Kaz's Korner

After sitting around the house for nearly five hours Saturday without any heat or electricity, I decided to hike around the corner to where the transformer was being worked on.

There were a couple of curious onlookers also at the site-- one being an old man with a white beard and the other being a gal who had been jogging and was taking a break.

After Entergy told us the problem would be taken care of between noon and 12:30 p.m. and then revised to between 2:00-2:30, I went back home just as the power was restored.

It took the cable about 10 minutes to restore its power and then I got to see the final half-hour of the Jackson State-North Carolina Central match-up in the Celebration Bowl where Head Coach Deion (Prime Time) Sanders’ team lost its first game of the season 41-34 in overtime after posting a 12-0 regular-season record.

Early Sunday morning wife Susan informed me that we were again without power and that the temperature in the house was 63 degrees. Again, we lit the fireplace and eventually got the temperature up to 66.

Our neighbor informed us the power would be restored between 2-2:30 p.m. after being told noon. Again, I jaunted to the work site and once again I saw that same old man pacing back and forth.

I told him that the power should be restored between 2-2:30 p.m. and he snapped “No way, Sonny.” Now, I haven’t been called Sonny in more than 70 years.

` “You must be a retired Gulf States Utilities worker to be so concerned about this outage,” I said. “No Sonny, I just want the problem to be solved and it’s not going to happen until around sunset,” he replied.

“How do you know that?, I asked.

“I know everything, he said without blinking an eye.

“You must be a relative of my old boss,” I said jokingly.

He just turned around and walked away, walked slowly about 10 feet away and dropped something from his coat pocket.

I rushed to pick it up and return it to him. By the time I looked up, he was long gone. He either ran the 100-yard dash in under seven seconds or just disappeared into thin air.

The old man was right, the power wasn’t restored until almost 5 p.m. When I returned home, I took a peek of his rumpled sheets of paper. It contained the following gifts for various people from Santa:

ENTERGY—The 3-F Award. There are thousands of Frustrated Football Fans in the Orange area who suffered through Saturday and Sunday’s lengthy power outages, unable to watch a total of 17 games (10 bowl games and 7 NFL contests) shown on TV. Don’t be surprised if we get hit with another rate increase to help pay for the workers’ overtime hours.

TEXAS A&M HEAD COACH JIMBO FISHER—A Five-Blade Electric Fan to help him fade the heat put on him by the wealthy alums, chancellors and most fans for the Aggies not even being eligible for the lowest bowl game available, And, he led the nation in recruiting this year.

NEW LAMAR CARDINALS HEAD FOOTBALL COACH PETER ROSSOMANDO—A pair of fancy Cowboy boots and a 10-gallon hat so he will at least look like a Texan, even though he was born on Long Island, N.Y.

LOS ANGELES RAMS—Penthouse To Outhouse Award for winning the Super Bowl in February and sitting in last place in the NFC West Division today with most of the same players.

ORANGEFIELD HEAD FOOTBALL COACH JOSH SMALLEY—The novel “The Right Stuff” that you gave the Bobcat program and it’s been paying huge dividends.

NEW YORK YANKEES—The Gift of Hope that 2022 MVP Aaron Judge will play as well making millions of dollars as he did on his rookie contract. For an incentive, the Yankees named him team captain, the first player to receive that honor since Hall of Famer Derek Jeter wore the “C”.

WEST ORANGE-COVE SUPERINTENDENT RICKIE HARRIS—A Huge Eraser. One can ‘cook the books” on most directives handed down from Austin, but there’s no way to expunge that 5-6 football record you’re responsible for.

GRANDSON LT. LOGAN SMITH—An engraved signature from Tommy John himself for needing a second surgery on his right arm that he is recuperating from today.

LA RAMS QUARTERBACK BAKER MAYFIELD—A copy of the book “How To Get Along With My Teammates in the Locker Room”. It may help him stay with this team longer than the others.

OCCASIONAL BRIDGE PARTNER SUSAN PENNINGTON—A Gold Embossed Thank You Card for letting your busy schedule still allow me to play bridge with you.

DALLAS COWBOYS—A 2023 Schedule that doesn’t involve the NFL’s weakest division—the AFC South—after the Cowboys had to rally to beat the one-win Houston Texans last week and then managed to lose 40-34 in overtime Sunday to Jacksonville—the only team the Texans were able to beat this season.

