WHY DON'T I EVER LEARN?

You'd think after watching (and waiting... waiting... waiting) season after season of Sopranos, then True Blood, and now Game of Thrones that I would learn.  I get hooked, I can't wait for the next episode, then all too soon the season ends!  Watching as GoT heated up last night, then a preview of the season FINALE!!!  Argh!!

Did I mention my second career as a student?  I've managed to stretch what should be a 4 year (max) program into 10+ years trying to get my Masters.  Theoretically the course I'm currently enrolled in (Faith and Science) is the last one I need to fulfill the course requirements.  I still need to take the comprehensive exams in the 4 areas, so it looks like next May should (it had better!!) wrap it up!

Summer came early to NOLA this year with record temperatures in April and May, almost no rain to speak of until last week.  We've finally settled into the summer routine of scattered afternoon showers and thunderstorms that are so common this time of year.  Still, we're looking at highs in the upper 90s for the next several days.

Driving by the Lakefront everyday going to work is a treat.  It is always a beautiful drive, but with the lake being a few feet higher than normal because of the spillway being opened it is even more striking.

It's hard to believe that almost 6 years have passed since Katrina.  So much has happened and yet so much remains to be done.  We still have hundreds of abandoned or partially restored homes in the city.  Businesses and services are still in the process of returning to many areas.  It's a long, sometimes painful process, one that so many more communities are facing because of the flooding of the Mississippi river and some of its tributaries.

Finally, if you are an X-Men fan and haven't seen X-Men: First Class, you're missing what may be the best movie out of all the X-Men movies.  If you do go see it, watch for some interesting cameos!!

Take care and God bless!!!

SOMETHING TO READ IF YOU WERE LEFT BEHIND

I can hardly believe that May is almost over and the official start of hurricane season is just around the corner!!  Where does the time go?!?!

May is a busy month this year.  Mothers' Day, DLG's birthday, Molly-moo graduated from Pre-K and Ian graduates (TOMORROW) from high school!!!   DLG's birthday found Linda and I with the granddaughters for the weekend.  We certainly enjoyed having them over!!  Linda was able to attend Molly's ceremony and thoroughly enjoyed that, as well.  Tomorrow evening will bring the whole family together (yay!!) for the next few days.  We're really looking forward to everyone being in town.

May also signaled the start of my summer class "Faith and Science".  This should be the last formal class I need for my degree.  Next will be the 4 comprehensive exams and, hopefully, graduation next May.  Hopefully this will bring to an end what turned into a career move, having taken almost 10 years to finish, with breaks for Katrina, the cancellation of the program at Notre Dame seminary, the start of a new program at Our Lady of Holy Cross College, and the program moving from OLHCC back to NDS.  It's been a long haul, but worth it for what I've learned about my chosen faith, the people I've met and the experiences we've shared along the way.

Please continue to pray for the families recently devastated by the tornado in Joplin, MO, and for all the families suffering from the flooding Mississippi and its tributaries.  And don't forget Japan and Haiti and the souls of the faithful departed,  too!!

God's blessings to all!!!

I GOT MY HAPPY FACE ON!!

OK... I ask you, how can I NOT smile every day when I come to work when this

is looking at me on my computer screen?!?!  She had just come from the beauty parlor and was on her way to getting pictures taken.  How sweet and innocent looking!! Not a BIT of Irish temper in this one!!  Hah!! Dream on!!

The GRANDson is graduating!! He actually has only a couple more days of school, then he's done, except for the actual graduation.  That should be worth at least a dozen more gray hairs. Talk about feeling my age.

Last Saturday H2, H2FGFNW, Ian and I went to see Fast Five, the lastest in the Fast and Furious movie series.  It was pretty much as expected... hot cars, action, and The Rock!!  It was all TOTALLY believable, except for the part where Vin Diesel beat up on The Rock in what was basically a bar brawl. Yeah, right!  Do you want some Vin-o to go with what The Rock is cookin'?  Admittedly Vin is pretty big, muscular dude, but next to Dwayne Johnson he looked small and a little soft. Just saying.

