Yesterday it was silliness and fun. Today I bring you babies and kittens. My friend Amy called me yesterday afternoon and told me that the person that had agreed to watch three 6 week old kittens had backed out and would I mind doing it? She tempted me with the use of her car as well, which really the kittens were the winners there. She brought them over last night and they are just too adorable. One is all white with big blue eyes, another has brownish/grayish coat with black stripes and gray eyes and the other one, well I would say almost a putty color with blue eyes. Two boys, one girl. They are still being fed via syringe. Actually only two are. The white one marched right up to the bowl of milk and drank his fill that way. Then he ran off too play as the other two climbed on me for the syringe. I will be watching them for a week. Liza Jane (my cat) hates me right now and the other two seem fine. OH I also start house/dog sitting on Saturday for someone else. Maybe I just need to make a career out of this?

On to the baby part. This month my beautiful niece is making her way here to NOLA for a visit. In about two weeks and a few days. I hear she is taking swim lessons already, just over a year old and it looks like she maybe a water baby.

She is looking so much like my sister in this pic!! It is crazy, I can't wait to see her again (of course my sister and BIL as well) I just hope Aubrey doesn't cry when she sees me!!

We have a new addition into the household. A kitten tentatively called Izzy. She adopted our front porch about a month ago. She showed up skin and bones and just wanted to be loved. We of course, the softies, provided the food. She would show up every evening and eat, snuggle and meow whenever we went inside. It became apparent soon thereafter that not only was she gaining weight from the now constant food, she was also pregnant. This sweet kitten was not even a year old and she had gotten it on! Kristen wrestled over the fact that the kitten was expecting and was wondering what to do. Take the kitten in for herself or just let her be a porch cat. I would have taken her in a second, had I been able to afford another cat. Finally last week some point Kristen did decide to adopt her as her own. She set up an appointment with her vet for early on Friday morning. This is were it got a tad tricky. We knew the time frame she came and hung out on the porch. 6-7 in the evening to sometime in the morning. We would have to crate her in that time. We didn't want to bring her into the house until we were sure she didn't have anything that would pass on to our cats. We also didn't want to crate her for a long period of time. So at 2 in the morning on Friday found Kristen and I trying to wrestle and pregnant kitten into a cardboard crate.

The prognosis of the kitten was good. Carrying no disease, a little malnourished and an issue with a tooth, but other than that, she was good. The babies she was carrying was another story. In fact the Vet couldn't detect heartbeats. Izzy was spayed on Monday. She is no long carrying kittens. It was the one thing I said to Kristen I didn't want to know about. However I do. It isn't an easy decision, but knowing the kittens were not surviving at that point made it a bit easier. Saturday Kristen left town to go to Maine. Izzy made her way to her new home on Tuesday. She has been staying in the bathroom for the time being, so her and the other two cats can get to know each other through the door. My cat didn't seem too keen at first on the new addition but seems to be doing better. Kristen's cat doesn't really seem to care and Izzy is just happy to be somewhere warm. She is still the sweetest thing. She even seems to drool a little like my sister's cat Felix does when getting loved.

Other than the vase shattering in the bathtub on her first night, there has been no disasters. I did leave the bathroom door open yesterday evening and observed the normal hissing/growling dominace dance. I did finally bring her out to the living room because she didn't seem to want to move out on her own. She did find a hiding spot where she hung out for awhile. I couldn't find her this morning right away, she had found herself a real good hiding spot under the recliner. She is back in the bathroom today, and her human mama will finally be home this evening. I am going to gladly hand over the med giving duty to her and let them bond properly.

My cat wont stop crawling on me. She is purring very loudly. She likes the days that I get to stay home. I totally forgot that we got today off until just recently. I plan on spending this spring day visiting cajun country with some friends. Then taking in some wonderful music of Paul Sanchez at his CD release party. The rest of the weekend will stretch out ahead.

I hope everyone has a happy spring!!

PS it took me 20 mins to write this because of said happy cat. :)

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving and gets to spend a lot of time with family and friends. Don't eat too much turkey or watch too much football! I will probably do that for everyone!

What am I thankful for this year?

* My family
* My friends
* My cat
* My health
* the fact there was no hurricanes
* lots of good time

I finally got my pictures on a disk. I have pics from all the away at the beginning of August. Including this one of Liza Jane. So until I get them labeled and all that jazz....enjoy her cuteness.

Last night we had a delivery of things for Aubrey's visit. A pac-n-play and a little bouncy chair. There is a company you can use when out travelling with your kids called Baby's Away. It is a company that rents all kind of items that you may need, but don't have room to take or don't want to lug onto a plane.

My cat has decided that the two items that are now in the house? Are for her. I crawled into bed, the pac-n-play is set up right next to it, as Lisa and Scott will be using my room while in town. Liza crawled into the pac-n-play and started checking it out. She even laid in it for a bit. Eventually she crawled out. She later decided it was a good hiding place when her and Max are playing. She would come tearing into my bedroom and vault off my stomach into the pac-n-play. Apparently when she got tired of that? She curled up in the bouncy chair and took a snooze. Can't wait to see what she does once the baby is here.

I have not had a full night of sleep in just over a week. At first it was various things. Now it is one thing and one thing only.

The Cats. More specifically, one cat.

We have always had the problem of Max (Kristen's cat) trying to eat Liza's food (my cat). See Max is on a diet. He gets special food. Which he doesn't like it. I mean come on, if your on a diet and someone gets better food than you, you are gonna go after it. Oh that is just me? nevermind. Anyway....Max has now taken this to a new level. I take it because we are in a much smaller space and he is feeling more comfortable in this house, but he has taken to waking me up at night by purring and meowing and kneading on me, all to wake me up so I will feed him. Kristen has gotten so she can ignore him. However this is all new to me. This is a STRONG cat. I have bruises from his kneading. Last night I got a mini back massage from him, as he tried to wake me up. He also suceeded in waking Kristen up as well, by knocking Liza's metal dish out of the plastic container it rests in. Onto the hard wood floor.

