Lake Charles, LA

Most of my friends here on Active Rain know (from my MEME's) that although I live and sell real estate in the beautiful city of San Antonio, TX; I am a Louisiana "Cajun" girl. I was born and raised in the beautiful Bayou State in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Like I say, "you can take the girl out of the bayou but you can't take the bayou out of the girl".

We drove the 5-1/2 to 6 hour trip this past weekend to attend my husband's family Annual Christmas Gathering. With 6 siblings, wives/husbands, children & grandchildren - it's quite a Gathering.

I had been "cruising" the internet for the last month or so, catching up with what's new in Lake Charles and surrounding area. This website is a great site about Southwest Louisiana - if you're going to or through the area, check it out and plan to stop in Lake Charles for a day or two. Oops, back to "cruising" the internet - I found Candice Alexander's website through the Southwest Louisiana website. Candice is a resident of Lake Charles and an Artist. I immediately fell in love with her Art and made a note to try to stop by her gallery while we were home. We had to shorten our visit by a full day and I was running out of time to visit all the places on my list - although, we had a full day of shopping and site-seeing on Friday I just didn't have time to stop by Candice's Gallery located at 809 Kirby St. (in the old Central School Bldg) in Lake Charles, LA. I was disappointed but made a note to visit the next time we visit Lake Charles.

On Sunday, we drove over to Lafayette, LA, to take Don's our two teenage granddaughters shopping for Christmas and out to lunch. We entered the Acadiana Mall at the middle entrance and I was so surprised to see directly in front of me a display of Candice Alexander's Art!!! Oh My!!! I ran, not walked over to it to make sure it was the same artwork I'd been admiring online. It was and Candice was there! I was able to talk to her and tell her that I'd found her website and had been admiring her artwork and had planned to stop by her Studio/Gallery but had run out of time. She was very nice (no we didn't get a picture of her and me, darn) but we DID buy a print!

Here's a picture (from Candice's website) of the print we purchased for our home, entitled, "In Memory of" -- it depicts a Fleur De Lis layered with a tree of life and stacked rock statues on an ocean background. All prints are hand-tinted with a gold or silver wash and torn by hand to create a beveled edge. Prints are also signed, numbered, and embossed with the official logo for Alexander Art Studio.

We haven't had a chance to take our print to a frame shop to have it framed yet. That will be taken care of after the holidays. We already know where it will be placed and plan to purchase a couple more as companion pieces.

When buying or selling a home in San Antonio, TX, you deserve local expertise and advice. Judi Morgan provides full time, professional real estate services to buyers, sellers, corporate and military transferees in San Antonio, Stone Oak, Canyon Springs, Shavano and Shavano Park, Castle Hills, Rogers Ranch, Helotes, Sonoma Ranch, Alamo Ranch, Red Bird Ranch, The Dominion, Leon Valley and more.

Copyright 2008. Judi Morgan, All rights reserved.

November 11th, all across Southwest Louisiana, school children and others joined to celebrate Veteran's Day. On this Veterans Day in Lake Charles, I witnessed tomorrow's citizens and walked away with a smile.

All too often we hear depressing stories of "Today's Youth" that make us think we want to pull the covers over our heads. Not today.

I witnessed one of the two musical celebrations of Veterans Day; "This is America 2008" Presented by the Soaring Eagles Chorus of Bishop Noland Episcopal Day School and led by Elayne Gabbert, Director.

The talent and accomplishments of these students are unbelievable. Then you realize they are only fourth and fifth grade students (age of the Chorus I enjoyed). I had to continually remind myself of the student's true age.

The other impressive part to the story is that someone is taking time to teach PATRIOTISM.

We actually stood and said the pledge of allegiance, sang patriotic songs and heard many toe tapping new songs that the young people enjoyed singing along with the older tunes that the audience expected to hear. The time went so very fast, I felt I had just arrived, when it was over.

I attended this program expecting to hear my Grand Daughter sing a solo. Her solo was wonderful and brought tears of emotion as I witnessed a pivotal moment. My Grand Daughter has a WONDERFUL voice that I had not heard previously. Grandmother became aware of the fact that her very first Grandchild is growing into a Wonderful young Lady.

It has been wonderful to see that the educational system in Southwest Louisiana considers Patriotism important and worth keeping alive. The Schools are taking time to bring attention to what our Military has accomplished in years gone by, but also continue on a daily basis to provide on our behalf. Without these sacrifices we would not have the freedoms that we have and the ability to demonstrate against our government if we are in disagreement or to view such wonderful programs as today's patriotic tribute.

As a Grand Mother, a former teacher, and as a proud citizen, "Thank You" to the public and private school systems across Calcasieu Parish and all of Southwest Louisiana.

Déjà vu (pronunciation;French)"already seen"; is the experience of feeling sure that one has witnessed or experienced a new situation previously (an individual feels as though an event has already happened or has happened in the near past). This is the definition provided by Dictionary.com. This is exactly my emotions as I take a moment to write this post today. I am calling my clients in Lake Charles and Southwest Louisiana with vacant properties to remind them to prepare for what could be a rough few days and trying to prepare to vacate the area if needed. We are told that most residents will be more cautious and not wait as long to leave this time. This is wonderful news.

Two years ago, when we returned after Rita, I created a page on my website that has become a little dusty, thank goodness. This page, however, has a lot of information and especially links that will assist you in a time when you need to prepare for an emergency of any nature. Please visit the site and take from it any helpful information that will make life more comfortable and safe for you and your family.

I would also like to point out that there is a link to Southwest Louisiana Contra Flow Maps. The maps will hopefully, should they be needed, prevent confusion as to traffic flow at a time when the stress level will be at maximum.

Please forgive the brevity of this post. I am trying to complete my many task so I can concentrate on preparing for the safety of my family and personal home as well. I did want to bring my http://Awareness.derenda.com out of the shadows in hopes that is would be of service to someone.

Rita and Katrina taught Louisiana residents many lessons. Our State will not be caught unprepared. We will work through this, if it comes our way, and move forward with the enthusiasm of before. I am so very proud of the people of Southwest Louisiana, the progress we are making, and the future I see for our communities. Storms are detours not barricades. Stay safe and see you when the rainbow is visible.

Governor Bobby Jindal had to love his trip to Lake Charles on Tuesday! He was here to help officially announce that a $100 million manufacturing plant will soon be built in Lake Charles.

The facility, to be located on Port property off Big Lake Road not far from Trunkline LNG, will be the first nuclear-module manufacturing facility in the United States! A few bullet points:

• The project is a joint venture between Westinghouse and The Shaw Group, a fortune 500 construction firm based in Baton Rouge, LA
• The plant will create 1400 jobs in Lake Charles
• The combined Shaw and Westinghouse venture will generate 2,900 new jobs throughout the state
• The purpose of the plant is to to assemble building modules
• No radioactive material will be involved locally
• After assembly, the buildings will be shipped to their intended destination
• One-third of the new nuclear power plants will be built at the Shaw-Westinghouse facility in Lake Charles

Deep-water access, transportation, and availability of a skilled work force were a few of the reasons Lake Charles was selected. Of course, the state's competitive incentive package played a major role in what is expected to generate $43 million in tax revenue alone in the coming decade.

From the Chamber Southwest to the State Department of Economic development, congratulations and thanks to all involved.

Links of interest:

New Release on Shaw Group website

Bayou Buzz coverage

Times-Picayune Article

Employment opportunities

Want to satisfy your hunger for more photos and information about those marvelous kids that made us so proud in Williamsport?

Simply go to the page on KPLCTV.com dedicated to the South Lake Charles Little League. They offer videos, slide shows, and stories. As we've come to expect, KPLC did a great job compiling this incredible experience.

The latest and very important story is that the Lake Area has a chance to express our support and appreciation to the team at a special reception for them at their home field at Brentwood Prejean lPark on Tuesday at 6:00.

Getting to Prejean Park is easy. From Prien Lake, head south on Louisiana Avenue to Illinois. Turn left (east) on Illinois. The baseball park is just beyound Brentwood Street on the left.