Amy came to get me at DTW tonight after I almost didn't even get there as I thought my plane left at 5:45 but it was 4:54 (you can see how I would mix up those numbers). I try to kiosk check in and it refused me so I go to the counter and they say Uh oh, here's a boarding pass, run as fast as you can, which wasn't much running as that New Orleans airport is not very big so I throw my bags through the checkpoint and run barefoot to the gate which is about 30 feet from the checkpoint and I can hear the woman calling "Deborah Weiser, last call for boarding to Detroit" and I say "Here I am!" and run down the hallway and still about 12 people have not boarded yet and I get on the plane and someone else has my seat so I get bumped to first class. Tragic. I declined the meal but accepted a glass of the worst red wine I have ever tasted, and that's saying something. I had to have the attendant take it away.
Went to the Louisiana State Museum that had a special exhibit The New Orleans Roots of Rock and Roll. Fairly lame. But I have some pix to post of it. I have been to several state museums. North Dakota wins.
Back to work tomorrow. Plenty more pictures to post here. Working on that. The kids were great, we ate a ton of food, much at fancy restaurants and had some bevs but not too much and saw some music and touristed around. The weather was perfect: 85 and sunny and not humid for NOLA.
We ate at Stanley (website under construction), great breakfasts and sandwiches. MiLa, spent about as much as a house payment for dinner: several appetizers, two bottle of rose, a lackluster red velvet cake dessert, fab entrees: snapper, tuna, pork chops. Iris: started at the bar with fancy cocktails then a cheese plate then two desserts: coffee sambuca ice cream sandwich and poached pear stuffed with mascarpone with salted caramel ice cream on the side and THEN we sit for dinner and have oysters and mussels and chicken for Anne and lamb for Tom. and wine. And another big bill. Had drinks at the revolving bar at the Hotel Monteleone. Lunch at Crabby Jack's (no website) the day we got there.
Went to Ryan's Irish Pub to watch the second half of the Cavs/Magic last game which was sad. Tried to eat at Cafe Amelie this morning but the wait was too long but by the time we doodled around, we should have just waited.
The hotel was really good because the room was modern although it's in an old building and the pool, terrace, bar was cool and there was a free parking lot so Tom could park the van which as you can imagine, parking is at a premium in the French Quarter.
Much TripAdvisoring must be done. I said that about Mexico and haven't done that yet either. That internet is a black hole of labor. Another saying for the Mom's Mottoes coffee table book. To go along with the Super-Mini one I also have planned (Super Minis in Mexico are little shops like convenience stores with varying goods).
Talked to Miss Jenks this AM for an hour while having coffee out by the hotel pool. Bought no souvenirs. Back to the slave pit tomorrow.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
This bar revolved around the bartenders inside it. One bartender was going off duty while we were there and he had to had two people move so he could jump over the bar. He said you have to retire when you can no longer do so.
I had the Ramos Gin Fizz. Mmmm. Like a milkshake.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
In the memphis airport with
In the memphis airport with my daughter who is in line for bbq and starbux. Next stop new orleans!
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Summer officially begins
I can see I have left some plot lines hanging. Like, they didn't fix my tree when the city had the street blocked off; they cut down a tree at a house across the street.
My office was moved at work to a big room with windows. Bonus. Some stuff wasn't done when I left Friday but hey, I'll just be out of their way so they can assemble the rest of my desk and install another computer. So we have 5 computers in there and a bunch of routers and beta decks and monitors and a giant TV and a small TV. And three phones.
The bamboo fence is reattached and looks like it will hold up another summer. Many things have been planted and survived the cold and still no seeds in the ground. Today it is raining. Lightly.
The Memorial Day party was a big success (I feel). With 21 in attendance. Great food: beans and slaw and fruit and cut-up veggies and olives/grape tomatoes/fresh mozzarella and brownies and mini eclairs and cucumber salad and zucchini bread and wienies in crescent rolls and strawberry frozen delight and appetizers galore. It was very windy at the start and pretty chilly but around eating time the wind wasn't so fierce anymore. Thanks to Chip for bringing the food table and another yard table and chairs.
I thought I had a massage today but it's tomorrow. And the next day (in the middle of the night), Amy takes me to the airport for New Orleans.
