And so it goes...

Facebook

So, last week Bob and I are on a plane winging our way to a "romantic" get away to Florida.  You know we have been married a long time when a romantic get away consists of going to Spring Training baseball games.  Really... every day. I'll admit it was fun.  We went to the Phillie's, Pirate's and Tiger's parks and a good time was had by all.  And of course we ate our way around the Bay area.

Anyway, he hands me a torn out page from Time magazine with an article about how old people have taken over facebook.  The boomers are running a muck over there. (OLD people??? Boomers are OLD people now! Did you know that????)

Confession:

I have been on Facebook for a while.  Originally, I think I did it to find out what the big deal was.  Andy "friended" me, Jessie pity "friended" me and then un friended me (kids!). JC is now on there so I can be updated on my grandsons daily. Skylar just pretends I'm not there.

The amazing thing about Facebook though is this. In the past month I've connected with about 2/3rd of my high school graduating class and family I haven't seen in God knows how many years.  It is so cool. We're planning a reunion and making a family tree.

It's one of those phenomenons... estrangement, detachment, the disappearing of family and friends.  How does it happen? How do we let it happen? To the best of my knowledge, no one was angry with each other... we just all faded from each other's lives.

And now we have reconnected. My skinny bespectacled cousin that I use to hang out with every summer and trade secrets with. And his children. My roommates from senior year. And sophomore year. And junior year.  People I haven't seen in 40 years.

We're older, and wrinkled, and grey (or not) and lie about how we look "just the same". We all look fabulous. We're alive and together again... how cool is that. So let the young kids move to Twitter (so don't understand that...) and leave Facebook for us "old people".  We need it more any how, I've got family to find.

Later Gators!

Never let the bartender take your family photo...

 

Not many photos this year - but here is the catch up from last year.  Brittany and Skylar in the back (far left) Erin, Ben and Mz. Lolly with Jake in the front.  Behind them, JC, Me, Bob, Jessie, Andy and Chad.  I'm working on a replacement for the "suit of lights" for next year.  I'm in a black (not one of the better known Mardi Gras colors) suit because we had to visit the Queen of Apollo before hand.  Never let your social life get in the way of being festive!

This was the first Mardi Gras in 15 years that was just family.  No friends from out of town or college students.  As much as I enjoy the chaos, it was really easy and stress free.  No washing linens and towels for days before and days after.  The house is back to "normal", with the exception of a couple of tubs waiting to go back to storage. 

Ridiculous - 5 days of fun and I have all of about 4 photos.  I've got to get another camera!

Mardi Gras 2009

 

We were a small but well photographed group this year! (Left to right, Patrice, Chad, Andy, Renee, Bob, Skylar, Brittany). My little point and shoot bit the dust Thursday, so my photos are few and far... more will be posted as I collect from family.  JC, Erin, Lolly and grandkids are in Disney and Jessie worked from midnight until 7 am this morning, but we had fun none the less.

This year was the best crowd I can remember - even by pre Katrina standards. The Iris ride was fabulous, super crowd and lots of kids. For all of you from away - Mardi Gras is a family holiday and not just booze and ta-tas. For the first time in probably 15 years, we had no one at the house but family.  As much as I enjoy the house being full and sharing Mardi Gras with others, it was fabulous having just us.  (can't begin to tell you how much cleaner the house is! Only one air mattress in sight!)  The NOLA hotels are full, the crowds were great and a fun time was  had by all.

Can't believe so much time has passed since my last post! OY where does it go? 

XOXOX

Laisser les bon temps rouler y'all!

HI!!!!

If I could figure out a way to insert a video of me jumping up and down and waving, I would. Sorry I've been gone so long. To be honest, it started with Ike.  (It was Ike wasn't it?) It sure didn't seem like it was going to be an awful hurricane, but I was crushed when the footage of Galveston came out.

A woman had written to me, knowing I'd understand her concern about the approaching hurricane. Not that I blew her off (no pun intended) but I did tell her that since her son and family had evacuated, every thing precious was taken care of, the rest was covered by insurance. Besides, from all reports, Ike was going to make landfall as a strong Cat 2.  Her son lost his beach front house and restaurant and I'm assuming his other restaurant as well.  I don't know, she's never written me back and frankly I didn't have the balls to write and ask. My heart hurt for those people and so did my brain, just knowing what they were going through.  So the whole Ike thing just about gave me the vapors.

Then there was the travel thing - lots of that - North Carolina, San Diego a few times and Maine. The Jewish High Holy Days came and went and we got inscribe into THE BOOK for another year.  More travel, Thanksgiving, my birthday (entirely the best since I've turned 50) and selling at some holiday bazaars. Stuffed in between was selling on eBay, a website revamp (still not unveiled because I have to enter my "stuff" into inventory), creating pieces for sale and the beginnings of a new website for the jewelry stuff. Oh... and days and days of boring tax crap which *poofed* in my computer and I'm having to do it all over again.

No, pictures yet - but soon. I've got to tell you about the peacock, the hedgehog, the birthday, the weather (it SNOWED here Wednesday!!!) AND I'm on week three of no smoking and gritting my teeth the whole way. Oh and college, I've sorta enrolled in college.

I've been learning the coolest techniques, which is a good thing, because my traveling will pretty much end in January. After that it's time for me to really focus  and start work on the first collection. (doesn't that sound impressive!?! lol - I'll be lucky if it's 4 pieces!).  I'm sketching already and have big plans.

So, I promise. For the rest of the month there will be stories and pictures. Honest.

Later Gators!

Hey Y'all,

Jessie left to meet her boyfriend, Caleb today and drive back home.  She has no power at her apartment, so she is staying at the house.  Entergy is getting slammed by the governor for the lack of response in restoring power to the almost 900,000 (yes, you read that right) people across the state who are still without power.  Rightfully so, I might add.  We have power, but we are also paying a HUGE increase in our bill due to Katrina, so you would think that they would have been a little better prepared for this.  As one Parish President pointed out, "the mom and pop businesses are ready to be up and running, why isn't Entergy?" (or words to that effect).

The traffic on the way home was horrendous, according to Jessie and thousands are returning home to no power (not us!  Bob may freak out if the cable isn't on!!!) She and Skylar (if he doesn't have power) are staying at the house, so I'm grateful for that.  Nicki, Bob's partner, lives 4 streets away and their family is without power as well.  For long time readers, you may remember the AWFUL experience we had cleaning out our freezer and I certainly do NOT EVER want to do that again.  I'm checking the ice cream when we get home and if it got runny then everything will get tossed, but they say (who ever "they" are) stuff in a freezer can last 3 days if you don't open the doors.  We'll see.

