LSU Basketball

Last Saturday, I attended my first LSU game. I enjoyed it. I got to see David St. Romaine, from USA's Nashville Star, perform at half-time. It wasn't that big of a deal, but something nonetheless.

Debate

I came to a religious debate at school, simply for 5 bonus points. Two hours later, I am still sitting here. Not only am I extremely ready to leave, but I have needed to use the restroom for 90 minutes.

So to stay on topic with this discussion: if there is a God, why am I suffering? Would a perfectly good being do that? I am not making a point; I just REALLY need a toilet.

Construction

It looks like UL is finally coming up in the world. Pictured above is the new parking tower. Twenty years overdue, but it has finally arrived.

However, keeping with tradition UL, has not found a sufficient solution to the parking problem. The tower will not be able to accommodate all students who commute. Many will find themselves still parking 3 miles from main campus and riding the bus.

State Examines Bubbling Water at Lake Peigneur

LAKE PEIGNEUR - A mysterious bubbling and foaming occurred again Thursday at Lake Peigneur, and state officials now are looking into what may be causing the activity.

Thursday's activity was spotted around 7 a.m., when Richard Suire, who lives along the lake, said he saw bubbles shooting one to two feet into the air. The activity occurred in an area about 10 feet to 15 feet across and about three feet wide, Suire said.

Although the bubbling soon dissipated, a larger area of foam could be seen in the same spot until around noon. Michael Richard Sr., owner of the nearby tourist attraction Rip Van Winkle Gardens, said the foam extended in a line several hundred feet long. Richard said he also noticed an unusual odor near the foam.

"There was a distinct petroleum odor," Richard said. "I could smell it when I was downwind from it. It was a strong petroleum smell, like crude."

This is the third time within the past few months residents have seen such activity. But until Thursday, representatives from AGL Resources Inc., the company that operates two natural gas storage caverns beneath the lake, had not seen the activity.

Keith Poston, AGL's managing director of corporate communications, said residents notified the company about the activity this morning, and AGL officials were able to photograph and see the activity.

"We really don't have any theories about what it could be at this point," Poston said. "We still don't believe it's coming from the caverns or our operations. The area where the bubbling occurred today is about a half-mile away from our caverns. It doesn't seem likely that the bubbling is associated with them, but we really don't know."

Poston said that although AGL found no problems when it checked its equipment several weeks ago, the company will continue to investigate the situation and may send divers to further check its underwater operations.

In addition, two representatives from the state Department of Natural Resources traveled to the lake on Thursday and met with Richard to try to get a better understanding of the situation. The state Department of Environmental Quality also is expected to investigate.

Nara Crowley, who also lives near the lake, said residents collected water samples Thursday morning and sent them to an area lab for testing. Crowley said she was unsure how long the tests may take.

In the meantime, Poston said AGL has no plans to stop its Lake Peigneur operations while the activity is investigated.

"We have no reason to believe that our operations are causing this, nor do we have any reason to believe that the bubbling could result in any kind of risk to our facilities," Poston said. "I'm sure the state will want to examine it further, especially now that we've pinpointed the location. But we have no plans to cease our operations based on what we've seen."

Amanda McElfresh
amcelfresh@theadvertiser.com

Mobile

Trying out blogging from my cell.

My First Mobile Blog

I decided to try out this mobile blogging thing. I am going to keep it short incase it doesn't work.

This is a picture that I took with my phone at Starbucks.

What? What's that??

At night, after things quiet down in the house, I have been hearing this persistent sound, coming from outside. I haven't been paying much attention to the noise, but I have noticed that it is a bit annoying.

Tonight, I decided to listen closely. Being the education person that I am, I concluded that the noise was a Long-eared Owl. Each time that I see an owl, I get pretty excited. They are nocturnal, so seeing one during the day is quite a treat. Although, they are very hard to spot during daylight hours because they are in a restful state.

Recently, I've noticed that I have become a little rusty on my avian identification, so I may leave my field guide out in case I feel the need to do a little birding.

eBay

Today is a new milestone for me. Maybe I'm a little behind the times, or maybe I am just a little too excited, perhaps a little of both. However, I listed my first item for sale on eBay today.

I am selling my cell phone. It's in great condition. I just wanted a new one. It is a Sony Ericsson w600i. If you want to take a glance, here is the link.

Even better....why don't you bid on it? Show it to a friend, if you like. I'd like.

Il Fait Froid

Gotta love Louisiana weather, or gotta hate it? I can never figure it out. Two days ago, it was hot and humid. We were running the air conditioner. That's a winter in South Louisiana for ya. Today, it's freakin' cold!

I'm no Dick Farot, but currently it is 37 degrees Fahrenheit, with a wind chill of 28. Two days ago, it was in the 80s. I know everyone complains about the weather, but I love the winter. I wish it was cold longer. A few weeks of winter is not enough for me. Hell, it isn't even enough to kill the mosquitoes.

