3/5/2009 It never fails that since last July everytime I leave town and return to work something really negative happens at my job. This time was no exception. When I returned early Tuesday morning I learned that nobody had been paid and the bank has frozen the companies assets and that the firm filed Chapter 11. We’re all, those left of us after all of last years layoffs and departures, are still working not knowing if the court will rule that we will be paid. The trades are reporting with the headline “(insert firm name here) files for Chp 11 Bankruptcy”. In a nutshell, it’s fucked up. And the last thing I need.
I did have a great visit to Baton Rouge. I made a lot of new friends, and some a little closer than the rest. I am working the details and photos in. More photos may be view on my pubic myspace page, www.myspace.com/alexfuckingzander under the gallery “2009 the first quarter”
AZ and 2 Dark Mark
THurs Flight from Chicago to Houston, Houston to baton Rouge
The Chimes East (eating)
The Spanish Moon (dancing)
Fri
The Spanish Moon (burlesque)
The L bar (dancing)
Saturday
Avery Island (2 guys, AZ and 2 Dark / 3 girls Michel, Vera and Kandice)
The Guiding Star (eating)
The Spanish Moon (dancing)
L bar (dancing)
Red Star (dancing)
Sunday
Marks House
Monday
House of Blues Baton Rouge
Flight to Memphis, Memphis to Chicago
All of the details, well not ALL of the details, but the tale of my latest trip and pix coming this afternoon.
2 Dark Mark and Michel y AZ and Kandice
Vera and AZ
Gator Pond in On Avery Island
Buddah Temple on Avery Island
AZ summons Buddah on Avery Island
Camo Gator
Spanish Moss
AZ does the latin shuffle at L Bar
AZ does the ass to ass shuffle at Spanish Moon
MORE PHOTOS ARE ONLINE AT www.myspace.com/alexfuckingzander in MY PHOTOS 2009 FIRST QUARTER
My story begins as do many involved with travel, at the airport. I knew then as I sat for breakfast at Chili’s it was going to be a very interesting stretch of days.
I checked in with no problem and more quickly than usual. It was a Thursday morning and early so maybe that had something to do with it. I had yet to eat and had plenty of time so I figured I’d go to Chili’s which upon my arrival was quite busy. my party of one was seated immediately and all I really wanted was some buffalo chicken but it was the hour that they still ONLY serve breakfast. I opted for the breakfast tacos and coffee. I was dressed as usual and greeted with many stares. My earliest conversation w/ Al Jorgensen came to mind from 1990 when he made a statement to me that you really do realize how much alike everyone else in the world is when you walk through an airport. I had my cowboy hat (off) a black blazer, Levi 527 (blue) and snakeskin boots on. Next to me an older couple sat, the lady would not stop complaining to her husband about EVERYTHING. He listened quietly almost deaf like as he tuned her out. I imagined he was used to it. She actually got on my nerves a bit but I knew in a few short hours I was going to greener pastures and away from this cold and Midwest complainers like her.
Sitting there enjoying my breakfast in a restaurant that was emptying out I took notice and was impressed with how well my waitress juggled her duties. She was good, attentive to all highly efficient and friendly. As I paid my bill she mentioned that she liked my look, and I replied, “I like your service”. We both smiled, I grabbed my bags put on my hat and parted ways with Chili’s.
I still had time to kill before boarding and figured since I was on vacation I would stop and have a margarita. Mark was at some airport in Mexico City flying to Baton Rouge. I tested him that I was enjoying a wonderful margarita, and he damned me back explaining that the new airport in Mexico City sucked. I enjoyed 2 margaritas and boarded my plane where I was seated next to a beautiful Columbian lady who struck up a conversation with me. Her accent was so thick and the airplane noise a little too loud for me to understand her clearly that during most of the conversation I just nodded and smiled. I was reading the Thomas Jefferson biography and she commented on how long of a book it was. I agreed, and couldn’t believe I still hadn’t gotten to where he drafted the Declaration of Independence yet. Some of the flight was a bit bumpy due to the wind and she was nervous and grabbed onto my arm a few times. I assured her I’d been on bumpier flights and recalled one from Minneapolis once upon a time when I nearly vomited.
At the juncture I’d like to intersect that this was the very first time I’d flown Continental. It was absolutely the best service I’ve ever had in any way shape or form on a flight in my life. They actually served a free meal (sandwich side and chips) as well as free sodas. The flight crew were friendly and attentive and attractive, the way the standards used to be. And I cannot say enough great things about flying this airlines. And I as flew into Houston where it was 81 degrees I was assured that it was just as warm at my destination in Baton Rouge. As I waited for my next flight I was joined by an attractive Asian lady who was flying to Memphis and she asked me if I were flying there as well. (both destinations would depart from the same gate number, mine A, hers B) I told her no and before we could strike up a conversation I was called to board my short flight to Baton Rouge. And as I was seated I received a text from Mark that he was at the airport waiting. I relied I’d see him in less than an hour.
Before I knew it I was at the Baton Rouge airport, Mark was at my gate waiting, we hugged and he called his driver. As we sat outside in the warmest air I’d felt in months he made us 2 drinks from some really great high end rum he brought back from Mexico City. We enjoyed our drinks and did some catching up in person and his big SUV arrived with our driver Paul.
It was about 345 PM on Thursday afternoon, and I was someplace a lot warmer than where I had left earlier that day.
This is when I met Paul.
