Small World

Right after returning home from my 6 week exile two years ago, we had a few people staying with us that needed to get back home and check out their homes. A friend of mine called me, having stayed at the "inn" so to speak and asked if I would mind if a few of his friends stayed with us as well. Well with this friend, you have NO idea who you could be meeting. However I said sure, because after all during that time everyone needed help. I got to talking to one of the people that was going to be staying at the house for a few days, mentioning that we didn't have gas yet so we had no heat, and only cold water but they were more than welcome. The couple said that is totally fine. As we were chatting we discovered that he grew up and went to school in the same area that I went to HS. As it turns out he was in a dixie land band with my sister's HS sweetheart. So in reality since we saw them play a few times, I saw him back in HS playing. He knows a ton of people that I knew back in the day. They are now back living here and are some of my closest friends.

Cut to this past Thursday, Thanksgiving day. I am at the original friend's mothers house for dinner. (She had also stayed at the "inn" while trying to get back home) The was a nice gathering of people including a friend of hers from CA. My parents and I were talking to her and we mentioned having lived in Roseville and that I went to HS there. She says, "Oh my daughters went to school there" We all kind of laugh and then she says "my oldest is 32, how old are you?" "I am 32 as well...what year did your daughter graduate?" "oh she graduated in 93" "so did I!! what is your daughters name?" so she tells me and I do recognize the name but can't really put a face with it. We chat a while longer then she tells me that her oldest was a cheerleader. I said, oh then I did know her since the cheerleaders and the colorguard had a class together. She mentioned her youngest had been in dance and was just two years behind. I had been in dance as well but didn't really know her youngest. I mentioned that we didn't really run in the same circles. I then mentioned that I did a lot of drama in HS as well. Turns out her oldest did as well. That is when it became crystal clear. Turns out that we were in the same drama class, and in one of the plays? I played her mother. HA! What a small world it is, to be sitting in New Orleans and run into someone with connections to my Cali days. And to have it happen twice? Just too fun.

Run Forest Run!

Remember a few months back when I mentioned that Kristen and I were going to participate in the Mardi Gras Marathon? That we had started running/walking in preparation for this event? Notice that I haven't said a word about it since? Yeah. Well the truth is for about a week we did really good. Maybe it was 2 weeks. Things started popping up here and there and we would miss a day. Then the next day. And the next, so on and so forth until here we are today and we haven't done any running or walking in oh I don't know a month and a half? Not even the motivational email hanging on the fridge from a very inspirational person has helped much. Other than make us laugh. Laughing is good for you. In all I am a little disappointed in myself since we started out so good and then plunged off so fast and hard. I would really like to participate however I know that there is no way we could get in the proper condition to do a good job in enough time. We both keep saying that we need to get back out there and workout, myself especially since I am so adamant against buying new clothes unless absolutely necessary (thankfully I still fit in a jean size though I don't know how...considering how much I have eaten lately)

We came to the determination that to get us really working out that we needed an "event" to get us going. This was the second event that we tried for. The first one is also about to roll around, and today I was reminded of it as a call has once again been made extra people to help out. Last year about this time I made mention of it to Kristen and we kind of talked about joining then after Mardi Gras Kristen became gung ho about it. This is coming from someone who doesn't really get into the whole costume thing, and doesn't want to be seen doing anything "indecent" so her students/parents could see. Not that it is indecent. Much. That and it is for the most part anonymous. I was talking to a friend one day and she is part of it. She asked randomly if I could hula hoop. Not so well, though its making a big comeback. They are trying to incorporate it this year into the "Bearded Oysters". A walking krewe that is part of Krewe of Oak and Muses. So there are at least 3 parades they participate in. If you go to the website and see the outfits, you will see why you need to be in reasonably good shape. It looks like a lot of fun and maybe one year I will get to join. This year will not be one of them.

Maybe I don't need an event. I think I just need an extremely good kick in the ass and need someone that will constantly push me.

What the?

So I have noticed something is wrong with my blog and I have no clue how to fix it. Or even if I have to. I don't even know if anyone is seeing my blogs because you have to scroll all the way down. Not that a lot of people even read it to begin with, but still. Does anyone know how to fix that? or is it just on my computer and it really isn't a problem? Bueller? Bueller??

I am actively working on my new blog space. It has been done forever but there are still a few things that need to be done. Once I figure out how to do that? I will make it go live. It is really pretty.

Holiday Blues

So there is a good chance that I will be spending the holidays here in NOLA. Instead of Phoenix with my family. I have just seen my parents and Lisa, Scott and Aubrey were here not to long ago. (I do really want to be part of Aubrey's first Christmas) However it isn't looking so hot right now. I don't have any vacation time and flight prices are insane. I have spent Thanksgiving alone and that was okay, however I don't know how I feel about spending Christmas alone. I do have friends that will be here, however I feel odd intruding on a family holiday. We will just see how it goes. I may actually find a great flight that won't cause me into further debt by making me lose more hours at work. Stranger things have happened right?

Home

I really didn't have anything to say today, so I was very happy when I stumbled upon this lovely little gem of a video. This one is through myspace and is featuring some friends. It was one of the best shows I have been apart of in awhile. This was Paul Sanchez and took place back in Oct during the Wednesday in the Square series. Featured on vocals are Craig Klein (Bonerama) and Shamarr Allen. Also onstage are Ivan Neville, David Torkanowsky, Mary, Sonia Tetlow, Eric Bolivar (Bonerama), Big Sam, Paul Sanchez and a percussionist (I can't remember his name). It was amazing. If for some reason the link doesn't work, try Paul's myspace page. It is under videos.
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.showvids&friendID=75947284&n=75947284&MyToken=8b0bb39b-c5d5-4dce-b8f4-f23d064949a2

Achieving the Holiday Spirit

There was no decorating had at our house yesterday has my housemate had a lot of work to catch up with before today. That is okay, we will do it soon. Today I did bring with me a few Christmas cds to listen to. See I don't listen to Christmas music until Thanksgiving or the day after and cease to listening to it right after Christmas day. That does include my dear Harry Connick Jr. So his two CDs get a LOT of playing time during the holidays. I do admit however to watching the first of his holiday specials at random times. Okay it so I can laugh hysterically at a few of the skits. Mainly "It Must Have Been Ole Santa Claus" and "Wooden Soldiers on Parade." I just looked on You Tube to see if anyone had put those up, I didn't see them but I found a few others that I thought I would share to kind of get everyone in the Holiday spirit.
(for some reason the embedded code isn't copying and pasting correctly. )

Mad TV Clip:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ooKaCbMvaZ0

Happy Elf
http://youtube.com/watch?v=CTFTdo_Da-g

When My Heart Finds Christmas
http://youtube.com/watch?v=VkLYrSRh8J4

What helps you get in the spirit?

