I’m trying to help my wonderfully fabulous sister-in-law win a contest and I need y’all help.

It’s sooooo simple, all ya have  do is go to this link and click on the  video for Andrea Emilien….it’s the 3rd video.

Andrea’s active with a weight loss community called Mamavation.  Every couple of months, Moms campaign to be a Mamavation Mom.  These ladies go through a 7 week book camp and receive a ton of support from different professionals along the way.  They receive an individualized nutrition and fitness plan.  In addition, they also make their successes and trials public for the community to follow.

My sister-in-law is a finalist but, she needs the votes to ring in so she can win.

I’m lending a hand.

I want her to win.

I want her to achieve her dream.

Andrea’s one of those people who have a beautiful soul,

she’s full of positive energy.

Fantastic mom, fun to be around, adores her husband (my brother, my oldest son..lol)

she’s loyal to her family and friends.

She’s kind to strangers.

I dig that chick!

She struggles with her weight like a lot of folks do and this is the chance of a lifetime for her.

Her chance to receive professional help and tons of support in her weight loss journey.

I’m all for people reaching  their goals.

No dream killers hanging around the Bayou.

Don’t allow none to hang around the Bayou either.

Life is too short for negativity.

Watching someone realize their dream fuels my spirit,

it brings me joy.

So, let’s all help Andrea win this darned competition!

I wish I could vote more than once, she’d STOMP those chickenheads if I could.

They only allow one vote though.

Here’s the link  again!

I know I can count on y’all to help me, help her!

Cuz only folks with good energy hang on the Bayou.

Thanks for your support!!

*cue music

fi yoooo(fire) on the bayou, fi yoooo on the bayou….

* Bayoucreole grabs a bandana, waves it in the air and

second lines backwards.

Yesterday started out really great.   The hubby and I went to Randazzo’s as planned to get our king cake and as usual, the line was running out of the door.

People were buying king cakes by the car load,

I didn’t catch the guy in the red car loading his king cakes  but, he had more than the guy in the pic.

By the time we made it inside, they only had a few left. All of the LSU and Alabama king cakes were sold out by 10 a.m.

I was able to get mine, and it was soooo good! Didn’t last long in this house though…

I got the baby so, I have to buy another one.

After we left there, we picked YellowJacket up from school.  The kids were let out early due to all of the traffic expected uptown. While we were driving home, we saw a lot of tourists riding the street car. The city seemed as if it was divided by colors…red on the street car uptown, purple on the streetcar downtown.

Except in the French Quarters…it was a sea of purple and red there.

We made it to the quarters around 1:30 and was finally able to find a parking lot with a few spots left.   The energy was crazy there!

Everywhere we went, someone would start chanting,

ROOOOOLLLLLL TIIIIDDDDEEE!

and someone would answer with,

TIGER BAIT! TIGER BAIT!

We tried to get something to eat at Tujagues but, not only was it crowded, they had an abbreviated menu. The menu didn’t really have much on it so, we left and made it down to old faithful…Deanies on Iberville.

That was my first time eating at the one in the quarters. The food tastes better there than the one in Bucktown.

Don’t know why but, it does.

Would you guys believe that, we were in the heart of the quarters and didn’t get one drink?  How’d THAT happen?

New Orleanians in the French Quarters walking around and didn’t get one drink,

not even beer.

That’s because I’m more of a foodie.

I don’t have  to have a drink but,

you’ll never catch me in the French Quarters without hitting a restaurant.

I’m glad we had fun before the game because,it was all over after that.

Congratulations to all of the Alabama fans!

We’re gonna lick our wounds for a minute but,

LSU football team, hold ya’ head up!

Your true fans still love and support you.

Friday was Kings Day so, you know what that means,

KING CAKE TIME BABY!

I know a lot of people aren’t from the area and don’t know the significance of king cakes so, here’s a great link that explains it all right here.

But, who really cares about the significance,

they TASTE good!

NOLA.com had a contest  for who had the best king cakes.

