The Queen of Hearts

…she made some tarts, all on a summer’s day… This is not an entry regarding tarts or any other pastry, despite the fact that there seems to be some sort of Cherry Pie appreciation festival going on here in Loveland this month.  Not cherries in general, mind you, so you can’t go running around town…

Bead Dog Pause

(Heh.  See what I did there?) Approximately 2.5 weeks ago, or so: I sat at the computer in my newest room, this one in Colorado, biting my lip very, very hard.  Freshly wounded from what felt like a failed trip, I nevertheless had an entire stack of New Orleans photographs to edit, and was bravely…

There and Back Again

As the notorious Samwise Gamgee once said, after that nasty Ring was destroyed and all was said and done:  “Well, I’m back.” Back in two respects:  Back in Colorado, back on the blog. When one encounters sudden or unwelcome change, it is natural, I think, for one to tuck into oneself for a spell.  To…

State of Fire

I am writing this from Loveland, where it is HOT and as dry as a potato chip on a sidewalk in Arizona in August.  Some clouds are rolling over, but they are useless and will yield no rain.  If they do, it will be a mere smattering of droplets that will evaporate the precise moment…

An Epic Stroll (Warning: Contains Sweat. And Also a Bead Dog.)

This past Friday, I had it in my overly-active mind that it would be a Good Idea to spend 9 hours on foot in the Garden District, wandering the Magazine St. corridor.  See, J is working now (YAY!) on ‘Zine St., often needs the car for work, and this thereby renders me stranded in The Room…

A Royal Mystery

The Royal Pharmacy, which crouches on the corner of Royal St. and Ursulines in the French Quarter, has rather an aura of Landmark about it.  An aura of “I have always been here” and, really, that is not entirely untrue. From what I have been able to discover thus far, the property has been a…

Sometimes My Geek Shows

Well, alright, it shows all the time.  However, sometimes it comes out at the most unexpected and ridiculous moments.  On Memorial Day, as we were killing time in the AC, we sat down for some card games.  The game 31, in particular, and we were using pennies as gambling fodder. I looked at mine…and saw…

A Little Less New, A Little More Native

It can be difficult sometimes, being the New Kid in a New City.  It helps, when someone else is the New Kid right along with you, but then you are both together on the other side of that wall, seeking the proper nook or cranny by which to gain entrance.  It is because of this…

Le Musée Conti

It is astonishing, on a 90° day with 74% humidity in New Orleans, the grand difference it makes depending on whether the sun is, or is not, behind a cloud.  If the sun is tucked in all cozy-like behind a soft blanket of cloud cover, the temperature outdoors is more than tolerable, it is downright…