Sunday, August 12, 2007
103+ actual degrees..........in the SE Misery Desert
And hotter than that in the next three days!!!!! The outside thermometer on our car registered 107 degrees at 4pm this afternoon.....UGH!!!! WHEW!!!
My usual Sunday morning talking head shows were interesting as I sipped my French Roast coffee....freshly ground.....in the coolness of our media room. The 1st Lady had gone to church this morning....and then when she returned from the early morning contemporary Methodist service, I also had the STL Post-Dispatch to digest as the morning wore on.
The afternoon was for staying inside......and so I did!! I spent a great afternoon........just reading!!! Yep......something different for me.....a bit of silence and many chapters slipped by as I kept from being interrupted during that time. The 1st Lady was doing some bookkeeping for Dr. Jeni's husband, Darrel........and for his business which is really, really doing well with this heat. He repairs incapacitated air conditioners in heavy equipment units and other mobile units.....and he does it "on the road"......where they are "broken down". A GREAT business to own with all of this heat!!
Late afternoon, Dr. Jeni, Darrel and girls arrived for a quick visit as they had been close by visiting old friends overnight. We had a good visit.........the girls were hyper, as usual, and that just makes them that much cuter. They LOVE to play on the grand piano.....and always want me to "give them a piano lesson"......so I oblige them, of course. Actually, Meghan is in need of a piano as her interest in learning is really peaking.......and now is the time to start those lessons.
They left for home rather late.....so the girls had their bath before loading up and departing.....and that, too, is always a fun time for them.......and Grammy.
Tomorrow, after completing our discussions with our travel agent in New Jersey and getting our names on the dotted line........I have to check with the eye glass place here in town where I got my glasses. I am STILL having difficulty seeing......at least seeing the way I should be seeing...and not struggling to get things aligned properly by moving my head a certain way....or moving a book up/down, side to side. I think the glasses are just tooooooo narrow, vertically, for the progressive lenses to be as effective as they should be.......so, gotta discuss this tomorrow. It has been a week since I picked them up, so my eyes should be making the adjustments to the new lenses.....but........well, I'm just not satisfied!!
Tomorrow, the 1st Lady has a dental appt. with Dr. Jeni, so we will leave before lunch for her dental offices. Think we will overnight at their place in the countryside......and then go on to Monroe City to visit and check on the 1st Lady's mother. From there we will most likely go to Eldon so I can get the house that was my mother's.....listed officially with a realty agency. While we are gone for a few days.....I may be, and will be, out of touch with cyberspace and therefore, my posts will be much more erratic than usual.
Keep checking.......I'll be on here when I can......and as always.....
Life is GREAT.....and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!
My usual Sunday morning talking head shows were interesting as I sipped my French Roast coffee....freshly ground.....in the coolness of our media room. The 1st Lady had gone to church this morning....and then when she returned from the early morning contemporary Methodist service, I also had the STL Post-Dispatch to digest as the morning wore on.
The afternoon was for staying inside......and so I did!! I spent a great afternoon........just reading!!! Yep......something different for me.....a bit of silence and many chapters slipped by as I kept from being interrupted during that time. The 1st Lady was doing some bookkeeping for Dr. Jeni's husband, Darrel........and for his business which is really, really doing well with this heat. He repairs incapacitated air conditioners in heavy equipment units and other mobile units.....and he does it "on the road"......where they are "broken down". A GREAT business to own with all of this heat!!
Late afternoon, Dr. Jeni, Darrel and girls arrived for a quick visit as they had been close by visiting old friends overnight. We had a good visit.........the girls were hyper, as usual, and that just makes them that much cuter. They LOVE to play on the grand piano.....and always want me to "give them a piano lesson"......so I oblige them, of course. Actually, Meghan is in need of a piano as her interest in learning is really peaking.......and now is the time to start those lessons.
They left for home rather late.....so the girls had their bath before loading up and departing.....and that, too, is always a fun time for them.......and Grammy.
Tomorrow, after completing our discussions with our travel agent in New Jersey and getting our names on the dotted line........I have to check with the eye glass place here in town where I got my glasses. I am STILL having difficulty seeing......at least seeing the way I should be seeing...and not struggling to get things aligned properly by moving my head a certain way....or moving a book up/down, side to side. I think the glasses are just tooooooo narrow, vertically, for the progressive lenses to be as effective as they should be.......so, gotta discuss this tomorrow. It has been a week since I picked them up, so my eyes should be making the adjustments to the new lenses.....but........well, I'm just not satisfied!!
Tomorrow, the 1st Lady has a dental appt. with Dr. Jeni, so we will leave before lunch for her dental offices. Think we will overnight at their place in the countryside......and then go on to Monroe City to visit and check on the 1st Lady's mother. From there we will most likely go to Eldon so I can get the house that was my mother's.....listed officially with a realty agency. While we are gone for a few days.....I may be, and will be, out of touch with cyberspace and therefore, my posts will be much more erratic than usual.
Keep checking.......I'll be on here when I can......and as always.....
Life is GREAT.....and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Two busy days.........
Ahhhh.......last night was a late night and by the time I got ready to write......my mind had turned to the mushiest it has been in a long time.....sooooooo, you had to wait until this evening.....
We visited with Mike yesterday afternoon and evening and had a good time!! He seemed chipper and so much was discussed concerning many topics. And, as I said, it was a late night before returned here to the stick and brick.
Today.....well, another hot one. My lawn is no longer a lawn, but a brown, crunchy desert!!! I can't remember when, or even IF, it has ever been this brown and dead. And still....the hot temps persist and will be with us, so "they" say, until late next week.....without any moisture. I am now working hard to save my flowers....my azaleas....my hostas....my decorative grasses.....everything is now in jeopardy! I have put a lot of $$$ into the plants and shrubs here in the yard.....and I'm not sure they will survive this heat and drought. Very, very upsetting!
The 1st Lady and I were supposed to go to Eldon this morning, but things just didn't work out like we had planned. Sooooo, we spent the day cleaning out a closet and storing more "stuff" securely so it could be put away in the garage on the shelving there.
This evening.......AFTER I spent 45 minutes in my watering of everything.......we watched a DVD...."The Good Shepherd" with Matt Damon. What an interesting.....and a bit depressing.....movie. I'm afraid there is toooooooo much truth in this movie which then leaves me thinking about other incidents in the past 40 years or so..............check it out, if you haven't already seen it. Be aware.....it is a lengthy movie!!!