The Randazzo’s  family held the top three spots.

I went to Randazzo’s in Metairie to get me one but, I went too late and they only had LSU king cakes.

I’m a traditionalist…give me the a regular old king cake….

oval shaped and sugary.

I’ll be going back today bright and early for one.

Oracle, I’m  sending my babies their king cake.  I’ll email you with the arrival date.

We’ve entered the official start of Mardi Gras!

I’ve already talked to a few co-workers  and we’re  hammering out a deal for them to work the Endymion/Bacchus weekend for me. The problem is, most of them live on the wet westbank and NOMTOC is their big parade. It’s always the same day as Endymion so, we’re trying to figure something out.

I won’t be working that weekend though…

I’m getting it how I live.

Ok, a lot of folks are like, what does THAT mean?

Well, according the urban dictionary it means,

It’s one of those NOLA slangs  that I hear waayy too often…lol.

Is it just me or are the seasons running into one another?

I was taking down the Christmas decorations and putting up the Mardi Gras ones at the same time.

The grandstand seating tickets in Lafayette Square are on sale now, they started early this year.

Here’s the link.

NavySeal and I will purchasing tickets once again.

This is our 3rd year now…wow.

I think since the kids pretty much do their own thing for Mardi Gras, this will be our official spot.

We’re going to sit on the other side of the street this year.

I’ve  noticed that  the crowd is thinner on the Federal Reserve side so, that’s where I aim to be.

On another note, my daughter got her nose pierced *sigh*  She had been whining for one for a while now so, her dad brought her (and paid for it) as one her Christmas gifts. I wasn’t gonna pay for it but, I did agree to it.  She’ll be 18 in a few months and I’m trying to be a parent who supports her individuality so, I was willing to compromise.  She could get one but, it could only be a stud and it had to be the smallest stud available.  She happily agreed and as much as I hate to admit it, it really does look cute on her.  My daughter has a free spirit… I get her. Even when I feel like strangling her…I get her and she gets me.

WHO DAT!

The Saints game was awesome! I had to watch it at work but, we were some screaming fools on the job let me tell ya!

Now, let’s just go to Cali and git-r-done again!

BCS Championship is today!

I’m not going to the game but, I intend to go out there in some of the hoopla,

get in the midst of all that crazy energy.

GEAUX  TIGERS!!

My dreams.

My dreams are now goals.

I’ve move to the action part of them.

Dreams = Desired end product while Goals = Means to achieve dreams.

I wrote them down and now, I’m making them happen.

I’ll be in this nursing game until I retire at the ripe old age of death 70…maybe… I’ll probably work  a lil longer .

So, I’ll be returning to school in the fall.

My goal is to get my doctorate in nursing and then, move into research.

Time to leave you  good patients alone.

Time to move into the quiet aspect of nursing,

where you don’t have patients trying to attack or fondle you.

or family members trying to call state boards on you.

I can’t really complain about that,

I’ve never had a family member try to call boards on me.

I believe in treating folks the way I’d want my family members to be treated.

I can be trusted to take care of your family.

Because of that, I usually get the opposite end of the spectrum,

folks tend to just love me.

But, I’m getting old,

getting tired,

getting bored with this part of nursing.

Time to move on to something fresh.

In my nursing career span I’ve seen,

A nurse get beat down by a CNA with a mop…y’all remember that post?

If you missed it, just go into the nursing category to the right…it’s in there.

I’ve also seen a pregnant nurse get attacked by a patient,

a nurse get hit upside the head with a bottle by a patient,

doctors throw charts at nurses,

family members wanting to fight nurses,

and a whole lotta other stuff.

Yeah, its brutal…

it ain’t all Florence Nightingale.

Sometimes, it’s A Nightmare on Elm Street.

I never had any of that drama though,

No siree, Bob.

Never had a chart thrown at me.

People know who to play with…that’s all I’m gonna say about that matter.

I’ve been goosed by a few patients though,

been asked out by a few male patients…and a few female ones too.

