Author: Peg

Really got cracking on the taxes today. And then mid-afternoon I went off to hear a discussion about a “smart home” product for the Asylum. Something doesn’t seem quite right about it to me. It seems to be trying to be all things to all people. Well, you can use your tablet, or your phone, or maybe your computer and for some things you can use Alexa or your TV or LED lobby displays or even a remote control clicker kind of a thing.  And, it is supposed to interface with all manner of devices. Like a garmin fitness tracker. Or a BP machine. And, it will store your family photos. Somewhere. In “the” cloud? On your tablet? At some server farm in South Carolina? Too many moving parts. Do one thing and do it well. But, management will do what management does and life will continue here at the Asylum.

So, more New Orleans pictures. If not feel free to say bye bye right here. 

After dinner I went to listen to an angry woman discuss her book on the 1998 embassy bombing in Kenya. She had been the Ambassador to Kenya when the bombing occurred. You all know that I am basically an intellectual slut. But, I try to take advantage of speakers programs here at the Asylum. Well, every now and then. But, I have never taken advantage of Bingo or group sing alongs. 

Now, I have to clean up my apartment for the cleaning lady tomorrow. And tomorrow, I will try to finish up my taxes for the tax guy. 

I am still here – when you considered that this thing has been showing up a couple of times a day recently, I guess still being here is a good thing. So many of the residents are in hospital right now that we should be getting a group discount!

This happy green frog should have been at Mardi gras. 

I wondered why the dog just stayed in the little cart – then I figured out that the dog wasn’t stupid so why run when you can ride. 

And uneventful day. Hey, that is OK. I did some origami. Nothing fancy. I discovered that some lovely paper that I had been saving for something special is really crappy folding paper. With origami paper, as with people, looks are not everything.

Also, tidied up the Old Bat Cave. It was a bit “lived in” looking. And, I continue to spread tax stuff all over. Maybe I will get it ready to go tomorrow. Or not. 

Well, it is about time to get back to “real life”. But, not without a little shot of cuteness from the Santa Barbara Zoo. 

Been to yoga class two days in a row. And, right now, I am feeling pretty creaky. No amount of doing yoga on my own replaces a class with a “Yoga Dominatrix”. I hurt all over more than anyplace else.

Tomorrow, I must seriously attack the taxes. And, make a nice origami for a friend’s birthday. I got some new origami paper for my own birthday. 

Ambulance just pulled up in out front. That is the second one I have seen today. One of the “side effects” of living in The Asylum. 

It may be time to get back to real life, but, I think I’ll just make a nice cup of tea and hop in bed to read. 

Tractors seemed to be what made all the floats move. And, in the parades that I saw, there were a couple of unattached trackers in the parade. At the ready, one guesses, to spring into action if needed.

About 1/3 of the floats were dedicated to some Zulu Krewe character or the other. The Mayor, The Governor, Mr Big Shot, The Witch Doctor etc. The rest of the floats honored a pantheon of cartoon/movie characters from the last 50 years.

All of the Zulu floats are the same size – huge. Bigger than a double-decker city bus. 

Today, I spread my tax stuff all over the Old Bat Cave. And, I went to yoga. Getting back to “normal”. 

The Zulu Parade continues. Marching bands. Mostly from high schools, but the LSU marching band was in this parade as was the USMC band from  Camp Lejeune.

But mostly it was floats.

The Govenor’s float stoped right in front of me for about 5 minutes. And, for the Krewe it was time to mess with the crowd.

Pretty sure there will be more from the parade tomorrow. Because there ain’t nothing that much fun going on around here. 

I did make it outside today. But, I didn’t feel mentally with it enough to do much of anything. So, the taxes remain untouched.

One of the major reasons to go to Mardi gras on Mardi gras is the Krewe of Zulu Parade. Today’s post is just some images from the parade. More tomorrow.

Still cold. Still haven’t been outside.

Monday was cold. But, before noon I made my way to Bourbon Street and the festivities were underway. Or maybe still going on from the night before.

I will not really call this “street photography” – I was on the street and using a camera. But the people were all on stage.

She looks really happy with her puppies. Complements to her plastics person. And yes, they were on a balcony of the French Quarter Sheraton Hotel.

Actually, that one shot made the whole trip worth the journey.

It snowed here this afternoon. I was not amused. Not in the least. I did not leave the Asylum.

Made it back to Alexandria Virginia about four hours late. An hour after that I was back at the Asylum. Back in the Old Bat Cave. The was more beer, chocolate, wine and coffee in my apartment than when I left it. Plus, avocadoes and good bread. 

And, just time for a long shower and quick rest – then off to my 75th birthday celebration. These friends are what makes the Asylum work for me. It would be grim without them. It is good with them. 

We seem to have a new resident male piano player. Like the other resident piano players: he doesn’t play rock-n-music. His repertoire tends towards Bach partitas. I understand that I am getting a new neighbor who will have a piano. Most likely in the room next to my bed. That is why I have earplugs. Somehow, I don’t imagine that piano with be used for rock or blues or jazz either.  I may be wrong. Maybe Billy Joel will be moving in. 

Left New Orleans at seven this morning. It is now 4:30pm and we are some where in Alabama.

Birmingham is the only place that the train passed through that looks in the least interesting. But not interesting enough to warrant a visit.

Many passengers are Mardi gras survivors. The train makes for an interesting transfer back to reality.

Just got a notice the Alex Trebek announced that he has stage 4 pancreatic cancer. He has been a part of our lives for decades. I think Morgan Freeman’s character in Bucket List was a faithful viewer. Nobody is promised tomorrow.

And tomorrow – The Asylum.

It was 41 degrees, it was early, but New Orleans was determined to party. Men in pink suits start things off.

But they were just the opening acts.

In good time the floats arrived.

There were at least 2 parades after the Zulu Parade. But I had been out in the cold for over six hours. Time to bail. I had gotten my money’s worth of my grandstand seat.

Wreckage of tommorow. The Crescent, my train, left 4 hours late today and is now 7 hours behind schedule. It looks like it’s been cancelled. Well, that’s one for tomorrow.

In conclusion – for me Mardi gras was worth the trip. Must get packed up again.

Ok, here is the deal. I am really tired. I was outside in the cold all day and wifi is wicked fast here in the Ace Hotel. So, how about I just do images. From Shamu 2.

And the parade is still going on. Without me.

Yesterday, I discovered that the WordPress app sort of worked with out internet. But I is a lot smoother with internet, so, I shall try doing the text and then fire up the app when I have good signal.

It is 4:30pm now and I am ready for the next part of the adventure. Just checked, we might make it into New Orleans on time which should have me in a much needed shower by 11pm. Oh there is a shower on the train, but I am thinking about buckets of hot water. Then a bed with fluffy pillows. That’s the 75 year old version of laissez les bon temps rouler.

The train has made it to Louisiana. I haven’t been to Louisiana in several decades. But it still stinks. Sulfur.

According to Google, my hotel is 11 minutes from the station by foot. Have not a clue how sketchy the neighborhood is. I’ll just trust my gut reaction and decide what to do.

I have a dinner reservation at 6:30 tonight, but the train is very empty. So, I don’t know if I have interesting dinner mates. An interesting dinner mate would have a car service waiting at the station and offer me a ride to my hotel.

Time to read some more. Or go to the lounge car for a brew. Laissez les bon temps rouler already.