The Final Final!

Congratulations to me on grading all of my final exams from two sections of English 1001 before bedtime on the night the papers were due!

What a feat of grading!
What good essays the students wrote!
What a relief!
(To them and to me.)
What peace of mind!
(For them and for me.)

Now what will I find to do with myself between now and summer school?

No more Blackboard postings,
No more stacks of papers patiently waiting to be graded until the eleventh hour,
No more emailed questions about what to do after "the dog peed on my essay."

Maybe I'll blog more!
(Ever heard of that Louisiana community in Catahoula Parish called "Frogmore?" I'll rename Eunice "Blogmore!")
Maybe I'll be a better Daddy and husband!
Maybe I'll grow a garden!
Maybe I'll take up a hobby!

Ah, sweet release! May the next three weeks until summer school pass real slooooooooooooooooooooowly!

Charcoal or Gas? A Consumer Analysis from English 1001

The consumer research essay caused me great headaches due to the vast amount of possibilities to compare. As I was sitting outside considering topics, my husband was BBQing and the idea seemed to hit me like a load of bricks. Gas VS. Charcoal.

--Kelly Ford, English 1001, Spring semester 2007

The Perfect Grill

By Kelly Ford

April 2007

Barbecuing has been around for hundreds of years. It is a simple process of preparing food, requiring little more than meat and fire. However, the decision on how to generate the fire tends to spark great debate from barbecuing aficionados worldwide. Gas versus charcoal? Grilling versus smoking? For as many positives there are to both, there are as many potential drawbacks. Before purchasing a grill, you must consider convenience, price, the type of meat you plan on cooking and cooking method.
In the convenience category, gas grills seem to have a distinct advantage over charcoal grills. Charcoal grills obviously require charcoal and starter fluid, where a simple push of a button will ignite a gas grill. Charcoal can be messy, requiring cleaning of your grill before each use. However, gas grills are typically cleaner and easier to maintain. Most gas grills are made of stainless steel and resist rust, while the carbon steel often used to fabricate charcoal pits, tends to rust after exposure to the elements. When using a charcoal grill, your fire will take twenty to thirty minutes to be ready for grilling. On the other hand, ignite a gas grill and you can begin cooking in ten minutes. Another convenience factor to consider is the ease and availability of purchasing fuel. Charcoal and lighter fluid is readily available for purchase at almost any convenience or grocery store, while propane is available only at certain stores and may require a special trip across town. This trip could be inconvenient if your propane bottle is empty and you spontaneously decide to light the pit.
Price is another consideration when purchasing a grill. Both gas and charcoal models come in many shapes and sizes with gas grills typically more expensive. Gas grills are typically made of stainless steel, which is a much more valuable material than the usual carbon steel of a charcoal grill. You will also pay more for the ease and convenience of a gas grill. Some high-end gas grills can become quite pricey. Four to eight hundred dollars is a common price for a six hundred square inch gas grill. A comparable, if not larger charcoal grill will usually cost significantly less. I found a Weber Genesis E320 LP gas grill with 637 square inches of cooking area priced at $599.00 while the ProDeluxe Char griller, with 830 square inches of cooking area is available for $119.00. Propane costs $2.40 per gallon and a five-gallon bottle will last around a month of barbequing three to four times a week. On the other hand, you can purchase a ten-pound bag of charcoal from your local discount store for around seven dollars and typically, you will get two barbeques per bag of charcoal.
The type of meat you plan to prepare plays a large role in your consideration of gas versus charcoal. Small, relatively thin cuts of meat such as steaks, pork chops, and chicken breasts will grill equally well on both gas and charcoal grills. The hot, even flame of a propane-fueled grill will be an advantage during direct grilling. While it is possible to achieve direct grilling on a conventional charcoal, the fire will require you to waltz the food from hot to cool spots as the fire dictates. When cooking larger cuts of meat that require an extended cooking time, a gas grill has a charcoal grill beat in convenience. Turn the gas burner to low and you will maintain a relatively constant temperature for hours, however; using a charcoal grill to cook a brisket or pork shoulder can be tricky. You will be required to add fresh coals to the fire every hour during cooking.
My biggest consideration when shopping for a grill is preferred cooking method. Grilling versus smoking. The taste of the meats cooked varies greatly depending on the style in which the meat is prepared. The chief drawback of gas grills is they do not work particularly well for producing wood smoke. It is easier to smoke on a charcoal grill. Simply use wood as your primary fuel or add wood chips to your hot coals to obtain a true smoke flavor. On the other hand, smoking on a gas grill is sometimes a little tricky. Most high-end gas grills come equipped with a smoker box that you simply add wood chips to and ignite the burner until smoke appears. If your gas grill is not equipped with a separate smoker box, you will have to assemble a smoker pouch to get a true smoky flavor. Still, your average gas grill rarely produces the intense smoke flavor achieved with a charcoal grill or smoker. Charcoal and wood impart a distinct flavor that is hard to replicate.
In the end, the question of whether to buy a gas or charcoal grill boils down to your temperament. Did you grow up watching your dad get the charcoal ready? Do you enjoy tailgating at a football game on a cold day? Do you enjoy a tender delicious smoked brisket or a quickly grilled steak? Having weighed all of my options and considered the pros and cons of both grills, I will select the charcoal grill every time. In my opinion, the taste produced by wood and charcoal grills far outweighs the durability and convenience of gas.
Following is a quick reference table obtained at http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesArticle/id-415,subcat-FOOD.html.

