This morning I was getting dressed and of course W was there. I took off my robe and before I could put anything else on W was poking at my naked leg. (Believe me, I don't lollygag around nude. It's not a pretty sight.) I walked away so that I was out of his reach and he poked my butt. I am laughing now, but I wasn't at the time. I was startled. Now that I've had a chance to look back on it, I think he was pointing out my cellulite. His dad needs to teach him a few manners. First rule being that you don't tell a lady she's fat (adj.) and 2. certainly don't poke at her fat (noun). Or maybe the latter should be first.

Goodbyes aren't any fun.

I have to give it to the Little Bluddy. For awhile there when we went to the park he didn't want to play if other kids were around. That was no fun. But I think it must have been a phase because he has been having a ball the last few times. He was like a little pig by the time we left today-a dirty mess-but so were the other kids. I think it's a measure of how much fun he had. Kind of like Mardi Gras. The more trash, the more successful.

It's been really nice having Mimo and Papa in town. We've been spending afternoons with them and W really looks forward to the Mimo and Papa-time. Now he knows when we get in the car in the afternoon that he's basically going to the BIG PLAYGROUND. and it certainly passes the afternoon for me. The summer is kind of bittersweet. I am so ready for the hot weather but not looking forward to Mimo and Papa's imminent departure to NC. and if W knew it, he would be awfully anxious too. He likes saying Bye Bye right now. He giggles and laughs and waves when it's time to go but that summertime Bye Bye will teach him that Goodbyes aren't any fun.

Oh my word. The days are flying by. I can't seem to get a second to blog. I miss it. I miss my fans! The Little Buddy is having a blast with this awesome weather. Loving the park and our new back yard. Loves to help water our new splotches of grass. (I hope I didn't kill it, it needs a ton of water). He's very glad Mimo and Papa are back in town. Last week we over there for something and he was frantically searching the house for them. They were nowhere to be found. It was sad. So needless to say he was giddy to see them on Sunday. They took him to Daneel Park while we finally moved the rest of the stuff from the old house or 99% of it. Word of advice: pack everything for the movers. Don't think "oh, it's not that much stuff" Kathleen told me so. She was soooo right. It's more than you think.

The LB ate 2 whole pieces of string cheese for dinner. 3 olives (my boy) and a few tomatoes. I finally got some protein in him. He's been living for blueberries so he definitely has his fiber but I was worried about the protein. Tried to sub in the sippy cup for the bottle tonight. No go. He kept spitting out his milk. I'm reluctant to make him go cold turkey because I don't want him to get hungry in the middle of the night.

The jog stroller broke again going around the park. If you happen to come across a blue Nuby cup, it's ours. I was so concerned with getting home in the collapsed stroller that I didn't notice him chunk it on the ground. It killed me-we only have 2-now 1-and I found out the hard way that Langenstein's doesn't sell them anymore AAAAAHHHHHH. Back to Walmart.

Hey-We just got back from dinner with Aunt Liz and Uncle Bob. We went to Vincent's. I haven't been there since I was just pregnant with the Little Buddy. I like being there. It's cozy. and they have that good garlic butter. Mmmm Mmmm. I'm going to sleep now. Pitiful I know, but I'm tired. A big day of shopping for tvs. Anyway, Uncle Bob said he can't leave comments on the blog. So Bob, if you're reading try it and see if it works. Other fans are encouraged to try too.

We just got back from dinner at Frankie and Johnnie's. I haven't been there in ages and L said they were bringing C tonight so I just invited us along. So kid friendly. Not much cleaner than it was before the storm but still good. I loooove the cheesy cafeteria style iceberg lettuce salads loaded with ranch dressing and L said the burgers were good. She was right. Service sucked but doesn't it always? Anyway, C was having a ball, laughing and talking and W was just pooped from his busy afternoon running around the yard. He has been getting really tired lately. I can barely hold him off for regular naptime or bedtime for that matter. I guess it's a growth spurt. We did see a few smiles. He thought C was really funny, whooping it up and all.

Now we're home. 7:45 on a Friday night. About to watch The Office (and the rest of Grey's Anatomy, if J will let me). Gotta love DVR.

Nothing like Chinese and Popeyes during Mardi Gras

Now that the Mardi Gras weekend is behind us I have a few minutes to chat. Whew. It wasn't all that hectic. I think the pressure of it all made me more tired than anything. I love Mardi Gras and I would have loved to make it a marathon complete with my jug of Mardi Gras Madrases-leave the house in the morning and don't come back until the last float rolls by but I still feel like W is too little to forgo the nap. Some people may say I am not flexible enough and that "It's Mardi Gras!" but that's just the way I feel. Saturday the LB slept from 11 until 3 so we missed all the parades. We took him out to the parade routes to check out the Endymion crowds and even saw a few floats. He still doesn't much care for them though.

