to pay for protection that could make the difference between your family living with dignity, or just existing. If you want a realistic, unbiased assessment of your risks – and a costeffective strategy for dealing with them – call us for an appointment.

4. Work with an advisor to get your financial life in order.

When you visit our office, you’ll notice that we have a lot of books around the place. We’ve got books about investing, retirement planning, insurance, estate issues, and taxes. However, not one of them is a fairy tale book. When it comes to dealing with your money, we prefer reality. Now, don’t get me wrong. We believe in dreams. In fact, we want our clients to dream and to tell us very specifically what they want to achieve with their money. Our job is to assess those dreams and goals, devise plans that will work toward making them come true, and, keep our clients from deviating from the plan when times get rocky. Can we guarantee success? Nope. But we know that a goal without a plan is only a hope. Here’s our offer: you do the hoping and dreaming and we’ll do the planning. Together, we’ll make a great team. Call us.

Far from being impossible, the steps I described above are, indeed, very possible for many people. The frustrating part for us as financial advisors is that a lot of folks out there are dead-set on trying to find a short-cut to financial success, or some fairy tale ending to a life of financial irresponsibility.

Sadly, neither of those two outcomes are likely to happen for most of us. The truth is that people who achieve financial well-being generally get there by 1) spending less than they earn and saving and investing the rest, 2) making sure their money is protected as much as possible from taxation, 3) protecting their assets with insurance in case something bad happens, and 4) working with an advisor to keep them on track. No magic. No rabbit holes.

Just common sense.

Alice’s Queen might believe in impossible things, but we don’t recommend it when it comes to your money. To get grounded in reality, call us for an appointment.

1https://www.usaa.com/inet/pages/ret_life_expectancy?akredirect=true Securities and Advisory Services offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor, Member FINRA/SIPC. The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.

19

Louisiana

Veterans

estival F

by Lee Kreil

Honoring Our Veterans Always…in All Ways

By

just showing up, you can do good. And doing good will do you good. Got it? GOOD! The inaugural Louisiana Veterans Festival (LVF) will take place Saturday, May 17, 2014 at the Northshore Harbor Convention Center from 10am-10pm. Mark those calendars, save the date in your phone, or be on the lookout for that Outlook reminder and plan on attending the latest wonderful dedication “BUILT” by the East St. Tammany Habitat for Humanity. This festival is all about thanking our veterans for their service. As Debbie Crouch, President and CEO of our local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity, puts it…

Honoring our veterans always, in ALL WAYS!

At a Board Meeting for the East St. Tammany Habitat for Humanity (ESTHFH), David Kiviaho and his sister Sharon Sandifer, were having a typical discussion; one that most non-profit organizations have. “We were talking about money,” explains David. “There never seems to be enough for all the things that we feel need to be done. We started asking ourselves what we, at the Board level, could do to help raise money. Sharon and I wanted to focus on the creation of a festival.

So we pitched the idea for the LVF to the rest of the Board.”

The idea would come with several requests.

As co-founders of their own company, Kiisa Corporation, David and Sharon knew that a

as ag

as ag

as ag

as ag

ag

ck

y

M

ck

y

M

ck

y

M

ck

y

M

y

ck

ck

y

M

ag

Vicky Magas

Vi

Vi

Vi

Vi

Vi

Vi

INSURANCE AGENCY Over 50 years Experience, Integrity & Family Protection

Vi Ma ga ck s y Vi Ma ga ck s y Vi Ma ga ck s y Vi Ma ga ck s y Vi Ma ga ck s y Vi Ma ga ck s y

Vi

ck

y

M

“We decided at the beginning that if we were going to raise money for this first Veterans Build why not go ahead and dedicate ourselves to turning it into a dual purpose event.

Our local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity needs a staple event to help raise money to cover the ever increasing costs to carry out its mission. But equally important as creating an annual event that will provide a solid revenue stream is that we pay honor and tribute to our veterans,” says David. The LVF was thusly created to honor and celebrate the service and sacrifice of all armed service veterans by providing a venue for families and friends to thank these veterans.

as

What was the impetus for the festival to be veteran-themed in the first place? Actually, there were two driving forces.

One reason is that our area is seeing so many veterans returning home from active duty with many different types of injuries and special needs due to the nature of today’s combat and weapons. David explains, “There are many good organizations to help the veterans in our area but there is very little collaboration among them. There are some needs that go unmet today due to the larger number of local veterans in our area. However, we feel the opportunity for affordable homeownership should be a priority amongst these needs.” The second driving force came with the generous donation of a Habitat home to be built for a local veteran on property along West Hall St. in Slidell. David expounds, “Sharon and I wanted to make sure that our Habitat had the money to build this house for this veteran. We wanted to step up to the plate for our Habitat. We see them constantly helping others in need all over St. Tammany Parish and it was time we did something for them.

as

lot of work and planning lay ahead. As David says, “When you build something from the ground up, you need a solid foundation. It takes a lot of work and dedication from everyone.” Before David and Sharon agreed to swing the hammers and nail down the details of the LVF blueprints by co-chairing the committee of this Veteran’s Build, they wanted to make sure of one thing. David continued, “We asked for 100% participation from all the founding Board Members and that everyone shared the same passion and vision for this festival as we did.” They got their answer when they officially became the Chairpersons for the Louisiana Veterans Festival.

Protection can be affordable!

HOME

GENERAL LIABILITY

FLOOD

WORKER’S COMP

AUTO

COMMERCIAL

Vi Ma ga ck as s y M Vi Ma ag ga ck as s y M Vi Ma ag ga ck as s y M Vi Ma ag ga ck as s y M Vi Ma ag ga ck as s y M Vi Ma ag ga ck as s y

Vi ck y

The LVF is registered with the LA Association of Fairs and Festivals giving legitimacy to the event from the very beginning. The festival will also host some incredible entertainment - from the car extravaganza, to well-known local bands and music, along with a special veterans tribute show. There will also be interactive technology on hand along with amusement rides, unique arts and crafts, food and drink, and veteran-themed activities. In addition, by registering with the LA Secretary of State and the LA

2208 Second St

Vi ck

y

Olde Towne

ky

ky

ky

ky

ky

vickym16@hotmail.com

ky

ky

M

ag

985-646-1006 504-450-1680

21

Association of Fairs and Festivals, the LVF will also promote tourism in St. Tammany Parish as this festival showcases our area to the rest of the state and other neighboring states. “We want this to grow into an event that people from all over the state will put this on their calendar as a ‘don’t miss’ event. I want them leaving our festival after spending the day with family and friends having a wonderful time telling everybody that they do it right for veterans over there!” David says with a smile.