Had a call from Andrew G.........and enjoyed hearing about his day at the wineries in the Hermann area. Would love to have been there, even in this heat........I soooo enjoy wineries, as well as the wine! Haha........my dark red medicine is a staple in my life!!!
And so......a very uninteresting day(s) in my Life for all of you. Hang in there......things will get better!!! I may even get on my soapbox again before long to rant and rave about some heated topic, so drop back by............you never know! And....as always....
Life IS GREAT.....and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!
We visited with Mike yesterday afternoon and evening and had a good time!! He seemed chipper and so much was discussed concerning many topics. And, as I said, it was a late night before returned here to the stick and brick.
Today.....well, another hot one. My lawn is no longer a lawn, but a brown, crunchy desert!!! I can't remember when, or even IF, it has ever been this brown and dead. And still....the hot temps persist and will be with us, so "they" say, until late next week.....without any moisture. I am now working hard to save my flowers....my azaleas....my hostas....my decorative grasses.....everything is now in jeopardy! I have put a lot of $$$ into the plants and shrubs here in the yard.....and I'm not sure they will survive this heat and drought. Very, very upsetting!
The 1st Lady and I were supposed to go to Eldon this morning, but things just didn't work out like we had planned. Sooooo, we spent the day cleaning out a closet and storing more "stuff" securely so it could be put away in the garage on the shelving there.
This evening.......AFTER I spent 45 minutes in my watering of everything.......we watched a DVD...."The Good Shepherd" with Matt Damon. What an interesting.....and a bit depressing.....movie. I'm afraid there is toooooooo much truth in this movie which then leaves me thinking about other incidents in the past 40 years or so..............check it out, if you haven't already seen it. Be aware.....it is a lengthy movie!!!
Had a call from Andrew G.........and enjoyed hearing about his day at the wineries in the Hermann area. Would love to have been there, even in this heat........I soooo enjoy wineries, as well as the wine! Haha........my dark red medicine is a staple in my life!!!
And so......a very uninteresting day(s) in my Life for all of you. Hang in there......things will get better!!! I may even get on my soapbox again before long to rant and rave about some heated topic, so drop back by............you never know! And....as always....
Life IS GREAT.....and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!
Thursday, August 09, 2007
HOT!!!!!........AGAIN!!!!!
Nothing more need be said about the heat........many of us are suffering from this intense, unrelenting heat spell.....and many of you have already been through this during the summer. Enough said! It is summer in the USA.....and global warming has not even begun to really get going.......
Today......the 1st Lady took Rachel to visit with Mike, while I stayed at the stick and brick. I spent most of the day on the trip to Egypt......talking with the travel agent for the booking company that we are working with. I talked with him several times......and also talked with Blue Cross/Blue Shield about medical coverage while we are out of the country. We will be covered, but probably would have to pay the costs ourselves and then file a claim with the paperwork we would return home with to be reimbursed.
Dinner was at Chef Sue's home.....and another very delicious and very, very filling meal. Nothing more need be said......it has already been discussed in this blog before. She is a great chef!!! And....so with a great meal under my belt, you have to know that.....
Life IS Great.....and I hope it is for all of you, also!!
Today......the 1st Lady took Rachel to visit with Mike, while I stayed at the stick and brick. I spent most of the day on the trip to Egypt......talking with the travel agent for the booking company that we are working with. I talked with him several times......and also talked with Blue Cross/Blue Shield about medical coverage while we are out of the country. We will be covered, but probably would have to pay the costs ourselves and then file a claim with the paperwork we would return home with to be reimbursed.
Dinner was at Chef Sue's home.....and another very delicious and very, very filling meal. Nothing more need be said......it has already been discussed in this blog before. She is a great chef!!! And....so with a great meal under my belt, you have to know that.....
Life IS Great.....and I hope it is for all of you, also!!
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
HOT!!!!!!
It was hot when I got out of the horizontal position........and it is still hot now that it is time to return to that horizontal position!!!! Temp today reached: 99 degrees/104 heat index........not a very comfy day.
This morning after having my French Roast coffee...INSIDE.....and then another cup or two......I found myself just not doing much of anything! I spent some time reading the morning newspapers.....and before long....I switched gears and began pulling together the research that I had been doing on tours to Egypt. I emailed the company that I feel the best about.....and later this afternoon I received a call from them.
The 1st Lady had a committee meeting for her Beta Sigma Phi Sorority ......a luncheon meeting down at the city center. All the time she was gone, I continued to pull together some facts, plans, and dollar figures on the trip........and so when she returned, I was ready to answer most of her questions.
I did ask the company which has their American office in New Jersey.......if there was anyway we might be able to spend longer than just a portion of a morning at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. One whole day would not be enough, never mind a couple of hours in the morning!!! He said we would need a private tour in order to do that....and I am going to pursue that statement when I talk with him tomorrow.
We continue to get comments from friends when they learn we are going to Egypt/Jordan, about if we have security fears. NOPE........not at all!!!! With everything that I read on the many message boards online concerning travel in both countries......the security there is tight and well planned out. Here in the US of A we only....ONLY....hear about an incident or two.....and we NEVER hear about the thousands of tourists and travelers from all over the world who are in Egypt each and every day, visiting the ancient sites, crusing down/up the Nile, and enjoying the friendliness of the Egyptian people. The negatives always get in the news, don't they???
We had hoped to have Michael Goldsmith over for dinner this evening.......a dinner that was to feature a dish he has been wanting to sample for a LONG TIME.....several years. However, it was not to be as he had way tooooo much work to complete before tomorrow dawns....and so, once again, we will have to find a compatible date for all of us. Ahhhhh....how difficult that becomes!!!
We rented a video tonight: "Children of Men"..........interesting, but rather depressing to say the least. Not certain if I liked it or not.......??? One of THOSE kind of movies.......
And so.....another day in August has gone by.........and it certainly makes me exceedingly happy that I am retired....and that I don't have to return to school next week!!!!!!!!!!! "HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN!" And....with that in mind, of course.....
Life IS Great.....and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!