HELEN EDWARDS—A “We Miss You Miss Helen” Sign that describes the feelings of all your Kroger customers.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL FANS—Weaker Bowl Games due to the new Transfer Portal that allows a college football player to switch schools without penalty. Those who want out after this season won’t want to risk getting hurt in a meaningless bowl game and opt not to play for his old school which weakens the team. This will become more prevalent between now and Jan. 2.

NEW COLORADO HEAD FOOTBALL COACH DEION (PRIME-TIME) SANDERS—A Brand-New Flavor—the taste of defeat—occurred Saturday when undefeated Jackson State lost to North Carolina Central in overtime 41-34. Those fans who didn’t see the game missed one of the most exciting finishes ever. His only setback this season will indoctrinate Coach Prime to losing when he starts working in the Rockies.

SUNSET GROVE GOLFER CRAIG COUVILLION—A Barometer to mount on your golf cart to display fair weather so your occasional partner knows if it’s too hot, too cold, too windy or too muddy to play a round of golf with you.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS—The Great Choke Award because the Colts led the Minnesota Vikings 33-0 at the half but somehow managed to lose 39-36 in overtime. It was the biggest comeback in NFL history and the Cinderella Vikings pulled it off and won the NFC North Division in the process.

WEST ORANGE-STARK LOYAL FOOTBALL FANS—A Huge Bonfire to burn all those “Mustang Proud” jerseys and sweatshirts worn for the last 45 years.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS TIGHT END TRAVIS KELCE—A Trophy with just a pair of hands on it after becoming only the fifth tight end in NFL history to eclipse 10,000 career yards

ORANGE BRIDGE CLUB DIRECTOR ED RASMUSSEN—An AttaBoy Badge for being such as loyal and competent director of the local bridge program on Tuesdays and Fridays.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS ROOKIE QUARTERBACK BROCK PURDY—The “Mr. Irrelevance” Award for being the first rookie quarterback to start an NFL game after being the very last player selected in the 2022 draft. He also was the first of eight rookie quarterbacks to face Tom Brady’s team and beat him.

TCU QUARTERBACK MAX DUGGAN—The book “What it Takes to Remain a Texan”—a Houston Texan, that is—after announcing last weekend that he will declare for the 2023 NFL draft in April. The Texans are in desperate need of a quarterback not afraid to run with the football and can throw on the run real accurately and are a shoo-in to “earn” the No. pick of the entire draft for their lousy 2022 season.

AND A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO Janelle Sehon, Victor Romero, Archie McClelland, Jeff Thomas, Johnny Montagne, Jason Bell, Tom Watson, Ronnie Hutchison, Julie Mouton, Pierre De la Fosse, Chris Trout, Gwen Whitehead, Troy Manuel, Missy Pillsbury, Susan Pennington, Brad Prejean, John Morris, Larry Moerbe, Judy Arnaud, Tom Toal, Steve Betz, Jerry Windham, Bill Van, Gail Beckett, Larry Ancelot, Bobby Nelson, Carl Sanders, Matt Purgahn, David Thompson, James Denmon, Mike King, Durwood Bennett, Bob Cockerill, Chris Allen, Annie Kelly, Matt Morgan, Sid Caillavet, Doug Patterson, Mike Shuff, Jim King, Tiki Russell, Alex Morrow, John Cochran, David Benoit, Bart Corder, Father Jimmy Sichko Joe Murphy, David Ess, John Dubose, Lacy Hale, Derry Dunn, Mark Williams, Gary Cook, Bobby Eddings, Tommy Gunn, Mac Guillory, Buddy Hahn, Glynn Aldredge, Daisey Arnett, Jim Rodda, Pat Bell, Kerry Lamb, Brian Hudson, Mike Poutra.

Joe Ely, Linda Foster, Trez Sichko, Ella Mulhollan, Allen Beauchamp, Harley Bennett, John Patterson, Wanda Peveto, Larry Duhon, David Sand, Milton Newton, Mike Parish, Robert Baca, Jim Brown, Ruth Hancock, Mark Hebert, John Toomey, Stacy Hoffpauir, Tina Lawrence, Richard Duffee, Tammy Torrez, Mike Shahan, Wes Duvall, Paulette Schiwart, James Vidrine, Ken St. John, David Bridges, Jim Matthews, Tommy Reed, Alan McDade, Sandra Hall, Wayne Brint, Jajemi Plut, Carol McGill, V.L. Grimes, David Loden, Brian Waguespack, Ryan Chandler, Manuel Godina, Joseph Droddy, Wayne Baker, James Thurman, Bill Belcher, Shanna McCallon, Don Olivier, Jerry Ling, Brenda Buxton, Regina Edwards, Frank Hatton, Willow Simpson, Kathy Gunn, Dean Crooks, Wade Gillet, Jerry McDonald, Jerry Pennington, Chrisleigh Dal Sasso, Bill Dryden, Cathy Day.