Paying tribute and raising money for the Veterans Build were the two main goals; both equal in importance to David and Debbie. Through generous donations already, the cost of the build plus close to half of the initial amount of what they needed to raise to sustain the festival and cover the event costs has already been met. The LVF is off to a healthy start, and that is important.

David adds, “We grew up understanding what you make for yourself is yours, but that there will always be a need to help others and I feel I have a responsibility to give as much as I can.

Has this been easy? NO! But to see the number of people who have stepped up and come out of the woodwork to help has been incredible and uplifting.”

The Veteran’s Build house, a donated home being rebuilt by Habitat, as it is torn down and rebuilt by volunteers

22

David and his sister Sharon were quickly reminded of the generosity and spirit of the residents of Slidell and St. Tammany Parish. He told the story of how he and his sister basically withdrew from Slidell to other parts of the state for several years while they were growing their business. When they returned to the area, he felt it was as if they had never left. They were welcomed back instantly and embraced by the community that they themselves appreciated so much. For this, he said he will be forever thankful and grateful. While on the road growing his business with his sister, David learned several valuable lessons that he was able to apply to help make the LVF a reality.

“I discovered while traveling that there are many ways of giving - with each one just as valuable as the next. You don’t have to have money to give, because you can give your time. It doesn’t take money to give your time…volunteer! Get out and get busy doing something - ANYTHING! Don’t leave it to your next door neighbor to affect change. YOU can be that change,” says David.

He continues, “We are following our hearts and what our hearts want to do. Community work is what Sharon and I love. At some point we might

“

“

We want this to grow into an event that people from all over the state will put this on their calendar as a ‘don’t miss’ event!

not have the time to dedicate to being on a committee or the money to donate for a cause or non-profit. But we can always make time to attend a fundraising event or have enough money to support the event by just buying food or drinks while there.

David wants everyone to remember the focus of the East St. Tammany Habitat for Humanity and the Louisiana Veterans Festival as it pertains to all of this. Paying honor and tribute to our veterans is just as important as creating an annual event that helps support our local Habitat affiliate.

“I want everyone at this festival to think to themselves that they did something good for veterans. I want them feel like they helped lift up someone who has done so much for us and our country through serving and becoming a veteran.

Quite frankly, in some ways I want people to talk about our Veterans and this festival like we talk about strawberries!”

David says with a laugh. But the point is made. Established festivals are on most everyone’s radar, even if they don’t know or have forgotten who the proceeds go to or what charity is raising the money. People just remember that they have to go back every year because it is so much fun.

This is what David wants the LVF to grow into.

Divorce Hurts!

Avoid the conflict, stress, cost and time of divorce litigation with a Qualified Divorce Mediator. Mediation is convenient, confidential and helps preserve parenting relationships post-divorce.

Take control of your divorce, contact RESOLUTIONS Mark A. Myers PLC.

Alternative Dispute Resolution services in Southeastern Louisiana and Mississippi 17 years experience in Divorce Mediation

RESOLUTIONS

Mark A. Myers PLC

985-768-9015 www.resolutionsadr.com www.facebook.com/resolutionsadr Slidell, Mandeville, Metairie & New Orleans, LA

Divorce Mediation ~ Civil Mediation ~ Elder Mediation ~ Workplace Conflict Mediation ~ Arbitration

It is important that non-profits like East St. Tammany Habitat for Humanity survive. They provide home ownership to people and veterans that otherwise might not ever be able to achieve that dream. Our veterans have sacrificed so much to serve our country, many of them putting their lives at risk unselfishly. For those veterans who are struggling to maintain a roof over their head, help is on the way. East St. Tammany Habitat for Humanity is making a difference!

How can YOU make a difference? If you don’t have the money or time to devote to volunteering or joining a committee, David has the answer, “Show your support for Habitat and our veterans by just simply showing up. This is a great way to give back. Volunteers are always needed and so is money, but what is a festival if nobody shows up?” That sounds like an invitation we just can’t resist!

See you SATURDAY, MAY 17 at the Harbor Center!

You can find out more about East St. Tammany Habitat for Humanity and the Louisiana Veterans Festival by going to their Facebook pages or to their website.

LAveteransfestival.com

LAVeteransFestival www.esthfh.org

23

Canoe and Kayak: Slidell

Sponsored by

story & photos by Donna Bush

With over 17% of Louisiana covered by water, there has to be good paddling.

As a kayaker for over 15 years, I can attest to this. I don’t even live on the water, but my husband and I own three kayaks and three canoes. Owning a kayak or canoe might actually be a requirement to be a Louisiana resident. Louisiana now has its own paddle website that details trails, events, groups, clubs and waterway safety throughout the state. Check it out: www.louisianapaddle.com.

near the tomb of a Sumerian king near the Euphrates River is believed to be around 6000 years old! The word ‘canoe’ originated from the word ‘kenu’ meaning dugout. These were made of large hollowed out tree trunks used by the Natives in the Caribbean to travel between islands. North American Indians are credited with developing the more widely known birch bark canoes, which were built of a wooden rib frame covered with birch bark.

After our unseasonably cold and wet winter, we are finally enjoying Spring.

Hopping in a canoe or kayak and getting on the water is one of the best ways to enjoy the beauty of Spring. We probably have more available paddling waterways than most other states. You can choose from slow with little or no current, tidal current to meander with, or moderate paced white water.

Although we don’t have any white water near us in Slidell, there is plenty within a five to six hour drive. In and around Slidell, you can paddle ponds, lakes, rivers, bayous, and even the Gulf of Mexico.

Canoes and kayaks have changed a lot since those days, coming in a variety of

It is thought that kayaking originated over 5000 years ago with the Artic Eskimos building the first kayaks from the bones and skins of sea mammals and using them as hunting vessels. Archaeological evidence of a canoe found

1354 Corporate Square Blvd.Slidell, LA (Located in the Hobby Lobby Shopping Center)

985.781.3909

In the words of Henry David Thoreau, “Everyone must believe in something.

