Taking A Day Off

Photo by Edgar Zuniga Jr.

Happy Monday and have a great week. I'm going fishin'...or rather, just hanging out and getting caught up on a bunch of stuff I've let drag.

See ya tomorrow with a new recipe or two!

Boo & Thib (& Some Blingage)

Yesterday it was blondes, today it's our beloved Cajuns Boudreaux & Thibodaux!

Vacation Boo Style~~

Boudreaux an' his lovely bride Marie talk about it bein' way too long since dey been on vacation, so Boo, him decide to take dem down to dat Cajun Riviera, Holly Beach, Louisiana.

Dere, da couple, dey have some great time! Dere hotel room got a great view, da weather's nice, and it's juss da relaxation da couple needs.

One day, Marie bury Boudreaux in da sand on dat beach. Den Boo, he bury Marie in da sand. It was too much fun, yeah!

A year later Boudreaux is drinkin' at the Prop Stop Bar & Bait Shop wit his bess friend Thibodaux. "Thib, mais I wish you coulda been at da beach wit me and Marie lass year!"

Thib say, "Mais Boo, dat woulda been some fun. I ain't had a vacation in I don't know how long. Maybe we can go dis summer, juss us two?"

Boo tinks and tinks, den orders two more beer. "Hey, Thib mon amie, why don't we do dat? Me and you, we'll go back to dat Holly Beach. While we dere, you can help me dig up Marie!"

~~~



Thanks to Amanda Bonilla at The Keyboard, GumboWriter is sporting new blog badge blingage. The Humane Award (yeah, yeah, we're all aware of my distaste for furballs, {see Colby's video in the sidebar} but the badge, thankfully, features a dawg! And since Amanda passed on the honor to recipients who are supportive of her writing efforts vs. animal lover humanitarians, I shall do the same.

*Sidebar -- It's always hard to pick just a few recipients because I love all my "regulars!"*

Da Rules:

*Accept and post the award to your blog check
*Link to the person from whom you received it check
*Pass the award to 5 other blogs that are worthy of this acknowledgement check
*Let them know they've been chosen for this award check

"Humane" blogs (that might be new to some of you) that love writers and laughter in equal measures ~~

1. Irish Gumbo - a writing lad if ever there was one
2. Vodka Mom, who has happy hour 24/7
3. Crazy Debbie's Suburb Sanity
4. Lady Glamis, The Innocent Flower
5. Harvey Stanbrough's informative Writing the World

These blogs are owned by lovely, funny, smart or downright crazy people who like to share and encourage, so go visit 'em!

Puzzled Blonde

I know it's been far too long since I posted a new Politically Incorrect joke, so let's remedy that today. Thanks goes to Kimmi, author of The Unbreakable Child (aka Writer in Waiting) for reminding me via Twitter that I've neglected this group. And we all know Gumbo Writer is an equal opportunity insulter!

As good luck would have it, a dear friend in God Bless Texas sent a great joke just the other day. May it kick your weekend off the right way -- with a laugh~~~

A blonde calls her boyfriend and says, "Please come over here and help me. I have a killer jigsaw puzzle, and I can't figure out how to get started."

Her boyfriend asks, "What's it supposed to be when it's finished?"

The blonde says, "According to the picture on the box, it's a rooster."

Her boyfriend decides to go over and help with the puzzle. She lets him in and shows him where she has the puzzle spread all over the table. He studies the pieces for a moment, then looks at the box, then turns to her and says, "First of all, no matter what we do, we're not going to be able to assemble these pieces into anything resembling a rooster."

*crickets chirp*

He takes her hand and says, "Second, I want you to relax. Let's have a nice cup of tea, and then ..." he lets out a deep sigh, .....................

(scroll down)

..........

"Let's put all the Corn Flakes back in the box."

Jigsaw photo by: donut

Corn Flakes photo by main.gov

Wanted: Reader & Writer Input [Plus a Contest Link]

Photo by h.koppdelaney

If you had your very own literary publication or zine and a companion newsletter, what would you fill it with --poetry, prose, author interviews, industry news, art...? To which zines and newsletters do you subscribe? The sky's the limit, so tell me what literary things of beauty would fill YOUR publication.

