So Boudreaux and Thibodeaux swim into a bar...

Unfortunately, there wasn't a whole lot to joke about on my recent trip to New Orleans and Baton Rouge. The city is as bad as the reports suggest; a tour around Kenner and Lakeview and some downtown areas showed the widespread destruction up close and personal. It's hard to imagine people returning to some of the areas and I didn't even go through the worst hit. In some places, every building and house is deserted and damaged, blocks and blocks. In others, the people have those FEMA trailers out front while they try to salvage their houses. The waterline was very visible on just about every surface in some areas - above the doors, to the windows. It was quite unbelievable. And unfortunately, NO recently re-elected Nagin so one can expect that things will not get any better. LA has a pretty incredible history of political corruption (see: Huey P. Long, Edwin Edwards, and now William Jefferson) and the people have come to expect that their elected officials will do nothing. And they don't. And thus, you have a situation where you need competent, honest people in charge of rebuilding a broken city and instead, you get more of the same that led to the original conditions that made New Orleans both uniquely elegant, sadly run-down, and ultimately doomed. In some ways, I am glad my mom is not around to see what became of her birthplace; I know how much it would have devastated and upset her.

All was not lost, however. My extended family held their annual crawfish boil as they do every year. Gumbo, red beans and rice, crawfish eitouffe, etc etc. I also managed a stop in NO to Cafe Dumonde for beignets while visiting friends in Jeff parish. So essentially, a lot of my trip was: eat, drink, repeat. Lots of catching up was done, though not all of my aunts were able to make it. It was not as bittersweet as it was last year so I was able to relax and enjoy. Lordy though, did I eat! One thing you don't want to do is insult my Cajun relatives by not eating. Only a Boudreaux would do that..

A Rose Grows in Brooklyn

Apparently, I took exactly 3 pictures in NYC. Viv and the Mrs had me all liquored up and I forgot I had a camera. Alas, these are all I have...except for the naked ones which be available for a limited time only at $24.95/month for selected members. Please send your credit card info now!



Above: A view of downtown Man from across the East River



Above: Statue of Liberty*



Above: The Brooklyn bridge


* Statue of Liberty is now only applicable for the right kind of immigrants; all others subject to police state tactics. That whole bring us your tired and poor business apparently expired 50 years ago.

Drawing a Blank

Sorry, been way too busy (I haven't even had a chance to post about my trip to NYC and tell stories of p@rn shoping with the Mrs). We're putting our house on the market so it's been two weeks of cleaning/packing/painting/garage sale/goodwill activity. Will post some pix of my trip another time. But I did have to share the good news: Strangers with Candy due out in June/July..finally!

Start spreading the news..

So I'm off this Thurs for a trip to the East Coast. Heading into NYC to visit the haunts of my literary hero and her consort. I am concerned though that the media will get wind of my impending visit and my exploits will be splashed across the Daily News. But, if you've worked in the entertainment business as long as I have, you come to expect the pap to stalk your every move and blind items "leaked" to the rags. What can you do? I do hope to keep a low profile, but don't be surprised if you see a few Gawker Stalker items. On this trip, I will also be visiting not one, but two former gfs! Yes, we gals always stay friends with our ex's, it's true. (Ok, mostly true). I'm looking forward to it quite a bit actually. It's handy having a bunch of friends conveniently located in a small geographical area. I do hope it's spring out there, I have no idea what the weather is like..it's 70 here. I guess Nor'easters still happen out that way this time of year? Lordy, life above the Mason-Dixon line...

In other news, we're starting the harrowing process of selling a house/buying a house. Suffice to say it shall be hellish, but hopefully worth it in the end. We're living in suburbia right now in a city that has as much soul as Albany, NY or similar smallish capital cities in most states (How much soul do they have you ask? None I say). We're looking for some country property with some acreage and outbuildings. We're off this afternoon to look at an 8-acre property with apple trees and a small horse barn. I'm gonna take us off the grid as soon as possible; I'll be churning butter and darning socks by candlelight in no time! How quaint! If we find something like that, you better believe we will have some goats and other possible farmyard animals. Until that time, I'm dealing with getting this house ready to sell and getting our shit packed up and stored. The only thing I'll miss about this house are the flowers and plants I've already put in. Don't think I won't be back in the fall to dig up my mom's peony bushes and transplant them. They're already about knee high right now, not sure if they'll bloom this year or not; they're still traumatized from the first transplanting. But they're going with me hell/high water.