Rainy Day

I am exhausted today. Last night I of course hung out at the Leaf and had a lot of fun with some of the friends I have made there. I wasn't going to stay that late and was in fact getting ready to leave when a friend pretty much told me that under no condition was I leaving, and he bought me a drink. I am not one to turn down a free drink! I really didn't sleep well however and think I got about 3 hours of sleep. I just got home from watching the Saints win, and am getting ready to enjoy the rest of the rainy afternoon curled up watching movies. We had planned on putting up the Christmas decorations, however that is just going to have to wait.

Quiet Weekend

Yesterday after waking early we went down to Camilla Grill for a lovely brunch. I love that place. I am happy that did reopen. We then went to the D-Day Museum, aka the WWII museum. My dad is a HUGE history buff and he has passed some of that on to me. So I treated him and my mom to a day out there. It really was a day out there. We went through the main part of the museum and it took us 4 hours. We didn't even make it to the new exhibit of When Baseball went to War. That is alright, I am sure that we missed a lot as it is and we will need to go back again. We then headed out to the Quarter to do some last minute shopping for my mom. After a fantastic dinner at a friends house (anyone ever heard of Hangover Soup?) we made it home. Kristen and I did venture out the Leaf for about an hour.

Now here I sit. I am debating on what I am going to do today. Maybe some shopping, maybe some decorating for Christmas. Maybe just watch TV. My parents left already so there is no entertaining to go. :) Have a great weekend!

Luck

Yesterday we headed out the the Fairgrounds to take in a NOLA tradition, which is the horse races. It was a rather cool day with the wind whipping around making it feel even cooler. We got there in time to watch one race, then we went inside to warm up a bit. We started to peruse the race form and since I was the only one to have been before I tried to share my knowledge. Which wasn't that much. I tried to pick the three horses that would win 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. Which I believe is an Exacta but I don't really know. I did this without betting any money. I had two of the horses right, at least in the top three. They didn't come in the order I had thought. I decided to risk $5 and put $2 on a horse to win and $3 to place on another. The horse I picked to win came in 2nd. My parents and I decided to stay for one more race and they decided to take a risk. I was showing my mom had to use the machine and I picked a horse pretty much picked really fast and mainly on the name of the horse. I put $2 on this horse to win. Both my parents were on seperate machines making their bet. They ended up picking the same horse to win and same horse to place. Of course the one they picked to place was the one that I picked to win. As we sat down to watch the race, my mom decided that she needed to place a bet on Stormin' Eddie since my grandfather (her stepdad) is named Ed. The race started and my horse was in the middle of the pack. So I started routing for Stormin' Eddie as did my mom. He ended in coming in 2nd. Who one? Rome is Burning. The horse that I picked to win. I was so concerned with Stormin' Eddie I didn't even pay attention as to who won until my dad pointed it out. I walked away with $23. My parents got $7 each for picking that horse to place. We were all pretty happy with that. As we were walking out? Who did we pass going in? We passed the following gentlemen...I stopped and looked back and said, "I think that is Drew Brees, no he isn't that small..." my dad said "yeah he is" We didn't know until this morning that yes in fact it was Drew Brees, the New Orleans Saints Quarterback.

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving and gets to spend a lot of time with family and friends. Don't eat too much turkey or watch too much football! I will probably do that for everyone!

What am I thankful for this year?

• My family
• My friends
• My cat
• My health
• the fact there was no hurricanes
• lots of good times
  

Need a Crane to lift Me up

I don't think I have eaten so much food ever in my LIFE. Okay I am sure I have, but so far this week? It has been ALOT. And I do mean ALOT. See it always happens when someone visits. You go out to eat, and down here the portions are so large it is like you are feeding a football team, instead of just yourself. So far this week we have eaten at Praline Connection (had the gumbo was okay nothing special) Po'Boy Fest (duck po'boy from Crabby Jacks. AWESOME) Carrollton Station (Station burger it was yummy) Jacque Imo's (Fried Chicken unbelievable and did you know that Abita made a Jackamo's IPA? It wasn't so good) and last night? We went to Ruth Chris Steakhouse. I had gotten a GC there last Christmas and then on my Birthday I got another one. So we decided to go and have a fancy smachy meal. Let me tell you it was wonderful. They started with the bread, we got a very tasty wine, and had a calamari appie that was a bit salty but not bad. The salad was divine. The dinner itself? oh my word. I had the Venison and you really could tell I had ANY at all. My dad had the Sea Bass, my mom the Ribeye. My Venison had a blackberry sauce to die for. I also had a side of Fresh Asparagus and my mom had mushrooms. A whole lot of it is sitting in my fridge right now.

All that food I just listed? yeah most of that is just dinners. I try not to eat much during the day right now! We still have 3 more dinners to go here!! Two of them being Thanksgiving dinners!! I am going to have to buy all new clothes soon...bigger ones.

Evidence


A few pictures from this past Friday night at the Bonerama gig. This was all obviously from the end of the night. John the owner of R-n-B sometimes has a little bit of fun...he was talking about the band then decided to sing and strip a little.
Steve wasn't playin along and this is what he had to say during that "number"

Then it got crazy during my song "Funky Liza" as Matt decided to give the trombone a try.
And Craig took over Sousaphone duties.
Matt did the vocals as well.

