Julaine Schexnayder, of New Iberia, adds to our collection of stories about card games:
I've received a number of monkey stories since the subject was first mentioned, and none of them end well — for the monkeys or the persons involved with them.
Several recent stories involving card games brought this note:
Another story about our simian friends, from Noel Gilbert, of River Ridge:
Alton Duke offers this auction mishap:
Dear Smiley: It seems there is a plethora of television commercials these days promoting interactive fitness gadgets such as “Mirror,” “Peloton,” etc.
Harvey Best, of Rosedale, says, "I have enjoyed the stories about the wonderful food and places to eat in south Louisiana, but I have a story a little closer to home.
Tony Falterman, of Napoleonville, says, "The entry in your column about turning out the lights reminded me of my predecessor and good friend, Sheriff Murray Landry of Assumption Parish.
Louis L. Martin, of Lafayette, presents this commentary on south Louisiana dining:
Martha Swint, of Covington, says, "The story of riding with John Wayne’s brother reminded me of a date in 1943. (Yes, ’43; I’m 91.)
The New Orleans Saints have been playing good football, but Bill Huey says health concerns may necessitate reviving a tradition from the days of woeful performances:
Dear Smiley: Years ago, a postdoctoral researcher from Sweden started work at the LSU Chemistry Department. She was VERY concerned about tornadoes, which they don’t have in Sweden. She asked the usual questions and got the usual answers:
Back in the ’50s, football coaches generally felt that bodybuilding and weightlifting made players slow and muscle-bound.
Ronnie Stutes, of Baton Rouge, is concerned about the removal of the signage on LSU's former Middleton Library:
This account by Richard Fossey, of Baton Rouge, brings back memories of another eventful trip to a garbage dump, in Arlo Guthrie's classic story/song "Alice's Restaurant:"
This happened way back when my current spouse, Lady Katherine, was just Spanish Town Neighbor Katherine. She reminded me of it the other day, so I feel the need to once more defend myself.
Fay Weilbaecher, of Covington, adds to our series on Louisiana folks dealing with "dry heat" in the West:
Dear Smiley: When I was 11 years old, my family moved from Chalmette to Pleasant Hill, California, a suburb of Oakland located on the “dry” side of the coastal mountains separating it from the cold and foggy San Francisco Bay.
Searching for a story about Smiley Sr. for this pre-Father's Day column, I recalled one told to me by a salesman buddy of his:
For our series on life in drier climes, Marsha R., of Baton Rouge, offers this:
From time to time folks suggest alternatives to "Happy Birthday" to mark the 20 seconds we're supposed to wash our hands to help stave off the coronavirus.
More tales of Californians experiencing Louisiana weather:
With Father's Day coming up, we've been getting stories about funny things dads say or do.
Dear Smiley: My fellow sailors thought I was weird because I looked forward to “stuff on a shingle" (creamed chipped beef on toast).
John Hu, of Baton Rouge, has found the physician some of us need these days:
Lately I've been receiving alarming signs that staying at home might have lasting effects, even after the current pandemic has run its course:
A tale from our "Making the Best of a Bad Situation" file:
Warren Perrin, of Lafayette, tells an "NFL in New Orleans" tale:
Lyn Doucet, of Maurice, says, "When I recently looked at the weather forecast and saw rain for two weeks, I asked my husband, 'Is it that Samedard time?' (I'd always heard folks talk about it.) I knew if it rained on a certain day, it might rain f…
Dear Smiley: A few years ago we were on vacation in Boulder, Colorado, where my grandson and son-in-law Scott live. Scott is a well-known builder in town and my grandson, out of college a couple of years, was working at a financial think tank.
Charlie Melancon, of Baton Rouge, adds this bit of history to our discussion of the origin of the Saints:
This column started 41 years ago on this date. Here's how it happened, more or less:
Thanks to all who took part in the Name the Superdome Sweepstakes. It's now time to name the winner. And it's Wayne Smith, of Covington!
Sara Bradley, of New Orleans, says, "Speaking of re-branding the Superdome, about 25 years ago I read this description of the Superdome by Walker Percy, and it has stayed with me. It's from 'Signposts in a Strange Land: Essays:'
Joanne Moulton, of New Orleans, says, "For the several days I was in the hospital with a new baby girl. My 2-year-old, Christy, had been told by her father and aunt that I would be back soon with a new baby sister for her.
Dear Smiley: After reading about twins in your column, I was reminded of the comments we constantly got from strangers when our twins were babies.
Please, no snarky comments about the decline in this column's subject matter. …
Katie Nachod, of New Orleans, reminds us that the best name for the Superdome might not be either a corporation or an individual:
Cheryl Gaudin has this "kids saying funny things" story:
Here are entries in the "Name the Superdome Sweepstakes" that don't call for corporate names but rather seek to honor famous individuals in the city and state:
Our "Name the Dome Sweepstakes" entries amaze me with both their quality and quantity.
Dear Smiley: Here is a quarantine story to share with you.
As you may have read, the Superdome is losing the company owning its naming rights, and after July 2021 will no longer be called The Expensive German Car Superdome.
As we close out our seminar on unique bar names, here are a few of the best ones we haven't had room to run yet:
Another in our "Kids Saying Funny Stuff" series:
We pause in this column's normal serious coverage of Major World Issues to present something unapologetically silly:
Bob Hill, of Denham Springs, tells of a clever way to celebrate a milestone event during the pandemic:
Dear Smiley: Recently, at our parish, we were celebrating Mass outside, in conformity with the slightly relaxed orders to limit gatherings.
One of the most touching developments of our current crisis is the ingenuity people are showing in finding ways to honor loved ones, young and old, on their birthdays.
Glen Balentine, of Prairieville, says, "Your Wednesday mention of the stringer phoning in a story reminded me of my high school days as sports editor and football statistician. (I was paid $5 to phone in the score and stats to the newspaper from a…
Edna Killian adds to our series on bars: