The Big Easy...a City to Love.

I really thought I would be able to post a couple short blogs last week while in New Orleans. It was a noble goal, but really...what was I thinking? New Orleans, Mardi Gras, food, wine, friends, parades, characters, more food, more wine, sightseeing, etc...versus...hotel room, iPAD, thinking, typing - hmmmm...it sooo wasn't going to happen. I was lucky to make one Facebook post.  Sorry about that! But I'm back now.  (I'll have one more New Orleans post later this week - featuring the famous cemeteries!)

 

I've been to New Orleans before but had forgotten that Mardi Gras, aka Carnival Season, is a months long event, only culminating on Fat Tuesday. The entire city is decorated in green, gold and purple. The colors stand for faith, power and justice, respectively. Decorations take many forms and are literally everywhere. 

 

Decorated balconies are the most common.

 

Bourbon Street looking squeaky clean.

It is safe to say New Orleans is all about the senses...oh the things you see!! In the light of day, notorious Bourbon Street looks much like any other NO street.

Partyers can be seen on most of the balconies anytime of the day or week leading up to Fat Tuesday, which is how we accumulated many of our beads. I hollered we were from MN and (probably sympathetically) the beads flew down. It was a blast!! 

Contrary to popular myth you do NOT have to expose yourself to have beads thrown to you! (Although I'm sure as darkness falls there was plenty of that.) We thoroughly enjoyed our first and spontaneous day of sightseeing in the French Quarter.   

Who are those three cuties?

That night we watched one of many parades that came by our hotel. The atmosphere was happy and festive. 

 

Everyone we encountered - tourist and locals alike - were friendly and helpful.

 

Serious, what chance do I have? Only that I'm a redhead!

                                                 

The next day (Fat Tuesday) we watched a daytime parade in front of our hotel and were excited to snag more beads and coins. They are thrown from the floats and if lucky caught on the fly. (Not a good time to be a 5' 1" shorty.) Otherwise it's a mad scramble to pick them off the ground - "get outta my way kid!" Sometimes they just go...wherever!!

Beads everywhere...no problem!

Courtney and I were on our own as the guys had no interest in this activity and just watched from the hotel sidewalk. She had better luck than I but was kind enough to share her trinkets not just with me, but with the others around us.

So each parade is organized by and represents a different  Krewe, which, in its most simplistic definition, is a social club.
The clubs origins range from very old (mid 1800's) to the more recent  (1990's). Except for a handful of years (mostly due to wars) the parades have been ongoing for over 100 years. Some of the Krewes are SO exclusive that the only way to become a member is to be born or married into it. These would be the New Orleans "old money" families. The Krewes also host elaborate balls on Mardi Gras. I was surprised to learn that debutantes are still (2016, really?) introduced at the balls.

Except for the kinda creepy king, what a lovely tradition! Even the ball invitations are highly sought after and collected.

On Mardi Gras day we were lucky enough to be in our lobby - the Marriot - when it started to fill up with gowned, white-gloved women and men (the men gloved-not gowned). We knew some type of festivity must be going on, but we didn't expect this.  I believe this grand entrance was the official start of the Comus Krewe ball being held in one of the Marriot ballrooms. 

Beyond the Mardi Gras Carnival Season, it is such a fascinating city, always full of colorful characters, great food and amazing history!! Wow! what's not to love? I'd go back again and again. 

 

Crafting Ain't for Sissies

I love crafting. There are limitless projects that can be done gluing, painting, sewing, etc. I do plenty of those and enjoy it immensely. But sometimes I want to challenge my comfort level and get my hands a little dirty.

While I leave the heavy lifting (Home Depot cuts my boards with their on-site saw) to a professional, I am perfectly fine with operating a Dremel tool, a bottle cutter or drill.

Eventually I will learn how to use a scroll saw, but I haven't worked my way up to that yet. I like my fingers.

Safety-wise, I prefer a drill to a Dremel. Dremels have an on/off switch. If it slips or gets away from you, you better be close to the outlet, because it is going to keep rotating (at 25,000 rpm) until something gets sucked into the attachment or the power is cut. My drill however, is activated by depressing a trigger. If the same thing happens, it shuts down the moment your finger releases the trigger. I try to not use my Dremel when alone...or if a glass of Pinot Grigio is nearby, which might happen once in a while.

