there and back...

taken from my window seat on Southwest

Just returned from a week back home in Louisiana. Spent part of it with my cousin in New Orleans and part with my other cousin who lives on the coast in Mississippi. We planned to spend it all together, but first cousin came down with a miserable cold and wasn't feeling well... so she didn't go to the coast with us. But luckily, she was much better by the end of the week and we all got together Friday and Saturday.

But Cousin D and I went to Ocean Springs to walk and shop, then drove along the coast through Bay St Louis, Waveland, Gulfport, and Biloxi. I got to put my bare feet in the sand (miss that) and walk along the water (lots of live conchs and hermit crabs). We picked up shells and I simply reveled in the smell of the salt air and the feel of the sand and water between my toes.

When we were young, we spent many a summer at our Cousin R's place in Waveland; swimming in the Gulf, playing in the sand, running along the pier. There was a Dairy Queen (or Dairy something) in the little downtown section (long gone since Katrina) that had *the best* ever Chocolate Malts! And a combination gift/bait shop that had an alligator pit that we all loved.  There were 4 of us (3 girls and 1 boy cousin) and those summers were very memorable. It was a small house (but big lot full of pine trees) with only 2 bedrooms (which the adults used). The kids slept on cots on a screen porch. We loved it! (You could smell the pine in the air) We would spend the days swimming, chasing each other with the hose, and having watermelon fights.

Gil, Darnell, and I in Waveland, Mississippi

The house is gone now... but the land is still there. While we drove, D and I traced our old route from the house to the water - remembering landmarks along the way. At the end of the week we all met  for dinner at a local Seafood Restaurant and then to B's house in New Orleans to reminisce some more. And the next morning before I left we did the same with more family members. And luckily (although it was the 9th Anniversary of Katrina) the weather was fine the whole visit except for a bit of a downpour  (B and I got soaked loading the car) when leaving to catch my flight back.

All in all it was a good trip. And I truly enjoyed being with my cousins again. We may all be *old* now, but that doesn't mean we can't still enjoy the camaraderie we once shared. And I really appreciate all the effort and thought they put into making my visit such an enjoyable one. Next year we may do it again... possibly in Dallas!

In the next picture taken this past Friday evening, Gil is in the front and Darnell and I are sitting together in the back. My cousin Barb is taking the pic.. and while she was there in Waveland with us many a time, her dad was in the army and they traveled a lot. The blonde in pink on the right is Gil's wife, Sharon, and the dark haired young lady is my cousin Barb's daughter, Alicia,... and then there's Kenny, her husband and Braden, their little boy sitting across from each other.

And this next pic is Titan, my cousin in Mississippi's  little Yorkie. Isn't he adorable? He really isn't blue. For whatever reason the darker grey around his neck looks blue... (it was taken with my iPhone).

Now... on to other things. I'm back in Dallas. Classes have started. I missed the first week due to my N.O. visit, but went to the studio yesterday. Since our Instructor was busy with the Ceramics 1 class... they had projects done last week to critique, I just pulled out my Cinco Blanco clay and started throwing. Made 2 semi-large bowls and 2 smaller ones, 2 soap dishes, and one small clay box (out of leftover clay). By the time she came over to speak to me about our projects and syllabus, it was halfway through the session (which was fine as I was busy).

But after she explained what the projects are this semester... *Asian armour* to be reproduced in clay as well as researched.... I had pretty much decided that I wouldn't participate this time.  I'm not doing this for the credit, don't need the Art research, and not doing it just to keep busy. I really want to throw on the pottery wheel.  Some of our previous projects could be done on the wheel (the sets of dishes, mugs, etc.) but not all (the animal busts, chess set, etc.). However, the latter at least could be considered *usable* or functional to a point. I just don't want to spend all my time (and clay) on something like Asian armour...

Hope everyone had a wonderful Labor Day Weekend!

Hurricane Isaac... 7 years to the day

This is my cousin's house in New Orleans.  I know that I just showed this in my previous post, but her old one was destroyed by Katrina and it took 5 years to get this one built.  As you can see, the living area is on the 2nd floor.  Having just spoken to her on her cell today, she said that the electricity was off and the streets were flooded, but apparently the levees were holding.  So she was fine.  And that she was definitely going to look into getting herself a generator so she will be even better prepared next time.

One cousin evacuated to Baton Rouge, another stayed in his house in Kenner.  Haven't been able to reach a few, but I believe that they are all fine.  From the pictures on TV and from what people there have told me, there are some badly flooded areas, but not near the catastrophe Katrina caused with the broken levees and pumps.

The way the storm came in and the fact that it was so 'slow' moving (maybe 5 - 6 mph) has caused some unexpected problems.  The flooding is almost always expected, but apparently Plaquemines Parish and the West Bank got more than their share.  Plaquemines Parish is the 'toe' of the boot (Louisiana) that sits out in the Gulf.  But we must remember that back in 2005 when Katrina came in (and left), we thought at first that all was well... until the levees burst.  So it wouldn't do to be too confident yet.  Once Isaac moves on (hopefully soon), we'll have a more realistic view.

And from what we see on TV, Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Waveland, and Biloxi got hit hard again.  These are areas where we spent our childhood summers.  In fact, we reminisced about them just this past Friday when we were all together at the house in this picture. We could walk from my cousin's house to the beach.  I loved the long piers out over the water... and once sat on one and watched a storm come in.  It was a strange 'out of this world' feeling as the blackness neared that tended to put all your life into prospective.  On TV tonight the main road, Hwy 90, running through Waveland was closed.  It looked like a raging river. My family told me that many of the huge old homes that used to be across from the beach there on 90 were not rebuilt after Katrina (who can blame them?). They said some were, but there were still a lot of empty lots. 



Other views of City Park in N.O.




Can you see the ducks?

Well, life changes... and so does the climate. We're now seeing hurricanes, earthquakes, tornados, and global warming.  Guess we need to 'be prepared'... and maybe pray?