My brother(Oracle) and his kids

My friend and his daughter

My brother and his daughter

My nephew and his son

My brother and his baby girl

I’m noticing that when the weather gets warm, it gets hard for me to blog.

Residual Katrina issues?

Maybe…especially after Hurricane Issac and a week without electricity.

I know it’s bad  because, I haven’t blogged about festivals. I’ve been to the French Quarter Fest and the Jazz Fest.

Still, I couldn’t push out a post.

Couldn’t even sit at the computer.

I tried to keep up with my favorite blogs.

Didn’t comment much, but I was  there.

I”m still here though.

I’m gonna try to post all week to catch y’all up on what’s happening in my world.

It’s been sorta quiet though.

My son turned 21 last month. ..he’s a grown ass man now.

YellowJacket now lives with her dad.

The house is almost TOO quiet.

Empty nests are not all they’re cracked up to be.

I love the sound of family around.

My running is coming along well.

I can run farther than one tree to the next now.

I actually look forward to running now and get upset if I can’t make it out there.

It’s hot as hell down here in NOLA and the summer hasn’t even really started yet.

I’m gonna have more posts this week.

I gotta get my Mojo back.

Miss y’all!

Ta DAAA!

I got the application to join the Krewe!!

Man, I had the positive karma in overdrive around here!

The signature throw for Nyx is the decorated purse so, I amped up the positive energy flow big time around the house and decorated a slew of them!

My favorite is the cure dat purse,

Now ya girl will have all sorts of new and exciting stuff to blog about when it gets closer to carnival time!  I recently turned in my application with all the required information.

Nyx is such an awesome krewe and they’re growing  like crazy.

I honestly think that, by  time this krewe hits its 5th year,they’ll  be at super krewe status.

I’m so happy that I’m officially a part of this amazing sisterhood!

I can’t wait to get on the float and throw til it hurts!

Let the countdown begin…

February 26th we roll!

Considering the amount of women trying to get in the krewe, I think it’s pretty amazing that I made it.

Won’t he do it?

YES.HE.WILL!

Whoo Hoo!

Have a wonderful weekend y’all!

Here’s what happened.

Around 6:05 a.m. , one of the nursing assistants comes to me and says,” I found this on the nightstand in room xx” and hands me,

A BAG OF WEED!!

WHAT?!!!!

What crazy ass brings their weed to work and then FORGETS it on the nightstand of a demented woman?!

When the assistant brought the Mary Jane to me, there were other assistants around  so naturally, it becomes crazy at the desk and they hurry to find out who worked the night before.

Turns out ,the chick who worked the night before is a known weed-head in their circle.

I take the stuff and put it in the Administrators office with a note.

Job done.

Known weed-head comes to work and someone tells her what happened.

She approaches and says that wasn’t hers….she didn’t go into that room all night.

(Patient neglect…hmmmmm….still gonna get fired.)

Known weed-head works her shift and goes home…nervous.

She returns to work Monday and the Administrator is in the facility.

Known weed head gets called  to the office and after speaking with her a few minutes,

the Administrator  fires her.

This nut then proceeds to get on Instagram, writes that she’s stressed out and  then puts a picture of herself on there,

SMOKING WEED…

and looking loaded as hell!!!!!

REALLY?!!!!

Who does that mess?!

But wait!

Some of the other assistants wanted to know who turned in the weed…

and thought it was A SHAME that someone turned it in.

To which I replied, * warning, if you can’t handle the book of cuss…stop here*

I turned the damned weed in. Let me tell all y’all something right nah! They don’t have a person in here that I love or consider my friend. THIS. IS.A. JOB!!  If ANNNYYOOONNEEE thinks for a second that I”m gonna hang my nursing license out to dry because some jack ass decides to bring her shit on the job…ya better think again! And see all that ghetto “don’t snitch” shit…don’t bring that shit to me. It’s always mother fuckers who don’t want someone to tell about their fuck up yelling “don’t stitch.” Y’all know me well enough to know, I don’t play that kinda shit. And the way Y’ALL talk in here! Shit, if  I didn’t turn it in, the Administrator would have gotten wind of it because  y’all talk too much and then would have called me, asking my ass “where’s the weed?”  I’m not getting fried or fired for none of y’all. If I’m gonna get fired or lose my license, it’s gonna be because of some shit I DID.