Lindsey Nelson, Robbie Bates, Jim Sharon Bearden, Glenn Hanson, Dean Domec, Mildred Frank, Dan Perrine, Billy Burrow, Dan Cochran, Ken Bridgers, George Crawford, Michelle Broussard, Jim Simon, Jack McClelland, J.R. Edmondson, Scottie Wilson, Willie Bednar, James Lopez, Bobby Duhon, Carlos Vacek, George Toal, Mike Lucia, Jim Dunaway, Jack Tindel, Ray Pousson, Jim Ehlert, Bryce Conner, Mike Mazzola, Faye Parish, Gilbert Myers, Kathy Polansky, Wilbur Dahlquist, Sweet Helen Edwards, Pat Murphy, Leo Simpson, Mike McKown, Clint Hathaway, Jerry Decker, Mike Holbrook, Lee Roy Boehme, Jr., Jerry Ann Trouard,  Jimmy Boyd, Donnie Mires, Connie Woods, Bobby Swan, Noel Griffith, Larry Hammett, Tom Day, Bryan McKinley, Donny Ratcliff, Don Lormand, Robert Dunn, Robert Roesler, Bobby Corder, Roy Dunn, Raymond Guilbeaux, Johnny Dugas, Ina Hanson, Paula Burton.

Martha Rogers, Tutu Cron, Robert Burris, Jerry Caillier, John Scofield, Carol Perry, Kenny Lalonde, Linn Cardner, Mike Catt, Pete Runnels, Russell Bottley, James Luna, Jason Bell, Dick Powell, Billie Carter, David Teague, Carl Floyd, Skip Moore, Pete Sterling, Brian Murphy, Montie Moran, Doug Rogers, Rick Keszeg, Cary Bresie, Scott Garvie, Pat Key, Wayne Outlaw, Rodney Townsend, Bob Byerly, Bart Williams, Loretta Stewart, Sandy Withrow, Janet Lemoine, Diane Grooters, Lynn Smith, Ebb Moore, Jerrod Bland, Barry Thibodeaux, Charles Broussard, Sharon Bearden, Bob Hoepner, Joe Doucet, J.B. Arrington, Bill Ellison, Dana Cruse, Dennis Lee, Jerry Ann Trouard, Andy Sonnier, Teresa Caraway.

Dennis Bishop, Gus Beuershausen, Leon Delome, Grant Gipson, Jeep Colburn, Jerry Nichols, Kevin Hebert, Brian Mingle, Loretta Hughes, Dwayne Mims, Johnny Grooters, Pete Gresham, Charlie Miller, Chris Gunn, Ed Dyer, Bill Jackson, Bill Bromley, Mike Bernard, Ken Wernig, Todd McLane, John Tate, Hal LaPray, Bob Campbell, Roderick Robertson, Buddy Hahn, Mark Foreman, Manuel Solis, Neil Watts, John Martinez, Terry Childers, Joan Quartermont, Jeff Mathews, Tiffany Rochelle, Dempsie Jaynes, Kyle Walker, Randy Brown, Clay Dugas, Ron Cowling, Ruth Corder, Billy Bayliss, Andre Robertson, David Montagne, Earl Collier, Robert Tywater, Louise Savoy, Darrel Latiolais, John Cash Smith, Mary Beth Benoit, Jimmy Verrett, Angelique Catt, Russell Cronin, Pat Cockerill, Al Granger, Kris Cherry, Richard Turkel, Rodney Townsend, Jr., Robert Cron, Williams.