Ok, I've got things to see, people to do...wish me luck while I'm in the Big City. If need be, I have been promised safety and comfort in the welcoming bosoms of Viv and Mrs. Ta-ta, as they say...

Long Shot

So I've been gearing up this past week for a canoe trip with the Agent this weekend. We'll be on the river for 4 days so that entails lots of gear situating and list making. Should be a good time, we're both looking forward to getting away from peeps. We're taking the baby dog with us and I know she'll be loving it. We're boarding the big dog (since she's a runner); wish we could take her too but don't want to chance her running off and the baby dog following and thus losing them both. I'm a little paranoid about being out of phone contact for four days (cells don't work, we're in the middle of nowhere). I've become very wary of missing late night emergency phone calls; I'm hoping no one dies while we're gone and they can't track me down (morbid but true). I am now officially attempting to let go of that paranoia.

(And I got a 1 hr massage today and a chiropractic adjustment - talk about heaven. If I were a rich woman, I'd hire a 24/7 masseuse...and throw in extra for a happy ending! Oh, stop! Like you wouldn't too..)

Other than that, spent the last week enjoying lots of women's bball action, NCAA plus WNBA draft. The NCAA champ game was awesome, way better than the men's. OT and a new champ, always a good thing. Plus the Storm drafted well so I'm happy.

Flaming Lips have a new CD out, will be getting that soon for sure. But right now, I have to purge a song that's been going through my head for weeks! I need to get it out before I'm out in the wilderness and have it stuck for even longer. Here, you take it:

You fucked it up
You should’ve quit
Till circumstances
Had changed a bit

You fucked it up
You jumped the gun
I swore you off but
You climbed back on

And when you said
Of course you know
Could I be blamed
If I’d wished it so
I don’t think so

You fucked it up
Or was it you
’cause when you said it
I said it too
What of it

And all that stuff
I knew before
Just turned into
Please love me more

Long Shot - Aimee Mann

Viva la Revolution!

Here is a picture my French friend sent to me of the marches that are occuring in her city (and in which she is participating). When she was staying with me several years ago, we took her to a peace rally here (it was right before the war in Iraq) and on the same day, there was a smaller rally at the statehouse to decriminalize same-sex sex (of course, we were eventually helped with the Supreme Court ruling shortly thereafter). Anyway, my French friend on one of her first days in the country was in a picture on the front page of our local newpaper marching with us. Apparently, the current protests over there are quite larger than is reported; she hasn't worked for 3 weeks en solidarite'. She's my little Revolutionary resistance fighter and I couldn't be more proud.

Red beans and rice

So tonight, we went over to a friend's place for dinner and I decided to make red beans and rice. The gal hosting it is from Louisiana so she was all over it and I have our cajun family recipe. Here you go:

Louisiana Red Beans and Rice

1 lb of Camilla brand red kidney beans (dry beans)
2 Tbs bacon grease (yes, I know)
1 medium yellow onion
1 sm can of diced green chilies
1/2 lb of pork tasso (or you can substitute andouille sausage b/c tasso is hard to find)
Tony Chachere's seasoning to taste

Thoroughly wash beans, then place in big pot and add water until it's about 2 inches above the beans. Add bacon grease and bring to a boil. Add in pork and Tony's seasoning to taste (be careful b/c it's very salty, a few shakes is all you need) and turn to low, cover and let simmer 1.5 hours. Then add the onions and chilies, cook on low another 1.5 hours. Serve over cooked white rice with buttered and toasted french bread sprinkled with garlic salt. Le Bon Temps Roule!

Reason # 367

Or why opposites attract:

Recently, one of the Agent's older female friends went to a concert (she won some tix) by a certain female singer and got backstage passes. The Agent was quite jealous; her friend reciprocated by having said singer sign a poster to give to the Agent. Soon, this poster will be hanging on some wall in close proximity, work or home office, not sure. Historical tidbit: My mom had this singer's 8-track tape and we used to listen to it on our stereo console player. Current fact: The Agent is two years younger than I am.

Who is this mystery singer? I wish I were kidding.

Now, listen, if this were someone else similar, you'd hear no complaints from me. I like cheese. But I have to draw the line somewhere in contemporary times and say enough is enough. And, frankly, enough is enough is enough is enough...

