Jambalaya Diaries: Saturday, January 12th

Most people think that shadows follow, precede, or surround beings or objects. The truth is that they also surround words, ideas, desires, deeds, impulses and memories. -Elie Wiesel, writer, Nobel laureate (b. 1928) 

And greetings to Pecos Pat, his trusty carbon fibre steed, and of course also to his lovely pard.  All sounds grand.  Will you be in NO for Mardi Gras? Guy

Hi Guy and the rest of the NRBC Posse!

In short, NO to NO for Mardi Gras! Not sure that we mind missing the festival proper as apparently it can be rather overwhelming, to say the least. From one website I learned the following:

 Mardi Gras 2013 falls on Tuesday, February 12th.

 Parades will begin on January 19th. All NEW ORLEANS parade activity will pause from January 28th – February 5th due to Super Bowl XLVII, which takes place on February 3rd. However, there will be parades rolling during this time throughout Metairie, Slidell, Mandeville, Covington & Chalmette.

I'm sure Sarge is pleased about Super Bowl taking precedence over parades! However, given this, we do hope to see some of the parades as we will be in NO from January 16th to January 23rd.

Chloe Alexis Dunn Why do I not get this channel!!!!! Why?!??!!!

Patrick James Dunn Because you piggy-back on your parents' overburdened shoulders!

Had a relatively easy drive from Monahans to Dallas, basically on I 20 all the way until after Ft. Worth when we kicked over onto I-30/I-35 to take us almost to 2848 Woodside Street. Quite obvious that we passed through some very concentrated oil patch activity as all of the industrial parks we passed in Odessa, Midland, Big Spring, Sweetwater and Abilene were filled with shoulder to shoulder oil supply/equipment companies. Another fascinating, somewhat paradoxical sight, was to see hundreds and hundreds, (if not thousands, as one could see them outlined on the horizon), of wind turbines stretching as far as the eye could see, in the strip between Colorado City and Abilene, I think. In many spots they were interspersed with the iconic pumpjack oil pumps, these tireless rocking horse robots delivering Texas crude with their characteristic, eccentric wheel nodding motion.

Past Abilene the landscape changed from almost desert scrub flatland to quite heavily wooded, rolling hills. Enjoyed the drive here as the ups and downs and sweeping curves, as opposed to the prairie-like straightaways from Pecos to Abilene, made it easier to focus on driving since my not-so-trusty navigator was either reading or sleeping! Traffic was very light as we approached Ft Worth and continued to be so all the way to Dallas, a function of it being Saturday as well as an NFL playoff weekend, I suppose.

Ruth had sent us a garage door clicker and keys to their condo so we parked in one of their stalls and then proceeded to unload. Took two trips but with a very efficient cart we had no difficulty bringing all our worldly possessions up to their place on the 6th floor. And what a place, Dear Reader! Their home in San Antonio was certainly more than comfortable but I think this "smaller" place, (two bedrooms, three bathrooms, huge kitchen/family room, dining/living room and laundry room, reached by both a service elevator and one that opens directly into their large foyer), is far more cosy, though just as elegant, and perhaps more liveable, at least from my point of view. Ruth has impeccable taste and she has done a simply splendid job of furnishing the apartment with many of the pieces from their house and their most attractive, colourful works of art, sculpture as well as paintings, many originals, acquired while Ruth was on the Board of the Blue Star Contemporary Art Center in San Antonio. Marble floors, granite counters and a gas stove. Two wine fridges and a Cuisinart Automatic Grind & Brew so what more could a poor boy want?

After a bit of unpacking we went for a brief stroll in the neighbourhood and were delighted by everything from the nature of the surrounding architecture and landscaping, (a cross between Yaletown now and what the West End used to be like), and the plethora of bars and restaurants and cafes and eateries and boutiques and ordinary grocery stores. There is even a free trolley on McKinney, to downtown, but a block or so from our front door. We plan to take it tomorrow to begin our exploration of the city and its offerings. Dallas Museum of Art is high on the list as Posters of Paris: Toulouse-Lautrec and His Contemporaries is on until January 20th. I hope to explore the Katy Trail, not far from here, as my bike route of choice while here.

Back home we heated up scrumptious overlefts from Friday's dinner, courtesy of our absentee landlady/landlord washed down with a refreshingly crisp, pleasingly tart Kono, Marlborough, 2012 Sauvignon Blanc, 13.0% and enjoyed watching Pierce Brosnan in his first Bond role in GoldenEye, while we supped and sipped. Once I've tidied up the kitchen I think I'll reward myself with a snort or two of malt before repairing to bed to read a few chapters of White Heat. It's been a long, busy, full day and I'm quite happy to turn out the lights before midnight as, with time change, I didn't hit my pillow until 2:00am this morning and then we were up at 7:30am.

