noladogblog

Adorable Rascal

2009-07-07T22:49:00.000-07:00

Fostering a spirited mixed-breed pup in need of a stable home. He is a playful, sweet pea. I already have a dog, and he is enough for me to handle. Otherwise, I'd keep puppy!

Puppy has a scar in the middle of his forehead that could pass as a third-eye. He also has a wound there that needs medical attention. He plays very well with other dogs, sits for treats and to get on-leash, is house-broken and had his last immunizations in April.

I am very hopeful for this new buddy of mine! He deserves a good home.

From the Dog Haus

2009-06-17T10:20:00.001-07:00

Monday afternoon drive-by at Woody's

He heard the firecracker gunfire from the kitchen. From his front porch he saw a car speed past. He called the police.

I drove over with three dogs about an hour after it happened.I couldnt get through my usual route. Yellow caution tape blocked us from turning right onto Hurst. I couldnt tell if it happened at Woody's house. After he didnt answer his phone, he peaked his head around the corner from the neighbor's yard and told me to drive around from the other block. Women and children were gathered in small groups on the corners and old men talked on their porches. The reverend walked along the side of the church talking on his cell phone, After Woody talked to a policewoman, she told him that he shouldn't let them congregate like they had recently started to do.

The corner has a history of congregation, Woody had told me a couple of months prior. The corner used to be bad with drugs, but had quieted down with the purchase and renovation of a blighted home nearby and the re-opening of a baptist church that was badly damaged by Katrina tornado forces. The only activity I had seen these past few months from Woody's front porch were a couple of Sunday morning and Wednesday evening services and a funeral. Last weekend, however, I saw a large group of young people hanging out in and around the empty corner lot across from the church.

The red car located at the top of the image has a shattered rear window and at least one flat tire.

Happened again yesterday, Tuesday afternoon. The police caught some kid, but then had to let him go because he didnt have anything on him. No one was hurt.

Woody lives right off River Road, and I am starting to think this road is a good get-away route.

Call me

2009-06-17T10:14:00.000-07:00

Scar
Scarface
Pacino
Scar Trek
Trek
Trekkie-Trekkie
Just call me

Spring on the levee

2009-03-27T10:25:00.001-07:00

Mississippi River

2009-03-25T19:28:00.000-07:00

The camera can not capture the awesome colors of the blue water and sky, and the orange sun melting into the horizon.

Prospect 1: The Mint on Esplanade

2009-01-20T13:20:00.001-08:00

Played Strange Fruit, eerie and beautiful

Southern trees bear strange fruit,
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root,
Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze,
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees.

Pastoral scene of the gallant south,
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth,
Scent of magnolias, sweet and fresh,
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh.

Here is fruit for the crows to pluck,
For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck,
For the sun to rot, for the trees to drop,
Here is a strange and bitter crop.

2009-01-20T13:18:00.000-08:00

The Mint on Esplanade

2009-01-20T12:59:00.000-08:00

At the mint building on Esplanade, Prospect 1 exhibit.

2009-01-20T10:49:00.000-08:00

Sun sets behind the levee

2009-01-15T10:39:00.000-08:00

Mardi Gras World

2008-11-10T17:00:00.000-08:00

Dog outside Johnny White's

2008-07-20T10:12:00.001-07:00

NOLA DOG BARK

2008-06-29T00:04:00.000-07:00

It's not a DOG park, it's everybody's park. Check out todays Time Picayune article about the Dog Park

Bonnabel Dog Launch

2008-06-27T09:11:00.001-07:00

Today in the Times-Picayunne: "Pet owners are raving about the perks for their pups at the dog run, part of a post-Katrina effort to rebuild and improve the Bonnabel boat launch area."

Using FEMA funds, Jefferson Parish Recreation Department repaired the parking lot and the fishing pier. About $350,000 of the parish's "nontraditional recreation" budget is being used for the dog run and a play area for small children.