Coup de Ville

Perhaps you might be wondering what I've been doing the last month. Perhaps, instead, you've been wondering where you've misplaced your keys. Or maybe you have March Madness. Perhaps you have been working hard in your cubicle or office, doing very important things, maybe even saving the world, but deep down, if you let yourself think about it, you know you are pushing proverbial paper in the never-ending quest to make life matter, to find meaning in your daily existence, to know that you are doing something, anything, to pass the time between birth and death in such a way as to make waking a pleasure, or at least not a burden, and maybe it's just the simple joy of breathing or rather, the inevitable act of breathing that keeps you moving forward towards something or nothing, depending upon your viewpoint. In the end, it matters not the particulars. A great big Oooohhhmmmm, if you will. No beginning, no end.

But wait! Hark! There was a beginning and there now, finally, is an end! Infinity reborn! Reading this has occupied my last month and I hope it will yours as well. Six +/- years is but a short flicker of time to wait for the planets to align and my hero, Miss V, to complete her masterpiece. Enjoy!

Yes, Virginia, I do exist

Long time no.

I wish I had something exciting to report. Alas, I have not been off securing world peace or sipping martinis in Fiji. Instead, I've been spending my mornings sipping Diet Pepsi and reading the paper while watching my newfound (and secret) obsession, American Chopper. Lordy, I don't know what it is about Pauly and Sr, but I am all over that testosterone. I'm not even all that into motorcycles, but damn I love me some fabrication! Who knew?

What else? Planning a trip out to Portland in a few weeks to see some friends, looking forward to drinking lots of wine, cooking, and playing gee-tar with them. I went to grad school with M; love her and miss her lots. We will also be doing some work out there on a few projects she's got going. As it happens, the trip coincides with one of the Agent's training deals so she'll be out there as well (speaking of, she's off now eavesdropping on your phone calls so I'm bacheloretting it up here - love it! Only downside is cleaning the house before she gets back, when I'm on my own, I tend to be less than conscientious re: housekeeping -- too busy with all the cocaine and strippers!). We're also planning a trip down to the Keys in April for some vac time. Suffice to say, we both need some sun and sand because lord knows, I've been working harder than a dog lately. ;) Then off to NYC in May for work and the pleasure of visiting my favorite burlesque performer, Miss Anastasia Beaverhausen. Yes, Viv and I will be working on our off-off-way off-Broadway show "6 to 9", essentially a reworking of that Dolly Parton classic, 9 to 5 -- only set in a whorehouse with Jann Wenner as the Boss; hoping that Mrs Viv will take on Jane Fonda role *fingers crossed*

I am also lovingly growing a Chia-elephant I received as a gift for X-mas. It's sprouting. I had been wishing for a Chia-Christ but one takes what one receives.

Oh, so I bought the new Beth Orton (it was ok, not on par with Central Reservation - I worry she'll never meet that standard for me again). But the best find was (and I do recommend) KT Tunstall. Her voice is a little like Sarah Harmer, though a bit stronger. It's a great CD, worth a listen.

That's about it from here..you'd think I'd have the time to update more. Slacker.

ps. Is there any cuter dog on the planet than my baby?

Comfort of Strangers

Woo! Beth Orton has a new album out tomorrow. I'm so there. Unfortunately, looks like the closest she'll be to here is Denver or Chi-town. Damn, damn damn.

Running down a central reservation
in last night's red dress,
And I can still smell you on my fingers
and taste you on my breath;
Stepping through brilliant shades,
All the color you bring,
This time, this time, this time,
Is fine just as it is. -- Central Reservation

Senator McMurphy

Fine, when you have my young crush on China Beach's Dana Delany and put her in a power suit as a senator about to seduce Bette, well I'm sorry but my one of my TV fantasies was (almost) realized. Damn you and your lack of arrangments, Bette!

Coming up close

One night in Iowa, he and I in a borrowed car
went driving in the summer, promises at every star
out in the distance I could hear some people laughing
I felt my heart beat back a weekends' worth of sadness

There was a farm house that had long since been deserted
we stopped and carved our thoughts into the wooden surface
we thought just for an instant we could see the future
we thought for once we knew what really was important

Coming up close
everything sounds like welcome home
Come home
and oh, by the way
don't you know that I could make
a dream that's barely half the way come true
I wanted to say --
but anything I could have said
I felt somehow that you already knew

We got back in the car and listened to a Dylan tape
We drove around the fields until it started getting late
I went back to my hotel room on the highway
And he just got back in his car and drove away -- 'Til Tuesday

Aimee Mann - pt 2

I've got tix for tonight's show, what better way to celebrate being back here than that?

