Month: January 2018

What a party it must have been one hundred and fifty-seven years ago! On January 26, 1861, the Secession Convention voted 113 to 17 leave the United States. The various websites I checked could not conclusively establish the new name of Louisiana. Some called it a republic while others called it a state. They do agree their independent status was short-lived, although it varies as well. Some say only nine days later they joined the Confederate States of America. Others report the CSA didn’t welcome the Cajuns in until March. A good example where history doesn’t write itself.

Regardless of how long it took Louisiana to become a fully recognized Confederate state, a sheer amount of confusion must have ensued. Changing of the flags at all government outposts must have been a daunting task. The assets of the United States were seized and either packed up shipped above the Mason-Dixon line, or procured for the new state’s use. They erased one country’s name and it replaced it with another. A delegation was sent west to Texas to convince their neighbors to join this new country. What an incredible time all this must have been.

Could another secession happen? Any state considering this would have an overwhelming task. The border to secure, and the more interstate highways exiting and entering the state would be a priority. Not only that, but the US highways that cross the former state’s borders would need to be addressed. Followed by state highways and then normal roads. Immigration offices would need to be built at each airport and rail station. New flags, currency, and documents would be needed. A massive undertaking. It would be a historic event.

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What I’m Reading – Many readers I know like to inquire what their favorite author is reading. At the end of each blog post, I’ll let you know what book I have my nose in. I may not be a published author yet, but I hope my choice of reading material inspires you to read. I’m currently reading Striptease by Carl Hiaasen. I encourage you to read a variety of topics.

History doesn’t write itself, but it is interesting to look back and see what happened many years ago. For example, January 19, 1815, at Fort St. Philip on the Mississippi River, the final confrontation of the War of 1812 took place. Enduring ten days of bombardment from the British Royal Navy, the garrison held on and the British sailed away. The Treaty of Ghent officially ended the War of 1812.

Two hundred eighty-two years ago today, a French sailor named Jean Louis bequeathed 10,000 livres to New Orleans Charity Hospital. Jean’s source of income came from shipbuilding. Settled only eighteen years earlier, the Big Easy’s population in 1736 consisted of criminals, the poor, and vagabonds. The hospital had no end of patients. In 1834, the Roman Catholic Sisters of Charity took over the hospital. It gradually became a celebrated intuition of healing. When Hurricane Katrina struck, it had 2,680 beds. Sadly, Jean Louis’ dream closed after the storm and has not reopened.

Tomorrow, Louisianan’s celebrate the French taking back the colony in 1731. King Louis XV was persuaded by the Company of the Indies to restore Louisiana to a royal colony. Attacks by the Natchez Indians in the previous years and the loss of profits led the Company to want a more secure colony to do business. Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville returned to lead the colony once again.

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What I’m Reading – Many readers I know like to inquire what their favorite author is reading. At the end of each blog post, I’ll let you know what book I have my nose in. I may not be a published author yet, but I hope my choice of reading material inspires you to read. I finished reading Double Whammy by Carl Hiaasen and Bloom County: Brand Spanking New Day by Berkeley Breathed. My reviews of both books are on GoodReads.com. I’m currently reading Striptease by Carl Hiaasen. I encourage you to read a variety of topics.

 

Although not in my upcoming book, Bill’s Cajun House of Pleasure, I thought I’d give a little history lesson this week since most of America is covered in cold weather right now. Twenty years ago, on January 12, 1997, an ice storm crippled southwest Louisiana. The ice storm lasted for two days. The Gulf Coast usually receives freezing rain. Rarely do they get an ice storm.

An Arctic air mass brought cold temperatures to the region on January 5. A stronger blast of cold air arrived five days later. The computer models forecasted precipitation from the eleventh to the thirteenth. A light snow fell on Lake Charles from 11 p.m. on January 11 to 2 a.m. the next day. Precipitation fell in a wide area after sunrise on the twelfth. It continued for the next two days. Northern Louisiana received up to six inches of snow. South of the I-10 corridor, it was all freezing rain. Folks north of I-10 got sleet. As expected, the roads became treacherous and many of them closed. Trees collapsed under the weight of the ice and power lines snapped. Calcasieu Parish bore the brunt of the ice storm. Some schools closed for up to six days. Most businesses shut down for the week. All of this from a half inch to an inch of ice.

The temperature didn’t rise above freezing until the afternoon of January 14, 1997. Almost half a million people were without power. Many reports came in from people wanting to watch the NFL playoffs but were unable to do so. With the mercury now over 32 degrees Fahrenheit, the ice melted and caused more problems. As it fell from rooftops and treetops, the ice chunks brought down more power lines. This was Louisiana’s costliest natural disaster before Hurricane Katrina, with damages in the millions of dollars. For more information, check out this blog.

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What I’m Reading – Many readers I know like to inquire what their favorite author is reading. At the end of each blog post, I’ll let you know what book I have my nose in. I may not be a published author yet, but I hope my choice of reading material inspires you to read. I’m still reading Double Whammy by Carl Hiaasen and Bloom County: Brand Spanking New Day by Berkeley Breathed. I encourage you to read a variety of topics.

Welcome to the new year! I’m glad you’re here and that you made it through all the holiday celebrations just fine. Today I highlight another character from my upcoming up, Bill’s Cajun House of Pleasure. He is introduced late in the book and is the near polar opposite of my main character. Whereas Bill is a gruff, foul-mouthed taskmaster, Officer Ambeaupeaux is a southern gentleman to his core.

His first name is never revealed during his time in Bayou Cove. He’s a member of the Louisiana State Police Gator Unit, a small experimental unit that uses alligators to track down persons of interests, or ill-repute, deep in the swamps. In the back seat of his car are his two trained alligators, Spot and Fluffy. With Officer Ambeaupeaux on patrol, you of nefarious intent beware.

Officer Ambeaupeaux is a really fun character. In fact, when my former girlfriend and I wandered into Bayou Cove from time to time, I usually played the part of this respectable lawman. He’s an entertaining fellow and I hope you enjoy him.

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What I’m Reading – Many readers I know like to inquire what their favorite author is reading. At the end of each blog post, I’ll let you know what book I have my nose in. I may not be a published author yet, but I hope my choice of reading material inspires you to read. I finished reading Miss Kopp’s Midnight Confessions by Amy Stewart, Onward and Downward by Jim Toomey, and Joy to the Word: 24 Meditations by Chris Stefanick. Currently, I’m reading Double Whammy by Carl Hiaasen and Bloom County: Brand Spanking New Day by Berkeley Breathed. I encourage you to read a variety of topics.