Head West Old Woman, Head West November 23, 2009
Posted by dianehuhn in Bayou Life, Coastal Restoration, Ramblings, Travels.Tags: Coastal Restoration, Community Coffee, LSU football, New Orleans Saints
4 comments
So yesterday morning I decided to put a few chores on the back burner and head west for a few adventures. I’ve not explored much of the beauties of south-western Loozy, although if you want to get all technical, my intended destination would probably be more appropriately deemed to reside in south-central Louisiana. And while every day really is an adventure when living life in the Louisiana wetlands, I was yearning for some new vistas.
At 6:00 AM, I grabbed my coat and grabbed my hat (it was a tad chilly and drizzily), left my worries at my doorstep, and hoped the sunny side of the street would be at my back. Unfortunately, the sun never did make much of an appearance except for about 30 seconds on my way back east. Guess it just wanted to show those meteorologists who’s boss.
Anyway, I made a quick stop at a local convenience store to get a little more Community Coffee pulsing through my veins. When you get down the bayou, a lot of the convenience stores tend to exhibit a flavor all their own which is decidedly different from the typical, I-could-be-in-anytown-USA, northern Express Mart flavor.
When you patronize one of these spots, you’re almost guaranteed the opportunity to satisfy that grease fix that accompanies fried chicken whether it’s on a stick or served up in the standard red and white checkered cardboard tray. And if chicken doesn’t fit the bill, no worries. Shrimp, oysters, crawfish, catfish, jalapenos and a multitude of other such fare should grace the menu as long as you don’t ask for it lightly sautéed in a nice lemon-pepper butter sauce. Should you desire a little beef or pork, sausage biscuits and boudin should do the trick and the jerky products typically have an entire aisle to themselves. And if you’d like to wash down all that fried goodness with a spot of Jack, no problem, just ask the clerk to grab you a bottle from behind the counter. And if you got a few dollars left in your pocket, you can slip behind the red or green swinging doors and play a few hands of video poker to see if lady luck is on your side.
So as I prepared the perfect cup of joe, the usual gang was there decked out in their LSU caps, well-worn work garb and white shrimp boots. I had arrived too late for the play-by-play recap of yesterday’s Tiger’s game and too early for the predictions for the afternoon’s Saints game, but had arrived just in time for the another favorite subject…
“I heard they’re going to close that canal and put some kind of thing that lets the water flow through.” “You know, what they don’t think about is a back-up plan.” “Yeah, well I heard they was going to put a bunch of rocks out there.” And it basically goes on and on with a whole host of “I’ve heard’s” for quite some time until someone says “You know there’s only one thing that’s going to save us. And that’s if we all just get the #@$! out of here.” Laughter erupts for about seventeen seconds and then the realization hits that such a scenario could be all too true and to dismiss that painful thought as swiftly as it arrives, the conversation quickly moves to the “What they outta do’s”. And it’s too bad more of the folks in charge don’t sit in on some of these conversations, cause these guys know a whole lot about this landscape and how it works and some of those “outta do’s” are pretty dog-gone smart.
But, time was a-wasting. So, armed with twenty ounces of goodness, $4 of jerky and a full tank of gas, it was time to head up the bayou…but, unfortunately it’s now time to hit the pavement. To be continued…
What’s in a Number? November 17, 2009
Posted by dianehuhn in Bayou Life, Louisiana Wildlife, Photography, Ramblings.Tags: mullet
6 comments
So in my last post, I basically let the entire world know (well, maybe not the entire world, maybe more like 5 people) that I just turned 40. And the other night the Momster called to wish me a happy birthday and was like, “I read on that Blue Dog thing (ok, Mom, it’s called a blog) that you are lamenting your age.” And well, that’s not really it at all. It’s really more like, “What? Are we sure about this math? Hold on a sec. 2009 minus 1969 equals…wait, let me try this with a calculator. Ok, then. 2-0-0-9 minus 1-9-6-9. Hmmm…that’s weird. I guess it does equal 40. Or maybe this is just some kind of new fangled math. Yes, yes, that must be it.”