WPT

So I'm currently in the Hoosier state and the only way I'm staying sane is playing me some poker -- Texas Hold'em and 7 card stud. I'm up $30 bucks so far this trip so that will help with the gas money back. I've been playing poker ever since I was old enough to hold cards; my grandma and great grandma were notorious parlor-gamblers with the penny-anty. I had my own velvet bag of pennies and silver for when I came to visit and we'd get the cards out. Crazy 8s was my personal favorite back then, but these days, I like a little bit more competition. If I go to a casino, I only play the poker machines because at least skill counts for something. The other machines you rely on nothing but the machine to stop on your cherries (dirty!). But I digress. Tonight is a Texas Hold'em tourney and my plan is to at least get to the final table. Unfortunately, I haven't been playing long enough and some of the other folks playing are pretty darn good so we shall see. Payout can be over $300. Who needs a job when you can gamble? ;)

Other than that, my time here has been depressing. I was hoping it would be better than last time, and it is in some respects. But overall, the Hoosier state still makes me sad. I'm heading back home on Sat and looking forward to it...a week away is a long time.

Not Dead (Yet)

Still here!

How times flies though, it's the middle of Jan already and I barely feel like I've started my time off. But it's been quite nice, sleeping in, reading the paper every morning, letting the day take me where it wants. Lots of trips to the dog park, cooking, and reading*. I've also been working on my second Adirondack chair after a bit of a hiatus. It's not coming along as smoothly as the previous one, but I think it will come out fine. So, all in all, I've been busy, but not busy (in the traditional sense). It's great feel unencumbered; I know it won't last and who knows if I'll get another opportunity, so I'm going to enjoy it for as long as needed. I figure I'll know when the right time is to go back into the workforce (and I do feel lucky/privileged to be financially able to do this; most people can't).

Finally, here is the recipe for the black been enchilada/quesadilla casserole I made last night. Great for taking your time and enjoying a glass of red wine while cooking:

----------------
1 can black beans
2 cans enchilada sauce
1 small can corn
1 tomato
1 medium onion
1 green pepper (red also if they aren't $$)
4 cloves garlic
1/2 cup green onions
Flour or wheat tortillas
Enough cheddar/jack cheese to make you happy
Oven 350 degrees

Saute the diced onions, peppers, and garlic in a skillet w/ olive oil. When onions turn translucent, add diced tomatoes, black beans, and corn. Simmer on low, stirring occasionally. Add cayenne or chili powder as desired. After about 10 minutes, add a small pat of butter to melt in and thicken bean mix. Meanwhile, heat up the enchilada sauce in a separate pot. After the black bean mix is soft and thick, prepare to layer. In the bottom of a casserole dish, spoon enough enchilada sauce to cover bottom. Cut or tear tortillas to make a layer. Then add a layer of beans, then enchilada sauce, then cheese. Repeat as needed. Pop in oven and allow to cook about 20 minutes or so. You'll know when it's done, bubbly and melted. Great for leftovers.

--------------------

*I'm really enjoying The Self-Aware Universe..I'm still processing the info, but I picked up some interesting insights into spirituality/mysticism/science that seem to gel with some of my own thoughts/experiences. (Renee, I want to catch up with you when I've read more and have had some time to let it soak in and make sense). It's definitely a good read, but is one of those kind of books that need reflection/contemplation. I've been thinking of it on and off in quiet moments and chit-chatting about it with some friends so the ideas are there on the stove, slow-cooking.

Lead

And now for something completely different, I found a new poem by Mary Oliver to love.

Lead

Here is a story
to break your heart.
Are you willing?
This winter
the loons came to our harbor
and died, one by one
of nothing we could see.
A friend told
of one on the shore
that lifted its head and opened
the strong, elegant beak
and cried out
in the long, sweet, savoring of its life
which, if you have heard it,
you know is a sacred thing,
and for which, if you have not heard it,
you had better hurry to where
they still sing.
And, believe me, tell no one
just where that is.
The next morning
this loon—speckled,
irredescent, with a plan
to fly home
to some hidden lake --
was dead on the shore.
I tell you this
to break your heart --
by which I mean only
that it breaks open, and never closes again,
to the rest of the world. -- Mary Oliver

I particularly like the last 5 lines, which reframes a familiar painful concept into something positive.

