This Cannot be True

Billy sent me this message today:

"Rich Webster’s recent article in City Business reads like something from a novel, some sort of dystopian Phillip Dick tale.

It would be funny if it wasn’t horrifying. Here is the gist: 'State Rep. John LaBruzzo, R-Metairie, fears Louisiana may be headed towards an economic crisis if the percentage of people dependent on the government is not decreased. His solution: pay impoverished women $1,000 to have their tubes tied so they will stop having babies they can’t afford.'

This is an elected official, no doubt reflecting the interests of his constituents."

Yikey-Ike

When I was on my honey moon, I spent a night at a nice bed and breakfast in Galveston. On the bedside table was a book called Isaac's Storm about a weather forecaster and the horrible hurricane of 1900 that wiped half the island's face off at the turn of the previous century. I read it through in one night and often thought of the story while reading Rising Tide (in which Isaac also features prominently) and then through the Katrina fiasco.

So I am thinking about Galveston and patiently replacing the plastic on the window panes every time the very blustery wind blows it in (with gusto, too).

Back Home

To Family and Friends,

We have been back home since late Friday. The town looks relatively fine and we have been scrambling to clean up the yard and get the house ready to receive my little art students next week. Our house was secured thanks to the efforts of Billy's boss , Jelpi Picou, who ran over and nailed all our windows down as we had not repaired them all since we began the renovation.

Our giant Angel's trumpet looks like it was caught trying to streak from the bathroom to the bedroom, but it is still alive, even if reconfigured. And, who'd-a-thunk it but all our mint died. I didn't think you could kill that stuff.

I can't say that I can blog about the feelings conjured up by the scare, except in summary. There were tears, flashbacks, panicky-breathing attacks, wondering what the alternative life plan would be, etc. Your-run-of-the-mill-PTSD symptoms, I guess. That was not fun, but the first bruiser had to pass by sometime; it is to be expected. In the end we are very relieved and have a better grip.

Well, Nola got a much needed break from this one, but the rest of Louisiana got a thumping. A friend from Ville Platte reported that a tree fell on her folks' house, car AND boat, so put thoughts out there for them.

Correction. Waiting a few days to leave in order to avoid the bottleneck. We would rather that than sit still in traffic for hours after traveling for ten.

Relieved. Starting to head home.

Feeling for those who were nailed by the eye, but thankful that it wasn't as bad as it could have been.

On Gustav

To Family and Friends,

Billy and I were on our yearly visit to family in Maine this month. We usually beat the heat and leave for the hottest part. Unfortunately, it usually means that we get back just after the anniversary of Katrina. We were scheduled to start the drive home Saturday, but we officially flipped our status from vacationers to "evacuaters" and stayed with friends in New Haven and with Billy's dad in NYC.

Billy's boss, who hails from Houma, was a rock and secured our houses for us before he left for Oxford, MS. Lesson learned: prepare for a hurricane in July. Seems like a duh, but we just didn't do it. We purchased a new home after Katrina, in part to underscore our loyalty to the city and in part to be able to live in a place that fit our work and living needs. The market plummeted and we decided to hold onto our first home on Carondelet in order to maintain financially. But now we are worried about two properties and have twice the work to batten down...but worrying about material objects is silly in the grand scheme of things.

I have friends who stayed behind. I think they figured if they rode out Katrina, they will be fine.

We are watching the news and I am checking emails and staring at this excellent website.

Seeing that the storm is not that strong is not that comforting to me as I will remain jumpy due to Katrina shell shock resulting from the rude awakening after the deceptive lull that came after that storm before the flooding. The reporting on the industrial canal is freaking me out.

That is where I stand now. I cannot decide if I will post describing the emotional post-traumatic responses I experienced as early as Tuesday. It wasn't pretty.

Whoopie Pies

In Maine. Introduced the LA nephews to Whoopie Pies.

They Likey.

Finding ways to ignore Gustav.

Next Phase Mary Portrait

Quick sketch

Doesn't look like her yet, sketched her and transferred outline of sketch to big paper (2x 3 feet).

Bulding up layer after layer of color.

Cannot wait to get those eyes darkened!

Maaary Po-trit

Phase one of new project: Portrait of Mary Tuminaro. She plays accordion, sings real nice and plays drums, too. Mostly with The Bruisers. You should go see her sing every other Thursday. She might inspire you too.

Maaary

Definitely embroidering the front flowers....just trynig to decide whether to use oils or gouache with the silk thread.

Cheese Roll 2008 - Gloucester, England

Crazy bastards.

The Colorized Version

Paper cut-out version

Though the yellow would not be its proper self in the process of becoming digital:

Violet Has a New Brother!

New Nephew Forest Christopher Greer!

My sister, Mandy and her husband Jess welcomed Forest into the fam this week! Yay!

I assume that the photo is by Manna...

Fantasy Poppy, 2008

Cut paper, gouache

11x14

Finally

Finished the darn thing.

Greta and a Cat

A Welcome to the World to Dickie and Christine's second child, Greta!

I made her a world-warming present, this little kitty pillow out of old cashmere sweaters:

Yay!

What I've Been Up To

Making an album cover for the band Gold and Glass. I just finished step three right this second. Photos are wonky because I am tired and the scanner isn't big enough for the thing. It is a silhouette cut-out and eventually will be accentuated with embroidered flowers and lines. The rule was four colors only, (black, white and two pinks) so texturize, texturize, texturize is my current mantra. The boys wanted a car parked under a Japanese Saucer Magnolia tree, with a suggestion of a person in the car.

Step One: Sketch (blown up from 1x1 inch)

Step Two: First Mock up (9.5" x 9.5") Sharpie and Chalk

Step Three: Final Draft Base (white silhouette shapes over black gouache layer)

Next step: days of embroidery. Days.

Lunar Eclipse

Sat outside during the lunar eclipse drinking Prosecco with my neighbor, waiting for a break in the clouds in order to catch a glimpse of the eclipse. The clouds never parted long enough during the sliver-moon phase for good shots BUT I did get a few interesting photos around 9:45. It was a beautiful night, with the clouds rushing past with the that swiftness you see so often here in New Orleans.

Sunday Sunset on Jackson Avenue

Random Ruthie

Ruthie's growth has plateaued and I am crazy busy so I am starting "Random Ruthie" pictures to replace Ruthie Monday. Here's the first: