50 Book Challenge


#61~ Marley & Me by John Grogan a book that every dog, no wait make that animal lover should read.

50 Book Challenge

#60 Fly Boys by James Bradley~ this was a hard read. Not because its a history book, but because of the things done in the war....from all sides.

Energy

I can not even come up with the words to describe what it was like to be a part of the pre-game crowd on the floor for the U2/Green Day performance. From standing there at the loading dock leading into the dome, with a thousand people (most teenagers) cheering behind me, to the energy coming inside the Dome. It truly came alive on Monday night. I didn't sense this kind of energy during Mardi Gras, French Quarter Fest, or even Jazz Fest. This is a huge step in the right direction for the city. I don't know how, but it is. I got to see Harry Connick Jr, as he was going through security at the loading dock. He was with one of his daughters and some friends. He smiled and waved at all of us crazies. Archie Manning walked right pass me.


I watched online via rhapsody the performance last night. I did see me, at least twice in the very beginning only. Of course I knew where to look. I don't know if it is possible to save it from that website, I am not that technically savvy. (heh savvy?) So if someone knows how? That would be awesome. I may try to even figure out screen captures from there. I just hope that everyone gets to feel that kind of euphoria at least once in their life in some way, shape or form.

Who Dat? Who Dat?

It is almost game day! One of the biggest football games in the history of New Orleans. Okay it probably IS the biggest game. 13 months after the thing...football is returning to the Super Dome. I had told my roomie that I wasn't planning on going to a Saints game. Really anything to do with the Super Dome. I didn't want to go in. I didn't have this strong of a feeling when I went to the convention center for the first time. It's not that I am not a Saints fan (I am..unless they are playing the Seahawks. Then its Hawks all the way) I just had a sense of sadness. Well anyway....I have overcome that. Tonight I was in the Super Dome. I will be in the Super Dome tomorrow night as well. On the field. As part of the crowd, in front of the stage...in which U2 and Green Day will be playing. 3 songs. I will be on the same side of the stage as the Edge....not right in front...but off to the side. Tonight I was right behind where the brass band stops. (My friend Rob Espino is part of that band, silver Sousaphone) Rebirth is on the other side. I can not even at this point in time express what it was like tonight. Tomorrow? It is going to be way more intense. The energy coming from the crowd in their seats? Its going to be incredible. We don't get to stay for the game. That is fine, we will head to a bar to watch the rest....but for a few short moments? I get to be part of history.

Silence

On my first trip home after the "thing" the only place to have live music that weekend, Oct 15th, was Angeli's. There were only a handful of people, James Andrews was sitting in with the band. At the time it was pretty much the Jazz Vipers. Since coming home, I have gone there several times to hear music and eat some good food. Today, on I received this (via myspace):

Hey everybody-after receiving minor noise complaints, two bars that started doing live music in Oct. after the storm have been told to cease because they do not have a music permit, thus depriving about 25 musicians of jobs. Angeli's on Decatur started having music for the first time 7 nights a week 6 weeks after katrina. Vaughan's in the bywater added three more days to their music schedule. Both have been told to stop immediately, no grace period to get the highly elusive "music permit". There are many other clubs that are in the same situation and face being told to stop having live music.In a city where music is so cherished, one would think the govt. here would do what they could to keep a viable scene happening, especially in the light that so many musicians have left after the storm and have no intention of coming back.So please write your councilperson,mayor,radio stations,tv stations,newpapers to try and reverse this trend. If musicians can't make a living here with all the angst that is part of New Orleans now, a lot of us will go to. Thanks,Washboard Chaz

What in the world? First of all....who in their right mind would complain about live music in New Orleans??? Guess what? If you moved into a neighborhood where there are clubs? Its your own damn fault. These places have been there LONG before you and will be/should be there LONG after you. Get used to it. Music makes up a huge part of New Orleans. Not just the music itself, but the people who play the music. 25 people are now out of jobs on those nights. Some may think big deal...well it is a HUGE deal when this is your profession. This just boggles my mind. Can you imagine NOLA without music? Just take a minute and try to imagine that. It isn't possible to imagine. Please if you can do something to help reverse this? Then do so. It is just a few phone calls...a few letters.....we can change this!!