I believe I’ll go canoeing.” materials - from lightweight Kevlar to heavy but indestructible aluminum. You can get a solo, tandem (double), sit inside or sit-on-top, foldable or inflatable.

So many choices! No worries if you don’t have your own canoe/kayak and aren’t ready to purchase. There are plenty of outfitters that will provide you with all the gear you need, some basic instruction and even guide your trip.

Mon-Sat: 10:00am - 5:00pm

Facebook.com/MiaSorellaDecor www.miasorelladecor.com

Little or no skills required. Paddling knows no age limits. I’ve paddled with the young in age and the young at heart.

There are pros and cons to kayaks and canoes. Kayaks are faster, more maneuverable and easier to paddle. On the con side, kayaks are more limited on storage space for gear and can be tippier. Canoes have a lot of storage space for gear, can be paddled by two people, are relatively stable and provide a higher vantage point. Canoes are less maneuverable, can take on water and sink, difficult to paddle in windy conditions and require more skill to paddle efficiently. If you are considering overnight trips, you may want to look at a canoe for its greater storage capacity. If you are interested in fishing from your vessel, consider a kayak. They come rigged with everything you need to fish efficiently and accurately.

Big Branch National Wildlife Refuge stretches south of Highway 190 and north of Lake Ponchartrain from areas around Slidell and Lacombe to Fontainebleau State Park near Mandeville. There are numerous bayous, marshes and even the lake to paddle. My favorite paddle is Cane Bayou, which forms the border between Big Branch National Wildlife Refuge and Fontainebleau State Park. A two-mile round-trip paddle will take you to the mouth of Lake Ponchartrain, providing beautiful secluded scenery along the way. Even though this paddle is close to Highway 190, within minutes of putting in you will be away from highway noises and forget you are anywhere close to civilization. I always see lots of wildlife on this paddle, including great blue herons, great egrets, belted kingfisher, bald eagles, great horned owls, osprey and alligators. I’ve also seen a family of river otters playing and splashing in the water and a raccoon, all in the same day. Depending on the time of year you paddle, you may see the osprey nesting about a quarter mile from the lake. You can find their nests high in the trees, easy to spot.

The louisianapaddle.com site provides a search engine that allows you to search by one of five regions within the state and the type of paddle, i.e. river, lake, bayou, open water. Under the ‘Paddling Community’ tab, you will find a list of groups, clubs and outfitters for each region along with websites and contact information. Check out the ‘Event’ tab for upcoming paddle related activities that include organized group paddles, races and forums on such topics as kayak fishing. The ‘waterway rules and safety tab’ provides tips on paddling safety, potential hazards and river characteristics.

When deciding on a paddle, you can choose from multi-day trips with overnight camping, moonlight paddles, fishing trips, races, swamp tours or history tours. For instance, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service offers a Big Branch canoe trip that provides all equipment, basic instruction and provides both natural and cultural information on the history of the area and how humans have interacted with and changed land over time.

If you’ve never been in a kayak or canoe, you might be asking yourself, “Why would I want to do that?” Well, first of all, you can visit some incredibly beautiful places that can’t be seen from the road or by foot. You can get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. You can find solitude. Experience Mother Nature at her finest.

Paddling puts you eye-level with the water, an up-close and personal experience like no other, giving a completely different perspective on the scenery. There’s no motor noise, providing a quiet way to sneak up on wildlife. You can get into tight, shallow areas where powerboats and jet skis can’t get or aren’t allowed.

Lots of paddlers want the excitement and adrenalin rush of white water.

While we don’t have any real white water close by, you can practice and hone those skills on the Okatoma Creek, north of Hattiesburg. Serious white water paddlers argue that it doesn’t offer more than Class I; even though others say there are Class II rapids. Despite the argument, the Okatoma does offer the ability for paddlers to practice “surfing,” riding the upstream face of a standing wave or practice eddy turns.

Some of my favorite places to paddle are the National Wildlife Refuges. There is Bayou Sauvage within the New Orleans city limits, offering both freshwater and brackish marshes, bayous and lagoons. As for wildlife, there is abundant waterfowl, numerous wading birds, shorebirds, hawks, deer, raccoons, squirrels, nutria, mink, otters and feral hogs.

Located northeast of Slidell is Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge, encompassing 36,000 acres of the Pearl River Basin. Paddling is on a branch of the Pearl River and can be affected by heavy rains. This is a prime area for seeing swallow-tailed kites soaring overhead.

If you are looking for something with more water in your face, such as true white water, you’ll have to venture a little further. Class III rapids can be found on the Coosa River in Wetumpka, Alabama, a little over four hour drive from Slidell. A bit further north is the Nantahala River in North Carolina, near the Smoky Mountain National Park. It offers breathtaking scenery along with a variety of rivers to paddle. You can paddle on the Class IV rapids of 1996 Olympic famed Ocoee River or try out the “Deliverance” famed Chattooga River. White water isn’t for everyone, but no one can dispute the beauty of Mother Nature painting her canvas with water as it careens through the gorges of the mountains.

In the words of Henry David Thoreau, “Everyone must believe in something.

I believe I’ll go canoeing.”

25

by Rose Marie Sand

Sponsored by:

go beyond

G

Dance with your soul, not just your feet.

et ready for some summertime outdoor concerts in St. Tammany, and put your soul into it!

I grew up with a dancing Mom, Julia DiGiovanni, and learned how to “jitterbug” in the kitchen with my sisters. Mom says, “How can you be still when you hear the beat?”

It’s natural for me to celebrate that attitude – her influence has always taught me the reality of the saying “you’ve gotta dance like there’s nobody watching.” Because it’s not about dancing like a star; it’s about

feeling the stars and the sun in a universal language in music and movement. I hope you feel that way, too.

The next couple of months bring lots of opportunities to do just that. Free concerts like Bayou Jam in Slidell, Sunset at the Landing and Rocking the Rails in Covington, and Mandeville Live! at the Trailhead are so close to home.

In New Orleans, visit Wednesdays at the Square (Lafayette Square in the CBD) and Jazz in the Park at Armstrong Park.

And some stellar concerts with a fee like Jazz’n the Vines at Pontchartrain Vineyards and the Dew Drop Jazz Hall in Mandeville are not to be missed.

