Once and future design

This image in Mark G. Harris’s LJ from one of those thirty-seven Star Wars movies:

made me think of photos I snapped in New Orleans at this restaurant on St. Charles:

When we walked in, there was only one other patron, but others began to arrive after we were seated. The restaurant had a feeling of good will, including smiles bestowed on a young mother when she came in with a baby carriage filled with snoozing infant. The food was nothing spectacular or exotic, just a good meal with excellent service. I had catfish fillets with fries, and Lynne had red beans and rice, which she doused liberally with Louisiana Hot Sauce.

What I most loved was the interior of the restaurant, which is where that Star Wars image comes into play.

Excerpts and covers from novels (particularly those of James Lee Burke) that mention The Pearl were framed and hung throughout the restaurant, which is VERY cool to me.

And this wall near the entrance reminded me of Phillip Godbee sketching on the walls of his New York apartment before he left for Mississippi in Three Fortunes in One Cookie.

He is NOT Satan’s Kitty

I do have a lot of New Orleans photos to post, but the one below is my favorite of all those I took. When I got to the Lost Apartment, Greg gave me a strand of beads he’d picked out from his massive Mardi Gras bead collection. He also gave me a throw from the Krewe of Muses. And Nicky, who I’ve heard called Satan’s Kitty and The Vicious Beast, took my beads away from me and then went after my throw of Muses shoes.

Bead thief notwithstanding, Nicky’s really more the sweet little Skittle Greg and Paul sometimes call him–you can tell by that adorable face.

Misty Monday

It’s not misty here. The weather is amazing and I wish I could capture it in antique Chanel N° 5 bottles and send it to everyone who’s looking with misery at a snowy, icy, rainy, or gray landscape. Speaking of that, I haven’t been checking out the Old Faithful webcam very often, so I was thrilled today to click on it and find these beasts:


Buffalo roaming.

I’m about to embark on my mini-getaway to do some writing, coffee-drinking with Greg, and writer/chick stuff with Marika. Pray to the Internet gods that I have access, or I will be one cranky bitch.

There’s poetry in a kitchen, too

Edna St. Vincent Millay was born in Rockland, Maine, on this date in 1892. About writing, she once said:

A person who publishes a book willfully appears before the populace with his pants down… If it is a good book, nothing can hurt him. If it is a bad book, nothing can help him.

Now see, THIS is the moment when I could use a photo of Mark G. Harris dropping trousers when we played 1000 Blank White Cards. Instead, I covered my eyes, because I’m a good girl. Lisa, Lindsey, and Rhonda, however, have no excuse for not grabbing a camera instead of just staring. As for Mark G. Harris, I’ve often said that he’s fearless with his writing, so one day I know he’ll be standing before us all with his pants–at least figuratively–down once again.

Since I don’t have a photo of Mark’s ass, how’d you like to see a photo of:

totally work safe

I had a post to post

And now I don’t remember what that post was.

So, a post full of random:

W. H. Auden was born on this day in 1907. Of all the poetry by Auden that I’ve read, why is it that the only lines I can ever remember are the ones that were quoted so touchingly in Four Weddings and a Funeral?

I tried to early vote today, but the lines were too long. Apparently, it’s going to stay that way, which is good, that people are so engaged. I decided it was okay to try again another day because I’d also forgotten my cheat sheet which tells me who’s who and what’s what in the local elections. However, just so you know, in the big primary race, I’m voting for Hillary, and I’m not ashamed to say so. Smart women with vision and ambition make me feel good. They’re the kind of women who got other women the vote in the first place, and I don’t take that for granted for a moment. I’m a Gore person and an Edwards person, but I have no trouble being a Hillary person since my guys aren’t running.

I was going to make chicken and dressing tonight. Midway into food prep, while on the phone with Denece, I remembered that I have no oven. But the new stove comes tomorrow. ::BIG STUPID SMILE::

The laptop and I are being abducted by a generous friend at the beginning of next week. Mr. Laptop and I will be putting the finishing touches on the last chapters of A COVENTRY WEDDING in beautiful New Orleans. I hope Greg and Marika haven’t used up ALL the inspiration that floats on the air there.

Speaking of Greg, have any of you ever played 1000 Blank White Cards? Here’s one of the cards that was made when Tom, Tim, Mark, Lisa, Rhonda, Lindsey and I played one night.

I got a massage today, and the massage therapist did some trigger point work on me in all the most necessary places. Now I’m sore in a good way and chugging water.

The weather is dreary. It’s hard to get motivated. I just want to lie in bed and read. Today I went to Tim’s for a while and only wanted to lie on his couch and babble, which made Rex huffy. The dog has about ten favorite sleeping spots in the TimLair, but heaven forbid I take the one he wants at that moment. I sort of understand why he resents it, however, since everybody else wants to be in his luxurious crate all the time and he always shares.

To thwart the weather and my dull mood… Look! Another photo of two hot guys!

And psst, David, hanging on the baker’s rack in the lower left–it’s the poison cup.

Acts of Kindness

In 1997, I took a six-week temp job that turned into eighteen months. The women that I met there were some of the most fun, nicest women I ever worked with, and it’s where I met Denece, who remains a close friend and someone I respect very much.

Another of the women I worked with was Lana, and one April day I found this little gift from her sitting on my desk:

click here for more

Space Dog

I don’t usually post about the dog known as EZ since she’s Tim’s foster dog and you can read all about her at that link. However, all the dogs are at the vet today for various checkups and such, and EZ was the first one ready to be picked up and brought home. I happened to be on the porch when she and her chauffeur arrived, and there’s no way I couldn’t post these photos. I’m sure Tim will update her status later on his own LJ. Meanwhile, I give you: Space Dog!

This indignity, AND she’s in heat. Which is more than I can say for my oven.

yeah, yeah, it’s Valentine’s Day

I’ll bet y’all think I posted this sweet picture of two friends hugging in my kitchen as some kind of prelude to blathering on about Valentine’s Day and affection and friendship. WRONG.

Direct your eyes to the right of Timothy and Mark. You see that stove? THAT STOVE IS EVIL. That stove waited until I had friends visiting, friends who would need to eat meals, before ITS OVEN DIED. Much worse, that stove waited until MERCURY WAS IN RETROGRADE to die. Bastard! I never buy appliances or electronics when Mercury is in retrograde.

Fortunately, Tim’s oven stepped up and did the job that mine would not. Mercury goes direct on February 19, whereupon my parting with THAT STOVE will cause absolutely no sorrow. Unlike the parting when Mark and Lisa went away.

Happy Valentine’s Day to all my friends.