I love the spontaneous things that happen at the gigs. You just never know what is going to happen!

Weekend Wrap Up

As I was showering this morning I was amazed thinking that the Bonerama gig was just this past Friday night....and not 2 weeks ago. That is what it felt like. Yes a lot went on this weekend, however I have done more and not been so disoriented. Must be the fact that my parents are in town.

Friday night after work I took the streetcar down to the Columns Hotel. The Columns is a beautiful old house right in the Garden District. There we were able to enjoy the sounds of New Orleans Helsinki Connection in the front room. If you have never been to the Colums, they have this HUGE front porch in which they have a ton of tables out there, there is a front room with tables as well and music nightly. They have a very nice bar with a loungy feel to it. Apparently this is the place to have "cocktails". Someone I was with called it a meatmarket and I have to agree. After the gig was done, I had to run home as I only had an hour before my ride came to pick me up for I quickly organized the merch and changed clothes then was out the door for some Bonerama fun. As I said on Saturday there were several new songs. I am waiting to get the names of them all. I know one of them is "Bite Your Bitch" I must confess when I saw that title on the set list it was abbreviated and all it said was "Bitch" I thought it was about me. ;) The set included more instrument swapping and hula hooping. There was also a small strip tease. My pictures are sitting at Walgreens as I type. I will do my best to pick them up tonight. A nightcap at the Maple Leaf was had, then it was home to sleep.

I woke up early on Saturday unable to convince my body to go back to sleep. I had only 5 hours of sleep in me. After a yummy breakfast at Oak Street Cafe, I caught a few shows on Tivo then decided to tackle the house. I finally got my pictures hung up in my room and the house sparkling just in time to listen to the Grizzlies beat the Bobcats. About an hour after they were suppose to arrive, my parents finally made it to my house. We got them settled in and then out the door we went. We had dinner down on Frenchmen Street at the Praline Connection, then walked down to see John Boutte, Todd Duke and Leroy Jones playing at d.b.a. It was of course PACKED on the stage side of the bar, so we sat on the side. Ran into a few friends and had nice conversations. We were eventually able to snag a window seat on the stage side for the second set. It wasn't long after that set ended that we had to leave, as I was again selling merchandise that night, this time it was for 101 Runners. My parents did make it through the first band and the first set of 101 before they decided to call it a night. At that point they were up for close to 24 hours. After they left, I found a hard time staying awake, so I was sent out to do some dancing, that really woke me up. At one point in the front bar area it was just myself, Jason and Travis the two bartenders. Everyone else was squeezed in front of the stage dancing. I have never seen that before.

Yesterday after snoozing in a bit, we went out to the Po'Boy fest. Let me tell you that the organizers and myself didn't expect as many people as there was. It was PACKED!! It took us forever to make it from my house down to the the Maple Leaf. It is only 2 blocks away! I do think that they really needed to break up the food stalls just a bit. They put all of them on one block, along with the beer garden with the Saints game playing. It was a huge bottle neck. We did enjoy the sounds coming from both stages, a duck po'boy with slaw and ran into a lot of people. Ashley and I decided to tell my parents that this happened every Sunday in our neighborhood. It was close to the truth! The night ended fairly early, in fact I do believe I was in bed by 9 last night! Crazy but true.

I am looking forward to my parents getting to meet even more of my friends as the week goes on.

Setting Up

Right now I can hear the stages being set up for the Po Boy Festival!! I can't wait. It is going to be a long fun day!

I was proud of my parents they made it at the Maple Leaf through the first set of the 2nd band. They are extremly tired now, but they did it!

Oh and the GRIZZLIES WON!! Ended the regular season at 11-0. We will find out later who they play in the first round of the playoffs.

Wowzer

Last night included like 5 new songs by Bonerama. As I was perusing the set list before the gig started I may have yelled out "I don't know these songs!! Mark, I don't KNOW these songs" He smiled and said "Neither do I"

They are amazing new songs. Those boys are getting ready for a new CD I think. :)

Friday!

Looking back on the week, it seems like it as and endless one. We have in fact made it to Friday. I am feeling about 100 better than I was at the beganning of the week and just in time because the insanity is going to start up again.

I am going to see one of my favorite groups this evening for a cocktail hour, New Orleans Helsinki Connection is playing for the first time in awhile. The group is a combination of musicians from New Orleans and Helsinki. Hence the name. Two of my dear friends are in the band and I haven't seen them in over a month! That is unheard of for us. Granted they were overseas for a bit, but still.

After their gig ends, I have to run home and gather the merchandise then it is off to Rock-n-Bowl for an evening with Bonerama. Someone is hoping to start early, so we shall see if that actually transpires.

Tomorrow morning I need to get up early and finish cleaning up the house, doing laundry and hang up some more pictures in my room. Then I need to find a place to watch the University of Montana Grizzlies take on the Montana State Bobcats. GO GRIZ!! My parents will also arrive on this day. Saturday night I am selling merch for 101 Runners at the Maple Leaf.

Sunday there is a festival happening pretty much right outside my door. It will be a grand time with food and several great bands playing. Not to mention watching the Saints game!! Then before I know it? It will be Thanksgiving day!

Why Mark Mullins Will One Day Rule the World~Part 7

Once again it has been far to long since the last installment. I do believe that is because there was a dry spell for Mr. Mullins. But he is back in tip top form now. Without further ado, more for my enjoyment than yours:

• Keeping me updated on football scores when I am unable to watch the game.
• The Guessing Game. Those were highly amusing guesses.
• Mulebone music. Was just listening to some and that is some damn good music.
• 1000 Orange flyers
• Richard Simmons
• For whatever he said in this picture that made us laugh:

Good Friends, Good Things

I thought I would take a second to say congratulations to a few friends, they have some pretty big things that they are looking forward to in 2008.