If your style is more tuned to listening with a smile rather than a dance – may I make a suggestion? Forget everyone else and be yourself – dancing is just about the most sensuous thing you can do in public.

Don’t be intimidated – the best thing we have going for us is the ability to make a fool out of ourselves.

But I promise, you won’t regret it.

One of the best dancers I’ve ever know was a gangly 6’5” seventeen-year old. He was naturally athletic, but an introvert who just knew everyone was looking at him on the dance floor. He’d get up to do a sort of swaying, slow dance because he could close his eyes, hold a girl, and not feel

awkward. This was 1965 – the year of the mashed potato, the jerk, and lots of other “fast dances.”

But in the summer of his senior year, something changed. Not in a Footloose kind of choreographed way, but all subtle and happy-like. He decided to find his inner dancer and, by the time he graduated, he encouraged all the other shy jocks to get on the floor. I married the guy, and danced with him for 40 of the best years of my life.

Which reminds me of those other guys who make a habit out of dancing like nobody’s watching, but with everybody watching – the 610 Stompers. I was privileged to see their debut performance at the Buddy D Parade, and was instantly a fan. And for a really good time, check out their auditions event next year – still can’t stop smiling thinking of them.

Real men who dance – nothing’s sexier.

Real women love that stuff.

A couple of years ago, I was at Rocking the Rails at the Covington trailhead with some friends, enjoying the summertime and Luther Kent. This event is one of the best, and don’t miss the Parmesan French Fries at a food truck nearby.

We’d set up chairs and had the requisite wine and beer in hand. I was itching to dance, but had a shy moment. My girlfriend, Grace, turned to me and said, “Do you know anyone else here? Does anyone here pay your bills?”

Confused, I shook my head. Then I got it, and never have forgotten that attitude.

Sure, it may feel vulnerable at first, but there’s power in vulnerability. Tiptoe halfheartedly until you get the spirit.

“You’ve gotta dance like there’s nobody watching, Love like you’ll never be hurt, Sing like there’s nobody listening, And live like it’s heaven on earth.”

I must admit that being nearsighted gives me an advantage in this regard. I can take off my glasses and instantly, I’m a onewoman show.

Still, there’s a technique to get the groove.

Get in a Riverdance mode and just move your feet and keep your upper body still.

Or wave your arms in the air like you just don’t care and keep your feet in one place for a while. Then channel your inner Woodstock hippie and get creative.

Speaking of Woodstock – I wasn’t there but wish I had been. Jazz Fest and French Quarter Fest help me get in touch with that spirit. Last year, I took my teenaged nephew, Jacob, to the Fest and made a deal with him.

He promised that when (or if) I get too old to take myself, he’d push me to the Economy Hall tent in my wheelchair where I can listen and watch the dancers. He’s to bring me crawfish bread and beer and wheel me to the bathrooms in the Grandstand occasionally. And he’s to pay it forward to his kids someday.

I’ve found that with a little planning, outdoor festivals are much more fun than going to a big indoor one. For one thing, you can usually move around and get a better seat at Heritage Park than at a big arena. The beer is also cheaper and the parking is free and easy.

Here are some of my personal tips for enjoying an outdoor festival:

WEATHER: Plan for the weather, but don’t get hung up on it. Garbage bags make wonderful improvised raincoats.

SHOES: There’s some really cool and colorful rubber “shrimp boots” for days when mud becomes nature’s pedicure. Or just keep a pair of extra sandals in your car, and a jug of water.

Throw your muddy shoes away, rinse off your feet when you get back to your car, and you’ll feel like a millionaire who just had an expensive mud treatment (sort of).

LOOKING FABULOUS: Leave makeup in the car, too, and just wear sunscreen, mascara and lip-gloss. Everyone looks better when dewy and natural.

27

NATURAL AROMAS: It’s hot, so your best friend is baby wipes. Nuff said.

CLOTHING:

FLOOD INSURANCE:

Ace

Let us help separate the truth from the rumors

INSURANCE AGENCY

For All Your Insurance Needs 3412 Pontchartrain Dr • Slidell

985-643-5440

w w w. AC E I A . c o m

For females – short cotton skirts and sundresses are cooler and help deal with potty floor unpleasantries. There’s just no other way to say it – don’t let your clothing touch a portable potty floor. If you keep an extra hair elastic around your wrist, it’s easy to bunch your skirt up to avoid potty floor grunge. And don’t wear jeans, a romper or jumpsuit, ‘cause there’s just no way to keep those off the ground. Wear light colored clothing - black clothes may be slimming and look badass, but not when you’re dehydrating.

HOT, HOT, HOT: If you’re in for a scorcher, use a small spray bottle of water (get rosewater at the drug store if you’re into that), and mist yourself regularly. Evaporation is your other best friend.

CARRY-INS: Fanny packs have a deserved reputation as nerd accessories, but I’m here to say fly your fanny pack! They hold keys, cell phone and cash safely in front of you. I found a really funky one and if I’m deluding myself that it looks cool, refer to all the stuff I wrote about vulnerability. If you’re not paying my bills, or even if you were, I’m still rocking my pack. You can also wear the fanny pack cross shoulder, like an ammo belt – but if you do, watch out for weird suntan marks.

HATS: Although a head of sweaty helmet hair is decidedly not attractive, nothing beats a hat in the sun. You may have to keep it on until you can get a shampoo and have sweet smelling hair again, but it’s worth it. Baseball cap (brim in front, people, it’s all about shading your eyes and backwards caps are silly on most adults), wide brimmed straw, Panama, Fedora, cowboy hat – everyone looks like a sharp dressed dancer in a hat. And, in my humble opinion, they’re the modern day equivalent of shoulder pads for balancing upper and lower regions. Gals, you know what I mean?

SUNBURN: It may happen, even with today’s powerful sunscreens.

When my Mom (an olive complexioned Italian) was blessed with three little red-headed, very white daughters, she would bring us in from the sun and put us in a bathtub filled with vinegar and water. I hated the smell, but have to admit it took the burn out. Aloe lotion does the trick, too, but don’t discard this old wives tale.

POSITION: Alternate between edge of crowd, where you can catch a breeze, and up close in front of the stage. A battery-operated personal fan is a dandy (if nerdy) accessory, and you can make friends by aiming the blades at sweaty dancers.

