Smiley Anders for Aug. 10, 2012
Budding customer service rep
Jackie Upton continues our series on too-smart kids:
“When the grandchildren were just tots they used to love to stay overnight, because we had a large upstairs bedroom complete with king-size bed and television set.
“What was there not to like? They had their own TV and a trampoline.
“After one visit I was ‘redding up’ the bedroom (as they say in Pennsylvania), but couldn’t find the remote for the TV.
“I searched everywhere, and finally called their home. “Granddaughter Emily answered, and I asked where she had put the remote.
“Long silence. Then she said, ‘Gammy, I’ll just have to get back to you on that.’
“And she hung up!”
A matter of trust
My mention of Mandina’s restaurant on New Orleans’ Canal Street reminds Louis B. Gaudin of this incident:
“About 20 years ago Fran and I went to Mandina’s, and were surprised to learn they did not take credit cards.
“Our total bill, with drinks, came to about $28, and I showed our waiter that all we had in cash was $30.
“He asked if I had a business card, which I did, showing our Baton Rouge business address.
“After a minute’s discussion with the bartender, he proudly announced that we had an open account.
“He told us to just add his tip, sign the bill and attach my business card, and they would mail us an invoice.
“Yes, he got well more than the $2 cash tip.”
Which reminds me
Many years ago during an evening out in the French Quarter, a friend of mine had his wallet lifted by a comely young lady on Bourbon Street. (That’s another story …)
Realizing his loss, he continued on to his planned dinner at Charlie’s Steak House on Dryades Street, an uptown New Orleans institution.
He had been there a few times, but was in no way a regular customer.
The guy explained his situation to the manager, who took down his address and said, “No problem; we’ll mail you a bill.”
By the way, this was in the days before the wide use of credit cards, when most restaurants were cash businesses.
The friend told me his steak dinner with a bottle of fine wine was “the best dinner a totally broke guy ever had.”
Rocky Road ice cream?
Cherie Schofield says the Baton Rouge Gem and Mineral Show at the Marriott on Saturday and Sunday (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) features, in addition to demonstrations, door prizes and silent auctions, “a table set with a feast (actually rocks that look just like food).”
Maybe it’s my suspicious nature, but I can’t help but wonder if the local dental association has a hand in this exhibit …
Special People Dept.
- Lillie Courtade, of Southside Gardens, celebrates her 102th birthday Friday.
- Bill Aydell, of French Settlement, celebrates his 97th birthday Monday.
- Rae Montecino Romeo, of Landmark of Baton Rouge, celebrates her 97th birthday Saturday.
- Roger Bourg Jr. ,of Napoleonville, celebrated his 97th birthday Thursday.
- On Monday Elva “Aunt Sis” Meyers, of Grace Health & Rehab in Slaughter, celebrates her 96th birthday.
- Cleo Strickland d’Aquin James celebrates her 93rd birthday Saturday.
- Mary Boozer Jackson, formerly of Moorhead, Miss., now at Amber Terrace Assisted Living, celebrates her 92nd birthday Friday.
- John E. Coxe Sr., of Walker, celebrates his 91st birthday Sunday.
- Louis Bordelon Jr. celebrates his 90th birthday Saturday.
- On Saturday, Marion “Lou” Rhorer, of Plaquemine, celebrates her 90th birthday.
- Fellman and Agnes Bercegeay, of Gonzales, celebrate 62 years of marriage Sunday.
- William and Thelma Bailey celebrate their 61st anniversary Saturday.
- John Ross and Lena Roppolo Accomando celebrate 55 years of marriage Friday.
- Jay and Connie Plunket celebrate their 50th anniversary Saturday.
And fortune beignets?
Dan Burkhalter, the Carencro Curmudgeon, responds to our discussion of boudin kolaches with this information:
“Janise’s Grocery in Sunset serves boudin egg rolls.
“Delicious!”
Sing a sad song
Something tells me Algie Petrere is having computer problems.
She just sent over this song, to the tune of The Beatles’ “Yesterday:”
“Yesterday, all those backups seemed a waste of pay. Now my database has gone away.
Oh, I believe in yesterday.
Suddenly, there’s not half the files there used to be, and there’s a milestone hanging over me.
The system crashed so suddenly.
I pushed something wrong, what it was I could not say; now all my data’s gone and I long for yesterday-ay-ay-ay.
Yesterday, the need for back-ups seemed so far away; I knew my data was all here to stay.
Now I believe in yesterday.”
Write Smiley at Smiley@theadvocate.com. He can also be reached by fax at (225) 388-0351 or mail at P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821.