On Thanksgiving Day, Lisa asked Sean if he would like her to cook for him while he was on leave. Sean the second son of one of Lisa's older brothers and he is in the Air Force. Sean jumped at the opportunity, because Lisa is an excellent cook and she really works hard to make such meals enjoyable.

Sean requested seafood gumbo. There was no way that Lisa could turn down that request even though we had just had seafood gumbo so recently. Again Lisa did a great job and the food was excellent and everyone ate plenty. Sean and his Air Force buddy (also Sean, but from upstate New York) both seemed to enjoy the gumbo. Sean's mom Lynn came over as did Elisabeth.

We had some Coors Light and I opened a bottle of wine to go with the food. It was all good.

Besides preparing a great meal Lisa also wanted to start decorating for Christmas. So I joined her and we got a good start on the tree and other decorations.


This morning, after we spoke with Christian, we got ready for church. We worshipped at Bethel. Pastor Steve started a series of sermons from Ruth. We are now celebrating advent before each service. The service was very good.


Now I plan to take a Sunday afternoon nap.

Coram Deo,
Kenith

Lisa and I just got off the phone with our son Christian. He is in the Gulf of Arabia (Persian Gulf). To get there he flew from Misawa, Japan to Tokyo, from Tokyo to Chicago, from Chicago to London and from London to where he is now. That is the LONG way to get there.

It is time to get ready for worship services, so I have to go. I will write again later today.

Kenith

Yesterday, Mark brought the cabinets that are going in our (will be) living/TV room. It will have two built in desks, for home work, bills and computer and a place for our wide screen television, which is presently in our bed room.

I worked with Mark installing things. Morgan came over for a little while. While I helped Mark, Morgan helped her mother with her new laptop. Lisa has been anti-computer for years, but now she is needing one for her job, plus she will use it to keep in touch the boy's teachers and it is a must to communicate with Christian. Because of these things, she bought a the laptop and is determined to learn how to use it.

After Morgan left here she went to get things ready at her place. She and Danny and Recie and Paul are going to the Texas Renaissance Festival for the weekend.

After Mark left, Lisa started working on Christmas decorations and I assisted her in that. We got a good bit done but we have more work to do.

The big news from yesterday has to do with Christian. He left Japan yesterday and is headed to an undisclosed (to us) some place in the Middle East. He will be there for some time so his safety is high on our prayer list.

Coram Deo,

Kenith

Yesterday, I called Lisa as I left work. She was in town and suggested that I pick up the boys and meet her and get something to eat. We met at Starbucks, where our daughter was working. I picked up Lisa and we went to get supper.

After eating, the boys joined a couple of their friends and one dad and went with them to see Bolt. Lisa and I went to Best Buy and Sam's to find her a laptop. She bought an HP at Best Buy. She then headed back to the house to meet the boys. I returned to Starbucks, drank a coffee. I hung around until they closed. I helped Morgan and her co-workers by putting out the garbage and sweeping. Then I went to my truck and read while they finished closing.

After they finished closing, Morgan and I went to IHOP. We had a nice chat as she ate. I made it home just before 1:00 AM.

We all slept in this morning. It was so nice. (Me with a glass of wine)

For Thanksgiving Day dinner we went down the road to Woody and Elisabeth. Most of Lisa's family headed there as well. We had a great meal and a good visit.
(Morgan and her cousin Kim with their grandfather.)


Later,
Kenith

The 21st was the birthday of our youngest son. He had requested that his mother fix crab cakes and sea food gumbo. She did and both were great. We had some family over and he had a good birthday.

I returned to work on Saturday. I was hoping for a quiet weekend, but when I got to work I found that the unit I had just started up after my turnaround was down. A compressor motor died just a couple of days after we had started the unit up.

The long and the short of it is, I returned to work Saturday just in time to begin restarting the unit. Of course there was problems with the new motor and so we spent the entire weekend getting things right. We were able to finish the start up today.

I hope to have a better day at work tomorrow.