WATER, WATER, WATER: Drink it, pour it on you, drink more, freeze bottles of it and stick ‘em in your pockets. You can never have enough 28

water. And a small bandana, with ice folded inside, makes a wonderful neck scarf. Another great idea is to remove your cap or hat, pour cool water on it, and put it back on your head.

I hope to see you at a festival grounds this summer. I’ll be the one Dancing With My Mom. The song my Mom taught us to dance to is a little known one by Irving Berlin – “Let Yourself Go”. Every single one of her

children and grandchildren know this song by heart and we sing and dance to it when we get together. In fact, my niece, Lyndsey, who is an incredible dancer with her Grandmother’s genes, will perform a tribute dance to Mom at her coming review.

So join our Let Yourself Go! Club and dance with your soul.

As you listen to the band, don’t you get a bubble?

As you listen to them play, don’t you get a glow?

If you step out on the floor You’ll forget your trouble If you go into your dance You’ll forget your woe So, Come Get together Let the dance floor feel your leather Step as lightly as a feather Let yourself go Come Hit the timber Loosen up and start to limber Can’t you hear that hot marimba?

Let yourself go Let yourself go Relax And let yourself go Relax You’ve got yourself tied up in a knot The night is cold but the music’s hot So, Come Cuddle closer Don’t you dare to answer “no, sir” Butcher, banker, clerk and grocer Let yourself go

29

By Leslie

Crimi-Mommly INSANE Sponsored By

Gates

Once upon a time, it was all about me... then I had children. The end.

Lawn Care

FLOWER SOUP

Where do we go once there are kids to care for? And how do we find ourselves again?

Sometimes, to reconnect with my “old self”, I sit on the toilet with the door locked, reading some self-help book or browsing the internet from my phone.

My family must think I have serious bowel problems because of the many times I do this. But it gets me away from the craziness, so I can focus on myself again.

I’ve been thinking that there HAS to be a better way. It really is hard to walk out of the bathroom with my legs asleep, but I get desperate for quiet.

The sibling fights, the constant mess, the attitudes. It just gets to be TOO MUCH to handle, so I run away. You will either agree with me, or think I’m a horrible parent; but any door that locks from the inside has become my new favorite place.

My truck works too. Locks from the inside, plays music, has a butt warmer, ahhh...

Heaven. I can just zone out and find some peace with the old Leslie, afraid that I may lose her to minivans and sweatpants, under a huge mound of laundry with no matching socks. But it is short lived, and never seems to help me blossom at all. I just seem to exist there, while 3 children press their faces against the window wondering what the hell I am doing. It seems impossible to get a break from the constant needs of my children.

APPARENTLY someone forgot to give me the manual on raising kids.

At some point in parenthood, I flipped the switch to survival mode, and became robot Mommy. “I. am. Here. To. Cook. Your.

Food. And. Clean. Up. Your. Mess. Beep.

Beep. Boop. Boop.”

We compare ourselves to everyone else, beat ourselves down when we make wrong decisions, and always feel like we are failing our kids somehow. Then, we lock ourselves away.

Not sure where Leslie went, except into a deep abyss of Pokémon, stuffed animals and Legos, where I find myself trying to swim my way back up for air.

Remember, we are ALL on this crazy ride together. And we all deal with our stuff differently. Judge me, and I will make you sit in my house for a day!

And don’t tell me there’s not one. Because that would be INSANE! As a Mom, I have tucked myself away, living under some new names... “So and so’s Mom”, “Brian’s wife”, and sadly, my own worst enemy.

Parenthood comes with an abundance of guilt.

WINNER !

2013 Super Service Award from Angie’s List!

Lawn Care

Smarter Outdoor Solutions

985 -774 - 8507

tojoslawncare.com

Just let me in the bathroom with you when I knock.

So, with this, I decided to step out of myself for a while and see my children as individuals, instead of like hungry pack animals charging for me.

I had to slow my roll.

My six year old daughter was playing nearby, painting the driveway with my expensive acrylic paints that I had told her many times NOT to use. I stopped myself quickly, realizing I yell at them way too much as it is.

I somehow let it go, and said, “Lets. Go. For. A. Walk. Beep. Beep.

Boop. Boop.”

She grabbed my hand and smiled, which quickly caused a piece of my robotic armor to fall off.

The flowers had just started to bloom, the weather was beautiful... and it was just me and her.

Untangle the red tape of Health Care Reform We can help

I told myself, “For. One. Hour. I. Will. Do. This.”

I wanted to see HER, to listen to her thoughts and feelings... to just put my own crap aside for a while.

We walked hand in hand - talking about school, friends, and ALL of the bright colored flowers lining the streets of our neighborhood.

Many times she let my hand go, running to pick a flower and hand it to me. “Here Mommy, it’s your favorite!” This, of course, made more of my armor fall to the ground.

I became childlike with her, running to pick the next pretty flower.

John Brindell 985-696-0482

jbrindell@eustis.com

We made wishes on dandelions, put azaleas in our hair, and smelled the lilacs.

31

With each passing moment, a little more of the old Leslie would shine through. Eventually, I felt like I no longer needed my armor.

That small moment, with my small girl, was HUGE. For both of us.

I was reminded of a song by the group Avicii. The line says, “All this time I was finding myself, and I didn’t know I was lost.”

I had been lost. Lost and looking for answers behind a locked door; when all along, it was right in front of me.

You have to make opportunities to bloom WITH your children. To find yourself within THEM. And it’s never too late. EVER. At the end of our walk, we gathered all the flowers we picked and made “flower soup”, just as I did as a child. Gathering them together in a bowl of water, talking about the beauty of each one.

It was simple, and even better, FREE! As she was stirring her soup and singing a song to herself, I studied her innocence, taking it all in.

In that moment I realized... she is me. The part of me I have been searching for, that I miss. The person I was before putting on all my armor.

The things she says... the emotions she feels... her silliness. It’s me.

I found myself where I would have never thought to look, and it wasn’t on the bathroom toilet, or in my truck.

She is a very deep, loving, little girl. And only wants my attention.

They all need me.

Yeah, she will still fight with her brothers, make a mess every day, and get on my nerves. But nothing will ever take our hour away. NOTHING. And if I hadn’t stepped out of myself for a little while, these are a few things I may have never known:

Not robot me, but real me.

