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December 7th, 2009
s00j
 | 09:16 pm - Lady Vagabond checks in, from zero elevation
Seeing New Orleans with the help of someone who once was a cab driver in this fair city is a unique pleasure.
Beautiful Nevenah, our sainted local shepherdess since the ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif) trainsofheaven journey this past March, let me tag along with her all day last Saturday, to errands and food and gallery parties--she also hustled as much as she could on behalf of the Traveling Fates concert Sunday night, for which we will always love her. It turns out to be well nigh impossible to give a sampler CD to French Market vendors without getting a gift in return, I learned. Today, in similar relaxed fashion, we ran around for fun with ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) omnisti and exeyel in the back seat, first sneaking peeks at Storyland and the sculpture garden in City Park--both of which were closed for setup of Celebration of the Oaks this evening (we could've gone, but the lines were already daunting an hour before they opened). Got several fun photos of Santa Claws the giant alligator and omnisti looking, as hsifyppah says, scenic, with the help of climbable sculpture.
But before that, there was sweet sleep at the home of Ann and Frank, and this morning there was a nearly two-hour visit at Creole Gardens with the immortal Miss Annie, our Heart of New Orleans, which included breakfast. Miss Annie has not changed, and she says we haven't either. She also says that all of her trainsofheaven babies need to hurry back to visit her soon.
After City Park, we drove across Bayou St. John and wondered about the "LOVE DUCKS" signs we saw in more than one yard--is it a commandment on behalf of the Bayou ducks, or is it a description, as in Love Shack?--on our way to Parkway for lunch. People. Just go there and eat. Make it part of your trip. If you are of the carnivorous persuasion, their roast beef po'boy is not a sammich (no room for excess letters in that thang, believe me) to miss. I myself had the catfish po'boy, but I had a need. Some of you have been around me when the catfish craving hits. Meanwhile, I got to enjoy my compatriots' roast beef po'boy and sweet potato fries experience from across the table. Palpable food contact-high, I'm telling you.
Thus fed, we drove over to Audubon Park to visit Nevenah's favorite oak tree, which has surely been around longer than you, me, and many of our predecessors put together. It's massive, and it's beautiful, with a Faery metropolis of bumpy and wonderful roots that start about as high up from the ground as I am tall. This creature has been alive for a very long time. omnisti communed with it for a short while, letting his inner-Redlance show a bit, and I felt more than a little like a Mad Hatter without a tea party, shaded by this great soul--photos posted soon.
We walked the lovely brick Labyrinth in the park, just a short distance away from the Oak, which was created as a tribute and is intended to be a meditative, soul-finding opportunity for all who survived Katrina and came back home again. I discovered that while I am accustomed to walking candlelight labyrinths with wide lanes, I tend to get lost in brick ones that are set into the ground--omnisti kept me from losing my mind more than once by guiding me back to the path and by delivering kisses when I made it back to the exit.
After a quick visit with Meredyth at Great Artists Collective on Royal St., where Nevenah and many other amazing artists showcase their work--earrings, pottery, paintings, prints, glass plates and goblets, silk garments, origami, more--and where they go for downtime during Mardi Gras, Nevenah took us out through the Quarter (I was pleased to see that the Historic French Market Inn, where I stayed back in 1999 on my first visit to NOLA, is still up and running) and home on a parallel route to the St. Charles streetcar. "Since you didn't get a chance to take the streetcar on this visit, I thought I'd take you home on the streetcar route. This way you can still see all the pretty stuff." The beautiful homes of New Orleans, large and small, have a glint and a grandeur to them like those of no other town I've seen, and I got to feast my eyes on a good many of them this afternoon and this evening. There's a historic sassiness present in every building, be it Creole cottage or columned estate, something you can feel in the air of you let yourself do so. I'm catching the Christmas spirit at last, thanks to all the light displays and tasteful garlands we saw on all of our drives today and tonight--Nevenah's house is itself decked out in gentle blue lights that I love, and all the streetcars sport pine garlands and red bows.
Randomly, we had to crawl the last few blocks back to Nevenah's behind a film crew that was actively filming a taxi scene--this was after navigating around people who were gawking at another scene being filmed in the Quarter, off Royal street. Someday we'll find out what movie it's all for, I hope.
My greatest joys on this visit have been supporting local restaurants (Lucy's Fair Grinds, Lebanon's Cafe, Parkway) and artists, and in seeing this town, a place I dreamed of seeing for years and that I've loved since my first visit, thriving in its indomitable way, despite the spray-painted X-marks, dates, and codes that remain on so many buildings, stuck there from the end of August 2005 when there was, as a colleague of mine sang at a conference once, "thirteen feet o'water in the lower nine."