My class is over tomorrow and I am thrilled with what I have learned and created.  Bob and Jessie kept themselves busy hiking and sightseeing.  Auntie Deb, the kennel lady, has fallen in love with our dogs (grin) and Milton, has weaseled his way into her house rather than the kennel!  We bought some lawn art today.  Some of you may remember the adventurous ride home with "Berto strapped to the roof of my car and the gianormous lizard keeping Bob company in the front seat of the rental truck,

Jessie and Bob found a few pieces they really liked and we are coming home with (of all things) a rooster.  Honestly, I don't know how many more evacuations our yard can take if we keep coming back with this oil can art.  OY!  Not to leave Rex and Carla out, we bought them a little dachshund.  I'm sure they'll be just thrilled! (great rolling of eyes...)

While the romantic little get away I had planned didn't quite work out as planned, it did what I desired most - Bob fell in love with the area.  The people are so incredibly nice and the country side so beautiful, it is one of only two places (the other being Tasmania) I would consider moving to.  Not that that will happen any time soon - but I did find a little (and I do mean little) cabin to rent next summer when I come up for classes.  I'll look at some larger houses so the kids can join us if they want, but we are limited to places that are dog friendly.

I'll post some photos when I get home.  I'm not sure what to expect.  News reports from Nola.com says there is a lot of debris that needs to be cleared but I think most homes were spared - at least the ones that were repaired or under renovation.  The good news is that the new flood gates worked as planned - they did not even close the one by our house.  In fact, at the request of the city they kept the pumps going for a few days more to help with some squalls that came through with the front.  All in all, the Corps is breaking their arms patting themselves on the back.  I'm just grateful they all worked!

So, until Sunday that's it from my end.  Thanks to everyone who has commented or emailed me privately with your concerns and prayers.  You have no idea how much that means to me and my family - and I'm pretty sure the prayers helped!

Take care y'all!

Landfall

Gustav is within 60 miles of landfall as I type.  Reports from home are vastly encouraging.  The water is just now splashing over the seawall of Lake Pontchartrain - about 100 yards or more from the levee.  In past hurricanes, storm surge would have been inching its way up the levee DAYS ahead of landfall.  In fact, it was about 6 feet from breeching the levee 2 days before Michael hit - and before the rain started.  Since the Storm (read as Katrina) they have added a couple of feet to the levee as well, so I feel good about that.  And the storm gates are still open - and I feel really good about that!  I have never understood how the new storm gates work - and will have to get some one to explain it to me.  If you close the gates to the storm surge (they're big mechanical gates in the canals) that means they are also closing off the water that is being pumped out of the city, so in my mind's eye, the water has no place to go but over the levees of the canals.  Surely it can't actually work that way... hence the need to get an explanation.

The historic evacuation has left few people in New Orleans, and FEMA has learned their lesson.  The really good news for Florida and Hannah, is that the teams are in place already for deployment to Florida, should they need them.  The images of Canal Street and Al Roaker are such a difference from three years ago and it does my heart proud.  We'll see what happens later today and tonight when Gustave blows through.

Off to my class now, with a much lighter heart.

Stay safe.

Young Harris, GA

This is all too familiar - but yet, a much better feel to it.  Bob and I had a vacation planned here for about a month.  It is a lovely resort and we are the only people from Louisiana here.  Bob was coming for some down time from the office... well, at least different scenery surrounding him while he works.  I start a 5 day class in PMC tomorrow.  Jessie is with us and the dogs are being kenneled not far away at Auntie Deb's. 

We are much better prepared, with a weeks worth of clothes, cash and I remembered the credit cards this time.  But we are still anxious.  Jessie most of all.  I've had the benefit of therapy... and Bob never crosses a bridge until he has to.  All in all, we are hanging in. 

Skylar evacuated with his girlfriend's family and his dad, Andy is in Jackson with Chad and his family. All my chickies are accounted for and out of harm's way, so I can breathe a little easier. 

Bob, Jessie and I have made a pack not to watch tv.  Well, hardly watch it.  A little in the morning to get the update and just before we go to bed.  Not at all during the day.  I am very proud at how our city has reacted and that most of the population has left.  As of this morning, Mr. Rex, our neighbor was still staying. (I know, I know, but what he really needs is your good thoughts and prayers!). 

It was a great relief to see that Gustav had been down graded to a 3 and had moved a little to the West.  Not that I'd wish this on anybody... and now Grand Isle, where Chad and his family have a "camp" may be the site of the landfall.  Not good, especially since most of our barrier islands have been destroyed...but I don't think there would be any good site for landfall, short of a totally unpopulated area.

What a difference three years makes.  I wish I could comfort Jessie more, for I certainly understand her stress.  Her Tulane friends don't understand and frankly, nobody really can unless they have lived through it.  Jessie fears she may not stay in New Orleans because of this.  Not that I can blame her.   The text messages have been going fast and furious with her high school friends - scattered across the country at different colleges and universities with support and love, so that has helped. And she worries about our house.

The house is as safe as it can be, I think.  I did make a decorating choice or two I wouldn't mind having insurance help in fixing - but that's treading on the be careful what you wish for space.  Ironically, our long awaited kitchen counter arrived in New Orleans last week and the house was a hair's breath from being finally finished. 

The only problematic area is my workshop, a space that was never intended to be an interior room, has started flooding when ever we get a hard rain.  I move everything (pretty much) off the floor and the things in the close to the floor wire bin drawer are not critical or in plastic boxes... so I think that will be ok too.  I stuffed towels by the front doors, where when it rains a certain way (usually sideways) the water can creep under the weather stripping.  There is a rubber maid bin under the fireplace, which also drips water when it rains a certain way... why I'm not sure because I can't get a chimney sweep out to look at it. You know all those little quirky things that houses do.

The appliances were all unplugged, the computer put up off the floor, air conditioning turned to 78, storm shutters rolled down and every thing locked up tight.  That's pretty much it.  Oh, and a prayer as we pulled out of the drive way. 

I am sure I'll be glued to the tv tomorrow night... maybe even CNN, which I haven't watched in 3 years - I'm still mad at them! Keep our beautiful city and state in your prayers please - and all those who will be affected by the storm.'

Until next time kids -

Gustav

This isn't exactly what or how I wanted my next post to be - especially since I've been "gone" for so long, but here it is.