- Her favorite Skittles are the red and yellow ones.

- We both agree that helicopters should have horns, so they can acknowledge that you are waving at them when they pass by.

- She misses lunchtime at preschool because I used to write happy notes on her napkins.

- I need to write happy notes on her napkins.

- She loves to paint pictures, but gets frustrated, thinking it’s not as good as my paintings.

- I am her hero.

This doesn’t mean I won’t hide away again when it becomes too much. It means that next time, I will remember a little sooner, that LOVE DEFEATS ALL. Then I can at least get off the toilet before my legs turn into pins and needles.

Every stage of parenthood comes with its own challenges, you just can’t let that challenge defeat you. Face it head on, smell the flowers more often, and you may find out, as I did, that a beautiful garden awaits you.

A new, regular column about the many restaurants and eating establishments in Slidell When I asked Slidell Magazine publisher Kendra Maness about the possibility of writing a restaurant column in the magazine, she asked, “How in the world are you qualified to write about food?”

“It’s simple,” I answered. “I eat out every day.” Here’s one of the places I ate this month...

NOLA Southern Grill Owner Louis Ochoa opened NOLA Southern Grill a few years ago with the hope of combining the positives of large chain restaurants and small neighborhood eateries. The result, housed in the old O’Henry’s space at 1375 Gause Blvd., is a casual establishment with many unique offerings.

The menu is huge and has all the staples: burgers, po-boys, pasta, steaks and seafood. I’ve tried several of these in the past and they were all good.

“Best Thing on the Menu”

I visited for lunch on a Thursday in April - right as crawfish season was kicking into gear. It’s hard not to at least sample a few crawfish! These were tasty. The spiciness and heat were about as good as I’ve had at any restaurant. They can’t top my Dad’s recipe but, really, who can?

I asked Louis for the best thing on the menu? “Shrimp and Grits.” He said it without hesitation. It’s a mishmash of shrimp, mushrooms, peppers and a cream sauce on top of cheese grits - a presentation that doesn’t photograph well. But the dish is delicious. I’m adding NOLA’s shrimp and grits to my personal “comfort food” menu.

Before we ordered off the menu our waitress, Brittany, brought NOLA’s homemade kettle chips. I asked Louis what inspired him to offer this relatively strange starter. “We wanted to offer something different. They’re fresh. We make a new batch every hour.”

I usually don’t have dessert with lunch but things change when you write food articles. Brittany recommended bread pudding. Nice presentation - a sizable cube dolloped with thick whipped cream and a very good praline sauce.

Not too “eggy.” I went through a bread pudding phase a few years ago and this version would have tested very well.

Some additional points about NOLA: • Probably the largest outdoor dining area in Slidell • Wine Down Wednesday - 2 for 1 wine • Best time to get a table: Any Monday, anytime of day • Catering • Outdoor kitchen

New Business Branding

Call Us!

985-641-5889 exposigns.com 33

by Jeff Perret, DVM

Sponsored By:

Trifexis (spinosad+ milbemycin oxime) TM

He Just Wandered Off To Die, Doc There’s a belief that’s firmly entrenched that when animals get old and sick and they know their time has come, they instinctively heed the message from some inner clock, telling them that it’s time to wander away, find a secluded spot, and then curl up to die.

People tell their children this. “Well, Fluffy was old; she must have gone off somewhere to die.” They tell their friends and family as well, who then spread the word around. “You know Barbara’s old cat Leonard? He was getting pretty old, losing weight. She hasn’t seen him for a while. She figures he must have crawled off to die.” Or the one I hear in the exam room that makes me wince every time: “Well, Doc, we brought Old Joe in to see you today because he’s been a little off.

No, we really don’t want to do anything for him, we just wanted to see if you thought it was time to put him down. We keep thinking he’ll just go off to die, but he’s still hanging on, so we thought we’d ask you.”

Of course, I wouldn’t be writing about it now if I didn’t think that it might be time to question this widely held belief.

In a way, it’s comforting to us to think that our old pet wandered away, found a warm, quiet place in the woods, then curled up and passed away. Just went peacefully to sleep and never awoke. It certainly jibes with every movie we’ve seen and fairy tale we’ve read.

It helps children stop crying when they come to believe that death is peaceful for their old pets. Rover is still gone, but at least it was a gentle death. I’m sure it helps the adults too.

As a child, I bought it. Every single adult I knew assured me that old dogs knew when they were supposed to die; then at the appointed time, they wandered off to do so in a fashion known only to old dogs. No one I knew ever questioned this wisdom, so I never questioned it either.

Dr. Jeff recommends using:

Sorry, but it’s time to rain on that parade.

Plainly and simply: animals that are old, sick and debilitated are already suffering and in need of care to relieve their discomfort, in whatever form that has come. While the notion that they drift away to die peacefully is quite romantic, I submit that instead they wander off and are unable to return. Perhaps they stumble into a ditch or creek and are physically unable to get out. Perhaps they become disoriented (as senior citizens are often known to do) and cannot find their way home, instead traveling aimlessly looking for a safe haven. Maybe, heaven forbid, they’ve been assaulted by another animal, too old and slow to escape, then either killed or too badly injured to recover.

Perhaps they’ve been hit by a motor vehicle.

Older pets can suffer from hearing loss, impaired vision, cognitive dysfunction (the animal version of Alzheimer’s disease), crippling arthritis, muscle loss and weakness, or a myriad of serious, systemic diseases that can make it impossible for them to return home once they’ve gotten too far away.

Even those who are not profoundly impaired may be unable to escape attack, speeding vehicles, difficult terrain or geographical disorientation. If the weather is bad, they are even more likely to get in trouble — imagine

Prevents

HEARTWORM Disease

Trifexis

Kills

FLEAS & Prevents Infestations TM

(spinosad+ milbemycin oxime)

Treats and Controls

INTESTINAL WORMS Adult Hookworm, Roundworm, and Whipworm

what it would be like for you if you were lost, wet, cold, and afraid.

Older pets may need as much supervision as puppies and kittens in order to stay out of trouble. Keep them inside a fence, on a leash, or only let them outside under supervision. If you see an unknown pet, old or young, wandering your neighborhood, do your best to stop and help. It could be someone’s old friend who has “wandered off to die” and needs you to notice and care.