Thursday night we dined at The Chimes East
This place was INCREDIBLE. It boasted thee largest beer slection on tap I’ve ever seen, the menu was one of thee best and most flavorful and the wait staff, all petiteframed busty raven hairded beauties. I was about to learn they were all French. I’m going to have to pay more attention to women of the French persuasion from now on.
The Chimes East, a Louisiana style menu and large selection of beers from around the world.
I had Blackened Louisiana Alligator, Crabmeat Stuffed Mushrooms, Crab Cakes Creollaise and Hot Boudin Balls which I was more or less force fed.
Later that night we went to The Spanish Moon
Located on 1109 Highland Road near beautiful downtown Baton Rouge they offer live music, drink specials, and an atmosphere that is unique to Baton Rouge. It was Trash 80’s night and I’ve never encountered so many friendly college age women in my life. I felt as if I was dragged onto the dance floor. Michel I noticed was behind me snapping photos which made it even funnier. It was simply off the hook.
I was also quick to learn that many of the locals knew who I was through MK ULTRA and I in fact met many people who still had back issues. It was quite fascinating to me. I’m sure it didn;’t hurt that Mark is a local celeb and I’m sure he helped spread the MK disease around his region back in the day, but it felt good to know and hear it despite the method.
Friday night we went to Spanish Moon for Fluer de Tease, a burlesque group out of NOLA who was performing and this is where I finally met Alas Vera face to face who was phoographing the show. And then I was in for a real treat as we went to L Bar 174 South Blvd. Baton Rouge, LA. A fun environment to dance and play with old and new friends in a place of inclusion for all.
And Saturday morning it was off to Avery Island w/ Mark, Michel, Kandice and Vera.
Avery Island
(historically French: Ile Petite Anse) is a salt dome located in Iberia Parish, Louisiana, United States, about three miles inland from Vermilion Bay, which in turn opens onto the Gulf of Mexico.
Long before its namesake Avery family settled there in the 1830s, American Indians discovered that Avery Island’s verdant flora covered a precious natural resource—a massive salt dome. There the Indians boiled the Island’s briny spring water to extract salt, which they traded to other tribes as far away as central Texas, Arkansas, and Ohio.
Avery Island is known as the home of Tabasco brand pepper sauce, which has been manufactured on the Island by McIlhenny Company since 1868. Some of the peppers used in Tabasco sauce production are grown on the Island, and those grown elsewhere derive from seed stock created on the Island. Salt used in Tabasco sauce production is mined on the Island.
Some members of the McIlhenny family still reside on the Island with their Avery cousins, and many McIlhenny Company employees also live there in worker cottages, with one or both wage earners working in the fields, the factory, or the company’s business office. It is not unusual for employees’ families to have worked for the company for several generations.
Avery Island the only place where tabasco sauce is made and exported worldwide.
We arrived at Avery Island a bit later than planned but still intended to make the absolute most of it. We began by going into the factory where they actually make the Tabasco brand hot sauce. We did some photos and then set out to take they tour. And set out it where it ended. At one point Mark and I looked at each other and began to bust out into laughter. He ran for the door, and I followed and the girls all came running behind us as we all simultaneously erupted into uncontrollable laughter. I waas bent over holding my stomach as it hurt so bad from uncontrollable laughter. I still really don’t know what was so damned funny but it was one of the most intensely funny moments of my entire life. We decided it might be a good idea to do some more shots, go to the gift shop and work or way to the Jungle Gardens. En route I purchased a tank top and some gifts for friends. We picked up or tickets and drove into their wildlife preserve which luckily for us was very populated with gators.
This was very beautiful and very peaceful even though it was a bit overcast out. We were all in awe as we walked along paths covered by gnarled oaks laced with Spanish moss.
In all there are White-tailed deer, alligators, and thousands of herons are among the wildlife seen in the Jungle gardens. The herons are descendants of seven young snowy egrets that Ned McIlhenny captured in 1892 and raised in flight cages built over a lagoon. The birds were on the brink of extinction because their plumes were popular decorations for ladies’ hats. The egrets fly to South America in the winter and return to their Avery Island home every year.
The Chinese Garden has bamboo stands and a Buddha dating from A.D. 1000.
We stayed as late as we were permitted. And got a good many pictures, many of Mark and I by Vera, being that in all the years I’ve known the gentleman, rarely have we gotten and pix together. Well now we have a bevy.
Our mission on the way back to Baton Rouge was to get some crawfish as this was the beginning of the season. It was a bit more expensive this year being they weren’t as plentiful as normal due to recent weather condition. Nonetheless we were going for it. So it was the five of us driving down a near dark highway in the backwash of Louisiana, and we passed what to me was a scary looking place, that sort of gave me that Easy Rider feel when Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper and Jack Nicholson couldn’t get served in that diner, in the same state some 40 years prior. I mentioned in passing, that looks like a place where I would get my ass kicked, and Mark responded, do you want to go? And I answered “Lets do it!”.
It was an out of the way place called the Guiding Star in New Iberia, Louisiana (4404 Highway 90 West) and it turned out to be spectacular. Now keeping in mind that none of the five of us looked or dressed like any of the locals, but it did not matter. We were treated to genuine southern hospitality and some great food. We each ordered 2 lbs of crawfish and beer all around. Certainly a great surprise.
Later that night we retunred to L Bar, the Spanish Moon and to a place called Red Star. And it turned into a very very late night. I ended up getting back to the ranch at daybreak and had to call Marks roomie to let me in. I got little to no sleep and was in for the final stretch and the most interesting part yet.
TBC
the night after my return on minimal sleep DJing for the first time since ‘05 at The ZOO for the RevCo release party and benefit
