Duct tape portraits of V and L
by their dad
Dear George,
We flew down to New Orleans on
the day after Xmas for a family visit.
We traveled on the new discount airline at our airport. Bare bones, fees for everything, narrow
non-reclining seats, and $2 for water.
But it still was a bargain of sorts. J picked us up at the airport. His father-in-law, Ted, had experienced a mild stroke
shortly before our arrival, and K was spending a lot of time at the hospital
with him. Ted did make a strong
recovery though and joined us at the house soon after.
“Be Nice to Bees”
We were greeted by our
granddaughter V’s “Be Nice to Bees” sign in the front yard, just another
indication of her love for the animal world.
Iko and Little Paws
Our family had acquired a new
dog, Little Paws, since we were last there. Little Paws is the smaller dog in the picture. As I understand it, V found her online
and convinced her parents. Iko was
peppy enough to begin with, but, with a new puppy in the house, the two dogs
have endless high-energy fun.
L and J play chess
L has become an enthusiastic
chess player, and he will probably be a master before we know it.
Flu shots
J took the children to the
neighborhood drug store for flu shots.
It was a less than enjoyable outing.
Post-shot rewards
Recovery from getting flu shots was speeded
up by treats at the ice cream parlor.
L and V practising
L and V’s regular instructor
cancelled their tennis lesson, so J worked out with them instead at the City
Park courts. The children like to
try to hit the ball over the fence.
They also liked to sit at the bottom of the backboard while J bounced
balls a foot or two above their heads.
At the Sculpture Garden
On Friday we returned to City
Park and visited the Sculpture Garden.
It’s one of New Orleans’ many highlights, and we return each visit.
Back from the groomer
Iko came back from the groomer
and was miraculously transformed into a Schnauzer (see earlier photo
above).
The Princess Leia parade
On Friday afternoon I joined J
and the kids at the Princess Leia parade at the Bywater. Carrie Fisher had died three days
earlier, and local groups held a second line in her honor.
Air Sports
On New Year’s Eve day we began
the celebration with a visit to Extreme Air Sports and its many bouncy bounces
for kids.
At Crescent Park
Then we went to Crescent Park,
a new city park on the Mississippi, and enjoyed views of the downtown skyline
and the harbor.
Confederate soldier
We tried the Ogden Museum of
Southern Art on the day after New Year’s, but it was closed, and we settled for
the nearby Confederate Memorial Hall Museum next door instead. I liked the photographs and the rifles
the most.
J and Katja at Peche for lunch
We toured the Julia Street art
galleries and wound up at Peche for lunch. Other culinary outings included Desire, Zoe’s, Ming’s
Chinese Restaurant, Mandina’s, and Morning Call.
Our family
Once again our trip went too
quickly. Katja had a touch of
pneumonia which put a damper on her running around. On our last morning I interviewed the children (see below),
and then we were off on our two-hour flight home.
Love,
Dave
INTERVIEW WITH L (1-2-17):
HOW OLD ARE YOU NOW? Eight.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE AGE SO FAR? Seven.
WHY IS THAT? I was young. There aren't that
many years that I'm young.
WHAT WILL IT BE LIKE TO BE A TEENAGER? Kind of fun,
kind of boring.
HOW IS YOUR NEW SCHOOL? I like it.
HOW IS IT DIFFERENT? Elevators, a church, less kids.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SUBJECT? Math.
WHAT IS THE HARDEST SUBJECT? I don't think anything
is.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FOOD? Dumplings.
WHAT IS THE MOST FUN THING THAT YOU FAMILY DOES
TOGETHER? Go on vacation.
DO YOU COLLECT ANYTHING? Pokemon cards.
HOW MANY POKEMON CARDS DO YOU HAVE? About 900.
I think 958.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT NEW ORLEANS? It gets hot
in the summer.
WHICH OF THESE IS YOUR FAVORITE: ZOO, AQUARIUM, MUSIC
FESTIVALS, MARDI GRAS PARADES? Mardi Gras parades.
WHO IS A FAMOUS PERSON THAT YOU ADMIRE? Barack
Obama.
DO YOU LIKE GOING TO THE DENTIST? I don't.
WHERE DO YOU LIKE TO GO ON A TRIP? I like to go
everywhere.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE NEW PRESIDENT, DONALD
TRUMP? He's going to be bad.
WOULD YOU SAY YOU ARE MORE SERIOUS OR MORE FUNNY?
More funny.