Tonight, we are predicted to have "winter precipitation." Now, you know some coonasses are not prepared for that! All Lafayette Parish public schools have been closed for tomorrow, along with most private schools. However, UL is still open. That university never closes, except at noon on Fridays.

MmmMmm....Some gumbo would be good tonight, cher.

I have seen it all

Armed and Famous is a new show on CBS. Latoya Jackson is a cop. She doesn't play a cop; she is a cop. I was sucked into watching the show, and I kind of felt sorry for Latoya. Everyone thought that she couldn't do anything. She was so proud of herself.

The show is actually pretty funny. I don't know if it's meant to be funny, but I laughed a few times.

Wow

What is her diet secret? She looks GREAT, for a dead chick.

Egg Drop Soup

It seems that I'm on the job search again. I'm still working at the hospital, but since my position is "as needed," I haven't been getting the amount of hours that I would prefer.

I have applied for a few positions, but it seems that no one is ready to hire right now. The seasonal hiring is pretty much over, and most places aren't looking to add extra staff, at this moment. I don't have the best track record, and I don't want to apply for a job that I know beforehand that I am going to hate.

I just need something temporary. I hope, within the next few months, to find out that I have been accepted into a program that will cause me to move. I'm trying to make plans to accomodate that move.

Today, I ate lunch at Chung King. It was my first time there, and it was pretty good for a Chineese buffet. My "fortune" was simple, but it hit close to home. Are you ready for it? Here it is:

Yesterday was a dare to struggle.

Today is a dare to win.

That Sums It Up

My life is rated NC-17!



Your life is rated NC-17!

What is your life rated? (MPAA Scale)

Take Other Caffeine Nebula Quizzes

I Smell Pumpkin

October has arrived! Every corner and grocery store is busting with pumpkins and chrysanthemums. If I was not living in south Louisiana, I would swear that it was Fall. I love this time of year when the weather cools off a bit and the Rice Festival rolls into town.

By the way, check out that pimp pumpkin in the picture. That was my first (and last) pumpkin that I ever carved. Not too shabby, eh? That was back in one of my old apartments too. OH...how I do miss those times of independence.

These are new ones!

You Are 40% Sociopath

From time to time, you may be a bit troubled and a bit too charming for your own good. It's likely that you're not a sociopath... just quite smart and a bit out of the mainstream!

Are You A Sociopath?

What Your Bathroom Habits Say About You

You are a giving soul. Way too giving in fact. You often get stuck doing the dirty work that no one else will do. Your look is put together, classic, and stylish. You always look fashionable without trying. You have the perfect blend of confidence and class. You're proud of who you are - but you don't broadcast it. In relationships, you are practical and realistic. You have a romantic side, but you only let it out when it's appropriate.

What Do Your Bathroom Habits Say About You?

You Were Very Naughty This Year!

Naughty, naughty! You've given Santa a broken heart. You probably won't get anything from Mr. Claus Except for a well deserved spanking (Which you'll probably enjoy, you sicko!)

Were You Naughty or Nice This Year?

Your 1950s Name is:

Alfred Raymond

What's your 1950s Name?

Your Summer Anthem is Best Of You by the Foo Fighters

"I've got another confession my friend I'm no fool I'm getting tired of starting again Somewhere new" While you may seem bright on the outside, your insides have a distinct angst flavor.

What's Your 2005 Summer Anthem?

You Are 80% Brutally Honest

Most of the time, you tell it like it is. Even if it's hard for people to hear. Sometimes you hold back though, because you never want your honesty to be hurtful.

How Brutally Honest Are You?

You Are 64% Gentleman

You are definitely a gentleman. You're very considerate and you have excellent manners. Occasionally, you slip and do something foolish... but usually no one notices!

Are You A Gentleman?

You Failed 8th Grade Spanish

Sorry, you only got 1/8 correct!

Could You Pass 8th Grade Spanish?

Brainy Kid

In high school, you were acing AP classes or hanging out in the computer lab. You may have been a bit of a geek back then, but now you're a total success!

Who Were You In High School?

You Were a Lizard

You are able to bounce back from adversity and regenerate what was lost. Facing your fears and controlling your dreams comes easily for you.

What Animal Were You In a Past Life?

Your Dominant Intelligence is Logical-Mathematical Intelligence

You are great at finding patterns and relationships between things. Always curious about how things work, you love to set up experiments. You need for the world to make sense - and are good at making sense of it. You have a head for numbers and math ... and you can solve almost any logic puzzle. You would make a great scientist, engineer, computer programmer, researcher, accountant, or mathematician.

What Kind of Intelligence Do You Have?

You Passed 8th Grade Science

Congratulations, you got 8/8 correct!

Could You Pass 8th Grade Science?

You Are 50% "Average American"

You are average because you wouldn't pay to go in space. You are not average since you live more than three miles away from McDonalds.

How "Average American" Are You?