And again, don’t get me wrong, it’s not like I’m upset about this or something. I mean, I’m not having a mid-life crisis or anything. It’s just kind of weird, you know? Like…ok, hmmm…strange how that time thing works isn’t it? I mean, when I was a youngster, I pretty much figured I’d never make it past 30 so I think I kind of had my mid-life crisis at 15. And I’m sure the Momster will attest to that. Why I thought I wouldn’t make it past thirty is a tad fuzzy now, but I remember hanging out with my high school friends (who are now 40 or quickly approaching it which totally does not seem right either) trying to get someone to buy us alcohol (ok, Mom, just pretend you didn’t read that) and talking about Y-2-K although no one called it that at the time. It was just like, “oh my gosh, how weird is it going to be on December 31, 1999? Hey, we should all make a pact to get together for that New Year’s in New York City or something. That would be rad! We’ll party like it’s 1999!”
But honestly, I don’t remember exactly where I was or what I did on that New Year’s Eve, but I do remember getting up on January 1, 2000 and being glad that my alarm clock still worked and the TV stations were still on the air and my computer booted up just fine and there wasn’t some kind of “The Day After” landscape out my window. Not that I thought that was going to happen, but hey, no one knew for sure right?
Anyway, I guess I don’t have any new wisdom to share or insights in to the meaning of it all. I’m just thinking it’s time to enjoy another beautiful south Louisiana day and share a few pics of mullet flying through the air in all their majesty. What do you think? Isn’t that what it’s really about? Just enjoying where you are and who you’re with (but don’t take for granted that they’re going to be there tomorrow) and giving yourself a little challenge to be a better person than the day before? Not sure, but it works for me.
So…I’ve challenged myself to learn a little bit about the behavior of the mullet (from the family mugilidae). And let’s just say that they are a strange kind of bird in the world of south Louisiana fish. They seem to be best known for their jumping behavior although, honestly, nobody seems to have any definitive answers as to why they jump so much. Some say they jump to avoid predators. Others to say it’s to get rid of parasites. Who knows? But what I do know is that they jump a lot and they jump quickly and it’s not so easy to catch them in mid-jump with a camera. Most of the time, try as you might, you end up with something like this…
or this…
But with a little practice, you start to learn that mullet are kind of predictable. They typically jump about 3-4 times in a row. But if they flutter a little on that first jump, they probably won’t jump again right away. But if they fly out of the water on that first jump, you can sort of figure out where to aim the camera for the second, third, and if you’re lucky, fourth jumps. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy to grab a good shot. Most of time you (well, me) get something like this…
Oh geez, I think that’s a fish. What is that? So, you just sit and wait and tune in your ears and eyes and try your luck again. Jump, click. Damn. Jump, click. Damn. Ok, well at least you can tell it’s a fish that time. Ooh, cool, he’s upside down.
Alright, let’s try again. And again. And again. Yes, definitely got him that time. Well, maybe not. But better.
Ok, come on guys. I’m getting tired and now the mosquitos are descending. Give me a break will ya? Alright, a little better. But could you jump a little straighter next time?
Ok, one more time and I’m outta here. Where is that bug spray?
Alright, my little flying fish friends, that’s gonna have to do it for today. We’ll try this again some other time. If I don’t get out of here soon, I’m going to be one giant mosquito bite. Oh, that’s a beautiful south Louisiana sunset. Click. Ahhh…thank’s buddy.
Shooting Mullet November 14, 2009
Posted by dianehuhn in Bayou Life, Coastal Restoration, Friends, Ramblings.Tags: Coastal Restoration, Cocodrie, cypress swamp, Fishing, land loss, louisiana wetlands, Louisiana Wildlife, Mauvis Bois
7 comments
So yesterday held the last few hours of my 30s and I decided to kick off work a little early and try my luck at shooting photographs of mullet. And no, not the bad hairstyle variety, but the flying fish variety. It seemed like a challenge and I love a good challenge. I found a nice spot out in the marsh and a relaxing pile of dirt from which to sit upon. And I typically try not to get all philosophical as my birthday approaches, but my mind started to wander a tad.
I’ve been “down de bayou” for a little over a year now. I originally planned on being here for only a year to hopefully help a few people and figure out what it is that I want to be when I grow up. And now I’m forty. How the hell did that happen? And am I supposed to be grown up by now? Cause I don’t feel anymore grown up today than I did yesterday, or a year ago, or five years ago, or let’s just be honest, twenty years ago.
So anyway, let’s just say that I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about that “what the heck do I want to be when I grow up” stuff lately. I’ve certainly had a great ride thus far and generally speaking I really enjoy where I am. I’ve got a pretty cool job that certainly beats the heck out of sitting in a gray cubicle every day. If I want to get all officialized…my designated job title is Environmental Outreach Volunteer Coordinator. Geez…doesn’t that sound important? And well, it is pretty darn important when I think about it.
Has it been easy getting to this point? Yes and no. Don’t get me wrong. I absolutely love my job and I one hundred percent absolutely, positively, unequivocally LOVE where I live. But has the last year, two months and change been easy? Well, in a nutshell, no.
You see, I’ve moved to a place that I absolutely adore, but it’s also a place that doesn’t necessarily adore me. I’m an outsider. Always have been and probably always will be. I’m pretty sure I could live here 30 years and still be called a Yankee. Again, don’t get me wrong. I have found some truly amazing people here that I can most certainly call friends, but when it comes to finding some real, “hey I need to sit in a boat, drop a line, have a beer and chat about life” buddies, well that’s been a different story. And yes, I do know myself well enough to admit that I’m not necessarily the easiest person to get to know.
But while bayou folks are extremely friendly, let’s just say that they’re a wee bit quirky. Actually, if I get my psychology hat on, they tend to exhibit a fair amount of paranoia. And probably for good reason. They’ve been promised a whole lot of stuff by a whole lot of people and been let down a whole lot of times. But that doesn’t mean I’m saying that they’re not good people and willing to help a girl out when she needs it. I mean I know if I’m in a jam, there are a bunch of folks that I can call to get me out of it, but just finding someone I can really let it all hang out with has been a challenge. So maybe in one sense the last year and change has been easy, but has it been lonely? Yes, at the end of the day, it has been lonely.
I was talking to a man the other day that I feel I can call friend. He’s a pretty important guy in my book and is a man that I have the utmost respect for. He’s got a whole lot riding on his shoulders. His job entails a great deal of travel and meetings and securing funding and basically all the stuff that I don’t miss about my previous life. I said “Geez, it must be hard to travel all over and sit in all those meetings when you’d probably rather be on a ridge planting marsh grass or paddling around a bayou looking for some fish.” He said “Yes, but I do it so my staff can do what they do best.”
And I thought about the last year and change and started to wonder if that’s kind of what my role is. I may never be truly accepted here, but can I work hard to make a difference in people’s lives and the lives of their children and grandchildren and great grandchildren? Well, I certainly hope so. Do I need them to understand that and give me a pat on the back? Well, it’d be nice, but at the end of the day, no.
From the depths of my soul, what I really want is to just see this place still exist in forty years. I probably won’t be here since I’ve not been all that kind to my body during the previous forty years, but I want someone who loves this place the way I do to be able to sit with a camera on the same bank I sat on last night and try to take pictures of mullet flying through the air and watch ospreys and egrets and herons fly overhead and hear owls hooting in the distance and time how long the diving ducks stay under water looking for something eat.
Do I think that can happen? Well, I sure hope so, but honestly, if things continue the way they are right now, in forty years the bank I sat on last night will probably be under 14 feet of water and the herons and the ospreys and the egrets and the owls and diving ducks won’t have any place to land and maybe saltwater sport fisherman will venture this far down to try their luck, but who the heck knows if there will actually be any fish to catch because maybe this spot will just be part of a big giant dead zone.
Does this make me beyond sad? You bet it does. Do I feel like packing my bags and heading someplace else at times? You bet I do. Do I really want to do that? Hell no!
