Saints?? Bring on the Panters....of PARMA

New Orleans Saints?!?!?!....Don’t Need ‘Em…..We have the Parma Panthers!

12/30/08

Buongiorno.
I have disconnected myself from New Orleans Saints winning seasons long ago.
Yes, I would love for them to win.
Yes, I was excited the first season of the Brees/Bush era. They had a good year.
It they would ever win a Super Bowl, Yes, I would be happy.
When they play foolish and dim-witted, it aggravates me (BECAUSE THEY MAKE LOTS OF MONEY!).
Do I get mad when they lose, not for a long time?
(LSU – that is a different story)

I have read every book written by a few authors (or have them in line to read). Ted Dekker, Joel C. Rosenberg and John Grisham are a few of these authors.
I was fortunate to finish Grisham’s Playing For Pizza recently.
Like another one of books based in Italy (The Broker), I have a strong desire to go to Italy after reading the book.
I won’t go into great detail of the book. It a great read if you get a chance to grab it. In the book, the sport of Americano Football was prevalent.
I always knew they played American Football in Italy and also realized that it paled in popularity to Soccer.
Grisham’s book did what I wish for and crave when I read or watch a movie. It caused me to research, think, and hope and to want to explore.
I researched (the research has only begun) the Parma Panthers http://www.panthers.it/ football club and the Italian Football clubs.
I thought (while reading) about how the portions of Italy discussed in the book would be in real life.
I have a hope of a future visit to Italy (especially Parma – They make Parmesan cheese there) and to watch an American Football game.
It is causing me to explore (not only the Internet but also my own thoughts of Italy).

So back to Football.
The real Parma Panthers http://www.panthers.it/ have 2 new fans.
The 2008 Italian Football League http://www.ifleague.it/ season (runs from about March to May) was a success for the Panthers. The club went 8 wins and 2 losses and made it to the Semi Finals but lost to the mighty Bergamo Lions. The only paid players in the league or the Americans (And each team is allowed to only have 2 or 3). So these guys really do play for the love of the game.
If you are interested in broadening your sports horizons, check out some of the links provided. Until the 2009 season, this starts in about 3 months,
CHAO!

It's Christmas Time in the City

Christmas

12-25-2008

Our Christmas gift to you....

Pictures of our Christmas Cactus.

This plant grew as it's vessel brew. It was in a small pot and it stayed small. We moved it into a larger planter and it grew and flourished.

The REAL meaning of Christmas is like this. We can spread the true meaning around and enlarge the vessel in which we keep it in, us. We can let it out and spread it to the world.

We celebrate this day because Jesus was born to ultimately save us.

Open your Bible, turn to the book of Matthew and start reading.

Now enjoy these pics of our Christmas Cactus.

Notes from China

Notes from China
-sort of –
-not really –

Dec. 20, 2008

Like many towns or areas across the USA, ours has that great American Institution.
THE LOCAL CHINESE RESTAURANT.

We actually have 4 (used to be 5) with in (what is probably) a 10 mile stretch on Hwy. 90. Two of these are menu only and two are buffet style.

We went to one the other night and after we ate and were paying the bill we witnessed one of the most entertaining exchanges between 2 people.
Very little (maybe none at all) words were spoken by one party.
We were paying the bill and one of the cooks brought a “to go” box and put it on the counter by the lady who took our money. She looked at the box, grabbed it and said something fast in half Chinese – half American. She had a disenchanted scowl on her face as she held the box. She immediately began to work on the wire handle of the box. It was totally bent out of shape. As though mesmerized by whatever authority she had over him, the cook just stood there. We, as innocent bystanders, also looked at both of them. As she spoke she looked at him and us. She completed her wire work and wiped the top of the box. She told him something we couldn’t totally make out and he went back to the kitchen to clean the box. She told us sorry – I think – and proceeded to finalize our transaction. Then she said that it is hard to work with the cook because of the language barrier. That is our translation of what she told us. You see, the cook was Latin and we can only assume that he spoke little or no English – based on her broken English explanation to us. It was all rather enjoyable and fun.
It made for a great ending for our meal.

