anne is an artist

I am absolutely in LOVE with New Orleans. I always had heard about it, and knew that if I were to ever visit there I would fall in love. Boy did I ever. It is MY city. I need to move there right now!



I think this really surprised my mom and dad. In many ways. Firstly, we were there for the surgery. I didn't really get to sight-see and surgeries are always full of anxiety, so even if I did sight-see, I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it. Also, all of the post-Katrina scars are still very visible and very real. Most people would want to shy away from this. Understandably so. But there was so much character in the city and in the people, that I don't think a hundred hurricanes would have destroyed their charm. Even though we were out-of-towners, everyone treated us as though we were lifetime buddies. And of course, compared to the Milwaukee Tundra, the weather was especially enjoyable. Oh yea, and the surgery was (actually!) a success! A grand trip indeed.



Here's my dad's take.

So we finally have a nice layer of snow on the ground. Oh. Yay. Time for the count down to March.

Art vs. Craft was fun! I probably saw a million people I knew, as I was the one manning the clicker/counter at the door. I was able to wander around a bit afterwards and look at all of the wonderful booths full of good things. It seemed like it was smaller this year! I also ran into several vendors that I knew, yet weren't there last year. Pretty nice! I need to attend an arts and crafts fair every weekend, because it gets me all inspired to do things. I went home and immediately picked up some Shrinky Dinks and some dusty old earring kits I had bought a while ago, and made Day of the Dead Earrings. Pictures to arrive shortly!

I found a $99 plane ticket to Kansas City for Christmas. Unbelievable. I think instead of Christmas presents I'm just going to be giving out a bunch of random baked goods. Watch for it.

PS Go to IN SEQUENCE on Friday. It will be glorious.

How do I know that 2009 will be a great year? Because I will have visited New Orleans TWICE.

Mark and I are going back in April during the Jazz & Heritage Festival.

The first time I wandered around the French Quarter, eating. Simply eating. And buying voodoo dolls and other such kitsch. This time was so much better because I wasn't spending the whole time in a stuffy hospital like last time. Some day, I will live here.

Mark and I headed on down to New Orleans about two weeks ago. It was fantastic. I think I have him convinced to move there in a few years. New Orleans is absolutely gorgeous. I'm not sure why I have such an attraction to it, but I really want to move there.

Of course, when telling people this, I am always met with, "What about the hurricanes!?" acting like a hurricane hits every single day. Yes, New Orleans has hurricanes. Milwaukee has 20 feet of snow. Kansas City has tornadoes. I run the risk of getting shot and mugged every day when I walk down the street. You gotta roll with it.

Either way, I'm heading to Texas for Sophie's WEDDING. I made my dress and Kari's dress (almost). I'm so excited for my year of travel. Next stop UNITED KINGDOM.