After that, they all started mumbling, “well, yeah…you right about that.”

WELL, NO SHIT Sherlock.

If you don’t want to get fired, don’t bring your stash to your job. It really is just that simple.

I know it’s been a while since I’ve been around these parts.  I hit a wall and just couldn’t push anything out.

Even now, I’m pushing just to get past the fog.

I have so much catching up to do..I’m gonna be reading blogs for days trying to catch up with everyone.

I’m gonna try to blog more often.

TRY.

I have noticed that, it gets harder for me to blog when the weather starts getting warm.

I wonder if that’s residual Katrina stuff.

So what’s been going on in my neck of the woods?

Well, my son bought his first car and he’s a happy camper…so am I.

Nothing like a young man with his own whip…and no car note…that he paid for.

Since they both have their own means of transportation that means no more playing taxi for me!

I see why parents buy cars for their kids. If you don’t get them one, you end up driving them everywhere. Times have changed, it’ s nothing like when I was young. Public transportation is awful today. Not only that, but when I was young, you could stay in New Orleans and do everything. I don’t think I ever went to  Metairie when I was young…except to go to the Crash Landing which was a club.

Everything is in Jefferson Parish today.  We have no malls, no movie theaters…it’s crazy. The city needs to do better.

Since they have their own cars,that leaves me with a LOT of free time. I’m officially in another phase of my life. My kids are doing their own thing so now I can focus on some things that I want to accomplish.

One of the things that I’ve put on my list is running in Disney’s Royal Family 5k next February with NavySeal and PurpleKnight.

I began training yesterday and good LAWD, I’m out of shape!

I was out there celebrating  running from one tree to the next just to get through the first mile…and the trees are pretty damned  close to one another!

It was hard at first but after the first mile, it was like muscle memory began to kick in (I have many years of running track  as a teen under my belt) and the second and third mile wasn’t too bad.

After the run, I could almost feel my body saying, THANK YOU! It’s about time you did that!

I’ll  post my progress and my time (which will be slow) as I go along. You’re  allowed 15 minutes per mile in the race so that’ll be my goal. I’m not trying break any records.

Also, I have some really great news about Mardi Gras, but I can’t say anything until April.

If you’ve read my blog a minute, you’ll know what I mean when I say,

all of that positive energy worked!

The Mystic Krewe of Nyx is taking names of women interested  in becoming members.

You can go here  to put in your information and they will contact you about their waiting list.

We’ve recently found out that my dog’s thyroid does not function at all. Now he’s on  thyroid medication  for the rest of his life.

Add to that the Benadryl for the allergies, the A,E and Zinc he takes for the hair loss (it’s growing back now) and the Prednisone (for the mass on his stomach.)

This is the first time I’ve ever had a dog with this many health issues.

I love him though so whatever it takes.

I still have no idea how I’m going to celebrate my 50th birthday.  I don’t want a party, I don’t want to go out of town….although Vegas would have been nice but it’s too hot that time of year.

Essence will be here that weekend and I really don’t want to be downtown  in all that.

Any ideas?

My sinuses are catching pure D hell this year. I try to stay inside as much as possible.   I may have to walk around like Michael Jackson used to and put something over my nose.

I know I’m going to have to train with some sort of dust mask on. The pollen count is horrible around here.

Well, that’s all the randoms I have now.

Have a safe and joyous Easter!

Before

After

I have 5 requests for this St. Aug purse from Purple Knight women…but I ain’t selling purses!

Before

After

Yeah, I have TOO Much free time….

a wet mardi gras day

Zulu 2013

Baby Dolls

Rex’s Butterfly Float

My coconuts!

Hand carved! It’s a keeper!

Coconut from The Big shot!
My mojo must have really been kicking!

I’m pretty tired, but I had a great season.  Although, I’ve heard of two incidents where riders on the floats were assholes.

Someone riding with the Krewe of Thoth apparently was throwing “Mamie Dolls” at older black women on the route and they were exploding on impact.

Also, a fool riding with the Krewe of Bacchus hurled a jug of urine at a guy. At least this guy went to the end of the route and filed a complaint. The link is here is you want to read up on it.

No word on the mamie doll throwing mf’er.

As much as I love Mardi Gras, there are people riding who are complete assholes.

A lot of racists up there too ( my next post).