If you're a SciFi/Fantasy type and haven't yet checked out Game of Thrones on HBO, what are you waiting for?  It's already up to episode 3 and is heating up quickly.  Check it out.

Treme.  (Whistling the theme song to myself and tapping my foot) I really enjoyed the first season.  The start to the second season seems to me to be a bit disjointed.  Maybe the creators are trying to bring all the new viewers up to speed right away but it was just too much of too little as they bounced from character to character and sub-plot to sub-plot.  At least that's how I felt.  Hopefully it will settle down.  Still, the music is pretty darned awesome! 

Have you heard about Osama bin Laden?  He's dead... nuff said!

Still struggling with the weight loss thing.  It doesn't help when you go out Friday night with H2/H2FGFNW for Reginelli's (Italian), and then Saturday go out with KenEllie to D'Itali's (Italian).  But it was sure dee-LISH!!  And the company in both cases was AWESOME!!

Apparently analysts are saying that the GNO (Greater New Orleans) area is becoming something of a booming job market.  Good to hear, I hope it's true.  We could sure use an upturn in the economy here.

So I hear that the Army Corps of Engineers blew up a levee, virtually destroying an entire town, in order to save a city further down river.  So a LOT of flooding in one place is better than a little flooding in a lot of places?  Interesting concept.  Tell that to the townsfolk that lost everything.  Makes perfect sense, right?  Build a levee to protect, blow it up to protect, then rebuild it.  $$ + $$ + $$.  And add to the cost of all that construction/destruction/reconstruction the cost of "making it right" (ACOofE's words) for the townspeople.

And OH, by the way, if you ain't here, in New Orleans, then we miss you!!  Come see us. SOON!

I OBJECT, YOUR HONOR!! (OVERRULED!!)

It's finally here, the last day of jury duty!!  It has made for a long month.  The ritual of arriving, checking in, sitting in the jurors' lounge for hours on end waiting to be called, the anticipation/trepidation as names are called (will I be called?  why are they calling a jury at 2PM?), going up stairs to stand in line outside the courtroom, then being herded (yes, like cattle) into the courtroom only to sit for another hour as the judge and various lawyers and defendents go through the motions of "clearing the docket" until it's actually time to sit a jury, all combine to make for a very long and very stressful day.

Easter was pretty awesome!  As I have almost every year, I sang the Exultet at the Easter Vigil. Nobody complained, and noone jumped up and ran out of the church holding their hands over their ears, so I guess that was a good sign.  The only glitch was when I stumbled at the foot of the sanctuary while holding a cup of the Precious Blood.  Struggling to not spill any, I went down pretty hard.  I'm sure the building shook, and the walls swayed as I landed... but I didn't spill a drop!!! 

Easter Sunday we had a very nice dinner with family gathered either in person, or via the internet!  H1/DIL1 were linked in via computer, although no sound made for a very interesting meal time.  The grandkids LOVED it!  Dinner was good and we had, in addition to family, Bob and Joan, friends from when I was stationed on the USS Moosbrugger who are now retired and travelling the States in a camper, and Matt, a coworker of H2, with NOPD.  We did miss H2FGFNW (former girlfriend, now wife) who had to work. But we made her a full plate which she had as soon as she got off.  Everything was delish (thanks, Major Dad, for the awesomely awesome deviled eggs!!) and I think everyone had more than enough to eat. 

It's after 10AM, so they should start calling for juries soon.  A very Happy Easter Season to you all!!  Christ is Risen!!

A LITTLE MORE OF THIS, AND THAT

Jury duty is just that, a duty!!  Boring, boring, boring!!  It wouldn't be so bad if I were picked each day to at least go to the jury pool and watch the lawyers do their stuff... but waiting in the jury lounge is almost painful... ok, it IS painful.  Thankfully, only two more days, and I rearranged my schedule so next Wednesday and Thursday are jury days.  Then I should be safe for at least two or three years!