This morning after having my French Roast coffee...INSIDE.....and then another cup or two......I found myself just not doing much of anything! I spent some time reading the morning newspapers.....and before long....I switched gears and began pulling together the research that I had been doing on tours to Egypt. I emailed the company that I feel the best about.....and later this afternoon I received a call from them.
The 1st Lady had a committee meeting for her Beta Sigma Phi Sorority ......a luncheon meeting down at the city center. All the time she was gone, I continued to pull together some facts, plans, and dollar figures on the trip........and so when she returned, I was ready to answer most of her questions.
I did ask the company which has their American office in New Jersey.......if there was anyway we might be able to spend longer than just a portion of a morning at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. One whole day would not be enough, never mind a couple of hours in the morning!!! He said we would need a private tour in order to do that....and I am going to pursue that statement when I talk with him tomorrow.
We continue to get comments from friends when they learn we are going to Egypt/Jordan, about if we have security fears. NOPE........not at all!!!! With everything that I read on the many message boards online concerning travel in both countries......the security there is tight and well planned out. Here in the US of A we only....ONLY....hear about an incident or two.....and we NEVER hear about the thousands of tourists and travelers from all over the world who are in Egypt each and every day, visiting the ancient sites, crusing down/up the Nile, and enjoying the friendliness of the Egyptian people. The negatives always get in the news, don't they???
We had hoped to have Michael Goldsmith over for dinner this evening.......a dinner that was to feature a dish he has been wanting to sample for a LONG TIME.....several years. However, it was not to be as he had way tooooo much work to complete before tomorrow dawns....and so, once again, we will have to find a compatible date for all of us. Ahhhhh....how difficult that becomes!!!
We rented a video tonight: "Children of Men"..........interesting, but rather depressing to say the least. Not certain if I liked it or not.......??? One of THOSE kind of movies.......
And so.....another day in August has gone by.........and it certainly makes me exceedingly happy that I am retired....and that I don't have to return to school next week!!!!!!!!!!! "HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN!" And....with that in mind, of course.....
Life IS Great.....and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Monday doings....post #2
As usual the day sped by with terrible speed. After lunch I went to pick up my new glasses......! Well, I KNOW that it takes time to adjust to new glasses....I remember all tooooo well after the last pair I had made, but oh my............these just don't seem to be doing the job!!!!!
For distance, they are great! However......the up close progressive part of the lenses just doesn't seem to be correct. I cannot see to read one line in a book by just moving my eyes from side to side.......it becomes very blurred. And.....it is extremely difficult to use this lappie and not have the words blurred from what I would call a NORMAL distance from my eyes to the monitor screen.
The look is good....at least I think so.......but as I wrote about in a previous post, Function must take priority over Great Looks/Aesthetics!!! Oh yeah.....I sure as hell NEED "Great Looks".....something I have never had, but do I want to be blind as a damn bat just so I might look a small tad better???? I THINK NOT!!!!
I will give them a few days and see if I adjust, and I promise to keep an open mind about this, but if I can't read or see because it is blurred.....well, then I will take them back and make some changes or have another exam! I'll keep you posted on this.......if I can see the screen of the lappie!
Spent an hour with my good friend.....Michael Goldsmith.....over at his home. I brought some Cafe Du Monde coffee and a box of the beignet mixture to be made at home.....just for him and Melissa to enjoy and I took it over to him. He spent quite a bit of time keeping my flowers alive during this horrendous drought and heat here in SE Misery..........and I sooooo appreciate him doing this for me. I know he loves is coffee just as I do......in fact.........hmmmmm.....I am probably the person responsible for him becoming addicted to dark roasted coffee! Our lives have become so intertwined over the years.....from the days when he was a sixth grade student of mine, his great friendship with my oldest son which brought him to our house sooooooo much over their high school years, his incredible talent for musical performance, and then as good friends over the past 20 years since he graduated from high school. Of course, he is F'town because he took the job as my assistant/associate band director prior to my retirement. I often wonder where our lives will find us next...........
And so.........I close this as I am running the water to our butterfly bush which is drooping with the heat/drought. This week is going to be a hot one......so will be watering more of the shrubs and bushes during the week.
Even though I am still tired from yesterday's return trip......
LIFE IS GREAT.....and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!
For distance, they are great! However......the up close progressive part of the lenses just doesn't seem to be correct. I cannot see to read one line in a book by just moving my eyes from side to side.......it becomes very blurred. And.....it is extremely difficult to use this lappie and not have the words blurred from what I would call a NORMAL distance from my eyes to the monitor screen.
The look is good....at least I think so.......but as I wrote about in a previous post, Function must take priority over Great Looks/Aesthetics!!! Oh yeah.....I sure as hell NEED "Great Looks".....something I have never had, but do I want to be blind as a damn bat just so I might look a small tad better???? I THINK NOT!!!!
I will give them a few days and see if I adjust, and I promise to keep an open mind about this, but if I can't read or see because it is blurred.....well, then I will take them back and make some changes or have another exam! I'll keep you posted on this.......if I can see the screen of the lappie!
Spent an hour with my good friend.....Michael Goldsmith.....over at his home. I brought some Cafe Du Monde coffee and a box of the beignet mixture to be made at home.....just for him and Melissa to enjoy and I took it over to him. He spent quite a bit of time keeping my flowers alive during this horrendous drought and heat here in SE Misery..........and I sooooo appreciate him doing this for me. I know he loves is coffee just as I do......in fact.........hmmmmm.....I am probably the person responsible for him becoming addicted to dark roasted coffee! Our lives have become so intertwined over the years.....from the days when he was a sixth grade student of mine, his great friendship with my oldest son which brought him to our house sooooooo much over their high school years, his incredible talent for musical performance, and then as good friends over the past 20 years since he graduated from high school. Of course, he is F'town because he took the job as my assistant/associate band director prior to my retirement. I often wonder where our lives will find us next...........
And so.........I close this as I am running the water to our butterfly bush which is drooping with the heat/drought. This week is going to be a hot one......so will be watering more of the shrubs and bushes during the week.
Even though I am still tired from yesterday's return trip......
LIFE IS GREAT.....and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!
Monday's doings............
Will try to bring things up to date......
