Best Of

Hi from temporarily mild NOLA. Yesterday & today the weather was delightful—no jacket necessary. It is forecast to pour this weekend, with temps in the low 60s/high 50s. (Glad I brought my windproof umbrella). I had a long travel day Thursday (2 hr layover in KC), but got to the hotel in time to register for the FAI conference, unpack (for both of us), walk to dinner (Luke’s), and hit one song circle before turning in—or attempting to turn in, as my room key card stopped working. Had to contact Guest Svces (on hold for 10 min). Took another 20 minutes for the janitor to come and body-slam the door open—when we got inside we found that the extra-secure deadbolt had deployed automatically. Only way to avoid the problem is to not use the security deadbolt knob. (In a hotel full of folksingers, I think we’re safe overnight without that second lock deployed).

Bob flew down this morning, leaving the house at 5 am in -35F wind chill. He wisely called for a taxi. After the general membership meeting, I went up to the room to wait for him and we walked into the Quarter for brunch at Tujaugue’s. Walked back, caught a panel and then a nap…or so I thought. Bob informed me that his keycard stopped working and i would need to go to the front desk to have mine re-keyed too. Sounds fine, right?

Not so much. See, the elevators are computer-controlled: punch in a floor# and the readout tells you which car to take. Half the time we get “System is busy<“ so we need to use the service elevators. Now, multiply that by 2500 people, most of them carrying instruments. We’re on the 33d floor—and there are two sets of elevators (fl 9-29 and 30 & above).Takes >10 minutes to get anywhere in the hotel. Finally got the keys re-programmed and into the room…and the same problem that always does whenever we vacation cropped up: Bob couldn’t log into his hospital portal to read EKGs (I keep trying to explain to him the concept of “vacation”). He normally spurns the unsecured guest network and buys the premium secure service—but this time his 2014 Windows laptop wouldn’t let him connect to the network; in fact, the unsecured network didn’t even show up in his :”Available networks” list. Oddly, I was able to get on just fine on my iPad Pro, As always, we wasted 2 hours we could have spent resting talking to tech support in the Philippines or India. And there was no solution—once home he’s going to have to go in person to meet with the hospital’s IT person. (I turned off all the firewalls in Windows Security, to no avail, so tech support says it must be a hidden firewall installed by the hospital because it’s a “work computer” even though he owns it). Maybe this time he’ll see the light and buy a Mac?

Went to Commander’s Palace for dinner. I’m discovering what being a foodie is like on a GLP-1 drug. I still get night cravings for inappropriate foods (though not true “food noise”) and eat stuff that nutritionists frown on, but in much smaller quantities. I also get early satiety, which means either wasting food or lots of leftovers (the room’s fridge is full-to-groaning). After we got back, I did another song circle, watched TV (on my iPad, as the hotel has no premium channels) and am about to turn in so we can sleep late tomorrow morning. There’s a Cafe Beignet in the hotel (bigger beignets than Cafe du Monde) and they sell king cakes too. Gonna bring home a couple (one for the clinic at Union Health). The city (especially the Garden District) is all lit up in Mardi Gras colors for the parades, which start tomorrow.

Forecast here for Monday will be temps in the 30s with wind chill in the low teens. Guess I’ll be pulling my down coat out of the suitcase here, instead of when we get to Midway.

I notified DB late on Wednesday night that driveway was passable, but he didn't see it until yesterday morning. His response was he would see us after the thaw. Given the way the weather is and that we are anticipating a huge storm on Sunday into Monday with a prediction of at least 12 inches of snow, it may be May before he gets here.

I forgot that I will need to dump the guest room in preparation for him painting the ceiling, so that buys me some time. I'd like to finish DD's room clear out first. I just have the long hanging side of the closet to finish today. I forgot that the lower side of the left hand side of the closet has a hanging rack that extends into the blind corner so there is no floor or corner storage there. There is a shelf above it and I am storing my Penn scarf and pop-pom hat there under the hanging bar which holds my Penn fleeces and sweatshirts. I use them on Homecoming Weekends and they share this space with light weight jackets purchased on our travels which I need to start using more.

I tried on all the summer weight clothing yesterday and there were only a few items that ended up being donated. I did move the slacks to heavier weight pants hangers because I now have the room for them. I found slacks in the primary closet that could be donated because they are too big now. Nice to be able to pass them on to someone who can use them. They were ones I wore to work, so they have seen only limited use since then.

I do have some bins of jewelry to go through from when I culled my old jewelry armoire and I have to decide what I will donate and what I might try to sell. I had this collection of seasonal pins, like Christmas, Easter, Halloween, etc that I would wear on my lab coat and will donate them. Someone may find them cute. There are some pieces I will ask DGD if she would like them.

I threw a pumpkin out for the deer yesterday and it is mostly gone. I still have a few left and may reserve them for next week when finding food will be a real challenge for them. Since we have fenced in the plants they were most likely to try to feed on, they have limited sources in the yard now. There's two evergreens they started to go after so that may be the next area we fence in this summer.

It is only 36 today after being nearly 50 yesterday. It's gray though so not an encouraging day for outdoor activity. Warmer than Chicago and Wisconsin, but still too cold for me.

Chris, glad you were able to find a work around so you can knit. Do you also crochet? I know you are quite the expert seamstress.

My mother was an accomplished seamstress, knitter and crocheter, but lacked the patience to teach me any of her skill set. I tried, but soon tired of the criticism. I did take sewing in school and have been more successful with those endeavors. I used to make my clothing and things for my children, could do basic alterations (like converting regular slacks into maternity pants when that was the style), have made valences and basic drapes (nothing with pleats), used a serger to make sweat shirts, placemats and table cloths, etc. I have not done much of this lately though.

Once I finish my closet and drawer clear outs, maybe I'll find time to go back to sewing. I bought some patterns to make doll clothes for my old (ancient) Saucy Walker. She needs restringing and new eyes, but I am having a hard time finding doll hospitals in this area. She needs a good refresh because DGD thinks she is spooky because her eyes went wonky from being stored face down. Otherwise she is in good shape and is still wearing her original dress (it is starting to disintegrate due to age). Her hair could use a fix as well, but like most 10 year old's (when I got her) I just needed to be a hairdresser, meaning she has what looks like braided bed hair.

I hope everyone has a great day and waving "hi" to everyone. Stay warm and safe if you are in the path of this storm or if you are also in a very cold area. If you are in a warm area, I'd like to get an invite to visit, lol.

Life is an accomplishment and each moment has a meaning and you must use it.

Jeanne Moreau

Brrr weather a lot of you are having. We have had a mild mild winter. So mild the buds are out. This week though it’s snapped down to zero out there at night. Sunny ++. I’m walking to work today but will be bundled up! Here’s a photo from a recent walk.