I got a new phone, a Samsung Alias 2 which works fine but seems a little heavier than my last phone but whatever. It flips open horizontally and vertically and has a qwerty keyboard and that fun ring that sounds like the phone on I Love Lucy.
Also, note to Fred: that IS a ligularia outside my front door. Although Joe Baker thought it was Rodgersia.
My office was moved at work to a big room with windows. Bonus. Some stuff wasn't done when I left Friday but hey, I'll just be out of their way so they can assemble the rest of my desk and install another computer. So we have 5 computers in there and a bunch of routers and beta decks and monitors and a giant TV and a small TV. And three phones.
The bamboo fence is reattached and looks like it will hold up another summer. Many things have been planted and survived the cold and still no seeds in the ground. Today it is raining. Lightly.
The Memorial Day party was a big success (I feel). With 21 in attendance. Great food: beans and slaw and fruit and cut-up veggies and olives/grape tomatoes/fresh mozzarella and brownies and mini eclairs and cucumber salad and zucchini bread and wienies in crescent rolls and strawberry frozen delight and appetizers galore. It was very windy at the start and pretty chilly but around eating time the wind wasn't so fierce anymore. Thanks to Chip for bringing the food table and another yard table and chairs.
I thought I had a massage today but it's tomorrow. And the next day (in the middle of the night), Amy takes me to the airport for New Orleans.
I got a new phone, a Samsung Alias 2 which works fine but seems a little heavier than my last phone but whatever. It flips open horizontally and vertically and has a qwerty keyboard and that fun ring that sounds like the phone on I Love Lucy.
Also, note to Fred: that IS a ligularia outside my front door. Although Joe Baker thought it was Rodgersia.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
quick recap
Another whirlwind weekend, as usual. Friday night I went to have dinner with my friend Karen in Perrysburg and we end up in BG to see Harper at the ClaZel where I am on the guest list, me and guest, so we get in for free. There was much drinking and not enough eating so we come back to my house where Karen crashed on the couch. Harper was pretty good. He played the diggeridoo on some songs. Karen kept calling out for them to do some Johnny Cash which apparently they would not.
Saturday my radio show was preempted for some Ironman competition broadcast thing so I did massive yard work, went to the landfill AND the yard waste AND the recycling. I cut up a 7 foot tall pine tree into sections and stuffed them in the trunk of my Accord. Those are great cars. I got some Indian flower/paintbrush or whatever at the farmer's market at the small mall. Cleaned out the garage.
Plus I planted some stuff that I hope doesn't freeze tonight. Peppers and herbs and tomatoes. Did not get the bamboo fence reattached. This weekend FOR SURE. As the party is Monday. Had a cheezburger at the Corner Grill Saturday afternoon. Mmmmm.
Cleaned, did laundry, changed the sheets. Blah blah blah. Did not mow. So I begin the week with tasks already lined up.
Today I got up and did a Pilates DVD online from Netflix and fixed some stuff on 13abc.com and then went to Delaware to collect my mom for her sister's 69th wedding anniversary lunch at the Ryan's in Marion. Saw many of my cousins and some of their kids. I had dug up two hostas and a columbine and ostrich ferns and some other stuff for them to plant at the mobile home. Hope that works out for them.
Looked at phones online tonight but it's all so confusing. One phone will have 10 rave reviews and 10 equally horrible reviews so I don't know what to get. One with a good camera is about all I want. And that I can keep my current plan with. I will go a phone store tomorrow and see if they can show me some of them.
Then Karen called and came over and we got salads to go from SamB's (not all that, sorry) and a bottle of wine and Donna came over and we spent a lot of time trying to help Donna enroll for health benefits online. Which partly worked out.
But only 5 days of work and then it's a week off with a trip to New Orleans in there.
___________________________
Saturday my radio show was preempted for some Ironman competition broadcast thing so I did massive yard work, went to the landfill AND the yard waste AND the recycling. I cut up a 7 foot tall pine tree into sections and stuffed them in the trunk of my Accord. Those are great cars. I got some Indian flower/paintbrush or whatever at the farmer's market at the small mall. Cleaned out the garage.
Plus I planted some stuff that I hope doesn't freeze tonight. Peppers and herbs and tomatoes. Did not get the bamboo fence reattached. This weekend FOR SURE. As the party is Monday. Had a cheezburger at the Corner Grill Saturday afternoon. Mmmmm.
