Clown World

 

What a trying year 2022 has been. Our country has been turned on it's head by the illegitimate Biden regime. Since stealing the election in 2020 the Biden administration has continued to make blunder after blunder. From the withdraw from Afghanistan, soaring inflation and gas pries, the open borders, the fentanyl epidemic, the mandated vaccines and on and on. We truly are living in a "clown world."  

Charleigh Rides a Bike

I had a dream today about Charleigh riding her bike. She has been cruising on the glide bike for quite sometime and I new she was ready for the 2-wheeler. I thought about it all day and decided today would be the day. We packed up the three of us and went to Swan Park on 424 and this video was taken after about only 3 minutes of work in the parking lot. This was here 2nd try on that hill. She is 3 years 6 months.

Christmas 2019

I love this picture of the frozen lake at Foxhill Park. This would have been the late 60's early 70's I have many memories of playing hockey and skating around that pond as a kid. Many bonfires too. 

Beautiful Christmas greeting form Jamie and kids.

These guys are such best buddies these days. I hope they remain that way.

Maureen, Jenna and I wen tot see "Ice" at the National Harbor. This years theme was How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Th whole gang was supposed to attend but the grandchildren were under the weather and the sub freezing temperatures of the exhibit would not have been helpful 

Summer of 2019

Favorite pictures from the spring and summer of 2019

The graduate. Onward to kindergarten 

First camp out. Only 2 of us survived the night. 

Happy Easter.

Big catch over July 4th weekend at Lake Gaston. 

The fruits of the harvest.

Sisters at the Beach. 

Beach Buddies. 

My girls.

Pool buddies. Camden and Sam Gannett at BBT. 

New Orleans IFEBP Confrence

We arrived in New Orleans Saturday morning a full day prior to my conference beginning. Afterwards caught a cab and dropped our things at the Intercontinental Hotel on St Charles street right in the heart of the city. We caught the street car which came right past the front of the hotel into the Garden District. From there we walked around had lunch at a small bar did some more shopping and then back on the streetcar for the long trip back. We wound up going to the end of the line then turning around so we could sit. The wooden benches twisted my laurels after riding for almost an hour. Anyway, we got checked in eventually, small problem with a dog next door forcing a room change. One block down the street was Crescent City Music and BBQ Festival. More a music festival tan BBQ. There were food and beer trucks along with a handful of vendors. The music was fun highlighted by Jimmy Vaughan/ We spent most the time on our feet since we had no chairs plus we arrived an hour before we wanted. I really like the blues and enjoyed the music.

Sunday we went to church at St Patrick's Cathedral. The church was different as the priest said the prayers with his back towards the congregation. Also the lectern was odd note the big branches above itr in the pictures. The mass was the quickest service I've been too. We literally got to our seats 4 minutes after the hour and they were already reading the gospel. Father was leaving the alter at 35 past. It was like the old Father Hogan shotgun 8AM service. Anyway it was a different service but a beautiful church only a couple blocks from the Hotel.

After church we made our way to Cafe Du Monde for some of their famous beignets. Neither of us had tried them and we wanted to see what all he fuss was about. Neither of us had experienced a beignets before. Wow now we no what all the fuss is about and will definitely return anytime we visit New Orleans. Here's how it works:

1. Just walk in and take a seat
2. Cash only
3. Only Beignets, coffee and soft drinks
4. 3 per order
5. doughy hot and with the perfect amount of powdered sugar
6. open 24 hours for late night cravings
7. very affordable

The rest of the morning we walked around the French Quarter looking at street vendors, shops and other attractions. We eventually made our way back towards the hotel and by then it was lunchtime. We had heard about Mothers Restaurant and even with a line outside we stopped in for lunch. What a terrific place. The food was awesome as well as the service. We got a broiled shrimp platter. It had to be at least a pound of shrimp. It came with 2 sides too and was only $18. It was the perfect amount to share. Else wise we would have been like everyone else, leaving with a carryout box.

Later that afternoon we went to the Exhibit Hall at the convention center to get our annual flu shots and see the opening session of the conference. Amy Webb gave a talk on what the future holds. It was not really the motivating, exciting talk that opens this conference but rather a slow moving talk about which most in the audience probably already new or have experienced. Really, my house will become automated. Come on tell me something we didn't already know. Afterwards we went to the Delta Dental reception at Republic NOLA. I had seen Ryan Lindsay earlier in the day but didn't see him a the reception. We did however briefly bump into Al Cardillo and his wife Susan. We stayed for about an hour and then made our way to the IPS reception at the Windsor Court Hotel. It was a little tricky to find and after walking what seemed like 2 miles we finally arrived with only 15 minutes remaining for the reception. We ran into the guys form the 730 fund who were on their way out. They had an awesome spread of seafood. When we returned to the hotel we were quite tired from all the walking. Next time try a cab.

Monday I spent the day at the conference and returned to the hotel around 4:30. Maureen had a restful day and got a mani pedi somewhere downtown. We really couldn't make up our minds where to eat dinner so we started walking south and came across HerbSaint. It was a quaint little place right along St Charles Street. We were lucky to arrive early and get a seat in the bar area. Definitely should have reservations and we din't. Lots of people came in while we were there. The food and service were excellent.

After dinner we attempted to get the Uber App to work but were unsuccessful. So we had to walk about a mile to the Optimum RX reception at the House of Blues. It was the exact same band we saw 5 years ago when we were in New Orleans over Halloween weekend. Wew arrived a little late so we missed out on the food. We were able to enjoy the concert and have plenty to drink.

Tuesday I once again had to attend classes all day. Maureen had another enjoyable day and went to a New Orleans cooking school to learn how to make Gumbo and Pralines. That evening we were invited to dinner at Brennan's by Al Cardillo from the Savasta firm. Maureen seemed to hit it off with Al's wife Susan. We had a nice time but the wine I had with dinner didn't agree with the hurricanes I had prior to dinner me so we were back to the hotel afterwards. I felt terrible about that.

We flew out early the next morning and were home before noon.