Where is my cat during all of this? She is off moping somewhere, she is a tad bit upset with me. She now has to wear a collar with a tag on it, and she HATES it.

The life of a cat is rough.

Please make sure your smoke detectors work!! My friend and old housemate's did not. There was a fire at their house on Tuesday night. They got two of the four cats out. My poor Fritzel Ditzel didn't make it. :( Well he wasn't mine, but he was Liza's boyfriend!! She has missed him since he moved. They don't know if the house is rebuildable or not. They were almost done remodeling it. Have a plan, check your smoke detectors.

Finding out that my eyes are fine. That they didn't have to do a laser treatment. YAY!!

Also waking up in the middle of the night, hot as hell because you have 3 kitties curled up on the bed.

Spending time with friends.

Today I have my eye appointment. I am hoping that the doctor just says that he needs to laser any holes in the retina closed, which he does in office at the time of the visit. Hope, pray and send good mojo that I don't need another surgery!! It is a fear everytime I go to this doctor.

On a more positive, fun note. (to keep myself distracted) here are some funny/happy things that have happened.

Sunday I was waiting for the bus across the street from Walgreens on Carrollton. There are a few trees and in those trees there were about 5 billion birds. I was leaving a voicemail for Kristy and pretty much the whole thing was "shit, a bird just shit on me. On my pants. Shit, another one just did the same thing...in my hair....now my shoulder." I don't know if I actually said anything beyond the bird shit count. Isn't that suppose to be good luck??? It was actually quite amusing....after I showered.
Yesterday morning I got in my co-workers car and she said your hair is white. Yes my hair had frozen. I had gone outside with wet hair (never seem to run on time) and it was FREEZING outside. The short wait I had for her to show up, froze my hair. Which would partially explain why it looked like hell yesterday. However I never thought my hair would freeze down here!!
Last night as I finished up my book, and watched "How I Met Your Mother" (funniest...ending...EVER) Maxwell (Kristen's cat) decided the best place to lay was on my lap. He has been doing that lately...this did not make my cat pleased....so later she curled up UNDER the blanket. I woke up around 3 this morning in my bedroom and both cats were curled up on my bed...on top of me. I am not going to freeze at night if they keep this up!! :)
Happy Birthday goes out to one of the sweetest, hardest working musicians in NOLA....someone who I am lucky enough to call my friend, Mr. Craig Klein!!!

New Picture of Lil Liza Jane. She loves plastic buckets.

Kristy gets a bone call from Chickie Wah Wah

Rick Trolsen, Craig Klein, and Mark Mullins of Bonerama singing "Louie's Perch" at Chickie Wah Wah.

I may or may not have been sippin on Craig's JD during one of Mullins' solos. You decide

Liza Jane on the right with her new friend Fritzel.

At the end of August a new kitty moved into our household. He looks a lot like my lil Liza Jane, however he does not have the white belly or the chest. Actually, he has a few white hairs there. He is about a year old now, and this was his first experience with other kitties. Liza Jane and Maxwell get along just fine. As a matter of fact we often say they are boyfriend and girlfriend. It always takes a few days or weeks for the kitties to all get aquintated. It seems to be taking a lot longer for Liza and Fritz (or as I call him Fritzel Ditzel) to become friends. There have been a few loud fights, but even those seem to coming to a halt. I have even caught Liza bathing Fritz on occasion.

Over the weekend, Fritz's mama was out of town. I noticed at one point that his neck appeared swollen, however I didn't investigate it that much. I thought I was imaging things. On Monday, Fritz's neck was all wet. We were trying to figure out if Liza had given him a good bath, or if even Maxwell had. Perhaps he fell in some water. His mama cleaned him up just in case. (who knows what he could have gotten into)

Yesterday, there was a new development. There is a section of fur gone in that area under his neck. You wouldn't notice it unless you look, however it is still a large section gone. And in the middle of that? A big old hole. It could be a puncture wound. That is what we are thinking it is. Most likely from my kitty!! Now Max and Fritz have fought, but it is mainly my cat and Fritz that get into it. I caught her trying to lick that area on him yesterday, which could explain the fur gone in that area now. Fritz is acting completely fine, playing, running, eating, purring. He is going to the vet today to have it checked out. I can't believe my baby would do that!! They were loving up on each other most of yesterday, so hopefully this is a one time thing.

Liza has had her share of war wounds as well, from another cat. I guess she just got really pissed at Fritz.