So what is it that I really want to do? I want to stay where I am and fight to restore and protect the place that I have grown to love for the people I have come to care deeply for. And if you really want to know the truth, what I really want is to get the President, the head honcho of the Army Corps of Engineers, the head of the EPA, and the few handful of other people that really and truly have the power at their finger tips to change things to go fishing with me in Cocodrie. I want them to hook a big ole bull red or two or three or twelve. I want my good buddy Kevin to cook them a delicious Jambalaya. I want my good buddy Wendy to take them up to the Mauvais Bois to teach them about bayou culture and see the wonders of a cypress swamp. I want them to sit on the deck of a camp, kick back with a few cold ones and watch the ospreys and the egrets and the herons and the owls and the diving ducks and all manner of spectacular wildlife and watch a sunset of orange and red and yellow and purple and blue. I want them to see for their own eyes what I love so dearly. Because, in my heart, I believe that if they could experience for a day what I experience every day, there wouldn’t be any question about the national importance of saving the community I call home (even if the people around here don’t think it’s my home). In fact, if we could make that happen, I feel like I could almost guarantee that we could get our priorities straight and saving this place would become job #1 for the United States instead of sending brave men and women off to their deaths half way around the world in the name of democracy.
I mean, how is it that my community is allowed to slip acre by acre in to the Gulf of Mexico every single day and almost no one in Washington, DC seems to give a damn? I mean, really, how is that possible? Do they just not know? How could they not know? Do they just not care? How could they not care? Do they just think we’re not that important? HOW COULD THEY POSSIBLY BELIEVE THIS? How is it possible that they sit idly by while an entire way of life is being sent to its death in their own backyard?
I mean, come on people. I can spout the figures. My communities, my beloved bayou people, supply 30 percent of the domestic oil and natural gas for the rest of this nation. My communities, my beloved bayou people, supply 30 percent of the domestic seafood on your plates. My communities, my beloved bayou people, operate 10 of the 14 major seaports that serve this nation and the world beyond. My communities, my beloved bayou people, work hard every single day to make this nation what it is. They are dedicated to this country. Why is it that their country is NOT dedicated to them?
I just don’t understand. Could someone out there please explain it to me? Am I just wasting my time? Am I sacrificing that well paying corporate job waiting out in middle America for me to try to save a place that the US government has simply written off? Am I just a fool to think that my friends’ children and grandchildren and great grandchildren can live in and toil in and care for this place that I so love? Yes, I do understand that it’s a “complicated” issue. But is it really? Is it really so complicated that we can’t get those handful of people who said they wanted to be in charge of our well being to sit down and figure it out if we just put our minds to it?
I mean really, Mr. President, sit in the marsh with me, cast a line with me, meet the people I call friends, and tell me to my face that this place and this way of life is not worth saving. Because every day that we as Americans sit by and do not make saving this American treasure a national priority is a day that we pound another nail in the coffin on a place and a people and a culture that is of vital importance to the health and prosperity of the place that I used to be proud to call the United States of America. Please make me proud once again. Please renew my faith. Please give me the audacity to hope for change and a better tomorrow. Please tell me that yes we can save my home so that future generations can call it home.
So I just realized my intention when I started this post was really just to share a few photographs of mullet flying through the air in all their majesty…but maybe we’ll just have to save that for another day my friends cause it’s my birthday and I’m grabbing my new fishing pole to see if I can rustle up some fish for dinner and hope that I don’t accidentally get shot by the folks trying to rustle up some duck for dinner. Thank you to all of my friends and buddies who make restoration and protection a priority in their lives and work tirelessly to make it a priority in the lives of others.
A Three Hour Tour… November 10, 2009
Posted by dianehuhn in Bayou Life, Coastal Restoration, Family, Friends, Hurricanes, Louisiana Wildlife.Tags: bayou culture, Captain Wendy Wilson Billiot, Cypress knees, Hurricane Ida, Ibis, land loss, louisiana wetlands, Project Learn, schmoopy's, wetland tours
8 comments
So I was worried that the weather was going to start getting rough and our tiny ships would be tossed, but lady luck was on our side over night. Thank goodness cause I absolutely, positively, did not want to have to don my shrimp boots and grab my shovel to start slinging mud. I’d much rather save that kind of activity for planting marsh plants. Anyway, hope Ida didn’t wreak too much havoc to our friends and neighbors to the east.