And if you don't like the live music? What the hell are you doing here???

Just like that

Plans can change. Papa Grows Funk is actually playing a weekend night. I think I will have to go.

So Happy for the Weekend

I don't know about ya'll but I am glad its Friday. I am glad that at 4:00, I don't have to be here anymore for several days. Not that my weekend is chalk full of exciting things. Tonight will probably just be watching several movies from Netflix. My roomie and I keep saying we are going to sit on the balcony and drink wine, so that may happen as well. Tomorrow is a day of wrecking. Although, I really have no clue as to where yet. Sunday is more relaxing and working on my sister's blanket, because I swear I will have it done by Christmas. I mean its already a year late...what is a few more months?? (we won't mention the fact that I still haven't gotten her bday present for this year) Sunday I am also going to a run thru. For what you may ask? Well....let us just say that some fine, fine people will be part of the pre-game crowd on the field in the Superdome for the U2/Greenday concert. We don't have tickets for the game, but we will be there for a short amount of time....look for us in the crowd. I will have on my yellow AWK shirt!! :)

What I have left

This is one of the only places I have pictures left at. Not even close to half. Yeah not quite over this yet.

Another Day Another Dollar

Today is better. Right? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller? Arabi Wrecking Krewe has some fun things coming up. Very fun things. It will be good times. I can't wait. I just need to focus on the positive. It can't be that hard right? After all, like I keep saying, there are worse things that could happen.

Results

My computer was under warranty! YAY. Bad news? I lost every single thing on my computer. All gone. All my pictures? with the exception of some posted on this blog, on myphotoalbum.com, and on other websites? They are gone. Over 500 in the past year. Gone. Music? Gone. Its my own damn fault for not saving them some where, but I was naive enough to think my computer would be fine from whatever killed it. But no. So for the 2nd time in just about a year I have lost things that mean something to me. Really just to me....but they are gone. It really sucks.

My roomie was having a crummy day as well.....it hasn't been a good week so far....so we decided to go to dinner.....we were home to watch Project Runway....which was a repeat of last weeks. Going back on the schedule on the official Project Runway website had us believing that we had missed the finale. I may or may not have cried again. Okay I just felt like it. I don't have it set up on Tivo because we were going to be home.....luckily it was another seasons finale.

I am going to just go to bed now. Because well hell. I don't want the day to get worse. Then again there is tomorrow.

Well Hell

Good news? My computer was/is under warranty. It is now running windows again. The bad news? Everything is gone. Every single picture that I have taken in the last year? gone. music I spent like 2 weeks downloading? gone. Everything. Gone. So for the second time in a year? lost things that are important to me. I may be the only one that cares...but it was my stuff. gone. Its my own damn fault. I should have had a external hard drive to back stuff up on....but its not something i can afford. I am going to go and cry some more now.

Issues

Going bullet style for this one.

• Finally got a hold of the lawyer helping me on my car. You know the one that I bought 11 months ago and still don't have the freakin title too? That now sits in the driveway dead as a doornail? yeah that one...the dealership is not cooperating with the lawyers. Not sure of the full details, something about an innappropriate correspandence from them. They are now trying to obtain the title from the registry office themselves. Which may not matter because the car does not run.
• My laptop died. Kicked the bucket. Failed to boot windows. It may still be under warranty....my dad couldn't remember if he had purchased a 2 year warranty or not. Dell can not seem to answer the simple question of is it under warranty or not. They also do not seem to understand that the laptop was a gift and I don't know all the answers to the 50 million questions they are asking. I found some tests online that I can run that may or may not help. When I finally get to talk to a service tech that is
• For the 3rd day in a row? My normal bus has failed to show up. Making me anywhere from 15-30 minutes late for work, when a bus finally does show. According to the bus driver it is because they don't have enough busses. Yeah? Well then how come there were TWO Tulane busses just sitting there this morning?? In the over half hour I was waiting? I counted 4 Tulane busses. The St. Charles is suppose to run every 15 mins. That isn't happening. They say they have enough drivers....I don't know though. Gets me pissy about the car issues even more. Because then I wouldn't have to deal with this.
• Work is boring me. They need to give me more stuff to do. I get all my work done in about 2 hours. That is spread out throughout the day. boooooorrrrrriiiiiinnnnnggg.

