on dry land

Departure: Friday, 9:30 PM
Arrival: Saturday, 3:30 AM
Total time: 6 hours
Current location: Houston
Flat tires seen en route: 22
Popped hoods: 2
Makeshift back windows: 2
Giant tire treads on road: 1
Pedestrians on the interstate: 4

The Ford Arena on the west side of Beaumont was full of charter buses in the parking lot. As we made it through Beaumont we saw a police car escorting something like 60 charter buses. Shortly after that was a police car escorting 20 or so vehicles with their hazards on. Followed again by a police car escorting 30 charter buses (we counted that time). It was quite an eerie feeling at 2something in the morning, seeing the ominous hulking shapes of the buses with their lights on, all in uniform despite being different.

Safety and well wishes to all of you.

capitalism

the fight crosses oceans

Banksy visits New Orleans for the third Katrina anniversary. See more here

Katrinaversary

I really think that New Orleans might as well shut down for the day every day on August 29 for the next ten years. This morning it took me thirty fucking minutes to get out of Mid City because Canal was blocked off at City Park. I was staying right down the street there, so I didn't know it until I had made a block and had to go back to where I started. Then I saw a school bus get into an accident. (Yes, I know, the new memorial was unveiled today. But some of us do have to work.)

Last year I couldn't even get on the interstate to go to work because President Bush was in town so all on ramps were blocked.

Yes, please, remember everything that happened and those that we lost, but for the love of god please don't make my life more difficult than it already is!

ALTL wants to know....

I am familiar with the routine for evacuating before a hurricane. You don't know when you'll return, so it's always a good idea to unplug electronics, move stuff away from windows, and de-dairy your fridge.

However, what is the proper procedure regarding *certain substances* with the possibility of a C. Ray-enforced evacuation looming?

Is one supposed to flush them down the toilet? (Just in case the looters get in, we need to keep them from going too crazy! Or to keep FEMA workers away from that sh*t.)

OR - is it better to take that stuff with you, along with your important documents and extra clothing? (But what if you get stopped and searched by law enforcement in some suck-ass town in western LA?)

Please let us know, ALTL is just dying to find out what she should do. Thanks!

Be safe out there!
<3 ALTR <3

ALTR writes a love letter

Dear Bobby Jindal,

Thanks for kicking ass and taking names while the whole state, myself included, runs around like headless chilckens. Please say that it isn't all just a show because you're running for Vice President. I know potential veep candidates sometimes like to put on "running for president shows", but I know you're different. Again, thanks for being a super governor.

Love,

ALTR

Water may have been flying off the shelves in some places, but Dorignac's certainly was not the place to be if that was on your agenda. It certainly wasn't on ours. My girlfriend and I went to go pick up some liquid dinner on the way home from work and we decided to make the plunge and try the new Absolut Los Angeles.  Being a loyalist (my roommate and I once purchased a case of Absolut New Orleans), the first time I saw it I was unsure of how I felt supporting LA, but the pomegranate and blueberry sounded really appealing (of course we got a bottle of Absolut as back up in case this flavored vodka sucked).  It has a delightful scent and goes down quite smooth.  I am currently enjoying it on the rocks, but I know not everyone is a purist such as myself.  My hoe threw some Sprite in hers, which cuts the vodka taste and makes it a bit more sweet.  Of course the website offers some delicious alternatives, such as cranberry, pomegranate juice and lemon-lime soda to float off to Absolut La La Land.  I give it a thumbs up, though I don't know that I would go out of my way to purchase it.  But in this moment, it's perfect.  And it will be perfect when we're sipping out of the flask when we depart for the Superdome momentarily.  

His name is Gustav

So, everyone's all freaking out and stuff. I really wasn't sweating it, but everyone else's stress is making me anxious! The bartender made me drink a bottle of vodka last night just to escape the insanity! Yesterday ALTR told me that she was leaving at two o'clock today!!

I don't want to deal with the insanity of gridlocked traffic trying to get out of town, so the options are leave early or stay. I don't want to leave if I don't have to. I have been lucky that for the two major evacuations for Ivan and Katrina I a) left early and beat the crowds and b) was actually on my way back to New Orleans (respectively). But, really, a part of me wants to stay, even if Gustav does head our way, simply to see what happens. However, I know both of my roommates will be leaving and I am unarmed and dogless. I did fill my tank up last night and have at least a gallon of water rolling around in the back of my car.

Tulane has cancelled classes and that was always what dictated my staying or going. I'm not a student anymore, so it really should not be the golden rule.

After Katrina you can't really say that anyone is over prepared, but...this is driving me nuts.

Given my indecision, the one sure thing in life right now is that I'm going to the football game tonight and getting loaded. While some clients have cancelled their appointments tomorrow we still have a full day ahead of us and I plan to work through it with a daquiri in hand. Looks like my evacuation buddy may have to be the one driving.