If a pet’s health is declining, it’s better to make the difficult decision to euthanize rather than wait to let nature take its course, which is rarely peaceful and comforting; more often it is slow, agonizing, and carries great suffering. Dogs and cats rarely “die peacefully in their sleep,” and they do not wander off in order to spare our feelings.

That’s a fairy tale invented to make kids (and some adults) feel better, at the animal’s expense. At times they are suffering and they need help in dying, and you, as a responsible pet owner, are the one who must recognize when that is the case. They do not deserve to meet a frightened, bewildering end “out there,” lost and alone.

Take the time to show your pet how much you love them at the end of their life’s journey, just as much as you have all throughout their life.

RA I N B OW B R I D G E The Rainbow Bridge is the theme of a work of poetic prose written sometime between 1980 and 1992, whose original creator is unknown. The theme is of an other-worldly place to which a pet goes upon its death, eventually to be reunited with its owner. It has gained popularity amongst animal lovers who have lost a pet.

The story tells of a green meadow located “this side of Heaven” (i.e., before one enters into it). Rainbow Bridge is the name of both the meadow and an adjoining bridge connecting it to Heaven.

PET SITTING Insured

In Your Home by

According to the story, when a pet dies, it goes to the meadow, having been restored to perfect health and free of any injuries.

The pet runs and plays all day with the others, there is always fresh food and water, and the sun is always shining.

However, it is said that while the pet is at peace and happy, they miss their owner who had to be left behind on Earth.

When their owner dies, they come across the Rainbow Bridge. It is at that moment that their pet stops what they are doing and sniffs at the air and looks into the distance where they see their beloved owner. Excited, they run as fast as they can until they are in their owner’s arms, licking their face in joy while their owner looks into the eyes of their pet who was absent on Earth, but never absent in their heart. Then side by side, they cross the Rainbow Bridge together into Heaven, never again to be separated.

talltailsofslidell@yahoo.com www.talltailspetsitting.com

inate Pet S d Top 5 in th itters e 2012 Nation!

& 20

13

781-9DOG

Daily Walks

Blood Sugar Checks

www.VeterinaryMedicalCenterSlidell.com

Nom

(9364)

Medication Administered Waste Cleanup Mail Pickup Injections

Gina Triay & “Blu” 35

FINE GIFTS

Well folks, we’ve done it again. A whole ‘nother year has passed with me as your writer for the best sports-related information on the Northshore.

Well, SOME have told me it’s the best in the world, but I can’t read other languages so I can’t comfortably qualify that. All kidding aside, it has been fun writing to all of Slidell and beyond about the crazy events, people, and activities that make up the sports world. There has been so much sports news in the past two years that it gets hard to pick just one article a month. As your resident Jockularitan, it is my honor to pick the news that affects our communities the most, from our very own Slidell to the whole of Louisiana. I also like to throw in a few unique sports to spice up your repertoire. After all, talking about Wabobas and Curling is sure to get you noticed at a fancy party.

It always does the trick for me…

Ahem. Anyway, the past two years have been a dream come true for me to give you my insight into the sports world. For those of you who have been with Jockularity since the beginning, I say thank you for being so loyal. For the rest of you, I hope that you enjoy the future of Jockularity and all the crazy news it and I may bring. As a token of my thanks for your readership, and to recap our time together, I would like to take a look back at some of my favorite Jockularities. There are many to choose from, from the first article on the NFL Draft to last month’s article on the Crescent City

Classic. The following five, however, were a blast to write and gave me my best platform for not only these sports but for the fun that sports can bring into our lives. I’d like to get the ball rolling on my earliest favorite, starting with the article on Baseball.

Baseball - June 2012 For those of you who know me know that there are a few sports I simply have no interest in watching. I appreciate them, acknowledge their value in society and in the sports world, but they simply cannot spark an interest in me. Baseball is one such sport. It can be very slow-paced and it just doesn’t have the same kind of pizzaz that sports like football and basketball have. I remember writing that even a former roommate of mine, a self-proclaimed baseball “fanatic”, would start watching the game, take a nap, and finish watching the last inning. I just couldn’t understand what made such a sleepy sport “America’s Pastime”.

It wasn’t until I interviewed Jacob Marceaux, a former first round pick who played for the Florida Marlins, about his experiences that I started to get an idea of why baseball is so intriguing. After talking to Jake, I went to a Zephyrs game and finally I understood what made baseball so great. Unlike

most sports, baseball is very family-friendly. It is a great sport to go and watch, leisurely, without the suspense and pressure of an event like a football game. I said at the time that going to a game and enjoying the atmosphere is the best part about baseball, especially in southern Louisiana, where friends, family, food, and fun are all a part of any event. This outing taught me a lot about baseball and that action is not the most important aspect of sports. It’s the whole experience that a sport can bring to your life. Speaking of the “experience,” my next favorite involves the experience of participating as a fan at a sporting event. More specifically, as the 12th man at a football game.

The 12th Man - January 2014

From its humble origins in an Iowa Alumnus article to the NFL fan powerhouse for the Seattle Seahawks, fans have been an incredible influence on the sport, sometimes as much as the players themselves. It can get so loud and spirited that opponents can have trouble hearing each other call plays or communicate at the line of scrimmage.

Be Fab. Be Classy. Be Relaxed...

While the term itself has been the object of an immature “IT’S MINE!” legal battle, the spirit behind the term is something all passionate fans share. The Saints may have felt the burn of the 12th Man in Seattle recently, but we all know that Saints fans can definitely rock the Dome. But, if you really want to experience a loud arena, you can’t match the decibel levels in Tiger Stadium. Trust me, I know. The level of volume from the LSU-Florida game in 2007, the year they won the national championship, was so intense that my bones vibrated. Being a part of that crowd was the most intense sports experience I have ever experienced and it is something I will always remember. That day, I FELT like I helped the Tigers win that game.

And, ultimately, that is why we cheer when we go to games. When we can change the outcome of the game from our places in the stands, it creates a whole new perspective on watching a game.

Taking a slight detour, the next of my favorites involves a very different aspect of sports, focusing on the names of players and teams who play the games we love to watch.