Since Marisa has finally "let it out of the bag" to everyone and made it public, I can finally put up a goofy picture of her and tell her how happy I am for her. See come May 1st-ish Marisa will become a mommy. That baby is going to be a very lucky baby. I still can't believe you are having a kid, but I know you are going to do GREAT!!
Then there is Ms. Kaney. The one who is responsible for the Bonerama madness in my life. Could be responsible for a few more things but we won't get into that. ;) Kristy has done and got herself engaged. As I kept saying to her last night on the phone, "You're getting MARRIED!" she would try to continue on and then "You're getting MARRIED!" this went on for awhile. I knew it was gonna happen....I had a feeling. I am so very happy for you and I can't wait for the Bachlorette party....it is gonna be wild.

I have another friend who just had a baby this past Sunday and I want to tell her congrats and I hope she is snuggling with that little girl at home. I can't wait to see pics of her and to hear how everyone is doing.

Now that is out of the way....holy crap my friends are getting married and having babies....that means one of two things...I am either old or they are growning up and I am not. ;)

Cannot rejoice

This weekend was a big weekend for some. For the first time since the thing, the streetcar has started running with passengers, from Canal to Napoleon. I know a lot of people are happy about this. A piece of the city coming back. I am not among those people. And neither are the people who depend on the streetcar/busses as our only transportation. Don't get me wrong, I am estatic that the streetcar is back. I love the sound of it coming down the road, the pops and the hisses. The swaying back and forth. I just don't think they should have opened it back up until they were 100% ready. They weren't ready for yesterday. This is posted on the NOLA RTA website even this morning.

Advisories
Service on the St. Charles Streetcar Line to Napoleon Avenue Scheduled to Begin November 11The New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA) is pleased to announce that beginning Sunday, November 11, 2007, before the sun rises, the historic Perley Thomas streetcars will once again proudly traverse St. Charles Avenue, from the Central Business District, through the picturesque Garden District to Napoleon Avenue.New Orleanians, as well as visitors, have waited over two years for the return of the St. Charles Streetcar to the uptown area. The renewed excitement and anticipation has been visible on the smiling faces of motorists and pedestrians as they glimpsed test runs of the streetcars along the Avenue during the weeks of October. An opening ceremony for the heralded route is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, November 10 at 2:00 p.m. Passengers will ride free from the end of the ceremony until 5:00 p.m. RTA has been providing bus service to the St. Charles route in its entirety since a few weeks after Hurricane Katrina and the subsequent floodwaters that devastated most of the City. Four surviving buses were assigned to the St. Charles route on Sunday, October 2, 2005 when RTA returned to the streets of New Orleans. Eight buses operated on the route on weekdays, until part of the St. Charles streetcar line reopened for service on Tuesday, December 19, 2006 at noon. With the opening of the St. Charles/ Lee Circle Streetcar Loop to Howard Avenue, seven buses have provided service to residents and visitors alike. Four buses will remain on the line after the opening. Five streetcars are assigned to the route with additional ones available if needed.The first streetcar will leave St. Charles and Common at 5:27 a.m. After the Lee Circle/Howard Avenue stop, car stops along the line are located on the neutral ground and are all labeled.

The part that is highlighted up there, "Four buses will remain on the line after the opening" is misleading. Those busses will only pick up up at Napoleon. They do NOT run the full line (even though the schedule up still has them doing just that) There was only FOUR streetcars running yesterday. Let me explain a bit about my evening commute home. I left work early to finally go to the doctors. I left at 1:30. It is a 5 min walk to the bus/streetcar stop. The streetcar did not show until 2:15. I waited just over a half hour for the streetcar. It wasn't running on time, how do I know this for sure? Because a second car was right behind the first. Yeah, they don't run like that. The steetcar was PACKED with tourists and commuters alike. I mean PACKED. For someone not feeling well, it is not ideal. I finally make it to the doctors, am in her office for no more than 15 mins. Sent on my way with a prescription for antibotics. I wait another 40 mins at the streetcar stop on Louisiana. I finally give up and start walking to Napoleon so I can at least catch the bus the rest of the way home. When I am two blocks from Napoleon, the streetcar finally comes chugging by. I then end up waiting for the bus for over 10 more minutes. I finally got to my house after 4:30. Normally when I leave work? Waiting for the bus and the ride home? It is 40 minutes. I waited an hour and 10 minutes for the transportation to even SHOW up. I really feel that they should have waited until the entire streetcar line was ready to run before starting up. I think that they should now have MORE streetcars running than what they do, or in fact have that bus run all the way so the commuters can take that for awhile. Anything. A few people at the bus stop had miss the Kenner local because of all the waiting going on. That bus runs every 45 mins or so...so if you just miss it? You have a long wait ahead. It is just disorganized and a huge cluster. I will now be having to take the bus/streetcar to work as well for the next week or so. I will be having to leave on the first bus, around 5 or so, just so I can make sure I am at work by 6:30.

Over Did It?

I think I may have over done it this weekend. I was finally feeling better, howeverI don't think I rested as much as I should have. Friday after work, I got home and watched a weeks worth of Days of Our Lives. I then watched some of the Wizard of Oz since that was on. I then headed on over to the Maple Leaf and had a fun time hanging out with some people there. It was a very quiet night, not many people out at all. The band was from Austin, TX and were actually quite good. Jeff and I enjoyed a cup of heaven (trailmix) and conversation. It is nice when your friends with the people that work at the bar.

Saturday I woke up later than I normally would even after a night of going out. I watched a few movies that I had on Tivo. It was then out to Target and Old Navy to try to find some jeans. But after seeing the prices and sizes, I left depressed and empty handed. I do not have any jeans to wear right now. They are all worn out. I do have two pairs that don't fit right now. However they are starting to fit....before I couldn't even pull them up all the way. Now I can. I then went over to the Perrine's for an evening of babysitting. Which consisted of playing fairies, playing trains, tickle fests, and rocking to sleep. It is time consuming with a 7 month old and a 4 year old! I then did go to the Maple Leaf and enjoyed some Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes. The band sounded awesome, and when I left...they were still going strong. I later found out that they didn't finish until 3:40 AM or so.

