Wednesday, November 13, 2024

Estoy escuchando el Jazz.

 Jake and I took a quick train trip down to New Orleans. Planned a long time ago, when things were less hectic, but we held to it, and glad we did. 

Got to Chicago with bonus time to spare.
Here we go!
Louisiana

Jackson Square: sight of the signing of the Louisiana Purchase
St. Louis Cathedral
Bonus: Christmas Tree
Overlooking Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral
The Mighty Mississippi River: 200ft deep as it winds through New Orleans
Jacques-Imo's
riding the streetcars
La Belle Esplanade
La Belle Esplanade (the red building in the middle)
one of many coffee shops throughout the city
Cemeteries of New Orleans
West Pearl River bridge
Alligators
More Alligators
Pearl River
Honey Island Swamp
Raccoons in the swamp
Honey Island Swamp
Snakes in the swamp
Wild hogs in the swamp



Indian Village along Pearl River. Accessible only by boat.

Whitney Plantation: Allees Gwendolyn Midlo Hall
 Whitney Plantation: Field of Angels
No date of birth. No gender. No name. Only a date of death.


Whitney Plantation

quick stop along Royal Street

Our neighbor out sitting on her porch with her coffee, cigarette and jazz playing. Just relaxin' on a slow Saturday morning in New Orleans. 
Breakfast at La Belle Esplanade
Acorns were everywhere
Experiencing the beignet from the original Cafe du Monde in City Park
Children's museum City Park

Sir Cumference Playground City Park
City Park

Canal Street
When you need to catch your train home, but want to grab a sandwich quick first.
Caesar's Superdome and Smoothie King stadium
Almost Home.
Bonus Time in Chicago again!

Much Love.


Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Estoy votando.


 Election Day. For the first time in over a decade I actually participated. Would I have participated if not for Jake holding up the personal standard..., no, the personal responsibility, we have as citizens to take part in our country? History would say probably not, but maybe I would have, prompted to do so by a decade of guilt at my decision not to participate. 

Some years ago, I was contacted by a random Ph.D. student, introducing himself as an individual interested in how the thoughts and experiences written by people like myself on weblogs and other social media can be used to make conclusions about society as a whole. He explained that he was contacting me in an effort to try to collect reliable data about bloggers’ opinions, experiences, and characteristics in order to refine and evaluate his analyses. I consented to his request and for the next 2 or so years saw the effect of some sort of algorithm hitting my blog on a daily basis. At the time I almost felt guilty, thinking that the effort to analyze my blog would prove futile for the researchers, for what would my few stories have to say about general society as a whole?

I have not made it a regular practice of reading my own blog, but in the past few years I have occasionally taken a dive back over the years, just out of curiosity, and quite honestly been surprised at what I found. I never intentionally wrote about my opinion, in fact, can attest to an intention to write generally without opinion. However, as I would read what I wrote, my experiences shared, my stories dramatized, my fears and my joys felt; I could hear my opinion and my character bleed through those carefully chosen words. So perhaps, not as futile as I had assumed. Even today, writing about my decision to participate in the voting process for the first time in over a decade, yes, definitely reflects society as a whole. 

This year has also been the most I've probably prayed for those involved. Especially today, safety for all parties, for all candidates, and for our country as next steps are taken over the next few months of transition, whatever direction that transition takes. Could we all love just a little bit more!

Now I'll get down from my soap box! 

Jake and I were in Michigan with the Bowermans.

Good times and a very memorable airbnb stay!

From Michigan we jetted down to Texas for a quick weekend with the Knowles. 
High noon at Cadillac Ranch.
No we did not partake in the spray painting of the cadillacs but that didn't stop us from appreciating the covering layers of caked paint.
 
Hiking at Palo Duro Canyon. The second largest canyon system in the United States.
Sunrise at Palo Duro Canyon.


Friends at Lighthouse Rock.
Lighthouse Rock

 The Knowles and the Bowermans

And of course last by not least. Halloween at the office!

Much Love.