Bob and I were planning a get away vacation this week, which has now turned into a major deal because of Gustav.  Never fear - our house should be water tight and protected - (except my workshop which is now flooding every time we have a hard rain...but never mind that) and ok and we'll be safe and sound away from New Orleans.

The dogs threw a wrench into the pile though, because our vet will charge you $200 per animal if they evacuate them, so, we are just going around that and boarding them for a few days in Jackson, just in case. Jessie has been so busy that she didn't even KNOW about Gustav! She'll evacuate, if necessary, to Jackson and the safety of Andy's apartment.  Then she'll bring the dogs home on Wednesday.

This is an awful time - so close to the anniversary of Katrina.  As if people weren't tense enough. There is an attitude of relaxed immediacy about the newscasters – you know, don’t be alarmed, be prepared (read as alarmed!) that I find annoying, but you have to watch the broadcasts to know what’s going on. Everything is compared to Katrina (“Tell me Bob; what is the difference between this hurricane and Katrina…” “Well, it’s much smaller for one…”).  If we weren’t planning on leaving already, I wouldn’t.  All of the forecasts now have it going to the west (Mexico and/or Texas), but then that is how so many people stayed for The Storm.  You bust your ass getting the house ready etc, go through the aggravation of horrendous traffic with the kids and pets to a cramped little place that is NOT HOME - then it hits some place else and you just get into that mind set of, well, I’ll get prepared but nothing will happen, it “never” does… and we have to be careful about that...since it didn't seem to work out so well during 'The Big One".

The broadcasters tell us that the doctors are telling us to relax, but the doctors neglect to tell us how. They want to keep it low key, but treat it like a HUGE major deal. It's not even like there's a fine line here - it's a scribble scrabble one made with extra wide Marks A Lot. I understand the responsibility of keeping us informed, I just wish there was a way to do it with out the dire urgency and sense of impending doom that seems to surround it all. It's just so Chicken Little.

On the one hand, I'm glad I won't be here to be bombarded with the constant storm info (no matter where it goes) - on the other hand, I'll probably have a panic and/or anxiety attack (or maybe both) the day it's suppose to hit landfall. This is the first real hurricane approaching since Katrina and I think most people in the area with go bonkers to some degree.  It leaves me wondering if my fear of leaving home will return.  I had real issues with traveling the first year or so after Katrina - but then y'all know I've over come that!

So kids, I'm off again.  I'll post when I get back. I really do have a pectoral planned for the 3rd year remembrance - so for those few still out there reading - Thanks and stay tuned!!!

xoxo

It is almost impossible for me to watch the news these days. The footage of the flooding in the Midwest produces an almost visceral reaction in me. My chest gets heavy and I get cold; clammy, really and I feel wet. My heart actually aches. The levee breaks are no surprise. Almost every state in the US has levees along some river designed by the Army Corps of Engineers.

And some where near the end of the piece, they always bring up the American Red Cross and that produces a swell of anger. Just today on the news, it was reported that they had collected hundreds of items meant for Katrina victims, but gave them to some other group. I really need to work through this resentment.

My heart, thoughts and prayers go out to all peoples affected by the flooding. Lives lost, homes damaged, families struggling to put their lives back together. My thoughts turn to them several times a day and their long road ahead, struggling with the enormity of damaged homes and livelihoods. As if that was not enough, FEMA will step in. A new and improved FEMA, but the FEMA just the same.  Bless you all, may you have great strength in the days in front of you, fueled by hope for a better tomorrow.

And while I'm here, let me say goodbye to my Sunday morning friend, Tim Russert. You'll be sorely missed.

What I've been doing....

So, here's what I've been doing! These are two "brangles". Kind of a cross between a bracelet and a bangle.  They're done in copper and silver and meant to be worn together. I had a hell of a time with them AFTER I finished them. Put them in a liver of sulfur solution to patina them and the copper came off some of what I thought were ceramic beads! Took the bracelets apart, replaced the beads and tossed in to the tumbler to polish... again! no copper on the "ceramic" beads! Hmmmmm

I love this piece, but I'm not sure anyone else does! That's an agate fish carving there and the glass beads are sea glass. It's not done, I'm looking for a small piece of branch coral and I have to make the the chain. Oh, and patina it... no copper here to worry about!

This is a close up of Mr. Fish. I have another that is incredible, but this one is my "practice" piece.

One thing that was very exciting about going to the storage facility (if that can be exciting...)is that I'm finally getting some of my tools back! My brushes were very important to me, but now, my pliers are like extensions of my hands. The ones I have now are pretty expensive but are ergonomic and really save my hands. In the workshop I had a set of tools at each station, it's not a good idea to be sticking our good pliers into a project that you're soldering, but you use anything handy!  In some cases, crappy tools are just fine, but I really did miss some of my buddies... (my micro torch for one). Any way... these are some of the bracelets that I've created in classes. Jewelry classes are very liberating because instead of copying a project, you learn a technique and then apply it in some sort to a project. i.e. - here's how you do a wrapped link, here's how you do a coil wrapped bead, have at it. My days in actual metal smithing are numbered, my hands have maybe 5 years in them. I don't know why- I use them for about everything! The ring is probably my favorite piece, with many different methods and tools used. The background pattern is actually a stamp of the letter K and the center ring is satin finish. It spins around the base ring!

I'm not using any custom settings to put these photos in here, so I'm sure this post will have them randomly placed! I should really spend an afternoon and read up about blogging so I would have a clue what I'm doing!

WELL... before I got side tracked, my days are numbered in working with raw metal, so I've been very excited about a new (to me) product on the market.  It's Precious Metal Clay or PMC for short (also known under the trade name of Art Clay). It comes in 3 forms, well 4 if you count slip. Lump clay, syringe and paper. It was developed by the Japanese (is that politically correct?) originally from silver from recycled computers. It is mixed with an organic compound and water and when it is torch fired or fired in a kiln, the organic compound and water burn off leaving you with .999 pure silver. Or Fine Silver.

I spent a week with one of the Certified Master teachers, Sherry Fotopoulos from Austin. She was in Baton Rouge teaching. It was WONDERFUL - I giggled for the whole week, just thrilled at the things I was learning and bursting with ideas and creativity! Our classes were more structured as far as the projects were concerned, but what you did with them was up to you.

The bracelet was made using the lump clay, rolling it out into coils on texture plates. Everything you see there is made from the clay except the jump ring! The kimono was made using the paper clay and origami! The ancient art of Keum Bo. It is the process of transferring gold foil onto the silver in a heat fusion method. The kimono can be worn as a pin or also as a pendant with a chain or cord strung through the sleeves.