Charcoal or Gas? A Consumer Analysis from English 1001

Cooper Lee Broussard: Candidate for Pet of the Year

A student sample English 1001 assignment using exemplification . . .

Upon reading the choices of writing assignments for my English 1001 Exemplification Essay, I knew that there was going to be a spin in my essay. Having a fun topic provided me with the motivation and the proper audience that Cooper needed to make his world debut. After several revisions along with words of encouragement from the rest of the class, I am happy to share Cooper’s essay with everyone.
Micky Broussard
Carencro, Louisiana

Cooper Lee Broussard

I am Cooper Lee Broussard, a five year old black masked fawn male pug, who lives in Carencro, Louisiana. I reside with my human parents, Micky and Megan Broussard, and Maggie Marie Broussard, a three year old jet black female pug who is the love of my life. My first experience with an Eukanuba product was the Small Breed Puppy food that my human parents switched my diet to because another name brand food did not agree with my stomach. I was ultimately hooked with the first tiny kibble. They continue to provide me with the best Eukanuba food that money can buy. After viewing the advertisement for Eukanuba’s search for its next “Pet of the Year” on the Animal Planet television channel, I barked orders at Micky dictating the words I wanted written in this letter compelling Eukanuba to choose me as the next Pet of the Year. Not only am I a physical example of what Eukanuba’s fine line of pet products can do for a dog’s nutritional needs; but, I have the abilities and personality that the Eukanuba Corporation is looking for in its Pet of the Year.

Although I am five years old, I can play all day long just like when I was two. My favorite sport is playing ball. Weighing in at only twenty one pounds and having the classic short squished snout, I received from Megan and Micky golf ball sized tennis balls with smiley faces printed on them to play fetch with. Even though I am able to carry the regular size tennis balls with no problem, these small tennis balls are just the right size for me to easily retrieve. My passion for these balls is so deep that Micky and Megan have trained me to remain still while they place the ball upon a wrinkle over my stubby, little black nose in between my eyes. Then after a few seconds, my addiction takes over and lightening fast, I will rock my head back, stealthily catching the ball in my mouth. When Megan gets home from work, she repeatedly throws the ball in our back yard for me until I have to lie down to catch my breath.

