19 Jan 2011: New Orleans

Just as I have been in transition after the first of the year arrived, the blog is going through a transition as well.  At the end of 2011, I felt certain that I would keep up with blogging fairly regularly, updating with pictures.  I think I would have continued on that path but a new project grabbed me hard by the coat collar and I have immersed myself mightily in that new journey.  My new goal for 2012 is to complete a mystery novel.  It had been brewing in my head during 2011 and was eager to emerge as the year came to a close. 

This small restaurant was just down the street from our hotel.  I liked the name because of Mean, AR.  Carol and I ate there for breakfast; nothing fancy: eggs, grits, hash browns, omelets, etc., but it had good atmosphere.

For those who do not know my background, this is by no means a foreign project.  I have a Masters in play writing and I've written a couple of novels, none published; the first novel was a sci-fi piece written when I was 12.  I read that a book-length manuscript should be 40,000 words, so I made sure that the novel was that long.  A fellow classmate even did a book report on it. 

Poetry followed through my teen years and in high school,  writing a play was an assignment in an English composition class.  I continued working on plays, but the big success I envisioned never materialized.  I did have a small piece Off-Off Broadway. 

Larry Lagarde, the owner of the bike shop where I rented a bike for two days.  Larry was extremely helpful in laying out routes for me around town and I was very appreciative of his time and patience.  His business is www.ridethisbike.com. In addition to renting bikes, he sells folding bikes.  The above picture is shot in the rear of his business.

When Rachel was two (or was it four?), I decided to try my hand at a mystery novel as I have always enjoyed that genre.  That was quite a challenge balancing house dad duties with putting energy into writing.  Three years and several drafts later it was completed and I spent the next year trying to get an agent.

So, here I am, 12 years, one word board game (Wordigo), another full length play, numerous other projects and 10,358.16 miles in one year later and the itching to get a successful mystery novel out is a calling.  Interestingly, the year-long bike journey feels as if it has prepared me to take on this task, giving me some reborn confidence. 

I have thought that blogging about the writing experience, posting how the story develops and unfolds could be interesting.  My fear, though, is that I just may not have time to do that.  Working on the novel is time consuming and I cannot forget the promise that I made to pursue projects around the house (a few of which I have already done).  Plus, there is still bike riding to be done!  The body still cries out to be taken out on the bike.  Only a paltry 125 miles so far this year.  But, there has been lots of short hikes as well and time to kick back and relax, so, I'm not complaining.

I am definitely not complaining as I am VERY enthused about the novel.  Carol had a conference in New Orleans and I tagged along.  This was a good trip for me as it allowed me to refocus on my priorities.  I was able to get a considerable amount of writing done while down there (as well as a decent amount of bike riding!).  As far as blogging on the writing, we shall see.  I feel as if the dust is still settling from the year-long journey. 

These pictures from New Orleans have been patiently waiting to get downloaded and uploaded.  For a couple of days I wasn't sure if I would get them posted, but here they are. 

It was actually on the very cool side down in the Big Easy on our first full day; 35 for a low and a high of maybe 50 with a good stiff wind blowing.  I never did fully warm up on my outing that day as a chill set into my bones and I just couldn't get it out, even after a bowl of seafood gumbo.

But these houses definitely brought a smile to my face.

This is a view from our hotel window.  I believe this is a Greek Orthodox Church but I never made it over there to confirm that.  I like the juxtaposition of the minarets in the midst of all the office buildings

Biking and walking were not my only form of exercise while I was down there.  We were on the 27th floor, so, naturally, I had to walk all those stories.  Actually, I bypassed the 27th floor and kept going all the way to the top, 42.  I repeated this about three times while I was there (not always going all the way to the top) for a total of 86 stories worth of climbing - who needs an exercise room!

On my second day of riding, I dressed a bit warmer and the day also started off warmer.  Not far from the hotel and still in the French Quarter, I saw Midge sitting in a chair.  I circled back and asked if I could take his picture, liking the way the light was hitting him with the red, white and green background.  No problem.  In fact, he told me he got asked quite a bit.  He turned out to be a tour guide, Midge Jones, "I Book Tours."  318-527-9496. 

This post was in someone's front yard near City Park.  After I took it, I realized that there were several other similar posts scattered around the block.  Look closely and another one can be spotted across the street to the left of this one.

City Park

I took several, several shots of the pelicans in flight hoping to get a good one.  Almost all were out of focus.  They look prehistoric in this photo.

One of the main reasons that I wanted to ride out to City Park was to see the outdoor sculpture garden.  I circled around a couple of times and I couldn't find it, finally stumbling upon it.  I'm glad I did as I feel it was a highlight of my trip down to New Orleans.

Mother and Child.

She is standing on what appeared to be her husband.

Approaching the above sculptures from the opposite direction, the large safety pin and the men stand alone, two separate sculptures to be viewed independently.  But, after I circled around and came down on another sidewalk, I was met with this view and really wowed.  I can't help but think that the curators knew exactly what they were doing setting the two sculptures up in this way so that it seemed as if the men were emerging from the woods and coming upon this strange monolith that appeared out of the heavens.

Back in the French Quarter.


And over to the Garden District.

The cemeteries really stand out since all burial is done above ground because of the water table being so close to the surface.  The tombs are opened and new coffins added as family members die.



Lots of large old restored homes in the Garden District but I decided to focus on this one building oddity.

When I took this picture, I was trying to capture the woman dancing but the music was coming to an end by the time I got a picture.  However, I still like the musician in the crowd, the face to his right and the man drinking from a bottle off to the left.

At a dinner reception that evening, Robert Fishbone with his washboard tie that really was playable. 

The morning of our departure, while Carol still slept, the morning light creeping in through the curtains.