Run Hard - Live Easy

It's been a crazy April with many work projects happening at the same time, but Jerry and I went ahead with our plans to visit the "big easy" on Easter weekend and run the Crescent City Classic again - after many years.

Here's a fun shot from our flight into New Orleans - our plane was between the sun and the building clouds so you could see our shadow moving across the cloud bank.



We arrived on Friday morning and had a great time milling around the French Quarter. Heard some good bands and had great food. Saturday morning we were up and ready to run. Here we are with over 21,000+ other running enthusiasts waiting along Decatur for the race to start.



And this is what it looked like on the ground ...



The race lines up in front of Cafe DuMonde in the French Quarter - then out to N. Peters, up Poydras - past Mother's - to Rampart and then out Esplanade to City Park, where the course makes a series of irritating loops and circles to complete the course.

Let me tell you, the "run hard" part of their tag line refers to 6.2 in the searing heat and 100% humidity. Unlike Austin, the Crescent City Classic is a flat course, but the first 3 miles are nothing but pavement and sunshine - punishing conditions until part-way down Esplanade where you enter a wonderful, tree-lined section of the city. Nearing City Park, you run out of trees and the last 1.5 miles are back in full sun. Run hard, indeed.

We survived the race and after catching a bus back to the French Quarter, walked straight to Mother's for a Ferdie Special. I will admit to almost passing out while waiting in line for over 30 minutes to get in - heat, dehydration and low blood sugar aren't a good combination, but I was revived after a few sips of REAL Coke and my Ferdie!

Although we did hit the Famous Door late afternoon for a beer, music and people watching, we were pretty tame Saturday night. Sunday morning we walked the Quarter and celebrated Easter New Orleans style. Although there are a lot of things you wouldn't want a photo of in the French Quarter on a Sunday morning, there are also a lot of beautiful images to capture.

It seems like an odd combination of decadence and religion, but Easter is a really big deal in New Orleans and there is a fun parade with horse drawn carriages carrying men in sear-sucker suits and women in their "Sunday best" - sporting spectacular hats.

These horses/mules area always sweet - you have to hope that they're well taken care of ...



Parade participants



Another hard working carriage mule



Of course, the place to be for Easter Sunday service is the St. Louis Cathedral at Jackson Square.



A wonderful shot of Jackson Square from the landing out near the river



The mighty Mississippi



Our hotel had a lovely courtyard/patio



Beautiful balconies - covered with plants - all along Royal Street ...






An Easter wreath hanging on a front door



Mardi Gras celebrations still present



It was a fun trip and I shot a few pics of the Mississippi as we became airborne and headed to Houston.

Elvis the King

Our no-longer-new bed has a tall headboard with a wide ledge on top ... I'm sure this design element was for another purpose, but Elvis discovered it on the first day and still thinks its fun to get up there when we first go to bed. I took this photo the other night when he was watching me brush Denny's fur.



This is his "I'm bored" look.

Baby Dove!

I had been so focused on my little sparrows by the front door and Ms. Dove rarely leaves the nest, so I hadn't checked it in a few weeks. Denny wanted out on the balcony the other morning and guess what we saw ...



I'm not sure how many there are - could be just the one, but she usually lays two eggs.



His little head is fuzzy, but his feathers don't look that great yet!

Ike, the Toothless WonderCat!

Our Ike continues to do well without a single tooth in his mouth. His appetite is great - he eats his canned food and has started "gumming" his favorite crunchy food, as well.



He got to spend a lazy morning on the patio, last Monday, while I was in my office working like a dog!

Empty Nest Syndrome

Friday afternoon, when I brought in the mail, I checked the nest and it was EMPTY! I was worried something had gotten to the baby birds until I read a little more about them and learned their "fledging time" is 11 to 14 days from hatching. Ours left the nest on day 13.



I'm not 100% sure these are our baby birds, but I think so. These little guys are fluttering around in the bushes under the front window and helping themselves to the bird feeder.







They look so young and they're so afraid of us when we look out the window, I'm hoping they are the new babies. It's hard to believe they can leave the nest so soon ... Mother Nature is tough!

April 5 - Baby Bird Update

What a difference a few days makes - these babies are starting to look like real birds. They're very still and quiet, although their Mom gives us a piece of her mind on a fairly regular basis.

Mother Squirrel

You guys know about my squirrels - they visit the bird feeder every day to have snack and check in on us. So a few days ago I had cut up a stale cranberry-walnut roll and put it out for the birds and Ms. Squirrel had a big time eating it.

Helloooooooooooooooooo?



WOW ... those folks at Central Market sure know how to bake bread!



This thing is delicious!

April 2 - Baby Bird Update

This morning, as I was refilling the bird feeder, I decided to take a peek at the baby birds ... lens going in ...



I think I see feathers ...



Check them out - they have wings & little fuzzy heads. Admittedly, a look only a mother could love, but they're making progress fast.