Now I am going to bed.

Coram Deo,
Kenith

After Lisa and the boy's left for work and school, I finished cleaning up the kitchen and watched some news. At 10:15 I attended St. Michael's Episcopal's Eucharistic service. I am unable to attend normal Sunday worship services at least two Sundays each month. We are members at Bethel PCA and we usually worship there on Sundays. Pastor Wright at Bethel is a very good man and gifted minister.

After worship I returned home and continued my painting the house. I painted for several hours then it was time pick the boys up a school. After we returned home I worked on supper, and was about to return to painting when Gary J. showed up. We sat on the porch and were having a drink when Mark C. came over and shortly after that Woody also came by.

Our porch visit broke up and I came in for supper (Red beans, sausage and rice). I got the boys feed and I helped Mark take measurements for some cabinet work we need done.

Lisa came home at about this time she and I helped the boys with home work.

That was Wednesday at our house.
Kenith

This is going to be a short note.

My leg (staph infection) is much better. and so I can return to work on my regular shift. I will start days on Saturday.

MK came over last night. We discussed books, politics, history theology. The main subject last night was World War II. He is going through Norman Davies' Europe at War 1939-1945: No Simple Victory, which I finished a few months back. It is a very good book and I highly recommend it. We did open a bottle wine, but it was not good enough to recommend, but we did manage to finish off the bottle.

I started painting the house yesterday. I am now going outside to continue that work.

Coram Deo,
Kenith

Now that MK has me on a couple of antibiotics, my staph infection is much better and well on the mend. Lisa removed the packing from it last night and I can walk with no pain.

Now the down side of things, my cold is not better. I woke during the night is a sweat, when my fever broke and I've had fever off and on today. Because of that I mostly been in bed all day. I watched some TV (a show on the F/A 18 Hornet was pretty good) and I've read a little bit in Boyd's book and a bit in my newest addition of First Things. I also did a little work with Rosetta Stone.

I at some toasted French bread with butter and honey for breakfast and I fixed myself an omelet with cheese and bacon for lunch along with an American Ale (from the now Belgian owned Budweiser). BTW Its not bad.

I just picked up the boys at school and I still feel like yuck, so I am going vegetate for a while.

Coram Deo,
Kenith

I have such a wonderful, beautiful, loving wife!!! We have been married for 25 years and she is more beautiful and wonderful now than she ever was and she has always been both.

Last night MK came over. We visited, discussing important topics such as LSU and the lack of a quaterback, Obama's presidency, Democrats & Republicans, good books, etc... While discussing these important subjects we drank wine (Red Sky Ranch Meritage 2003) and snacked on sharp chedder cheese. The wine was VERY good.

Today, I plan to do a little work in the house, read some and spend time with the boys, who are home because school is out for Veterans Day.

Time to read a little.
Kenith

This morning I started my day with a visit to the dentist office. This afternoon I had a doctor's appointment with MK. He confirmed that I had staph. He lanced it, cleaned it out and then packed it with some ribbon like material. He also gave me another prescription. He also informed me that I will not be able to go to work this week.

With all that said I did very little today. I did start reading a new book today. The new book is actually an old one - England, Rome, and Oxford Compared as to Certain Doctrines by Archibald Boyd. This will be the second book by Boyd that I've read. The other Boyd book is Episcopacy and Presbytery. I found that book to be very impressive.

Now back to my health. I have also been sneezing all afternoon and have sinus trouble and a sore throat. I think I'm catching a cold - Yuk. I hate being sick. I can handle pain pretty well, but I am a wimp when I have a cold.

Later,
Kenith

For the last few days of the turn-around I suffered from a boil of sorts on my upper thigh. Lisa fussed at me for not taking care of it, then she called my doctor friend (i.e. MK). She was convinced (and is probably correct) that I have another occurrence of staph infection.

Yesterday my upper right thigh was very sore, red and swollen about 6" in diameter. I was in a great deal of pain. Lisa lance and dressed the area. I don't know which hurt more - my thigh or watching LSU loose to Saben's Alabama.