I also have a passion for plush toys, whether they are for humans or dogs. A crazy example is my Christmas present from Santa that is a “Laugh and Learn Bunny” by Fisher-Price that is really a child’s toy. This rabbit talks and plays music when I bite him in the right spots. The rabbit even goes “WEEE” and laughs when I shake and throw him into the air. My favorite all time plush doggie toy is the squeaking hedge hog stuffed animal that both Maggie and I each have. Even though I destroyed my first hedge hog, I do not cut the second hedge hog any slack. I am able to push/chase the hedge hog with my nose down the hall until I firmly snatch it up off the floor with my vicious fangs. I will place the hedge hog, screaming with fear for its last thread of life, into a death throw until I toss it into the atmosphere for either Maggie or I to snag it from thin air. To make our day go by, Maggie and I continuously frolic among ourselves, sporadically interrupted by the fence climbing cat from next door.

I look forward to doing public appearances for Eukanuba at different places. Not only do I enjoy traveling, especially in a vehicle that is high with a view such as Micky’s truck; but, also I enjoy meeting new people and other animals. As a family, we frequently go to other family member’s homes and my veterinarian Doctor Guidry’s office. A few other examples of places that my owners have taken me to are the park, Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse, and my favorite store, Pet Smart. While at these places, I have enjoyed the opportunity of encountering many new faces along the way. My unique pet personality allows me to easily make new acquaintances, creating a large group of friends. Along with the human and canine species, I also appreciate the accompaniment of cats, cows, and birds. Besides Maggie, my best friends are the black calves in the pasture that I play with through the fence. Another great example of our social interactions, Maggie and I are two of the ninety eight members of the Lafayette Pug group. We have a “Pug-meet” at least once a month. As a group, not only do we socialize; but, we also cover such important issues as training, health factors, and rescuing other pugs to name a few. Why even last year, my family and I were awarded the best dressed group for the Halloween costume contest. If I am chosen to be the Pet of the Year I would like to raise awareness of the importance of pet health and happiness that I received from the group to others through out the country.

My owners felt it was important for me to have good manners and be obedient. Since Megan picked me up from my parents’ home in Welsh, Louisiana on Valentine’s Day 2002, they have trained me. The first thing they taught me was to be potty trained ensuring that I would not use the restroom in the house. Besides being well mannered, on command I have been taught to sit, stay, shake hands, and fetch, which is my favorite thing to do besides eating. Even on occasion, I have been known to do a pirouette dance on my back legs for those tiny slivers of refreshing ice chips. Megan is an avid photographer who tends to use Maggie and me as her models. With her direction, I have learned to strike a pose and became very photogenic. These examples of my training have given me the proper etiquette for the role I would play as Eukanuba’s Pet of the Year. After all I would not want to disgrace myself or my family much less the Eukanuba Corporation, the maker of my favorite grub.

As I mentioned, Micky and Megan have kept Maggie and I on a strict diet that consists only of Eukanuba products. We are feed with Eukanuba’s Small Breed Weight Control food and rewarded with the Healthy Extras Adult Small Breed biscuits. While serving as the Pet of the Year, I can personally vouch for the great taste and the high nutritional quality of the Eukanuba product line. Since we are pugs, as a breed we tend to gain weight easy and can not exercise too much due to our poor upper respiratory system. The great tasting weight control food keeps me fit while still providing me with the energy to keep me going all day. The quality of the nutrients in the food gives me shiny beautiful thick coat of fawn fur.

Being an older, more mature dog, I realize that I may not be the breed that the Eukanuba Corporation is looking for its Pet of the Year. I hope that this brief description of my abilities and skills clearly demonstrates that I can span the breed and species barriers. My personality empowers me to be the best Pet of the Year that Eukanuba can endorse. Enclosed are pictures of myself and my family. I would like to thank the Eukanuba Corporation for the opportunity to be a candidate for the Pet of the Year contest and for the fine food it produces.

The Broussards of Carencro

Navarre Beach: A Descriptive Piece from English 1001, Section 25

This essay was written for the description assignment. I found it to be a very easy assignment. My biggest difficulty was "trimming" down the descriptions to be effective. I could have written pages and pages on the subject because it is so dear to me.
Kelly, Broussard, La.