But it’s time for the quiet part of my career to begin.

The kids are pretty much out the way.

They’re at that stage where, they’re out of my hair but, not out of my pockets.

I don’t know how long it’s gonna take for me to complete my goal but, all of my ducks are in a row.

I’m just waiting for the fall to roll around.

I can’t wait to get started!

HOW SWEET IT IS!

 I really appreciate all the wonderful folks who come over to read my blog.

When I first began this blogging stuff, it was basically so that my family members could get information about the kids and the city.

 I never thought I’d end up with such a cool bunch of people, reading about my life in New Orleans. 

So many bloggers have welcomed me into their lil blogging world…

I am truly humbled.  

My lurkers show me so much love.  

Even though they may not leave comments,

they consistently come over to read.  

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

 To those of you who have added me to your blogroll,  

I am so honored to be there.   

May you all have a very Merry Christmas and a glorious New Year!

Love,

Bayoucreole

and her wrecking crew (NavySeal,PurpleKnight and YellowJacket)

The other day,I was at an extended care facility.

There is a patient at the facility who has pancreatic cancer.

Needless to say, he’s in a lot of pain.

So much pain that, the man was literally moaning,groaning and calling for Jesus to take him.

He’s a hospice patient so, he has morphine that he can take for the pain.

I tell the nurse to give him his scheduled morphine.

She tells me, “oh,he’s always complaining and whining for that morphine”….

are you shittin’ kidding me?

COMPLAINING?!

The man has stage 4 pancreatic cancer.

He’s unable to walk because his testicles are the size of basketballs,

and his legs are so full of fluid that, if you touch them,

the indentation stays there for 30 seconds.

And  he’s….

COMPLAINING?!

Now, I gotta tell y’all a lil secret about me in the work field.

My personality isn’t a really rosey one.

In fact, people tell me that, I’m  like Miranda Bailey on Grey’s Anatomy…

or like LaDonna on Treme.

Tough personality, blunt attitude…I get that.

I’ll  take that charge because, I’m only like that when I need to be.

Like when a nurse stands in front of me and tells me that a patient with stage 4 pancreatic cancer is

complaining and whining for morphine.

I think nurses (and doctors too) sometimes forget that,

these are REAL people…

with REAL problems,

and REAL pain.

Becoming jaded in the healthcare profession is one of the worst things that can happen.

Because you lose empathy…

and compassion is next thing out the door.

Nurses don’t have to care about patients as if they’re family members,

but if the patient is in pain,

give the damned patient the meds.

It’s not your call whether or not the person is “whining for morphine.”

Your morals,values,feelings,etc. don’t come into play.

If the order is there…

follow the frigging order.

Cuz one day, it could be you or someone you love,

lying in the bed…

whining for morphine.

1.  As a kid,I suffered with spontaneous nosebleeds.

It started when I was 2 years old.  I used to pray that it would end  because, I didn’t want people to see my nose bleeding and  think I snorted cocaine.  It stopped when I was 18 and I was so happy but,

my kids inherited the same condition.

2. I type  about 90 words per minute.

When I was in high school, I wanted to become a court reporter so, I took typing.

After high school, I went to Delgado College and entered the secretarial studies program.  I didn’t become a court reporter but, I’m glad I went through the program.  I was able to land more than a few jobs because of my skills AND…it makes keyboarding a breeze!

3. When I was 13, my mom sent me to Barbizon School of Modeling.

No, not because she wanted me to become a model.

It was because, I was such a darned tomboy that, she wanted me to learn some girly-girl stuff.

When you have a daughter that can scale a fence faster than the boys,shoot some mean marbles and throw a  spiral football…it’s time to introduce some girly-girl stuff.

4.  Around the house, NavySeal calls me “buns.”

Even though I’m petite, I got junk in the trunk.   I remember when I was young my mom would  tell me, “girl, look at yourrr BUTT!”   As if I could actually turn my head to look at it…jeez.