~~~

Gumbo Writer has inside scoopage! The Dream Quest One Poetry and Writing Contest deadline has been extended by a week from today until August 8. If you're looking for a nice weekend creative project, this just might be it. My thought on contests is even if you don't win, place or show, you have a chunk of fresh material to tinker with and find a home for that you didn't have before. That's a win/win in my book.

~~~

Friend and fellow writer Janna at Something She Wrote wants to increase her readership. Her posts are always interesting with good info. and perspectives to share. Go see her, become a follower, mention my name and we could both win a cool book!

Now, since it's Friday, I hope your weekend is magnificent. I'll be doing one of my very favorite things tonight -- cooking and serving supper at the men's shelter! I'll share the Italian Buffet menu with you Tuesday on recipe day.

How's Your Writing Cred?

Photo by Jeffrey Beall

Check Harvey Stanbrough's blog for the last word on words. It's a great refresher course on maintaining and safeguarding your credibility.

Writerly Ailments and Hazards

Writerly Ailments and Hazards

(c) 2009 Angie Ledbetter

Writing obstructions can be blamed on several sources other than the overused writer’s block. An easy way to recognize these conditions is by checking to see if they fit the acronym WAAH. (Yep, that’s the cry for the waahmbulance). And just so you’ll know, parents who are delusional enough to think they can continue writing for pay, pleasure or as a profession are especially prone to these diseases.

Seasoned writing parents who’ve spent time in the keyboard arena are probably already familiar with the more common illnesses such as cooties, Sick Kidlet Syndrome (SKS) and Work Burnout (WB), but may not know these conditions are aggravated by sleep deprivation. So, whether you’re a newbie or a veteran, please check the following list of symptoms and illnesses:

G'out – Although almost as agonizing, this condition is not to be confused with its physical counterpart called gout in which patients suffer painful swelling and inflammation of the joints from overindulgence in organ meats. G’out especially plagues writing parents of young children and those unfortunate enough to have overly dependent spouses. Symptoms include thinking, saying, or screaming phrases like, “G'out my room/office!” “Please just g’out my space for five minutes while I finish this paragraph!” and “Just g'out my face!”

No known cure for g'out currently exists, but researchers continue to work diligently to formulate a remedy. G'out sufferers find hope in outliving their household so they might once again establish a life of their own. Frequent participation in retreats held outside their zip code, short getaways, and weekend hideouts help diminish the debilitating affects of g’out. When that’s not possible, locking themselves in the bathroom often brings temporary relief.

The Terrible Ts (TTT) - This malady invariably afflicts writers with children in toddler to teen stages. Sadly, experts have not totally defined, explained or identified in its entirety this mysterious ailment. Symptoms vary widely among sufferers, and few medications or homeopathic cures exist to counteract this condition. Funding is currently being sought to conduct double blind scientific studies across the country.

Warning signs for the onset of TTT are the uncanny interruptions brought about when the writing parent inadvertently or on purpose touches one of the following items: telephone, table, technology, tub, toilet, or any other T-word that falls under the heading of standard writing tools or necessary equipment. Doing so somehow alerts others in the vicinity that it is time to drop in unannounced, throw a temper tantrum or otherwise cause chaos. TTT is a known killer of writing effort and is to be avoided like the plague. [Side note: Sufferers of Triple T are also apt to use clichés.]

Like g’out, physically removing oneself by a distance of at least 50 miles from those who surround the writer is the only known preventative measure.

Stealth use of T items may decrease the severity of symptoms, i.e. using a nearby gas station restroom; sneakily writing story ideas on toilet paper or recording them on a tiny, hidden voice activated recorder in your vehicle, on scraps of paper instead of your notebook or, heaven forbid, on your computer; and tackling writing projects late at night with a flashlight under bed covers.

Spouse-itis – Although not directly related to child rearing, since most family arrangements include a spouse, the addition of this ailment is germane to the list. Characterized in several ways, this ailment is easier to diagnose than others.

If you can answer yes to the questions in this short quiz, then you too are a Spouse-itis sufferer.

Does your spouse or S.O.:

1. Prefer you be cooking, mowing the lawn or sitting glued to his/her side watching "Law & Order" reruns instead of hunkered down over your computer writing the next best seller?
2. Make remarks like, "When you're through doodling on the computer, can you come here for a second?"
3. Ask, "What is it that you are doing at that desk at 1 AM anyway?"
4. Refer to your writing as a hobby?
   

Chronic Over-Activity – According to the CDC, COA can be fatal if not treated quickly. Contraction of this disease occurs when a writer over-schedules family member or self-related activities which stretch the limits of budget, time and temper. Such activities include, but are not necessarily limited to, sports, hobbies, school clubs, social events, community or volunteer work, and/or any kidlet demands requiring a parent taxi.

Setting limits (i.e. two extracurriculars per member per school year) can alleviate some of the stress caused by COA, thus affording more writing time.

If you are spending inordinate amounts of time sitting in bleachers or carpool lines due to the number of offspring in your home, counteract low writing time by having pen, paper, laptop, reading material and other writerly essentials with you at all times. Doctor and dentist office visits also afford opportunities to read and research magazines for ideas, provided that you and your family members can act civilly outside of cages.