Oh, and in case there's anyone left who doesn't know and who'd like to, the Saints are 12-0. We were made joyfully aware of that fact yesterday en route to the gig by many mobs--not angry, but ecstatic--of Saints fans who were dancing in the streets. Because that's what New Orleans does, at every opportunity: dance. in. the. streets. Come hell and/or high water and anything else you throw at it.
The show on Sunday at the Backyard Ballroom, by the way, was small and very pleasant. Getting 12 people on game day when 90% of town is still recovering from a Saints-gasm is something that I count as an achievement--thank you to my sweet ladies who drove from Cutoff and Baton Rouge to sit in the front row! I love you! (can haz gwynraven !!)
I am sad to call this Traveling Fates chapter done, but I am happy to call it a massive victory for all of us. gingerdoss and Bekah should be safely home in Texas soon by now. I shed my tears on the curb after they headed west last night, and perhaps I always will be a bit of a wreck when we part ways. Trust me when I say that we will hit the road together again in 2010. The seeds are already sprouting.
My girls have a house concert in Houston next weekend, and they'll ring in the new year at the grand opening of Opal Fly's Feel-good Lounge in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Support them at their shows when you can, and buy their tasty holiday album while it's available.
I have tons of New Orleans links to share, to galleries and restaurants and just good people. All of them will be useful for the next New Orleans trip that any of us need to plan, and a good many of them will be handy for holiday shopping any minute now as well.
1. Meredyth, Nevenah, Marrus, Nevada Barr (yes, the author, who's a kickass painter as well!), and others at the Great Artists Collective.
2. Nevenah also has an Etsy shop.
3. I've not yet met the mistress of Bayou Salvage, but I've fallen in love with her key cuffs. I squee'd audibly on Saturday when I found her work in a local gallery (Magazine Metals, 2036 Magazine Street).
4. Parkway Bakery and Tavern. FOOD on the Bayou.
5. Coop's Place, home of roast duck quesadillas and really fine jambalaya.
6. Oscar's Originals of New Orleans, maker of adorable artsy pins--and is Oscar ever a sweetheart. Look for him at the French Market.
7. Stay at Creole Gardens on Prytania if ever you can. You won't regret it, and your belly won't regret Miss Annie's breakfast.
8. On Carrollton, stop in for nummy Mediterranean/Middle Eastern food at Lebanon's Cafe.
9. The Backyard Ballroom is a remarkable space, run by a remarkable woman. Keep and eye on their site for news about local independent film showings, theater, and Burlesque. We want them to stick around so that we can come back to perform there again.
Rivers are magical beasts to me, the kind I've always grown up near. They have their own folklore, their own ju-ju. New Orleans is, and always will be, the final repository of all the ju-ju collected in the mightiest, spookiest river that I know. This is but one of the many, many reasons I love visiting and am grateful to have spent the last five days here, resting, exploring, singing, and playing.
I'm a child of the land of the Wild River Gods,
Where the Joker was never a throw-away card.
And in the morning, I'm headed home, north through Jackson and Vicksburg and across I-20 to old trustworthy US Hwy 65, to my own town, my own folklore, my own river, my own Mama, my own bed.
Peace, Yall. Thus sayeth my favorite French Quarter balcony Christmas decoration to date.
Current Location: NOLA
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/opiummmm/foxies/happy.gif) happy
Current Music: all manner of magical things swimmin' around in the air of this town
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slantiness
 | 02:26 pm - Today has had a very specific theme.
Today's theme is: "Oh crap!!! but then it's ok anyway"
1) Literally woken up via Oblio knocking over my cup of water ( thought was empty) onto all my wires and stuff I had plugged in, resulting in sleep addled angelica going "GLAAR!!" (w/ more swearing) and unplugging everything in about three seconds. All OK.
2) Realizing that I just unplugged my alarms...which I had thought would have gone off by now, but apparently not...but then I realize that I will not oversleep anyway.
3) Off to the dentist! OH CRAP is this where I get off the freeway? I have never driven to the dentist! AAAAAH I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO GET THERE SPRINGFIELD WHAAAT wait. I bet I could turn right here! Woah! There it is! Wow, that was...surprisingly easy.
4) AND I AM ON TIME! YES! DENTIST HERE I COME! ...wait, my appointment was at ten? Not nine? Whaaat? Oh crap. Crap a duck. What's that? You can get me in early? OH! Good! Well, that works out better for everyone!!