This weekend went zooming past and I felt as though I had barely anytime to breath let alone sleep. I did find time for both however. It all started on Thursday. For the first time since the thing, I went out to Preservation Hall. It is not back open every day, I believe just Thursday-Saturday, possibly Sunday. If you have never heard of Preservation Hall it is one of THE best places to hear live music. That is all there is….just some benches and the music. No food, no drinks. I took in a set and a few songs….the place was packed, however I have seen it even more crowded. I then ran up to Palm Court which just re-opened after being closed over the summer. Some places do that here, since the summer it isn’t that busy with tourists. I ended up hanging out with some friends way to late that night. At some point in the evening I had decided “I am going to be tired tomorrow, so one more drink won’t hurt”, it really didn’t. Friday after work we ran down to the Quarter so I could pick up my BTE tickets. I decided I had too much other things going on and sold the ticket for Friday. We then had dinner and then headed to the BEST new club in New Orleans, Chickie Wah Wah. Dale the owner has to be one of the hardest working bar owners, and the nicest. Bonerama had a great set there, with a special guest. I don’t want to say who it was until I can get my pictures uploaded. It was unique and interesting!! Saturday was a day of wrecking. It was a short day, but we got a lot done. Saturday night it was to the Maple Leaf for a little PBS. Yesterday I spent a majority of the day at Tipitina’s. Bonerama was playing/teaching kids! It was a very cool experience. Most of the guys with kids had them out there. There were several talented kids up there on that stage and it is was great to see their parents encouraging them! Tips rocks for bringing back this series. It is happening every Sunday afternoon….they bring in a new musical act/musician every week. Part of my time there was spent making sure Bert and Greg were updated on the Saint’s score, while keeping the information from Mullins as he was taping the game. I don’t think he found out till he watched the game that they won. I thought for sure one of his boys was going to tell him!! I spent the rest of the afternoon watching movies. Relaxing…..enjoying the rainy windy afternoon snuggled up on the couch with a kitty. Now onto a new week and new adventures.

I was asleep by 9:30 last night. It was one of the most fantastic nights of sleep I have gotten in awhile.

Remember how I said that yesterday was the only day free of live music? Yeah, I lied. I had forgotten that Tin Men were at LMF yesterday. Got to check that out, and they are so much fun. Not only do I recommend both CDs very highly but seeing them live is even that much better.

I am a little stressed about my cat. My baby. My lil' liza jane. The other day in one of my few moments home, I noticed there was something "off" on her. I picked her up to snuggle and noticed right below her eye, there was a small patch of fur gone. It was a little red. Seems that the rough housing with the other two cats got a little nasty. So we put some hydroproxide on it, and she seemed to be fine. I checked on it periodically the past few days. Last night when I got home, it was a bigger patch now....again all red. Kristen said they put peroxide on it again. It doesn't seem to bug her too much, it was a little swollen last night, it seemed better this morning. I don't know how this is happening. Could be the cats playing....maybe she scratched it herself? Toby could be licking that area as well on her. He was trying to do that last night after I got home. I am afraid that I am gonna go home and her eye will be missing. Nothing like a good stress for the day right?

Gig for Bonerama on Friday was full of lots of new fans. It was an...interesting crowd to say the least. I almost sold out of CDs....I did start out with a small amount....sold like 12? 14? More than past weekends.....this coming Friday is the Krewe of Oak ball at the Maple Leaf, so its going to get insane there. A good insane. I can't wait.

Saturday we headed out to the parades....we decided to go downtown, where we could watch the parades, then run over and catch the ferry so we could get to the Orpheus Open House. It was damn cold out on Saturday. Too damn cold. For here? Yeah....we froze our asses off, but it was worth it. We got a spot right off Canal on St. Charles. Have never done a parade that close to Canal before. We yelled and screamed for the MAX band....St. Mary, St. Aug and Xavier Prep combined band. The best of the best. This is one of my roomies first Mardi Gras, and she was having a good time. Finally around 2:40, we took off for the ferry. By the time the ferry left our side, Hank and Gayle had had enough of the coldness over in the warehouses of Mardi Gras World. We were instructed to take lots of pictures of float #14 Thunder and Drums as someone's camera ran out of battery juice. (it really didn't but that is a different funnier story for another time) We took lots of pictures and Kristen got to see the floats up close for the first time (our other roomie bailed as she was too cold). We then met up with Hank and Gayle at, I think it was Dry Dock Bar....right across the street from the ferry....were we drank, ate, and laughed for several hours. I can't wait for the ball and the parade and just more general craziness with those guys. Bacchus will be saaaaaassssssssy!!!!

Sunday Kristen and I had a yummy breakfast, then? We went to more parades. Same spot as the day before, but across the street. Carrollton is my fav of the smaller Krewes and they did not disappoint!!! I even was thrown a stuffed bear....in a devil costume....how did that person know????? After the two parades rolled, we high-tailed it into the Quarter and caught some of the Barkus parade. Barkus...is well a parade for the dogs. Really. It was very cute and some of those dogs were adorable. Okay they all were. This parade lasted for like almost 2 hours....we then headed over to Cafe Du Monde.....loaded up on sugary goodness...then home. I got all comfy on the recliner with my blanket and book.....pretty soon Liza and Max (Kristen's cat) settled in my lap and I started to fall asleep....like at 8 at night.....it was the perfect end to a perfect weekend.

I can't describe the feeling of happiness that swept over me when that first parade was seen coming down The Avenue.....it was amazing. Everyone was just having a great time. Next parades roll on Thursday, and I will be there!! I have instructions on where to go stand for Muses, as our downstairs neighbor is riding.....maybe I will get a shoe!!!!

I will post some pics of the floats when I get home, they are all on the home computer.

Really hates having her picture taken

So glad to see after having her bed for a year and a half she is finally using it.


as I type this she is climbing into library bookselves. She rocks

Last night Adam, Carrie and I headed out to the Baton Rouge area to have dinner with two of my most favoritist people. It was alot of fun, nice and relaxing. Even if almost everyone was in bad moods when we got there...it quickly cleared up. Gayle and Hank always make me laugh. Even if I didn't get to hear all the stories because someone wouldn't finish them. ;)

If I am at home for more than two minutes today I may post the pic of my new tattoo. Maybe even a few of my very cute and sweet kitty who has forgotten who I am. I have had a lot of fun this past week, but I am damn tired. The big plans this evening are grocery shopping (starting that scary word today, you know the one "diet") and taking down some Christmas decorations. That may wait until this weekend though. I don't know. I really just want to sit down and read. Since I read 58 (?) last year I am challenging myself to read 68. I think I read a page yesterday. I better get my butt in gear. However what I just bought today, may not help in anyway. I finally sucked it up and got Tivo. Now I won't miss any more eppies of Scrubs, Will and Grace, Lost, anything with Harry, How I Met your Mother, and whatever else I get sucked into watching. I really can't wait to see Skating with Celebraties. I have a feeling I will be laughing my ass off while watching that one.