Sports Illustrated has a segment each week that is titled “Sign of the Apocalypse”.
I had my own “Sign of the Apocalypse” moment at the Chinese restaurant.
You know the Apocalypse is close when your local Chinese restaurant is skimpy on the Black mushrooms in their Hot and Sour soup.

Well, we went back the next day and discovered it wasn’t the Apocalypse after all. The next night, the Hot and Sour soup was FULL of those wonderful Black mushrooms.

But much to our disappointment, we did not get an encore of the Chinese-American/Latino-American “go box” exchange.

Things I Circled in the 12-16-08 Times Pic

12-16-08

Today, I had the day off. It was one of those "Have to take it or you lose it day". The company doesn't think that way when I have to work Christmas Eve and the day after Christmas - when 87.3% of the company I work for will be home.
Oh well.
today my wife worked half a day so I drove her in. We had breakfast at Penny's Place - probably our favorite breakfast place. I sat in one of their rooms in her office while she worked and read my book - drank a diet coke - dozed - perused the newspaper ( New Orleans' The Times-Picayune). http://www.timespicayune.com/
I had my trust BLUE pen with me......I love that Pen....time to order more...I only have 3 left.....so I circled some of the Headlines and stories that caught my eye.

COSTLY MANDATE - this was a story about losing our Louisiana coastline. I am not done with the story, but the news is not good and hasn't been for some time.

MIDYEAR CUTS LIKELY IN STATE BUDGET - the writing is on the wall...almost everywhere. And please "anti-Jindal" folks....don't blame our governor.

OBAMA TAPS N.O. GRADUATE FOR EPA - I must say, I have been very happy with the folks President Elect Obama has picked so far.... He even received kudos at the Barber shop - Very Republican people in there - today.

And probably one of my favorites of the day...
BRAWL ERUPTS BETWEEN TWO LAWYERS AT CIVIL COURT - Once a "gentleman's profession" (not my words - but i agree) is becoming what......?
Basically these 2 lawyers got into a fight. They were pushing rival class action law suits. What is this world coming to? These are highly educated people, but highly stupid.

IN SHOE-HURLING INCIDENT, ARABS FIND A HERO (AND IT'S NOT BUSH) - Two thoughts: 1-Bush is lucky this guy didn't have bigger feet. 2-he hummed that shoe pretty hard - I think the DODGERS should sign him as a pitcher.

And finally...........(there are a lot more that I circled - but I am tired)

This is the best of the day....

GUINEA PIGS: THE OTHER HOLIDAY MEAT - It appears that in officials in the Peruvian province Callao "hailed the Andean rodent as a low-cost, low-fat alternative to a traditional turkey or roast pork Christmas dinner." Apparently people in Peru have been eating these for a while. It says that the G. PIG can feed about 7 people for $3.20. That must be a bigger G. Pig than what we are used to.
Last thought......I would love to try it.
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Good night.

Crazy Louisiana Weather

Crazy Louisiana Weather
12-15-08
We had SNOW last week and it was cold!!!!!!
Last night we wore shorts and slept with the ceiling fan on the high speed.

Hurricanes vs. Tornadoes vs. Earth Quakes

The debate always rises. Which would you prefer? Most people down south say the Hurricane due the fact that we know it is coming.
Well if I was given the choice. I would pick NONE OF THE ABOVE - thank you!

Saturday 12/6/08

Saturday – 12/6/08 – and an array of this and that

On Saturday, 12/6/08, I helped my little brother change out hi kitchen floor. We replaced old wood with new. He is putting the tile on this week.
Talk about me feeling out of shape. I didn’t realize before hand that the floor would beat me like it did. I actually wore out. I haven’t been physically beat like that in a while.
That work was a part of a great day. I had a great time working and hanging out with my little brother. We talked about an array of subjects and (not that we aren’t close) I felt really close to him on that day. I had an excellent day with him. Plus not to mention, we were treating to the Hanna Montana “Say What” marathon on Disney channel (it played in the back ground). Plus it was his birthday.
My day was capped off when my wife and I went to see Ricky Graham's Scrooge in Rouge. This was a pretty comical play. You can guess by the title what it is about. If you don’t know about Ricky Graham, you can check out his website. (Google Ricky Graham - you get a bunch but you can easily find his web page)
Also you can see if he was included in Wade’s Dinner piece. Scroll down and check it out - dated 11/15/08.
The night was capped off with a late night sandwich at IHOP. The sandwich did not look like the picture. In the future I will stick to the IHOP breakfast, no matter what the time is.