Today, my leg is still sore, but I am taking the antibiotics that MK called out for me. I regret missing worship services this morning, but sitting is not easy with my infection and I just felt bad.

I've been in bed all day, but I did get up and toss a football with the boys for a few minutes. Now I am back in bed.

Coram Deo,
Kenith

The unit turn around is over and I am off work this weekend. I worked a mere 62 hours this week. I am so glad to have this behind me. It was hard work work, but all went well. No one got hurt and the unit (which makes high octane gasoline) came up safely. Unit shutdowns and start ups are the most dangerous part of my job.

Christian has been in San Diego for the past several weeks, but is heading back to Japan in the morning. From there he is likely to go on a detachment elsewhere soon (likely to a war zone).

Morgan had surgery on here ankle last week. Her foot (ankle) was severely injured in an automobile accident earlier this year. She is doing well, but the doctor said that damage was worse than he had expected and she would need another surgery in the future.

Please keep us and ours in your prayers

In Christ,
Kenith

We are now in the start up mode at work. I am hoping that things go well for the night shift, so that we can finish up the turnaround by the weekend, so I can have a few days off with my family.

If I am off for the weekend I will end the week with a minimum of 73. It could be more.

Kenith

OK, I am at eighty hours for this week and I plan to end the pay week tomorrow with 93 hours work. Hopefully this will be my last week on the unit shutdown. If all goes well we will be starting things up by midweek, and I hope to be off next weekend.

I would write more but all I've done for the past 3 weeks is work and sleep. I did take the boys trick or treating last night, which is always fun to do. We did have some family and friends over last night as well. Lisa made chilli and we cooked some hot dogs as well.

Later,
Kenith

Today was a 14 hour day at work. I am very tired so I'm going to bed.

Coram Deo,
Kenith

Today I worked 13 & 1/2 hours. I was at work for 5 AM and left work at 6:30 PM. It was a very busy day. Turnarounds are always hard and this one is no different.

Last week I worked 91 & 1/2 hours and the week before that I worked 87 hours. I will likely work in the 90 hour range again this week. This will probably continue for around two weeks, then life should return to normal. It can't come too soon.

LP cooked chicken gumbo last night and tonight we had leftovers. I can never have too much gumbo.

I have to get ready for bed. 4 AM comes early.

Coram Deo,
Kenith

I'm working a turnaround. UGHHHH. This last week I worked 91 & 1/2 hours. I'm 13 hours a day seven days a week and every now and then 13 hours is not quite enough.

I have to go to sleep.

Later,
Kenith

Saturday morning I left the house about 8:30, picked up my cousin Chris and his son Josh. We then preceded on to St. Augustine Catholic Church in Basile for the funeral of our great uncle, Wilfred LaFleur. Nunc Wilfred, as I knew him, was also my parrain (God Father). His death was not unexpected. He was old and had been very feeble for some time.

Nunc Wilfred was the police chief of Basile for many years. His obituary, in the Eunice paper, can be viewed here . He was a good man. His favourite name he used to refer to us when we were kids was "neg," which was than used as a term of endearment and our families were very close when I was growing up.

Lisa was sick so she did not go to the funeral, and Chris' wife Mindy also stayed home because their daughter was also ill. I did see lots of family and friends that I don't see regularly. That was good, but it is always a bitter sweet event. I am always saddened by the death of old Cajuns, because as they die the Cajun culture, language and accent that was so prevalent when I was young is dying with them.

I came home after the funeral stayed dressed up so I could attend a wedding shortly there after. Doug and Esther were married at Bethel. Lisa and I attended together, even though she was still not well. We left soon after we congratulated the couple. We then went to meet Morgan, it was her birthday and she had plans to meet some friends to celebrate. We made visited there for a little while and come home.

This Morning the boys and I worshipped at Bethel.