It was a relaxing yet productive weekend. I "slept in" on Saturday to 7:30...a whole hour!!! I got up and puttered around the house, cleaning a bit. I ran to the PO and finally got a few of the things I had been waiting for. Now if the most important would just show up already!! I ran out to Michael's and picked up more yarn for the blanket I am making for my sister. I then went home and worked on that until Kristen got home. We then put up the Christmas tree, while viewing the "Harry for the Holiday's" DVD that came out what? 2 years ago??? We had to stop and get more lights at one point...how come it is no one ever seems to have the right amount of lights?? We then went to dinner out at Bacco's. First time I have been there...and O_M_G it was sooo good. My starter was Butternut Squash soup then I had lobster ravioli. It was the BEST. We also had a Katrina Rita. Get it?? Katrina Rita??? It was pretty good. We also really wanted to go to get beingets (yes I realize this whole post so far is misspelled its Monday, leave me alone) Cafe du Monde closes at 10, and we did the power walk on full stomachs half way across the Quarter to make it in time...we just barely made it. Yesterday I was up at 7:30 again!! It was a relaxing morning of reading and watching season 2 of Scrubs. We then went to the Santa shop in the Quarter. I got the prettiest tree skirt (which I found bunched up by the TV stand this morning...kitties moved it) some ornaments and my Christmas cards. The best news was that I found out that Central Grocery opened on the 1st. Monday through Saturday. Guess what I am having for dinner tonight??? We then went home and vegg'd some more. It was a pretty nice weekend. I was asked to come in early today, to help get some things done. I spent Friday afternoon on a typewriter. That's right a typewriter. The program we use was down. This morning when I got here at 7, the program was up but we can't print. They had also found a way to email a blank invoice to me so I could enter it on word. But it won't open on my computer. Its such a Monday here. The rain doesn't help. Oh that's the other thing....all weekend, I wore shorts!!! It was in the mid to high 70s. Earlier last week it was in the 50s....today its suppose to get up to 58. Talk about confusing a body......

Time does not always fly when your having fun but when your in the midst of a catastrophe. I don't remember where Sept or Oct went. They just blew right past me while I was in a daze. I am having a hard time believing that in a little over a week it will be Thanksgiving. Next thing I will know it will be Christmas. That is insane to me right now. My roomie and I were talking a bit about getting a Christmas tree for the house this year. I would love a new one, but well I don't know how many will be down here this year. It also may not be a good idea with the infestation of "coffin flies". These nasty little gnat like creatures have taken over the city...they are everywhere and sooooo hard to get rid of. My poor Liza has to fight to get to her food. Actually I have stopped giving her so much, trying to estimate how much she eats each time, and washing her bowl out every time I get her some new food. Of course she is now waking me up at 3 in the morning because she is hungry and her bowl is empty. Yesterday when I got home there must have been like 50 of these flies on the 10 pieces of food she didn't eat.

But I will deal with the flies...cuz I am home.

I spent yesterday and today sending out resumes for office work. I am hoping for at least ONE interview from one of these places. There are jobs out there, but I tend to forget that things move a bit slower down here in the south. So maybe I shouldn't freak that I haven't heard from anyone just yet. This weekend I am gonna go down to LMF (maybe tomorrow) and a few other places in the Quarter to try to find work doing retail or something. I kinda just want to be working. Doing something. This not working thing is starting to get to me. Need to be busy. The first few days it was fine, as I was busy, doing fun stuff. I am gonna rearrange my room today I think. Or at some point this weekend.

Kristen and I changed our first flat tire ever. Actually we are halfway through the job. My tire is in the back of her car right now, and she is gonna get it fixed for me after work. Fingers crossed that they aren't too busy and she doesn't have to leave it there for a few days. She is going out of town this weekend...I know a few people who could give me a ride to pick it up, but am really hoping I can have my car this weekend.

Let me tell you about the weather here right now. It is BEAUTIFUL!!! Shorts and a tank top today!!! That really helps that we don't need the AC or the heat right now. It's kinda cold at night, but I am fine with just my comforter and some warm socks on my feet. Oh and a kitty curled up next to me!!!