About Endymion-first of all let me say that I am ready for them to go back to Mid-City. Sorry if I piss anyone off but it's the way I feel. We were going to drop our ladder off with friends early Sat. morning and they said don't even bother because the Endymion people have roped off miles of neutral ground and even have gone so far as to move other people's ladders. They are rude and have this awful sense of entitlement that just doesn't mix with the families on Napoleon. I mentionned my feelings to someone and their theory was was that the city will never let them go back. It's too easy for them to ride the same route. I am scared they are right.

Anyway, I did enjoy seeing Journey on one of the first few floats. They were quite the crowd pleaser. See photo.

Halfway down the street we passed by a group of college kids who were obviously drunk, having a fabulous time. They were introducing themselves, typing in phone numbers into cell phones so they could meet up with their new found friends later on. AAAAH, those were the days, I told J. Those were my favorite times about Mardi Gras. Meeting all kinds of new people and whooping it up like you were best friends for the weekend. J kind of looked at me sideways, laughed and said, now we are going to workout and eat Chinese food instead. Which we did. That is really sad, isn't it? 10 years ago if someone told me they were going to excercise and eat Chinese food on Endymion Saturday, I would of thought they were THE BIGGEST TOOLS IN THE SHED. Now I think, we're just old.

Which brings me to the big news. Five Happiness will reopen on Sundays starting this Sunday, February 25. If you are a regular reader of my blog you know how excited this makes me, if you're not you can read this post for further info.

Sunday, the LB only slept until 1:30 so we were able to catch some of Thoth because it was late. We headed down the Avenue (which was disgusting I might add, a bunch of drunk kids/yats all over the street, sitting in trash) to the Hampton Inn where J's friend had a hotel room and some ladders set up. We put W up there to see if he liked it. Turns out it was too close to the floats. He didn't really care for it either and I was so worried about blocking the beads from slapping him in the face that I didn't really enjoy myself either. So we went upstairs to the room, ate some Popeye's and watched it from the window. Then we headed back to family friendly Napoleon where we ran into Uncle RaRa and Aunt JoJo before heading home.

Schulte's left La Petite

I am so saddened by this food news that I am beside myself. J and I love La Petite Grocery. We have always frequented the bar because the bartenders are the greatest-friendliest and most professional-and we loved the part owner and hostess (I don't even know her name, I can't believe that, because I should and I felt like she was a friend)-not to mention that they give great sized wine pours. That's always important. None of this 2 oz. stuff that you can gulp down in one sip-or atleast I can. It was the first dinner we had out alone after we had the Little Buddy, right before Katrina came to town. And now the Schulte's are gone. The Lagniappe said it had something to do with not having more control over their decisions. I don't blame them. Now I have never been a chef but I worked in the industry and I know how frustrated a chef gets if they feel powerless, much less if they are part owner.

It's a sad day and they will be missed. The article also said that there would be some changes-food and decor. I don't like changes. I'll have to do some soul searching before I decide if we are going back sans Schultes.

Eddie Jordan-make him resign

Sign the petition to make Eddie Jordan resign.

The Christie Cookie Monster

I didn't sleep at ALL last night, doo doo do doo doo,
so it was hard rolling out of bed and barely got to singing class on time. Not to mention, we froze our boodies off walking over there since it was 37 degrees out. Well, no singing today. Not a big deal, W likes to stroll, no matter the weather. We headed off to PJ's for a coffee and kingcake. I called Langensteins' to see if they had any but the line was busy. Turns out it's chaos over there. Don't go unless totally necessary. PJ's is hoping to get them from Randazzo's today so I told them to save me one. Anyway, once we got home one of my closest friends from highschool is in town for the Gras and came over this morning to check out the new house. and with her she brought the famous Christie cookie tin. Her husband is the marketing and sales guru for the company but that's besides the point. When I tell you they are the most delicious, chewy decadent cookies I have ever eaten in my life, I'm not lying. So I had to have one, on the spot at 10 in the morning and I tried to share with W but he just shook his head. Good. The more for me. So they left and I put my cookie on the counter while I went to powder my nose and when I came back it was gone. The only thing I could figure was that the Cookie Monster had stolen it and I was right. W had it gripped in his sweaty little hand while trying to shove the whole half into his mouth (these are big cookies) and he succeeded. He wasn't even hungry. And if you are a regular reader you know that W's not much of an eater. That's the power of the Christie Cookie. They will turn even a picky eater into a Christie Cookie Monster.