I guess it doesn’t dawn on them that, they’re standing targets up there on those floats. It will though when someone pulls one of them off of the float or shoots one of  them for messing with their family member.

Mardi Gras is a wonderful time in the city for the most part.

But yeah, a lot of assholes view it as an opportunity to practice their racists views…

or as a time to simply be a jerk.

Punks.

Still looking forward to next  year though.

Because for every ass riding,

there are five who aren’t.

They’re the ones who make the krewe special,

and help make Mardi Gras

something to look forward to.

Brought back a lot of memories.

Be sure to take note of the crowd…it was massive out there. And remember, the route is 5 miles long and the crowd is just as massive on the opposite side of the street!

It was a great night for Endymion!

o

All lit up like a parade!
At Endymion

Here’s my stash!

Nyxed to death!

I have much more, but these are my favorites. Managed to get 4 purses and 3 martini glass bracelets thanks to Felicia the fishing net,

I had a  killer reach for the Krewe of Ancient Druids parade. I think I’ll bring her with me on carnival day!

Roy Guste photos

I loved the playful jabbing that Druids and Nyx had going on. Druids started it last year, but this year Nyx was ready for them.

courtesy of wgno

It rained on Nyx yet again. Two years running, two years rain.  I think the universe is sad that I’m not riding yet. The rain will stop when I get a spot on a float.

Well, that’s what MY head thinks anyway.

I’ll be up there next year! Can feel it in my bones! I saw a lot of extra room on those floats..surely there’s room for lil ole me.

photos by Roy Guste

The kids are such troopers.  They don’t get enough praise as far as I’m concerned. Marching and performing for 5 or more miles is not easy….and in the rain too!

Way to go kids!!! You do a terrific job out there keeping the crowds entertained! Mardi Gras wouldn’t be the same without you guys.

Muses rolled yesterday and as usual they were fantastic! I love Muses! The crowd was thick and CRAZY!! I think they cut up more for Muses than they do for Bacchus and Endymion.

Roy Guste photos

I get it. It’s the shoes…everyone wants to receive the coveted Muses Shoe. If you get one consider yourself very lucky…

MY SHOE!

Not too shabby considering I didn’t hustle for anything.  These are the favorites.  I love the shoe bracelets! It’s gonna go great with my purse bracelet I got from Nyx. I’m gonna use them as part of my ‘”Krewe Couture” that I’m wearing on Mardi Gras Day.

photo by Roy Guste

I don’t know who this young man is in the wheelchair, but he wasn’t going to let this season go by and not be out there! That’s the way it is when you’re a kid here. If you’re in the band or part of an auxiliary group, you have to be out there!  Memories that will last  lifetime are made on those streets.

A Roy Guste photo

The insane crowd by me!

Muses and Nyx both threw like crazy! I’m glad to see the ladies doing so well. It took a long time coming but, GIRL POWER is here!  Some of the other krewes can take some lessons on throwing from the ladies…they were very generous.

photo by Roy Guste

Tonight it begins again with the Krewe of Hermes,Krewe  d’ETAT and the Krewe of Morpheus rolling Uptown. Start time is 6 p.m. I’m gonna watch them on the parade cam at WWLTV.  They seem to have a better cam than NOLA.com.  Anyone who wants to watch the parades can watch them here.

I need a break!

Tomorrow will be the start of a whole lot of running around. I have to rest and get ready for the madness!

Y’all have a good weekend!

No marketing campaign was needed to get me through the door, they had me at M&Ms.

I love me some M&Ms!

The three-course, chocolate infused dinner was created by New Orleans own Chef John Besh and for the entertainment…Vanessa Williams!

What a treat!

The event was spectacular!

As soon as you entered, there was a beautiful table set with gift bags of m&ms with your name on it. On the other side of the tag was the name of a street in New Orleans.  NS and I were on Frenchman St.  Later on, we learned that, the street was actually the table where we would be seated.

Nude posing M&Ms…too funny.

Cocktails were flowing in typical NOLA fashion (food and drinks everywhere) and the Grammy-award winning Rebirth Brass Band kept everyone grooving.  I usually take pics of the food but those hors d’oeuvres didn’t stand a chance.

NS was in heaven as they were serving Glenfiddich 21-year-old Scotch. I even imbibed a cocktail or two.