5) OW WHY THE CRAP DOES THIS TEETH CLEANING HURT SO MUCH! I must have been terrible at brushing and flossing this year and they're going to yell at me waaaaah I am bleeeddiiiiiing to death! What? It's not my fault? It's just that I haven't been in for a long time? You're telling me I actually did a good job brushing? Oh, well, okay then. Cool. Thanks.
6) ARGH WHERE AM I SUPPOSED TO PARK?! I got out of the dentist so late I'm going to be SO LATE to my critique and I had to park so far away!!!!! SORRY I'M SO LATE--what's that? You're running 45 minutes behind schedule so I'm plenty early? Oh, well...great. That's good.
7) HOLY CRAP THAT PRESENTATION GOT OUT LATE and I just remembered that I AM PARKED IN A TWO HOUR ZONE and I've been here for more than THREE HOURS! SHiiiiiiii---no ticket? Good, good, I wasn't worried.
Anyway, now I'm home, but I have work at 5 so I guess I'll be heading out again soon.
I do have time to do some laundry and perhaps...perhaps some work for my art class? Maybe? Probably not, to be honest. Maybe tonight I will do that, though.
Let's see how I'm doing on STUFF ANGELICA STILL HAS TO DO THIS TERM!
TWO choir concerts this weekend
meeting with my group tomorrow to assemble our video (aaaaghhh...)
dentist appointment
The showing/critique of the video(right after dentist...?)
Two Finals I have to go to and REALLY study for...I mean, really. Legitimately.
One "take it online" Final which I can take virtually any time on Tuesday, however I want...
One more paper (which is really a part of one of those finals, except that I can write it at home)
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v258/prozzakianfreak/JonPinchme.jpg) cheerful
Current Music: Sound of...washing machine? I think?
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December 6th, 2009
slantiness
| 11:47 pm - O So Happy
I had my gospel concert tonight
It was greaaaat so so so fun
Such a fun choir concert, really a good time.
Very enjoyable. Oddly so, even.
And I felt that members of the audience were having a really wonderful good time and their spirits were feeling very good.
And afterwards my boy texted me and told me that he had come to watch it and we sang real good!
I had SUSPECTED he might have come!!!! I was soooo happy to know that
I want to know everything he thought about it, I'm so glad he was there.
He knew that'd make me happy
He is so so so sick but he is so good an' loves me
I can hardly wait til he gets unsick
Anyway then me and gospel singers all went to red robin and ate food
I ate a bunch of fooooood :D and took pictures and talked to people and laughed and felt smiley
And felt in the back of my mind in love
Yaaaaaaaaaay now i am exhausted
Tomorrow
dentist
art critique (show video!! Zach is taking care of this)
Free time (?????????? DO WHAT? STUDY?? DINK AROUND??)
Work!
-Unrelated, Greta told me she's pretty sure i have two espresso shifts next term.
Exxxxcellent.
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v258/prozzakianfreak/Jon-Beautiful.jpg) loved
Current Music: say you love me...please believe me when you do that makes two
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December 5th, 2009
slantiness
 | 03:59 pm - Seriously, you guys.
This is one of the best things I've ever seen, which is why I took a photo of it.
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v258/prozzakianfreak/puzzle.jpg) teehee
Current Music: Granger Danger (in my head)
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slantiness
| 11:53 pm - Wow.
That was terrible.
I mean the paper I just wrote.
I turned it in at almost the last possible minute...I can't BELIEVE how much I procrastinated.
It barely met the word limit, I don't feel that it answered the questions well, One of the sources is sort of sketchy (in that I didn't actually use anything from it, I just looked at it)...
It was just a really ridiculous event. I dunno what I did wrong. I just got weird paper anxiety about it. Like, the kind I haven't gotten in about two years. WEIRD.
And now it's over, and I can ALMOST relax except that I actually can't relax because I know I still have so much to do! (not right now)
Classes maybe be over, but here is what's still coming up:
TWO choir concerts this weekend
A meeting with my group tomorrow to assemble our video (aaaaghhh...)
dentist appointment
The showing/critique of the video(right after dentist...?)
Two Finals I have to go to and REALLY study for...I mean, really. Legitimately.
One "take it online" Final which I can take virtually any time on Tuesday, however I want...
One more paper (which is really a part of one of those finals, except that I can write it at home)
And four more work shifts.
Once I get through all of that stuff, it will be 8 pm on Thursday, and THEN I can let out my sigh of relief.
But right now I still have some tension in my back, so...I guess I'm going to...get ready for bed?
EDIT: How could I forget????
Just add on to all that other stuff "play nurse maid for boyfriend with strepp throat" because that's a BIG one.