So as I mentioned in my previous post, I was pretty excited to have had the opportunity to spend a bit of time with my MiddleSis, my favorite brother-in-law Tom (yep, he’s my only bro-in-law, but definitely my favorite even when he wasn’t the only one) and some pretty darn cool friends in New Orleans last week. I was even more excited that a few of these folks made their way over to Terrebonne for a few adventures on Friday.
Our first stop was at one of the local daycare centers that my co-worker John (aka Papa John) works with through our Project Learn program. Papa John works tirelessly to make sure “his kids” have what they need and does an outstanding job of promoting family literacy by providing computers, books, and every kind of educational material he can get his hands on.
The purpose of our trip to the daycare was to see the outstanding work they’re doing in person and to deliver some very special stuffed animals and books. Kids from First Presbyterian of Plymouth, MI and First Presbyterian of Pontiac, MI spent some time this summer making the cutest stuffed turtles with very special messages tucked carefully inside for their friends in the bayous. The kids enjoyed receiving the turtles, but we had way more fun chatting and playing with the little ones. A big thanks to Papa John, Pam and her outstanding staff for the important work you do for our community.
Keeping a careful eye on my watch, it was time to tear my friends away from their new friends and head on down the bayou for a little lunch at Schmoopy’s. YUM is all I got to say bout that! I wasn’t too sure we’d be able to pull Tom away from the kids however and might have to pick him up on the way back, but we enticed him with the promise of a delicious vegetarian grilled cheese sandwich.
After lunch it was time hook up with Captain Wendy, board the Wetlandtours tooner, and head out on the water. And oh what a beautiful day it was for that. Lows 70s, perfectly sunny, and a nice bayou breeze to keep the bugs at bay.
We saw some bad and ugly…
but thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful…
and got a great education about wetland wildlife, plants, history, and culture.
We also learned a lot about land loss, how we got to this point, how the bayou people are affected by it, and what we can do to fix it. We even had time to relax, explore and chat with some amazing scenery as our backdrop.
And before we knew it, it was time to bid adieu, but we’re definitely looking forward to taking in some more sights on their next trip in March. But if you’re thinking about a trip down the bayou, don’t wait and be sure to give Captain Wendy a shout. Whether you’re looking to take in the sights, try your fishing line, or learn about bayou culture, you won’t be sorry.
And unfortunately, this isn’t exactly the scene I wanted to see on my way back to my home on wheels…
but such is the cycle of life in the Louisiana wetlands.
A Day on the Bayou: Warning, This Post Contains Subliminal Messages September 16, 2009
Posted by dianehuhn in Bayou Life, Coastal Restoration.Tags: coastal protection, Coastal Restoration, erosion, isle de jean charles, land loss, osprey, Photography, rainbow, sunset, Terrebonne
10 comments
So I actually shot more video (Yay!) than pictures today, but here’s a few scenes from my travels.
The moon when I woke up at 4:15 AM. (Subliminal message: Don’t go to bed at 8:30 PM if you don’t want to get up at 4:15 AM.)
A rainbow. (Subliminal message: Too bad this kind of picture might only be taken by boat in the future.)
Two rainbows. (Subliminal message: Too bad this beautifully manicured lawn might be under water some day.)
My friend the osprey. I’ve named him Oscar. (Subliminal message: Too bad Oscar may not have a tree to perch from in the future.)
A fish on a road. (Subliminal message: What in the hell is a fish doing on the road?)
A guy taking a picture of a fish on a road. (Subliminal message: Yep, Louisiana is sinking and you should tell everyone you know, especially your elected officials, that we need to save this amazing treasure.)
Some guys making a film. (Subliminal message: These guys are doing their part to get other people to understand that Louisiana is sinking and it doesn’t have to be that way.)
