Soar-Dream-France

On My Way...

 

...home from the Women's March New Orleans, I decided to wander through St. Louis Cemetery #2 on Claiborne. I've been before with the expressed intent of taking photos, but even in cemeteries there can be eye candy everywhere with changes over time. I was glad I stopped. 

Of course, there was a stark contrast between my two pit stops of the day. I was going for the urn against the sky in the photo above, but the crane of progress, the beautiful cross and statue of Jesus snuck in.

 

 

The flower variations never cease to amaze me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The textures are magnets.

 

 

I often discover kitchy little items that make me smile...

 

...but there is always the sadness in the vandalization and disrepair.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These graves are historical monuments to a life, the life, and lives gone by.

They touch me. 

 

 

I like to think of them as the stairway or jumping off point to whatever lies beyond.

Maybe even a stairway to heaven!

 

And as you can see, I often find a favorite in my midst!

 

 

Happy Wednesday!

 

Related articles

Soar-Dream-France: The Women's March New Orleans-CHOICE

Soar-Dream-France: Women's March New Orleans-Wonder Women

Soar-Dream-France: VIP-ing with the Clydesdales and the NOPD

A Golden Path to the Moon

What Would Bennie Say?

VIP-ing with the Clydesdales and the NOPD

 

 

Yesterday's VIP event with the Clydesdales that benefitted the New Orleans Police Department's Mounted Unit, was a treat in so many ways. As much as I love the Clydesdales, I would have to say that the NOPD Mounted Unit and their horses stole the show.

 

 

Leaving St. Louis in 1976 to come to graduate school in New Orleans, I brought my love of the Clydesdals with me. They are a part of growing up that I'm proud of. I realized yesterday, that I'm even prouder of the many years of my career that I spent working in the Criminal Justice field in the City of New Orleans since that time. It is a history that is in my blood even more than the Majestic Clydesdales.

 

 

Of course, it didn't help that my boyfriend "Tim" was on another team and not here for this year's Mardi Gras. It was the first question I asked. No Tim. I was disappointed, but still pleased that I came.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Louisiana Hospitality Foundation did a great job of organizing most of the VIP pieces. I'd say somewhere between 75 and 100 people were separated into two groups. Half went to the Clydesdales for 30 minutes and the other half went with the NOPD for 30 minutes and then we swapped.

 

 

 

It was nice to: be in a smaller group; have more time with all of the horses; ask questions; take photos; and, watch the kids.

We learned a lot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I attended the 3pm session. There was another one at 4pm, which was much fuller. Then at 5pm it's opened up to the public from 5 - 8pm. 

I was pleased that my hundred dollars was going to the Mounted Unit's "in-house" breeding program that began in 2016.

 

 

They prefer a mix of draft horses with thoroughbreds or quarter horses. Percherons were mentioned as the draft horse breed.The foals are born through artificial insemination that is coordinated with the LSU Vet School.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There were two foals for us to visit: a colt Tebo Stardust; and, a philly Detroit Lady.

 

 

All in all, it was an excellent event. I'm glad I went, but in the future I think I'd be more apt to just donate $100 directly to the NOPD Mounted Unit. They are an impressive bunch.

Happy Tuesday!

 

 

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What Would Bennie Say?

The Floating Window

A Golden Path to the Moon

Memories and Moving On

A Birthday of Favorites

The Art Above the Awning

 

This Paris establishment is at a corner where St. Eustache and Les Halles meet-two of my favorite places in Paris. Of course there are those "Paris Chair" shots that pull me to shoot, but here it wa the art above the awning that did it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was on the edge of dawn...

 

...on my morning of departure on December 28, 2017. Having the lights still on made the photos so much prettier...a Paris Pretty in Pink!

I was actually wandering around the area so I could make sure I knew where to grab the RER B a little later on. Just as Paolo promised me from the Cafe du Centre, it was easy to find.

 

Right down these steps, and I was there!

 

As much as I love Montmartre, this was the first quartier in Paris that I came to know well.

I'm having the old push pull tug of war as I begin to ponder how I'm going to make my return and possibly choose a hotel for an overnight or two. Monmartre?