This ori box was created with the lump clay using the slab method. It was built on a paper form which burned away in the kiln. There is some finish work to be done(can we say filing?) but I am very happy with it. It is meant to be worn as a pendant and has small tubes on the side (also made from the clay) and on the bottom to keep the cord in place.

The one thing I'm not crazy about is that you have to use synthetic stones if you are going to fire them in place. Other wise it is post construction and I'm going to fool around with that for a while.

These are the rings we made in the last class. The angled one on the left wold take hours, if not days to make conventionally with hard good and we made both of these in a just a day! The one on the right was basically just teaching setting stones for fireing. The setting is done by syringe, which you can use like wire. Many also decorated the sides with the syringe, but we're all kind of clean and simple girls here. The PMC has about a 11-13% shrinkage so it will tighten and really hold your stone. I love the saddle cut of the stone I used, again a lab grown something. You can "recycle" all of your sanding waste too- into a small bottle or jar with a very little bit of water or oil. Sherry uses lavender oil, and now you have slip! Slip or water is used to bind the clay to each other. The syringe can be used just like wire and you can free form designs, fire them and it's amazing. It solves a lot of design problems and opens up a whole new world where little is impossible- it's so exciting - I just love it!!!

This is the other stuff I've been doing while waiting on my oxy generator. (I couldn't get tanked oxygen for my bead making torch - so I ordered an oxygen concentrator). I'm making them for a shop in Uptown New Orleans, but never seem to have the time to take them up there, so they're going to be listed on eBay. I have a store there now - http://stores.ebay.com/PHDs-Private-Collection_W0QQsspagenameZMEQ3aFQ3aSTQQtZkm I'm selling some of my miniature accessories, s-crapbooking stuff and some books that seem too nice to just give to Goodwill. (our library is not finished yet).  Later, I'll use it as a venue for my beads and jewelry too. My days are numbered with doing torch work too, unless I go to off mandrel stuff... some days I can't get the beads off the mandrel and it seems silly to have to hire some young thing to do that for me!

It seemed wise to get a different eBay id for this - why I thought this I don't know... but I did. It came to me when Bob and I were having dinner one night with Skylar and he asked me if I knew how many classes (miniature, scrapbooking, jewelry) I've taken over the years... I thought it was coming from his CPA head and that he was going to tell me some tax related info. NOT! He looked at me and said, "You should have a PHD in crafting by now!" Bob and I thought it hilarious, and my new eBay id became phdincollecting because, for some reason known only to God, I am like Noah and seem to buy things in pairs (or more).  So I have plenty of stuff hanging around I have no use or room for!

Any way, back to the beaded stuff... (shameless plug) the beads are all hand made, annealed for lasting durability etc., etc and I loved the look of them on these pieces. The pens are surprisingly comfortable too!

I noticed at JC's house when I was there last that his ceiling fan pulls were rather unattractive, so I'm going to be doing those as well!

So, that's what I've been doing... what's up with you?

Rain, rain, go away...

Lots to talk about - and later tonight (honest!) I'll do a catch up post of photos - but for right now I'm taking a break and thought I'd shout out to y'all.

The Kutcher household seems to be in a constant state of warp speed. Bob is busy like crazy with work, Skylar is busy like crazy with work (and excitingly, a person the entire family just adores!) and me, well it's the usual break neck speed crashing through life like a crazed bear.

Some of the photos I'm going to post are of my jewelry, recent trips, JazzFest (OY!), maybe the studio if it gets cleaned today and of course, the Grand boys.

Passover came and went (we've all been carbo bulking celebrating the joys of eating bread again!). It was MUCH smaller this year because it was so late. Andy and Jessie and friends were pretty tied up with papers, preparing for exams and Spring Formals. Dear friends, Rex and Carla and their family were in Dallas at the wedding of their daughter Cher (Mazel Tov!). We only had about 11 people each night and it was a lot of fun.

eBay is consuming a big part of my life right now too - I'm selling off some miniature and books and will be listing some items that are great little gifts. (SHAMELESS PLUG). I've made some really nice (I think so!) wine stoppers, bottle openers, cheese knives and pens with hand made glass beads (not mine). They are very festive and were created for a shop Uptown, but I just have not had the time to take them up there - so y'all can have first crack at them. They'll be listed in the eBay store.

Yesterday, Bob and I went to the storage unit for the first time and I brought some stuff home from the workshop. I was EXTREMELY pleased to find my micro torch (I hate the replacement one I got). I wasn't really worried about much from the studio, why I don't know - maybe I was just too consumed with the house, but there were a couple of things that were always in the back of my mind.

One, my micro torch and metal tools. Included in that group were a set of 3 horses from a rocking horse class with Bill Hudson. They proudly sat at what I referred to as the "electrical station".  It was where I would do my electrical stuff (duh) and small soldering projects.  Don't know why these little guys were important to me, but they were.   I found them today squashed in a box, totally unscathed (through no fault of the packer) and they now sit on my bench waiting for a new place of honor.

And.... MY BRUSHES!!!  I found my "good" brushes! Some how way back in my mind I think I was afraid I'd never be able to paint well again with out them.  Silly I know, but it's like having a favorite pair of running shoes or that special knife in the kitchen. My brushes were, just, well... like an extention of my brain some times, especially the one I used to do marble veins. I did lose most of my full size decorative brushes (some where out there I'm sure there is a painter using my $150 Badger brush for baseboards...<sigh>).

The trip to storage wasn't emotional, it wasn't really anything. It was just time to go see what's in there and start some planning about what to do with it all. Of course there are some questions - like half the furniture is missing, as is my tv and dvd player, but they may be in that back corner behind the Beanie Babies in Rubbermaid containers (in air tight bags, with tags and tag protectors....) So, another step forward.  I do believe the end is in sight.  Of course, I should live so long as to see my kitchen counter top, but that's another post. My time's up for now!

later gators!

OH MY!

Yesterday I got a phone call from my friend Mr. Bill, aka The Big Guy, who asked if I was still alive!  It has been so long since I've updated my blog, he was worried something had happened to me!  In a way, yes, life is happening to me! Here's a recap of the past two months.

We'll start with my computer crash, because that took almost a month to fix.  What a pain! The Great Brown Out really messed up my computer, and my whole Outlook program got fritzed.  'Puter finally got fixed, but is very temperamental.  I see a new one in my future, which bothers me, because it seems like they work just fine for about 3 years and then that's it.  I really don't want to get a new one, because I've not heard anything great about Vista... so if I do, I may make the leap to Apple.