I wish it was PMS talking...but its not. I know things could be a hell of a lot worse. But damn. One day things will actually go right. One day.

Why Mark Mullins will one day rule the world-Part 4

It has been awhile since I did one of these (Feb to be exact.) So on with the show.

• For the Plantium Card Membership
• Helter Skelter. It does rock.
• For actually one day perhaps answering the one serious question I had about Mardi Gras. Just sayin.
• For the undying faith in the Saints
• Not laughing too much at my questions earlier this spring about that thing. you know. do you have that number by the way?
• Lending me that DVD.
• For once keeping your gig page updated. ;) (kinda) (sorta) (will be this afternoon-ish)

Secret to Sleeping

I finally for the first time in about 3 weeks slept the whole night through! I feel like a brand new person. Okay, I am still tired but hey. I slept. I am convinced it is because I got a healthy dose of Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford last night. That show was way better then I was expecting! However, I will make sure to try the drinking a couple glasses of wine later this week to find out if it helps me sleep better. I wasn't even that cranky when the bus didn't show up on time. 2nd morning in a row that it has shown up 30 minutes late. Oh well. So be it. There are way worse things that could happen.

Couch potato

The new TV season is upon us. Here are the shows I am most looking forward too or have seen.

• Celebrity Duets. Have seen one eppie, kinda like it. Who knew Xena Warrior Princess could sing?? (okay I did know that)
• Til Death. Not likin it so much. But I will try it at least one more week
• Studio 60. I am so freakin excited for this. Matthew Perry AND Bradley Whitford?? I think I may have died and gone to TV heaven.
• The Class. Could be good.
• How I met your Mother. I believe this is also new for tonight.
• The Megan Mullally show. I forgot to set the Tivo up for this...it started today. I remember to do it today at some point but not sure if I made it in enough time.
• Lost.

There are more. I know I set the Tivo up for more. Oh like that one...20 good years or whatever its called....wanna see that one. Tonight will be TV viewing pleasure!!

Where did it go?

blogger is being a bitch. either that or its my computer. blogger is saying that this post has been published but when I check my link? its not there. so I am trying it again. not that this is a terribly exciting or important post but its pissing me off.

I realized this weekend that we are half way through Sept. Which means that we are 3-1/2 months until the end of the year. Really where did 2006 go? I feel that since moving here time just flies by. I guess it really does fly when your having fun. Okay so the last half of last year was pretty much blur of emotions, numbness, and general WTF??? I am having a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that a year ago I was hanging out at Dia and Randy's with my fellow evacuee's Leroy and Katja. Mind boggling almost. While in some aspects I feel like it was yesterday, and in others? I feel like it was years ago. So much has happened...so much will continue to happen. It is interesting how many people are bringing up resolutions that they came up with at NYE. Rockstar Mommy is the latest to do it. I went back through my blog and realized that for once? I didn't make resolutions. I just listed the things I was looking forward to....and boy...no wonder I don't remember much of the the year!! ;) I did everything on that list except 2 things....they won't happen as they were possible trips and well...can't afford that now. Its all good. There is plenty of time for that right?

