Saturday, December 20, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
White Christmas--- in Franklin County!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Video clips from UCMVA Unity Awards
Matthew Baute
John Michael Talbot
Matt Maher
Kara Klein
Sharmane Adams
Jason Malachi
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Thursday, October 2, 2008
BARL 5th Annual Celebrity Dinner
BARL Celebrity Dinner & Auction Set for October 14th
Come have a “purrfectly” wonderful evening at the Brookhaven Animal Rescue League’s (BARL) 5th Annual Celebrity Dinner. The event is set for 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 14th at Rusty’s Family Restaurant.
The night consists of “howling” laughter as local “celebrities” wait tables for TIPS to support BARL’s animal programs. Costumes, singing, dancing and joking make for a fun-filled atmosphere which will feature a LIVE auction by auctioneer Jimmy Ray, owner of Mid-South Auto Auctions.
“This is our first LIVE auction. In the past, we’ve always had silent auctions, but we thought this would be a lot more fun and entertaining and we hear that auctioneer Jimmy Ray does a great job,” said BARL volunteer, Beth Adcock.
Just a few of the items that will be up for bid include a Bird Hunt at Millbrook Plantation donated by Dr. Ed Carruth; Weekend at Florida Condo donated by Rep. Bobby Moak; 2 Pickup loads of Mulch donated by Phillips Bark; 1 Hour Consultation donated by Legg Landscaping; Child’s Birthday Party for 8-10 donated by Patria Coggin; Simple Will donated by Boerner Law; Eye Exam donated by Dr. Jim Hall; Granite Name Plate for Desk donated by Brookhaven Monument; and Hand painted Dog Greeting Plaque for Door donated by Ann Jackson.
Tickets are $25 and may be purchased at Rusty’s Family Restaurant. The ticket guarantees you an evening of fun and a delicious Southern-Style dinner. All proceeds from the event benefit BARL.
A few of the “celebrity” waiters include Jimmy Allen, Assistant Vice-President/Mortgage Loan Officer - Bank of Franklin; Linda Covington, Owner – Brookhaven Honda Motorcycles; Representative Becky Currie, Mississippi House of Representatives; Gerard Faucheux, Manager, IT – Telapex, Inc; Dr. Mike Gowan, Brookhaven Animal Hospital; Chief Pap Henderson, Chief of Police - City of Brookhaven Police Department; Alvin Lyons, Manager - Cellular South; Rob McCreary, President - Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce; Dr. Ronnie Nettles, President – Copiah-Lincoln Community College; Senator Cindy-Hyde Smith, Mississippi Senate; Terri Lynn Watkins, Circuit Clerk – Lincoln County; Dr. Bob Watson, Brookhaven Animal Hospital.
“The waiters are able to get pre-TIPS from anyone who can’t be at the event. People can still support BARL by tipping their favorite waiter in advance. TIPS can be dropped off at Rusty’s Family Restaurant or given directly to the waiter,” said Adcock.
Joanna Sproles from King’s Daughters Hospital will serve as mistress of ceremonies.
“Last year Joanna was dressed in full 70’s costume complete with a huge black wig and yellow Go-Go boots. She does a fabulous job as MC,” said Adcock.
A few of this year’s event sponsors include “Top Dog” sponsors Animal Medical Center, Bank of Franklin, Lu and Mike Becker, Brookhaven Animal Hospital and Rusty’s Family Restaurant. “Pick of the Litter” sponsors include Joyce Asken Realty, McGehee McGehee and Torrey and W.H. Tyson’s and Sons.
Well, that's the official info taken from the BARL website.
This will be my 4th year to be a waiter and I have written a song each year.
2005 BARL (to the tune of YMCA) Lyrics mp3
2006 Thank God, I'm a BARL Dog Lyrics mp3
2007 Rescue League Blues Lyrics mp3
And now.... presenting the 2008 BARL Celebrity Dinner song....
2008 Take Me Home Lyrics mp3
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Sometimes it really is THAT simple...
When Gustav blew through, bringing some (unofficial) 20 inches of rain, which caused our normally dry creek to turn into a raging river that even overflowed its banks into our yard, our yard remained a little soggy.
High water after Hurricane Gustav
Since we're out in the country, we are on a septic tank system. When the water in the tub stopped draining, I jumped to the conclusion that our drain field was too wet, causing the tank to be full. So, in preparation for calling a pump truck out, I started to dig to find the access hole on the tank. About 30 minutes later, I tried to call the retired plumber that originally hooked up our house to the tank, but he didn't answer. So, I decided to Google this problem. I found some web sites that explained this problem of excess water causing the types of problems that I was having. The sites recommended against pumping, so we just decided that we would limit water usage until the water went down. What fun... No baths -- short showers only -- not letting the water down the drain. I even siphoned out the bathtub in the kids bathroom! Also, limited flushing! The boys were already back to nature.
Well, the plumber returned home, saw my name/number on caller id, and returned my call. It was after 6pm and already starting to get dark, so I figured, since this was Saturday, that he wouldn't be able to come until Monday. To my surprise, he said "I need to come help my friend if he can't flush!" So, about 20 minutes later, he was in my yard, running his snake down our drain pipe. Maybe 5 minutes later, the clog was cleared and we were back in business!