An incredibly cute kid. (Subliminal message: This kid deserves to live out his life in the place he was raised if he so chooses, but unfortunately the choice may not be his to make.)
An incredibly cute kid reading a book. (Subliminal message: Another kid who should be able to read this book about why Louisiana is sinking and it doesn’t have to be that way to her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren in the place where she grew up if she so chooses, but may not be able to because she may be forced off her ancestral home.)
A beautiful sunset. (Subliminal message: Help us save Louisiana.)
Demand Louisiana Shrimp August 23, 2009
Posted by dianehuhn in Bayou Life.Tags: demand louisiana shrimp, lighting picture, louisiana, louisiana fisheries, shrimp, shrimping, stirke, wildlife and fisheries
6 comments
Ok, so I was so excited about my successful lightning pic the other day that it didn’t dawn on me that that storm might have been pretty dangerous for someone else. For all of my 5 regular readers, you may remember that my favorite pick for shrimp boats in this year’s Chauvin Blessing of the Fleet was the Tracie and Macie (see http://dianehuhn.wordpress.com/2009/04/20/let-our-sea-prosper/).
Well, it turns out that while I was trying to get a nice pic of lightning on Friday, the crew of the Tracie and Macie was trying to put out a fire caused by a lightning strike of their own. So sad. No insurance. Hope they are able to get that boat back in action soon. It’s a beautiful sight and a beautiful way of life. Click here for more details.
After reading about this sad event, I clicked on this link.
Look folks, our shrimpers are in trouble. And it’s really bothersome. Down here the Wildlife and Fisheries has a nice advertising campaign aimed at helping our local shrimpers. Their slogan is “Demand Louisiana Shrimp.” And well, if you’ve ever tasted fresh, wild caught Louisiana shrimp, you know that it’s just a given that you should demand it. Its a far superior product to any from any other part of the world. But our shrimpers are getting the short end of the stick. And that should stop right now. Actually, it should have stopped a very long time ago.
So, please, where ever you are, whether you’re in Detroit, Michigan, or Debuque, Iowa or Dularge, Louisiana–please demand Louisiana shrimp. And demand that the shrimpers who toil long and hard to bring it to you get a decent days pay for a decent days work.
Being in the Right Place At the Right Time August 22, 2009
Posted by dianehuhn in Bayou Life, Louisiana Wildlife, Photography, Ramblings.Tags: lightning, osprey, Photography, south Louisiana
6 comments
So yesterday as I was driving home, a fairly large storm system was headed our way. Now I just happened to be coming up on one of my favorite scenic panorama areas from which I take many photos so I decided to pull over at my usual spot. The sky was getting pretty electric and I wanted to see if I might be able to get at least one good shot of a lightning bolt. This is no small task I might add. I’ve tried a number of times before with no or very little success. In actuality, I’ve only managed two shots of lightning in my whole life–both on the same day and both not very good–and I’m fairly certain that I came close to risking my life for one of them which wasn’t too bright of me. But at least I had the pleasure of saying that I’ve got a couple of lightning shots in my portfolio.
So before the rain started flying I decided to crawl up in the bed of the pickup for a better vantage point. Now I do understand that that is probably not the best place to be when the lightning is flying, but the storm was still well off to the west and I didn’t feel that I was putting myself in any danger. So there I sat. Camera at the ready. Bolt. Click. Damn, too late. Another bolt. Click. Click. Shoot. Too late again. Wow. Huge burst of lightning. Click. Click. Click. Curses. This is impossible. Oh no. Do I feel sprinkles? Yep. Ok, well I’ll see if I can get anything from inside the truck.
Bolt. Bolt. Click. Click. Nothing! Ok, well, maybe I should just try to get some other interesting shots and make do with what I’ve got. Maybe every time I try taking pics during a storm it’s like I’m building up some reservoir of sub-conscious lightning knowledge. You know, like if I keep doing this enough, eventually I will just instinctively know where to point my camera for the next big strike. Yeah, I know that’s probably not possible. Lightning is unpredictable. I know that. But, maybe, just maybe. Some day when I’m old and gray. Oh wait, I am old and gray now aren’t I? Well, that’s not what I mean. You know what I mean.
