Accordian Adventures

                                  Above is the official Festivals Acadiens et Cr'eoles Poster for 2010                                             http://www.festivalsacadiens.com/index1.html

This is day one of my week with a loaned accordian. A friend of mine is fostering my love of Cajun music and has lent me his accordian. It's in D and she's a beaut. I swear I may love instruments more than I love either men or shoes. Right now, I know the difference between pushing and pulling (if you just push in an accordian, it's automatically a D, the complicated part is the other.) The accordian and the harmonica are a lot alike, they both come and keys, like D or C. However, the accordian is like the harmonica's prettier, more complicated big sister. I really want to learn at least one song on the accordian, especially "Jolie Blon," which is like the national anthem of Southwest La. If the banjo is Kentucky's state instrument, then the accordian is Louisiana's. Yet, I cannot help but think this accordian and I are a lot like the odd couple. Lord help, what will the world do with a backwoods Kentuckian that can play "Jolie Blon" on the accordian?

I am posting a couple of links to videos of my favorite accordian players. Pay attention to all their faces. I firmly believe all accordian players make an "accordian-look-at-me face" when they play. The first one is the accordian king Steve Riley with the Mamou Playboys playing "Bon Reve."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RbNfH_R7Is&feature=related

Next, is the band the Pine Leaf Boys with Wilson Savoy on accordian.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GudVz-GsQHA&feature=related

Last, but not least, another one of my favorite Louisanne bands, The Malfecteurs, with Ryan Brunet on accordian playing the "French Blues."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-AHaIVui8Q&feature=related

Long Live the Accordian, ya'll!

R.I.P. Charlie Louvin

                            (A GREAT ALBUM BY THE LOUVIN BROTHERS, CHECK IT OUT!)

You are one of the few men I believe I have ever loved. Something about listening to you and Ira's singin' just broke my heart in two---plum apart. Everytime I hear "Knoxville Girl" I feel like I am singing hymns at church, it leaves you in a spiritual aftermath. You are full of tunes about heartbreak. To have never met you, I feel as though I lost a very old friend. 

Some of my favorite Charlie Louvin Songs:
1. Kentucky
2. I Don't Love You Anymore
3. I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby
4. I Can't Keep You in Love with Me
5. Knoxville Girl

HIIIIDDDDDEEEE! (Minnie Pearl Style)

Well folks, I have had the best weekend ever! I braved the cold and frigid temperature to venture out to the Blue Moon Saloon to attend the Pine Leaf Boys' Grammy send off Party! Armed with my faux rabbit fur coat and a pair of combat boots, I listened to one of my favorite Cajun bands make some music genius Friday night. I don't care if you have never set foot in Louisiana, don't know a stinkin' word of French, and could care less about accordians, you will STILL LOVE this band. The venue they played at was outside and still the place was packed with the cold setting new records of 29 degrees here in Lafayette. People started listening to the tunes, getting their Cajun bounce on, and throwing off jackets to two-step to this band. I believe this Kentuckian may finally have learned to waltz and Cajun two step (bout dagum time.)

Saturday night I took over the cajun praire. I went out to Iota, La. to hang out with some new buddies. We sat around a fire, looked up at the stars, drank a few Bud-heavies, and I may had to fight a few people to prove I wasn't a Yankee (those are fighting words in Kentucky.) I supplied baked goods (my famous chocolate chip recipe and homemade chocolate cupcakes with buttercream icing) and ate myself silly on some duck gumbo and homemade sausage.

Sunday afternoon I attended a fish fry. LORD HELP. I tell you, I ain't ever leavin' Louisiana. All the men cook for you, dance, and seem to all know how to sweet talk you in French. This may have been the best fish I have ever had. We had fried mushrooms, fried cucumbers, fried pickles, and a homemade pizza.

Well, I hope you all had a good weekend too! I got to dance, eat, and play tunes, so I am a happy camper. Here's a list of my essentials for a good Friday night.
1. Cowboy boots
2. Red lipstick
3. Hairband (in case you get hot while dancing)
4. Flask to fit in your left boot (fill it with what you please!)
5. Gum (you may end up finding someone to kiss on.)

Forgive Me

I have been a terrible blogger. I have abandoned my creative child that is my blog. I ask for forgiveness. I am going to come back better than ever! This time I will have pictures documenting my Cajun adventures. Since blogging last this list of things have happened:
1. Stepped on a snake and survived.
2. Found Lakeview Resort and Beach in Eunice, La. Best place on Earth.
3. Have improved my Cajun two-step and waltz, but still not that great.
4. Learned to make a rue, kind of.
5. Joined a beard club.
6. Was the Miller High Life Girl in the Moon for Halloween.
7. Attended my first NBA game.
8. Witnessed one of the best poetry slams ever at the M Bar in Baton Rouge, La.
9. Discovered Honey Moon Bungalow Vintage shop in Baton Rouge, La.
10. Mastered baked mac'n'cheese.