Cleaned, did laundry, changed the sheets. Blah blah blah. Did not mow. So I begin the week with tasks already lined up.
Today I got up and did a Pilates DVD online from Netflix and fixed some stuff on 13abc.com and then went to Delaware to collect my mom for her sister's 69th wedding anniversary lunch at the Ryan's in Marion. Saw many of my cousins and some of their kids. I had dug up two hostas and a columbine and ostrich ferns and some other stuff for them to plant at the mobile home. Hope that works out for them.
Looked at phones online tonight but it's all so confusing. One phone will have 10 rave reviews and 10 equally horrible reviews so I don't know what to get. One with a good camera is about all I want. And that I can keep my current plan with. I will go a phone store tomorrow and see if they can show me some of them.
Then Karen called and came over and we got salads to go from SamB's (not all that, sorry) and a bottle of wine and Donna came over and we spent a lot of time trying to help Donna enroll for health benefits online. Which partly worked out.
But only 5 days of work and then it's a week off with a trip to New Orleans in there.
___________________________
Monday, May 11, 2009
grey gardens
Yesterday I went to visit my mom for Mother's Day. While I had thought it was clear I was coming down, they were surprised to see me. I remember telling Mom I wouldn't come down last month for Easter as I was coming down two weekends in a row in May. Whatever. So as they were unprepared, and my mom was in her housecoat, and as they talk on endlessly, losing track of time, I ventured that we should order pizza for lunch. But they had two frozen pizzas that we doctored up with extra ingredients. I start chopping and distributing onions and tomatoes from a can and black olives and I say "Is that enough?" and my mom says "I don't know. Karen always does this." Then they decide to make iced tea which took the water a while to boil (surprise) so by the time that was done, the pizza was room temperature. (surprise)
So the time meanders by with constant talking about the pets and the neighbors and what Karen will do around their trailer if they get some money and if only she had a computer, she could do freelance medical billing from home and how she might get some certification to be an animal intake officer at the Humane Society for which she MIGHT get paid if some grant comes through. If if if if if if.
About 3 p.m., when I am looking to bolt, my mom says "Is it too late to get flowers and plant them on Daddy's grave?" Of course not! So we get some at Kroger's which were lackluster frankly and plant them. My sister takes her gardening gloves as well but she is too lame (in the true sense of the word) to get down and plant so I did and then we took a tour of various relatives' graves and then they decide we should get ice cream so I drive them through the DQ for Blizzards.
This after my sister says she just can't eat anything because of her meds which unfortunately also make her gain weight. However she was able to wolf down half a 12-inch pizza AND a Blizzard. So much for the inability to eat. She now has an attorney helping her with her disability claim. Which she acknowledges may take 18-24 months to be resolved. "I'll be dead by then," she says. My mom says "Well, I'll be dead, too." You can see how I find this tiresome.
I see The Mystix have another CD out. I will purchase.
Today when I got home from work, there was a temporary sign out by my sidewalk that says No Parking Tuesday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. I hope something is being done about my situation.
Mowed the back tonight and had to rake the hay. Two weeks til the Memorial Day party. Much remains to be done in the yard. I threw out a bunch of junk from the garage for heavy trash so if I'd just get out there, I could get that tidied up, get out the lawn furniture and grill. Yada. Yada.
So the time meanders by with constant talking about the pets and the neighbors and what Karen will do around their trailer if they get some money and if only she had a computer, she could do freelance medical billing from home and how she might get some certification to be an animal intake officer at the Humane Society for which she MIGHT get paid if some grant comes through. If if if if if if.
About 3 p.m., when I am looking to bolt, my mom says "Is it too late to get flowers and plant them on Daddy's grave?" Of course not! So we get some at Kroger's which were lackluster frankly and plant them. My sister takes her gardening gloves as well but she is too lame (in the true sense of the word) to get down and plant so I did and then we took a tour of various relatives' graves and then they decide we should get ice cream so I drive them through the DQ for Blizzards.