Pluots, The Little Buddy and The O.C.

Pluots
I'm a bit hesitant to share this information because I am scared there will be a mad rush on them but I feel I owe it to my fans. Pluots are in season. I have to admit that I forgot about the deliciousness of this fruit but when I stumbled upon them at Whole Foods today they almost made me forget my repeated disappointment of the Whole Foods Kingcakes (I've never actually had them but they look like sandpaper, they look so dry). Anyway, for those of you who don't know what Pluots are...use your noggin'. They are a cross between a plum and an apricot. Their skins have the tanginess of plum skins. The flesh is sweet but not as sweet as a really sweet plum and not as bland as a not so sweet...the perfect mixture. Try 'em, you'll like 'em. and if you don't like them, the more for me and W, because we love them.

The Little Buddy
I say this every month but W is really a good age right now. He laughs all the time. He realizes he gets undivided attention when he is laughing so he really hams it up. He laughs when you get him out of bed in the morning, he laughs when he is running at me full throttle as I stand on the top step before I swoop him up to bring him downstairs, he laughs when you present him with a plate of food, and laughs when I am putting on his jacket to go outside. I know a lot of it is hamming it up but a lot of it is the joy of simple pleasures, too. We should take a lesson from him.

The O.C.
I still can't quite believe it. Next week is the Series Finale. Not Season Finale, but Series Finale. I was so worried tonight. I watched it on the edge of my seat because I just knew they were going to kill off Ryan. They were going to have the unborn baby survive and Ryan die-a life for a life. But I was wrong and boy, am I relieved. Everything is really working out just perfectly, for me anyway. I know, some people would rather still see him with Marissa but she was just too whiny and needy. I love Ryan and Taylor together and I love that Kiki and Sandy are having a baby, GIRL, no less, and I really love the show. It could be an all time favorite. What I don't love is that Summer and Seth will be up in the air and that they will leave us hanging for tv eternity.

Happy Valentine's Day

My cousin is truly one of the sweetest people I know. She is very kind and thoughtful. I want to share her Valentine's Day blessing with you.

"May you all have friends that are like family and family that are like friends."

You couldn't ask for a better blessing on Valentine's Day. Thank you, E.

W had no idea that is was Valentine's. and I should have probably gotten him something but I didn't. Nothing to put in his baby book, not that I really keep up with that. I may-----ok I just got back from taking is picture. So I atleast I have a Valentine's snapshot. He is so cute.

I love you, W. Happy Valentine's, my funny Valentine.

Tornado

How about that? Really scary. Having Katrina Flashbacks.

Real quick, cuz I'm pooped. I've been cooking all afternoon-Crawfish Etoufee from the Plantation Cookbook-it was good and fat-(the recipe was perfect and the only thing I added was an extra clove of garlic and I probably wouldn't change anything else except I may add red pepper next time or more Tabasco) and mini cupcakes with cream cheese icing, all out of a box, you know how I love Betty Crocker.

Anyway, I think W is down to only 2 bottles of milk a day and 1 sippy cup!!! Boy, that one bottle makes a difference when I'm hand washing. We used Dr. Brown's and they have all of those pieces parts and it will tucker you out washing them all. He's been eating really well, too! KNOCK ON WOOD!!!!

Here's a sample menu:
Breakfast:3 cereal bars
Snack:3 strawberries
Lunch:2 veggie nuggets, a ton of blueberries
Dinner:Uncrustable PB&J

It's so satisfying when he is eating a lot. I've finally figured out his solid eating schedule. Golly, it took me long enough.

Eddie Jordan answers to City Council

Eddie Jordan is going up in front of the City Council tomorrow and will be asked some tough questions. If you can be there to show you are sick of his incompetency, please do.

Monday, 1:30 pm

Nola Blogger: Stop the Crime

I think I have found a leader in our citizens' fight against crime.
Nola Blogger: Stop the Crime

This one's for Jeanie

We just got back from our first p-rade of the season. And just like every year I think of my best friend, Jeanie. She loves MG and the dancing girls/marching bands just as much as I do. I tried to get a photo of my favorite dance team of the parade but I couldn't get close enough. I promise better scenes tomorrow, Jean. So you can feel like you're right there with us.

As you can see, W has not quite gotten into the Mardi Gras spirit, but I know, without a doubt that there is a carnival gene in there just waiting to burst out. It could have something to do with the fact that they only threw red beads. We need a little carnival color, mister.