Dog owners praise the run's low-to-the-ground drinking fountains, plenty of garbage cans and playgroundlike plastic tunnels.

"They say a space where dogs can legally go leashless and play with other dogs is a rarity."

Critter Fest

2008-06-02T10:20:00.000-07:00

"Reddy's Nose," the profile photo you can see on the right, is among the juried images in the Critter show.

Critter Fest
Saturday, June 7
1-6 pm
1100 block of St. Mary St.
Join the New Orleans Photo Alliance on Saturday, June 7 from 1-6 pm at the 1100 block of St. Mary St., near the Magazine split. Bring the whole family, and your four legged friends, to celebrate NOPA's latest exhibit, Critters. The celebration will be offer critter ID chipping, dog and cat adoptions, a variety of critter vendors, live music and fun. Have your pet's photo taken as well to preserve the day forever.

Entertainment:
· Carl Mack 1pm
· Treme Brass Band 2pm
· David & Roselyn 4pm

2008-06-02T10:17:00.000-07:00

Prytania Street Haiku

2008-05-29T04:29:00.000-07:00

According to Wikipedia:
In English, haiku are usually written in three lines to equate to the three parts of a haiku in Japanese that traditionally consist of five, seven, and then five on (the Japanese count sounds, not syllables; for example, the word "haiku" itself counts as three sounds in Japanese (ha-i-ku), but two syllables in English (hai-ku), and writing seventeen syllables in English produces a poem that is actually quite a bit longer, with more content, than a haiku in Japanese).

A world of dew,
and within every dewdrop
a world of struggle
-Issa

My second ever driving-through-a-flood-experience

2008-05-29T03:53:00.000-07:00

May 22 Flood on Clearview

2008-05-29T03:32:00.000-07:00

I was out in Harahan shopping for The Movie when the rain came down in buckets. Soon the parking lot at K-Mart was flooded, and employees and a few shoppers watched and waited from the entrance/exit doors. I heard one of them laugh at my jazz fest galoshes when I hopped through the water towards the car. When I backed out of the parking lot, I heard an awful noise and discovered I had just wrecked into a floating shopping cart.

Just after I shot this video, a suburban came speeding by, dumping a huge wake into my car and onto me. There was still water in the cupholders the next morning, There is a sound the car starts to make in this video that remains, a high-pitched, rusty-sounding whine. I think it f-uped
the power steering but I am not worried because it is a production rental.

A Muddy Fest but...

2008-04-30T19:24:00.000-07:00

...there was Elvis!

Levee Dog Park

2008-04-30T19:15:00.000-07:00

Levee on the Mississippi in New Orleans at Leake and Magazine near Audubon Park. Late March, 2008.

High-rise condos in Audubon Park

2008-04-24T20:17:00.000-07:00

Gator Sighting

2008-04-22T20:34:00.000-07:00

Apparently there are people in New Orleans who did not hear or read about the alligator in Audubon Park ( I'm not talking about the zoo area). One, estimated at four feet long (but look at the picture: Doesnt it seem bigger?), likes to wade in the man-made lagoon by the island of the million white-feathered swamp birds. Nearby, turtles sunbathe on a log, all lined up in a row.

Walking with the dog one morning, I stopped to photograph the birds and their high-rise condo-like nests sprinkled across the branches. It was a challenge to point and click with my right hand while Reddy tugged the leash held in my left hand. A four year-old boy crept up behind me and asked, "Do you see him?" And I asked "Who?" and he said "The alligator..." I asked him "Where?", and he pointed across the water towards the turtles sunbathing on the log.

I told him I did not have my contacts in so I could barely see a thing. "You see," I told him. "It's too early to put in my contacts, but if I take a picture in the general direction of the alligator I bet I could see it in the photograph." He didnt say anything.

So I took this picture, and wow, there it is! I read about it in the paper. The article said that the alligator has been elusive, and they have not been able to catch it. They even tried to dangle a baby over the water to lure it over. But they think the alligator isnt too hungry due to all the bread thrown to the ducks. So he does not pose too much of a threat...