This after my sister says she just can't eat anything because of her meds which unfortunately also make her gain weight. However she was able to wolf down half a 12-inch pizza AND a Blizzard. So much for the inability to eat. She now has an attorney helping her with her disability claim. Which she acknowledges may take 18-24 months to be resolved. "I'll be dead by then," she says. My mom says "Well, I'll be dead, too." You can see how I find this tiresome.
I see The Mystix have another CD out. I will purchase.
Today when I got home from work, there was a temporary sign out by my sidewalk that says No Parking Tuesday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. I hope something is being done about my situation.
Mowed the back tonight and had to rake the hay. Two weeks til the Memorial Day party. Much remains to be done in the yard. I threw out a bunch of junk from the garage for heavy trash so if I'd just get out there, I could get that tidied up, get out the lawn furniture and grill. Yada. Yada.
Saturday, May 09, 2009
You wankers
Chris Shutters was at the ClaZel tonight and even though Amy planted a GIANT TREE and I dug up ferns and hosta for the plant swap AND did a radio show and other things, we were the only 2 people there of our bunch except poor Rod who went at 7:30 because that's when McKinley said they started. Which they didn't. They started at 9. BUT REGARDLESS, you should have been there. He played a couple of Jethro Tull songs on which he played the flute and did a great version of Bell Bottom Blues. We asked for Red House but left when they took their second break around 11:15.
Somehow the Chris Shutters promotion folks think I am somebody so they gave me 2 CDs by Julie Newmark and David Carducci and a Chris Shutters at the ClaZel t-shirt which I gave to Amy for Evan. Plus they're putting my name on the guest list for Harper. I don't think they even KNOW my name. And there was cake. I think about 120 people paid to get in. But none of you wankers.
I didn't think I'd get everything in today but except for the farmer's market, I did. I mowed the front and dug out the grass at the fence line in preparation for reinstalling the bamboo fence. Too windy today to do that. Plus I dug about 40 ferns out for Amy and Sal and the swap and a couple of hostas for the swap where I took a bee balm.
And I watched Cars, which is a great movie. And has many great lines like "I'm as happy as a tornado in a trailer park." And I did more Mother's Day gift purchasing, sugar free chocolates and cut tulips and a card to go along with the fabulous planter I got at Fitkin's. I'm sure it will not be sufficient.
So tomorrow the lengthy trip to Delaware. Then two more weeks of work and a week off. Yay. Stamps go up on Monday to 44 cents. So if you have any 42 centers, you're out of luck.
Peace out.
_______________________
Somehow the Chris Shutters promotion folks think I am somebody so they gave me 2 CDs by Julie Newmark and David Carducci and a Chris Shutters at the ClaZel t-shirt which I gave to Amy for Evan. Plus they're putting my name on the guest list for Harper. I don't think they even KNOW my name. And there was cake. I think about 120 people paid to get in. But none of you wankers.
I didn't think I'd get everything in today but except for the farmer's market, I did. I mowed the front and dug out the grass at the fence line in preparation for reinstalling the bamboo fence. Too windy today to do that. Plus I dug about 40 ferns out for Amy and Sal and the swap and a couple of hostas for the swap where I took a bee balm.
And I watched Cars, which is a great movie. And has many great lines like "I'm as happy as a tornado in a trailer park." And I did more Mother's Day gift purchasing, sugar free chocolates and cut tulips and a card to go along with the fabulous planter I got at Fitkin's. I'm sure it will not be sufficient.
So tomorrow the lengthy trip to Delaware. Then two more weeks of work and a week off. Yay. Stamps go up on Monday to 44 cents. So if you have any 42 centers, you're out of luck.
Peace out.
_______________________
Friday, May 08, 2009
Weekend
Yay. There's the farmer's market at the mall and the plant swap and a radio show and digging up of ferns and Chris Shutters tomorrow. I'm tired already. And then Sunday will be taken up with a trip to Delaware.
I bought my mom a great planted pot at Fitkin's Greenhouse in Sylvania today. Actually it's in Ottawa Lake, MI. But it's just feet over the line from Sylvania. Plus I bought one of those golden coral bells and some coleus to make a big pot and the cutest dish of succulents for only $10. I wanted much more stuff but I feel next Friday I will go back because this weekend it's not going to be warm enough to plant. Plus I have no time.
They have great plants and unusual stuff and lots of it. And it's not all that pricey.