Alright, time to get home. I’ll just work with what I have and chalk the rest up to a learning experience. I know I got some good shots earlier in the day of some cats in an old shed like this…
and this…
And I’m pretty sure I got an interesting pic of a water droplet on my window like this…
and I think I got a semi-decent shot of that bird. What is that? An osprey I think. I’m not positive though.
And then, there it was. In all it’s glory. Yeah, baby! Who said practice doesn’t pay off in the end?
Ummm…Yeah. Kind of Figured It’d Been That Long. August 17, 2009
Posted by dianehuhn in Bayou Life, Ramblings.Tags: coastal protection, Coastal Restoration, marsh, marsh plants, Terrebonne
8 comments
Ummm…yeah. I kind of figured it had been about that long since my last post. And, no, I don’t really have a good excuse for leaving y’all hanging like that for so long. I mean, I’m sure a few of my five to seven readers have completely given up on me and who could blame them? Yeah, I’ve been doing a lot of stuff, and it’s been keeping me busy. Not necessarily out of trouble mind you, but busy nonetheless. I mean not too busy that I couldn’t have found some spare time to write about why that kid was sitting on top of the mound of dirt eating a Subway sandwich with mud-encrusted paws. I mean, it wouldn’t have taken that long to put the story together for y’all. But, I don’t know, the days just kind of went by, and my memories got a little less and less detailed about the event, and then it just seemed kind of too late to try to do it now. I mean, shoot, no-body’s probably even checked my blog in a week or so. Maybe my blog should just die a quiet death–fading off in to the sunset of the interwebs. I mean, really. Is anybody really going to miss it? Maybe for a month or two, but eventually no one will ever really remember it. I mean, maybe from time to time, someone will have a passing thought and say to themselves, “Hmmm…didn’t I read about that on Diane’s blog? Wait a minute, was that Diane that had that blog, or someone else? Damn, that’s funny, I can’t remember. Hmmm…weird. I mean I’m pretty sure it was Diane, but I just can’t say for sure. I don’t know. It will probably come to me later. Like at 3:00 am when I’m trying to sleep. And I’ll be like, “oh yeah, that’s it. It was Diane’s blog. Geez, I wonder whatever happened to her? Hmmm…I hope she’s alright. I should remember to check her blog tomorrow to she if she’s still around. Hmmm…I hope I remember to do that. Maybe I should go write myself a note to remind myself? Nah, I’ll remember. I’m almost asleep and if I get up now, I might not be able to fall asleep. Nah, I’ll remember. Ok, just go to sleep and do it in the morning.”
Ummm…geez, how did I get here? I was just going to tell you that I just really didn’t have a good excuse for not telling you about the kid sitting on the big mound of dirt eating his Subway sandwich with mud-encrusted hands and just kind of let you know that if you want to read about it, that you could click here to go to Bayou Woman’s blog to check it out cause she already wrote about it and did a really nice job I think and what’s the point in trying to write my own version? I mean it just kind of seems like a waste of time, you know? I mean I should just bite the bullet and write it for you if you’re still out there or maybe will come back one day looking for the story. I mean I shouldn’t leave you hanging like that. It’s not really fair of me. But I don’t know, I’m just not sure that it’s necessary. I mean, I know it seems like the easy way out to just give you this link to read about it on someone else’s blog, but it kind of makes practical sense. Doesn’t it? Plus, basically the only thing I’ve written in the past three weeks aside from some emails and articles for the upcoming newsletter is what I posted on this site this morning.
Ok, I’m over it. I don’t feel guilty. I just wasn’t in the mood. So, alright, here’s the link to BWs site. Go read about why the boy was sitting on that big mound of dirt eating his Subway sandwich with mud-encrusted hands and try your hand and a Butch and Ti-Du ending of your own.
Ok, well, I might be back soon. But I can’t make any promises about that. Thanks for stopping by and hopefully I’ll see y’all soon! Later gators!