Bob and I went to Los Angeles for a few days, where he had depositions, and we stayed with our friend Pat. Pat has this fabulous house on the beach in Hermosa Beach. Unfortunately, the weather was just awful and I don't think I warmed up until we got home! During this time we caught up with friends and I took a couple of metal classes and got introduced to lampglass making.  I LOVED IT! It's the art of making glass objects, i.e. beads, on a mandrel over an open flame.  It is so relaxing, and well, fun! I really don't need another hobby, but bought all the stuff. (was there any doubt?)

After Los Angeles, we went to Las Vegas, where we stayed at the MGM Grand. Las Vegas always amazes me.  It's like living inside a giant Mardi Gras float! We had the Eiffel tower on one side and the Statue of Liberty across the street. We never left the hotel to eat, which is not a normal thing for us.  We had a great Mexican dinner one night, and the second night we had one of the top 5 dinners I've ever had any where in the world.  It was not even at the top ranked French Restaurant, but at it's little brother next door, L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon.  The design of the restaurant was very sleek - we ate at a granite bar that surrounds the open kitchen.  It was surprisingly unobtrusive and the wait staff was really excellent.  We ordered the tasting menu and a meal off the menu.  While not cheap, it was reasonably priced and out of this world! We had a nice conversation with the sommelier, because I watched him pour two iced wines - one a red - which we had never seen before. The white was an apple wine (I could pass) and the red was a very interesting port of all things! It had all the complexities and character of a port, but was lighter and lacking in that medicinal taste making it a perfect pairing for deserts. I did taste them, I did! But just enough to wet my tongue and not enough to swallow. A very tiny bit. I do miss learning about different wines...

Bob and I arrived home and I of course signed up for some lessons in lampglass at GlassWorks an sort of living museum with artists in residence downtown. They teach glass arts, print making and bookbinding.  I also took on the gargantuan task of my home studio! It has not been touched since Katrina and I had no idea it had been so badly damaged.  It took 2 of us over a week to pull everything out of there, clean and repair it.  I hired a sweet young woman who dusted each and every item while I pulled out moldy sheet rock and scraped paint off the brick walls.  I had Katrina cough for a couple of weeks after.  I had no idea it was in such bad shape, for most of the damage was hidden by my desk and my wood storage. You can't begin to believe how much stuff got tossed. Roomboxes, bag after bag of junk and out dated supplies - big green trash bags full!  Half finished projects and kits I was honest enough to admit I'd never finish.  The studio looks fabulous now - and I really enjoy spending time there again.  I haven't started torching at home, because I could not find tanked oxygen any where, so I'm waiting on the delivery of an oxygen concentrator. (TODAY!!! YIPEE!)

The beginning of March I was supposed to travel to San Diego for another jewelry class, but Skylar ended up in the hospital with an appendicitis.  He came down that morning complaining of a pain in his side that woke him in the middle of the night.  Brief discussion, call to cardiologist friend, who agreed with Dr. Mom's diagnosis, and off to the hospital. Admission was painless (at least for me) and Skylar was in an ER room within a half hour. Four hours later and probably $10,000 worth of tests later, (CAT scan) my diagnosis was confirmed and he was scheduled for surgery.

My trip to San Diego got canceled, which was ok by me - it was my least favorite class I had signed up for - but poor Skylar spent his 29th birthday in a bathrobe vegging out in front of the TV recovering.  The upside is that he really needed a few days off of work because they have been working him pretty much 7 days a week.  I'm pretty sure that this is not what he had in mind for a vacation though. His birthday present from us was a check to cover his deductible.  Oh well, there's always next year!

Bob and I went to Florida for Spring training and caught a bunch of games. The Yankee ball park is amazing with great concessions and souvenir stores. This was all during the big brouhaha with the dirty cleats play (Yankees player slid into a Rays player and cleated him on purpose in the thigh) and Billy Crystal's up at bat.  We missed both of those... drat!  We went to a Rays' game in St. Pete and visited with our friends Pam and Mike, who moved to Orlando after Katrina.  And of course, my personal favorite, the Detroit Tigers. It was a fun and relaxing and I think we're finally enjoying the quasi empty nest thing.

I taught a scrapbooking class (Grunge!) and spent a 5 days in Pennsylvania taking more classes, which thrilled and inspired me. What really made that trip was staying a couple of nights with JC, Erin and the boys (how fast they are growing!) and an unexpected visit with someone I dated in college.

THAT was interesting! The last time I saw Bob (apparently I have a habit of dating REALLY nice guys named Bob before getting married - I was dating another Bob before I married my Bob!) was in the hospital in January of 1971 after getting my tonsils out. I was also newly engaged.  Bob is an artist (watercolors) as well as a writer and had sent me a very sweet email after stumbling onto my blog during research for a project. We met at his house in Baltimore where I met his wife, the dog, the housekeeper, the tutor and his son. It was a fun and interesting afternoon and I spent much more time there than I had planned. We caught up on each other's lives and parted with promises to do it again. I'll be back in August, but I think they will be in Europe or maybe the Carribean at that time. Oh well, it's not like I don't get up there fairly often to see the grand boys!

Taught what will probably be my last scrapbook class (Alcohol Inks) and wrote a blog entry about tools for the shop. Started selling on eBay (gad, how time consuming!). Today I'm driving to Baton Rouge to take a class  in PMC (pure metal clay - fascinating medium!). Passover is this weekend.

There, all caught up!  What's doing in YOUR life?

xoxo

In theory...

In theory, spending my morning coffee time updating the blog seemed like a great idea.  In reality though, we had a brown out Wednesday night that blew my computer!  It was a weird event.  I was sitting at the computer (something new) and the lights dimmed A LOT. Some of the low voltage lights just faded to nothing and pretty much everything electrical was making not good noises.

Our TVs were struggling to turn themselves on and reload the cable information.  My computer was trying to reboot and not succeeding, so I just powered it down (apparently a mistake).  I ran around unplugging everything I could reach that was attached to an electrical plug and went to sleep.  Not a bad thing considering how tired I was from the past two weeks.

Thursday morning I woke up, made my latte and made my way to the computer.  Powered it up, waited it to load and hit the email button.  No files found.  Application files not found.  I browsed my back up drive for Outlook files.  None found.  Browse the back up external hard drive.  None found.  Not only did the power event take out all my email, it's files and my contact list, but the ENTIRE program as well.  Crap.  Spent a while trying to figured it out and only managed to delete ALL the Office programs.  This was work for the computer geek.  Unfortunately he's tied up.  A lot of the appliances seemed to readjust themselves, (in fact - I have a service call out on our dryer but it seems to be working just fine now!).  The only casualties seem to be my computer and big screen TV in the family room. 