I did experience a fairly uncommon event this weekend. It was called not doing much of anything at all. Really. Friday night the big event was going to the movies (Last Kiss, love it, depressing, funny, wonderful love both Zach Braff and my new movie star crush Michael Weston). Part of that night may or may not have included some spying on our neighbors. They were having a big fancy pants party (remember my neighbor was one of the millions running for mayor and was actually in the top 8 or whatever). They had spots blocked out in front of their house for no parking, however we may or may not have obsessed that the Mayor was coming. We don't know....we went to the movies. Saturday was a good solid day of wrecking. It was a small krewe but we go a TON done. There is of course more to do, as always but we all left feeling like we made some progress. I had planned on going to the Roller Derby that night but couldn't get my ass off the couch. Once I started watching "Lost Boys" all hope was lost. Sunday I was going to go help out with wrecking again...this time it was a NOLA blogger's home, but I couldn't muster the energy. That and I didn't have a ride. I really had to do some stuff around the house also. Like laundry. I know ya'll can just barely contain your excitement over my weekend right? It is rare that I have a quiet weekend at home, and I loved every second of it. Now if I could just sleep through the night? Life would be grand.

Now for the next 3-1/2 months? I have some things planned....not as crazy...but should be good:

• My Boys should be playing at the Leaf in Oct.
• Voodoo Fest
• Fundraising events for Arabi Wrecking Krewe
• Wrecking
• Thanksgiving (which may or may not include going to the race track)
• Roller Derby
• Gretna Heritage Fest
• Phoenix for Christmas

I know there is more but my brain isn't working correctly. I like this whole no resolution thing...much easier to enjoy life.

More NOLAWOOD


Guess what? Jude Law is in town. So is Sean Penn. Kate Winslet. There are more....why you may ask? Cuz they love this town. That and their movie "All the Kings Men" is premiering here tomorrow night. There will be a red carpet and everything. I wanna go. I may have to leave wrecking early tomorrow to go and check out the stars.

Taboo?

I did not realize that this was coming up until Zoot posted about it today. Off of the Google list of past Challenges I have read 8. Not so great. For one reason or another I just haven't read a lot of them. Most likely they haven't held my interest. Maybe they should however. I need to give alot of these books another chance. Re-read the ones that I have already read. There are alot of classics on there.....I have read some of them in High School....in my English Class. I loved them then...I bet I will understand and love them more now. Maybe next year instead of a 50 book challenge I will challenge myself to read 20 "banned" books or something. Or include 20 of them into my reading next year. Seriously...Judy Blume is a challenged author? That I don't get.

Bringing back more traditions

"it's one of the oldest traditions in my lifetime....the open windows, the compressor ticking, the bells.....and swaying down the street at top speed....."~Sheik

It is almost as old as this city. One of the sounds I miss the most when sitting out on the balcony. I miss my favorite driver, she always had the late, late shift. I would catch the streetcar at Carondelete and Canal after a night of music, she would say to everyone getting on "if your going to fall asleep on the way, let me know now where your stop is at!" When I first moved to NOLA, the Streetcar was my transportation. Since the "thing" happened the streetcar has been in limited use. The only place you will see the street car is along the Canal St. line and Riverfront line. They do not expect to have service back on St. Charles Street until late 2007. They are right now working hard on getting a portion of that fixed, to run from Canal to Lee Circle by the end of this year.

One thing that people have gotten used to? And really want back? Are the historic Green Streetcars. They have taken place of the new shiny red ones on the Canal/Riverfront lines. Why? Because the new ones were destroyed. The new ones that had been running for just over 2 years. The old ones? The historic ones? They are fine. The shiny red ones don't have the charms and the qualities like those of the historic cars. You don't get that constant popping, sparks flying, the gentle swaying. In fact unless I am really wrong...the newer ones had AC. That just doesn't seem right on a streetcar. I think, as do some others, that we need to keep the green cars on the Canal line, as well as the St. Charles Line.

We are trying to rebuild the city, this may seem like a small trivial matter to some, but for others these streetcars are part of the heart and soul of the city. I think its time our voices are heard...don't you?

Check this link out for some history.

50 Book Challenge

#59 Dispatches from the Edge-Anderson Cooper.

Wow. Just wow.

