Back from New Orleans, tired and overwhelmed. This is, of course, so lame as I was just a tourist of sorts, free to come and go. Much more later.

Meanwhile, on the homefront, it's time to ride the train w/o pants. Intrigued? The 5th Annual No Pants! Subway Ride will take place at 3:00 PM on Sunday, January 22. More here.

The New Orleans trip is coming together nicely.

I've given myself "assignments" (no editor, so I'm assigning myself...). On Tuesday I plan to go the main branch of the public library, then over to the Sheraton for the planning committee presentation on reconstruction. Wednesday I'll go to Lakeview and then over to Tulane (the students are coming back). Thursday and Friday I hope to be volunteering at a community kitchen in St. Bernard's Parish. Saturday, poof, I'll be back home.

On the homefront, the kitties seem finally to be getting along. I hope I haven't jinxed myself by saying that!

Did you know that Franny and I had a song written for us in honor of our 40th birthday? You can listen to it here [mp3].

I'd also like to introduce you to the Christmas Lump
[...a vegetarian entree created at the very last minute...]

Saute: onions, celery, a carrot, handful of peas, a parsnip.
Combine with: a handful of nuts, chopped small, some smelly cheese, some breadcrumbs
Season with: salt and pepper, sage, and other Christmas-y herbs
Plop into a small casserole or ramekin.
Fill casserole with milk or half-and-half and a dash of butter.
Sprinkle a few toasted breadcrumbs on the top.
Bake in the oven until it forms into a lump.

Delicious warm, and apparently still delicious a few days later! The lump may become an annual tradition.

I woke up Sunday thinking "Enough with the flowers. I think you should take up photojournalism."

I woke up Monday thinking "Jones. You should go to New Orleans. See things for yourself. Get out of your comfort zone. That would be a good assignment for you."

This morning I woke up thinking "Jones... what on earth have you done now?"

I fly to NOLA on Tuesday for 4 days.

How adorable is this? My new favourite website.