Navarre Beach

Located on Santa Rosa Island in Florida, the Holidome at Navarre Beach holds many of my favorite childhood memories. I vacationed there every summer with my extended family. My cousins and I felt as though we had walked into an enchanted kingdom as we entered into the hotel. It was a magical time of endless possibility while we where there.

The trip seemed to take forever, though in reality it was only around 350 miles. My brother and I stayed up most of the night before in anticipation of arriving at the dome for another week of fun. Still dark out, my parents loaded us in the car with our pillow and blanket. My mom told us if we slept, the trip would seem quicker. Stopping at McDonald’s for breakfast near Hammond, a vacation tradition, I can still smell the sweet syrup on the warm fluffy pancakes. Getting into the car after breakfast, my dad would say, “Next stop, Navarre Beach.”

When we got to the toll bridge that connects Santa Rosa Island to the rest of the world, the excitement was almost unbearable. I would have gladly given all of my hard-earned quarters to gain access to that beautiful, isolated island that housed the Holidome. Walking into the hotel, the sights were exquisite to my young, inexperienced eyes. The large multicolored parrot at the front door squawked “Hello” to all who entered. Opposite the front desk, a gigantic fish tank formed a whole wall. Large gray predatory grouper glided calmly as small brightly colored tropical fish darted around deftly in an attempt to avoid being the lunch special of the day.

The arcade hummed with activity as children played and the games sang their theme songs. We spent our quarters fighting enemies, guiding Pac-man to the next level, driving racecars and playing pinball machines. The oddly shaped indoor pool sat in the center of the dome with crystal blue water and provided a fun refuge from the occasional afternoon thunderstorm. A thick blanket of chlorine permeated the dome. The echoes of children’s excited cries and splashes bounced off of the roof and walls like rubber balls.

The courtyard next to the pool contained ping-pong tables and provided the setting for a clown on some days and a petting zoo on other days. The glass elevator that traversed the three floors provided numerous joy rides and differing views of the seemingly never-ending activity below in the dome. “Get your swimsuits on and let’s hit the beach,” declared my mom after we unpacked the car.

The sun-baked sand, as white as sugar, felt like molten lava to our bare feet. We ran, hopped and squirmed to our rented blue chairs. Once there, mom slathered us with coconut smelling suntan lotion and set us free for the afternoon. We built grand sand castles, buried my dad in the sand and rode our boogie boards at the water’s edge. The water looked as green as emeralds and beckoned you to get in and cool off as the hot sun baked us to a deep brown. The sound of the waves breaking on the seashore excited me and I could not wait to get in water to ride my orange tire in on the waves. Ever so often, we heard the roar of a fighter plane and we would catch a glimpse of the sleek, beautiful Blue Angels flying in formation over us in the clear blue sky.

Every morning my dad woke us at daybreak and we would walk for miles along the water’s edge collecting delicate sand dollars and intricate seashells. The rising sun made beautiful streaks of pinks and oranges in the awakening sky. My memories of these trips are vivid and are often refreshed as we discuss the details at almost every family function.

We attempted to make reservations last summer to give the next generation the ability to form the same happy memories, but were disappointed to learn that the Holidome no longer exists. After sustaining severe hurricane damage, the hotel required demolition. I am grateful that we will always have our memories. Those memories are safe from any storm.

Kelly
Broussard, Louisiana

Between Semesters: Storm Clouds Gathering?

Yes, it's nice to have a break between semesters, especially when one can graze through the Christmas and New Year's holidays. But how soon those days of leisure pass! How ominous the storm clouds appear on the relentless semester cycle's spring horizon! How soon the holiday tranquility is violated by the foreboding tempest! How soon my nerves, barely recovered from the semester before, are frayed anew!


And alas! Twenty years into the retirement system, ten to go? In other words, no relief in sight!