I wrote this yesterday, and when out walking down Oak street to see if the Ace Hardware store was open, I found out that Rue de la Course was open. So here I am.
It is now Tuesday Nov. 1st. I have been back in NOLA since Friday. The trip home started around 9 on Friday morning, and went for the most part smoothly. Liza didn’t like being in her crate, or the car so she let me know, with 2 hours of meowing. Very loud meowing. I eventually let her out of the crate and she would settle herself either on the floor behind my seat or back in the crate, with the door open. Around the time I hit Alexandria, LA I noticed that the car was running a lot warmer than it had been. I stopped at a gas station and with some help from some nice guys (they worked with Coke and had just left NOLA) they helped me add water and coolant to the car. One of the guys noticed that the radiator cap wasn’t that great. So with some directions I was able to find an automotive store, purchase a new radiator cap, and an hour later I was on the road again. The car ran fine until I hit Baton Rouge. It would have run fine through there as well, except I hit BR at rush hour. And if you didn’t know, BR has almost tripled in size since the storm. To make it from one end of the city to the other, it took an hour where we were going maybe 5 mph. It reminded me of the trip OUT of NOLA. Although a tad bit faster. The car was starting to run hot again, since I was just sitting there. Once I got to an exit, I pulled off, got some gas, some food and let the car sit for awhile. I hit the road again around 7 and made it home at 8. 11 hours later I was home. I had gotten a call from my friends Roger and Elyse when I was crossing the lake. They told me that they were going to Maple Leaf. Brotherhood of the Groove was playing, and with the cover fee, you got a free ticket to the NOLA portion of Voodoo. How could I pass that up?? After unloading the cat and the car, I headed out to the Leaf for a few hours. It was fantastic to get to see Roger and Elyse finally. There was a fair amount of people out, a bit more than a few weeks before. I really realized I was home as the music was playing and we were dancing away. At the set break, I called it a night and headed home to sleep. I was suppose to meet with a FEMA rep at 9:30 on Saturday, however, he came on Friday to meet with Kristen. Since we were both on the lease, she was able to sign the paper work for me. So after sleeping in a bit, I started the fun task of unpacking and trying to make my room look normal again. I had moved furniture away from the windows before leaving, among other things. Kristen and I headed out to Voodoo around 4. By the time we got there, they weren’t even taking tickets anymore. We caught some of Cowboy Mouth’s set. They had started a bit late, and Bonerama was suppose to be starting at 5, so we saw about 4 songs. We then walked over the WWOZ stage, and I said to Kristen "That’s not Bonerama on stage setting up" Turns out it was Big Sam. That stage was running about a set behind. However just off the side of the stage was Roger, Elyse, Craig, and Mark. Kristen got to meet all the guys as they all eventually came over to where we were. It was her first time seeing the guys play live. She said she LOVED it!! It was amazing to be at the first NOLA show that Bonerama played. It was a short set, but it was fantastic. The day couldn’t have been any better. Weather was fantastic and everyone was very happy to be there. Even the military helicopters that flew over didn’t really have any effect on anyone. After the gig, we hung and talked for awhile, then Kristen and I headed home and collapsed. We had a few people staying with us that night, so we got to entertain them for a bit. I had been planning on going out for a bit on Saturday since there was a lot going on music wise. However I was too tired to do that. I didn’t get to see Adam and Carrie either, they spent most of the day dealing with their storage unit and decided to just start heading home. I was bummed that I didn’t get to see them, but totally understand they had to head out of town. Sunday morning started early, as our guests got up early to head out to their house to start cleaning up. They had just gotten home for the first time the day before. I headed over to Roger and Elyse’s for dinner before the Bonerama gig at the Maple Leaf. They live a block and a half away from the Leaf. A few of us headed over to the Leaf and enjoyed a set by the guys. They normally play two sets, but it was a small crowd. A bit smaller than it had been on Friday night, but since it was a Sunday I wasn’t all that surprised. I would guess that there was maybe 50-75 people there at one point. The last time the guys played the Leaf was about 2 weeks before the storm. It was kinda surreal to see them on their "home turf" since 9 weeks ago, I wasn’t sure I was going to EVER get to see that again. I even sold some merch for the guys that night. Normally I have the merch towards the back by the sound booth, but I decided to move up to about half way in the room. Yesterday, I did read through the Sunday job classifieds, and then went out to try to find some wireless. I had heard Coop’s had free wireless, but it wasn’t connecting on my computer. I heard from Katja when I was finishing up lunch and they had wireless at their house. So I headed over there and ended up chatting most of the time I was there, and gave Katja her birthday presents. I got online for about 20 mins and applied to a few jobs. By then it was time to head home. The boy needed to use my car for a few minutes, which he ended up getting a flat tire. We didn’t notice it until we were getting ready to leave for d.b.a we had to borrow my roomie’s car for the evening. Frenchmen’s street was HOPPING. The energy was amazing down there. I set up the merch right in front of the stage, this was Bonerama’s first gig EVER at d.b.a I saw my co-worker that I had evacuated with, among several other people that I hadn’t seen in awhile. By the time the guys started playing? The room was PACKED. Wall to wall people. Everyone was dancing, and yelling, and just having an amazing time. I hadn’t seen energy like that at a Bone show in a long, long time. Only 2 of the guys really dressed up in costume. Matt and Mark. Matt was Harriet Miers, with a sign pinned on his tummy that said George W. Jr. It was freaking hysterical. Mark, well he was hippy/glam. Velvet and leather. The hat with the flower was a nice touch. John Boutte even got on stage at one point and sang with the guys. All too soon it was over.
When the boy and I left it was after the 2 AM curfew. We had to go through a military checkpoint to get home, and just across from the park, there was a few military cars for another checkpoint. When we got out of the car, a cop car came by and made sure we knew we had to be inside since it was past curfew. On one hand to see all the security. Almost reassuring. On the other, its "Holy crap, the military is here, by my HOUSE" In fact as I have been writing this a humvee/jeep went by my house filled with military. Its very odd. Today I am homebound until my roomie can give me a ride to a tire shop. The spare, well the tread on that is ripping. So I am tire-less right now. That’s okay. I needed to get some rest after 4 nights of dancing my ass off. I may have worked off a 1/4 of the food I ate in TX. I am sooo glad to be home. The city is trying, at least the citizens in the city, are trying to get life back to normal. In some ways its happening. In others, it will be a long time before the city feels right. There are some areas I drove through yesterday and was shocked by the damage. And those weren’t even the worst areas!!! This post has been more about the fun I have had since being home. In most because I want to show people how life is being restored here in the city. Its weird to be here, but at the same time I am so happy to be home. Hopefully I will have the tires fixed tomorrow and I can get out to a coffee shop on Magazine and post this, as well as do some more job hunting. NOLA is alive. She will survive.