Promise I will be back with more adventures very soon!

Redfish Kisses.

Lord Help. Since my last post, I have had many adventures. I have uncovered more of the Red Stick, gone fishing, and traveled back to Kaintuck. Last Sunday I went crabbing in Southwest Louisiana. I got up at the break of dawn, purchased a one day fishing license (which was a whopping $15 bucks), got a six pack of beer, and headed out to the great Louisiana Dawn. Being a good sport, I volunteered my car as our transport. Pulling into the parking lot next to the pier, my cohorts and I fail to acknowledge the eight foot alligator sitting in the grass right next to the passenger side of the car. A woman who was fishing ran up to tell us to watch for the gator. Like a coward, I jumped immediately ten feet away, failing to muster up the gusto to go any closer. However, the gator was more interested in attempting to suntan his belly. I learned how to crab fish. First, get a hunk of chicken neck, tie a string around it, then add weights to the string, which you are supposed to bite to close, and sink your bait into the water. Then, you are supposed to check on your strings, I had three, and when it feels as though one is being pulled that means a crab is on it. You are supposed to slowly pull the string out of the water for the crab doesn't fall off, while lowering your net with your right hand into the water. Overall, I am a terrible crabber. I caught a few, but apparently I have a lot to learn. I was so bad that an eight-year-old boy offered to help. Between "Mini Macqyver" and myself, we caught around two dozen. However, I did catch one beauty---a big crab that was a ripe, rich blue. All the men on the dock applauded my good work.

While I took a hand at crabbing, my two companions were fishing for redfish. While one seemed to catch a fish everytime he cast, the other, well, was learning. I did get one surprise. While engrossed in my seatime work, the successful fisherman decided to place his freshly caught redfish's mouth on my exposed lower back. I nearly jumped into the water with the gators. I decided a kiss from a redfish must be some form of a Cajun blessing. Overall, our fishing trip was a success, with one ice chest full, an encounter with the game warden (who was a VERY good looking game warden) that ended with no tickets, and two gator sitings. I had a great time.

Back in the Red Stick

Lord Help. Since my last post, I have visited the local pirate bar called the Port Royal with my friend who is starting the South Louisiana Beard Club. It was a glorious place. Dimly lit, not too crowded, and attached to a Waffle House like I like all dives to be. Also, I ventured out to the wonderful world of Lafayette. Before coming to Louisiana, a person told me that Lafayette was the Mecca of the World. I reckon it is pretty dagum great. I went to the Blue Moon Saloon, which resembled someone's backyard patio if it was covered in different bands' posters and a road sign for Henderson Swamp. I watched two great bands the Pine Leaf Boys and Feufollet. I have been very excited to see both because the two groups consists of a bunch of young people, who are GREAT musicians, and have an obvious pride and respect for their culture. I watched different people, young and old do the two step all night long. During the shows, I sat next to an older lady that filled me in on the gossip of the  place, "Who was who," and "what they do." Also, I was luckily there for the opening of the Festival de Acadians (sorry if my French spelling is off.) I saw a man jump on stage and play the accordian who was generations older than the band playing, yet he still had the heat of the music pumping through him and sang with more heart than maybe anyone all night. This was the man honored that night and his face was the one that got to grace this year's poster for the festival.

This little silver fox I was sitting next to spoke in Cajun French to her buddies entering the bar all night. I ate that right up. It was hot as blazes in that place, being that it was packed, outside, with only one fan, and a super hot Louisiana night. Even though I felt like I was cookin', I was going no where. I listen to the bands sing songs about going to dances and meeting your future wife, about short dresses, and well many other sexual topics. It was one of the best shows I have been too. I just sat there in one of my silk dresses with my hair knotted up and my cowboy boots moving to the beat. I was there until the last fiddle was played and the last song sung. Can't wait to do that again!

Benefits of Cowboy Boots

If I had to choose my favorite thing to wear, it would be cowboy boots. I collect them. I currently have three pairs and I am constantly looking for more. Does not matter if I am sauntering through a thrift store to kill time. If I see a pair of boots, I beeline over there and try them on and if they remotely fit (within two sizes), I will buy them no matter if I had other intentions (like groceries) for that money. I think my obsession rests with the fact that they are fashion and utility combined. As a girl, I love wearing masculine things, especially with something very feminine, like ruffles. Here are some of my favorite reasons to wear cowboy boots:
1. They are eye-catchers.
2. Make a girl look tough.
3. People compliment you on the street.
4. Conversation starter. Like, "When we gonna go ride horses?"
5. Make me taller than almost everyone.
6. I can easily store my flask in them or I reckon wallet, keys, etc. (Flask most important.)

When people ask why I am obsessed with cowboy boots, I reply, "A girl can never have too many pairs of cowboy boots." One thing about living in Louisiana, the natives LOVE boots as much as I do!

Downfalls of boots:
1. When you fall, you fall pretty hard. Cowboy boots are slick.