Back in the Saddle

4 years ago or so, I weighed alot. I mean ALOT. I think I was at my heaviest 265-285. (I honestly can't remember. Maybe I don't want to remember) I didn't feel good about myself. I mean would you?? With the help of some friends I started walking more, I was keeping a food journal. Once a week I sent the journal to a friend (who is a personal trainer) and she would tell me if I was doing good or bad, give me tips and what not. I made myself put EVERYTHING in that journal. Every day I would walk up Queen Anne Hill. Pretty soon the hike up got easier and easier. I will never forget the day when a co-worker walked up to me and whispered in my ear "girl, you need to get some new clothes, what you are wearing is just HANGING on you" I found that I could fit into smaller sizes. For about 2 years I did really really good. I was watching what I ate. Nothing too serious and never denied myself. I would do good everyday but one. That one day I was allowed to enjoy whatever I wanted. I was taking spin classes. I went to the gym everyday. I didn't see a HUGE change in myself other than fitting into smaller clothes. In my mind? I still looked the same, but I felt so much better. I didn't really notice a change until comparing pictures of myself from years previous. All in all in that 2 year time frame? I pretty much lost between 75-100 lbs. At my lowest? I was 185. Maybe it was 180. Still not the lightest girl on the block but I was happy. Really happy. Then? I lost motivation. I don't know what one thing it was....when it happened....I couldn't tell you. However in the past 2 years, I have put back on about 55 lbs. That isn't good. I am feeling it. I am getting older. I need to take better care of myself. Especially with all the wrecking and what not I do. I have hurt myself twice this summer and I am 99.9% sure my weight was a pretty big factor in that. I have gone walking a few times this summer but nothing serious. That will change. While I can not afford at this time to join a gym again, that doesn't mean I can't go walking. There are other exercises I can do on my own as well. I started up my food journal again. It is from a great website called fitday.com. I made the journal public so if you want to see mine, leave a comment. It will be a way to keep me honest. I have a goal. I want to be back where I was a few years ago. I know I will never be a super skinny girl, that is not my goal. I want to be happy with myself again. So here we go!!!

Movies are Back

Yesterday while walking from the bus stop to work, I saw a red sign that said "crew parking" and an arrow. Then I saw another sign that said "APD" and an arrow pointing. It seemed to leading very close to my work....as in the CAC. Cruising around the ole internet today I stumbled upon what it was. "APD" is the initials for a TV movie being filmed. A Perfect Day (starring: Rob Lowe, Christopher Lloyd) Going on over to IMDB I found out that the plot outline is: A family man and suddenly-successful author encounters a mystic stranger who warns him he has only 40 more days to live. Based on a novel by Richard Paul Evans.

They are all still there today. Now last week, there was a bunch of trailers and what not in the empty parking lot by my house. They will use that as an home base sometimes for films. They park the trailers for makeup, costuming, catering and what not there. It was gone earlier this week. Not sure if it was for the same movie or not.

Jan. will bring Brad Pitt to town to film a movie. I am glad to see that Hollywood hasn't given up on New Orleans. I am now going to figure out how I can try to meet Rob Lowe now.

I just saw a Snowflake

It is so seriously cold in this building that I think I have frostbite. My nose won't stop running, I may as well just attach a kleenex permantly to my nose. If you don't hear from me for a few days, look under a snowdrift in the building.

Sleep? I need no stinkin sleep...

Except I kinda do. On Sunday I was laying collapsed in a chair, staring at the Manning v. Manning game. Not watching...staring. I have no idea how long...I couldn't tell you the score at any given time....nothing. Just a blank. I couldn't focus to read, and it was only like 8:00 at night. I decide to go to bed. Where I just lie there.....now I can't fall asleep. Minutes before I needed toothpicks to prop my eyes open, now? A boulder couldn't keep them closed. It made no sense.

