Well, I survived yet another New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Once spring comes around, I start getting into jazz fest mode. I guess it is just a mind set, nothing more than something to look forward to.
When I was single, I used to go each year. Then I started going with my boyfriend, who is now my husband. We used to go each weekend, but now with kids we had to limit it to either one weekend or one day per weekend. I actually went twice while I was big and pregnant and hot (as in temperature hot).
Everyone has their own way to experience the fest. Ours has become a neat ritual. We get there between 11:00 AM and 12:00 noon to set up camp. This serves as a base. The base has chairs, a blanket, umbrellas, small cooler with ice and wipes. From here we go check out the food, music, arts and crafts, then come back and relax. We even have a spot we go to each year. There are the same people that set up camp here, too. It is funny that you may never see these people anywhere else in town, but you know you will see them at the same spot every year.
This year seemed hotter than usual. Maybe it is the hormonal thing after giving birth twice. So, I decided to spend more time listening to music in the tents.
Here's just a sampling of the musicians I heard play in one weekend: Johnny Angel and the Swingin' Demons, the Dixie Cups, Buckwheat Zydeco, Galactic, Cowboy Mouth, Nicholas Payton, John Mayer, Treme Brass Band, Frankie Ford, Jeremy Davenport, Eric Lindell, Papa Grows Funk, Anders Osborne, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Ingrid Lucia, Greater Antioch Full Gospel Choir, Steely Dan, and Harry Connick, Jr. How can one weekend get any better?
Jazz fest used to be different. It seemed like it followed the title of jazz and heritage music of New Orleans or well, Louisiana. I don't get where Rod Stewart fits in or ZZ Top and Counting Crows. You can tell the changes over the years as the prices have gone up and to think you could go for just $10 a day. I guess to attract more people they need to pull in these other genres. I still enjoy it!
I am so glad I did not bring the kids. I have the idea that it is such a great musical experience that the kids must encounter. Then I realize the baby must take 2 naps a day, SG gets really cranky at about 1pm because she doesn't want to take her nap. Then I have to factor in the heat and boredom because they are doing what I want to do and not running and playing at the park. I almost brought them on Sunday, but after seeing at least 10 cranky, hot and sweaty kids either slumped in the stroller or in their parents' arms on Saturday, I decided I would wait until they are a bit older. I just want them to grow up appreciating the wonderful music our great city of New Orleans has to offer.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Monday, April 9, 2007
Tattletale
Saturday our family came over for the annual crawfish boil. Everything went well, but there is one niece and one nephew that drives me nuts. My poor child cannot do anything without one of the two "telling" on her.
Granted my daughter is only 2 1/2 years old, she is very independent. She has been potty trained for quite some time. I get a tug on my shirt from my niece to say my daughter went to the bathroom. Well, yes, that is what we do when we have to pee. I guess that is what happens when you are still wearing "pullups" at age 5.
My nephew whines to me that SG is eating candy. Okay, I say. Normally she doesn't eat candy because she becomes a firecracker after large amounts of sugar. So, I try to be nice and explain to him that it is Easter and it isn't often she gets this "candy opportunity".
Next my nephew was chasing SG. She got tired of it and started chasing him and pulled his shirt. Well, he has to run to me to tattle on her for pulling his shirt. Over the course of the day, between the two of them, they tattled on my daughter at least a dozen times. Some of the stupid stuff was because she moved a chair, brought her sippy cup in her room (which I allow), and she ate just the hotdog instead of the hotdog with the bun.
This gets so old. I know she likes playing with her cousins, but I don't like it because I don't want her to get these annoying habits. Oh, I hope my child does not become the annoying tattletale.
Granted my daughter is only 2 1/2 years old, she is very independent. She has been potty trained for quite some time. I get a tug on my shirt from my niece to say my daughter went to the bathroom. Well, yes, that is what we do when we have to pee. I guess that is what happens when you are still wearing "pullups" at age 5.
My nephew whines to me that SG is eating candy. Okay, I say. Normally she doesn't eat candy because she becomes a firecracker after large amounts of sugar. So, I try to be nice and explain to him that it is Easter and it isn't often she gets this "candy opportunity".
Next my nephew was chasing SG. She got tired of it and started chasing him and pulled his shirt. Well, he has to run to me to tattle on her for pulling his shirt. Over the course of the day, between the two of them, they tattled on my daughter at least a dozen times. Some of the stupid stuff was because she moved a chair, brought her sippy cup in her room (which I allow), and she ate just the hotdog instead of the hotdog with the bun.
This gets so old. I know she likes playing with her cousins, but I don't like it because I don't want her to get these annoying habits. Oh, I hope my child does not become the annoying tattletale.
Saturday, April 7, 2007
Crazy Weather
Today was our annual spring/day before Easter crawfish boil. Typically, it is hot and sunny. Not today. It was cold and hailing. I don't know what the exact temperature was, but it was cold. I would have to say in the 30-40s. Right now it is 43 degrees.