I recently had someone yell,  ”say lil Shawty,you got a nice booty yeah” at me ….who does that?  I guess he does.

5.  My son and I have dance offs.

He and I compete against one another flexing and stuff. It’s time for me to pass the torch.   I ain’t hanging up my dancing shoes, I just can’t flex and pop lock  like I used to *sigh*…he wins.  For those who don’t know what flexing and popping is..

.

YES. I. CAN. DO.THIS!

6.  I can dance really, really…really well.  I seem to be having trouble with the Dougie though… I must be getting old.

7 . My daughter and I have girls night. I spend the night in her room and she’ll we’ll stay up all night talking about her favorite subject,

BOYS, BOYS AND MORE BOYS.

8. I  can  sit on the floor in a “W.” In fact, that’s what they call it… “w-sitting.”  Here’s the position,

It really gets under my skin that,everyone is talking  about  how to fix the problem of w-sitting.

I remember when everyone wanted to “fix”  us lefties too.  Trying to force us to use our right hand when we were born to be lefties.

I’ve been w-sitting since I  could sit upright and I’ll be 49  in a few months.

I ran track ( cross-country and sprint), was on a gymnastics team and had vaginal births for both of my kids without needing one stitch afterwards.

With Yellow Jacket, I dilated from 2 to 10 centimeters  in 40 minutes!

Nothing was ever wrong with my legs or my pelvic area. Leave those babies alone…it’s comfortable sitting like that.

I was the odd ball in the family….only girl, only lefty, only one with spontaneous nosebleeds, only one to sit in the  ”w” shape.

I’m so glad my parents  just let me be me.

MEN PLAYING GOLF ON THE GOLF COURSE!!

Now, I  know a lot of  folks are like…okkkkkaaayyy?!

Here’s the story,

As most you all already know, I was raised and currently live in a subdivision called Pontchartrain Park or ” da Park” as it’s affectionately called.  The subdivision was built during the 1950′s for blacks to become home owners during the time of segregation. It has a baseball stadium, basketball courts, tennis courts, a huge playground and a golf course.

The baseball stadium and golf course were destroyed by Katrina.

When Katrina hit, the city had just restored the golf course. I don’t think 60 days had passed before it was completely destroyed.

After the storm, we had no idea of what would happen to it.  The city couldn’t afford to rebuild it again and no recovery money was heading to this area to have it done.

Actor Wendell Pierce and Grammy winning trumpeter Terence Blanchard who also grew up in this area, took the bull by the horns and began to look for ways to have the golf course not only declared historical but, to have it restored as well.

Well, fast forward to today and the Joseph Bartholomew Golf Course  is now up and running!!

The golf course is absolutely beautiful!  Lawd, I’ve never seen so many black folks on a golf course in my life…lol

The fact that, it’s operational is not only a major step forward for this area but, the city as well.

Y’all have no idea what this does to my soul.  I grew up on this golf course. We used to walk across it and HOPE we didn’t get hit by a golf ball. I had one girlfriend who did get hit on the head…she had the biggest nugget on her eye for what seemed like forever.

I can sit on my balcony and watch  men play golf  again. It brings me joy. It brings joy to so many people.

NavySeal is chomping at the bit to get out there but, he still has some recouping to do before that can happen.  He’s recouping really fast so, he doesn’t have long to wait.

I’m just glad that, another part of NOLA’s history did not die with the storm.  So much of it did…this one was saved.  It’s not only a part of NOLA’s history but, black history as well.

Born in  NOLA in 1881, Joseph Bartholomew was the first African-American to design and build a public golf facility in the United States.

He designed and built the Metairie Golf Course, City Park courses 1 and 2, and numerous other courses across the Southeast. Because of his race, however, he wasn’t allowed to play on any of them.

During the 1950′s, he designed and built the Pontchartrain Park Golf Course.   It was the golf course that, he could finally play his favorite sport.

The man was a genius.

Rest In Peace Mr. Bartholomew.

She’s up and running again.