I was talking to one of my roomies on Sunday evening, and she said "damn girl you must be tired you haven't stopped moving all weeke...no wait..all wee...no wait since LAST weekend." She was right. Starting at 3:00 AM Thursday Morning on August 31st until this past Sunday I have been running running running. And it was one of the BEST weeks ever. Really it was. I have realized that I can not live the life of a rock star however and have a day job as well. They really don't go hand in hand at all.

Last night I was determined to get to bed early. I kept dozing off while trying to catch up on Tivo. dozing off while watching Munich (really what possessed me to rent Munich, Syriana and Good Night, Good Luck in one sitting???) So I figure fine, I will go to bed. Same thing again! Couldn't fall asleep once all cozy in my bed. So tonight? Serious house cleaning and then a glass of wine then to bed! That is the plan. If someone could just let my brain know? That would be wonderful.

50 Book Challenge

#58 Eleven on Top by Janet Evanovich

Where were you?

I know I will never forget where I was 5 years ago. I never thought in my lifetime that I would have one of those moments of "do you know exactly where you were when JFK was shot"

My TV turned on, it was my alarm at the time. It turned on in time for the second plane to hit. That is what I woke up too. I just stared at the TV in shock. I called my mom...she hadn't seen any of it yet, she was still asleep. My dad was reading the paper drinking coffee hadn't seen it yet. I tried calling work, to see if we needed to go. We shared the building with the DEA. I lived a few short blocks away, I threw on clothes and ran down there. The CEO was in his office, he hadn't heard about it yet. We immediatly turned on the TV. We were then told by office building security that our building was to be emptied.

I went home and was glued to the TV for about 24 hours. I didn't know anyone lost in the attacks.....I knew people that lived in the City and was worried for them. I only know how this tragedy affected myself...a bystander, I can not imagine the emotions that the people in the city felt. Even today, after going through the "thing" I still can not imagine.

To visit the site now, it is just eerie. I had only been there after the attacks, it seems serene and calm to me.

My thoughts and prayers go out to those who are gone and who lost loved ones today.

Bonerama Live

He wears those Cowboy Boots to drive the Boys Wild


My favorite songs from last night?

• Helter Skelter
• Louie's Perch (I mean how can you NOT love a song where the boys howl?)
• The Ocean (I think it may have been a whole Zepplin melody but I am not positive)
• MRGO (I don't know the real title...it could be that...about the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet)

I loved the rest of the songs.....but those ones really stuck out in my mind. The crowd was small, but so very loud. I guess live recordings bring out the yellers. Which is a good thing. Tonight there will be TON more people. Hopefully I will be selling more merch, not much was sold. However one lady kept coming up and asking which CD the songs they were playing were on. I don't think she understood the concept of "they are recording those songs RIGHT NOW" It amused me to no end. However what amused me the most last night? Is the rumour I heard. Apparently (according to a un-named sousaphone player) that Ron Jeremy was recently attempting to get to bonerama.com for some reason he went to bonerama.net instead. He now loves the band and wants to use one of their songs in one of his "movies" There is no confirmation that this is a true rumour.

There will be some tired puppies tonight. I got to bed a little after 3, got to work 2 hours late. A few of the girls are out wrecking. They wanted to help out with Arabi Wrecking Krewe. The house they are at today is a hard one. Almost 3 layers of plaster and sheetrock. Have fun ya'll I am enjoying the AC today!! :)

Live @ Tipitina's

The gals are on their planes.....excitement is in the air.....I am sure some nerves are buzzing big time for a few people. Tonight at Tipitinas, Bonerama is recording their 3rd live album. Actually they are recording tonight AND tomorrow. So if your in town, come on by! Its only like $10 to get in. I will be selling merch, hanging out and enjoying the glorious new music. Have heard a bit of new stuff. Its pretty killin. If your not in town, my fingers and toes are crossed that the webcast actually works both nights!! With all the equiptment that is at Tips right now? I hope there is no interferance. It was exciting for me yesterday to see the truck parked outside!! Today is going to seem like the longest ever day on record. I mean I have already finished my morning work....read a bunch of blogs and websites....and I have been here 2 hours!! Luckily we are done at 3 today, they are having a little party then to thank everyone for working so hard. So soon after that...3:30 or so I am meeting up with my girls and hanging out!! Now to stop watching the clock so much.

