Happy Jazz Fest Everyone!

Got my credentials . . .Got my staff shirt . . .

Got my favorite band playing tomorrow...

I'm set . . . let's go!

A Happy Easter

Guaranteed to make you Smile

Tickling a Penguin

One Year Later . . .

Last year, Associated Press photographer Gerald Herbert covered the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and its aftermath. This month, he returned to see how one impacted area off the coast of Louisiana, Cat Island, is faring a year after the environmental disaster. See picture comparisons here: http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/04/20/6497331-a-year-after-the-oil-spill-the-cat-island-ecosystem-struggles-to-recover

2011 SAINTS Schedule

The New Orleans Saints' 2011 schedule was released today, though everything should be written in pencil until after the NFL lockout is lifted.

At first glance, it appears very favorable for the Saints.

An earlier report had the Saints playing the New York Giants on Nov. 27, but that game is actually scheduled for Nov. 28, a Monday Night game at the Superdome.

All times central

HOME GAMES IN ALL CAPS * = nationally-televised prime-time games

*WEEK 1: at Green Bay, Thursday Sept. 8, 7:30 p.m., NBC WEEK 2: VS CHICAGO, Sunday Sept. 18, Noon, FOX WEEK 3: VS HOUSTON, Sunday Sept. 25, Noon, CBS WEEK 4: at Jacksonville, Sunday Oct. 2, Noon, FOX WEEK 5: at Carolina, Sunday Oct. 9, Noon, FOX WEEK 6: at Tampa Bay, Sunday Oct. 16, 3:15 p.m., FOX *WEEK 7: VS INDIANAPOLIS, Sunday, Oct. 23, 7:20 p.m., NBC WEEK 8: at St. Louis, Sunday Oct. 30, Noon, FOX WEEK 9: VS TAMPA BAY, Sunday, Nov. 6, Noon, FOX WEEK 10: at Atlanta, Sunday Nov. 13, Noon, FOX WEEK 11: BYE *WEEK 12: VS N.Y. GIANTS, Monday Nov. 28, 7:30 p.m., ESPN WEEK 13: VS DETROIT, Sunday Dec. 4, Noon, FOX WEEK 14: at Tennessee, Sunday Dec. 11, Noon, FOX WEEK 15: at Minnesota, Sunday Dec. 18, Noon, FOX *WEEK 16: VS ATLANTA, Monday Dec. 26, 7:30 p.m., ESPN WEEK 17: VS CAROLINA, Sunday Jan. 1, Noon, FOX

2011 Jazz Fest Posters

I really like this year's CONGO SQUARE poster and may just have to purchase it!!!

NOLA Gossip

Details of actor Nicolas Cage's arrest released by NOPD New Orleans police have just released details on the domestic disturbance involving actor Nicolas Cage, who was arrested early today.

ABC's of ME

A. Age: 29 B. Bed size: Queen. But, most nights, it seems much smaller with a cat who can hog the bed. C. Chore you hate: Washing dishes! D. Dogs: Dogs!?! I'm more of a cat person E. Essential start to your day: Alarm Clock F. Favorite color: This month - Mauve G. Gold or silver: Gold H. Height: 5’9” I. Instruments you play: Ha! The Shiner School Song on the flute and some random song on the piano, but neither very well! J. Job title: Blogger. Arts Administrator. Kitty Momma. K. Kids: Someday. Not for a long, long time. L. Live: New Orleans Shotgun House. M. Mom’s name: Faith N. Nicknames: Jo-Jo. Texas. Hanna. O. Overnight hospital stays: *knock on wood* Haven't had one. P. Pet peeve: People not using turning blinkers when driving. Q. Quote from a movie: “Oh, go fly a kite.” R. Right or left handed: Right. S. Siblings: One brother. T. Time you wake up: 7:30'ish U. Underwear: Hipster. V. Vegetables you dislike: I actually like all veggies, but greatly dislike melons (like cantaloupe and honeydew) W. What makes you run late: Road Construction or Flooded streets (which happens more than you think in NOLA) X. X-Rays you’ve had: You name it - teeth, ribs, etc. Y. Yummy food you make: Cookies!!! Z. Zoo – favorite animal: Otters!

5 Don't-miss Festivals Across the US

Food, wine, parades, live music and finally getting outdoors after a long winter ... what's not to love about the spring festival season? If you're seeking inspiration for a last-minute spring trip, don't miss the festivities going on around the U.S. in celebration of everything from strawberries to Cinco de Mayo. Read on for info on our five favorite upcoming spring festivals.

#1

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival New Orleans, La.

Despite its name, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival showcases much more than just jazz music; headliners this year include Jimmy Buffett, Robert Plant & the Band of Joy, Cyndi Lauper, Wilco, Wyclef Jean and dozens of other artists in every musical genre you can imagine. In addition to live concerts every day, the festival — which runs for 10 days from April 29 through May 8 — also offers a Louisiana Folklife Village and a Native American Village where visitors can watch crafts demonstrations and enjoy traditional local music. And don't forget the food! This is your chance to sample N'awlins favorites like muffuletta, red beans and rice, po'boys, and crawfish pie.

See the others listed . . .

Wow!

Volker Kraft decorates a tree with 9,800 Easter eggs at the garden of pensionar couple Christa and Volker Kraft in Saalfeld, Germany, Monday, April 11, 2011. The Kraft family have decorated their tree for Easter for more than forty years.

Japanese Warnings from Ancestors

Modern sea walls failed to protect coastal towns from Japan's destructive tsunami last month. But in the hamlet of Aneyoshi, a single centuries-old tablet saved the day. "High dwellings are the peace and harmony of our descendants," the stone slab reads. "Remember the calamity of the great tsunamis. Do not build any homes below this point." It was advice the dozen or so households of Aneyoshi heeded, and their homes emerged unscathed from a disaster that flattened low-lying communities elsewhere and killed thousands along Japan's northeastern shore. Hundreds of such markers dot the coastline, some more than 600 years old. Collectively they form a crude warning system for Japan, whose long coasts along major fault lines have made it a repeated target of earthquakes and tsunamis over the centuries. The markers don't all indicate where it's safe to build. Some simply stand — or stood, until they were washed away by the tsunami — as daily reminders of the risk. "If an earthquake comes, beware of tsunamis," reads one. In the bustle of modern life, many forgot. Read more here . . .

Jean d'Alos Cheese

So I went to my first ever Cheese Class last night Held after hours at St. James Cheese Company on Prytania Street We had a fine selection of cheeses that were personally chosen and flown in specially from France Full list of cheeses above

I highly enjoyed almost all the cheeses on my plate, but there were a few I would have been happy to skip (ie. some having an ash-y flavoring)

The team at Jean D'Alos works closely with local producers primarily from the area of the Pyrenees, France. Cheeses are selected at the small farms and dairies, and finished and matured in the cellars at Jean D'Alos. Below was our visiting French representative.

Jean D'Alos, is a highly regarded cheese shop and affineur in Bordeaux, France.

Fun class! I'd like to go another night and sample a different cheese theme.

Cheese Class

April 6

The Cheeses of Jean d'Alos featuring Affineur Jean d'Alos

(all the way from France, y'all!)

So, I'm going to a cheese class tomorrow.

I've been wanting to do this for awhile now, esp. when I saw Cheese/Wine or Cheese/Beer classes being offered last Fall. Alas, some of my girlfriends were able to agree on a night and apparently the class will cover a wide variety of cheeses - cows' milk, goats' milk, different types of rinds, etc. Whoo-Hoo!!!

You know you wanna . . .

Have a little fun @ http://www.photofunia.com/