Oh well.  I tried again Friday, and tried writing this post on Saturday, when we had ANOTHER power surge and the post went *poof*.  Man.  Right now I'm writing this from Bob's laptop from not so sunny (at the moment) Southern California.  Hopefully my computer guy can come next week when I'm home and find my files and programs.  Don't think that's going to happen though.  So for all 4 of you out there that still read the blog - please email so I can start compiling an address book again.

So - that's the news from here (there) for now... tomorrow - California!

Let's try this...

Today I'm trying out a couple of new things.  You could call it procrastinating, but I prefer to think of it as altering my morning routine! eBay is killing me financially - so this is what I'm going to try to do while I drink my morning lattes.  Besides - it will keep me from housework for a bit! Lord knows there is still tons of Mardi Gras stuff to clean up!

We had 24 (25 when Jessie decided to sleep over) people at the house for Mardi Gras! Air mattresses every where and a good time was had by all!  Unfortunately our dryer is acting up (oh yeah, I gotta call them!) so it is taking forever to get the laundry done.  We had 30 somethings and 3 kids (second generation) under 5 and then the 20 somethings.  Bob, Lolly and I were the only "old" people here.  All in all it was a great week-end.  With the exception of me leaving the keys to the car (our get away car for Mardi Gras Day) on the party bus.  The bad news... my keys have been vacationing in Florida for the week.  The good news... wonderful Mr. Rex was kind enough to bring me my extra set, so we were only hanging around for about 30 minutes.

Unfortunately, this pattern repeated itself in Orlando on my way to the airport! I could not find the keys at all - and of course the contract was locked in the car! I finally ended up calling American Express to find out who the lessor was - Budget - called a locksmith - and had a shuttle bus driver find my keys in the parking lot!  Hurray! I was so astonished and relieved (the locksmith was going to cost $250 easy) I forgot to reward her... but she has been in my thoughts and prayers lots for the past few days!

Disney World was great even if the weather was a little dicey.  Actually, it was perfect for me - not sunny and cool.  Covered from head to toe and didn't need to worry about sunscreen!  Saturday they closed the Magic Kingdom early for a "private" party.  Erin had gotten us tickets to their Pirates and Princesses party!  It was super - many adults and kids dressed up - not to mention the adults there without kids! There was treasure to find (read as more Mardi Gras beads etc) and a 15 minute fireworks display which included a "battle" for Cinderella's castle!  Tinkerbell flew (can't tell you the last time I saw her fly!) and we had a fantastic time!

All in all, life is good.  Just filed an insurance claim on the glass kitchen counter top... an ongoing saga... I started Chantex yesterday with the hopes of finally quitting smoking again... family is good. Work continues through out New Orleans and it is wonderful seeing all the new construction.  Skylar has the plans for his house, but unfortunately the bids are double what he has to spend, but that's another story. 

Oh! Today on Ellen she was talking about inventions... Ellen showed this bra that you can fill up with wine and drink on the go! I thought it just hilarious!!!  WHERE WAS THAT WHEN I WAS DRINKING???!!!!

Yes, I'm ALIVE!!!!

Ok, I've been meaning to do this for ages... Yes, I'm alive and well.  There just hasn't been a whole lot to write about.  Well, actually there is a ton of stuff... I just never thought anyone would be interested in it!

Here is the family photo from Friday night - our start of Carnival.  Ben is asleep in the corner in his stroller - and Jessie's boyfriend Caleb is new too... new to the photo not to Jessie.  They've been together about 1 1/2 years now, I think... y'all may remember him from the NYC family trip.

The Suit of Lights (my sequined suit) has been finally retired, but look for an amazing replacement for next year. And, as if Mardi Gras wasn't reason enough to celebrate, Andy turned 21 on Monday. Yikes!!!  (It was Ellie's 5th birthday too!)

For the moment I'll just post some photos so everyone can see life is as usual... I've got to pack for Disney World.  I'm meeting JC, Erin and the boys for the weekend.  The grand boys have their own private paparazzi!

Later kids!!!

 

From the left, Skylar, Caleb, Jessie, J.C., Erin, Jake, Bob, Lolly, me, Chad and Andy.  I think we all look terrific! Didn't have the chance to tweek it in Photoshop - so don't let all the red eyes scare ya!

Andy, Bob, me and Jessie on the left. Andy and me in Iris on the right.

                                                         

Some of the twenty something people we had staying here for Mardi Gras - I think these are all the Millsaps kids (on left). At the last moment, there was an opening on Bob's float so Chad was able to have his first Bacchus ride (center of photo).  Interestingly enough - bracketing the photo is Skylar (far right) and his boss (far left)!

My crazy kids at the Bacchus ball on the left and Chad's family on the right. Chad is holding a LSU hat that was autographed by Les Miles at some point during the day.

Andy and Ellie share the same birthday - so we celebrated at our brunch. And of course, Superstar Benjamin...

Mardi Gras day saw us repeating the Barbie theme (not as successfully as the past).  It says a lot about your daughters' boyfriends when they are willing to cross dress! Skylar was protesting by not wearing a dress that the women had not dressed as Ken!

PS - 138 days sober - that's almost 5 months!

First of all - I'd like to thank everyone who has posted here, emailed and called with their support and love.  It means so much to me to have so many of you rooting for me!  Thanks from the bottom of my heart.

It is a real struggle to try and blog any more.  First, my desk and computer was my "neighborhood bar". It is where I sat, with my glass of wine and read emails, chatted with on line friends and Oh, let's not forget SHOP! When you stop drinking, they tell you to avoid all the friends you drank with (hey, it's a computer! Avoid places you drank (hey, it's my HOUSE!) so I was pretty much at a loss what to do.  And really... not happy with the alternative.  I've started house cleaning at night.  How disgusting is THAT???  In fairness the house is very clean - and (grab on to your seats everyone...) ALMOST DONE!!!

Yup, yup, yup... ALMOST done!  The master bedroom just needs to have one piece of furniture painted and it (and the bathroom) will be completely finished! The kids rooms are done, the family room just needs to be straighten about every 10 minutes (Milton and General play the Indy 500 on the couch and the pillows are always all over the room).  But wait until y'all hear...