Your Musical Tastes Match: Jennifer Garner

See her whole playlist here (iTunes required)

What Celebrity Matches Your Taste in Music?

You've Experienced 60% of Life

You have a good deal of life experience, about as much as someone in their late 20s. You've seen and done enough to be quite wise, but you still have a lot of life to look forward to.

How Much Life Experience Do You Have?

Your Christmas Stocking Will Be Filled With Little Wrapped Presents

You've made Santa a very happy fellow this year. Don't worry - what happens at the North Pole stays at the North Pole!

What Will Be In Your Christmas Stocking?

You Are

A Franken Pumpkin Face You would make a good deformed pumpkin.

What's Your Pumpkin Face?

Your EQ is 113

50 or less: Thanks for answering honestly. Now get yourself a shrink, quick! 51-70: When it comes to understanding human emotions, you'd have better luck understanding Chinese. 71-90: You've got more emotional intelligence than the average frat boy. Barely. 91-110: You're average. It's easy to predict how you'll react to things. But anyone could have guessed that. 111-130: You usually have it going on emotionally, but roadblocks tend to land you on your butt. 131-150: You are remarkable when it comes to relating with others. Only the biggest losers get under your skin. 150+: Two possibilities - you've either out "Dr. Phil-ed" Dr. Phil... or you're a dirty liar.

What's Your EQ (Emotional Intelligence Quotient)?

Your Hawaiian Name is:

Mamo Keona

What's your Hawaiian Name?

I'll Show You a Thing or Two

I love to run or jog. I find that it is a great way to shed the fat, improve my cardio/respiratory fitness as well as my emotional well-being. As I drive through Lafayette, I have seen many people who have decided join the ranks of runners. It's good to see people getting off their couches and doing something productive, but I can't say that I see good things out there.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when running:

It is important to stretch before running, but you don't want to stretch cold muscles. Try walking at a fast pace for about 5 minutes before stretching. Now your muscles are warm and ready to be stretched. It's good to stretch for at least 5 minutes. When you strech a muscle, hold it for 15 seconds, and repeat 3 times.

I often see people, while stretching, bouncing up and down. This is bad, and you look like a retard for doing it. Have you ever tried stretching a rubberband over and over again? That's what it's doing to your muscles. What happens if you keep doing that to the rubberband? Right...it pops.

Hydration is vital at all times. Make sure that you are adequately hydrated before running, and I'm sure you're going to want to drink plenty of water after running. Water is the best thing to drink to rehydrate your body. Many people drink a sports drink to replenish lost electrolytes. These drinks are packed with sodium, which is an electrolyte. We should not get more than 2300mg of sodium each day. That amount is equal to one teaspoon. I know we all get way more than one teaspoon, so water is good enough. However, it doesn't matter what you drink, as long as you drink something.

Speaking of hydration, I have noticed so many people around town wearing sweat suits to run. I see this big 250+ pound guys running around the streets wearing a sweatshirt. Why? I don't understand. Sweating is something that your body does to cool itself. If you are wearing something to increase the amount that you sweat, you are only increasing the amount of fluid loss in your body. You are NOT increasing the amount of fat loss.

The appropriate thing to wear while running is light-colored, loose-fitting clothing. It hot weather, shorts and a tshirt are appropriate.

If you can't run a long distance, walk instead. Walking is also a great cardiovascular workout, and it burns calories. The longer you walk, the more fat you will lose. Simple, huh?

At the end of a run, it is good to stretch for an additional 5 minutes using the same methods applied before running.

If I catch you doing something wrong, I'm going to honk my horn and flip you off.

Blowing Off Some Steam

I tend to let things build up inside. When others say something negative, I either shrug it off or let it bother me. There are times when I do snap back, but most times I don't think that it is worth the effort. It isn't worth my breath because the other party is ignorant, or it will just snowball. I find other ways to release my tension.

My brother's most recent ex-girlfriend just recently became a pain in my ass. Since it is quite a web of confusion, I won't go through all the specifics. However, since a friend of mine thinks that she is "trashy," I am the one automatically guitly of gossip.

I usually don't waste my time on this chick. The only gossip that I am guilty of is some funny story at their expense.

In the end, my friend was just calling it the way it is. Let's be honest, it only takes a few key observations to make that call. It's not like I let everyone know that my brother's most recent ex-girlfriend had two abortions before she graduated high school, and one of her baby's daddy isn't the man she claims.

Now...that would be perceived as trashy, right?

Towel Heads

Means Nothing to Me

I don't know about you, but I could not care less about Suri Cruise, Tom, or Katie. I'm tired of hearing "the latest."

Pecan

There's my girl Cypress hard at work on the trail this summer in Northern Califonia. She left at the end of May, and she will be up there...well...I don't know when she's coming back, actually. I sure do miss dat guh. Come home soon.

Well, look who got slapped with the model stick while she's on the West Coast. Don't let it get to your head.

Hooka!