If You Give an Elder an IPhone . . .

Looks like the Office Elders have been playing with my phone again!

Elder Bennett

Elder Whittier

Adieu to New Orleans

What do you do on the last night you might ever have in NOLA?

We'd heard that the Camellia Grill was a great place to eat, so that was the first thing we did after getting into town. We must have arrived at a good time, because there was so waiting. It's a diner similar to the Apple Pan in Los Angeles with a few more seats. It's fast paced and fun and how can you not love a place where your first conversation is, "Hey, welcome to the Camellia Grill. How y'all doin;?" "Great! How are you?" "Better now that you're here." And I didn't know then, but I know now that they always bring you water, take your order for a drink and give you a fist bump. Bottom line--really good food and a very reasonable price. I'd go there again.

One more drive down St. Charles Avenue to enjoy the incredibly huge, beautiful, old,  oak trees still wearing many Mardi Gras beads from this year, and most likely,  a few years gone by. Except for a few modern conveniences, you'd think you'd just stepped  into a frame from "The Princess and the Frog." Some of those old trolleys haven't changed much in the past century. 

A walk across the trolley tracks at the Dumaine Station gave us this view of the Mississippi River. The gentle evening breeze, billowy clouds and water lapping on the shore made for a very picturesque setting. Somewhere along these banks, in 1849, my great great grandfather disembarked  with his wife and son after crossing the Atlantic Ocean. They'd com from England to join with the Mormon Pioneers After arriving in New Orleans, he and his family sailed up the Mississippi River to Pottawatomie, Iowa then on to Salt Lake City and beyond. But that's another story.

We enjoyed one more walk around Jackson Square. 

As much as we've relished beignets piled high with powdered sugar, I've just about had my fill of  them. Is that Un-American of me? We've brought all of our family here to Cafe du Monde, and they unanimously loved it.

A row of horses and buggies were waiting to take tourists on sightseeing tours, but they weren't very busy. We were quite surprised that the French District was so quiet. Just a side comment. Even the road apples were tolerable compared to the foul odor of last week's gator carcass!

We drove through a few of the streets of New Orleans, and I can actually pronounce them all! Carondolet, Poydras, Decatur, Toulouse, Dauphine, and my favorite, Tchoupitoulas:) Well, I thought I knew them all, then we passed Euterpe, Derbigny, Melpomene and Terpisichore. Another lesson in humility.

Last Chance Lunch

It's the "end of the month and missionary funds are kind of low" time! So Elder Lauper went to Sam's Club this morning and picked up croissants, meats, cheeses, chips and drinks and hosted an office lunch. The only ones who attended were the Office Elders and Assistants but the BR North Sisters stopped by at a perfect time and were able to join in.

Elder Whittier, Elder Bennett, Elder White and Elder Murhula, but it looks like there could possibly be some changes in this foursome at the next transfer:(

Sister Chandler and Sister Plumb--Baton Rouge North Sisters

Welcome to the Laupertory

I love our Office Elders! They beat us to the office today, and this is the sign that they'd made for our door:) Nothing like a sense of humor to keep us entertained.

The New Office Sign

Sister Blaylock and Sister Plumb

What a surprise it was to have Sister Blaylock walk into the office to day with Sister Plumb. Sister B is one of the Sister Trainers serving in the Denham Springs Zone and Sister P is here in Baton Rouge, so normally they wouldn't be on an exchange together. They said the President had suggested it, so Sister Chandler is over in DS with Sister Abercrombie. Love these Sisters!

The Gonzales Elders

It's always such a pleasure to have 2 awesome Elders come into the office--especially when you don't get to see them very often. Elder Makin and Elder Gordon are the Gonzales Elders. They're still in the Baton Rouge Stake and Zone but live about 25 miles from BR. When you have to budget your car miles (in addition to your measly monthly allotment and time) you just don't make 50 mile road trips without a very good reason. I know they had one, but I don't exactly remember what it was:(

We have another Senior Couple coming in next month, and that's always a happy occasion. Our Seniors make such a difference and really strengthen the little branches where they're serving. So I tried to put the "Senior Incoming Packet" together but couldn't even find the welcome letter. That's just great. If I couldn't find it, how on earth is Sister Lawes going to. She wouldn't even know what she was looking for. I searched the N-Drive and every document to no avail. I also went through the wonderful office manual that I so diligently updated and every drawer and file that I have access to in the office. Nope! Not there. Not a computer copy or hard copy to be found. Grrrrr! Finally, after multiple word combinations, it appeared in the N-Drive but not where I thought it should be--"Incoming Missionaries." It was with the "Senior Missionary Roster," and there weren't any of the 6 pages that should have been in the manual. Glad to get that figured out and reorganized. I just hope someone can find it the next time it's needed.

Elder Whittier, our new Office Elder and computer guru, kindly showed me how to merge and unmerge cells in Excel. Oh Happy Day! I know that's nor exactly advanced spreadsheet technology but it made me happy. I was able to correct 2 templates for the incomings and go-homes that had bothered me because so many of the words were cut off or missing. I wonder if I'll remember how to do it tomorrow.