Time Flies June 28, 2009
Posted by dianehuhn in Bayou Life, Big Fun on the Bayou, Fishing, Friends, Louisiana Wildlife, Ramblings, Relief Work.Tags: alligators, wetlands, louisiana, redfish, Fishing, saltwater fishing, hurricane relief, marsh, outdoor, eagle, honey bees
3 comments
So I can see from the date of my last post that I have been a bad blogger once again. It’s been a fun-filled week of new friends, volunteers (who are now new friends), relief work, paper work, good food, too much sun, gator spotting, eagle spotting, and fishing. And oh boy, did we fish!
And fished some more…
and a little more for good measure.
Oh yeah, and a little more fishing just to be sure.
And since a limit a day keeps the psychiatrist away…
And although it looks like I spent every waking moment fishing, I actually did engage in a few other activities. Like chasing what I thought was an eagle around the rec center for 2 hours in the 104 degree heat trying to get a good pic, but not being too successful…no matter since it wasn’t a real eagle…
and trying to get a good picture of a gator at night…
and trying to keep a safe distance, but still get a good pic of some honey bees…
and trying to get just a little better close up…
and carting around tools and supplies for a great bunch of guys from Tennessee (the Volunteer State I might add)…
and becoming the incredibly proud owner of a GJ original (although I was so excited I forgot to turn it the right way for the camera).
And now it’s time to pack a bag for a few adventures of the Michigan variety and get a little bit of this action going on.
My Adventure With The Swamp Dwellers, Part 3.14159265… June 20, 2009
Posted by dianehuhn in Bayou Life, Big Fun on the Bayou, Friends.Tags: alligators, Bayou, cypress, Fishing, mauvais bois, south Louisiana, swamp, swamp dwellers, Terrebonne
17 comments
OK, so we rounded a bend in the canal and I caught sight of a dock and what looked the outline of two bayou beings of the human variety.
The two bayou beings are first cousins, separated by 30 years, but joined by their deep love and respect for the enchanting south Louisiana landscape.
I learned that the older cousin is 84 years old, but I honestly wouldn’t have pegged him for more than 72 or 73. It might sound odd to describe the movement of such a man as graceful, but he just seemed to spring lightly about the dock. I could immediately picture him moving swiftly across the flottant while his younger cousin, nearly double in stature, would most likely be lumbering well behind on the verge of breaking through any second on his way to China.
As we chatted about the fish that had gotten away, I could not stop looking out on this view. Unfortunately, my photos just don’t seem to do it justice.
I sat entranced by the wealth of history carried by this older cousin. He was born out here. Grew up hunting and fishing and trapping. Living off the land. Crossing the canal by pole. It felt odd to realize that this man and my father were born in the same year. Not that my father was a city boy. He did his fair share of hunting and fishing and exploring along the banks of the Grand River. But I got the sense that their lives were vastly different, but both much more tied to nature than their succeeding generations.
As the older cousin explained how, at 84, he still works trapping nuisance alligators (seriously, how cool is that???), an occassional bass would splash about toying with us and all of us would momentarily pause the conversation looking at each other to determine who would grab the fishing pole next to try our luck. First the younger cousin…
then BW…
then the older cousin…
and I certainly couldn’t pass up the opportunity to try my hand. (Thanks for the pic, BW!)
But alas there would be no bass upon our plates so we settled instead for a most delicious, old-fashioned, camp meal of boiled steak and potatoes prepared perfectly by the younger cousin.
Before we knew it, the day had gotten away from us and it was time for BW and I to bid adieu to my new friends…
and book it on home while the sun took it’s leave at our backs.
If you’re ever down the south Loozy way, I would highly suggest you arrange a tour with BW and make it a point to drink in this magnificent jewel for yourself. But, sadly, you’d better not wait too long. If we can’t get some real action moving soon to restore and protect the Louisiana coast, this treaure will be lost like so many before and a whole way of life washed away with it.
Alright BW…when are we going back?
For more scenes from this most amazing day, click here.