She woke me up at like oh I don't know 5 AM this morning. She slept all day yesterday and all evening. I kinda expected her to play all night long but when I went to bed she came running in, jumped on the bed, curled up and went to sleep again. So, I wasn't all that suprised when at 5 she decided that no one should sleep. She batted the blind's for awhile, because that's nice and LOUD. Then at one point I woke up and she was attacking my feet, every time I moved. Then she brought in the room with her, one of the Renew New Orleans braclets. That had been in the kitchen. On the counter. Its still in the wrapper. She pulled that on to the bed and proceeded to play with that. She is running after me where ever I am going today at top speed. She ran into some boxes earlier in a wipe out. I put the bracelet away, and she just brought it back up on the bed. She climbed on top of the TV in the bedroom and leaned over and watched TV upside down for awhile. Then curled up on the bed and is now watching Will and Grace. Laying right next to the bracelet. She is nuts.

So I really need to get an updated pic of Lil Liza Jane. This one was taken about two weeks after I got her. She is almost a year old, and soon...she will have been in my life for a year. If she lasts that long. Remember the saga of the birds and the apple trees? Well most of the apples are gone. The parrots have been munching on them all month. However, latetly there have been little finches in the tree, while not as noisy as the parrots, they still are eating my apples. And driving Liza INSANE. See, she is an indoor kitty. That is for several reasons, fleas are abuntant outside, the street to the park is busy, she is a mostly black cat, in a city known for Voodoo. Enough said. I will let her out on the balcony from time to time, but thats about it. She loves to look out the window in my room. My bed is right under one of the windows, and she will sit there and stare outside. The finches have been eating the apples that are right next to the window. This makes for a pleasant wake up in the morning. As Liza tries to attack them... I swear one morning she tried to jump through the glass. Most days she will sit up one her hind legs and scratch at the windows with her front paws. And meows. And bats her tail around, which usually hits me in the head at mach 500. Or so it feels. Last night as I was reading....she was doing the same routine, however it was dusk...the birds are usually done eating by then. I look out the window and perched on an apple staring at me is a little mouse. With a really really long tail. I mean the tail had to be 2 times the length of the mouse. I am now very anxious for the apples to be gone off the tree. So my cat doesn't kill herself trying to get out there.

It would have been kinda nice if Tropical Storm Cindy had knocked out the power at work. Because then I could be at home, in bed, under the covers and snuggling with Liza, the sweetest kitty on the earth. She must have been nervous last night, cuz she never left my side. Alas (yes I totally just used that word) all that bitch of a storm did was keep me awake. Not because I was nervous, although I kinda was. It was more because I was fascinated with it. The wind whipping everywhere, rain pounding on the windows. I swear at times I felt like the house was rocking....but its a good solid house. I think I just convinced myself it was moving. So another night of not a lot of sleep. But you know what? I know I am not gonna be feeling in tip top shape later this afternoon. So when I get off work...and when I get home...I am popping 2 tylenol pm's and I am going to sleep. Its gonna rock. Of course, I may wake up at like 1 AM....hmmmmm

Friday Fun
A few random tidbits for a Friday morning. (I almost wrote Monday morning. How pathetically sad is that??)

* my cat is weird. I have this clearish storage bin that I use to take my clothes downstairs to be laundered and then to bring back up. Usually I leave it downstairs by the washer and dryer. Last Sunday I didn't feel like taking it back downstairs. It is now Liza's personal bedroom. She will come tearing into the room at full speed, leap into the box, often with the force of a missle that sends the box tipping over. Last night she found a new toy. Heather also has a cat (bringing the total of cats in the house to 4 right now) and its one of her toys. Liza brought the metallic mouse into "her room" which was around 10:30 last night as I was trying to sleep. Later I woke up to her and Roodie fighting in the box. This morning she decided to wake me up by literally kneading my scalp with full on claws out, and grabbing my hair in her mouth and PULLING. She is lucky she didn't go flying. Apparently she also thinks she is a daredevil of sorts. Roodie was asleep in one of the cabinets in the library yesterday, above where Carmen was working at her computer. Liza knew he was up there, and wanted to harass him. Carmen tells me that the door (which are glass-less) was partly propped open, and Liza took a jump. She ended up hanging from the door with her front paws, as the door swung open more. I would have died laughing had I seen it. I am glad that Carmen was there and able to help her, so she didn't end up hurting herself.
* My left arm is twitching. It seems to have stopped a bit now...but earlier, the upper part of my arm, from my elbow to my shoulder was doing some sort of dance. It was weird. I couldn't get it to stop. It would have made sense if I had done some heavy lifting or something....but I haven't.
* For the biggest loser contest at work....everyone decided to break up into teams. So I have 5 teammates. 3 are already super skinny and are looking to lose 5 lbs. Actually one wants to lose 10. the other two want to try to lose 15 like me. Allison and I shouldn't be on the same team. We both like our beer. In fact...she is in Key West today....sitting on the beach. Drinking beer.
* My parents are seeing Bonerama tomorrow. I am nervous as to what will be said. The guys are under strict instructions, "don't say anything bad about me" of course Matt and Steve both said "Like we could ever say anything bad about you" Mark just got that evil look on his face. Maybe I shouldn't have said anything to him at all. I have also told my mom not to say anything embarrassing about me. So fingers are crossed. They can't go to the Boulder show as Dad flies in tonight from Atlanta and won't get to the house till about the time they guys start.....

