Readers of this column have been eagerly providing LSU's new head coach, Brian Kelly, with suggestions on how to cope with life in Louisiana.
You might have noticed a ton of food stories lately, perhaps due to the upcoming Christmas feast.
You folks should be proud of yourselves. You've given our newest LSU football coach, Brian Kelly, some fine advice about living in this part of the world.
Dear Smiley: In December 1984, a friend of ours arrived back in New Orleans and needed work.
Thanks to all the readers who responded to my Thursday request for advice about his new home so LSU football coach Brian Kelly can settle in properly. I'm sure he'll find the suggestions useful.
Now that Brian Kelly has assumed the role of The Most Important Person in Louisiana (LSU's head football coach), it occurs to me that readers of this column can help the newcomer by providing him with our specialty — unsolicited and questionable advice.
"This is cultural appropriation, y'all!"
We've wandered into subject matter involving offbeat eating habits and food a bit out of the norm. For those reading the column at meal times, I apologize.
This story comes from our "Smart Dogs" file. (We don't have a "Smart Cats" file because all cats are smart):
Dear Smiley: Back in the early ’60s, my father, Ed Saux, was the business manager for the Ochsner Clinic.
Here's a reminder that not everyone is so enchanted by the holiday just past:
Many years ago, I starting doing one of those generic Thanksgiving columns, giving thanks for various things in my life. I soon realized I was most grateful for my family. Since then I've been bringing you (and me, for that matter) up to date on t…
I recently suggested that a story about a rural adventure contained a fine phrase for dealing with a dilemma: "Between the sow and the outhouse."
This is the time of year when people start getting all warm and fuzzy. And here's what gives me that feeling:
After Sonny Chapman, of Ville Platte, said in the Saturday letters column that his folks didn't teach him French although it was their first language, Nancy C. Van Den Akker provides this possible explanation:
Dear Smiley: Recently you had several notes about guys in uniform getting upgraded from economy seats to first class. My wife prompted me to write about my return from overseas duty in Vietnam and West Germany in 1973.
"This is probably before your time, Smiley," says Lucy Sloan. (Very few things are before my time, Lucy.)
Those of us who rely on GPS tracking systems find they work great — until they don't.
Beverly Bulligan, of Kenner, says, "When my granddaughter, Courtney Bayer, was about 5 years old, she wrote a letter to Santa, asking him to please bring her a 'My Little Pony.'
From our "Culinary Delights" file we've pulled this tale from Greg Tenhundfeld:
Wayne Coco, of Simmesport, discusses the special language patterns of South Louisiana:
Dear Smiley: I was raised in Opelousas, where in the '30s barber shops were like 'good ole boy' clubs, staying open late on Saturday nights to accommodate farmers, drummers (salesmen), and guys who wanted to get a shave before going to the many cl…
As multiple readers have told us over the years, kids have an entirely different way of viewing the world.
Here's a Veterans Day story from Jacques Frère:
Bob Craig Jr., of Baton Rouge, calls this story "dodging a silver bullet" (Coors drinkers will get it):
With Veterans Day coming up on Thursday, David Palmisano, of Marrero, recalls this incident from his Air Force days:
Jeannette Beck says, "Some years ago my father-in-law had surgery. He was 92 at the time. So for the next several weeks he was our guest.
Dear Smiley: When my late wife and I were planning our June 1975 wedding, we chose the (then new) Chateau Motor Inn, located in Shreveport, for the groom's family and other out-of-town guests to stay.
Government has always had trouble regulating drinking, sex and gambling — people continue to engage in this activities no matter what laws are passed.
It is the mission of this column to bring cheer to those worried about their life and LSU football, not necessarily in that order.
Richie Schega, of Mandeville, comments on Monday's story on the Baton Rouge area's mosquito invasion:
Since folks seem to be in a nostalgic mood, here's a tale I've told before but is worth repeating.
A post-Ida infestation of a "menacing species" of mosquito in the Baton Rouge area was the topic of an Advocate article by Terry L. Jones on Oct. 26.
Dear Smiley: I married into a Cajun family. My father-in-law told the story of him and his friends' hunting camp in the woods.
Here's a "people helping people" story proving that Ernie Gremillion knows who to pick to ask for help:
There are those who say Baton Rouge, compared to New Orleans, is not a terribly exciting city.
Some songs have a special meaning …
Nick Saban will be a major topic of conversation in Louisiana the next couple of weeks, due to an upcoming football contest between his Alabama lads and LSU's. As usual, the Crimson Tide is heavily favored.
J.W. Barrois tells this "Christmas tree versus pets" story:
Dear Smiley: I have lived in the Baton Rouge/Zachary area my whole life, except for four college years in Hammond.
Bo Bienvenu, of Prairieville, comments on the "win or go home" mentality at LSU regarding coaches:
This is hard to believe, but I have it on good authority that football coaches are not always 100% truthful about players' injuries.
"Our re-entry into polite society is proving to be a little bumpy."
“The lady who had a problem with frogs making a home in the trunk of her car reminded me of a cricket infestation," says David Palmisano, of Marrero.
This submission is from "Name withheld to save my children some embarrassment at school."
Dear Smiley: If you’ve ever heard a group of coaches having a conversation, you may have noticed that they refer to each other as “Coach.”
I enjoy seeing how one story in this column leads to another, and another…
Due to Hurricane Ida, I've heard from a number of readers who missed papers at the end of August. Our Aug. 30 story by Ronnie Stutes was so enjoyable I'm repeating it for those folks.
With unsettling news about football coaches dominating our news, Craig Bennett's story is especially timely:
When I was a kid visiting my grandmother Mae Anders at her country home outside Gloster, Mississippi, she would sit on her front porch and wave at folks who drove down the gravel road.
Since everyone around Baton Rouge seems to be talking about LSU football, for some reason, here's a timely contribution from T-Bob Taylor, of Tyler, Texas, an LSU grad and super fan of the Tigers: