Pandora!

Wow, John Liles just brought an unbelievable new free music website called Pandora to my attention. I won't get too much into details, other than to say it's one of the most amazing free services I've ever encountered. For those who are more interested, I've included a link to the site so you can visit by clicking here. I highly recommend checking it out. It's like being able to program your own commercial-free radio station, but they let you design up to 100 of them. You've really got to see it to believe it. Enjoy.

Blur

Although this photo is slightly blurry, it's a good one of Susan putting the final touches on our little tree.

We send out our warmest holiday wishes to everyone, and we hope that the upcoming holidays are happy for all. 

Tree trimming

Susan's mom, Joanna, came over Saturday night to help trim the tiny tree we bought. Little tree for a little house, and just like on a Charlie Brown Christmas, all it needed was a little love. 

New links added

If you look to the right hand side of the page, there are some new links where you can always find something interesting.

I strongly recommend checking out WWOZ, the public jazz and heritage station in New Orleans. It's up and running again with awesome music, no advertisements, and you can listen online.

Hold steady

This photo was one that required the camera be held very still for seemingly an eternity. Luckily, I got this decent shot on the second try, before Elise could get bored with the experiment. This shot and the four right below were taken 6 December 2005; Crowley, La.

Baby sister!

Elise holding her new baby sister in Crowley. See how tender they gaze at one another now; how tender will it be when little sis gets into big sis' stuff? ;) 

Dad, Daughter and Mimi

Elise and Mom looking pretty and me and my crooked smile.

Cindy Lou Who's mom...

...was Elise's role. She had a speaking part and got to wear her hair super wild. She made me and the rest of the family all proud.

 

The Grinch

This photo is the set of the play put on by Elise and her third grade class, featuring the Grinch Who Stole Christmas.

Requiem for Toy

As evidenced by the cat and the bird, some things in New Orleans are returning to normal. There are photos of Toy as a boy, and happy with fishes (on the left).

Also note the "World's Meanest Redneck", one of my personal favorites. The girls are (L to R) Joli, Lisa and Susan.

Not a farm...

Views from our new house and around the neighborhood.

Fire, wind & flood

Proud to call it home... 

NOLA bound

No pictures with this post, sorry. This one is to chronicle the first trip back to New Orleans not involved with either attempting to rescue Elle cat or moving our possessions out of the house. Not that going to Toy's funeral is a joyful event, but I know that he would want us to celebrate his life not mourn his passing.

So off to the Crescent City we go, looking forward to seeing old friends for the first time in the city since Hurricane Katrina changed so many lives so quickly and drastically, some 10 weeks ago. We look forward to seeing Christian and Lisa, Adam (flying in from California), Ben and Jodi, and Avery (who informed us that the annual "Art for Art's Sake" will be belatedly celebrated in the Wharehouse District this weekend).

I'll write a short post, summarizing this weekend's highlights and, hopefully, include some interesting pictures too. Feel free to post your own comments about any of the other posts or pictures on this blog, as I've undertaken this project as much for the rest of you as for myself. Have a fun and safe weekend.

New digs

Various photos of the new house, and the three pretty girls. Susan didn't look happy, but she sure looked pretty. Anyway, more shots of the house in daylight soon. Also, we're on our way to New Orleans this weekend, unfortunately for a funeral; R.I.P. Toy. Maybe some interesting shots will come out of that journey, now that we won't have to worry about little things like rescuing the cat or moving out all of our worldly possessions. Stay tuned. 

Red Stripe

Photo taken on a particularly fun night out, shortly after our arrival in Pcola. Luckily, upon our arrival here, we found no shortage of good food, cold beer and fun-lovers.

Crisis center

The girl at the command center. I truly believe that, I will never again in my life change addresses with so many organizations, so many times in so short a time. 

Little taste of Katrina

These photos are only what we had time to capture on our jaunts to New Orleans. There we so many more awful sights that we were too busy to stop and capture. Awful.

Pre-Katrina Huxley pose

To think this photo was taken less than one month before the Ninth Ward, and much of NOLA, was destroyed conjures odd emotions.

Hux dog in her natural habitat. 

Commencement

Can one who cannot keep a diary keep a blog?