Yesterday morning I met up with some of the people I had spent almost all weekend with at the Maple Leaf for the Saints game. While it was a sucky ass game, I still had a lot of fun because some of the people were just cracking me up with their game commentary. I usually sit at one end of the bar and watch, but yesterday I moved to the other end. I think I will from now on stay at the new end. It was a lot more fun. I then went home and watched a really great old movie, "Asphalt Jungle". While watching that, I got a call from the Perrine's asking if I could go over since there was a last minute gig. So I spent the rest of the evening again playing fairies, rocking a fussy baby and playing cars. Both boys were not wanting to go to sleep at all...in fact the oldest was still awake when his parents got home!

Last evening as I was watching the boys, my throat started to hurt. It has since moved on to include my ear and my head. I am feeling exhuasted and achy once again. So it looks as though I am going to have to finally go to the doctor to find out what this is that ails me. I am also really looking forward to crawling into my bed and sleeping.

Following the Leader...the Leader...the Leader

Both Pam and Lisa have done this and I am following suit....I am too tired to think of an actual subject, plus it's almost time to head out for the Saints game!!

1. What kind of soap is in your bathtub right now? Dial.
2. Do you have any watermelon in your refrigerator? No but there is a Mango
3. What would you change about your living room? A slipcover that we could figure out easily.
4. Are the dishes in your dishwasher clean or dirty? I believe they are clean...wait no I think dirty, Kristen was cleaning earlier.
5. What is in your fridge? Chicken, Gumbo, Fruit, Candy, Soy Milk, wraps, condiments, cheese, ham slices, salad, bread pudding, some beef noodle thing, white wine, Abita Amber, Bud light,
7. What is on top of your refrigerator? Two baskets filled with either coffee/tea/hot chocolate mixes or oils and vinegars, behind that some pans and bowls that don't fit into the cupboards
8. What color or design is on your shower curtain? It is a cream color with a flower design on it
9. How many plants are in your home? The cats like to eat plants so we keep them outside.
10. Is your bed made right now? No I pretty much just got up...and it is calling to me to crawl back in, but I must shower....
11. Comet or Soft Scrub? Soft Scrub.
12. Is your closet organized? Almost, my dresser is in my closet and the top of that needs to be organized.
13. Can you describe your flashlight? We have like 5....which one?? We have dinky little ones and super powerful ones
14. Do you drink out of glass or plastic more at home? Plastic....gotta put those Mardi Gras cups to good use.
15. Do you have iced tea made in a pitcher right now? No.
16. If you have garage, is it cluttered? Don't have a garage.
17. Curtains or blinds? We have one curtain and that is on one of the LR windows, the rest is blinds
18. How many pillows do you sleep with? 5
19. Do you sleep with any lights on at night? Nope, but I fall asleep with the TV on.
20. How often do you vacuum? All hardwood floors/tile. No vacuuming here.
21. Standard toothbrush or electric? I actually have both, but the electric needs batteries
22. What color is your toothbrush? White? I have no clue
23. Do you have welcome mat on your front porch? Yes.
24. What is in your oven right now? I hope nothing...
25. Is there anything under your bed? picture boxes, a few games and tub with random items. It is my only storage space in my room
26. Chore you hate the most? Laundry
27. What retro items are in your home? uhhhh I don't think we have retro items in the house.
28. Do you have separate room you use an an office? No
29. How many mirrors are in your home? 3
30. Do you have any hidden emergency money around your home? No.
31. What color are your walls? Landlord has it painted I guess I would call it a creamy tan color....with white trim.
32. What does your home smell like right now? Coffee
33. Favorite candle scent? Pumpkins, Maple, Sugar Cookies
34. What kind of pickles are in your refrigerator right now?Bread and Butter
35. Ever been on your roof? NO
36. Do you own a stereo? Nope
37. How many TV’s do you have? 2
38. How many phones? 1
39. Do you have a housekeeper? No.
40. What style do you decorate in? I don't have a style
41. Do you like solid colors in furniture or prints? Solids
42. Is there a smoke detector in your home? Yes, several

A Mini Countdown

In one week my parents will be coming to town. It will be their first visit since Katrina. My parents first came here almost 3 years ago about the same time. They made it the day of the Bonerama's cd release party for Live in New York. My mom came back later in December for a conference.

I think they are really looking forward to the trip and so am I. There is a lot going on next weekend, they should be able to experience another Bonerama show, there is a Po' Boy Festival on my street on Sunday. Saints football. Some friends will be home from overseas. Thanksgiving. A day at the horse races. They are taking some tours. I am taking my dad to the D-Day Museum. It will be a good time.

I am worried that my bed maybe too uncomfortable for them.....it bothered Lisa when they visited....Maybe they will have to sleep in Kristen's bed and Kristen can sleep in mine and I will of course still be on the couch.

I am excited for my parents to see the city as she recovers. They know that there is still a struggle going on, but they know it is slowly making it since I have been here. They know how much NOLA means to me.

Random Playlist

I don't really have much to say right now. I saw this on on Lisa's blog and decided to keep it in the back of my head for such an occasion. Obviously Lisa and I get along, because her playlist sounds like something that may come out on mine....so here we go:
(the idea is to put your ipod on shuffle and say something about each song and if/what meaning it has for you)