The Good News: Older writers have learned to cope with these setbacks and temporary bugs, and are actually better for their survival. They’ve gained powers of concentration, learned how to write quicker in small snatches of time, have become more resilient and resourceful in their word crafting efforts, and have developed more efficient writing immune systems. Some even report that deadline pressure, persnickety editors, and other normal writing negatives don’t bother them at all anymore. Surviving to reach the Empty Nest phase has its rewards.

Remember, there is strength in numbers, hope in ignoring minor symptoms, and inspiration in the knowledge that most of these ailments will eventually leave veterans to seek out fresh blood!

Join live and online writing/critique groups/communities for encouragement in your creative pursuits. The support of other writers such as those wonderful beings called bloggers will force you into productivity. Laughter truly is one of the best medicines, and humor goes a long way in diminishing the crippling symptoms of these writerly illnesses. These experts can’t be lying:

“When my kids become wild and unruly, I use a nice, safe playpen. When they're finished, I climb out.” ~ Erma Bombeck

“Writer's block is a fancy term made up by whiners so they can have an excuse to drink alcohol.” ~ Steve Martin

“If your kids are giving you a headache, follow the directions on the aspirin bottle, especially the part that says ‘keep away from children.’" ~ Susan Savannah

Photo by Diacritical

Roasted Garlic

I call this Italian Perfume. You know the drill by now -- yeah, I love this recipe because it's what? Easy, quick and cheap.

Another great thing about roasted garlic is its versatility. You simply remove the pods from their sleeves by squeezing at the bottom after they are grilled/roasted/baked. Mash and mix with soft butter and you've got garlic butter for corn on the cob, garlic bread, veggies or whatever. Raosted garlic is divine eaten as is. Do you have other favorite foods that garlic goes well in or with?

Cajun-Italian Factoid ~~ When we get together for a crawfish boil, a good time is guaranteed. Into the pot (aka the boiling rig) go the seafood, plenty spices, lemons, oranges, onions, new potatoes, corn on the cob and lots of whole garlic. The more Cajun among us go for the spicy crawfish first; the Italians fight over the garlic. ;o)

Roasted Garlic

(This is so easy, I'm almost ashamed to call it a recipe.) Slice off the top half inch of the whole garlic pod. Put topless garlic on a square of heavy duty aluminum foil. Drizzle olive oil over the garlic and a hefty sprinkling of Tony's. (If you don't have Tony's, use sea salt, black pepper and a bit of cayenne pepper.) Wrap foil tightly around pod and twist at the top, sorta like a big Hershey's Kiss.

Throw that sucker on your BBQ pit for the last 45 minutes or so of cooking time with whatever you're barbecuing, or put the wrapped garlic in the oven on 375 for about 40 minutes or until tender. Mmmm mmmm good, sha!

I Heart Andy Griffith

I glommed on a Mayberry RFD marathon recently, and it reminded me why I have always loved Andy Griffith.

• He was easy on the eyes.
• Andy ("Ang" to friend Barney Fife) was a stand up guy. He meant what he said and said what he meant.
• Totally dependable. And cool-headed.
• That opening theme song with the whistling!
• He dearly loved his momma, Aunt Bea.
• Andy wasn't flashy, but he always looked suave.
• What's not to like about a man in uniform?
• His consummate parenting abilities.
• Andy was kind to everyone -- Otis the town drunk, that annoying Howard Spraig, Floyd the barber, durned ol' Goober, crazy Ernest T. Bass and his tree-dwelling clan, and especially his unlikely sidekick, the bumbling Deputy Barney Fife.
• Mr. Griffith knew how to treat a lady.
• He had an unconventional family arrangement and made it work.
• No matter how trying Barney was, Andy was always patient and a true friend.
• Andy was humble and selfless.
• Great gene pool. I mean, look at Opie!

Can ya add to the list? Got an old tv star you admire?

Boudreaux & Thibodaux - Go Forth and Multiply

Today, a short and sweet adventure with our two favorite Cajuns:


Boudreaux' wife Mathilda is about to deliver anudder bebe into da brood, and she start moanin' and carryin' on wit da pain. Den she squeeze Boo's hand hard wit each wave of pain dat passes tru her.

Now, Boo, him got a date wit his bess friend Thib to watch da Saints game on dat big screen tv down at Da Bayou Bar, and him don't wanna be late. Boudreaux calls da doctor down in Pierre Part and shouts, "Hey, doc! Mah wife Mathilda, she been in labor wit dem contraptions. Dem pains is only two minutes apart now, yah!"

The doctor tells Boudreaux to simmer down, den says, “Now, Mr. Boudreaux, is this her first child?”

Boo is beside himself as his wife's screams get louder. He shouts into da phone, “No, you idiot, dis is her husband!”

~~~

Check out Suzanne's writing contest (for writers and non-writers) ending tonight!

Elephant in the Room

I need advice. Have you ever been stuck in a situation where there's a huge issue or incident hovering over all parties involved, and everyone pretends it's not there?

If you've shared space with a big issue nobody is willing to discuss, what did you do? How did things turn out? Did your elephant ever leave? Please share your story.

This Made Me Cry

I know you're used to jokes and fun stuff here, but today I want to share a Greek video about two people and a sparrow that should come with a tissue alert. [Thanks to friend Gene for emailing it to me.] I hope you enjoy its beauty and remember its message.

May your weekend be blessed, wonderful and just exactly what you're hoping it will be!

*Image from Google.com

Groundhog Day?

No, you're not stuck in some version of Blogoversal Studio's Groundhog Day; but yesterday's interview with Harvey Stanbrough was just too good to let go of just yet.

Soooooo, if you missed it, please scroll down and read it now. You'll be glad you did.

See ya tomorrow!