Yesterday H2, MD and I took a L-O-N-G bike ride.  It was the annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, held by the Pat Taylor Foundation at the Circle Bar Ranch in Mississippi.  The GPS said it was a three hour trip, but add to that a couple of gas stops, one of the cops' motorcycle battery died on the way, and it took a wee bit longer than expected.  Once we got there, most everything had pretty muched wrapped up. We had missed all the good food, so we were all pretty hungry.  After having a quick soda and looking around a bit, we headed to Nells Grill, a place I found via the GPS that was only 4 miles from the ranch.  Oh, and did I mentioned that the sky had darkened considerably about the time we arrived, and most of the other riders had hightailed it out of there?  So naturally, our luck being what it is, we were .8 miles from the restaurant when the rain hit.  We were soaked by the time we arrived. 

Nells (that's the way it is spelled, no apostrophe) Grill turned out to be a tiny little place way out in the boonies, but it was clean, the people (looked like a grandmother, mom and daughter where working) were friendly and, I don't know if it was just because we were so hungry, the food was delicious!  Big ol' greasy burgers, with the buns warmed on the skillet, fried dill pickles, french fries, corn poppers (little fritters), it was all good!  We sat and talked and ate while the storm passed, then headed for home, taking it slow on the wet roads and gradually speeding up as they dried out.

With the long trip up, the rain delay, and then the ride back, I barely made it to church for the 7pm Mass for Holy Thursday.  I was still in my bike boots and jeans when I vested for the service.  It was all good, though, and everything went smoothly.  A long day, after all, but in a very satisfying way.

Today I wore the same shirt I had on on April 1st, and took the same route I had taken then.  I have to admit to some butterflies in my stomach as I approached the overpass where I went down on the Shadow.  The Valk was as sure-footed as ever, and got me to work with no problem!!

Next up... EASTER!!!  Yeah, Baby!  That's what it's all about!! Wishing you all the happiest and holiest Easter as we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord!!

A LITTLE OF THIS, A LITTLE OF THAT

April is trucking along quickly, although it didn’t get off to the greatest start I could have hoped for.  On April 1^st I managed to “total” my Honda Shadow (VT1100), only recently purchased from Major Dad, while on the way to work.  Although I wasn’t wearing gloves, I did have a jacket on or the damage to my arms would have been much worse than it is.  My knuckles and elbows on both hands and arms took a pretty good beating.  The bruise on my backside is HUGE (but, then, so is said backside!)!! 

April is also my month for jury duty at Orleans Parish Criminal Court.  This involves going twice a week (either Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday) to sit in a jury pool, waiting to be called up to one of 12 courts as a prospective juror  for a trial.  So far I have not been chosen, although I was called to a courtroom once.

Next Thursday (Holy Thursday) is looking to be a busy day.  If my Honda Valkyrie (GL1500) gets out of the shop in time I plan to go with H2 on a ride to Mississippi with a group of his police officer friends.  It’ll be a good ride and a good time to get “back in the saddle” after the accident.

The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (Jazz Fest) is right around the corner.  It got me to thinking that the last time I went to Jazz Fest DLG was pregnant with the grandson who is graduating from high school next month!!! Wow!! Guess I’m a huge fan of Jazz Fest, huh?..   NOT!!

This morning as Linda and I headed off to work I noticed that the temperature was 76 degrees.  This at 7AM!!  And it’s only mid-April!!  What does the summer hold in store for us?!?!

One last comment…  Stephen Colbert’s American Dream (a Ben and Jerry’s ice cream) is the BOMB!!!  Delicious!!!  Try it, you’ll like it!

MIGRAINES SUCK!!!

Migraines Suck!!!

'NUFF SAID!!!

THEY SAY IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY!!

Kenny ,

I'm glad it's your birthday. Happy Birthday to you!!!

IT'S OVER!!!