• Get You In- Better Than Ezra, Live at the House of Blues New Orleans, this song is a great song. I think the most important thing about this song was the fact that a group of us were there at the show. It was one year before I moved to NOLA and a bunch of us met up for Satchmo Fest. It was a great trip to NOLA.
• Thank Goodness-Cast of Wicked I read the book way before I even knew they were making a Broadway show out of it. I really enjoyed the book, and couldn't WAIT to see the show. I had the cast recording way before I even saw the show, in fact I think I bought it the day it came out. I still haven't seen the show on Broadway, however I did see a touring production of it and it was AMAZING. I saw it in Dallas when I was displaced for a few weeks.
• Wail & Ride-Grayson Capps, Wail & Ride Grayson has an amazing writing quality. His songs are nitty gritty balls to the wall kind of songs. I was introduced to Grayson's music by a dear friend. This song is one of my favs on the album.
• Carnival Time-Bo Dillis & The Wild Magnolias, Mardi Gras in New Orleans I originally bought this CD because it had the track "Funky Liza" on it. I fell in love with the CD when I got it. I would constantly listen to it sitting in my cubicle in Seattle and daydream about the day I would finally get to NOLA and hear the man who originally did this song, Al "Carnival Time" Johnson perform this song. It wasn't that long after moving here that I got to see him. Wild Magnolias are a kick ass Mardi Gras Indian group.
• Hot Sausage Rag-Mark Braud, Hot Sausage Rag This is a swinging tune. It just rings of Trad Jazz. Mark Braud is one of the sweetest men you will meet. I remember heading out to a gig with Craig Klein, out to a winery. I was sitting in the suburban with the rest of the band, and Mark turns to me and says "Wait do you live here now?? I mean I know I saw you all durning Jazz Fest and French Quarter Fest, but I didn't realize you moved here, that is so cool" Yeah, it is cool and what is even better is knowing a great trumpet player.
• Elijah Rocks-Harry Connick Jr., Oh My Nola I love me some Harry. Everyone knows that. This is my least favorite song on this album. I don't like how it turned out. Dare I say "over produced?" No...no we won't say that. (okay yeah I will but I want Tracey not kick my ass. I think I can out run him though)
• 90.7-New Orleans Nightcrawlers, Live at Old Point awww. 90.7 aka WWOZ. I love that the Nightcrawlers did an ode to one of the best independent radio stations around. It is a kickin song.
• Blues for Ben-Bonerama, Live at Old Point I remember the first time I heard this song live. It was in New York City. At Tobacco Road. First time seeing the Bones live. First time meeting a lot of people in person for the first time. I stood up front with a stupid grin on my face just letting the music wash over me. It may have been trombone spit as well.....you never forget your first time getting Boned.
• Whoopin Blues-Rob Espino, Rob Espino y sus Amigo de Nueva Orleans I love this song. Everyone seems to record it, you will hear it at almost every second line, every festival. It is just a feel good song. Rob does a great version of it. How could he not with the line up of musicians that he has playing on the album??
• Foot of Canal Street-Paul Sanchez, Live @ d.b.a. I don't think I could have picked a better song to finish on. I swear I didn't. I kept hoping that a Paul Sanchez song would play because his music means so much to me, and then this version came on. This was the first live show he played solo since leaving Cowboy Mouth. Craig sat in on the gig and it was one of the best musical moments I have had in NOLA. This song was an anthem for me before moving to NOLA and once again while in TX for 6 weeks. (heh as I am writing this, another song is just starting from the same night and Paul is talking about Craig and Mark. Mark played several songs and wrote several songs for Paul's CD "Between Friends" and now "There's no Bothering you" is on. I love my shuffle)

End to Gumbo Parties

The following article just made me sad. Granted this show isn't the best show around. Ironically the writing wasn't that great. It didn't always show the town in the best light, but then again what televised cop show brings their city in good light. It is about fighting crime. I have enjoyed it however. Not just for the new phrases such as Gumbo Party (really...before K-Ville, there wasn't a Gumbo Party to be had...now there is) Watching the chase scenes go from the French Quarter to the Westbank and into the CBD in seconds flat. Of course only those from here or really familiar with the area would know this, yet it was a constant amusement for us. The stories did bring into focus issues going on down here in NOLA. I had a friend working on the show.

I just realized I am talking like the show is cancelled. It isn't, however it isn't looking good with the writer's strike going on. I realize why the writer's are on strike. It makes sense, and they do deserve to make more money. However it really sucks that because of this strike that the show could potentially go under. There was an article recently saying that the show was going to have to pick up more viewers with the next few eppies in order to survive, so it was struggling, but now it won't get those few extra ones because of the strike.

This show has brought in work for locals. Including a friend. It is the main source of income for them right now. The people working on the show from out of state, both crew and talent? They are spending their money here, for food, for drink, for homes, for clothes. It has brought in so much income of the city. It has been a small healing for some. I just hope those that come from out of state continue to come and find work even in the show gets cancelled. I know a few will.

So to those of K-Ville....for the time being? I will just say thank you.

K'Ville shuts down; show's future in doubt
Posted by Dave Walker November 08, 2007 10:54AM
Categories: Breaking News
The Fox network's cop show "K-Ville" will conclude local filming in New Orleans today, cutting short its planned 13-episode shoot by several weeks while cutting loose its large local crew.
The series, starring Anthony Anderson and Cole Hauser as NOPD officers working in post-Katrina New Orleans, was a victim of the Writers Guild of America strike, which started Monday. Fox released a post-strike spring schedule Wednesday and "K-Ville" isn't on it.
Today's filming of a scene on a submerged house set on Bayou St. John was the last scheduled location shoot on the series' 11th episode. Five episodes have aired. Original episodes are scheduled to air the next three Mondays at 8 p.m. on WVUE-Channel 8, but the remaining episodes are so far unscheduled.
The show, which had suffered scathing reviews by critics and lukewarm-at-best national ratings, is not officially canceled. Its main NOPD station-house set, built in a Harahan warehouse, will not be immediately disassembled.
But an extended strike - and word out of Hollywood is that a quick settlement between the WGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers is unlikely - probably means that this week's shooting is the show's last. "If this strike were to settle in 2-3 months, I think we'd come back and finish our order and have a good shot at a back nine," said Kelly Manners, the show's supervising producer. "If this strike draws out past January, I think quite possibly it's the death of the show."
"Back nine" is Hollywood lingo for the second half of a show's typical season of 22 episodes. A last-minute race to finish one more script before the strike by the show's Los Angeles-based writing staff, which would have given the "K-Ville" company about 10 more days of work, fell short. The show is produced by 20th Century Fox Television.
"The script came in and the studio made the call, and they thought it just wasn't quite there," said Manners, whose production credits include "Buffy and Vampire Slayer" and "Nash Bridges" and extend as far back as the 1970s drama "Wonder Woman." "If we'd had another couple of days . . . we'd probably be shooting one more.
"It's really heartbreaking, because I think we're making some of our best shows, and I think it would continue to get better."