(I think SJ Tucker will appreciate the most why it makes me terrified to do that right now, but there is nobody else who can take care of him. Just me)
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v258/prozzakianfreak/computer.jpg) Sort of accomplished
Current Music: ??? in my head
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s00j
 | 12:31 am - Go Gentle, Good Sir.
So now the Brothers are reunited at the oft mentioned Great Gig in the Sky...I know I'm crossing genres there, but I bet you'll forgive me.
Please, those of you with the energy to go out and sing in the streets tonight, or tomorrow night, in honor of Liam Clancy, with a pint in your hand if possible....do so. And don't slip and fall if the streets are wet, as they are here in New Orleans tonight. Sing out.
Current Location: New Orleans
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/opiummmm/foxies/thoughtful.gif) pensive
Current Music: (internal) the parting glass
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December 4th, 2009
slantiness
| 12:40 am - Can this even be CALLED procrastinating?
ANOTHER LJ POST SORRY GUYS GOOD THING YOU LOVE ME AM I RIGHT?
I am still...procrastinating...like mad.
I don't even know what's happening.
...and I'm pretty sure the essay is, like, written.
It certainly LOOKS written to me.
I'm not sure what I'm waiting for now!!!
...there's something...I was going to...do.
Or needed to...look for. My other journal entry?
In case I need to turn it in?
OH YEAH and I need to write a haiku.
I can do that.
I was freaking MADE TO WRITE HAIKUS.
They pumped haikus into us when I was in kindergarten.
I AM NOT EVEN JOKING.
Sitting on the floor
Ev'ry day we sing along
These haiku had notes
Yujin Gakuen
Those who went to this school know
What a haiku is
Pertain to nature
True haiku will never be
About syllables...
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v258/prozzakianfreak/Oneofthosemornings.jpg) awake
Current Music: that haiku tune (in my head)
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December 3rd, 2009
cflute
 | 11:31 pm - a lively curiosity
Tonight as we were headed out to pick up the Little Guy, we had the Duchess with us, and I mentioned to pocketnaomi that the Duchess had been asking lots of questions about signs she has just figured out how to read, and that she was exhibiting a lively curiosity.
Child's voice from the back seat promptly pipes up, "What's a lively curiosity?"
I think she's just demonstrated the point amply, don't you?
Current Location: Promusica
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/twotone/hamsters/smiling_hammy.gif) cheerful
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slantiness
| 04:55 pm - Third LJ of the day
Angelica's papers: "Heellloooooooooooo, did you forget you still have to write us?"
Me: "No."
Angelica's papers: "Are you suuuuuuure? Cause it's almost 5 pm, and you haven't started us yet, and we just heard you tell your boyfriend you're going to have dinner at his house in an hour"
Me: "Shut up, I haven't eaten yet today and I don't want to spend any more money!!"
Angelica's papers: "You're going to just stay over there with him and forget aaaaall about us, aren't you? You realize we're due tomorrow, don't you? DON'T YOU?"
Me: "SHUT UP! I'm going to freaking write you, I promise, so just HANG IN THERE! Everyone else on the planet is at the football game tonight and they're going to spend the whole evening throwing out their voices and getting wasted because we did or did not win the civil war! I am going to write my papers, I SWEAR, but I needed to finish this editing first, and i need to eat first, too. OKAY? ...I SAID OK?"
Angelica's papers: "...what? Sorry, we weren't listening, we were too busy bringing your grades down to C averages..."
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v258/prozzakianfreak/jonfridge.jpg) hungry
Current Music: I am not -exactly- procrastinating...
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slantiness
| 03:42 pm - CONCERTS
Ok, so the two concerts this weekend:
SATURDAY
Choral Concert!
8 pm!
5 bucks or something, maybe more if you're not a student?
This is the one in which we sing last, and it's super pretty, so pretty, such a good prettty song.
SUNDAY
Gospel Concert!
5 PM!
Dunno how much it costs. About the same? Hmm.
Apparently the tickets say 7 pm but Andiel keeps saying NO it's at 5!
So it must really be at 5.
In this one I sing in several songs. No solos but lots of...singing.
I'm not very nervous about this.
This one has some really embarrassing moments...
But also saxophone and bass guitar and sweet drum playing girl and drum playing dude.
It always looks good!
I dunno why I just said that
They're both at Beall Hall!
Come to one of the concerts at least ^_^
So everyone should
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v258/prozzakianfreak/Jonbusy.jpg) busy
Current Music: Gospel in my head, and people talking in this room
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cflute
 | 02:30 pm - thankful Thursday
Just now I have much to be thankful for, and I need to remind myself of that. Such as:
- a partner whose steadfast affection lets me know I am loved, no matter what.