The wake-up call came on time: 5:30AM.....UGH!!!! We struggle out of bed and hurried around to get things gathered and taken to the car. Jeremy wanted to be on the road by 6:30AM back to Baton Rouge and so we grabbed some coffee and dropped him at his car in a parking lot.
We were on the road....I-10 EAST.....by 6:30.....and after driving through the devastation that we had seen....going the other way....on Sunday, we were almost at Slidell by the time the 1st Lady informed me that we were going the WRONG direction. SHIT!!!
Why the hell does a person doing something because of "force of habit"????? AND.....just take things for granted that you are doing the RIGHT thing........and then you find out that you are doing something that is totally wrong because of the above????????????? For several years when Dr. Jeni, Darrel, and Meghan lived in Biloxi, MS.....I would run over to the Fr. Quarter and spend a day and evening just enjoying the ambience of the Quarter. And then I would return to Biloxi.......going EAST on I-10!!!! JUST WHAT I WAS DOING YESTERDAY MORNING!!!!
Soooo, just about the time yesterday that I/we realized we not going to catch I-55 at Slidell......the phone rang and it was Jeremy. His car was having great difficulty crossing the western bridges of I-10 WEST going over Lake Ponchetrain(sp?).........and then he called again and it had pulled off the road at LaPlace just where the road heads north to Baton Rouge. He said it seemed "serious", so when we got to Slidell, we took I-12 west and then we took I-55 south at Hammond to come out RIGHT where he was at a local truck stop/gas station. By the time we drove to where he was stopped we had then driven almost 80 extra miles.....the wrong way to Missouri.
Well, he had already called for a tow truck and as soon as it arrived we followed it and his car to an Auto Diagnostic Center about two miles down the road. He HAD to get to Baton Rouge as his candidate was flying around the state yesterday having announced Press Conferences at various cities......and Jeremy was to make certain all went well from his office in Baton Rouge.......trying to control unexpected happenings as the day progressed.
We took him to his house to clean up...and when we got there, the other guys who share this large house with him had taken the key and the house was locked........soooooooooooo: we drive back across Baton Rouge to the office, get the key.....and drive back across Baton Rouge to his house. He gets ready as quick as possible, but then he has a scheduled conference call so he has to take care of that before going to the office. Finally......we deposit him at his office and we get back on the CORRECT highway, I-12 EAST which junctures with I-55 North at Hammond, LA.
MANY, MANY miles more than we had planned to drive on the trip back to F'town!! By the time we arrived back here last night sometime after 10pm......we had driven quite a few miles over 700.....and it is only 597 miles the CORRECT way. Oh well.........everyone's children, no matter how old, still call when we are needed for help.......and that is as it SHOULD BE!!!!!
And soooooo, this morning is like having a hang-over!!!! Still tired and just sort of out of it......and the damn weather here in SE Misery is sooooo hot and humid, but exceedingly dry on the ground. No rain ......it seems like forever.
More later.......
Life is Great......and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!
The wake-up call came on time: 5:30AM.....UGH!!!! We struggle out of bed and hurried around to get things gathered and taken to the car. Jeremy wanted to be on the road by 6:30AM back to Baton Rouge and so we grabbed some coffee and dropped him at his car in a parking lot.
We were on the road....I-10 EAST.....by 6:30.....and after driving through the devastation that we had seen....going the other way....on Sunday, we were almost at Slidell by the time the 1st Lady informed me that we were going the WRONG direction. SHIT!!!
Why the hell does a person doing something because of "force of habit"????? AND.....just take things for granted that you are doing the RIGHT thing........and then you find out that you are doing something that is totally wrong because of the above????????????? For several years when Dr. Jeni, Darrel, and Meghan lived in Biloxi, MS.....I would run over to the Fr. Quarter and spend a day and evening just enjoying the ambience of the Quarter. And then I would return to Biloxi.......going EAST on I-10!!!! JUST WHAT I WAS DOING YESTERDAY MORNING!!!!
Soooo, just about the time yesterday that I/we realized we not going to catch I-55 at Slidell......the phone rang and it was Jeremy. His car was having great difficulty crossing the western bridges of I-10 WEST going over Lake Ponchetrain(sp?).........and then he called again and it had pulled off the road at LaPlace just where the road heads north to Baton Rouge. He said it seemed "serious", so when we got to Slidell, we took I-12 west and then we took I-55 south at Hammond to come out RIGHT where he was at a local truck stop/gas station. By the time we drove to where he was stopped we had then driven almost 80 extra miles.....the wrong way to Missouri.
Well, he had already called for a tow truck and as soon as it arrived we followed it and his car to an Auto Diagnostic Center about two miles down the road. He HAD to get to Baton Rouge as his candidate was flying around the state yesterday having announced Press Conferences at various cities......and Jeremy was to make certain all went well from his office in Baton Rouge.......trying to control unexpected happenings as the day progressed.
We took him to his house to clean up...and when we got there, the other guys who share this large house with him had taken the key and the house was locked........soooooooooooo: we drive back across Baton Rouge to the office, get the key.....and drive back across Baton Rouge to his house. He gets ready as quick as possible, but then he has a scheduled conference call so he has to take care of that before going to the office. Finally......we deposit him at his office and we get back on the CORRECT highway, I-12 EAST which junctures with I-55 North at Hammond, LA.
MANY, MANY miles more than we had planned to drive on the trip back to F'town!! By the time we arrived back here last night sometime after 10pm......we had driven quite a few miles over 700.....and it is only 597 miles the CORRECT way. Oh well.........everyone's children, no matter how old, still call when we are needed for help.......and that is as it SHOULD BE!!!!!
And soooooo, this morning is like having a hang-over!!!! Still tired and just sort of out of it......and the damn weather here in SE Misery is sooooo hot and humid, but exceedingly dry on the ground. No rain ......it seems like forever.
More later.......
Life is Great......and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!
Monday, August 06, 2007
Home......after 700 miles on the road.......more than expected.
Home....and I will post tomorrow......exhausted after 100 miles more than planned. Stay tuned for the details......tomorrow! Oh Yeah...
LIFE IS GREAT!!!!!....and I hope it is for all of you, also!
LIFE IS GREAT!!!!!....and I hope it is for all of you, also!
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Last day here........a disturbing conversation.....
Last day in N.O………crap!!! I will miss this place and the wonderful food that is available!!!