Must see

I saw this over on Lisa's blog and need to share.....I also realized that we entered November with no real fanfare.....we made it through Hurricane season people!! Remember that when you watch.

100 Things about Me


I have of course seen this on so many other blogs and I really don't think I have done this....so in case there are new readers or whatever, here it goes. It is completly scattered and will bounce around...be prepared.


1. With the help of my Brother-in-law, I made the trek from Seattle, WA to my now home in New Orleans, LA.


2. I had no job nor a place to live when I moved.


3. I have lived in Seattle WA, New Orleans LA, Missoula MT, and Roseville CA. (oh yeah and 6 weeks in Dallas, TX)


4. I am the local merchandise gal for Bonerama and Porter Batiste Stoltz. I have also helped out Paul Sanchez, Leroy Jones, New Orleans Helsinki Connection, Sonia Tetlow, Shamarr Allen and Ivan Neville.


5. I have a niece named Aubrey and she is beautiful.


6. My parents and sister live in AZ, the rest of our family is mainly in MT.


7. I have some Native American blood in me as well as French and Irish.


8. I really really want to have a family of my own one day.


9. I used to dream of living in NYC and being on/working on Broadway.


10. My degree is in Drama.


11. I stage managed many a show in Seattle.


12. I wanted to be an actress for a long time.


13. I used to be on the color guard, as in flag team.


14. My parents were surprised I even went to college, since I wasn't a big fan of school.


15. I love to hear live music.


16. I dance like a white person, I have no rhythm.


17. I used to be a glam rocker. Poison, Cinderella and Def Leppard used to be my favorite bands.


18. I used to get in perfume fights with my best friend in the drugstores.


19. Wil Wheaton was my first celeb crush.


20. I have met or had brief encounters with the following Celebs: Davy Jones, Harry Connick Jr, Matthew McConaughey, Sarah Jessica Parker, Al Gore, Tipper Gore, Ed McMahon, Tony Clifton, Sean Payton, Patricia Clarkson, Craig Ferguson, Alex Rodriguez, and Jamie Lee Curtis ( I yelled at her on the phone) Plus a bunch of people from Broadway.


21. I love celeb gossip. I used to have a subscription to People. It is addicting.


22. I can be overly dramatic.


23. I love Harry Connick Jr and his big band.


24. I am good friends now with some former members of said big band.


25. Contrary to popular belief I did not move to NOLA to be closer to Harry Connick Jr.


26. My first trip to NOLA was to see a Harry Connick Jr. concert during Jazz Fest.


27. I worked at an major advertising agency in Seattle. Hence the yelling at Jamie Lee Curtis.


28. I now work as a Purchasing Agent for a gear manufacturing company.


29. I hang out a lot at a local bar called The Maple Leaf


30. I could eat buffalo wings for breakfast, lunch and dinner.


31. I could actually eat chicken 24/7. I love it.


32. I almost sliced the tip of my thumb off when I was younger. Opening a can of orange juice.


33. I gave myself a black eye and a scar next to my eye with my flag pole. In front of the football team.

34. I had surgery on my left eye, my retina decided to detach. Something that usually happens when you are a lot older.

35. I didn't miss a Montana Grizzly Basketball game for 4 years.


36. I flew from Missoula, MT to West Virginia to see Montana lose to Marshall in the 1-AA football national championship game.

37. I can re-read books over and over again. Same with movies.

38. At the age of 32 I can safely say I have never been in love.

39. My favorite holiday is Mardi Gras

40. Night Blooming Jasmine is one of the best scents in the world.

41. I spent just about a year gutting homes once I returned to New Orleans.

42. Am not that fond of moldy smelly things.

43. Am one of the lucky ones, I only had 5 ft of water at my house, and it was in the basement. Yes a basement. Unfortunetly for me, most of my childhood, HS and College memontos were stored down there. But I am still lucky.

44. I have worked at 2 professional theaters. Sacramento Music Circus and Seattle Children's Theatre.

45. I change my hair color alot. Nothing really drastic. Usually just add reds. Currently right now however it is black.

46. I used to have braces.

47. I wear glasses and am hoping to get contacts again in the new year.

48. I am allergic to bees

49. My favorite movie of all time is "The Pirate Movie"

50. My favorite TV shows are : "How I Met Your Mother" "Lost" "Scrubs" "M*A*S*H" "Friends" "Will and Grace" "Law and Order"

51. I don't mind country music.

52. I get along just great with my parents.

53. I have 6 tattoos.

54. I hope to get at least one more.

55. I used to be deathly afraid of needles. I have gotten over that.

56. My favorite colors are reds and purples.

57. I have a cat named Lil Liza Jane.

58. I drink coffee during the week days, very rarely on the weekends.

59. I once lost 70+ lbs. I have since put most of it back on.

60. I tried to ski a few times. Both water and snow. I am no good at it.

61. I played softball in jr. high. continued on both in co-ed teams in Montana and Washington.

62. I tried playing both the flute and the guitar. I am too impatient.

63. I have been working on a blanket for my sister for over 2 years now.

64. I have the yarn for Aubrey's blanket, she may get it when she graduates from High School.

65. My sister and some friends once put on a play in our back yard. "Little Red Riding Hood" We invited the whole neighborhood.

66. I have been called: Spacey, Tracy, Casey, Daisy, Ricki (as in Lake), Tasty, Stace, Devil Girl,Koozbagontas.

67. My best friend Vanessa and I went a year without talking. We don't really remember why. We were in HS.

68. I drove from Roseville, CA to Missoula, MT on my own.

69. I have a big brother (that I never wanted) who is kinda cool. No not my brother in law.

70. I have a short attention span.

71. I will one day have my other blog up and running.

72. I almost got to go to Japan on an exchange program....it fell through.

73. I never skipped a day in High School.

74. I love Mariner's Baseball and it is one of the few things I miss about Seattle.

75. I have been to 25 different states in the US.

76. I have only gone to Mexico and Canada. Never abroad.

77. I really would love to go to Eygpt and Greece.

78. I have worked 10 different "real jobs" since turning 16.

79. I really only liked one of them.

80. I am terrified of lighting.

81. I almost didn't leave for Katrina.

82. I was in the Brownies and Girl Scouts.

83. We were at a day camp in Missoula, MT when the mountain we were on caught on fire. Almost a summer occurance to this day.