Sports Names - December 2012 Ah, the Crayon Box of the sports world, the names we hear in sports are as infinitely diverse as the ingredients in a pot of gumbo. From Chad Ochocinco to Devin Aromashadou, there has been no shortage of interesting names of players.

Sometimes teams can be just as...interesting with their name choices. The Tennessee Volunteers, THE Ohio State Buckeyes, and the Oregon Ducks all have names that, while historically or regionally important, are head-scratching to the rest of us.

Names have only gotten more interesting since then, headlined by Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. Yes, sports should focus on the players, the teams, the games, and the effect these have on the community, but it can be fun to follow the tangent of funny or interesting sports names. The next article in my list of favorites may not have many funny names, but there are certainly many to remember.

and Find Your Inner Diva.

Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame - August 2013 This was quite an article. There is so much history in Louisiana Sports and it continues to grow and evolve. It was difficult narrowing down what to say about the Hall because of how diverse the world of Louisiana sports has become.

From horse riding and football to college and high school, the rich history of sports in Louisiana is certainly something to be proud of. Some of the inductees are familiar names today, such as Terry Bradshaw, Skip Bertman, and Shaquille O’Neal.

Others might not be as familiar but are equally as impactful, such as David Dixon, who was a major force in bringing the Superdome and the Saints to New Orleans, and Tony Canzoneri, a local-boyturned-boxing-legend whose records are simply astounding. In addition, the architecture of the hall is a tribute to the city of Nachitoches, who has housed the Hall of Fame since its inception. Even the layout of the exhibits inside, which include incredible memorabilia and photographs dating back to the humble beginnings of Louisiana sports, mirrors the surrounding river channels around Nachitoches. If you have not gotten a chance to go to this wonderful museum, I encourage you to go. It is quite a Louisiana treasure. Speaking of treasure, I will finish my list of favorite articles with one of the most unique olympic sports.

Curling - October 2012 In terms of beauty pageants, curling certainly is Miss Overlooked. With beauties such as Football, Baseball, Basketball, and several others, sports like curling often can find little traction.

One of the reasons may be that it is so bizarre. I couldn’t help but laugh at the guys sweeping the ice and the fact that people called it “Chess on Ice”.

And those tea kettles? What’s that about? Trying to follow the terms can be as confusing as trying to learn a different language. “Stones,” “Skips,” and

“Hacks” all sound like something you cough up.

If you watch this sport without at least a smile on your face, you have no funny bone.

To dismiss it before delving deeper, though, would be a discredit to sports as a whole. Curling is incredibly strategic. Stones can be bumped out of scoring range, the sweeping allows for a change of direction and speed, and the amount of remaining turns can change where the team wants the next stone to go every time they go to play. It can be difficult to plan ahead because every turn can bring about entirely new decisions about where to go next. Even the conditions of the ice can change plans. Not only is this sport fun to learn about, it is one of many interesting sports to watch and to play. In a world filled with contact sports, curling will have a hard time gaining traction. It is certainly worth the effort to try and appreciate it.

Jockularity continues to be an exciting article for me to write. In this forum, topics can stray from the norm or help put a spotlight on important sportsrelated news in our community. I have appreciated the opportunity to help bring these kinds of stories to the Northshore and I hope to continue to do so for a long time. But I do it all for my readers, and I want to hear what you think! Write me and let me know what your favorite Jockularities are! Tell me what you liked or what you would like to see.

If you know of a sport you would like to see me cover, tell me about it! Most of all, thank you for reading. I hope you all continue to read about my crazy insights into the sports world.

If you are interesting in reading any of the above articles, they can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/slidellmag or on our website at slidellmag.com.

FINE GIFTS

2306 Front St., Slidell

985-288-5550 Monday – Saturday 10am til 5pm

JEWELRY • BAGS • ACCESSORIES • Shoes • belts • men’s clothing women’s clothing • bath & body • bridal shower • bridal registry baby shower • baby registry • andles home décor • bedding fine gifts • gag gifts saints • LSU • Vera Bradley JOHN MEDEIROS • BRIGHTON Crabtree & Evelyn

OUT TAKES

Slidell

Sponsored By:

Mag

ition th 46 Ed

chie Artigue llisario and Ri lmen Gene Be ci itat for un ab Co H sh of ri Pa Debbie Crouch th y wi oy lr at Ki play Hard H Part the Chamber’s Humanity at

Red, ladies at the and beautiful ks lyn as do m en ul rf Gw lo Co ll. (l-r:) Masquerade Ba Byrd, y ar M , in White & Blue rk La Woods, Linda e Clement, Rona Ellen Lamarqu & e yl Do a ar Barb

It’s a family magazine!

Editor, Kend ra Maness, pl ayfully censor the dress of s Dawn Rivera at SMH’s Ro oftop Rendez vous

The Slidell Magazine Family at our Business After Hours at NOLA Southern Grill.

Case, Leslie Gates, Kendra Maness, Lori John Rich, (l-r:) Mike Gomez, Corey Hogue and Lee Kreil. Not Pictured: Donna Bush, Rose Marie Sand, John Maracich, and Dr. Jeff Perret

Fire District 1 Chief, Chri s Kaufmann an Slidell Public d Ops Director, Mike Noto, showing some muscle power (we totally m ade them do this!)

4.7 of Lake 9 Blossman om fr Rebecca am re me ice c enjoys so d hard hat y decorate sl u io avis D the delic n ell’s Ro of Blue B

Accepting reservations for our Mother’s Day Brunch Buffet E D 9am-4pm L I O R B R CHA RS

SEAFOOD SEASON IS HERE!

1375 Gause Blvd Slidell,Blvd LA 1375 Gause 985•201•8200 Slidell, LA 985•201•8200

SEAFOOD HOT BO SEASON IS HERE! ILED CRC AH AWR BFRISO IHL E D

HOT BOILED CRAW FISH

Check out our Page For Daily Specials Check out our Page For Daily Specials facebook.com/NOLAsoutherngrill www.NOLAsouther ng rill.com facebook.com/NOLAsoutherngrill

www.NOLAsouther ng rill.com

TE & RAW OYS

TERS & RAW OYS

G R I TUNA LED L L E D RGE DRFIILS H SEARED TUNA SEARED

REDFISH

1-866-SLIPPER • www.silverslipper-ms.com 5000 South Beach Blvd., Bay St. Louis, MS 39520 See Players Club for complete details.