Beautiful Music.

I enjoyed another wonderful day in New Orleans.....today seemed to be all about the music. After my business meetings, I headed out to meet my graduate school advisor and some other colleagues for an MSU reception. It is always nice to catch up with people you may only see once per year, especially over hors d'oeuvres including alligator and andouille. I then enjoyed a nice dinner of fresh crab au gratin at Mulate's, a famous cajun restaurant that has the most delightful house band. I enjoyed my dinner and a slice of pecan pie with a hot cup of creamy chicory coffee, while watching this precious elderly couple swing each other around the dance floor. It was so beautiful.....they were smiling and gazing at each other the whole time, and they just knew how to anticipate each other's moves....they worked together perfectly. I smiled and teared up at this picture of love and rhythm....I don't know their story, but you could almost read it in how they held and moved with each other. It was almost mesmerizing. I can only pray that Matt and I are still dancing and holding each other and knowing each other so well when we reach the elderly years.

After the cab ride back to my hotel, I discovered a very cool and funky jazz band playing outside the hotel. And let me tell you.....this ain't no high school marching band! These boys could play and sing and entertain....all for whatever loose dollar the crowd would throw into their cardboard box. And there was the sweetest little homeless woman who was smiling and dancing and pinching every man's rear end when they walked up to put a dollar in the box....talk about joy in one's circumstances! Of course, I think she had a little "liquid help" in her to help the joy along, but nevertheless......It was a very fun and relaxing evening. Tomorrow brings my last day of sessions, and I'm also going to do a little souvenir shopping for the kids and check out the historic garden district. Night.

Inspirational New Orleans.

Thank the Good Lord, Mardis Gras is over and I'm experiencing a very different New Orleans today. After checking in at the conference, catching up with my graduate school advisor, and attending a few sessions, I headed for the historic French Market area of the city. On the way, I snapped some photos of things that inspired me. This was the February listing of jazz musicians scheduled to play at the House of Blues....I wonder how long it took to write all of that out? Amazing.



And then all of the historic architecture with all of the iron work and old brick walls and scrolling....fabulous. I browsed through several street artist displays. This is one that I though was really beautiful....over-priced, but then again, who can put a price on art!
















I then spent the rest of the morning at an outdoor table at the historic Cafe Dumond, enjoying a hot plate of yummy beignets, which are a french dough pastry covered in powered sugar. So delicious. Coupled with a spectacular cup of chicory coffee, and a beautifully talented jazz violinist playing a delightful blend of jazz and hymns, and it was a totally relaxing experience. Much needed and highly therapeutic after the craze of yesterday! Ahhhhh.....this is the spirit of New Orleans that Matt and I enjoyed 8 years again when we visited!





Now, I am settling in for a late-afternoon nap before going out for dinner. I'm hoping for some more fresh seafood and some crisp fresh veggies.....and maybe a fresh slice of Louisiana pecan pie for dessert!

New Orleans Day Two.

Good Morning, Big Easy! Last night, the sights and sounds of Mardis Gras continued late, late into the night. After I showered, I hit the New Orleans cafe for a wonderful dinner of a fresh garden salad with delicious homemade vinegarette, followed by a New Orleans fresh shrimp medly of rice with 4 kinds of fresh Gulf Shrimp. Very delicious. I then walked around a bit before retiring, as I was very tired from a day of travel. I am just not into this scene, and this would not be my ideal concept for a vacation. Nevertheless, it has been interesting to see it firsthand.

These photos give you a little idea of what Mardi Gras is all about but, to by truthful, you just can't adequately describe it unless you are here! I haven't taken as many photos as I expected yet, because I just didn't feel safe having my expensive camera out in this crowd....lots of people who looked like they just might want to snatch a nice camera if they got the chance. It is definitely a cacophony of stimulation for all the senses:

• Smells--The first thing that hit me were the smells. Think a huge carnival times 1,000! There are vendors selling food on every corner, so you have the smells of sausages and caramel corn and fried foods. Combine that with the heavy smell of alcohol and pot....yep, it's all done out in the open here. Most of the storefronts have huge tables selling open alcohol of all shapes and sizes. And while there are lots of police standing around, they look past all of the obviously young young (we're talking tweens, here) kids drinking. Add to this the smell of humidity and human sweat and a bit of vomit thrown in.....the smells of Mardis Gras.
• Sights--Can you say colorful? About half of the people are garbed in colorful costumes, some very classy but alot of them very scanty and, shall we say, slutty? I've never seen so many fish net hose with butt cheeks hanging out in my life. Even the dogs and the babies are dressed to party. Colorful sequined masks, crazy hats....and then the beads! All of the floats in the parades throw thousands of strands of beads......all different colors and shapes....and some of them throwtoys and carnival prizes, too. People from all different countries and ethnicities and walks of life......Definitely lots of visual stuff going on......
• Sounds--Blaring music, honking horns, huge crowds of people screaming......police car sirens, DJs yelling out of their sound systems from many storefronts.....people speaking very diverse languages and lots of black/Ebonic English with a southern twist.......that's what it sounds like.
• Tastes--Quite frankly, I really didn't get a taste of Mardis Gras in terms of the vendor food and alcohol.....just not my style. But lots of people were partaking in large amounts...I'll just stick to my Gulf shrimp!
  