So until tomorrow....
By Gawd It's Cawnival Tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiime!!!!

Crime in New Orleans

I don't know much, but I know that people are scared in New Orleans. Everday I am bombarded with a flurry of emails about the latest holdup, break-in or carjack. And I like everyone else forward them on so that everyone can be aware and realize that they have to watch their backs in broad daylight. Friends are installing iron gates (or adding deadbolts if they already have them), new up-to-date security systems, getting guns-we are prisoners in our own homes. My friend, K said that she felt like she was living in Fort Knox. I don't think it's enough anymore to just pass on an email. But I don't really know enough to lead a revolution against the crime so I've decided to start researching and educate myself. It's the 1st step. It's better than just forwarding another email. So join me please. Don't let out beautiful city turn into a pile of crap. Don't leave. Join me in educating yourself so we can finally figure out what we need to do to turn this city around.

I came across Signal 26. A blog by real police. I found it interesting. Read todays post.

I also came across this post about an NOPD unpublished letter to the NY Times. What do you think?

Mardi Gras Dance

My sweet baby has been even sweeter these past few days that I have been miserably sick. He knows that I'm not feeling so well and he does little things to make my life easier. He probably remembers what it is like to feel this way since it wasn't too long ago that he was in my shoes. He sat in bed with me a half hour after Dad left this morning and played with his book, or really my book, when he usually whines and complains for us to get up and moving. He sat in his stroller (I know, it's wierd but it's a new found inside pasttime for him it and for that I am thankful) for another half hour while I cleaned the kitchen and returned phone calls. And now I am counting the minutes until naptime. Today it will be my naptime too since I just can't seem to shake this horrible bug. But until then he is playing happily around, going from activity to activity with a few hugs from me in between.

Mardi Gras Dance
He's got big surprises in store for Mardi Gras. Uncle RaRa and Aunt JoJo got him his very own Mardi Gras Latter for the p-rades. They have decorated it just for him. We don't have a costume for the big day but I have a feeling that is not going to be a priority this year. The only thing left to do to get ready for the season is to teach W how to come up with a Mardi Gras Dance. Like the Jazz Fest Dance it has to be spontaneous, you have to have a new one for each day you partake in the festivities and you have to feel it in your soul. I'm sure he has a few Mardi Gras Dance genes in him so it shouldn't be too hard before he gets the hang of it and is outdoing his mom with his Mardi Gras Dance.

75% off at Pippen Lane in New Orleans

My mom heard that both Mignon in the Rink and Pippen Lane on Mag. were have big sales. We were on our way home so stopped off at PL just to check it out. I never really find stuff at sales, but my mom! she's a bargain shopper. I do have to say, after I got the hang of shopping 6 months to a year in advance, I found some good stuff. Everything I bought was 75% off. You can't beat that. My mom is right. Considering what children's clothes cost these days and the amount of sales you can find, there is no reason to buy full price.

Shopping always drains me and I'm a bit under the weather too so I didn't have it in me to make it to Mignon. I'll save it for another day and keep you posted.

The skeeters are baaaack.

I thought for sure the last cold snap would have wiped them out-those mean ole mosquitoes. It didn't and they are back in full force. Play group was at the park today and C had a welt the size of China on his five minutes after he got there. A half hour later W got one in the same place. There's always a trade off. Cold and miserable and no skeeters, beautiful and glorious and full of em. Can't the city spray or something?

Let me first say that I highly recommend the minty pea puree. J was a bit skeptical at first but ended up being pleasantly surprised. It was refreshing and delicious.

The Lemon Broth, excuse me, Brodetto was also good. It added the perfect acid zing to the richness of the salmon.

Next time I would broil the salmon instead of pan sautee it because I feel like I can control the oil content much better by broiling. That's how I usually cook it so I am able to determine if it's too done or too rare much easier than pan sauteeing. I also would have much smaller pieces of salmon.

At the last minute I cooked some pasta. I have to have a protein, veggie and starch with all of my dinners. I topped it with the remaining Brodetto and Parmesan cheese. That was pretty good too.

So here it is. In all it's glory. Please note that I didn't garnish it with a mint sprig like Giada but otherwise I think they look pretty similar. Here's to the Chef.

What's for Dinner

Okay-I'm tired and wish I could just eat a manwhich but I'm already halfway through preparing my restaurant quality meal and can't stop now. We are having:

Pan Sauteed Salmon
with a mint pea puree
and a lemon brodetto (broth in Italian)

I saw Giada from Everyday Italian on Food TV make this yesterday and decided I'd give it a go.

