Still alive....

Ok, y’all.....for any of you that are actually following this blog, let me tell you we are still alive....barely!

Haven’t written in a while (ovbiously) because having just too much fun or too tired, or just not motivated. Stories abound about NOLA, Mardi Gras, local cuisine, local characters, sore feet, and fickled weather. Will be glad to entertain any of you preferably over a beer. You buy, of course!

Our stint in NO is over. We are on the road home. Currently holed up in Kerville, Texas. Left our humble shotgun home in Algiers Point on Thurs. First stop was Urgent Care for Sarah to get antibiotics, codeine for cough and a nebulizer. She developed asthma progressing to bronchitis on Mardi Gras day. I was actually a bit worried about her but she is getting better slowly. And since we share everything, I now have fever, congestion, and a cough. Self medicating with Rye and guaifensen. Not getting better for feeling better! So we are still alive and headed west.

The NOLA “what’s happening”...

http://www.whereyat.com/index

2/2/18. Happy Groundhogs day

2/2/18  Mudbugs...

Yesterday I was on a mission to stop by Gambino’s bakery to order a King Cake and have it shipped to all my friends and coworkers at Cascade Hospice. After being informed it was going to cost $40 to ship a $15 cake....well, sorry y’all. We are enjoying the cake! We also got a couple of slices of Doberge cake (google it) for a nostalgic hit from my childhood. (There’s a Gambino in Baton Rouge). Sarah says she’s never eaten so much cake in her life. On the way home we stopped at J & J Seafood to check out their offerings. Left there with 2 lbs of boiled crawfish and a couple of corn on the cobs. Hurried home, cracked open a Dixie, spread newspaper on the porch table and dug in. Took Sarah a while to master the pinching tail technique and never did embrace the pleasure of head sucking but certainly seemed enjoyed the feast anyway. Spiced enough to burn the lips. But in a good way. Distressed about the amount of waste, Sarah boiled all the shells in an attempt to make stock. Tasted like spiced boiled socks so we tossed it. 

This morning got a call from Steve to meet at Kermit’s Treme Mother-in-Law Lounge ( https://www.kermitstrememotherinlawlounge.com/ ) for their Friday fish fry and music. Getting buzzed in at the door we joined Steve and a couple of friends for a little day drinking (“hey, it’s New Orleans. That’s what they do here”) and ordered up a couple of plates of catfish. After 2 beers and no fish despite watching a steady line of to-go orders disappear out the door we decided we may be recipients of not so subtle discrimination (it is after all a private social club with a monitored front door!) and left. Across the street we were happily fed oyster and catfish poboys. 

Being in the neighborhood, we drove around the Treme area for a while trying to imagine the crisis and destruction that happened here during Katrina. Altho most homes have been rebuilt or, after 13 years, still being renovated, there are scattering of buildings boarded up or just neglected into ruin. Several of the big hospitals, including “Big Charity” have never reopened. Foundations of jagged concrete and brick sit silently in vacant lots. The occasional car or truck rusts in a blanket of weeds. With time to spare and no where to be until March, we explored Armstrong Park and Congo Square where, in the 1800s, slaves were allowed to meet on Sundays to dance and socialize. A rare permission for most. With their African beats and Haiti rhythm many contribute this to the basis for Jazz. Crossing Rampart into the Quarter we strolled around gawking at the tourists allowing Herman to soak in the continual praises of just how cute he is. Getting caught up in the sidelines for the Krewe of Cork, I lose Sarah as I’m trying to calm Herman who is a bit discombobulated to witness his first marching band, only to look up to see Sarah dancing and twirling arm in arm with a Krewe member trying to keep his wine in his goblet. If this is how she is acting with one of the first and very minor parades, I can hardly wait till Mardi Gras Day.

All about Mardi Gras

Little publication put out by the local grocery chain, Rouses gives a good overview and insight into Mardi Gras.

https://yourgms.cld.bz/Rouses-January-February-2018-60