Here is a nice little contraflow map that I stumbled across in the nola.com comments.

Good luck on whatever route you, my friends, chose to take. I'll be at my neighborhood bar slamming the vodka.

/stream of conscious still drunk typing

you're not the boss of me...?

So I got this e-mail in my box this morning regarding my office's hurricane procedures:

Office Procedures Concerning Storm and Office Closings

As we watch the progress of the storm, the following are the firm's guidelines based upon the hurricane's intensity:


Hurricane Category #1:
No excuse for being late. Leave earlier to give extra time to avoid fallen trees and limbs.


Hurricane Category #2:
Due to the horizontal rain, you may wear jeans.


Hurricane Category #3:
Whereas most of the area will be flooded we suggest you avoid wearing open toe sandals when coming to work. Canoes will be provided to get to the building safely without getting wet.


Hurricane Category #4:
More than likely there will be no electricity. Given that, we will have manual typewriters available to all staff members. Please take extra caution and wear water-proof make-up if Category 4 or above.


Hurricane Category #5:
Velcro will be provided to keep you attached to your chairs when the windows blow out. For those that survive, we will have chocolate cake at 3:00 pm in the kitchen.


Have A Nice Day!

The streets of heaven are too crowded with angels...

I love The West Wing. This scene makes me tear up every time:

wordle turtle

Wordle

This grey shit is boring...

I thought it smelled like nepotism in here...

While eating lunch at the cafeteria in the Federal Building today, I noticed a lot of "reporter guys" (as I described them to my friend) lurking around. So, naturally, I check the news when I get back to my desk, to find there has been some document production going on this morning in the grand jury hearings on the NOAH scandal. I even saw the eyebrow guy himself, Lee Zurik!

I'm a tad embarrassed to post this, as it shows that I have not been keeping up with my news - most definitely, a hectic work schedule is to blame. Maybe this will be more incentive to dine at the federal building more often - surely landing a reporter-man will be an incentive to keep up to date on my current events!

Politics with a Punch tonight!

Tonight's panel at the Cricket Club features:

• Leon Cannizzaro, Former Judge, Candidate for Orleans D.A.
• Suzaune Yee McKamey, Singer, Actress and Entertainer
• Newell Normand, Jefferson Parish Sheriff
• Cedric Richmond, State Representative and Candidate for Congress
• Mark Singletary, Publisher of New Orleans City Business
• Mike Smith, Comedian, Contributor to New Orleans Levee Newspaper
• Dr. Michael White, Jazz Musician, Bandleader & Composer

Between out of town travels and other exciting events in our lives, this is the first Politics with a Punch that the Head Pelican girls have attended in a long time. The event starts 8 PM.

If dating is a sport...

Recently, I've become obsessed with the John Williams Olympic theme. And it's not just because I like looking at Michael Phelps while listening to it.

If dating is a sport, then my wedding (if the day ever comes) would be an equivalent to the Olympics.

That said, I've decided that when that glorious day comes, I will walk down the aisle to the Olympic theme instead of the traditional bridal processional song. Finally I'd get to claim my gold medal - or rather - gold metal around my ring finger.

Using trash to sell trash (Kid & Sid love affair)

Never letting us down since assuming Al Copeland's throne of creepy local entrepreneur, SDT's latest celebrity marketing push stars Kid Rock (see video #14). Kid helps Sid "keep it real" in the French Quarter, lending a hand at picking up trash as Sidney drives the golf cart, hair blowing in the wind. Jeffrey is amused too.

ALTL wonders, when was there time to film this gem with SDT's busy trash schedule and Kid Rock's tour? Also, wouldn't it have been great to be on hand for the crawfish eating lesson someone probably had to give Kid before that scene was filmed?

Newsflash: Camellia Grill now considered healthy...

At least, that's what I must infer after a friend and I saw WDSU's Dr. Corey Hebert at Camellia during our Sunday morning hangover breakfast.

Da Barry Roll

Night Out Against Crime

Tonight: Neighbors to celebrate National Night Out

The biggun' is at 3006 Esplanade Ave. vVarious locations in the East are participating. ALTR and I will be hitting up the 3300 Camp Street event, for us uptowners.

However, I am a bit skeptical about turning on my porch light to show support. C'mon, it's still daylight out and my Entergy bill is sky high as usual!

Shockey to the rescue

I've meaning to post this for some time. I know that there was a big bruhaha when the Saints aquired Jeremy Shockey from the New York Giants. But, I think that Jeremy Shockey could be good for New Orleans. Just look what he does for New York and the rest of America:

Just because he calls Bill Parcells a "homo", has bad eye sight, and is "not as wild and rebellious as some people say" (boo), doesn't mean he can't be good for us in some way!

Thank you Sports Argument Wiki!