I asked the little boy if he cared to see the photograph of the alligator on the lcd screen of my new digital canon. He said, "No, ma'am" and scooted off.

1/4 Fest

2008-04-14T07:44:00.000-07:00

That's the Soul Rebels on the river stage on Saturday at the 25th French Quarter Fest. Beautiful day turned a bit chilly as the sun went down.

Later, we had char-broiled oysters at Dragos! I never thought I would be eating that butter I saw them scooping out of that large vat, but it was goooood. Sitting at the bar, we watched them shuck the biggest oysters I have seen in awhile,. Then they placed the half-shells on a pan, then the grill gal got the oysters from the pan and placed them on the grill, doused them in butter, FLAME!, sprinkled generously with parmesan, FLAME!, butter, FLAME! and then the delicious oysters are removed from the flame and doused with more butter that is then served to you, and you dip your fresh french bread in it.

And have you ever had Abita Strawberry Lager? It has me drinking beer again.

Dog day afternoon

2008-04-06T07:42:00.001-07:00

Sunday, April 6
Audubon Park
Registration 10:30
Dog Walk 12:30
Pet contests 2:30

Offical NOLA Dog Park

2008-03-25T19:01:00.000-07:00

Plans for the first official dog park in New Orleans can be seen and read about in this week's cover story in Gambit Weekly. The location of the dog park is destined to a little-used area of the park, and it is believed that the addition of the official unleashed area will boost the City Park attendance significantly to more than pre-storm numbers. There will be a pass fee, and access will be granted through a type of swipe card.

Part of City Park's master plan, the design of the 4.6 acre dog park area is well-researched and thoughtful, with features such as a dog wash area and future dog agility course. Says Bob Becker, City Park CEO:

"It means several things for City Park. First, it responds to public demand.Secondly, it's just going to be cool. The committee that's been formed to do it is very gung-ho. With any successful project, if you peel back the layers, you can find a core group that has that passion; this group has that. It's a great way to promote socialization of people. I know it sounds corny, but it could be a great healing place, too."

Pinch me, it's another parade!

2008-03-18T18:07:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, I treated myself to pampering on Magazine Street. Little did I know I would be running late to my appointment in the middle of the parade route. The parade was scheduled to hit the vicinity around two, right after my appointment, so I thought I might catch a glimpse of it. I had allergies so I was not craving a green beer. But walking back to my car, I already had a $20 parking ticket so I called Ashley to see where she was. She was at Ann's house on Louisiana and Magazine, a great spot for catching the parade.

So I caught a cabbage and some beads. One guy I was standing next to caught a batch of beads, along with the iron hook that held the beads on the float, right on his forehead. He had a mighty, bleeding gash, and was laughing at all the blood. I think that is the magic of thee green beer, lad!

Check out the cute toddler with the mohawk! And there were countless parading men crossing the street to give this lovely red-head named Ashley a flower and a kiss. The parade went on and on, I could not stay for the three hours-it was hot! A gorgeous day..

Mardi Gras 2008

2008-02-17T11:29:00.000-08:00

Mardi Gras

2008-02-11T18:29:00.000-08:00

It seemed like the parades were endless, and I really couldnt believe all of the people.

By Fat Tuesday, my stomach was in ruins and I was exhausted. I woke up early to join Ashley and Olga for the 8 am parade! I wore the wrong shoes as I didnt really imagine walking so far. From the parades on St. Charles, I hiked to forever in my high heeled boots and my video camera that had already run out of battery. We walked to the Bridge Lounge and waited for the brass band to show up. Once that music started, it was easy to get marching on down the road. This was the Jewlu parade, an unescorted and unofficial rag-tag line that originated at Bridge Lounge, and continued up Magazine, under the hwy, across Canal, through the French Quarter, and finally to the marigny. After One-Eyed Jacks in the quarter (they continued on to dba), I took a $16 cab home , and went to bed early with the chills. Agh, Ash Wednesday.

