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While Poland grieves

The news flash that the Polish president had died in a plane crash came across the television as we were sitting in the Brasserie Marigny after the Vipers cooling our heels; the news prompted me to write my friend and colleague there and tell him that we here in New Orleans were thinking of him, at the time I thought it was only the president who died – his response: pretty tragic for the country,…

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Jazz Vipers at French Quarter Stage

We rallied this morning to get to the French Quarter Fest and catch the Jazz Vipers and were lucky enough to be treated to a few swing dancers who showed us as well. Parking was a cinch, the weather was gorgeous, and little Tin got to thoroughly enjoy himself by the stage. We’re getting to the fest, but in increments and maybe that is the best way.

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The meaning of life

I saw a bumper sticker in California on a beater car that said, “The Meaning of Life is to Live It.” And I must say I buy into that philosophy hands down. Today, I had a stack of paperwork on my desk, I had phone calls to make up the wazoo, I had all sorts of reasons to just stay inside, bury my nose, and not look up. And then I received a note about…

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Gorgeous weather is a curse

When we have these beautiful days I always say that if people thought the weather was like this all the time they’d all move here and New Orleans would suddenly suck because it would be filled with people who came here and didn’t adapt to what the city is but instead tried to make it what they wanted it to be. That is what happened in San Francisco – 1% of the people are from…

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The Easter Bunny

I went to get my tooth fixed and one of the women at the dentist’s office asked me if I had my Easter pictures taken with my son and I said no, we don’t celebrate Easter at my house, not that there is anything wrong with it. She asked me how we celebrate Passover and I said well someone said recently that it is four hours of talking about how miserable it was back then…

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LOVE COCKS

After the duck controversy (which is a woman put out a dozen Peking ducks into the bayou and built a ramp and feeds them thereby upsetting the balance of nature), the woman went on to put up a sign that said LOVE DUCKS on her front porch and solicited neighbors to do the same. My neighbor, who is much smarter and funnier, told me if I chose to put the peacocks I wanted on the…

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Louisiana irises and saltwater encroachment

I called Jean Lafitte National Park to see if the irises are blooming. Last time I was there, only one was blooming as opposed to the huge Monet landscape that used to proliferate in spring. Sadly I learned the saltwater that has been encroaching on Louisiana wetlands has all but cancelled out the beautiful show nature used to provide – it is also the reason why the hurricanes are penetrating inland in a more ferocious…

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The hero’s journey

I went to school and continued my education so that I could be a Professor of English Literature and a fiction writer who depicted the victories and pitfalls of a woman’s self-actualization. This morning walking through the refreshed park and smelling the smell of cut grass reminded me of the opening of one of my novellas, The Good Fortune Harvest. When I realized into my master’s degree that I really disliked teaching and that if…

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The lessons of Itsy Bitsy Spider

I was walking through the park this morning marveling at the new foliage that has transformed the canopy into a bright green wonderland. Loca was behaving herself and was at my side. We saw ahead of us Sugar Pie scampering around. A woman passed us with a bright smile on her face and we returned the favor. As we circled around and started on our way back, we passed the same woman again and she…

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Enormous changes at the last minute

To add to the list of changes I experienced yesterday: T was able to change her ticket so this summer we are flying together for our family vacation. She had planned to go two weeks ahead to visit Zagreb but has decided not to. Walking up the stairs to my office I noticed the Crepe Myrtles in the back yard all have new green leaves on them. This just happened and possibly was precipitated by…

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