Happy October!

October has always been my favorite month. I suffer through the hot Mississippi summers just knowing that it's there waiting for me on the other side. I just wish my favorite month was longer than 31 days! I try to make each and every one count.

This weekend:

I purchased the obligatory pumpkins and mums to decorate the outside of the house (the black and orange kitties decorate the inside).

I attended a wonderful Oktoberfest party at my friend Lou's house (yum, German beer, bratwurst and obatzda).

At some point, I'll get started on those online Italian lessons I've been meaning to take in preparation for my upcoming trip to Venice this month.

Something tells me these 31 days are just going to fly by! Boo (hoo)!

Hell, Hattiesburg Still Frozen Over

Now that it's been five days since the Saints won the Super Bowl, you'd think that hell would have had a chance to thaw out a little. But I awoke this morning to the landscape pictured above.

Now, for those who don't know, this isn't the Northeast. It's South Mississippi -- where it snows like this maybe once a decade. Except that we've gotten it now twice in two months.

Those pigs' wings must be getting awfully tired.

If you're not into building snowmen and making snow angels (or if you've already done that and looking for something else to do), Internet surfing is a perfect snow day activity. And I don't mean to all those practical sites where you research the best price on a new appliance. I mean those fun sites that have always intrigued you, but you never have the time to visit. Then again, if you're reading this, you're already ahead of me. (Public service message: Surf responsibly. Make sure your virus software is up to date before downloading files. Do not give out personal and/or credit card information on non-secure, non-trusted sites).

If you're a snowed-in cat lover, may I suggest you surf on over to the site "Stuff On My Cat." You will laugh until you cry.

And if you are also a dog lover, the sister site "Stuff On My Mutt" is pretty darn cute, too.

Happy Snow Day!

A Taste of Paris in the Piney Woods

If I had a bumpersticker on my car (which I don't) it would say, "I'd rather be in Paris!"

Lately, I'm beginning to think that I'm already there.

Don't get me wrong, I love Hattiesburg. It has its own brand of Southern charm. Historic neighborhoods overflow with interesting architecture, azaleas, wisteria, camellias, hydrangeas, and crape myrtles. Mouth-watering aromas emanate from dozens of BBQ joints and catfish shacks -- some of them quite upscale. Syrupy accents make even bad news sound good. And the code of good manners -- everyone says ma'am, sir, please and thank you here -- just makes life downright pleasant.

Lately I've also been hearing a lot of Madam, Monsieur, s'il vous plait and merci.

It seems that Hattiesburg is turning into the Paris of the Piney Woods.

It started quietly enough when C'est La Vie opened its doors in a strip mall on Hardy Street a few years ago. The French-bred owners introduced Hattiesburg to real croissants, sables, eclairs, religieuses, tartes and all the other too-pretty-to-eat-but-you'd-be-crazy-not-to delicacies normally found in a Left Bank patisserie.

And generations of Hattiesburgians, raised on Sundays at Shipley's donuts, ate it all up.

Then Cafe Boheme opened its doors in a restored old house across from the Hattiesburg Zoo. With it muted decor, soft jazz and menus of coffees, teas, baked goods (croissants, pain au chocolat) and daily lunch specials, it has the ambiance of a salon de the tucked away in the heart of Le Marais.

Just the other day I noticed that a genuine Parisian bistro is serving lunch in a building once occupied by an Italian restaurant and, years ago, a Chinese place.

While I'm a little perplexed by this sudden Gallic turn of events, I think it's formidable. Every one needs a little Paris every now and again. Especially if you're me.

I'm not saying I'm cancelling my annual pilgrimage to the City of the Light.

But it probably will be a little easier to handle my withdrawal symptoms the next time I return home.

Merci, Hattiesburg. Merci beaucoup.