 

 

 

 

Montorgueil?

 

 

 

 

 

I was hoping to take that new direct British Airways flight out of New Orleans to London so I could visit friends there, but the return on the other end is just not working out.

 

So, it looks like there will be Paris decisions in my future! Ah, that all my decisions should be between such wonderful choices!

 

We shall see.

 

 

Happy Monday!

 

Workshops and Roses

 

There must be something about me and workshops and roses. Yesterday I so enjoyed my solitary yellow rose gift from my colleague that still sits on the table in the coffee corner. 

Today, I'm loving on the bouquet of pale peach roses that I treated myself to at Canseco's last night for finishing up presentng two pretty much non-stop days of workshops.

 

 

 

I loved it and have two more days of workshops to look forward to presenting next Friday and Saturday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some people might say diamonds are a girl's best friend. I'm feeling more and more like for me it might be roses (and books of course).

 

Happy Roses!

 

 

Happy Sunday!

 

Workshopping on Columbus Street

 

Today is my second full day of "workshopping" on Columbus Street. Yesterday's workshop, A Toolbox to Success in Supervision, Ethics and Diversity went well and gave me even more ideas for the future.

I had offered workshops here in the past, but this was the first time I had a larger group and tested the capacity of the space. The wheels are turning. (I plan to write more about the specifics of the workhsop on my social work blog that is a second to this one on typepad.)

 

Ever since I bought the Chatette in 2002, I have struggled with the blending of both places of my heart. It is appearing more and more that the workshops and using Columbus Street for that purpose may be the spoon that stirs this mix for me.

 

 

Everything is feeling good. I confess, there is a high to success and meeting other social work professionals for the first time who are interested and committed to our profession and want to foster its growth and development through clinical supervision. 

 

We are a pretty impressive group!

 

 

The day before the workshop a colleague came by so we could get to know each other better and to talk about the possibility of collaboration around supervision offerings and France. The colleague brought a gorgeous huge yellow rose. It was perfection AND it decorated the workshop day Coffee Corner nicely!

Lots swirling around here in this global world of mine!

 

 

 

Happy Saturday!

 

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Women's March New Orleans-Gender Neutrality

 

Earlier this week during my Wonder Women post, I mentioned the person sitting here at the bottom of the photo holding the phone. This person's talent, dance moves, seeming charm and pulsing music had the crowd enraptured and enthused.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This person was everywhere...

 

 

 

 

 

...at the opening, during the speeches, and was even to be found "twerking" on the corner of Rampart and Canal as the march made that corner.

 

 

 

It was quite a show and a show with a cause. It also seemed to be a show that needed an audience, but I guess some of that is what marches are for. Everyone does have an opportunity to express themselves and their views.

 

 

And by the looks on some of these faces, they had opinons about the performance as well. 

 

 

That said, I'd guess there were some who took issue with the use of a cross and an American Flag (or material that looked like an American Flag) during the performances.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For me, it was more of an issue of gender.

 

I am acutely aware of a push for gender neutral language. There have been people on the periphery of my life who have made me more aware and challenged me to use gender neutral language depending on how that person identifies themselves.

 

 

This performer challenged me to think in gender neutral terms from the beginning. I began to ask myself what this person might want and how they might feel. How did they self-identify?

The bottom line is that you don't and can't always know. But, until someone in your life challenges you to use gender-neutral language, you don't really give it much thought. if you love them and care about them you will try to do that.

 

 

I wrote this post today, to challenge myself to try to use gender-neutral language throughout. What do you think? Was I successful?

I encourage you to try it sometime!

Happy Thursday!

 

 PS-I do have some of the twerking captured on film if anyone wants to see them, let me know and I'll send them to you privately. 

Surprise Visits

 

One of the side benefits to doing all this purging, cleaning and rearranging here on Columbus Street is that I find things here that I didn't remember having. This year, these discoveries are even more poignant because of the fire and so much that was lost. The best though, is when those visitors from the other side come along too. It's been a busy week on Columbus Street.

Of course, Vann had already made it by with the anniversary of his loss.

 

 

There was a Vann rug at the Chatette and a Vann rug here. Sherry mentioned that if I lost mine at the Chatette that she had many and would find a way to get one to me. It was a Sunday of Vann.