THEY STARTED PUTTING UP MY HURRICANE SHUTTERS!!!!  AND!!! THE Kitchen BAR top is at least in New Orleans and should be installed this week. (Read as hopefully by Thanksgiving!!!) Curtains are ordered (Thanksgiving) as is the second round (and last) of the hurricane shutters.  And that will be it! Well, I'd like new pool furniture and even more so a whole house generator - but OMG!  Done!  Good thing I'm busy will all these AA meetings or I wouldn't know what to do with myself.  OH! And as if that wasn't enough - all the front and side gardens got "fall"ed this weekend - and in another 2 weekends, I'll do the levee side yard.  WOW!  Almost 2 years to the day since we arrived back home.

So, this sobriety thing is really pretty fun... yes, I did say that.  I haven't laughed so much or so often as I do in meetings and in my week day outpatient group sessions.  My "clubhouse" where I go for most of my meetings is very New Orleans.  A raised cottage 4 plex (top left) with beautiful moldings, fireplaces, wood floors, the works.  The people are an amazing cross section of the city and in these rooms I hear the Spirit of New Orleans speaking to me.  All characters, most pretty funny and very healing. I never leave with out having learned something and my spirit uplifted. 

My God has a mystical sense of humor these days and I was having headaches in the mornings for about 10 days - guess those were all the ones I never got when I was drinking.  And in the past 5 days alone... Thursday Bob and I had a tiff while I was making dinner.  I asked Jessie to finish it while I dashed to a meeting.  It was my only recourse because I was either going to drink or kill him and we don't own a gun! "They" don't tell you that you have to hammer out relationships again because they are different (usually for the better) when you sober up.  Who knew?

Friday - While installing a simple decorative cable plate in our bathroom, the TV fell off the wall (sigh, YES we do have a TV in the bathroom - it's a BOB thing - they're every where in the house!). It crashed down on our counter top, shattering the granite! In the middle of cleaning THAT up - I knocked over an open bottle (the kind with the brush top... don't ask...) of Super Glue to the floor and promptly glued myself to the floor while cleaning that  up.

Saturday I fell off a wall while trying to use the leaf blower and closed my hand in a door bruising (I hope only!) my knuckles.  Sunday, well, it was a gem - but nothing compared to today.  Sunday I was coming home and the battery light on the car panel was on - couldn't figure out why because the gage said it was fine.  No air, no windows... hmm.  Well, turns out my ignition casing was jammed.  Couldn't get the car to turn off.  Mr. Rex came over with vise grips and finally got the car turned off - but now we can't get the key out of the ignition.  Walked into the house to find that the dogs had eaten about 12 pounds of Skylar's dog food... which set the stage for today.

I was roused from sleep at 5 a.m by Bob cursing the dogs... nothing new, but as I was talking myself into springing (as much as I can spring in the morning) out of bed to take care of what ever business was out there, I couldn't get over this strange sensation of gummy stuff on my bed.   Seems Milton decided to throw up all over the NEW duvet and sheets.  Read that as sheets with an S.  He had also thrown up all over the NEW fitted sheet UNDER the duvet too! So started the 3 hours of projectile vomiting from Milton and Old Dog. Every where.  With out warning.  No retching, no heaves - just a sudden opening of the mouth and, like Linda Blair in the Exorcist (and actually, pretty similar in looks only brown) partially digested dog food spewing every where. God it was gross. Finally got ready for "school" and it is POURING out.  Can I find an umbrella... no!  Well I did finally find one to use - a little sucker about 14 inches wide that was Jessie's when she was about 6!

So I come home to find that what is left of my studio has flooded (good news - the rest of the house was bone dry and we had 6" of rain and counting!!!) one of the big dogs, Abel (the Master Mind in the great Dog Food heist I think) had diarrhea all over his crate! To be fair, most of it was in his empty dog food bowl (how fitting!).  I was shoo-ing them out of the room with my foot when it smacked against something and I think I broke a toe.  I may have to re-think this sobriety being fun thing...

But I'm here and writing again... (anything to avoid the pile of clothes to be ironed in the kitchen).  Oh, and yesterday was 1 month.  Time flies...

The High Holy Days

September is usually the time for the Jewish High Holy Days, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.  Some times they are later - in October, depending on the calendar.  Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year, at this time the "Big Book" in heaven is opened and we hope that through prayer and repentance that on Yom Kippur (10 days later) that our name is scribed in the book before it is closed at sundown, not to be opened again until next year.

As usual, families gather together for festive meals (when don't we eat??!) and then go to services.  But, a funny thing happened to me on the way to services on Yom Kippur eve.  We were out to an early dinner, because we had to be in services before sundown. Andy, Jessie and Skylar were with Bob and me so the dinner was lively and full of laughter.  Just as Bob was paying the check, I turned to him and said "I have to go home". "What?" he replied as if he hadn't heard me correctly (read that as, "are you crazy we're suppose to be in temple!" I repeated that I HAD to go home... so he walked me out to the street and put me in a cab.

Once I got home, I changed clothes, packed a small weekend bag and called my friend Carla to see if she could give me a ride. Then I called my friend Stacy to see if she could meet us at my destination.  And off we went.  My destination was the River Oaks "resort" just outside New Orleans.  Read THAT as detox/rehab.  For me it was time's up gotta go.  And go I did.  No one knew - not Bob, not my kids and not my friends... I'm not even really sure I really knew - but I think I had some spiritual guidance on this decision.

I won't bore you with the details - but the quick story is that at some point in the past few months I started drinking in the early afternoon... and then that moved to lunch.  And THEN, one day when I looked in the mirror, I saw my mother's face looking out at me and I was scared - well, scared sober! It was about a week later that I checked myself in.  All my life I've worried about being "just like my mom" and I had started down that path.

The time in rehab was relatively short - admitted on Friday and was suppose to be discharged Monday (until my insurance ok'ed 5 days) so I got out on Wednesday.  It was an absolutely amazing experience! Uplifting, frightening, hilarious all at the same time. There were 22 of us on the unit, only 3 of us alcoholics (pills are VERY popular right now). For a while there during groups, I kept thinking to myself "What am I doing here? I'm just a soccer mom who drinks a little too much wine!" as I listened to the 18 year old heroin addict share his story, or the 16 year old methadone addict, or the disabled jockey crack addict share their stories.  One of the other alcoholics in with me was a lovely 23 year old girl who had been to "the unit" 3 times in the last month. AND a 28 day program before that. 

Really LISTENING to them, I realized we were all the same actually, people who just lost control of their lives and substance of choice.  Who would have thought?  I was just one of the lucky ones who had a "high bottom" - one who quit before they lost everything.

So here I am... not to worry... I won't be writing about the joys of sobriety or spouting off AA stuff... after all it IS ME!  But I feel like I've been gone for a long time and now I'm back!

