A couple of woeful performances by the Saints reminded me of this very old story:
I was the only customer at the bar of a Greenwich Village steakhouse, having a predinner martini.
The bartender, a white-haired Irishman, was watching a Jets game on TV. As we watched, we talked about football, and I told him I was from ถถา๕h and a Saints fan.
At that time the Saints were having one of their paper bag seasons, when mediocrity would be an improvement.
I was surprised when the bartender put another martini in front of me.
He explained, "This one's on the house. Any poor devil who's a Saints fan deserves a break now and then."
So my question today is, "Do you think if I went back to that bar I could get another martini on the house?"
Catty question
Katie Nachod, of New Orleans, adds to her Saturday story about her days at Port of Call, when a phone call about a pousse-cafรฉ inspired her and bartender Jeff Segner (who died a few days ago at 61) to build one:
"After I had read the phone patron the entire long and very involved recipe for a pousse-cafรฉ, listing each liqueur and its specific gravity, she was quiet for a brief moment, then said, 'Well thanks, but I don't think that would be a good name for my cat after all.'"
Fairy tale
Russ Wise, of LaPlace, says, "I was driving along the Interstate recently and was passed by a pickup going at least 80 mph. Paper bags and stuff were blowing out of the bed of the truck.
"And I asked myself, 'When he arrives, does this guy think itโs been emptied by the Trash Fairy?โโ
Creative labeling
"The street signs discussions reminded me of one I saw in Mississippi years ago," says Diane T. Martin, of Morgan City. It merely stated 'Street.'
"We still laugh about that, and point out 'Tree,' 'Shed,' 'Highway,' etc."
Which reminds me
When my parents retired and moved from the New Orleans area to Oakdale, they bought a house with a few acres around it.
My dad, proud to be a landowner, immediately had a local sign painter do a big sign with "Anders Acres" in yellow script, to put in front of the house.
My mom was appalled, and quickly planted climbing roses in front of the sign, in hopes they would grow up and cover it.
But to make things worse, my dad had the sign guy paint "Barn," also in big yellow script, on the little shed behind the house.
At this point, my mom gave up, probably happy he didn't have "Wife" painted on her.
Special People Dept.
- John Hanks, of Plaquemine, celebrates his 94th birthday Sunday, Oct. 29.
- Margaret Missi White, of Covington, celebrates her 90th birthday Thursday, Oct. 26. She is a former New Orleans resident.
- Anna Lea and Paul Melancon Jr., of Donaldsonville, celebrate their 64th anniversary Oct. 31.
- Donald and Carol Albro, of New Orleans, celebrate their 57th anniversary Sunday, Oct. 29. They tell us they were both "born and raised, went to school, got married, and to this day still live in the Irish Channel."
Business is slow
"Baton Rouge Reader" says, "We were driving through uptown New Orleans between Broadway and Carrollton when we passed a cemetery that filled a block.
"It was surrounded by a plain wrought iron fence. My mother noticed that posted on its entrance gate was a prominent sign reading: 'No Solicitations.โโ
Bye for now
I'm taking a few days off, and will be back on Nov. 1, All Saints Day and also The Day of the Cheap Halloween Candy.
I'm not planning to go anywhere, but please, please refrain from using the word "staycation."
Thank you.