- a piano now in perfect tune, which garnered several complements on its features and condition from the piano tech. The instrument itself came from The Immortal Piano Company, now located in Portland OR, formerly located in West Oakland, CA. The story of their genesis and early years makes fascinating reading, imo. I've met Martha; she and Kaylee of Firefly would definitely be kindred spirits. :-)
- the generous benefactor whose contributions to our household finances made said piano tuning possible.
- pocketnaomi's dad, all-around good guy and fabulous jazz pianist, who'll be visiting next week.
- OryCon, and the opportunities there both to do music and to schmooze with people whom I'm fond of, and see all too rarely.
- safe, smooth travel both to and from Oregon.
- a delicious Thanksgiving dinner prepared by phoenixpdx and her crew, in which absolutely every food item on the table was one I could safely eat.
- our kids, whose bright-eyed earnest enthusiasm lighten dark and scary times.
- good stories to read, whether they're fiction borrowed from the library, or any of the several crowd-funded or Advent-related offerings on LJ.
- good music to listen to, both live at OryCon and on CD driving to and fro.
Current Location: Promusica
Current Mood: chipper
Current Music: Balance of Nature, Alexander James Adams
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slantiness
| 01:33 pm - Another swoosh from my corner
I got an A- on my 2nd photo paper thingy.
Not bad, not bad.
But I went up to see if there was a class in the room where I finally got my video going in Lawrence that Foxy Hot Prof gave me the code for, and...of course there is. Foxy Hot John Park's other class is in there (for three hours, aaaargh!)
So I guess that means I'm not going to have my thing done by the time I wanted to (3 pm), but it's so close, and i can finish it tonight for sure.
I guess I will instead have to use this time to start one of the two papers due tomorrow.
SO glad I don't like football. SO glad.
Other note: When am I going to eat today? This must be decided.
Current Mood: busy
Current Music: Evita (in my head)
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December 2nd, 2009
vixyish
 | 03:38 pm - <3
You may recall my post about helping the world, one stranger at a time.
Well, here's a re-post of an epilogue from popelizbet on save_dave:
You did it, folks.
The day before Thanksgiving, Sabrina had the total at $7300 and change, received.
All of you are so wonderful. Thank you. Times a billion.
I'll keep updating you on Dave's story, and when hnmic can make it out there to show him how to work Livejournal, he may just come thank you himself.
***
There are other needs out in the world.
Our own rowangolightly is putting together a moving fund following some personal troubles of her own, through auctions of her own items & donated by friends, at rescue_rowan (run by fellow Friend of Save Dave apocalypticbob.) Lots of tasty treats and tasty books available, many available in time for $WINTERHOLIDAY gift giving.
***
All of us keep passing it on, around and around and around and around again.
A couple of days late, y'all - know I give thanks for all of you.
-Lizbet
I can only second Lizbet. You are all so wonderful. We have done the impossible, and that makes us mighty, and then we just keep on doing it.
I'm a bit late with this, so some of the auctions at rescue_rowan are over, but some are still going (I'm bidding on a couple).
*hugs the whole internet*
Current Mood: hopeful
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s00j
 | 03:44 pm - Crash space for Traveling Fates
EDIT: Crash space good to go; thanks so much to all of you, and also thanks for the crash space offers elsewhere!
Here's the show info (we've sold two tickets so far, and K and I went to see the space today. Tiny little theater! So cute!):
Sunday December 06, 2009 — 6:00pm
The Traveling Fates' First New Orleans Show
The Backyard Ballroom
3519 St. Claude Ave
New Orleans, LA 70117 [Map It!]
504-473-6819
$10 advance tickets, $15 at the door purchase tickets online
with Sooj, Ginger, and Bekah's music woven together!
Current Location: St. Pete
Current Mood: calm
Current Music: (internal) Jesca Hoop - Silverscreen
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cflute
| 12:01 pm - fun with kids, Tuesday evening edition
The Little Guy asked to play piano last night. He needed some help to make that possible because silly Aunt Callie and Mama had set things on the piano bench, so there was no place for him to sit!
So I quickly cleared off the piano bench and scooted it closer to the piano, and then he climbed on it and played one of his more tuneful bits of random note-plinking.
At the end of it he said (yes, this is verbatim)
"That wasn't Haydn Symphony Gweat Suppwise because it was too short."
He's right! Clearly that Beethoven's Wig CD that their uncle gave them this summer, has made quite the lasting impression.
Current Location: Bothell Regional Library
Current Mood: cheerful
Current Music: misc library noises
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