We were up and in the breakfast room for coffee by 9am…..and then Jeremy got up and we decided to go to Café Du Monde for coffee. After a walk of a few short blocks we arrived and saw the LONG….VERY LONG line of people waiting on Sunday morning to have their dark, rich chicory coffee with beignets covered in powered sugar. Hmmmm…….as warm and sticky as was we elected to go another coffee shop and not stand in line in the hot sun for an unknown amount of time. It was a good choice as the coffee was good!!!
We then returned back to the hotel to pick up the car……and off we went to the lower 9th Ward. OMG……..there is no way in hell that I can describe the “war zone” that we visited where the waters from the broken levee had invaded after the hurricane. We drove for miles in this residential area and nothing but deserted houses that were in terrible, terrible condition………I just couldn’t believe the immensity of this devastation from the flood!!!!! No pictures can ever, ever show this accurately……..they just cannot give the complete picture of the blocks and blocks and blocks and streets and everywhere the homes that have been lost.
We went by Fats Domino’s home….and it has been repaired and looks great…….sitting in a sea of flooded out homes and businesses. HORRIBLE!!!!!
Then Jeremy took up out to the eastern entrance to N.O. coming in on Interstate 10 from Slidell……and for miles and miles and miles and miles there was nothing but vacant, devastated houses and businesses along I-10 in the suburbs of N.O.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nothing I have seen on the tellie prepared us for this!!!!! Where are all of these people???????? Of course, we know that they are not here and probably will not return.
This afternoon I visited with the lady in charge of the housekeeping and other employees. She had evacuated when the storm came and her house is not in the affected areas and so had very little damage….just a bit to her roof. One of the employees of the hotel was killed in the flood, along with that individual’s mother and daughter. The people are still fighting the insurance companies to get reimbursements for the damage to their property…….two years ago this month and they still not have had the settlement to their claims. It is a damn shame that we have not risen up and demanded that they receive their claim monies. I am not only ashamed, but very angry that these citizens of our country have, and are, being treated this way by the insurance companies AND our government in Washington.
The lady and I talked for over a half hour……and I was so upset when we parted!!!! THIS has bothered me for the rest of today and this evening……..it has taken away the fun and enjoyment we have had these past few days. I also visited with two young ladies from Korea who are staying here in the hotel…..and they were just unable to comprehend the lack of assistance that is not being given for the thousands and thousands of people who have been forced from their homes…..TWO YEAR AGO!!!
Prior to this upsetting conversation, we had gone for a late brunch to a wonderful little….LITTLE….restaurant called “Petunias”. WOW……and another WOW!!!! We had crepes and Jeremy had their French toast. My crepe was filled with crap meat, shrimp, peppers, onions, and a wonderful sauce….and the entire crepe had been drizzled with a mild cheese. OMG……how incredible this was!!! All of the reviews and evaluations of this little place are accurate. It was recently featured on the “Food Network Channel”………and it certainly lived up to their feature story. The 1st Lady’s crepe was filled with chicken and asparagus and was just as delicious as mine. Jeremy’s French toast was the best I have ever, ever tasted……what more can I say???!!! Again, this little jewel was located just down the our street a few short blocks…..here in the FR. Quarter.
We returned to the hotel and we enjoyed the little pool in the courtyard beside our building. We remained there for a couple of hours just reading and relaxing. This evening we spent a couple of hours at Pat O’Brien’s off of Bourbon Street……in the dual piano bar. Lots of fun….lots of good music…..and great fun. It helped me to forget temporarily the afternoon conversation.
We walked around later this evening and went into a little Cajun Zydeco café and listened to the music which we don’t hear very often in Missouri. Had a small bite to eat…..just ordinary food…..nothing special.
Back to the hotel and we are getting packed up to leave fairly early in the morning. More on our trip later……
Life is Great……and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!
We were up and in the breakfast room for coffee by 9am…..and then Jeremy got up and we decided to go to Café Du Monde for coffee. After a walk of a few short blocks we arrived and saw the LONG….VERY LONG line of people waiting on Sunday morning to have their dark, rich chicory coffee with beignets covered in powered sugar. Hmmmm…….as warm and sticky as was we elected to go another coffee shop and not stand in line in the hot sun for an unknown amount of time. It was a good choice as the coffee was good!!!
We then returned back to the hotel to pick up the car……and off we went to the lower 9th Ward. OMG……..there is no way in hell that I can describe the “war zone” that we visited where the waters from the broken levee had invaded after the hurricane. We drove for miles in this residential area and nothing but deserted houses that were in terrible, terrible condition………I just couldn’t believe the immensity of this devastation from the flood!!!!! No pictures can ever, ever show this accurately……..they just cannot give the complete picture of the blocks and blocks and blocks and streets and everywhere the homes that have been lost.
We went by Fats Domino’s home….and it has been repaired and looks great…….sitting in a sea of flooded out homes and businesses. HORRIBLE!!!!!
Then Jeremy took up out to the eastern entrance to N.O. coming in on Interstate 10 from Slidell……and for miles and miles and miles and miles there was nothing but vacant, devastated houses and businesses along I-10 in the suburbs of N.O.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nothing I have seen on the tellie prepared us for this!!!!! Where are all of these people???????? Of course, we know that they are not here and probably will not return.
This afternoon I visited with the lady in charge of the housekeeping and other employees. She had evacuated when the storm came and her house is not in the affected areas and so had very little damage….just a bit to her roof. One of the employees of the hotel was killed in the flood, along with that individual’s mother and daughter. The people are still fighting the insurance companies to get reimbursements for the damage to their property…….two years ago this month and they still not have had the settlement to their claims. It is a damn shame that we have not risen up and demanded that they receive their claim monies. I am not only ashamed, but very angry that these citizens of our country have, and are, being treated this way by the insurance companies AND our government in Washington.
The lady and I talked for over a half hour……and I was so upset when we parted!!!! THIS has bothered me for the rest of today and this evening……..it has taken away the fun and enjoyment we have had these past few days. I also visited with two young ladies from Korea who are staying here in the hotel…..and they were just unable to comprehend the lack of assistance that is not being given for the thousands and thousands of people who have been forced from their homes…..TWO YEAR AGO!!!
