.beignets.

.all right, all right.

i haven't posted in forever - yes, i know this.

let me tell you: it sucks not having a computer. i realize that this is silly - people got on perfectly fine without computers. however, in this uber-connected, digital age, it is difficult to survive without my trusty laptop.

actually, it's more like i am missing my right thumb - it's not completely necessary, and i can get along fine without it, but it very much blows that it's not there. and i mourn its absence.

so, i would upload all of my fall foliagefest '08 pictures, and all of my pictures from my new orleans trip for the SHA conference, but alas. it shall have to wait until the 30 of october, or so. doesn't that seem like a ridiculously absurd amount of time for a laptop to be put together and shipped?? i ordered it several weeks ago, and it will take that long to arrive at my apartment. maybe it's just me, and this crazy instant-gratification world that we live in, but that seems long.

oh well.

my trip to the big easy was fun! i'll post about it a little later when i can actually upload some pictures, but it was nice - i've never been to the south before! we didn't have too much time to go exploring during the day, as we were in the exibit hall all day, but that in and of itself was fun. it was really neat meeting a bunch of our authors face to face.

katherine and i had some great dinners, particularly at muriel's in jackson square in the french quarter. the inside is beautiful - lots of exposed brick and mirrors, and apparently there is some ghost history there? anyway, the food was fantastic: a roasted golden-beet salad, sweet-apple glazed pork chop, and creme brulee (which i couldn't finish because i was so stuffed. i know - me, not finishing dessert?!) very good. we had good southern food the previous two nights, and figured it was time to go to a nicer place. i had a great merlot there too, and i'm not generally a red wine fan.

jackson square itself was really beautiful, and very lively, with lots of tarot readers setting up tables. another thing that i loved about new orleans was the music - i swear, there was a jazz band or a solo trumpet player on almost every other corner! and the beignets! mmm. cafe du monde was fantastic, both for the food, and all of the people and musicians that crowded around the open (but covered) seating area.

the whole city seemed pretty run down and dirty, but it was so much fun - people were lively, and the french quarter, with its beautiful shutters, vibrant colors, and delicate wrought-iron balconies with trailing plants draping over the sides, was beautiful. after our sophisticated dinner last night, we decided to take a walk in an attempt to walk off some of our dinner (no such luck), and ended up walking down bourbon street, which is insane! so many people. scratch that. so many drunk people. stumbling around. drinking hurricanes. dancing in the street. people up on balconies throwing beads down. drunken males on the street yelling to a wedding party on a balcony "show us your boobies!" i love it. people are so hilarious. there were way too many drunk old women and men, but i guess they need their fun too.

all in all, a great trip. i'm glad that i went - the conference was great, and it was neat exploring the city. even though it is pretty run-down from all of the storms passing through, it was great to wander around and take in all the history. because that city has so much history! i wouldn't mind going back there some day, when i have more time to explore during the day.

particularly for beignets.

.cheers.