With my Dremel I've cut wood, sanded grout and ground glass smooth. I've used my drill to drill holes in cement, glass bottles and bowling balls. I do what I can in my craft room, but some operations have to be completed in the cold garage. I keep my eyes, ears and lungs safe with goggles, ear muffs and respirators. It is not always pretty. Sometimes I feel like "Breaking Bads" Walter White!
 

Cutting bottles is tricky. IF the bottle separates clean the edges still need to be ground down to remove the dangerously sharp edges. There are no shortcuts and it is tedious work. 

  Newly cut wine bottle. Before/after Widow Jane bottle - sharp edges ground smooth and ready for filling.

Step-by-Step Process

Last year I made self-watering herb planters to be used on decks or window sills. On some I covered the sharp edges  rather than use a tool to grind smooth. Everything evolves.

Fresh Herbs!

I also learned (the hard way) to not use my hand to swipe debris off the counter I used to cut the glass. The invisible shards are still present. I've still have one lodged in my finger that the Doc says to just leave as is--it will eventually work its way out. At least I still have my finger. 

Everyone pursues hobbies their own way, whether it be scrap-booking, golfing, photography, etc. There will always be those who think crafters spend their days dawdling away in a warm, comfy spare bedroom, playing with pipe cleaners and listening to Barry Manilow. I won't disagree because it really doesn't matter. There are no rules. It's a hobby after all, and is there really any right or wrong way to pursue a hobby? 

Crafting ain't for sissies!

That 1990's hair!

This post is longer than usual. If you are reading it I appreciate it and want to sincerely thank you. I hope it amuses you.
 
When I posted these pictures on Facebook yesterday, I had no idea they would generate so many laughs and comments (mostly due to my hair.) I might've been the one who laughed longest and loudest. I am still chuckling. Funny thing is, when mom gave them to me the night before, I didn't laugh at all.

                           Vegas, here we come!!!

Thinking back, I specifically remember not liking that perm. In fact I hated it!  I knew that my hair needed at least one more week (or year) before it was going to "relax" enough to look any better.  (What, did I get it that morning?) But since we were leaving for Vegas that day, Limo and all, what choice did I have? Still not laughing. 

Your limo awaits!

I also remember that Eric (my third and youngest son) had been born less than six weeks prior. He was my only baby who after 6 weeks I wasn't down to my pre-baby weight. I had gained a gross 50 lbs and was still 25 pounds heavier then before. I felt overweight, no, let's be honest, I felt fat. Depressingly, none of my regular clothes fit either - which explain the "jammies" I was wearing. SO not laughing.

(Side note: I stubbornly refused to accept those unwanted 25 pounds. I spent that entire summer, counting calories and either roller-blading or doing Jane Fonda in front of the TV - VHS tapes back then. They were gone by August!!!)

I also remember being stressed about leaving 6 week young Eric and the older boys (Adam, 7 and Ryan, 3) for a Vegas trip.That was tough. I was going to miss them terribly even though I knew they would be fine. Plus, I don't like flying - so why the hell was I going to Vegas?

Back then, to qualify for the the annual VNEA World Championship Tournament in Las Vegas, you had to first win your 16 team end-of-the-year league tournament. It was a big deal to do that. Our team, sponsored by the LaPlayette (St. Joseph, MN) was newer to the league and the clear underdogs. So it was a feat when we advanced to the championship match and claimed victory, knocking off the mighty St. Cloud Press ladies! Hah! Our first time ever. We never looked back after that. (Some of us eventually joining the Mens Masters league where we continued to learn and improve our game.) 

Winning the league tournament also entitled us to the season purse, the proceeds of which had to be used for the Vegas tournament. I don't remember the exact prize amount but it defrayed most of the expenses. I had to go!

Typical Pool Tournament set-up. This, the 2015 VNEA World Championship.