That I will ever get bored of talking about or seeing Bonerama live? I honestly don't think so. They are playing tonight for this trombone convention thingy. There will be 800 people attending the conference. Give or take. Not too sure how many will be there tonight. A majority of the trombonist attending study/play classical music so it will be interesting to see how they take to the guys. Mark was sounding a little nervous last night, I am sure it will be fine with more than just "one or two new fans" as he was predicting. Phil is going to be in town, as long as his plane left on time so both him and I will be working the crowd, selling the merch. I am really looking forward to tonight, it should be fun and educational. Oh and the good news is Mark knew that the "big" birthday was 3 months away...without me reminding him. Lisa must have reminded him. ;)

On a completly different note, I did meet a very nice potential roomie. She would be able to move in, in July. And we may have someone for just June to July. Now to fill the other spot. Hopefully soon!! That is if she decides to move in. Fingers are still crossed on that one.

Liza's new bed is now a plastic, blue WalMart bag. My cat is weird.

My cat waits for me at the door. Well technically at the top of the stairs. Doesn't matter what time of day or night. When I come home from work, she is there. When I come home from a late night out, she is there. Just hanging out. Waiting for me. Maybe once or twice she hasn't been there, because she is zonked out somewhere. She does other things that I think are dog "qualities" like playing with her water dish when its empty. I have found it in various parts of the house. She plays tug a war. She does other random things as well. When Kristy was here, she said she woke up at 3:45 AM and watched Liza walk around my head, sniffing, nuzzling, and meowing at me. For about 10 mins she did that. This morning I woke up to her licking my ear. She is an odd one, but you know what? So am I. So we go together perfectly

Its a Monday. Its sunny, the time has sprung forward, and I am already ready for the weekend. This weekend had some major ups and downs. Friday I didn't sleep very well. I was absorbed in watching CNN to find out if the Pope had passed away. I did fall asleep around 10, which is early for a Friday night. However I started waking up like every hour on the hour. And wouldn't be able to fall asleep again unless I turned on CNN to find out what was going on. Around 7:40 AM the cats had me up for good. Rudy, my roommates cat has taken to wanting to be in my room. Could be because that is where Liza hangs out, but also because my roommate is usually at his girlfriends. So they were playing and being really loud, and running over me. Why don't I close them out you ask? Because they sit outside the door trying to get in is why. Anyway, I finally left the house after 1:30, turns out that soon after it was announced the Pope had passed. I didn't find out till much later. We ended up going to Freret street festival. It was small and cute, and a lot of fun. We listened to a lot of bands, had some beer, and an overall good time. Later I went out to Donna's and heard the fantastic Leroy play. Craig was giving me a hard time, saying he was going to go to connick.com and post that I was yawning while they were playing. I didn't mean too....but I was tired. As I was leaving, he asked me if I would sell CDs for New Orleans Nightcrawlers on Friday night after the Bonerama show, also to sell his solo CD on Sunday. So I am now selling CDs for Bonerama, NONC, NOHC, and Craig during FQF. I can't wait!!! Its such a great way for me to meet people, and help out my friends, and show my support in a different way. The streetcar ride home took forever, as the time change happened. So the streetcar pulled up and the driver said "there will be a half hour wait so we can get back on time" um...what? I think he just wanted to stand outside and talk ot his friends. So I ended up getting home close to 5 AM. Which would have been 4 AM. So needless to say, I slept in a bit. As much as the kitties would allow anyway. I ended up going out to the Quarter and watched the "Stella" yelling contest, part of the Tennessee Williams Fest, went to the church for a few minutes, harrassed my friend Eric for a few minutes then headed home and crashed. I need to save up all energy for the coming weekend.

I just booked my flight to Phoenix!!! I can't wait now to see my parents, sister and BIL. It is gonna be a super quick trip as I can't take too much time off right now. I am getting there late on Monday the 14th and leave first thing on the 17th. So really just 2 full days. I get to see 2 Seattle Mariners spring training games, which I am of course excited about.

Liza is doing well. She didn't have her surgery until 3:00 yesterday afternoon. As a result, when I went to pick her up, she was still pretty drugged up. Getting her out of the carrier became quite a task as she had her butt up against one side so all she could get out was her head. Liz and I had to take the carrier apart to get her out. She stayed pretty drugged the rest of the night. She did give me a few growls at one point when she tried to move and I was petting her. She slept until 2:30 AM, when she was feeling better. She made her way to the kitty box and did her business. I couldn't get her to eat or drink anything. Well thats not true. She ate 2 pieces of food. I had her on the floor in her fluffy little bed, and being the worry wart I am...I slept on the floor next to her. At one point after her venture to the kitty box she curled up next to me and purred for a bit and kneeded my face. She fell asleep again around 3:30...I however could not fall back asleep. :( This morning when I got up to shower, Liza was alert...laying in her bed. She didn't want me to go to work....she climbed up on my lap ( I was again on the floor) and kept licking my face and purring.....her stiches look good, although I am worried about her pulling on them. She is cleaning alot in that area. Liz called a little while ago and said she was doing good and purring alot. So that is a good sign. I am hoping she will let me take a nap when I get home. Otherwise its gonna be a long one.

First and foremost....Happy Anniversary to my mom and dad who today are celebrating 32 years of marriage. Thats a loooong time to be with someone, and to still be happy and in love? Heck that is something I am not sure I will ever experience. They have been through a lot together, and are still pretty darn young. As a matter of fact, Dad will be 51 on the 15th of this month and mom will be 49 in May. What? How is it possible for them to have two daughters that are 31 and 29? Well...my sister will be 32 in September...thats 6 months away. And she was not born early. Mom was 16 when they got married, and 17 when she had my sister. 2 years later...I came along. To get married that young, have kids and survive?? It explains why they like to play alot now, and why both my sister and I get along with them so well. I should be seeing the whole fam for Dad's birthday. I had planned on going to Phoenix at some point this spring to see a few of the Seattle Mariner's spring training games...visit Lisa and Scott and just chill. Mom and Dad thought that sounded like a good idea. I just have to get my butt on the ball and book my ticket.