Rebirth Brass Band

I didn’t get the chance to take pics of too many celebrities. I did catch Neil Patrick Harris walking in though,

and I met Chef John Besh  as he was walking around the room, talking to everyone. He is such a sweet man!

I eye-spyed Chef Arron Sanchez (my husband in my next life) walking around and well, there was no way I was letting that moment of opportunity get away.

Chef John Besh,NS and Chef Aaron Sanchez

After cocktails, we were all ushered into the dining area.

our table

1st course.

2nd course.

Unfortunately, I have no pic of the desert, but it was delicious!  As soon as the wait staff began to bring out the deserts, Vanessa Williams hit the stage.

She looks incredible and her voice is flawless!

That woman can SANG!

photo credit m&ms

Her daughter Jillian was also there as one of the background singers.  I was floored by Vanessa’s performance. I always knew she had a beautiful voice, but I had no idea that she would put on such a great show.

For her last act, she changed her outfit and then sang her hit ‘Work To Do.’

She put a spin on it and did a Salsa that would put these young’uns to shame!

Way to go Vanessa! If you ever hit the road, count me there!

The city is really being hammered with festivities. We began with a week-end of parades, followed by the Super Bowl and now we’re back to parading with the Krewe of Druids and the Mystic Krewe of Nyx kicking it off Wednesday night.

I wouldn’t change it for anything.

The good times are rolling in full force,

and everything  has been much better

with M.

Mardi Gras is now in full effect. Parades started yesterday with the Krewe of Oshun and the Krewe of Cleopatra.  I hadn’t gone out to see Oshun in a while and judging from what I saw last night…I haven’t missed much.

Oshun was sad….terribly sad.  They seemed to rush through the parade and they barely threw anything at all. Kinda sad because the crowd was pretty decent…more folks than I expected to see out there.

The Krewe of Cleopatra no longer parades on the westbank.  Now that they’re on the uptown route, I was finally able to see them.  I’m beginning to wonder what’s going on with the krewes.  I know they all like to save their throws for Canal Street but, you have to throw something to the rest of the route.

If you know you’re gonna ride, save your money (or better yet, recycle beads) so you can purchase ample enough throws for the entire route.

It’s getting to be kinda pathetic watching a float come down the street and you see two or three generic beads fly off of it.  I don’t know if it’s because of the economy or what,but if you want folks to come and see your parade…you have to throw.

We need the days when floats riders would throw so much that you couldn’t WAIT for them to pass you because they were unloading like crazy!

And there are some krewes that do that, like Thoth,Iris,etc. and they aren’t  super krewes.

Some of the others need to catch up and throw til it hurts!

I’m really behind on my information so, let me get right to it.

The parade cam is up and running  for anyone who wants to watch the parades. It’s located at St. Charles Ave and Napoleon which is a great spot.

You can view the parade cam here,

http://www.nola.com/paradecam/

You can also view it at Lee Circle here,

http://www.wdsu.com/weather/cams/lee-circle

Parade Schedule is,

Saturday, Jan. 26 1 p.m. – Pontchartrain 2 p.m. – Choctaw 6 p.m. – Sparta 6:45 p.m. – Pygmalion

Sunday, Jan. 27 Noon – Carollton 1:15 p.m. – King Arthur

Wednesday, Feb. 6 6:30 p.m. – Druids 7 p.m. – Nyx

Thursday, Feb. 7 5:45 p.m. – Babylon 6:30 p.m. – Chaos 6:30 p.m. – Muses

Friday, Feb. 8 6 p.m. – Hermes 6:30 p.m. – d’Etat 7 p.m. – Morpheus

Saturday, Feb. 9 11 a.m. – Iris Noon – Tucks

Sunday, Feb. 10 11 a.m. – Okeanos 11:45 a.m. – Mid-City Noon – Thoth 5:15 – Bacchus

Monday, Feb. 11 5:15 p.m. – Proteus 6 p.m. – Orpheus

Mardi Gras Day Fat Tuesday, 8:00-Zulu 10:00 a.m.-Rex and Truck Parade

Grandstand Parade tickets can be found here,

http://www.mardigrasparadetickets.com/?gclid=CIewmPqIh7UCFZGPPAodhkYAxQ

And last but not least, for all of my Purple Knights and their fans,

The Purple Knights, St. Augustine Marching 100 schedule is,