Tuesday, May 31

NOLA's Greek Festival

H
Thier dancers practice throughout the year in preparation for the Festival. On stage, they perform a variety of Greek dances for entertainment.

T OR 'outdoor marketplace'Beverages Long a Greek symbol of abundance and good luck - we hit the Daiquiri Booth for some frozen pomegranate libation!
The Rotisserie — Take the Festival home with you to savor and share! Slow roasted Spring Lamb (sold by the pound) will be cooking all weekend long.Kali Orexi! Kali Orexi is the Greek phrase for Bon Apetit! Literally, it translates to good appetite.Jackie and her Gyro with tzatziki sauce :)
Desserts The Pastry Shoppe — Over twenty traditional homemade Greek pastries, including baklava, galaktobouriko, kourambiedes, cakes, and cookies
Traditional Greek Dinner — We'll be serving our traditional Greek dinner all three days of the festival. Includes tiropita, spanakopita, pastitsio, meatballs, and a Greek salad with dolma (stuffed grape leaves)
Loukoumades — Hard to say but wonderful to eat, our "lou-coo-ma-days" are the Greek version of beignets --lightly fried golden brown, drenched in honey, and dusted with cinnamon
Amie and her imported Greek red wine :)
Live Greek music outside to relax and/or dance (in the HEAT!)

Monday, May 30

Sunday, May 29

Scotland: Part One

Instead of posting an insane amount of photos,
I'm compiling my adventure in Scotland into different parts.
Enjoy!

Wednesday, May 25

Last of my Jazz Fest 2011 Random Pics

Kentucky Derby Mint JulepsChance drawing on Derby horses Horseman Cafeteria - Job Headquarters
A deserted closed down Acura stage at night
Not yet open fairgrounds in the AM

The Massive Crowds

Wednesday, May 18

Scotland!

About to do # 60 on My Someday List, totally NOT # 78 ;)

Tuesday, May 17

What the . . . ?

That's right - It's a COME AND TAKE IT FLAG with some Gonzales, Texas people under it as well this last weekend at Jazz Fest! ;)

Mississippi River closed at Natchez

Record flooding has caused authorities to close the Mississippi River at the port in Natchez because barge traffic could put more pressure on the levees. Coast Guard Petty Officer Bill Colclough said the port was closed Monday, leaving two vessels waiting to head north and one waiting to go south. The U.S. economy could face a bill running into the hundreds of millions of dollars a day if the lower Mississippi River is closed to shipping for days or weeks, port officials said. It wasn't clear when the river would reopen to traffic. The Mississippi River is expected to crest Saturday in Natchez at 63 feet, down a half-foot than earlier predictions, but almost five feet above a record set in 1937. The river at Natchez was already 3 feet above the 1937 level as of Monday morning. To the north, the river is projected to crest Thursday at Vicksburg at 57.5 feet, more than a foot above the 1927 record there. It could take weeks for the water to recede to normal levels. During the spring, the Mississippi is a highway for towboats bushing barges laden with corn, soybeans and other crops brought down from the Ohio, Missouri and Mississippi river systems. Grain and other farm products come down the river, mostly by barge but some by rail, to the Port of South Louisiana, north of New Orleans, for export. They are loaded onto massive grain carriers headed overseas.
Read More Here & Here

Packing Tips

When I have to sit on my suitcase to get it to closed -- I know somethings wrong. Packing and I have a love/hate relationship that seems to rejuvenate itself every time I prep for a trip, and no matter how much I learn about unnecessary travel gear, I always fear about getting my suitcase within the weight limit. So I'm on a mission this time to follow three "simple" packing tips:
1) Know your Weight Limits
This trips packing adventure cannot be another lost cause for me. Since I’m heading to Scotland for 7 days, I know I’m allowed to bring one 50 lb bag. I’m using my trusty silver rolly suitcase for the trip which (while packing) beautifully fit the necessities for warmth in the wet, chilly weather. Keeping my fingers crossed for the final result!
2) Pack Your Bag: Then Take out A Third and Put it Back in Your Closet
So I really started to look at what all I so far packed and decided to sort my clothes into piles of cardigans/sweaters, fancy clothes, wet weather clothes, sleeping clothes– you get the picture. I chose my favorites from each pile, discarding about 1/3 of the apparel spread on my bed. Yet, I’ve stubbornly refused to travel without my yoga pants, my fur lined boots and fun colorful tanks to go under my cardigans and overall, I’m super proud of myself–I think I’m learning. This time I didn’t even reach for the hair curler, I’m no longer bringing three scarves and I decided on lots of easy switchable clothing to create layers. Plus I did keep room for my bulky wool sweaters that I learned were so valuable during my last British Isle trip and so after three hours of packing, jamming items in and throwing them out -- I finally think I'm done.
3) Pack for the Climate
Sounds like a no-brainer but for those who don't know it ... most of the UK is chilly and damp - the kind of cold that seeps into your bones and stays there ’til you spend several days in the very hot sun ... which means lots of bulky items to pack. Yet, I hate lugging my suitcase through airports and if better packing means less weight and easier mobility, I’ll be the first one to go tossing items out.

Monday, May 16

Last Time . . .

I was in the U.K. - I developed a taste for some favorites : esp. Drifter Bars!
Plus, I'm ready to see some more castles...
and much much more!