But back to the picture. Up until Kevin's wisecrack, it was just a bad perm and bad timing. I had no intention of posting those pictures at all. I blame (or credit) Kevin for that. He only first saw them Sunday morning but it didn't take long for him (while laughing of course) to blurt out, "God your hair! You look like one of those clowns (laughing louder now, hardly able to talk)--the ones that have red hair!!"  

I hadn't thought of that. So with fresh eyes I took a second look at myself. In the clown context I saw exactly what he saw and the floodgates opened!!! Laughing now! We laughed and laughed. Eventually Ronald McDonald joined the fun.

After that everyone in the picture was fair game: Kelly, with her pants holding up her boobs. Sue, fresh off a Motley Crue tour. Julie, shirt perfectly tucked into her "attractive mom pants", same hair style she has today. Only Kim, looking 80's chic, came out unscathed. 

Whatever, we all have pictures like this, right? They are cringe-worthy even if taken years ago (this one over 25). It got me wondering about our true motives behind picture taking. Do we take pictures to preserve memories or to laugh at ourselves years later? Maybe it's a little of each. So, if your pictures do either - be strong, be brave, post them! 


For me, those were such good times, who cares if we had 1990's hair or funny clothes? The memories are worth it. And don't we all need a good laugh once in a while?

Here's the answer to yesterdays FB who's who teaser:

Bringing awareness to the kidnapping of Jacob Wetterling

 













 


And here are those 1990 ladies again,  in Vegas, looking 1990's hot and ready to kick some ass!

                      Julie Taufen, Kelly Haffner, Diane McGrew, Kim Schmit

, Sue Felix Zimmer

Guilty Pleasures

Thursday night we attended the Fabulous Armadillos (FA) second (in a series of four) concert. These shows are so fun! 

The theme was:

Guilty Pleasures - Songs You Hate to Admit You Love.

Most people who live in the St. Cloud area have heard of the Fabulous Armadillos. They have a large following and there are many reasons why they are so well liked. They are talented. The lead singer - he's humble and lovable.  He is visually disabled and sings using braille sheet music. He's got a wonderful sense of humor and even teases himself about his disability. They have a unique comradery that is clearly genuine as shown by their rapport and easy banter. They simply love what they do. I think it is especially nice that after the shows they hustle to the hallway to greet and visit with the exiting fans.

Even though recording is allowed during their shows, I normally don't.  BUT, since we sat on the end, next to the wall, and SINCE the ladies (and others) behind us taped many songs, and SINCE I knew I wanted to include some in my post....I did it anyway. I tried to keep them short. I was pleasantly surprised, they actually recorded well.

The selections are random. This one reminded me of my parents. They were Tom Jones fans back in the day.

 

I admit, I was not initially excited about this show. The theme suggested there might be some one-hit wonders (which there were) and numerous cheesy "roll your eyes" songs--which there were.

Regardless, the shows are always entertaining. Given this particular theme I expected some tomfoolery together with great singing. This was one of the male singers dressed as a woman and it was hilarious.

Part of the appeal of FA  themed shows is you never know what to expect--but you also know they never disappoint!

So, yes, we all have songs that we "hate to admit we love" (David Cassidy - "I think I love you") but there are also plenty of songs I "can easily admit I hate". Hate is a  strong word. Lets just say strongly dislike. They sang these doozies also (Barry Manilow ugh! Sorry to any Barry Manilow lovers.) I could only endure recording 14 seconds of Barry the man, man, Manilow. :)

So, when it comes right down to it...if a live band is good enough, any well played "guilty pleasure" song is enjoyable.

This last one is for my good friend Kim - remember Phil? How was he ever my favorite back then?

Finally, here are four more snippets from the show. Good times!

Embracing Your Inner Tourist

While I love to travel, (except the flying) I'm not always comfortable with being a tourist. Some people don their tourist hat proudly: take a lot of pictures, wear a fanny pack, see the obvious attractions, wait in long lines, and my favorite: stop to check a map in the middle of a walking crowd.

It's fun and easy to be a tourist at some destinations: Wisconsin Dells, Vegas, Mexico, etc. They love tourists and welcome them. Their livelihood is dependent on them after all.

