A Walk Around Town

About a month ago, I went for a walk around my home town of St. Martinville and took some pictures of the things that make our fair town famous. It was a beautiful day and the pictures turned out wonderful. Here are some pictures from around the town square:

Steeple

Evangeline

The Evangeline Oak

The Maison Duchamp

Well, beat the drum and hold the phone - the sun came out today!

Well, beat the drum and hold the phone - the sun came out today!
We’re born again, there’s new grass on the field.
A-roundin’ third, and headed for home, it’s a brown-eyed handsome man;
Anyone can understand the way I feel.

Oh, put me in, coach - I’m ready to play today;
Put me in, coach - I’m ready to play today;
Look at me, I can be centerfield.

(John Fogerty, “Centerfield”)

It is that time of year—baseball season. I have had only one chance to see the Ragin’ Cajun baseball team and that was before they started their season. They have had a wonderful start going 7-0. The competition is not incredibly difficult, but in baseball it’s hard to win seven in a row and it is also difficult to beat the same team three times in a row. They have swept one team on the road and will go for a home sweep this weekend (I wish I could have seen some games).

Anyway, the Ragin’ Cajun softball team is also out to an impressive start. While they have lost two games, they have handled some pretty stiff competition. They have played two top twenty-five teams twice and run-ruled each of them at least once. They are now ranked in the top 10 in the country and going for a third tournament win. The two previous tournaments they have hosted and this one they are playing on the road.

These pictures were taken a couple of weekends ago before the baseball season started and at the girls’ first tournament. It was a beautiful day for baseball.

Not My Most Pleasant Shopping Experience!

This past weekend I purchased a computer. I knew what I wanted and I have been waiting to get it because I figured I could get a good deal if I found it on sale. Well, the model of laptop that I wanted was advertised this past Sunday and it came with Windows Vista! Since I was going to be in Lafayette at softball games, I figured I would swing by the store that had the computer on sale (you know the one with giant yellow price tag with a blue background) after the games.

Well, I went in the store and saw that the sales people were busy with other customers and there were some other individuals waiting. I decided to go get some of the things I knew I was also going to buy, like a new bag for the laptop and a new jump drive. When I came back, the sales people were still busy, so I waited. And waited. And waited.

Finally, some other store personnel came to assist, but then I learned that you had to sign-in and receive a little buzzer that they would page when it was your turn (like in restaurants). Luckily, an elderly couple decided they couldn’t wait any longer and I took their buzzer.

After 45 minutes it was finally my turn. I quickly showed the salesperson the computer I wanted and expected him to just sell it to me. What an innocent thought. After I showed him the model, he quickly tried to sell me a different computer. I investigated the differences and informed him that I preferred the one that I had selected. He asked why and I told him of the major factor that influenced my decision. He then asked if I was basing my opinion on what other people told me to which I informed him my decision was based on personal experience. He said, “I was just trying to save you a couple of bucks.” I thanked him and said that I really preferred the one that I had selected.

He then handed me a clipboard that had a form attached to it and asked me to start filling it out. Again, he started inquiring why I did not want the less expensive computer and expressing his desire to save me money. At that point I said the first thing that came to my mind, “What will it take for you to sell me the computer I want?” He then took the clipboard out of my hands, found the model number of the computer (which was underneath the display unit), slammed the computer on display against the counter, and said “Follow me.” He quickly found it in their inventory and handed it to someone else so they could process my sale.

I don’t think I will be going back to that chain very soon!

GIRLS!

I read Donald Miller’s To Own a Dragon a couple of weeks ago. It was a really good book and I would recommend it to any guy who grew-up without a father or anyone who gives guidance to a guy who’s dad was not around when they were young. In chapter 9, “Girls: The Thing Tony Said,” Miller writes:

And this is the part of the story where I tell you what it is a girl really wants from a guy, what it is that stops her looking and has her fascinated with a particular boy, you or me, for example. But the truth is I don’t know. I really don’t know.

I know some guys turn girls on and some guys don’t. I know some girls play games and some girls don’t. I also know it feels good to be tired of it.

Boy, he took the words right out of my mouth. I’m glad that I am not the only one that feels that way!