Cheers to one and all from Pecos Patrizzio and His Trusty Side-Kick, Coraleeta of the shiny, ever-so-sharp, Western spur-heeled, rattlesnake cowgirl boots! Git along little dogie! Git!

Pics: Mesa Juice Squeezer Arv and homestead, together with Sandy and CoraLeeta. 

Sounds like fun and have fun in Texas.  Wayne

Chloe Alexis Dunn

Day 10. Did an 8:30 hot yoga then a noon spin class. Tired but feeling pretty damn good!!! 

Glad to hear you arrived safe and sound!!!

Spoke with Ben yesterday and told him I will give check to him before the first and that damage will most likely be to him when you two are home, he is fine with it all. Am looking in to getting the floors in the loft resealed as thought it would be the best time with no furniture in and they have been looking dull, has been 15 years since they were done. Also Ben said the upstairs carpet is badly stained so will look into replacing that as well.
 
I understand you spoke with G&G so you know Gramps is quite sick, poor guy looks pretty rough :( They told me to stay away so have been just checking in briefly.

My meeting with Gail from Aunt Leah's is monday so looking forward to that, it will also be my last cleanse day so will be having a glass of wine to celebrate!!!

Mags is a sleepy glutton, and follows me every where, cries when i close the bathroom door, just pathetic and so needy!!!!

Ok off to mark and krissy's as they are having people over to drink the kegs from the restaurant,they still are in limbo as having read derick's email you know what's going on, very bad situation, and am quite worried for them.

You two better get movie watching with the Oscar noms out, and nana don't forget golden globes are tomorrow!!! Love you, Chloe Alexis!!! xxxxxxxx 

Hi Chloë and Ayn! 

People have been asking if we will be in New Orleans for Mardi Gras. 

Ayn: Could you send along Rae's/Rick's number. we'd like to call and thank them for terrific stay.

Chloë: Buona Fortuna with Gail and Aunt Leah's. Congats on cleanse as well. Do pass along how badly we feel for Krissy and Mark! Unbelievable when we thought they had pulled off such an amazing feat in such a short period of time. All that effort and hard, hard work. Only hope they come out in one piece.

Sounds like you have loft in hand. We'll call, probably tomorrow. Your Mom talked to Dusty a few minutes ago and he said he is on the mend so I hope that is true!

After dealing with High Octane Joey you should be happy with a needy Maggs who doesn't charge around!

Your Mother already has a list of movies to see here or in New Orleans. I'll mention Golden Globes but we will be watching Downtown so I hope times don't conflict! She'd like you to record Revenge!

Hey, have you guys arrived in Dallas?  We have been calling our home number but just realized that we turned off the ringer!  So use that phone and turn on the volume and call us! RLN

This is Ruth.

So glad you made it safely, tested all the beds, and found food. We would have liked to visit the museums with you, but the poster show would have come down when you get back from NO. You just need to impersonate Randy for the time being. We love Nasher as well, next door to DMA. So make time to see it as well.

High will be 7 degrees Fahrenheit here tomorrow. So we will probably just lay low. Now the bed is calling, after a steak dinner in and hot tub. Look forward to talking to you tomorrow! Ruth

Glad you made it. We were hot tubbing outside when you called! Surrounding temp was minus 5 degrees Fahrenheit and the hairs on our necks were spiked with ice!

Try calling us again in the AM. One of us is sure to answer. Thank you for your report and your appreciative words. Enjoy the suite! Randy 

Still sick with this cold/cough, worse yesterday and today, so not going anywhere. Got a sub to register ladies at Zumba this morning, first time I have missed. Nights are the worst. Coughed until 3 this morning. Finally moved to the AZ room. I felt that poor Frank was not getting a quality sleep, even though he did not kick me out of bed, lol!  I watched TV until 5, sipping my hot tea/whiskey concoction to help ease my throat and cough. Back to bed finally at 5, but F's alarm went off again at 7:15 for the tournament again today and will again tomorrow. Can't help him unfortunately but there are many willing hands.

Wow, those are steep hotel prices!! We had that experience once at the Russell Inn in Russell, MB. That surprised us but it is a place where they hold conventions. It was $187.00!!! Usually we stay at a Best Western and find that the US prices are better than Canada. We like to pay less than $100.00 if we can. Staying with friends helps if it can be worked out with travel plans, usually just a bottle of wine or two!

We really miss the Curling on TV. We don't have a Satellite so don't get Canadian TV but do miss it sometimes. Don't know if you remember that I went with Pat Hailey for 3 years, engaged for the last year. Pat was the Lead for Orest Meleschuk, Winner of the Silver Broom in Munich. During that period of time, I met many of the famous curlers of the time, Donny Duguid, the Dudar twins and several others whose names escape me. I never curled until after Pat and I broke up. Frank was a really good curler, skipped for a few years and is an avid fan.  Safe travels! Maggie x

Wayne Sutherland

Newfoundland hit by blizzard