This is the way that they List and loooovvve

So this is how I'm spending my time off, listing the order in which I'd like to sample the L Word girls. Sad, shallow, and true. But can you match the reasons why with the right person?

WHO

1. Carmen
2. Bette
3. Dana
4. Shane
5. Tina
6. Lara
7. Alice
..and in the if-I-must* category:
8. Helena
9. Jenny

WHY (not in order)

a. girl next door + bfast in bed
b. benefactor with benefits
c. laugh, sex, laugh, repeat
d. two words: best rack
e. might be scary enough to be fun
f. stamina + smile = winner
g. nurturing, comfort sex
h. two more words: power suits
i. would go down on me in a theater


*Not that they're unattractive but jesus, their characters...

Am I missing anyone?

Rock me hard place

Aye, so yesterday, I hiked out with the Fool and we camped out at an area lake. The weather was beautiful and it was a perfect day/night for camping. I took the Baby Dog (who has been crashed all day since we got home; very tired from all that running and exploring and swimming) and we had a great time. However, I'm a light sleeper and I have a really hard time when I camp so basically I finally fell asleep for about an hour or so at 430am. In that time, I tried to get comfortable (failed) and listened to a pack of wild coyotes running and howling up on the ridge not far from my tent. They make really strange noises and at one point, it sounded like a pack of monkeys. I don't mind sharing space with wildlife (in fact, the bald eagles are in town and I saw two of them while I was out there) and I love nothing more than hanging by the fire. However, my body has informed me that it does not appreciate the lack of sleep and the huge stick I apparently slept on all night. Good times...

If it weren't for the season premier of the L Word tonight (which I did not like), I would have been in bed hours ago, sleeping in comfort. Alas, I'm headed horizontal right now. Good night!

ps. cheet, I've had two dreams in a row with you in it which makes me wonder how you're doing. I'ma gonna email you to make sure I'm not having premonitions. fbtcn

Regrets, I had a few

So this year, I *finally* made it to my friend's mom's New Years Day pagan breakfast celebration. Or as I like to call it: Mimosas in the Morning. For the past 5 years, my friend's mom has had these early morning NY day gatherings with like-minded liberal ladies and my friend and her partner. I have been invited for the past 3 years to attend and have made promises to do so. However, in previous years, I had been foolish with the libations the night before and have been unable to wake up at 630am to go out there (or if I have been awake, I was in no shape to do so). This year I made a promise to myself to moderate and make it there. (I thought I'd leave the boozing and boobies to Vivvy and the Mrs...who did not disappoint!)

So, my friend A and I got up and went out there crack-o-dawn. It was actually a great time and I'm so glad I made it. We started off with some coffee, then progressed to champagne for the rest of the morning. There was a fire outside and our first ritual was to write down our regrets from the previous year for burning and letting go. I went ahead and filled out several cards from the previous years just to catch up. We also each had a bay leaf to put in the fire, which in some ritual meant again burning and letting go of a specific problem from the last year that would keep us from starting anew. Lots of champagne. Then a lovely b-fast followed by writing down our hopes for the new year to be opened next NY's morning. There was also a book to share thoughts or poems or comments that represent something meaningful. We followed this all up with a great hike through my friend's property which is very large and wooded with fields etc. It was a very cool way to take some time to reflect and start anew. The day itself was unseasonably warm and sunny (like in the 60s); it was a perfect end to the morning. I'm really glad I made it this year and I hope to do so again next year. I didn't realize how much I would get out of it, but I felt like it helped put the last couple of years into perspective and help me focus on the upcoming year.

Then yesterday, the Agent and I went into Kansas City to piddling around on the Plaza, have lunch and do a little shopping etc. It was nice to get a chance to spend some good quality time with her out of the house and doing something. We both enjoyed it. And I came home with a nice big hunk of Parmesan Reggiano, some homemade gnocchi, and some Arborio rice for rissoto.

All in all, a good start to the year. Hope yours ended and started as well as mine.

ps. Tonight, the Texas game on tap...we'll get a chance to see where we *really* stand.