O.J. Simpson – no comment.

The economy – no comment times 2. IT goes without saying that it is bad. Everyday I am waiting for the next tree to fall.

Glen "Big Baby" Davis. I still haven't been able to look at the video on youtube, but I have to defend the former LSU Tiger. I am sure Kevin Garnett was wrong. He lambasted Davis then turned around and played like crud himself (probably only for a few minutes).

The Illinois Governor. - What can you say?

"Pie" de Manzana WOW

“Pie” de Manzana WOW

12/2/08

Every day – at least 99.999999% of the time, we – me and the 2 wonderful people I work with – eat at our desk. We eat with one hand whacking at a keyboard and one holding the phone to our ear. Sometime we get really talented and have 2 or 3 conversations at the same time.
Well today, I am taking a stand (hoy tomo un soporte). As I am eating my mouth-watering (articule regar) lima beans and rice, I will do no work.
I will let the phone ring.
I will watch drivers out of the corner of my eye try to get my attention and play like I don’t see them.
Today I am taking a stand and writing a BLOG. Or BLOG O in Spanish.
So here it is…

Have you noticed lately that almost everything you read (ads, products, etc) are also written in Spanish or have Spanish verbiage written on the label?
This actually does not bother me. I think it is alluring. Plus it helps our Spanish speaking brothers and sisters get along in our country.
Actually my views on our melting pot are not that interesting or controversial or anything like that.
I don’t have a problem with a person working their but off – even if they can’t speak our language. To be honest, a lot of people in our country should look at some of these hard workers and model them.
Now on to what this is about.

My last name is Cortez.
Do you know how many times get a call with a Spanish speaking person on the other end?
People in my own company asked me yesterday (on an email) if I spoke Spanish. The reason: A Mexican customer and out own company’s Laredo TX terminal pretty much speak Spanish top each other (even on emails). They usually copy “American” people on them and they do type in English. For a few days I was getting copied in on these e mails between the two parties that were in Spanish. Every word. Then I see a reply asking me if I spoke Spanish. Of course I can never give a one word answer but in a round about way I said no.
Then the guy responds in English “No wonder you never answered the question.”
Do you know it took a few more emails back and forth to actually get the question? I thought about replying in French or Russian, but I can’t speak those either.
Interesting.

So in honor of my Spanish speaking friends and cousins from Progresso I bring you a current Winn Dixie’s “Have a Better Holiday Dinner” or “disfruta de una major cena para’ las fiestas.”
(Thanks to my co-worker Lariesha)
Lariesha printed it because we are thinking about having food for our office prior to Christmas.
So we are reading this thing and I must say I know how to say HAM (jamon’) and dinner (cena). I am getting a kick out of it, especially the title of this blog. WOW APPLE PIE.
Here is a little rundown: cena de Pechuga de Pavo Asada; 3.5 lbs pechuga de pavo cocida; 2 lb de acompanantes Praters; 16 oz de salsa de menudos Praters; 16 pannecillos…..only $44.99. WOW
Wasn’t Menudo a Latin young dude singing group? From what I can gather, menudos means giblet.
Live at the Monterey Convention and Visitor’s Center…The Giblets!!!!!!!!
“Pie” de Batato o Calabaza….$5.99.
Galletita con Mensaje……..$9.99.
One final thought on our new traveler’s companion (my Winn Dixie Sale paper) to Mexico…
All this will be a great help while in Progresso in January.
Let one of the locals stop me this time, they will think I just walked out of an ELGROCERYO STOREO.
One last thought: Lo casero es major en el “Deli’ de Winn-Dixie.