Man, this week at work was mind-numbing. What with the Facebook and the Twitter and the loading of video resumes to YouTube. Plus the regular stuff.
Thursday night Amy and I went to see Frank Vignola at GFT but alas we weren't into it and left after 45 minutes. I got home in time to see The Office and 30 Rock.
Wednesday was GNO which was heavily attended and there didn't seem to be as much stuff at the swap which is good for Martha who has to take it all to the Goodwill. I got a lipstick and mascara. The June GNO is at Connie D's.
I bought my mom a great planted pot at Fitkin's Greenhouse in Sylvania today. Actually it's in Ottawa Lake, MI. But it's just feet over the line from Sylvania. Plus I bought one of those golden coral bells and some coleus to make a big pot and the cutest dish of succulents for only $10. I wanted much more stuff but I feel next Friday I will go back because this weekend it's not going to be warm enough to plant. Plus I have no time.
They have great plants and unusual stuff and lots of it. And it's not all that pricey.
Man, this week at work was mind-numbing. What with the Facebook and the Twitter and the loading of video resumes to YouTube. Plus the regular stuff.
Thursday night Amy and I went to see Frank Vignola at GFT but alas we weren't into it and left after 45 minutes. I got home in time to see The Office and 30 Rock.
Wednesday was GNO which was heavily attended and there didn't seem to be as much stuff at the swap which is good for Martha who has to take it all to the Goodwill. I got a lipstick and mascara. The June GNO is at Connie D's.
Monday, May 04, 2009
Piling up
When people ask me what I've been up to, I always tell them I'm waiting for gardening weather. Oh yeah, I've already mowed. Twice in the back. And I take stuff to the yard waste every weekend. And I cut down that tree back by the east kitchen window. Need to cut it up and take it to the landfill.
Since I last posted, I saw Lil Ed at FFB. Then I bagged on Polka Floyd at Grumpy Dave's on the 25th. And I had a hideous radio meeting and didn't go see John Nemeth at FFB because he's coming to Grounds Aug. 20.
This past weekend, Rod's Collision played at the ClaZel and then Chip and I went to see Unknown Hinson at Frankie's after everybody else bagged on us. We park on some side street and some black guy in the traditional black hoodie comes up and I roll down my window LIKE AN IDIOT and he asks if I have any change because he needs some gas. I say no and he says Have a nice evening. Hmmmmmm. Then some tattooed pierced girl tried to get Chip to buy her shots, let's have shots, she says. I told him to check for his wallet.
Yesterday, I labored outside for 6 hours. Continuously. I had called Donna to give her some of my ferns and she calls back about 5 and we decide I'll dig up a bucket of ferns for her to take off my porch today at 5:30 a.m. when she got off work and indeed they were gone when I left this morning.
I started to plant my new window boxes then realized I had to paint those windows I had reglazed last weekend. So I did that then later scraped the paint off the glass and planted the window boxes. And pulled up oh about 800 little maple trees.
Some guys were at my front curb last week on Thursday when I was leaving for work but all they did was dig out the gas or water line head and spray paint it blue and made a blue mark on the curb.
Heavy trash pickup is next week. Get yer crap out to the curb.
I have had these two movies from Netflix-- Thieves Highway and Cars-- for more than a week. Maybe 2. I just can't seem to fit anything in.
I got this new dental appliance to wear when sleeping that I thought I would hate but man, it's great. My neck doesn't hurt when I get up in the AM, which is one of the things the dental assistant (who turned me on to Lancome mascara) told me would be a benefit and I scoffed.
Tonight, my boss's son was playing jazz guitar at FFB at some benefit dinner. He told me I could just tell them I was at Larry Dillin's table. OMG, I couldn't go. I had been dressed up all day WITH HEELS. I had to go to Meijer and do laundry and Big had no kitty din and so I came home. Entered the WGTE raffle to win $40,000 or may other cash prizes. Paid some bills.
Thursday is Frank Vignola gypsy guitar jazz at Grounds. We'll see how that goes at Weds. is GNO for which thunderstorms are predicted and Saturday Chris Shutters is at the ClaZel and there's the Harmonica Summit at Hines Farm.
Three weeks from today is the Memorial Day cookout.