Happy Memorial Day

On our way home from Church yesterday we stopped at the Capitol to see the flags we knew would be on the lawn. Quite a beautiful sight to see the 10,000 flags that represent each member of the military from Louisiana who died in service to our country.

Later in the evening we watched the National Memorial Day Concert from Washington DC. It's always so excellent and a good reminder to each of us that "Freedom Isn't Free." The closing remarks we given by General Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff. The following are his words to America:

Nothing is more profoundly American than Memorial Day. Throughout our history, American sons and daughters have willingly laid down their lives to strengthen our nation and preserve its freedoms. Indeed, the greatest of this republic is founded in their selfless service. They rest quietly now beneath chalk white headstones, here at home or in battlefield graves where they fell, or in the depths of the oceans where they made the ultimate sacrifice.

This Memorial Day let us take the time to come together as a nation and not only pay tribute to those who have fallen, but to pay tribute to the idea that inspired them--to the idea that there is something greater than ones self--to the idea that is America. One mother of a fallen Marine told me she embraces this day. "Grief shared is grief more easily borne," she said. "There is comfort in the bonds that unite us with the past.

We can also find comfort in the bonds that make us Americans. Today, as we honor the sacrifice of these souls who fought and died for us, let us affirm their legacy by pressing on to secure the blessings of liberty for which they paid so dearly. Let us stand strong by the men and women that defend that idea, that America is bigger than any one of us, and let us stand strong by their families. We ask all Service Members and their families, here and at home, to please stand and accept our deepest gratitude for their service. On behalf of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and a grateful nation we say Thank You.

Kliebert's Alligator Farm

We checked off one more thing on our "Louisiana To Do" list today when we went to the Kliebert's Alligator Farm in Hammond. We joined a tour in progress, because we didn't want to wait for another hour for the next one. The first pond we passed was full of turtles--about 500 of them--but all you could see were little black heads popping out of the water. It wasn't a great picture so it didn't make the blog.

As we were passing the pond we smelled probably the #1 worst stench we've experienced since arriving in LA. It's was a dead alligator's rotting carcass in the next pond, and it makes me gag just thinking about it. I certainly wasn't going to stand in that nauseatingly repulsive spot long enough to take a picture!

You'll notice that every pond is a lovely shade of green. (It reminded me of when we picked Ryan up from his mission in Mexico. One of his favorite families took us on a picnic, and when we arrived I thought, "what a beautiful lawn." Oops! It was the pond--complete with it's own cocodrilo. No bueno!) It's called duckweed and covered every bit of water on the whole property. So, here's the point I'm getting to. Big Easy, the alligator below, came from the back of the pond all the way to the front, without so much as a ripple, to get a chicken snack. There wasn't a sound or movement, and he was so slow that you couldn't even tell he was moving.

Big Easy--the stealthy 57 year old alligator

Our tour guide--I don't know if the hand is a result of working at an alligator farm, but it would certainly make a good story:)

"Say Ahh!"

Notice the back of his throat is completely closed off by the palatal valve which closes to keep water out of his throat, stomach and lungs when .he's submerged. This is part of the rather unique "air tight" system of a gator. Also they can stay underwater for lengthy periods of time. One of the longest the guide knew of was 24 hours.

Big Easy is one of the 250 eggs that hatched here in 1957. All 250 gators are still living there, but we certainly didn't see them.

Just another relaxing day in paradise

So, a gator will  catch it's food but then has to turn it's head sideways to swallow. I'm pretty sure there was no chewing going on in the process.

I must say, this was a great shot of gator X swallowing his chicken. 

The gator on the right is Crush, who is very territorial. He has his own "space" and doesn't allow other males in his private neighborhood. However, he does allow up to 5 or 6  females to enter.

Part of Crush's domain

This is what becomes of male intruders who enter Crush's territory--seriously! This WAS a 13' gator.

The capture

Eyes, Ears, Mouth and Nose--all parts of the same airtight system.
Alligators have 2 sets of eyelids. The outer ones are like human eyelids and close top to bottom. The inner lids are clear and close from back to front. While gators are kicking back or swimming the inner eyelids protect their eyes and still allow them to see underwater. 

Flaps close off the ears and nostrils from water

Yep! That's where you need to aim your .22 if you want gator steaks and a new  wallet, belt and handbag. If you use a larger caliber it will probably ricochet of his or her very armor-like skull.

Gumbo the Crocodile--notice the pointy snout, unlike the rounded one of an alligator

"The better to eat you with, my dear!" Serious teeth.

The Yellow Alligator which I know nothing about nor could find anything except folklore. I was still taking pictures of the crocodile and missed whatever was said about this guy:(

The last "to-do" on my Louisiana Bucket List. Supposedly he weighs about 50 lbs. I never picked up 50 lbs. that easily, so my guess is more like 30.