David Dunn, Olga Carroll, Cecil Byers, Michelle Domec, Joyce Bell, Waymon Sibley, Mary Ann Jaynes, Rufus Flurry, Aaron Burke, Kris Olsen, Wayne Sparrow, David Hoelzer, James Bloodworth, Ron Roberts, Mike Hebert, Phillip Madar, Lou Garriga, Becky Grant, Vicki Landry, Gene Steele, Morgan Hinds, Ken Reeves, Jimmy Ray Burris, Brenda Morgan, Mark Meadows, Jody Gray, Ruby Collins, Chris Hyde, Gloria McKee, Clifford Bray, Darline Zavada, Todd Marburgh, Dawn Collins, Stacy Caillavet, John Broussard, Greg Choate, Dave Walsh, Williard Lanier, Calvin Collins, Lynae Sanford, Greg Smith, Jerome Wilkerson, Joyce Prescott, Keith Hogan, David Piland, Lana Stogner, Kevin Philen, Vernon Davis, David Hollier, John Lister, Anthony Padilla, Erin Godina, Greg Turbeville, Bob McGill, Gail Griffith, Danny Blacksher, Terry Myers, Johnny Trahan, Curt Leger, George Nevarez, Patrick Toomey, Celeste Williams, Larry Fisher.

Gary Pollock, Michelle Moore, Sandy Walker, Anita Vidrine, Barbara Hayes, Derrick Jones, Dale Peddy, Parrish Bird, Todd Hoffpauir, Terry Steubing, Donna Evans, Jack Burke, Verna Dahlquist, Theresa Schreck, David Davis, Shirley Walker, Larry Woods, Steve Champion, Craig Couvillion, Rex Ansley, Connie Burnitt, Greg Willis, Pat Anglin, George Baker, Steve Issacs, James Blair, Troy Burton, Homer Stockton, Nita Duffee, Vic Arceneaux, Rick Keszeg, Don Burgess, Tommy Carroll, Barbara Bergeron, Brenda Campbell, Paula Legate, Connie Lemaire, Debbie Perry, Scott Swearingen, Camilla Richard, Phyllis McCall, Brandon Prouse, Steve Griffith, Jessie West, Betty Merchant, Ronnie Moody, John Young, Kay Morris, Jim Dwight, George Mortimer, Larry Willette, Leon King, John Rowland, Leon Evans, Preston Fuller, Karl Eason, Jim Mouton, Kerry Franks, Peggy O’Leary, Kim Dickerson, Bret Johns, J.D. Willis, John Hurn, Wayne Iles.

Bob Campbell, Sue Bates, Ralf Mims, Louis Manuel, Richard Roddy, Sandy Turner, Shea Simon, Jack Jones, Shirley “Fuzz” Ware, Tim Stelly, Gary Ware, Warren Claybar, Charlie Greenwell, Gary Mulhollan, J.C. Sea, John Hardin, Gene Tannehill, Anne Foster, Matt Murphy, Mike Collins, Sam Hudson, Aubrey Welch, Virgie Thomas, Charlotte Guillory, Elray Henson, Marilyn Malvo, Chad Havens, Wendy Rost, Josh Smalley, Jeff Elliott, Marcelle Adams, Mike Reed, Ray Tilley, Keith Doucet, Chad Bryant, Roddy Richards, Hugh Granger, Toby Foreman, Gary Thibodeaux, Stephen Lee, Michael Simon, David Winfrey.

Doug Posey, Morgan Hinds, Rick Sand, Joe Raburn, Wallace Culps, Angie Simar, Bryant Calcote, Wayne Lowe, Jack Horton, Tony Perry, Gene Dixson, Joy Haney, Bruce Savoy, Becky Rhoden, Dean Priddy, Randy Vayon, Heath Martin, Ed Freiberg, George Sepulvado, Johnny Dorman, Ronnie Puckett, Lori Thompson, Madge Rogers, Travis Ashworth, Marty Monogue, Dave Young, Jeremy Green, Harry Sharpless, Bobbie Murphy, Jill Williams, Brandon Seaman, Joddie Pledger, Richard Terry, Marla Zoch, Quincy Procell, Donna Nichols, Judy Lowe, Richard Porter, Bart Williams, Joyce Drake, Buddy Miller, Jim Rawls, Bill Nicholas, Mark Berton, Ray “Mario” Dal Sasso, Jane Couvillion, Cheree Benoit, Jakie Stine, Tom Edwards, Rex Luke, Pat Clark.

