Friday, May 23, 2008

Hey, Jude - grow strong and healthy.



Jude Andrew, as he was named, arrived two months premature on May 12th. He was delivered breathing on his own and has continued to thrive and grow. I think it is remarkable that he is doing so well and looks so perfect, though tiny. He was 4.2 lbs, 17 inches long at birth.

I already love him. I met Jude a few days ago and held him until I finally remembered Julia waiting for me in the lobby. You have to be at least 16 to enter NICU.

He may be going home in a week - as soon as he develops the ability to suck - which is usually around the 34th week of development, which is today.

Prayers for his continued progress are welcome and appreciated.

Friday, May 09, 2008


This pole is where we parked for the performers we saw for Jazz Fest. There was a little piece of shade and we had an umbrella to shade us too, plus we could sit on that little piece of concrete ledge. Our spot was smelly and the ground was on an incline and uneven. My leg muscles have been sore ever since from keeping a standing balance for hours. Maybe they'll tighten up and look 20-something again. (Really, idk)

The Neville Brothers were going to close out the fest for the first time in 3 years after Carlos Santana finished. It has been the tradition for all these years that they were the finale. After the mamma-jamma hurricane - some of the brothers fled the city, by force or for other reasons. Aaron's wife, may she now rest in peace, was sick and couldn't breath our spore-filled air. They didn't close the fest for the past two years, so this was an exciting coup to have them perform here again in this way.

We couldn't stay for it. We had children to pick up from respective homes; this being a school night. It was disappointing, but I was satiated with so many other good things this weekend that it was just gluttonous for me to want more.

The next night, only a few nights ago, was Monday - which is always Charmaine Neville at Snug Harbor. She is an entertainer's entertainer. Her shows are always packed with energy and please the crowds. I had a premonition that came true - her dad, Charles, and her Uncle Cyril joined her on stage. I was ecstatic. It was so much more intimate and fun to see/hear them in that cozy setting. It was one heck of a set, and even though I was working it, I felt so blessed.

The Universe is constantly answering my prayers. It is a priceless feeling of security to acknowledge that all of my needs are always taken care of.

Monday, May 05, 2008

Jazz Fest '08




Gorgeous day at the Jazz Fest yesterday. (oh, btw, Happy Cinco de Mayo.) It was my 18th wedding anniversary and I was gifted with 2 tickets to Jazz Fest by a co-worker. Working at Snug Harbor, I just knew there had to be a couple of tickets just floating around - meant to come to me. The kids were at friends' for the day, and the mate and I slathered sunscreen all over us, got the umbrella (for shade), and headed out the door.

The grounds were a little sloppy, in spots, and well-trod and smelly in others. We parked at the Acura stage and saw/heard The Salvador Santana band (Carlos's son), Ivan Neville's "Dumpstafunk", and then the awesome and consistent Carlos Santana. We left before the Neville's traditional closing of the jazz fest. We had kids to pick up, shrimp poboys from R&O's calling us to eat them, and hours of driving ahead of us before getting to call it a day. Maybe next year...

No, that might not happen either. The JF was so crowded this year. I really don't like that. We usually manage to go on a weekday when the crowd is so easy to negotiate through. I went on Friday with my bf, Cathy. I ate Shrimp Maquechoux and fry bread for the first time. It was delicious. Fry bread is like a giant beignet I decided.

I didn't get to visit all the vendors booths. There are always such colorfool and cool things on display. Utribe was there again. I aspire to have a piece in my new house on the water, the one that will have a game room with a pool table, dart board, foosball, big tv and one just for the WII and stuff. Yeah, that'll be cool when that dream comes true. Utribe inspires me.