in more pleasant news, a friend and i are tentatively planning a trip to new orleans sometimes this spring. right now we're in the investigatory/planning phase wondering if we should budget for 3 or 4 days. Neither of us has ever been to Louisiana before, the idea is to try and make it before it gets oppressively hot (but it's still a few weeks until we have our shift sign up and vacation bids at work, so we don't even know yet what our days off will be) and spend a few days touring the city, seeing some of the cemetaries and maybe doing some ghost tours. No Mardi Gras, no wild partying. Staying in the French Quarter sounds like a nice idea. Hints from nawlins-istas?

Staying in the French Quarter sounds like a nice idea. Hints from nawlins-istas?

I prefer to stay in the Marigny, which is the next neighborhood over from the Quarter and has many lovely B&Bs.

You can get up in the morning and walk through the Quarter in the morning before it gets crowded and then head on out to explore the Garden district, or Magazine Street or Riverbend from there.

I am running on fumes, as I got up at 4:30 to drive my mom to the airport. It was great having her here, but she is 82 now and needs a LOT of care. Luckily, her problems are all with sight and balance and her mind is sharp as a tack. It will be nice to walk at a normal speed and without someone clutching at my arm with a kung-fu grip. That woman can GRAB, I tell you what. We gave her a lovely 11 days, though, and she needed it after a tough year, so I am happy.

If you're not really looking to party, you might want to skip the quarter and stay in the Garden District.

I'm so sorry, amyth.

That just doesn't happen though right?

I'm sorry for your loss, DJ.

Sadly, it does just happen, but it's so unsettling in a younger person. Viral pneumonia often just seems like a bad cold or the flu. My ex's favorite cousin was in her late 30s when she died alone in her apartment, and autopsy was inconclusive. A local radio personality recently collapsed and died at age 43 from a heart attack from undiagnosed high blood pressure.

He didn't even have a cold. I mean, he was at a night club Sat night at 11ish.

ETA: Here's a good GD bed and breakfast a friend has stayed at before. Also, do a ghost or vampire tour too. Even if you think ghosts and vampires are cheesy, there's often a lot of history packed into the tours as well.

{{{DJ}}}

{{{amyth}}}

My condolences and many virtual hugs to both of you.

the idea is to try and make it before it gets oppressively hot

The weather from mid-March through late April can be delightful. Try to come up with some indoor activities in case you get a rainy day -- you can get flooding rains at just about any time of year.

we both love cheesy ghost and vampire tours, that's good stuff! History is a great bonus as well :)

April can be a pain though if it's during JazzFest.