Coram Deo,

Kenith

Ps. Here is Nunc Wilfreds obituary from the Eunice paper:

A Mass of Christian Burial will be Celebrated on Saturday, October 11, 2008 at 11:30 am at the St. Augustine Catholic Church in Basile, for Wilfred LaFleur, 76, died on Thursday, October 09, 2008 at the Basile Care Center. Rite of Committal will follow in the St. Augustine Mausoleum under direction of Ardoin's with Father Brian Taylor officiating.

Wilfred was a resident and a former Chief of Police of Basile.

A loving husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather and great-grandfather, Wilfred is survived by his wife, Rose Arabie LaFleur of Basile; a son, Donald James LaFleur of Basile; two daughters, Diana Courville and husband, Ronnie of Eunice, Gail Miller and husband, Joey of Basile; a brother, Lee Roy LaFleur of Lake Charles; a sister, Lucy LeJeune of Lake Charles; seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Wilfred will be missed dearly by all who knew and loved him.

He was preceded in death by his son, Wayne LaFleur; his parents, Willis and Armide Fontenot LaFleur; brothers, Edward, Willard, and Allen LaFleur; and a sister, Eve Johnson.The family requests that visiting hours be observed at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Basile on Saturday, October 11, 2008 from 9:00 am until time of services.

Family and Friends may view the obituary and sign the guest book online at http://www.ardoinfuneralhomes.com/

I've been working a lot since the hurricane brushed us to the west. I had hoped to go squirrel hunting, but I had to work. I was called out to cover Mitch who was sick. I worked of Sunday Morning. I had to sleep and was not able to worship with the folks at Bethel Presbyterian. St. Michael's Episcopal Church has a 5 PM eucharistic service so I worship there instead.

Monday morning, Cudd and I went fishing in Prien Lake. We caught sixteen speckled trout by the time I had to head home. I had to sleep so I could work last night.

Now I have to switch back to days so I can work on turnaround planning.

Later,
Kenith

Since my last post we caught a glancing blow from Hurricane Ike. Ike knocked out our electricity we just got it back today at 2 pm, so we were out of electricity for 2 and 1/2 days. For Rita we were out of electricity for 3 weeks and I am sure that there are many people in and around Houston who will not have electricity for at least 3 weeks. I know what they are going through and I do feel for them.

The little bit of good news is a cool front came through last night and we will have cool weather for the nest several days and nights. The three weeks following Rita were sweltering misery, so this cool front will be a small blessing.

I spent the week and a half following Gustav at the refinery, trying to get my part of the plant back up and running. We got it things up and running on Thursday and Ike came in Friday. I worked over 15 hours on Friday, and left the plant some time after 9 pm. I did not leave on good terms with that nights shift supervision, but that is not something that I will go into detail about here.

I had to work Friday, so I knew I could not evacuate with Lisa and the boys. I got them a hotel in New Orleans and Lisa and I ran to Sam's and bought her a Tom Tom (GPS) system so that they could get around N.O. and to the hotel. They took time to go to the Aquarium on Saturday. The boys had not been there before and they loved it.

I fell asleep at about 11:30, while watching the Weather Channel as Ike closed in on Galveston. I woke at 3 am. The power was off and I could hear the wind whipping outside. I closed my eyes and went back to sleep. I woke a 6 am. The wind was still blowing hard. As soon as it was light enough to see, I got in the Jeep and drove around the neighbourhood to see how things looked. There were lots of branches down, but no large trees like we had in Rita.

The one thing similar to Rita was the flooding. Ike flooded everything that flooded three years ago when Rita crashed into the coast. Ike's flooding was worse and the water was higher. Lisa and I are just now finishing post Rita work. I am sure many of those flooded by Ike were also just finishing getting there homes back together. I feel for them also.

Lisa and the boys came home Sunday evening. We all slept in the living room, because I borrowed a window unit from Gary J. and put it there and ran it by generator. I was able to keep the refrigerator, AC (small window unit) and some lights running.

Later,
Kenith