Winter....Meh.

I've been reminded that I've been neglecting the ol' blog again and I'm actually a bit ashamed because it's not like I've been too busy to write. As a matter of fact, the most exciting thing I've done in the last month is watch the first two seasons of the tv show "Mad Men" on dvd. (The third is on it's way as we speak.) I guess that's not totally true....we did adopt a sweet little dog. He's a chihuahua, his name is Pancho, and considering all he's been through, I can't believe how quickly he has adapted to his new home. We've had dinner with my buddy Mike a couple of times, once at his new place and once at ours. (Mike makes a tomato cream sauce that is divine and I was craving it.) We also attended Offbeat Magazine's Best of the Beat Awards. For those of you who don't know, Offbeat is a (free) local magazine that spotlights New Orleans/Louisiana music and is an advocate for New Orleans musicians and the music industry here. It is really a shame to me that our city does not market our music more to promote tourism and show more support to our musicians, but that is another topic entirely....Anyhoo, I haven't attended the awards in years and it was a nice event over at Generations Hall. And it was also the only live music that I saw in the last month. Winter just gives me the blues and the cold makes me want to stay in the house. Hence, the "Mad Men" marathons. But everything is better in the springtime....and nothing beats spring in New Orleans, nothing! Spring means French Quarter Festival and Jazz Fest, lounging in the sun on a blanket by the river under incredible blue skies with an icy drink listening to awesome music, food everywhere, night blooming jasmine, music drifting out through people's open shutters on every street. There is just a certain, indefinable smell in the air. And I LOVE it!! The weather is warming up this week and I'm feverishly hoping it is here to stay. I want something new to signal the change in the air, maybe a new look, a haircut, something. Well, I'd like to lose about 50lbs, that would be a hell of an exciting change, but that might take a while and I would like my gratification to be pretty much instant. So, maybe a haircut it is. A sassy new look might just be the cure for what ails me. That and getting out of the house. Staying in the house makes me sluggish which makes me want to stay in the house. But with it being Carnival Season it will be easy to remedy that problem. I have lots of choices over the next few days, even have some plans on the books, and I'm delighted. Time to lose the winter FUNK!  How much better it would be if more of my out of town people would come down and experience the city! The invitation is open y'all and you would have an experienced tour guide! Come on, you know you wanna.