50 Book Challenge

#57-Ten Big Ones by Janet Evanovich.

I am 11 books away from my goal for the year!! Good thing mom let me bring some of her books home with me! :)

My Fav Pic from this weekend



Paul Sanchez of Cowboy Mouth and myself...this was right after the show...he jumped down off the stage and came and gave me a huge hug. Such a sweetie.

Vacation Recap

I don't think I have shared my pics from last week's 2nd line. I will have to do that later today, I also have some from this weekend as well.

On Thursday morning, nice bright and early (as in 3:30 AM) I left my house for the airport. I was expecting security to be a PITA, however the only delay was because security hadn't opened up yet! As it was I was like the 5th person through for the day. The flight left as scheduled at 5:45 AM, I made it to Phoenix by 10:30 AM. Spent the rest of the day running errands with my mom. Later that afternoon we headed out to the new AZ Cardinal stadium. We had a little tailgate action going on, my parents and my sister. I was using my BIL ticket as he had football practice (he is a coach) The stadium is pretty damn nice, the only problem is their sound system really sucks. They definetly need to work on that, it sounded like one of the teachers you heard on Charlie Brown Specials. My parents live super close to the stadium, I think we made it home within 10 minutes!

Friday it was more of running errands with my mom, then hanging out with my sister and her crazy dogs and loud ass birds. Lisa took a small nap while I read a book and watched a movie. We got all glammed up and hit the road. We picked up one of my sister's friends then went to Scottsdale. We met up with my parents and my cousin who I haven't seen in about 3 years. She had driven over from 29 Palms. We were at this little place called The Venue. It used to be called the Cajun Shack or something like that. The venue is set up almost like Tipitina's. However it has storefronts...almost like a boardwalk feel. It was a very cute place. We were there to take in some New Orleans bands...Beatin Path and Cowboy Mouth. I went up front for Beatin Path, and was soon joined by my cousin and my mom. Yes my mom. She stood right up front for all of the CM show...in front of a speaker no less. My cousin had heard CM in the car to the show....she is now a die hard fan. Right before Paul played "Home" he talked about Arabi Wrecking Krewe and how we had worked on his house and also Mike M. of Beatin Path's. He then pointed me out in the audience. The rest of the time Fred and JTG made faces at me. When they were done playing, Paul put down his guitar and jumped off the stage and came right up to me and gave me a HUGE hug and said "where is your family???" He then got to meet everyone. Somehow and I am not sure how...but Mike M had started talking to my dad who was sitting in the back, I think they are now BFF. Mike tried hard to get us all to go to Vegas with them for the next gig. Everyone is now big fans of both CM and Beatin Path.

Saturday was spent getting ready for a BBQ that we had at the house later that night. We all swam in the pool and ate some really good food. My BIL was BBQing in the rain and dark. At least the Pork had finished smoking! It was really nice to see alot of my sister's friends. I think a few of them may even come to Mardi Gras!

Sunday we just chilled at the house by the pool. Watched a few movies and relaxed. Yesterday I flew home. It was a great time. I would be a lot more rested if I could have actually slept through the night. However, if I am not in my bed? I wake up 50 million times every night. Oh well....I am used to functioning on small levels of sleep. I have 2 days to get caught up. I can do it.

50 Book Challenge

#56 To the Nines.-Janet Evanovich Quick plane read.



keep your eyes open for some changes and a move soon!!

50 Book Challenge

#56 To The Nines Janet Evanovich. Again a fast plane read.



keep your eye open for changes...there will be some moving soon!!

50 Book Challenge

#54 The Jester by James Patterson

#55 Visions of Sugar Plums by Janet Evanovich.

50 Book Challenge

#53 Hard Eight- Janet Evanovich Read this book entirely while waiting for planes or on plane to AZ on Thursday. Gotta love fast reads.