Yep -- simply just a blockage at the T in the tank. No digging and no pumping required!
When will I learn????
Saturday, September 6, 2008
After Hurricane Gustav
On September 1, 2008, Hurricane Gustav hit south Louisiana, missing New Orleans, but causing lots of damage starting about 30 miles west of NO. My parents' house is in Grand Point, St. James Parish, and as these pictures show, there was significant wind damage to this area.
I drove my mom down on September 5 to clean out the refrigerator and freezer, since they were still without electricity. FORTUNATELY, two of her friends stopped what they were doing and came over to lend a hand. THANK YOU! to Mrs. Kathleen and Mrs. Debbie! I am SO glad that you came!
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Hurricanes and anniversaries
August 29 was the 3rd anniversary of Hurricane Katrina's devastating landfall.
By candlelight, in the coolness of the morning, on September 2, 2005, a few days after Hurricane Katrina hit, I wrote the words to this song. Being without power at my house, I drove 200 miles to my in-laws' house where I recorded it on my Digitech GNX4.
Sparked by that event, my songwriting continued to flow and in February of this year, I traveled to Fort Wayne, Indiana to record an album of 11 original songs, with David Smith providing the backing instruments and harmony.
Link to song on iTunes
We are watching as Gustav seems to have taken aim on our area of the country. People have been acting more quickly, stocking up on supplies, etc. We are praying that we will be spared. We are trying to prepare for the worst.
This year, things are a little more difficult, as my dad has recently begun dialysis treatments 3 days a week in a town about 25 miles away. Gas shortages could make the trip difficult.
He's also on a machine that delivers a higher concentration of oxygen, which requires electricity. He doesn't require it 24-hours a day, but usually sleeps with it on. Our water comes from an electric well in our yard, which is the source of our drinking water, water for washing, flushing, whatever. We have a generator, but only about 30 gallons of gas. I'm not sure how long that will last. My parents live in a camp that they built on our property and are also on our well for water. I am trying to figure out the best way to maximize the use of the one generator. When Katrina hit, we didn't have the generator. We had a small swimming pool in the back yard, and I used water from the pool for flushing. Nine days without electricity. No bathing. No cooking. No air conditioning in August, early September in southwestern Mississippi. Lord, I would rather not repeat that!
Well, compared to others, we were very blessed to not suffer significant damage or injury.
I'm off to continue preparations...
Gerard
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
And then, this rock I find...
Here are the lyrics:
How Can You Think Of Me?
Words and music by
Gerard C. Faucheux, Sr.
I walk along the creek
And feel the sand beneath my feet
And God, I feel so small.
‘Cause you told Abraham
“Boy, see these grains of sand?
I’ll give you children, more than them all.”
(Chorus)
So Lord of all time and space
And of the whole human race,
How can you think of me?
How can you think of me?
And then this rock I find
Brings other thoughts to mind
About the earth and its age.
No matter what that might be
Compared to eternity
It’s just a speck on history’s page.
(Repeat Chorus)
(Bridge)
Lord, I can’t comprehend
Your thoughts or your plans
Why would You ever think of me?
But You formed me in the womb
You’ll save me from the tomb
And in between, You’re always near me!
I walk out in the yard
At night and look at all the stars
And once again, I feel so small.
The furthest ones they say
Are billions of light years away,
But your word says you’ve named them all.
(Repeat chorus)
Copyright © 2006-2008 by Gerard C. Faucheux, Sr.
Saturday was a LONG day that started with a trip with my dad to his dialysis treatment. Seeing a room full of patients sitting for about 4 hours at a time, allowing a machine to try to mimic something that our awesome Creator established, well, what can I say? In the brief time that I was there, I was emotionally drained.
I left there and stopped first at a place that sold clothing for little kids, to purchase tap shoes and ballet slippers for my 10-yr old daughter. I honestly teared up when the sales person brought out those big shoes! They were the right size, but I was not ready to admit that my little girl was that grown up :(
I got in the car and somehow made it to another town, where I had to buy a part for my ailing lawnmower. It's great having a huge yard, EXCEPT for when it needs to be mowed! And you would think that with 3 boys that I would be able to turn over some of these jobs? Well... until I get a new lawnmower, one that I can trust, I'll keep doing it myself. Hey, it's almost September. Shouldn't have to do this MANY more times!
Well, I got home and since ANOTHER hurricane/tropical storm (Fay) was headed towards us, we loaded up the generator and brought it to my parents' camp. Since my dad's on oxygen, we need to make sure that we keep the juice flowing!
FINALLY back home, I decided to walk out to the creek to see if there was any water, since it has been dry for months (watch the videos on http://godtube.com/gfaucheux or http://myspace.com/gfaucheux to see the water). There were a few puddles from the fresh rain, but it wasn't flowing. I walked for maybe 100 yards, to a point that's probably closest to the house, a place where the bank is probably about 12 feet above the water with steep sides that cave in a little more with each rain. Down in the water, I spied a rock that looked out of place. I have found large pieces of sandstone, but this was different. I picked it up and examined it and was shocked at what I saw. After all of the tiny pieces of fossils that I have found that I suspected were fossilized coral, well, here, I was holding something that looked like a hunk of coral reef!
Check out these pictures! I have a few more posted on my Facebook page