84. I don't like bugs.

85. I have an awful temper.

86. I have been bitten by a horse and one took me for a wild ride down a hillside...yet I still like them.

87. I am fascinated by Marilyn Monroe and James Dean.

88. I can quote almost all the lines from "Princess Bride"

89. I have met some of the best people in the world since moving to NOLA.

90. I have 5 Aunts from my mom's side and they have all had girls, with the exception of 2 boys.

91. I have 4 Uncles and 2 Aunts from my dad's side of the family. There are countless cousins.

92. I haven't seen my mom's real father in ages. I don't know if he is alive or dead. I don't reall care. My grandmother remarried a wonderful man and he is my grandfather.

93. I haven't been back to Montana in almost 7 years. Way over due on a trip back.

94. I used to love to drink diet coke by the gallons. Lately I have lost my taste for it.

95. I have watched "Days of Our Lives" since I was probably about 5 years old.

96. I have been through a hurricane, a tornado and a few earthquakes.

97. I am attempting to read some of the classics that "are must reads" It isn't going very well.

98. I love watching professional football. Saints and Seahawks.

99. I like to cook, but don't do it often as it is hard to cook for one person.

100. I was a non-paid extra in a movie.

Weekend

Being sick over a weekend is no fun. I felt the need to be responsible and grown up and to take care of my body this weekend. I did joke at one point that maybe the alchol could kill the germs that had invaded my body. However gaining the energy to move beyond the couch or my bed was just too much for me. Friday night, I was asleep by 7:30 PM. Seriously. I was then up early on Saturday but I didn't do much beyond watch a few movies and doze in and out. I did get the energy to shower and we did head out to the Mirloton (sp) festival for a few hours. We caught Big Sam and Morning 40 Federation. Several of my friends commented on the lack of enthusiusm that I had for the evening. I couldn't help it. I was enjoying the music and company, but once again the energy was lacking. It was nice to hang out with some people outside their normal work atmosphere. After that ended a few of us went to dinner at a Mexican resturant and then I was asleep by 9 PM on the couch. I tried to watch "Legally Blonde the Musical" that had been tivo'd off of MTV but I just couldnt' get into it. Sunday I was up at the crack of dawn....meaning 6 AM and did make it down to the Maple Leaf to watch the Saints win. They all knew I was off there as well....I only drank coke. Of course that meant last night I crashed at 8:00....such a thrilling weekend of trying to rest, getting it, and still feeling drained beyond belief. The crap that I am coughing up isn't pleasant either. The good thing is I am not waking myself up coughing at night. Yet.

Frustration Galore

For the past year I have had, shall we call issues with my computer. I have documented this in the past. The lastest, my co-worker reinstalled my operating system. It lasted a day. I have talked to several people including someone whose 2nd job is computer repair. I need a new hard drive. I had been talking to Dell since I had a 2 year warranty. (yes this computer is just over 2 years old and I have had a problem with it pretty much since I had it) Everytime I would talk to someone at Dell, I would get different answers, different people. They would send me the wrong discs that they would swear would "fix it" Thus wasting more time. They kept sending things to the address the computer was orginally sent to (pre katrina) even THOUGH I would tell them not to, and would give them the correct address. Again wasting more time. Guess what? My warranty ran out....and the computer is not fixed. I emailed their customer service to tell them how sucky their customer service was. Someone emailed me back and I fell for their "I am so sorry, I will take full ownership of this, please let me know what the computer is doing we will fix this" I have since heard from TWO different people (not the person taking full ownership) and they are telling me "sorry but you're not under warranty any more" I have never been so furious with a major corporation, I can't believe that they have their heads up their asses. Once again, please don't come here and preach about Apple and how much better Macs are. I have had problems with them in the past as well.

This Side of a Saturday Morning.

I don't think I have been this awake on a Saturday in a long time. Last night I took some tylenol PM around 6:30. I woke up around midnight, then again at 6:30 then again at 7:30. I remember thinking at 6:30 AM that some people are probably just leaving the Maple Leaf. Some people are probably still sitting at Snake and Jakes. That is just the kind of town NOLA is. It never ends. The sleep seems to have done me some good. I am feeling a whole lot better, still not 100% but better. So far it seems to be an okay morning, a kitty curled up next to me and catching up on Tivo (Days of Our Lives thank you very much). The only sad part was the pancakes I made. When we moved we got rid of the griddle because it was so old. The pan I used didn't work so hot, well it was hot almost too hot. Then I discovered that someone used the last of my syrup and didn't tell me. Oh well. If that is all that goes wrong today? I think I can handle the day. I am going to go take a little nap now......finishing up laundry and then finally hang up pictures in my room.

In a Fog

I feel as though I am letting everyone down so far this month (day 2 of NaBloPoMo) however my brain feels as though it may explode at any moment. I am here at work because my boss is on vacation and I was told to make sure I made it today because of that. Yeah. So until my brain releases, enjoy:


part of our front yard
other side of the side walk. it is hard to tell what kind of plant this is, it has thorns and is not a rose bush and some of the stalks are like 12 feet high. (one touches the phone line) it has little red "flowers" not quite flower like.....but closest thing that I can tell...

Happy November

Holy Cow people, how did we get to November? Seriously....wasn't it just the summer? I guess time flies by when you are having fun. It is National Blog Posting Month so that means you will see a post a day here from me. Unfortunetly a cold has settled around my brain that is causing me to be completly unfocused and scattered. Instead of words, a few pictures from this past Friday's Voo Doo Fest, the set is of course Bonerama.


Boys takin the stage:

Craig, Matt (with the Sousaphone) and Mark Mark and the Bonerama Mamas.