Sunday was also a day of Sammie Cat. Talking to Sherry on the phone we talked about Sam. We cried about Sam together. Et voila, there she was! I found this card I'd sent to Mom and Dad for their 60th from Sam and I. She was here!

 

 

When I found the print of a painting by my friend Sister Ann Roddy, I screamed! All of her original artwork I had purchased and taken to the Chatette was lost in the fire. Here, I had one piece left. What a treasure! Sister Ann has been hanging around too.

My last visitor was a sweet surprise. Christmas of 2015 I'd given Eric's Mom-my Marion the Librarian-a framed photo from my session with Larry Graham. I'd completely forgotten that she'd sent a thank you to me by Eric.

 

It took me a minute to realize what it was and who it was from. Peacocks often mean Mike Edwards, but this peacock was a Marion. Reading her note brought tears to my eyes. Especially because Eric has been telling me how her cat Sweetie has been wandering over to "their" old space more often. We all seem to be feeling Marion.

 

And so, in the midst of so much sadness and loss at times-there is the joy and love they bring to (I believe) support us in troubled times to pave a little smoother way with the love that they always showed and shared. 

 

 

The door is open-More visitors welcome!

Happy Wednesday!

 

The Women's March New Orleans-CHOICE

 

 

There's something hilarious about watching a man put on his vagina costume!

I must say that these vagina costumes were the best I've seen.

While it would not be my costume of CHOICE, it sure made me giggle.

CHOICE is the operative word here. I am rabidly Pro-Choice and was happy to put my money where my mouth was on Saturday.

This is where I make an important point that is often missed in the abortion debate...Pro-Choice means that you stand for the woman's right to choose. 

 

 

PERIOD!

 

This pair represents the New Orleans Abortion Fund, an organization who assists in providing funding for abortions for women who might not otherwise be able to afford them.

 

 

I chuckled at the PREAUX CHOICE sticker...we seem to be able to turn many words French, but don't really speak it.

If you're looking for an opportunity to put your money where your mouth is, The New Orleans Abortion Fund is a good place to start.

Happy Tuesday!

 

Women's March New Orleans-The Pooches

 

 

Even the pooches were out and working their outfits at the Women's March New Orleans on Saturday.

I got a chance to snatch a few photos of these really good sports. T-shirts and tule of some variety could be found on almost all of the two-legged and 4-legged participants.

Don't forget the sequins and the feathers.

I'd arrived early so I got a chance to grab some fun shots.

 

 

 

Once everyone got moving on the march it was a little more difficult to catch the critters.

 

Surprisingly, this sweetie's people above said that they can NEVER get a good shot.

We teased about contact information just in case I did.

Once I got home, I was sorry we didn't because I have a couple they might enjoy!

 

I shared this guy's photo as soon as I got home. This pooch was the perfect mascot for a "Put Down Your Phone" ad campaign.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I can tell you one thing:

 

 

I'd have been hugging and hanging on to that sweet dog before I'd be hanging onto my phone. Look at that face! It says it all!

 

 

It was a four star doggie day for me. Each one was more fun than the next and really made my day. Nothing like pooches and people in pink! Even the tongue joined in the fun!

Happy Monday!

 

Women's March New Orleans-Wonder Women

 

One of my favorite things about the Women's March New Orleans yesterday, was that there were Wonder Women (truly in and out of costume) EVERYWHERE! 

This post is for my Dad. Wonder Woman is his favorite, especially Lynda Carter's televsion show version. I used to tease that when things were tough and I needed help or MORE POWER, I'd do my Wonder Woman spin in the living room on Columbus Street. I have to say it worked. I always felt more powerful! That's important!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This person on the right looks very much like Lynda Carter's version of Wonder Woman.

 

I was pulled up short...could it be?

 

 

As the event went on there were lots of other versions of Wonder Woman, some were more realistic than others.

All were fun and in the spirit!

 

(Pay attention to the person sitting below Wonder Woman in this shot.  This person will be the subject of another post soon, and it's not about phone moaning!)

 

We are Wonder Women!

Happy Sunday-March On!