What a surprise. To think we were in shorts a few days ago and now I have to get our winter coats out of the attic. Go figure. What is up with this weather? Well, actually I do know, but you know what I mean.
This is so crazy. We anticipated swimming and fun in the sun. I had to go to the store and buy a couple of tarps to enclose our carport. Yep, we were boiling crawfish in the hail and eating them while using space heaters.
Happy Spring!
What a surprise. To think we were in shorts a few days ago and now I have to get our winter coats out of the attic. Go figure. What is up with this weather? Well, actually I do know, but you know what I mean.
This is so crazy. We anticipated swimming and fun in the sun. I had to go to the store and buy a couple of tarps to enclose our carport. Yep, we were boiling crawfish in the hail and eating them while using space heaters.
Happy Spring!
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Weekend Recap
This was one busy weekend. The whirlwind started as soon as we picked up SG from school on Friday. We headed straight to the park. It was a very windy day so, I got the kite out and we flew it. I forgot how easy it is for kids to make friends. As we were flying the kite, a young girl started helping SG fly it. She and her sister were hanging out with us playing. It was so nice.
It makes you wonder why adults don't "make nice" like kids. As adults, we keep to ourselves and do what we have to do and that is it. The heck with socializing with others doing the same thing we are doing. A child's life is so simple and innocent. I would love to have that again. Being an adult can be too complicated at times.
Okay, back to the weekend. Saturday was the "Sheriff Marlin N. Gusman presents the 2nd Annual Easter in the Park at City Park Marconi Meadows". It was a lot of fun for the girls. Even though MM was too young to participate in the egg hunt and sack races, she got to get pictures with the Easter Bunny and crawl. SG didn't want to leave, but it started raining.
SG had a birthday party that afternoon. I thought to get a nap in before going, but what a silly thought. The party was at Gym Rompers on Claiborne Avenue, Uptown. This is the ultimate birthday party spot for kids 1-5 years old. My child did not stop. She was like the Energizer Bunny. When we got to the car, she made a big sigh then fell asleep. This was about 6:20 PM. She was out for the night. She did not wake up until the morning.
Today we went to mass then another birthday party. Because today was Palm Sunday, mass was much longer than usual. The attention span of the girls was exceed after about 30 minutes. Mass was one hour and 20 minutes. Talk about a rough time. After mass we drove from St. Anthony of Padua on Canal Street to La Madeline on St. Charles at Carrollton Ave. I was so proud of SG, she ate a bowl of fruit! Next, we headed to the birthday party at Elmwood's KidSports. As you can see, we took a rather scenic tour of the city and metro area.
Once again, no nap today for either of the girls. SG was so fired up. Once she gets on this adrenaline role, she does not stop. I wish I had this sort of play equipment at our house. I could wear her out and maybe she would nap. MM got to play on some of the toys. I think she just got a kick out of crawling between everyone's feet.
This has been a record breaking weekend. I had both of the girls asleep before 7 PM two nights in a row. I hope I can keep this up.
It makes you wonder why adults don't "make nice" like kids. As adults, we keep to ourselves and do what we have to do and that is it. The heck with socializing with others doing the same thing we are doing. A child's life is so simple and innocent. I would love to have that again. Being an adult can be too complicated at times.
Okay, back to the weekend. Saturday was the "Sheriff Marlin N. Gusman presents the 2nd Annual Easter in the Park at City Park Marconi Meadows". It was a lot of fun for the girls. Even though MM was too young to participate in the egg hunt and sack races, she got to get pictures with the Easter Bunny and crawl. SG didn't want to leave, but it started raining.
SG had a birthday party that afternoon. I thought to get a nap in before going, but what a silly thought. The party was at Gym Rompers on Claiborne Avenue, Uptown. This is the ultimate birthday party spot for kids 1-5 years old. My child did not stop. She was like the Energizer Bunny. When we got to the car, she made a big sigh then fell asleep. This was about 6:20 PM. She was out for the night. She did not wake up until the morning.
Today we went to mass then another birthday party. Because today was Palm Sunday, mass was much longer than usual. The attention span of the girls was exceed after about 30 minutes. Mass was one hour and 20 minutes. Talk about a rough time. After mass we drove from St. Anthony of Padua on Canal Street to La Madeline on St. Charles at Carrollton Ave. I was so proud of SG, she ate a bowl of fruit! Next, we headed to the birthday party at Elmwood's KidSports. As you can see, we took a rather scenic tour of the city and metro area.
Once again, no nap today for either of the girls. SG was so fired up. Once she gets on this adrenaline role, she does not stop. I wish I had this sort of play equipment at our house. I could wear her out and maybe she would nap. MM got to play on some of the toys. I think she just got a kick out of crawling between everyone's feet.
This has been a record breaking weekend. I had both of the girls asleep before 7 PM two nights in a row. I hope I can keep this up.
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