Petroleum Refinery Gas Burn Off Spectacular

It looks dangerous

Last week Rich was taking photos at a soccer game at James' school when he noticed a spectacular red sky in the distance. He left the game early and followed the light. He drove to the levee on the Mississippi River and this is what he saw. It was from a 'gas burn off' at a petroleum refinery. Word was that this was the most spectacular 'burn off' anyone had seen in years. My father used to follow fire trucks and take pictures of the fire where ever it was.

Is this a guy thing? Or is it human instinct to be attracted to fire?

like the end

and the beginning

and other worldly

Okay. I hear from Rich that this event was an EPA nightmare. I had no idea, but I think I could have guessed from the spectacularness of the sky. It is a reminder that "good" and "bad" often go together.

The Season of Debs, Belles & Balls

A table full of James' party invitations one day in early December, 2008

In Louisiana, this is the season of Debutante Balls, which are actually 'coming out parties', or parties of introduction for all of the young women of a certain age and of a certain class. The families of these young Southern Belles put on parties that rival any wedding I've ever attended, thereby presenting their daughters to society. Often, whole floors of hotels are reserved for the participants of these dances that continue into the wee hours of the morning. Both of our sons, Daniel and James have been escorts and attendees at these events, because they are friends and go to school with these young women.

James and a Deb who shall remain nameless (I promised)

Daniel before a ball in 2003 with Grammy and Pappa

They are darned lucky that they're boys, because if they had been girls they would have been a part of the 'never came out group,' which in this culture would be a bad thing. I suppose that some of the other parents would have attempted to assist me. But, I'm sure I'm ineducable. Friendships would have been strained. Wailing and gnashing of teeth would have occurred. At least I spared our friends and our hypothetical daughters that. Years ago Daniel coined the phrase, "Mom is not a tennis woman." That continues to be the case.

James (in white and pink) and friends at a Cotillion Dance in Middle School

These parties are the pièce de résistance of a 'party education' that starts unofficially in elementary school, but officially in the later years with "Cotillion". Yes, both of our children were members of a Cotillion, Daniel was a member of 'Elan Cotillion', and James is a member of the 'Baton Rouge Cotillion.' Cotillion is basically a training that children and young adults attend to learn manners and proper social behavior in the context of formal dance (or so says Wikipedia). Here in Louisiana we inherited it directly from the French. I hear that in other places Cotillion training only occurs for seniors in high school, and is more like a class for which you register. Here it starts in middle school, and with an invitation.

However, I remember that our children attended dances in elementary school. James had his first dance in 3rd grade. He came home crying because he hadn't been able to ask a girl to dance. At the time, I felt that his reaction was a sign that dances were occurring too early. Anyway, since that experience, he's developed into an expert.

In addition to Cotillion and Debutante Balls, children and young adults here attend school parties and parties thrown by local families celebrating literally every possible holiday or event.

James at Sadie Hawkins 2008

James at his Senior "Toga" Party (in which he violated the dress code (I mean really, they have "standards") and had to put on a t-shirt underneath


James as a Roman soldier with a cute soldieress

This is not taking into account the number of parties that take place in Louisiana in preparation for Mardi Gras by the various Krewes that organize them. Mardi Gras parades (that are really just long parties) occur the Sunday, Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. But, in point of fact, the Mardi Gras Season starts on January 6th, -- the Twelfth Night of Christmas, also called the Feast of the Ephiphany. Mardi Gras is a Catholic event, also brought to us by the French, which precedes Lent, a time to give up all excesses. In contrast, Mardi Gras is the definition of 'excess.'

The most famous parades are in New Orleans, but literally hundreds of parades occur all over the state of Louisiana during this time period. We have just reserved a place on the Endemyion Parade Route in New Orleans, and we are setting aside time for a St. Patrick's Day Parade, again in New Orleans, and a St. Patrick's Day party here in Baton Rouge (Lilly: it is marked in red on our calendar).

Still going to parties: Daniel, Brandi & Kellan Halloween 2008

Some of our friends, usually those 'not from around here' have commented that they did not allow their children to join a Cotillion. Their feelings generally stem from solid philosophies involving feminism, egalitarianism, and anti-elitism. Rich and I would never have joined any such group in high school (we were sort of from an anti-establishment era).

However, our stance is twofold: 1) Our children are not "us," and they really wanted to do this. No parental pushing was involved. And 2) teaching children in Louisiana how to party is sort of like teaching your child to swim when you have a pool (or the bayou) in your backyard. Not that our children haven't almost drowned once or twice....

And that's where we stand on that.

Celebrating the New Year Louisiana Style!

Bobby Larson, Darlene (Grammy) and Brian Larson at Alligator Bayou

http://www.alligatorbayou.com

These New Year celebrations were eclectic! We had mom's kin from "the farm" here for four days. Bobby Larson (82) and mom (87) grew up together in Gray's River, WA where Bobby still lives. I'm not sure what he thought about the Swamp Tour on Alligator Bayou, the visit to the Rural Life Museum, or our New Year's Day dinner with Rich's students from Sri Lanka and Ghana, but he appeared to take everything in stride. Here are some pictures of the festivities.

On the Flatboat

The stark beauty of the bayou in winter

Me Cajun dancing with Jim (one of the owners) on the boat! Aiii Eeeiii!

Baby Nutria "Rich" with Rich on the boat. Notice the similarities-- those eyes and even the hair color

On the Alligator Farm

Before going into the enclosed walkway in the Alligator pen, Frank and Jim repeat the "rules" numerous times. These rules are so important they use a microphone. To my mind, the most important rule is to "never, ever put your fingers arms or limbs, etc. over or through the fence, as these alligators are conditioned to expect food from visitors, and your fingers "look like fat Vienna Sausages," according to Jim.

Being proactive, and thinking I will be ultra careful, I repeat this rule to Darlene, who says, "Of course," rather indignantly. During the course of the demonstration, where Frank dangles pieces of raw chicken ("Louisiana Sushi") over the fence and alligators jump in the air to retrieve it, I see Darlene at the far end of the walkway leaning over the fence to better see the show. And it was not just a finger over the fence but her whole upper body.

Look what was pretty damned close and below her...

Now that's a big gator

Of course, I screamed at her, which gave me a terrible reputation during the rest of the tour, with Jim, periodically asking mom if she wanted to "get rid of me" or "lose me" somehow...

They almost did leave me after we stopped off to hike and see some 1800 year old Cypress trees. But, I think that could have been a mistake... ??

Everything is beautiful in its own way, except for maybe a vulture

New Year's Day Dinner

The cook (of course we had beans & ham but the lawyer in me just can't insert the penny)

Darlene with baby Richard Kofi
Darlene and I saved Abena and the baby's life -- but they named him after Richard! Is everyone/everything named Richard?

Richard Kofi (7 months) and Abena

Brian & Bobby Larson and Abe Baffoe watching football

Priyan Perera has become an American Football fan -- move over Cricket!

Probably the prettiest PhD student in Sri Lanka
A pregnant Rangika Perera

Rich bought me a Canon EOS Rebel XTi for Christmas! So we both shot these pics!