Prior to this upsetting conversation, we had gone for a late brunch to a wonderful little….LITTLE….restaurant called “Petunias”. WOW……and another WOW!!!! We had crepes and Jeremy had their French toast. My crepe was filled with crap meat, shrimp, peppers, onions, and a wonderful sauce….and the entire crepe had been drizzled with a mild cheese. OMG……how incredible this was!!! All of the reviews and evaluations of this little place are accurate. It was recently featured on the “Food Network Channel”………and it certainly lived up to their feature story. The 1st Lady’s crepe was filled with chicken and asparagus and was just as delicious as mine. Jeremy’s French toast was the best I have ever, ever tasted……what more can I say???!!! Again, this little jewel was located just down the our street a few short blocks…..here in the FR. Quarter.
We returned to the hotel and we enjoyed the little pool in the courtyard beside our building. We remained there for a couple of hours just reading and relaxing. This evening we spent a couple of hours at Pat O’Brien’s off of Bourbon Street……in the dual piano bar. Lots of fun….lots of good music…..and great fun. It helped me to forget temporarily the afternoon conversation.
We walked around later this evening and went into a little Cajun Zydeco café and listened to the music which we don’t hear very often in Missouri. Had a small bite to eat…..just ordinary food…..nothing special.
Back to the hotel and we are getting packed up to leave fairly early in the morning. More on our trip later……
Life is Great……and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!
NEW ORLEANS.......WOW!!!!
WHERE did the night go to? The sun was trying to sneak in between the curtains way tooooo early this morning. By 8:30, I decided to get up, shower, and head for the breakfast room for some coffee. It wasn’t long before the 1st Lady and Jeremy joined me…..and the coffee being dark and strong helped to bring me to Life once again.
We decided to do some walking……and gradually walked down to the Shops At Canal Place, stopping at many little art galleries and other shops along the way. There are soooo many little shops that are soooo interesting to visit and look at the many different things they have for sale.
We spent a bit of time in this vertical shopping area…….the usual high end shops were there, but so was Starbucks, so Jeremy and I each bought an iced coffee. REALLY good….and the cool coffee taste was certainly great on such a very hot and humid day as today.
We then walked along the Mississippi River, enjoying what little breeze there was. It was about lunch time so we found ourselves walking to the opposite end of the Quarter to another highly recommended lunch site: “Port of Call”. We had to wait an hour in this tiny little hole in the wall of a bar/grill, BUT…….was it ever worth the wait. Actually we managed to get three seats at the bar before our names were called to be seated and so we really lucked out there.
The place is known for it’s hamburgers. They are served with a huge baked potato with all sorts of things on top……, but the burgers were better than I have ever had…….even better than the one at Gonzales in the RGV of Texas!! They are HUGE……and so the 1st Lady and I shared an order including sharing the large baked potato. Sure beats the usual French fries!!! Really, really worth the long walk up to this little place on Esplanade….on the opposite end of the Quarter from Canal Street.
We returned to the hotel for some rest…..and then the 1st Lady and I spent an hour or more in the pool that is in the courtyard that was close to our little cottage area. Again….a very relaxing way to wind down this very, very hot and muggy afternoon.
Still not being hungry Jeremy went on down to Bourbon Street and then to Pat O’Brien’s multi-bar establishment…….known world-wide for their “Hurricane” drinks which will knock anyone for a loop, literally! The 1st Lady and I joined him around 7pm……and then we grabbed a taxi and went to the Arts Area of N.O……..where the annual White Linen Party was in place on the main street where many, many private art galleries are located.
WELLLLLLL…..there were thousands and thousands of people ALL, or most of them, dressed in total WHITE!!!!! What a sight!!!! Drinks were available and on the end of the four block stretch of this wild artsy party were stages where bands were entertaining the dressed-in-white-linen partygoers!!! We were just amazed at the HUGE throngs of people………but, in doing my people watching we began to realize that the diversity that makes up N.O. was not present here………99.5% of those attending were the “upper class” residents of N.O……..those who had not been affected by the flooding of Katrina!
Interesting…..interesting!!!!
We were there until after 9pm, when we caught a taxi back to the Quarter. The 1st Lady decided to go back to the hotel and rest…..and Jeremy and I strolled around as the crowds became larger and thicker as the evening moved into the later hours. We listened to some traditional jazz at one club and then after some more looking, we found The Bombay Club.
A wonderfully quiet little lounge with a great singer with piano accompaniment and lots of great martinis!!! I also ordered a wonderful crab cake and Jeremy consumed an order of calamari. Both were really prepared well and were just the light “snack” that we needed to end the late evening with.
We returned to the Hotel St. Pierre…..and finished another great day……which makes it quite certain that….
LIFE IS GREAT!!!!!!…….(especially in N.O.), and I hope it is for all of you,
We decided to do some walking……and gradually walked down to the Shops At Canal Place, stopping at many little art galleries and other shops along the way. There are soooo many little shops that are soooo interesting to visit and look at the many different things they have for sale.
We spent a bit of time in this vertical shopping area…….the usual high end shops were there, but so was Starbucks, so Jeremy and I each bought an iced coffee. REALLY good….and the cool coffee taste was certainly great on such a very hot and humid day as today.
We then walked along the Mississippi River, enjoying what little breeze there was. It was about lunch time so we found ourselves walking to the opposite end of the Quarter to another highly recommended lunch site: “Port of Call”. We had to wait an hour in this tiny little hole in the wall of a bar/grill, BUT…….was it ever worth the wait. Actually we managed to get three seats at the bar before our names were called to be seated and so we really lucked out there.
The place is known for it’s hamburgers. They are served with a huge baked potato with all sorts of things on top……, but the burgers were better than I have ever had…….even better than the one at Gonzales in the RGV of Texas!! They are HUGE……and so the 1st Lady and I shared an order including sharing the large baked potato. Sure beats the usual French fries!!! Really, really worth the long walk up to this little place on Esplanade….on the opposite end of the Quarter from Canal Street.
We returned to the hotel for some rest…..and then the 1st Lady and I spent an hour or more in the pool that is in the courtyard that was close to our little cottage area. Again….a very relaxing way to wind down this very, very hot and muggy afternoon.