  One of the things that really struck me was the GARBAGE.....this photo gives you a bit of the effect, but it was everywhere.....piles and piles of used food items, half-eaten items, broken beads.....it almost made me sick. And then, later in the afternoon, when the alcohol really started flowing, there were pools of spilled beer and so many beer cans and bottles.....this must be job security for the garbage men all year long, that's all I can say.
  
• Last night, I had been sleeping for about an hour and was startled awake by huge noise.....apparently, at midnight (which marks the end of Fat Tuesday and the beginning of Lent) there is a huge countdown followed by sirens, blaring music and shouting....this went on for a good 10 minutes......it is what I imagine Times Square must sound like when the big ball drops on New Years Eve. I watched a bit of it from my window......wow, these people enjoy their parties.

Today, it seems much calmer. Lent has begun and I'm sure that plenty of New Orleans are lying low to nurse their 10-day party hangover. Many of the businesses are closed today and tomorrow....kind of like a recovery period, I guess.

So, that is a little about my Mardis Gras experience......I have about 100 strings of beads to take home to the kids, including some strings given to me by my new friends, the Marlos......more about them in the next post. I'm off to Cafe Du Monde for a fresh cup of coffee and some yummy New Orleans beignets.......more to come.

Experiencing Mardis Gras.

Well, I'm here. I arrived here in New Orleans at about 12:30 today and, let me tell you, it has been nothing but adventure so far. Whatever you have in your mind that you think Mardis Gras would be like, magnify it by 10 and then you might come close. But I am too tired to describe it right now, so you'll have to check back in throughout the week. I already have several stories to share, including my own little Mardis Gras miracle. Good night and until tomorrow....Beads, anyone?

Not So Super.

Here is a sneak peek of the project that has consumed most of my weekend. I finished it last night about midnight and then developed a killer headache that is just now subsiding. I woke up this morning (Sunday) with a headache and nausea that kept me down for most of today. That is a bummer any day, but it was especially hard today.

First, it is Super Bowl Sunday which is an important day for any football coaching family. We had plans to attend a party at some friends' house; so, my family went off without me and i stayed here to try to get caught up on laundry.

Second, I am leaving for a business trip to New Orleans on Tuesday. That means that I have to have all the laundry done, the week's clothes for both kids layed out (if i want them to go to school matching, that is!) and.....because my mother-in-law is coming to help with the kids while I am gone.....a thorough cleaning. I am stressed to the max, which hasn't helped the headache, and is probably the cause for the headache in the first place.

I just checked the weather in New Orleans and it is supposed to be in the 70's all week. I am excited to go. Matt and I went for a week 8 years ago, before the hurricanes, so I am interested to see the contrasts. And, given that it is the last week of Mardis Gras, I am very interested to see New Orleans in the midst of what it is notorious for. I plan to post each day over my trip, so you can live Mardis Gras vicariously through me.....though I don't plan to go anywhere near Bourbon Street, I can tell you that much!

I am not even watching the Super Bowl. I'm just not in the mood. But I do hope that the Patriots win, and I'm sure I'll read all the highlights in the paper tomorrow. Sounds like a Super Bowl Grinch, huh?? Off to fold the towels.......

Exhausted.

I spent most of today finishing my project that I just sent off to its recipient. I don't know that i have every worked so hard and long and intensely on a project in my life. On the one hand, I am sapped. On the other, i am pleased with what I produced and quite inspired to keep creating. And now, I am off to bed. Good night!

Friday...Waiting for Snow.

I was awake at 4;30 this morning. Wide awake. I knew that we were expecting big snow for today, so I went to bed wondering whether we would have another snow day. Wondering whether we needed to worry about finishing the homework packet that is always due on Friday. Excited to finish the project I'm working on.

THANKFUL that my husband found the last hamster in the living room last night....safe and sound. And now SECURE back in its cage. Now I don't have to worry about little critters showing up at unexpected times and in unexpected places. At least for the time being.

In other hamster news, in the midst of all the adventure of the hamsters MIA....my son, Hayden, brought his hamster to me. Dead. Yep, he lasted a whole 5 weeks. He asked me to bring the hamster back to life...don't you love the blind and innocent faith of children? So that launched some important discussions about life and death. "Do hamsters go to heaven?" "Will we have hamsters in heaven, Mommy. "No, honey, animals like Climber do not have souls that go to heaven.' But, Mommy, will we have other hamsters in heaven?" I think so, Sweet Girl. I think Jesus would like hamsters, don't you?

In the plan for the weekend.....we are throwing a dinner for our football coaches team tonight. We love to encourage comaraderie in our staff both on and off the field, so this is about just sharing a meal and enjoying fellowship. My special creative project that i have been feverishly working on is due tomorrow, so that will be a large part of today and tomorrow. I don't know whether I can give more details or post photos quite yet, but I will share it when I can. We are also getting our new mini-van today--yes, we have joined the ranks of the mini-van-driving families....but NO, I am NOT a soccer mom....and I just hope and pray that my kids stick with softball and basketball and football and martial arts.....anything but soccer! Sunday brings church and a SuperBowl party at one of our friends' homes....Go Patriots!