MORE CAUTIOUS OR MORE BOLD? More cautious.
DO YOU GET AN ALLOWANCE? Yes, five dollars every
Friday.
IS IT ENOUGH? Five dollars every day.
TELL ME WHETHER YOU DO OR DO NOT LIKE THESE THINGS:
MOVIES? Yes.
FLU SHOT? Yes and no. Medium.
FLYING ON AIRPLANES. Yes and no.
DOING MATH. Yes.
VIDEO GAMES. Yes.
TESTS IN SCHOOL. Yes and no.
RIDING A BIKE? No.
WALKING THE DOG? Yes, because I get to go Pokemon.
WHAT IS SOMETHING ELSE THAT YOU DON'T LIKE? V
annoying me.
IF YOU FOUND A GENIE IN A BOTTLE, WHAT WOULD YOU WISH
FOR? To have all the Pokemons in the world.
IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT YOURSELF, WHAT WOULD
IT BE? My age.
WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO CHANGE IT TO? Nine.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE IN LIFE? A nice person.
And a mean person to V. WHICH WOULD YOU WANT TO BE: A MOVIE STAR, A
POLITICIAN, AN AIRPLANE PILOT, A POLICE OFFICER? A movie star.
WHAT ANIMAL ARE YOU MOST LIKE? A lion.
WHICH WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO THE MOST: END POVERTY, END
CANCER, END WAR, END BLINDNESS? End war.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SPORT? Tennis.
WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO IMPROVE ABOUT
YOURSELF? Being nicer to V.
INTERVIEW WITH VIDA (1-2-17)
HOW OLD ARE YOU NOW? Eight
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BEST AGE THAT YOU'VE BEEN?
Four. WHY? Because there are not that many rules.
WHAT DO YOU THINK BEING A TEENAGER WILL BE LIKE? Awesome.
WHY IS THAT? Earn our own money and spend it on
ourself.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SUBJECT IN SCHOOL? Probably
art.
DO YOU COLLECT ANYTHING? Nana's gong to mail me
those bunny rabbits.
WOULD YOU SAY YOU ARE MORE FUNNY OR MORE SERIOUS?
More serious.
WHAT IS THE MOST FUN THING YOUR FAMILY DOES TOGETHER?
Watch movies.
IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT YOURSELF, WHAT WOULD
IT BE? Nothing. Wait, I have something. My hair.
Longer.
WHAT IS ONE OF YOUR EARLIEST MEMORIES AS A LITTLE
CHILD? When I was four. Going around on a swing. I fell, and
my pumpkin's head broke.
HOW MUCH IS YOUR ALLOWANCE? Five dollars. WHAT
DO YOU SPEND IT ON? Stuff at the Dollar Store.
WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT TO DO IN 2017? (long
pause) I want to start my garden.
DO YOU LIKE HAVING TWO DOGS? Yes.
WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT IT? I take care of one, and
my dad takes care of the other.
TELL ME IF YOU LIKE OR DON'T LIKE THESE THINGS:
MOVIES? Yes.
GETTING A FLU SHOT? No.
AIRPLANES? Yes.
DOING MATH? Medium.
TESTS IN SCHOOL? Yes and no.
RIDING A BIKE? Yes.
WALKING A DOG? Yes.
DO YOU LIKE TO GO TO THE DENTIST? Yes. Because
I get a sweet lollipop.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU DON'T LIKE? I don't like
my brother annoying me.
IF YOU FOUND A GENIE IN A BOTTLE, WHAT WOULD YOU WISH
FOR? To have every animal you could possibility have as a pet.
WHICH DO YOU LIKE BEST: ZOO, AQUARIUM, MUSIC FESTIVALS,
MARDI GRAS PARADES? Zoo.
WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO IMPROVE ABOUT
YOURSELF? Nothing.
DO YOU EVER GET MAD AT YOUR BROTHER? Yes.
WHY? When he annoys me.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FOOD? Mashed potatoes.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE IN LIFE? A vet.
WHAT ANIMAL ARE YOU MOST LIKE? A squirrel.
WHAT WOULD LIKE LIKE TO DO THE MOST? END POVERTY,
END CANCER, END WAR, END BLINDNESS. All of the above.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SPORT? Softball.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO TAKE A TRIP TO? New
Mexico.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE NEW PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP?
Poop.
WHO IS A FAMOUS PERSON THAT YOU ADMIRE? Ruthie
B. WHO IS THAT? A singer.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT NEW ORLEANS? All the
animals.