Last Saturday, Tiffany and I took Reddy to the Toth parade on Magazine Street only because we were in Ashley's front yard. We needed the option for shelter in case the excitement became too much to handle (for the dog). There were some close calls with flying beads, with some aggressive beads I should add, so I moved him to the porch. The loud music and the horses were making him pant. I will never take him to a parade UNLESS WE ARE IN IT!

Carmen, my five-year old friend in Shreveport told her mother after the Highland parade, "Next year I dont want to be catching the beads, I want to be on the float throwing 'em!"

Barkus 2008

2008-01-31T17:54:00.001-08:00

The Krewe of Barkus walked through the French Quarter on Sunday afternoon. My cousin and I caught the parade upon a balcony overlooking St. Ann. The theme was Indiana Bones and Raiders of the lost Bark, so we saw rolling balls after Indy-clad anthropologists with whips and wooden arks, weiner dogs dressed as snakes, a turban-wearing chihuahua, and then other spirited costumes not associated with the theme such as MIke the Tiger, Dogs in between hot dog buns with mustard, or with ketchup,craw dogs in a tin vat, and lots of princesses and other pretty dogs. What was bad was that I left Reddy at home for my own selfish reasons. But I will not do that at Barkus 2009, Reddy, I promise. You really missed out.

The first Barkus parade I went to was in Shreveport, actually. Last year, Reddy and I went to the parade finish line along the riverfront with our dog park petition. We got a good number of signatures but it was hard to collect a lot with a dog in one hand and a pen and clipboard in the other with lots of other dogs prancing around in costume. That was a fun and cute parade. But this French Quarter one was HUGE. The procession lasted over two hours!

WANTED: Cowboy

2008-01-29T19:36:00.000-08:00

On Thursday night Peter let Cowboy and Joker out of the house for their evening whiz. According to Peter, it was only four minutes later Cowboy escaped through the wedge of the fence in pursuit of a cat ( popular in the fairgrounds neighborhood). Cowboy, an eight year-old black lab duck dog, was missing through the cold and wet weekend.

When I saw Peter on Sunday night, I couldnt believe the news. Reddy and I stayed with Peter, Cowboy and Joker this fall while I worked here while not residing here. Reddy was the one always getting into trouble; scratching the wooden doors, chewing through Cowboy and Joker's plastic kennel (Reddy has a metal cage) used for weekend hunts, jumping over the kitchen's baby gate and setting a bad example to the other dogs (Look! They're not here! We can lay on top of everything!), trying to dig under the house, and eating everything in the trash can. I could hardly believe Cowboy was the one to escape when all he wanted was to be good; he sat, he was the first one to come when called, he always wanted to be pet, he is a lover, he seeks the approval of others.

Peter posted WANTED, lost signs throughout Esplanade, the Bayou St. John, and Fairgrounds area to no avail. Cowboy's collar tags had his old Austin information on it. As I drove to work Monday morning I could not get that old rascal Cowboy out of my head. Did someone claim them as their own once he snuggled into their lap? I know he did not get run over, but where was he?

Peter called me Monday afternoon to tell me that Cowboy had been found! His text message read: "In Lakelawn cemetary by the train tracks. He must have gone through City Park and crossed over I-10 on the train bridge."

And what is so great is that a cat rescuer lady by the cemetary noticed Cowboy and tried to get him to come to her. But he was shy, timid, probably scared sh--less. She fed him cat food throughout the weekend so he stayed around. meanwhile she told a friend about this black dog and her friend saw the flier in Peter's neighborhood and connected the two.

I love a beautiful ending!

"

How do we love New Orleans?

2008-01-29T18:26:00.000-08:00

Let us count a few ways:

1. Levee dog park
2. Barkus parade
3. Pals Lounge and The R Bar
4. The canine culture
5. Outdoor coffee shops with free internet access

To be continued...