Mardi Gras 2011 is winding down! It’s been a good one for our family this year. My brother came down from Ohio to spend the week and enjoy the craziness that is Carnival in NOLA. I think he’s had a good visit, with lots of parades, good weather, and a trip to the French Quarter today. Since we were having company, Linda and I took off both Friday and Monday, and of course we were off for Fat Tuesday. It’s going to be very hard dragging ourselves to work tomorrow!

This past Friday we went to our granddaughter’s school for the Krewe of Pre-K parade. It was really cute! Each student decorated a wagon, then their 8th grade “sponsor” pulled them around the school in a parade. Molly-moo was cute, the “floats” were pretty neat, and it was really a lot of fun.

H2 had to work every day that there was a parade, most of the time Uptown on St. Charles Avenue. He got a break on Saturday when Endymion had to reschedule their parade due to rain, but then on “Bacchus” Sunday he had to work extra hard, as Endymion followed Bacchus on the Uptown route.

We also had both granddaughters sleep over for three days so that DLG could go to Houston for a book signing. The girls were fun, and I think they had a good time while at our home. Our grandson spent some time with us Sunday at Bacchus, then he met up with Major Dad and helped with the post-parade cleanup until the wee hours of the morning.

Shout out to Ed, who rode in Thoth. He hit me with a huge bag of 72” beads!! It was great!

Next comes Ash Wednesday and 40 days of Lent. A time for inner reflection, resolutions, and spiritual growth. I’m struggling with what I want to accomplish (or at least attempt) this year. Rather than just giving something up, I prefer to look for things that are more positive, that contribute in some way to my spirituality, or at least make a positive change in my life.

Wishing everyone a very productive Lenten season as we look forward to Easter. May God’s blessings be on you all, my family and friends.

JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT IT HAD BREATHED IT'S LAST...

OMG!! There's still a little life in Lot(L)!!

February turned out to be quite a month…

Linda and I flew to Denver, CO, for the 50^th wedding anniversary celebration of our very dear friends, “Uncle” Mick and “Aunt” Bev. The flights to and from were non-stop, relatively short, uneventful, and essentially painless if you don’t consider the 7 AM departure from New Orleans, and the 11:30PM arrival back in NOLA.  We could not have asked for more beautiful weather.  Denver had been experiencing sub-zero temperatures the week before, but it climbed to sunny mid and upper-50’s while we were there.

At the reception following Saturday evening Mass (that was an experience in itself), Linda and I sat with several Colorado natives.  One of the ladies mentioned that she had been a member of the original Denver Broncos’ cheerleaders.  I’d guess she was referring to the Pony Express cheerleaders.

During the reception Mick and Bev’s family announced that they were bringing some of New Orleans to the evening.  They led us all in a 2^nd line, followed by the Electric Slide. One of the ladies at our table leaned over to me and asked if we really did those dances in New Orleans.  I replied, “Absolutely!  At every dance, reception, or other opportunity that presents itself!!”

A week later H1/DIL1 came to town.  It was a great (BUT SHORT) weekend, with the family getting together on Saturday for home made pizza (we made 12).  Sunday we got together again, this time for home made lasagna, before H1/DIL1 hit the road back to Houston.  Good times!!

Not only have I been remiss in my posting frequency, but I’ve exacerbated the situation by neglecting to congratulate my grandson on earning a FULL scholarship to Xavier University of New Orleans to their Chemistry/Pre-Pharmacy program.  So, WAY TO GO, IAN!!!  Can I have a “Whoot, Whoot”!?!?

BB had a birthday this month.  Happy Birthday, BB!!

She is growing SO fast.  Linda and I gave her a starter Pandora bracelet which I think she was very pleased with.

Now we’re looking forward to my brother coming in for the rest of Carnival season.  He’s a veteran parade goer, and even rode in a Mardi Gras parade (Krewe of Morpheus) one year.  If the weather holds, it should be a spectacular visit, and loads of fun!!

Oh, by the way, if you find yourself in need of “more cowbell”… believe it or not… there’s an app for that!!!