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Smooth operator

I downloaded Sade’s new album, Soldier of Love, and was doing a Sade night on Valentine’s Day – what a beautiful voice and such sexy music to play for Valentine’s Day. But wait there’s more – here is Tin dancing to Smooth Operator – unfortunately the room was dark so it’s really hard to see just how into Sade this little boy is and how much his little white shirt suddenly looks like a tunic.…

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Every year at Carnival time we make a new suit

While my neighbors and friends all around me are running around creating elaborate and wonderful designs, I must say that I lamely buy mine most years or rehash old ones. This year we are going to be naughty Dorothy, lanky Lion and tiny Tinman. We have no Toto and no Scarecrow – pathetic huh? I may just have to run out and get some sparkles for my flame shoes but who knows if I will…

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Love is free!

To all my single friends today, I wish you love whether that be contented love of yourself or the love of a good partner. I woke up in love this morning – in love with my partner, my son, my friends, my life, New Orleans, Mardi Gras – and when I saw what kind of day awaited us, sunshine, blue skies, cool air – I made pancakes to share the love. When I returned from…

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What makes a good movie

We watched Kathryn Bigelow’s The Hurt Locker the other night and I’m still thinking about it. I’m not much interested in violent films or war movies per se, but have to admit there was something tangible and intimate about this portrayal of Iraq that is haunting me still. We lent it to my neighbor and she said the next day, “Best picture? I dunno.” But the more we spoke about it the more she said…

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Strange blood

We were making our way through the Endymion crowds headed back to the house because Tin was beyond ready for his nap when someone jumped in front of us. It was my niece. Dana was standing there on Carrolton with her sisters and her mother and their kids (my great nieces and nephews). Everyone said hello and Dana said to her daughter, “You remember Aunt Rachel?” And everyone just looked, well, I don’t know how…

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The sun is out and I love a parade

Well I love most parades but Endymion, which is weird, it’s the mondo, super duper, huge mega parade right here in my neighborhood and it is one of the ones I am least interested in. As a matter of fact, we’re headed uptown to see Toth tomorrow, which is a total neighborhood parade and always fun. But Endymion as I have said before invites the sort of people I don’t want to be hanging out…

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11 months and onward

Tin passed the 11 month marker on February 5th and the speed at which his development has accelerated is mind blowing – the babbling has intensified into almost discernible words “Did he say the cat? or Who Dat?” – he walks with his legs bowed out in either direction looking like the old man I hope he becomes because he always has a smile on his face unless he is experiencing something new and then…

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Mardi Gras and our celebration poignantly on hold

Muses was cancelled last night because of threats of snow, which we didn’t get here in the city although we got hail and lots of cold rain. This wonderful, all woman, parade rolls tonight in back of three other parades so read: very late, but it is as nasty outside now as it was yesterday if not more so. Meanwhile, this weather is actually granting this city a nice respite from the celebration that began…

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