Still not being hungry Jeremy went on down to Bourbon Street and then to Pat O’Brien’s multi-bar establishment…….known world-wide for their “Hurricane” drinks which will knock anyone for a loop, literally! The 1st Lady and I joined him around 7pm……and then we grabbed a taxi and went to the Arts Area of N.O……..where the annual White Linen Party was in place on the main street where many, many private art galleries are located.
WELLLLLLL…..there were thousands and thousands of people ALL, or most of them, dressed in total WHITE!!!!! What a sight!!!! Drinks were available and on the end of the four block stretch of this wild artsy party were stages where bands were entertaining the dressed-in-white-linen partygoers!!! We were just amazed at the HUGE throngs of people………but, in doing my people watching we began to realize that the diversity that makes up N.O. was not present here………99.5% of those attending were the “upper class” residents of N.O……..those who had not been affected by the flooding of Katrina!
Interesting…..interesting!!!!
We were there until after 9pm, when we caught a taxi back to the Quarter. The 1st Lady decided to go back to the hotel and rest…..and Jeremy and I strolled around as the crowds became larger and thicker as the evening moved into the later hours. We listened to some traditional jazz at one club and then after some more looking, we found The Bombay Club.
A wonderfully quiet little lounge with a great singer with piano accompaniment and lots of great martinis!!! I also ordered a wonderful crab cake and Jeremy consumed an order of calamari. Both were really prepared well and were just the light “snack” that we needed to end the late evening with.
We returned to the Hotel St. Pierre…..and finished another great day……which makes it quite certain that….
LIFE IS GREAT!!!!!!…….(especially in N.O.), and I hope it is for all of you,
Saturday, August 04, 2007
Incredible NEW ORLEANS and the FRENCH QUARTER!!!!!
WOW…..a beautiful day was outside when we awoke and made ourselves get out the bed. Jeremy had left earlier to go to work and after I showered and the 1st Lady and I got ready, we went downstairs to a wonderful deluxe continental breakfast: great waffles that you cook yourself, eggs with cheese wrapped inside, all kinds of pastries, cereals, juices, FRENCH ROAST COFFEE, fresh fruit……..and it was fresh and very good! Some Comfort Suites do all of this and others just give you’re a donut and coffee…….we LUCKED OUT!!!
Returning to the room, we packed and left around nine for New Orleans. Took just over an hour and then when we exited I-10 for the French Quarter, we had to make a couple of extra turns since I missed the first one. Finding the Hotel St. Pierre was simple, but finding a place to park on the street to enter and register was not as easy. Finally, after driving around the blocks a few times one became available next to the hotel. Since it was sooooo early 11AM to check in, I wasn’t sure we could get our room. My goal was to get registered, even if the room was ready and then get parked in the VERY TINY parking area across from the hotel. I reasoned that those leaving the hotel had to check out by 11.…and therefore, we might be able to grab a vacant spot. There are only about 10 spots to squeeze…..errrr,….SQUEEZE…into. I had called earlier this week to confirm about parking there and that is what the receptionist had told me. She WAS correct……but, it all worked out as I had hoped/planned and we got a spot for the car. Otherwise, we would have had to park in a pay garage…..UGH!!!!
Ok…..this little French hotel is soooooo great, sooooo full of atmosphere, and soooo like being in France!!! It is a maze of small little cottages that have been made into hotel rooms with tiny little courtyards between the buildings…….the courtyards have soooo many plants, palms, foliage that they are wonderful. There are two small pools within the courtyard maze……and it is just so cozy!! We LOVE it!!!!! And…..even better, the average price for the three nights is only $70, with a complimentary breakfast each morning. Free wifi is available in the breakfast room, which overlooks one of the pools and so that is great, also. We are only two blocks from Bourbon Street……a great location.
After getting settled in…..we have a two room suite with bath….we ambled towards Bourbon and then wandered around and then on to the French Market. Well, they are re-doing the area and canopies that cover the open stalls…..and there just aren’t as many stalls with vendors there as in the past. I was looking for a certain item…….a type of pen that always buy here…..and there was no one selling them this time. DAMN!!! That was to be my BIG purchase while here.
From there we just window shopped(some VERY interesting things to look at here…..heehee) and then slowly made our way to Café du Monde where I had some coffee and we had three beignets(a French donut smothered in powdered sugar). UMMMM……so damn good!!! Always sooo hot that they can’t be picked up immediately, even though you try, get covered in powered sugar…and burn your fingers! But……they are great. People watching is THE thing to do as you sip the dark roasted coffee that also has chickory in it…….some type of an herb, I believe, that gives it such a unique flavor……the “Nawlin’s” taste!
We continued to wonder around, went to Jackson Square and hung out there as they were preparing to make a part of a post-Katrina movie/documentary about N.O……and it was very chaotic as they tried to get all of the extras ready…..all of the entertainers that are on the streets/squares in N.O. were there, fortune tellers, psychics, musicians, artists were placed in prime spots for the filming, trucks unloading camera equipment, miles of electrical cords, etc., etc. What a job for one scene of this film!!!!
We stopped in at a few art galleries on the way back to the St. Pierre, and then arriving back there, I checked my email, etc., etc. and following that we spent a couple of hours in one of the pools. Wonderful way to get to know some of the other guests here as we sat around with our drinks enjoying this warm ambience of the hotel.
Jeremy is in town for a few political meetings and plans to spend the remainder of the weekend with us. He finally gave us a call around 6:30.…said he had another meeting at another hotel here in town and would be meet us around 8pm or so.
Finally, he called and we met and went to The Gumbo Shop for dinner. OMG…….OMG….OMG!!!!! What a excellent choice we made……..of course, it came highly recommended in several guide books and Zagat’s Restaurant Rating’s book for N.O. Not having really had any REAL gumbo, I asked the server what she recommended? Chicken Andouille Gumbo! Soooo, that is what the 1st Lady and I each ordered. Jeremy ordered the Jambalaya. We began with an order of Grilled Boudin with Creole Mustard…..wonderful, wonderful. And then with the third loaf of French Bread, we received our orders. Absolutely incredible!!! The gumbo had slices of the andouille sausage, small cuts of okra, and small bites of chicken in it with a large scoop of rice in the center of the bowl. There is no way I can recommend this highly enough!!!! Just sooooo damn good. TRY IT!!!!