Jonathan Vandagriff, Veronica Johnson, David Haney, Ron McPherson, Delle Bates, Ray Montagne, Wayne Outlaw, Carl Thibodeaux, Julie Hurn, Mike Bernard, Paul Mott, Kermit Richard, Ray Pousson, Dick Alexander, Jeff Dalton, Craig Corder, Pancho McGill, Roland Wolfford, Dave Maddox, Robin Brooks, Katie Mulhollan, Marlynne Edmondson, Paul Vaughan, Vernon Myers, Billy Denham, Louis Willey, Clyde Davis, Bob Brown, Laurie Modisette, Bob Baptista, Jay Brown, David Williams, Russell Covington, Jerry Montgomery, Harold Gross, Glenda Bass, ,Arlene Turkel, Larry Fisher, Steve Pesek, Charles Liggio, John Garrett, Brown Claybar, Shelby May, Virgis Benoit, Kathy Arcenaux, Dwight Bickham, Howard Minor.

David Claybar, J.L. Vincent, Ross Smith, Dave Pederson, Peggy Vincent, Charlotte Montgomery,, Gwen Barton, Ron Sigler, Pat Brown, James Sanders, B.K. Ware, Leonard Brown, Jeremy Hogg, Alicia Hebert, Reanna Morris, Ronnie Rost, Kelly Alford, Alan Whipkey, Jane Dunn, Ann Lieby, John Harrell, Charlotte Tucker, Glenn Hill, Martha Oliver, John Young, Tommy Ewing, Ernie Dyer, Carroll Holt, Shane Johns, Denise Himel, Sid Caillavet, Paul Patin, Lona Vasquez.

Dennis Duhon, Calvin Parker, Jimmy Sattler, Rodney Dove, Lawrence Hunt, Eddie Faulk, Cornel Thompson, Sam Kittrell, Dick Behnke, Dora Lorimer, Ronnie Burton, Robert “Woody” Wood, Vicky Walters, Mike White, Frank Skeeler, David Payne, John Hersey, Dee Payne, Haazen Kenney, Bonnie Mingle, John Kimbrough, Wayne Peveto, Bubba Lanning, Wayne Morris, Dale LeBlanc, Sammy Owens, Heath Mouton, Harold Fuqua, Joe Peery, Rocky Mize, Bob Hood, James Rigler, Robert Sims, Joe Sanders, Bill Modisette, Mark Oldham, Mackey Clasby, Vernon Collier, Michael Arnaud, Jay Ayers, Jeanette Cleaver, Ray Burch, Gerhard Hommel, Walter Landisch.

Jimmy Sims, Joe Ware, Roy Dunn, Phyllis Ryan, Eric Hinton, Debbie Fusilier, Penny Leleux, Debbie Buckalew, Ricky Trahan, Melinda Gipson, Jet Toohey, James Stringer, Alan Sanders, John Cooper, Glenn Toohey, Lon Craft, Margaret Peeples, Mike Abbott, Charles Gant, Oliver Seastrunk, Earl Geis, Mike Leonard, Van Vandervoort, Jack Burney, Brandon Landry, Ray Rogers, Gary Stelly, Pat Johnson, Andy Allen, Keith Staudt, Brandon Fisher, Fred Zoch, Troy Burke, Bubba Brown, David Clary, Joey Campbell, Robert Query, Gary Thibodeaux, Tim Bonnin, Jay James, John Griffith, Randy Jarrell, Jimmy Jones, Joe Payne, Donald Moss, Betty Melton, Doug Nelms, Roy Knolley, Wade Smith, Shea Brown, Sam Ambers, John Raughton, Pat Leverne, James Scott, Ann Harner, Jenny Taylor, David Trahan, Rick Southard, Donnie Shockley, Jr., John Crawford, Jim Gordon, Jim Colley, Sue Rathburn, Keith Lyons, Mandy Rogers, Terry Landry, Billie Rogers, Albert Gore, Betsy Phillips, Trent Cooper, Steve Toal, James Ray, Mike Hughes, Mark Magnuson, Ed Rasmussen, Gary Mulhollan, Bobby Tanner, Jason Gipson, Jade Saucier, Georgia Corder, Ken Manuel, Donnie Harmon, Sanford Lummus, Hunter Sheridan, Lewis Sims, Tommy Carroll, Van Wade, Mark Dunn.

And a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS to my e-mail readers Dick and Gail Kazmar, Bobbie, Dick and Joe Wechter, Don and Linda Bivens, Karen and Brian Smith, Lt. Logan Smith, Earl Thomas, Brock and Glenna Bult, R.C. Slocum, Paul Groncki, Jim Rodda, Bobbie Earle, Wayne and Kaye Morris and for anyone I may have missed, especially you, my loyal readers who have been with Kaz’s Korner since its inception Sept. 12, 1966.