I have to go to Delaware the next TWO Sundays for Mother's Day and then the next week for my Aunt Midge and Uncle Jim's 65th wedding anniversary. Yes, 65th. And yes, two of the best gardening weekends of the year. I just need to jam in a bunch of seeds this Saturday.
But I am off the whole week of Memorial Day.
And my bamboo fence is still down. I will you give you $5 a section to help me put it up. Do one or all! Offer is open.
Fortunately Wayne stopped by Sunday afternoon and took a quick look at my steps to fix. He suggests the pavers on top of the existing concrete. I told him to come measure them, tell me a price and get on with it. I'll have to temporarily displace some plants. Eeep.
Look, it's after 9 p.m. Too late to start a movie. I'm reading Christoper Moore's Fool which is highly amusing although I am not down with the plot which is apparently Shakespeare's King Lear play. But it's still good.
As soon as those sheets are out of the dryer, I'm in bed. Carry on.
_____________________
Since I last posted, I saw Lil Ed at FFB. Then I bagged on Polka Floyd at Grumpy Dave's on the 25th. And I had a hideous radio meeting and didn't go see John Nemeth at FFB because he's coming to Grounds Aug. 20.
This past weekend, Rod's Collision played at the ClaZel and then Chip and I went to see Unknown Hinson at Frankie's after everybody else bagged on us. We park on some side street and some black guy in the traditional black hoodie comes up and I roll down my window LIKE AN IDIOT and he asks if I have any change because he needs some gas. I say no and he says Have a nice evening. Hmmmmmm. Then some tattooed pierced girl tried to get Chip to buy her shots, let's have shots, she says. I told him to check for his wallet.
Yesterday, I labored outside for 6 hours. Continuously. I had called Donna to give her some of my ferns and she calls back about 5 and we decide I'll dig up a bucket of ferns for her to take off my porch today at 5:30 a.m. when she got off work and indeed they were gone when I left this morning.
I started to plant my new window boxes then realized I had to paint those windows I had reglazed last weekend. So I did that then later scraped the paint off the glass and planted the window boxes. And pulled up oh about 800 little maple trees.
Some guys were at my front curb last week on Thursday when I was leaving for work but all they did was dig out the gas or water line head and spray paint it blue and made a blue mark on the curb.
Heavy trash pickup is next week. Get yer crap out to the curb.
I have had these two movies from Netflix-- Thieves Highway and Cars-- for more than a week. Maybe 2. I just can't seem to fit anything in.
I got this new dental appliance to wear when sleeping that I thought I would hate but man, it's great. My neck doesn't hurt when I get up in the AM, which is one of the things the dental assistant (who turned me on to Lancome mascara) told me would be a benefit and I scoffed.
Tonight, my boss's son was playing jazz guitar at FFB at some benefit dinner. He told me I could just tell them I was at Larry Dillin's table. OMG, I couldn't go. I had been dressed up all day WITH HEELS. I had to go to Meijer and do laundry and Big had no kitty din and so I came home. Entered the WGTE raffle to win $40,000 or may other cash prizes. Paid some bills.
Thursday is Frank Vignola gypsy guitar jazz at Grounds. We'll see how that goes at Weds. is GNO for which thunderstorms are predicted and Saturday Chris Shutters is at the ClaZel and there's the Harmonica Summit at Hines Farm.
Three weeks from today is the Memorial Day cookout.
I have to go to Delaware the next TWO Sundays for Mother's Day and then the next week for my Aunt Midge and Uncle Jim's 65th wedding anniversary. Yes, 65th. And yes, two of the best gardening weekends of the year. I just need to jam in a bunch of seeds this Saturday.
But I am off the whole week of Memorial Day.
And my bamboo fence is still down. I will you give you $5 a section to help me put it up. Do one or all! Offer is open.
Fortunately Wayne stopped by Sunday afternoon and took a quick look at my steps to fix. He suggests the pavers on top of the existing concrete. I told him to come measure them, tell me a price and get on with it. I'll have to temporarily displace some plants. Eeep.
Look, it's after 9 p.m. Too late to start a movie. I'm reading Christoper Moore's Fool which is highly amusing although I am not down with the plot which is apparently Shakespeare's King Lear play. But it's still good.
As soon as those sheets are out of the dryer, I'm in bed. Carry on.
_____________________
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