This is what hers looks like. In a few hours I will show you what mine looked like. Remember that she probably had some food stylists for this photo.

Call me a bad mom if you want

I just came across this on another blog. Did anyone see this? It was a segment on some news show about combining playdates with happy hour. I'm guilty. I've done it and I have thoroughly enjoyed myself. Don't get me wrong, we didn't get loaded or anything. Just a glass or two of wine while our babies crawled around the floor. I haven't done it lately, but I sure do miss those days of the Happy Hour Play Group.

They are taking a survey on the site, whether you think it's appropriate or not to drink at playdates. Of course, I clicked yes and turns out 55% of mom agree with me.

Weather in New Orleans

Now this is how the weather in New Orleans is supposed to be. It is beautiful and mild and I couldn't be more thankful and neither could W. We got our morning coffee and then took a jaunt around the block. I didn't even have a coat on. It was truly glorious. W was all smiles even with the bucket of snot running down his nose. It's like a faucet. and he was not ready to come inside at all. After his nap and a run to the grocery we played bubbles and ball outside in our new backyard. It was so fun. And it just so happens that I came up with an invention. I don't know what it is but I know it's purpose. To keep the bubble juice from running down your arms. Can't they make a bubble stick that doesn't dribble everywhere?

So after all of that activity he was pooped and he is taking another nap. Thank you. I am exhausted from this mean ole cold since I'm not sleeping at night and was able to get in a catnap too. Now I'm debating on whether to wake the LB up for a quick trip to the park. You never know which side of the bed he'll wake up on after a late afternoon nap. I'm a bit hesitant.

I was about to say that the Little Buddy has never been as sick as he was this past weekend. But then I remembered when we had the stomach bug last June. So I think this was right up there with that time. He had 2 ear infections, 103 degree fever and was so congested, there was no comforting him. I took him into our bed 2 nights because nothing else would calm him down and even then he didn't really sleep. It was awful. Today he's still not 100% but he definitely feels better than he did yesterday. The weather forecast for tomorrow is relatively warm-high 60's!!! and I cannot wait to get him playing outside again.

I've kept a journal since I was a kid. Since the move I am reading them all before I destroy them. Each page that I turn on a new book I am more convinced that I need to not just throw them away but destroy them. There are certainly some funny quotes in there and there are plenty of people I write about as if they were my best friends and I have NO CLUE who they are. I would also be able to settle some arguments about whether somebody liked "her or her" because "he" told me and I wrote it down. (Are you following me?) I wrote everything down, so chances are if you know me you're probably glad I'm going to get rid of them too. Ha! Anyway, it's been a blast from the past and I've only got 2 down, something like 15 to go.

Angelina sighting

Funny. My mom and I went to an auction the other day and there was a lady sitting in front of us who kept bidding on all sorts of things. I forgot about it, vaguely noticed the girl, was more worried about the girl sitting next to me who was coughing up phlegm. Anyway, the next night my mom called to tell me it was Angelina Jolie (another friend told her). J thought it was far fetched. Why didn't anyone recognize her? I told him that I'm clueless when it comes to celebrities and that 99.9% of the people there were 60 or older so why would they recognize her?

I had several friends call to get the skinny.

It wasn't Angelina. Her mom passed away so she was out of town that Sunday. Do I feel stupid. Should have never listened to a 60 year old about who is who in the celebrity world. It doesn't mean I don't love that 60 year old.

Nola Blogger: Brangelina's New Home

Nola Blogger: Brangelina's New Home

Here's a link if you want to check out Brad and Angie's new NOLA home and you haven't yet received the circulating email. Pretty nice.

You think the weather's bad around here...

ask the Little Buddy how he feels.

I haven't been around the blogging world much because the LB has been awfully cranky the past few days. It's very unlike him and I had no clue anything was up. Another reason to feel like a bad mom. His nose was a bit runny but that was it, so until yesterday I just chalked it up to a bad mood. Well, he has an ear infection in both ears.

Yesterday afternoon I got kind of worried because I couldn't settle him down. I talked to the doctor on call and she said to just watch him and bring him today. Well, then he got worse and his nose started bleeding and this is going to sound ridiculous but I kept thinking about the baby on What About Brian (who lost her hearing because of some ear infections gone awry) so I took him to the emergency room. By that point he had calmed down and they said it would be a long wait and I got skeevish from all the other sick kids and left. Anyway, I probably shouldn't have told the Dr. my 'What About Brian' concerns because now I am sure they have me tagged as a Neurotic Mother. That's if they haven't already since I walk in and out of there every time by opening the door with a tissue.

But hopefully my sweet LB is on the mend.