Dear Smiley: Many years ago I had a big black Lab named Brutus. Just before the teal hunting season, I would take him along the jogging trail on Lake Pontchartrain in Kenner.
"As deer hunting season comes to a close," says Perry Rose, of Denham Springs, "I am reminded of some work mates talking about their kills.
After the festivities of Monday night (and Tuesday morning, if you celebrated properly), it might be time for a little sober reflection.
Duke Rivet, of Baton Rouge, says, "Growing up on a poultry farm during the Eisenhower administration, my city slicker cousins from New Orleans would often come to stay with their country cousins near Marksville during the summer.
Storm, our "Old Baton Rouge" nostalgist, was reminded of this clever marketing method by tales in recent columns of the banana splits at Borden's ice cream parlors of bygone days:
Deborah Maxwell says, "I have so enjoyed your recent stories of dogs and the joyful shenanigans they bring into our lives. But I bet no one has my story.
Dear Smiley: I was a member of the Golden Band from Tiger Land in 1968 when LSU played Florida State in the first Peach Bowl (at Grant Field on the Georgia Tech campus).
Before you make some smart-aleck crack about the above headline, read on:
A sad business story brought memories of a sweet childhood treat.
Watching the Saints stumble, bumble and fumble in a playoff loss to the Vikings stirred up unwelcome memories — and got me worrying about LSU's contest with Clemson in the Expensive German Car Superdome.
Perry Rose, of Denham Springs, says, "I attended an afternoon wedding a few Saturdays ago.
Dusty Kling, of Baton Rouge, says, "I would be amiss in my amateur proofreading if I failed to bring to your attention a possible misquote in a December Opinion section of The Advocate.
Dear Smiley: Someone recently sent me a photo of Republican and Democratic legislators attempting to “make harmony” at the Governor’s Mansion a few hours after sine die adjournment.
With all the hype about the LSU football team, do we really need more stories about the Tigers?
Mary Brown, of New Orleans, says, "When my then-fiancé and I went to City Hall to get our marriage license back in 1991, the clerk asked us where we were born.
Dear Smiley: Mention of the dog swiping a hamburger reminded me of my granddaughter’s standard poodle, Lily.
I have to confess I'm a bit "Bah! Humbug!" about Christmas movies, with the exception of "A Christmas Story," Jean Shepherd's wonderful tale of Ralphie, a kid in the 1940s, and his craving for a Red Ryder BB gun.
OK, I give up. Noting all the hype about Joe Burrow and the LSU Tigers, I promised myself I wouldn't add to the pandemonium and would limit comments on Joe and the SEC champs.
John Currier says, "My daughter and son-in-law were in for a visit. He is from Cleveland, and it is such a different world that he is sometimes not sure whether we are making Louisiana stuff up or not.
Keith Horcasitas, of Baton Rouge, says our dog stories reminded him of a tale from Jack and Jill Lasseigne about their late schnauzer, Chance.
Yvette Spence tells this hunting story:
Dear Smiley: Be careful what you say; it could backfire on you.
Linda Whitman suffered from homesickness and a longing for Southern accents while spending time in the Frozen Nawth:
Joel d'Aquin Thibodeaux, of Baton Rouge, says, "Algie Petrere's story of the little girl picking out her own too-expensive dress reminds me of the time I was shopping with my Aunt Bert, cousin Linda, and Linda’s 4-year-old daughter Amy at the mall.
In the Monday column, when I was discussing dogs chasing cars, I wondered what would happen if they ever caught one.
When I saw the Sunday Advocate photo of Joe Burrow wearing that "Burreaux" jersey Saturday night in Tiger Stadium, I thought of Bill Huey.
Peggy Davis, of Baton Rouge, says, "I’ve really enjoyed reading about how Cajuns used their French language skills during World War II, and am so proud of their contribution.
Dear Smiley: In August Buddy and I adopted an 8-month- old poodle named Bear. He was too rambunctious for a household with two small children, refused to be potty trained, and ignored all reprimands for his alpha-dog behavior.
Gerald Wray, of Pride, tells of his "final giant leap into the 21st century:
For many years now I've been devoting my Thanksgiving column to my family, recapping what the people closest to me have been doing over the past year.
Ronnie Stutes, of Baton Rouge, recalls the days when Thanksgiving fell on a different date (not that he recalls those days personally, of course):
Michell Smith tells of a thoroughly modern view of divine wisdom:
Fay Weilbaecher, of Covington, tells of her uncle, Frenchie DeNoux, "the biggest animal lover of them all," who liked to adopt baby alligators, skunks, raccoons, potbellied pigs, etc.:
Dear Smiley: Business trips before and after the fall of the Berlin Wall not only allowed me to chip my own piece of the wall and buy a souvenir T-shirt, but reminded me how much we take for granted in our great country.
John Currier picks up nuisance alligators and relocates them, kind of an "only in Louisiana or Florida" job, I would imagine. He has a sense of humor about his occupation. For example:
Alex "Sonny" Chapman, of Ville Platte, comments on the George Morris story in the Wednesday Advocate, about Cajuns serving as French interpreters in World War II:
Since her death, I've received many recollections about Holly Clegg, author of the "Trim and Terrific" series of cookbooks and a popular Advocate food columnist:
I just have to say this — isn't it nice that the mean political attack ads are gone and local TV is once again watchable?
Kathy Abbott says, "Your column recalling one reader’s experience during the fall of the Berlin Wall brought to mind my husband’s experience in Dusseldorf during the German Reunification Celebration on Oct. 3, 1990.
Dear Smiley: Russ Kercher described the Berlin Wall memorial and National Churchill Museum at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri.
I can't say I'm surprised by Jeff Robert's story:
Willie Price, of New Iberia, continues our seminar on Louisiana spices:
The word for today, class, is "hubris."
"A couple of weeks ago I was at the old New Orleans airport waiting for a flight," says Tony Falterman, of Napoleonville.
Saturday, Nov. 9, was the 30th anniversary of the end of the Berlin Wall.
Dear Smiley: The Advocate article on the opening day of the New Orleans airport covered all the features expected: parking, security screening, check-in, and amenities.
I was perusing the Thursday Advocate when I came across a recipe that sounded interesting: shrimp, corn and sweet potato soup.
We've heard from several moms about getting revenge when their children have children of their own who misbehave in exactly the same way.
It had to happen.
Dear Smiley: About kids running away from home:
Donald Landaiche, of Donaldsonville, says our stories about witnesses for a golfer's hole-in-one "brought back a very painful memory.