But at others, tourists are not so happily tolerated. In large cities (ahem, New York) you best not dawdle in the middle of a sidewalk, or hesitate when ordering a slice of pizza from a street vendor. The Seinfeld Soup Nazi episode may be a bit of an exaggeration, but there is an element of reality and truth to it as well. 

In a couple of weeks we leave for New Orleans, and we will be there during Mardi Gras. I'm not too worried about the decadence, crime and other shenanigans. We will keep ourselves safe. I do hope that we can fully enjoy and immerse ourselves in the Mardi Gras spectacle without being too much the tourist. Or... maybe I'll just forget all that and give in to my inner tourist: "I'm here. I'm on vacation. I'm a tourist and proud of it!"

Fear Gets You Nowhere

I don't like the beginning of new projects. Yes, I am excited to begin something new, but my fear of the unknown (failure really) causes me anxiety. I look at what's before me and think "how can these raw materials possibly transform into something decent, something I am proud of?

Before: Garbage Bin bound, scratched up Bowling Balls

After: Cheerful Garden Friends

Before: 9x9" of rough edged, slivery wood.

After: Treasured memory!

Even with some successes under my belt, I always feel that little niggle of doubt. I've learned to deal with it. Part of it is accepting that I am going to have some flops, maybe many before I get it right (or simply better).


While I'd rather learn on my own, I get it, sometimes I will need professional help (with my projects, not the other kind - haha!). I can admit that.

Like learning to mosaic tile, I just could not seem to get the grouting figured out. This is just one of a couple of fails. Thank you to Beatrice of Michaels Stained Glass Studio for her talent, patience and sense of humor. I was her only student and we had considerable fun together.

Flop -  Professional help needed!

Much better!

Then there was the photo transfer project. After numerous flops, I finally bit the bullet and enrolled in a class. Got that one figured out too. Thanks Crafts Direct.

Flop - This isn't working!

But this is!

Not surprisingly, I had a great time at both. It was relaxing and enjoyable to have experts guide me through the processes. Success alone or with a little help. Is there really such a thing as failure?

The Art of an F-Bomb

There was not a lot swearing around our house when I grew up nor when I raised my own children. But I'd be lying if I said I never swore or that I don't enjoy it to some extent. I do. It's a way of coping when situations feel like, "damn it, I didn't deserve that." Some of my favorites: Golfing (need I say more) or dropping the hammer when your on a ladder, or smacking your foot into the corner bed post. I do it and I like it (swearing, not the bed post thing-Eric:)), even though it does absolutely no good to help a situation: My putt still isn't going to go in, that red wine is still going leave a stain and that's still going to be an ugly bruise in 2 days.  Argh!

I don't know if the F-word is the big daddy of swear words but it's close. It's an ugly word, sounding and appearance-wise. If you've ever played any word games, U's and C's are two of the least desired. But still, I admit, I drop an F-bomb once in a while. Some of my nearest and dearest friends do too. I like them the more for it. In fact, when I first meet someone, if they happen to drop an F-bomb here or there, I know we are going to get along just fine. Now, that's not to say that you HAVE to drop F-bombs, it's just that if someone does, I'm ok with it.

So maybe that's why when I saw this picture in a magazine

I smiled and thought: I gotta not only get me one of those, but I gotta make many more and share the joy! But not at $45 each - not when we're talking bulk quantities. It wasn't hard to figure out. A short (and inexpensive) supply list and quick run to Crafts Direct made it happen. 

It was the easiest and funniest craft project I've done so far. The finished product was met with such enthusiasm and humor that I ended up making several batches.

I think the reason the F-bombs are so well liked is because 1. They are a clever visual of a taboo word.

2. They take the edge off a harsh and mostly negative word. 3. It's an opportunity for those who would otherwise never utter that word - to still have a little fun with it. 4. And most important: They give humor and perspective to some of the daily frustrations we all deal with, and that in the scheme of things are really unimportant. 

They were definitely conversation pieces and it was fun to share a laugh with all the people who enjoyed them.  I still have a few around the house and display them like treasured artifacts. I have every intention of making more, later. Until then, the F-bombs will have to wait.