Now for my freakout, nervousness today. Liza is getting "fixed" today. No baby kitties for the baby!! I know she will be fine, but I am still nervous. She is also getting her nails clipped. I had to have her over at Carrie and Adam's first thing this morning as Carrie was dropping off her two kitties (Liza's sisters) as well. I have to be to work at 8:15, and her job is a bit more flexible on arrival times. We can call at 3 this afternoon to check on them, and will pick the babies up on our way home. I will spend the evening pampering Liza....and then worry about her all day tomorrow. I haven't yet decided if I am going to keep her in my room all day, that way she doesn't get to rough with Rudy, or the other way around. Rudy is my new roommates cat. They get along fine, just roughhouse alot. Just my nervous nelly coming out.

I was going to stay home all weekend. Wasn't going to move. I did run up to the store to get some food, since I was out. Watched a movie. Took a nap, with Liza spread out over my neck/chest area. She didn't leave my side most of the afternoon. (oh but i did find out that she has been going outside!! my new roomie has been opening the windows in the library and she has been climbing out onto the roof/balcony. Not sure how I feel about that) Anyway...finally after watching a movie I decided to shower finally, it was about 9:30. I got out to the streetcar and waited for about 20 mins...the entire time thinking "what am I doing? just stay home go to bed" I was having some terrible cramps as well....but I decided to just "tough" it out. And boy, I am sure glad I did now. When I got to Donna's, they were on their first break. Leroy was standing right by the door and gave me a hug, he introduced me to the drummer that has been filling in for Harry, while Art is out. I then saw Katya sitting at a table right up front with Carol and DeeDee. I had met Carol and DeeDee the first time I went to Donna's and they both just are the nicest ladies....both lawyers and love to hang out at Donna's. I sat with them, and pretty soon Craig came over to say hi. Right before the next set started the door opened, and in walked Bert Cotton. He hung out for a few songs and then popped back in later in the night. Leroy had 7 people up there playing with him. Bruce ( i think that is his name) he plays clarinet on the Storyville Stompers/NONC cds, Craig, Gerald on drums, the asian bass player whose name I am not gonna attempt to spell, Leroy, Paul on piano, and the guy who plays guitar on New Orleans Helsinki Connection. By the end of the night there were 10 people up there playing, it was so cool. Katya kept saying "there are more musicians here than regular people" Lucien even showed up for the last set...while he didn't play, I did get a bit of the "gay" Lucien from him....and he was dancing around like crazy. I finally left around 3, and Katya kept saying "why do you have to leave...your sleeping all day tomorrow" She is a trouble maker, but a fun one!

awww lovely lovely rain. Okay not so much. Its actually not so bad, however the forecaster on NBC this morning said 20% chance of rain. So I am thinking, "cool, as long as it doesn't rain before I get to work, cuz that is where I left my umbrella" And wouldn't you know it? a downpour just as I get off the streetcar. Got soaked on the block and a half walk to work. Oh well, at least I had it when I went to lunch.

I am soooo happy because I finally have my hands on the new Bonerama CD. Its fantastic, wonderful ride of new music. I have heard most of the songs at one time or another, but its still nice to have it to play whenever I want. So between that and Craig's new CD I am a happy happy girl!! Craig was a sweetheart and offered to bring me his CD to my office last week. It was nice to see him and we got to chat for a bit. He said I deserved another hug after seeing the tattoo! :) I can't wait to see those boys again!! Craig is playing tonight at Rock-n-Bowl and Mark is playing tomorrow night at Maple Leaf. But I don't think I can do either of those...I am usually pretty drained after work. Especially tonight, going home and curling up with Liza and a book sounds sooo sooo nice. So does a long bubble bath. With some tea. Now that would be nice.

I am soooo ready for the work day to be over with....not only because its kinda slow today ( so far ) but its Wed. half the week is over. Wed move slowly for me.....
Okay there is one other reason. I am gonna go have my turtle tattoo updated tonight!!! I am sooo excited. I am having some music notes added, that will go around my ankle and I finally got the music last night!!! I think its gonna look pretty darn cool!!! So my whole plan for tonight is to finally mail some things to my dad and to my sister....and then go and get tattoo'd. then home to play with my spaz of a cat, with hopes that she doesn't attack my newly done ankle too much.

I love my furbaby soooooo much. I have named her Liza and she is a doll baby. I can't wait to go home and see her, but after work I am going to have dinner with Donna and her parents. Not that its a bad thing going to dinner with them....but I miss her. It will be nice to see Donna and her parents again though, they are a sweet sweet family, and I am glad she has them with everything she has been going through. They are so sweet that in fact, Donna invited me to spend Thanksgiving with them...so I am. :) :)

today is the day!!!! I get my new furbaby and I am soooo excited. Well before I get too excited I better check with Carrie and make sure the lady who has them right now is gonna let us take em today.

So here is the story. A lady that Carrie works with, found a box under an overpass a day or so after the evacuations down here in NOLA for hurricane Ivan. She saw the mama hanging out around there, and recognized her (there are a lot of strays here) She went and got the kitties, and the mama and brought them to her house. There are three babies. One all white with a little gray spot on her head, one all black kitty, well she may have some red in her too, and then mine...she is all black except for her chest and belly which is white. All girls. Mama is all white. They are 7 weeks old give or take. Sue took them where she takes a lot of strays for spays and nueters. They were cleaned of the fleas on them, and checked out a bit. We have visited the babies a few times...and if they were big enough, they were getting their first round of shots yesterday...and we get them today. Carrie and Adam are taking two. I can't wait to get her home and play!!!