ARRRGGGHHHH!!!

Not only did I not have the chance to finish the NYC post(s) but I never posted on the Crab Boil (read as Steam) we hosted for Caleb's birthday!!!  His parents came down (from South Carolina) and they SO seem like people we'd (Bob agreed, hence the "we") like to get to know better.  They'll be back next month, so hopefully we'll get together then.

This is the rig we use for crawfish boiling.  I couldn't quite figure out how to steam the crabs in it, so we pretty much used it just for the veggies.  Surprisingly, the veggies are always a big hit. We do artichokes, mushrooms (my personal favorite) corn, red potatoes... hmmm what am I missing here? Oh, those little link sausages (also a big hit on my list).  We made so much - well you can see where the boil line is... we boil them in the same seasoning we do the crawfish in.

This was a real adventure because I've never steamed crabs for more than, oh, 10 people.  Since I couldn't figure out how to do big batches, I was inside the little kitchen cooking away for most of the night.  Which actually proved to be very interesting.  There was most of Caleb's fraternity here (it was thin on the girls) and some friends of his drove in from various places (notably West Point).  They were ALL a nice bunch of guys, several who kept me company while I steamed away.

So, there I was using my "little" steamer.  It probably does maybe 3 dozen crabs... maybe more, at a time... so it was slow going for 25 people!  The seasoning is home made (very hot!) thanks to some stuff that Lolly sends me down from New Jersey.  She grew up in Baltimore so she does steamed crabs too.  The end result is this... which turns into...

THIS!   Seriously, we were eating for about 5 hours.  Maybe more! One of Caleb's friends was asleep for a good portion of the evening (which those of you who remember the Mardi Gras posts will recall) we don't tolerate too well, so out came the Sharpie and voila! Captain Morgan!!! Once he woke up he had just a fine time... as did we all!

 

The time just flies by...

I guess the NYC post will never be finished - almost a month has past since then!  The trip to Arizona was great... and we all had a wonderful time.  BUT, the Wednesday we were there a black cloud enveloped me and it was very strange. First, there were people who knew me whom I have no recollection of. It took me a week to realize it might be from posts on the yahoo list or even here, that they "know" me... but I guess that I am suffering more from PTSS than I realized.

Then I became very angry. It accumulated over the course of a few days, but I was hurt and upset and angry.  Maybe because it was my Mom's birthday, the Katrina "Anniversary" and just basic frustration with how slowly every thing is going. I'm SO OVER IT ALL.

The mind is a bizarre little contraption... Katrina, my Mom, and where our life is now.  In Lakeview, most of our past population is gone.  I'm sure y'all have read here that we are getting a lot of 30 somethings - newly weds or new parents.  That's GREAT! But what happened to our old people? So I guess my mind hooked my Mom (ancient!) with Katrina, and the media coverage, which of course still sucks.  I realized that in all of the coverage no one EVER addressed the question/problem of the loss of these people.  At least HALF of Lakeview was populated by elderly people.  Ones that have lived in those homes since the 50s and early 60s. Most of these people had no flood insurance, because they had no mortgages.

Where did they go? What has happened to them?  Those of the WWII generation? The people next door just left. Moved to Boston to be near their daughter. Never came back. Never retrieved anything. It was like the Twilight Zone over there.  A HUGE part of our oral local history left with these people too. All of the coverage NOLA has had on nation wide tv - and this has never been addressed.

And I'm SO tired of this (katrina) being pushed into a racial thing. I don't know what happened to Ray Nagin, but I have more important things to think about. We would really just like to be left alone (hello Jesse Jackson and  Al Sharpton... and you were living in New Orleans WHERE when Katrina hit????) to work together as a community.  YES, there are problems here, are there not in your community?  We're all a little bit racist... just think about it. And we in the community here are trying to have serious dialogs about this.

I'M SO TIRED of people making this into more than just a people trying to make a new life for themselves.

The next day I was "Ok" so I guess I worked it out in my sleep... I really hate any kind of negative energy. It's such a waste of time.

Oh and yet really"wonderful" news.  They decided that the Road Home GRANTS are now considered income and taxed at up to 35%.  Crap! That's ridiculous! It would have been cheaper for us to get a loan. This all just gets better and better.

Tomorrow is another day... and maybe I'll have a brighter day.   

The Big Apple

So Monday, we rush into Manhattan to meet Caleb and catch up with Bob who was at a business meeting.  The hotel is serviceable - REASONABLY priced for NYC and in a great location.  There really wasn't much time to do anything so I went to a cafe for a glass of wine and to finish reading Harry Potter.  We met Skylar's friend Chris for Chinese, which was pretty good. The BEST though, was going to Serendipity (across from Bloomingdale's) for desert. This my friends is a frozen hot chocolate and just to die for... I think it was on one of Oprah's best of shows.  We've been eating them for years and can't figure out how to make it the same delicious at home.

Tuesday Andy and Chad went to Doughnut plant then met Caleb, Jessie and me at the Empire State Building and we bought some tour tickets. (and what you see here isn't all of them either!) I had a hard time figuring out which tour package to buy  and by the time we decided what tour tickets we wanted the line was SO long that we just bagged it and met Bob for lunch at Penn Station. He had a meeting out on Long Island.  There use to be a great oyster bar there when I went to school (boarding school out on Long Island) but it was long gone. Thankfully there was a really great seafood spot in it's place.

We all bought Yankee stuff (sorry my dear Detroit Tigers!!!), toured the Empire State Building (I'm assuming all y'all know what it looks like!), went back to the hotel to change and an early dinner. We went to see Avenue Q on Broadway. It was just hilarious - sort of an adult Sesame Street (yes, with muppets but you see the puppeteers!).

Did I mention the weather in NYC was just ungodly hot and humid? For this I could have stayed home... but, Oh wait...  it gets better!  Thank Goodness I bought all those tickets that the kids laughed about because Tuesday night it rained and flooded the subways! You could not get around the city by subway, the cabs (what few there were) all had fares and even the buses weren't around because they had flood issues too! So Wednesday the only way any of us got around was by the double decker tour bus.  Chad and Andy went their own way - and Bob and I had a nice lunch alone at a cafe, then met up with Caleb and Jessie for the downtown and Harlem tour. Now I admit that there are three Kutcher girls loose in NYC with cameras... the ONLY same photo we took was the one of the Courthouse from the opening scenes of Law and Order!

ARRRGGHHH! Have to leave now - more next week when I get home from my trip!