From there, we walked to Bourbon Street and strolled along people watching and getting out of the way of thousands of people who were all enjoying themselves on Bourbon St. We finally got into the Maison Bourbon Club where a great jazz combo was performing…..and what a great musical group!!!! We were there for over an hour just listening and sipping our drinks…..and losing ourselves in the music. A great place for some great jazz!!!!!
Returning to the St. Pierre, I gave Jeremy a small tour and he was quite impressed by the quaintness and the wonderful ambience this small hotel has. The lighting on the foliage and plants is spectacular!!!!
There is NO place like New Orleans!!!!! I just love this place more and more each time I find myself here……which is NOT often enough. The French Quarter is alive and breathing strong…………it is back from the Katrina disaster!!! Tomorrow we plan to drive through some of the parts of the city….the 9th Ward…..that our wonderful Bush Administration, along with FEMA have not done anything for/to, so to speak. I can speak more to this after we drive around in the devastated areas…….Jeremy has already been there many times and still soooooo damn upset about the lack of anything happening there.
But………even with these areas and the people still not having homes there……..for us, and I find myself getting upset by saying this, but….
Life is GREAT…..and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!!
Returning to the room, we packed and left around nine for New Orleans. Took just over an hour and then when we exited I-10 for the French Quarter, we had to make a couple of extra turns since I missed the first one. Finding the Hotel St. Pierre was simple, but finding a place to park on the street to enter and register was not as easy. Finally, after driving around the blocks a few times one became available next to the hotel. Since it was sooooo early 11AM to check in, I wasn’t sure we could get our room. My goal was to get registered, even if the room was ready and then get parked in the VERY TINY parking area across from the hotel. I reasoned that those leaving the hotel had to check out by 11.…and therefore, we might be able to grab a vacant spot. There are only about 10 spots to squeeze…..errrr,….SQUEEZE…into. I had called earlier this week to confirm about parking there and that is what the receptionist had told me. She WAS correct……but, it all worked out as I had hoped/planned and we got a spot for the car. Otherwise, we would have had to park in a pay garage…..UGH!!!!
Ok…..this little French hotel is soooooo great, sooooo full of atmosphere, and soooo like being in France!!! It is a maze of small little cottages that have been made into hotel rooms with tiny little courtyards between the buildings…….the courtyards have soooo many plants, palms, foliage that they are wonderful. There are two small pools within the courtyard maze……and it is just so cozy!! We LOVE it!!!!! And…..even better, the average price for the three nights is only $70, with a complimentary breakfast each morning. Free wifi is available in the breakfast room, which overlooks one of the pools and so that is great, also. We are only two blocks from Bourbon Street……a great location.
After getting settled in…..we have a two room suite with bath….we ambled towards Bourbon and then wandered around and then on to the French Market. Well, they are re-doing the area and canopies that cover the open stalls…..and there just aren’t as many stalls with vendors there as in the past. I was looking for a certain item…….a type of pen that always buy here…..and there was no one selling them this time. DAMN!!! That was to be my BIG purchase while here.
From there we just window shopped(some VERY interesting things to look at here…..heehee) and then slowly made our way to Café du Monde where I had some coffee and we had three beignets(a French donut smothered in powdered sugar). UMMMM……so damn good!!! Always sooo hot that they can’t be picked up immediately, even though you try, get covered in powered sugar…and burn your fingers! But……they are great. People watching is THE thing to do as you sip the dark roasted coffee that also has chickory in it…….some type of an herb, I believe, that gives it such a unique flavor……the “Nawlin’s” taste!
We continued to wonder around, went to Jackson Square and hung out there as they were preparing to make a part of a post-Katrina movie/documentary about N.O……and it was very chaotic as they tried to get all of the extras ready…..all of the entertainers that are on the streets/squares in N.O. were there, fortune tellers, psychics, musicians, artists were placed in prime spots for the filming, trucks unloading camera equipment, miles of electrical cords, etc., etc. What a job for one scene of this film!!!!
We stopped in at a few art galleries on the way back to the St. Pierre, and then arriving back there, I checked my email, etc., etc. and following that we spent a couple of hours in one of the pools. Wonderful way to get to know some of the other guests here as we sat around with our drinks enjoying this warm ambience of the hotel.
Jeremy is in town for a few political meetings and plans to spend the remainder of the weekend with us. He finally gave us a call around 6:30.…said he had another meeting at another hotel here in town and would be meet us around 8pm or so.
Finally, he called and we met and went to The Gumbo Shop for dinner. OMG…….OMG….OMG!!!!! What a excellent choice we made……..of course, it came highly recommended in several guide books and Zagat’s Restaurant Rating’s book for N.O. Not having really had any REAL gumbo, I asked the server what she recommended? Chicken Andouille Gumbo! Soooo, that is what the 1st Lady and I each ordered. Jeremy ordered the Jambalaya. We began with an order of Grilled Boudin with Creole Mustard…..wonderful, wonderful. And then with the third loaf of French Bread, we received our orders. Absolutely incredible!!! The gumbo had slices of the andouille sausage, small cuts of okra, and small bites of chicken in it with a large scoop of rice in the center of the bowl. There is no way I can recommend this highly enough!!!! Just sooooo damn good. TRY IT!!!!
From there, we walked to Bourbon Street and strolled along people watching and getting out of the way of thousands of people who were all enjoying themselves on Bourbon St. We finally got into the Maison Bourbon Club where a great jazz combo was performing…..and what a great musical group!!!! We were there for over an hour just listening and sipping our drinks…..and losing ourselves in the music. A great place for some great jazz!!!!!
Returning to the St. Pierre, I gave Jeremy a small tour and he was quite impressed by the quaintness and the wonderful ambience this small hotel has. The lighting on the foliage and plants is spectacular!!!!
There is NO place like New Orleans!!!!! I just love this place more and more each time I find myself here……which is NOT often enough. The French Quarter is alive and breathing strong…………it is back from the Katrina disaster!!! Tomorrow we plan to drive through some of the parts of the city….the 9th Ward…..that our wonderful Bush Administration, along with FEMA have not done anything for/to, so to speak. I can speak more to this after we drive around in the devastated areas…….Jeremy has already been there many times and still soooooo damn upset about the lack of anything happening there.
But………even with these areas and the people still not having homes there……..for us, and I find myself getting upset by saying this, but….
Life is GREAT…..and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!!
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