Blog friends

I am not a "great" blogger. I blog when I think about it, but I am never going to make a career out of blogging like some of my favorite blog idols - Meg, The Petersiks, or Deb.

But the reason I was even inspired to blog is the other women whose blogs I read. And when they write, I want to eat some of their beautiful words because they are so amazing (and you can tell from the photos below that I love to eat!). And when they post new music, I add it to my iTunes wish list. And when they comment on my blog, I want to do a little dance. Because I have blog-friends, and I love having friends - in real life, in my neck of the woods, all the way across the country, or only in the blogosphere. The more the merrier I say.

So, thanks, blog friends. Thanks for the inspiration.

Scenes from NOLA

My trip was excellent. I traveled with three gals I used to work with at my old University job. One is writing her dissertation and two just successfully defended. We had a great deal to celebrate and discovered that we work well as travel companions. It was a great long weekend!

More on the conference later, but here are some fun pics of a great American town:

The French Quarter Festival had tons of great, free music.

And since it was festival season, it seemed only right to join in the party fun on the first night.

After daiquiris in the street (no open-container law in NOLA), a girl needs oysters - obviously!

Good dinner is best followed by...outstanding dessert.
Triple chocolate bread pudding = yum

Don't worry, we saved the Hurricanes at Pat O'Brien's for another night.
We're scholars for goodness sake! :)

For the last night in town, we rode the St. Charles street car to Uptown.

Where we waited for a table at the much lauded Jacques-Imo's. It was, as many of the locals assured us, well worth the wait.

I ate my blackened red fish before I thought to snap a picture, but did remember to catch the creme brulee before we devoured it.

Note to self: big, shallow dish = more creme brulee crust. Extra yum!

And that, of course, is me. Wearing my favorite dress and smiling because I had finished my presentation and enjoyed a great meal with good friends in a fabulous city!

Home-ish

My Mr. is home...till 7 am tomorrow morning. And then he leaves again.

Last time he was gone for three months. Now it's just three days. A bit shorter time to wait to get him back, but stinky nonetheless.

But - he's presenting at a conference and I am particularly proud of him. I'll be cheering him on from home and looking forward to his safe return from one more trip.

In the meantime...I am furloughed from work on Friday (yay local budget cuts!) and will spend the morning on homework and the afternoon on finally completing the paint job in the guestroom.*

What's new with you ladies?

*That's right, jtabz. I still haven't finished since your visit. Call me slow and busy.

Nawlins/NOLA/The Big Easy

(from here: singlemindedwomen.com)

I am headed to New Orleans, LA tomorrow morning. I am presenting my first academic paper. I am simultaneously super excited and scared out of my wits. And I have not packed a stitch of clothing. But I have thought a lot about food. Mmmm...food. Beignets, crawfish, PoBoys. Mmmm...

(from here: thirstyreader.com)

So - I'm off to pack. And day dream about all the tasty food I'm going to get to eat!

(from here: joelens.blogspot.com)

"Then shut it down."

Any West Wing watchers out there? I may be mildly obsessed with President Bartlett and his smarty-pants staff. Remember the "shutdown" episode? When the Republicans control Congress and the President refuses to compromise on (yet another) continuing resolution? And President Bartlett walks up to the Capitol to try and settle the budget impasse?

(click here for a link to the climax of the episode @ 3:03)

Think that will happen for real? Will Obama and Boehner work out their differences tonight or will there be a dramatic solution at the 11th hour? Because if it doesn't, they don't, and there isn't...I don't get paid on Friday. Or any other day till Congress sorts it out. Neither do 800,000 other* employees of the federal government. Regardless of your political affiliation, I think we can all agree that putting that many people out of work (even temporarily) during a recession is not so smart. Not so smart at all.

*But wait - what's that you ask? Do I work for the federal government? No. I do not. But thanks to a funny little quirk of Congressional oversight, the District of Columbia is not allowed to spend its own local funds without Congressional approval.

It's okay - go back and read that sentence again. It takes a minute to sink in.

DC must have Congressional permission to keep the city running during a federal shutdown. And Congress has not been willing to give permission. So, no trash pick-up. No libraries. No non-essential city services. No paycheck for me. Check out more details here.

And keep your fingers crossed for me - perhaps cooler heads will prevail in the Capitol tonight.

Long time gone

(The view from my friend's place in Silverlake in LA. I took it at the start of my "running tour" of my old neighborhood.)

Busy late winter/early spring, round these parts.

I started my new job - it's great. I'm taking one class - it is a lot of work. I was a bridesmaid in a wedding filled with love and joy. I toured awesome charter schools in DC and LA and am awed by the work of excellent teachers on behalf of their students. I submitted my first paper to an academic conference - and I present it in one week in New Orleans!

And I've done it all while missing my better half. He comes home in 11 days, and I am beyond thrilled to know that he will be out of a war zone and back to some of the comforts of our incredibly blessed life.

Here's a few shots from the lovely LA wedding trip - enjoy!

(The main office of Endeavor College Prep- a charter school started by one of my favorite teacher colleagues in Los Angeles)

(My Beast - the rental car I got to drive around LA all weekend)

(The bride's bouquet - made by one of her friends at the "flower luncheon" the day before the wedding)

(The happy couple getting pictures taken before the "tea ceremony" on their wedding day)

(Awesome Lego cake topper made by the groom - and mini-cupcakes!)