Thursday, May 13, 2010

Green Lantern of Jealousy


I am seriously starting to get jealous: Today Dustin is on set for the filming of The Green Lantern (he was also there one day last week). The City has an ambulance there everyday in case anyone needs medical attention. You know how stars can be prone to anxiety, conniptions and not having their whims catered to. Due to a confidentiality agreement, he can't spill all the interesting and and mundane details, but he did mention when I spoke to him earlier (in husshed tones, since he was sitting near the director) that Ryan Reynolds was within arms reach. I told him to tell Ryan hello for me, and possibly give him my number.

I'll let ya know if he calls.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Pedicures of the Undead

Saturday was a big day. Not only did Shelby, Patricia and I go get pedicures ($25- $2 less than an adult pedicure- to wash and paint a preschooler's feet??? We probably won't be back to Star Nails.), Dustin finally got to take his grandfather to the WWII museum. They said it was amazing, especially the 4D movie, directed by Tom Hanks. I can't wait to see it for myself.

After all the polish was applied and rationing relived, Dustin and I got all pretty and went to the Barely Rotten Girls calendar release party at The Bar in Kenner. We had a blast! I love a good, dark, dingy bar. If that bar serves cheap PBR, I feel like I'm home. The heavy metal wasn't really my cup of Pabst, but it wasn't bad. And it was nice to meet the BRGs in person. There was a screening of the short film they filmed at the Mortuary, but I couldn't really see it over the crowd. Coming from Mass Casualty, I have no doubt it was deliciously macabre. We were able to get our calendar and limited edition poster, and have a great time.

When the film was over and people started to trickle out, a few of us decided to head down to the Quarter in honor of one of our friend's 21st birthday. We had a slice at our old pizza place, Vieux Carre pizza and then went to Pat O's for drinks. They were ridiculously packed. It seems that this weekend was a big one for reunions and weddings (and a few prom kids trying out their fake ID's), and everyone wanted a hurricane. After hanging out for a while, it was suggested we go to the Gold Mine. I'd never been, so it was nice to take a walk to a new place.

There were concert posters all over, most from before my time, black lights and Boomerang playing on all the flat screens. The music selection was good, and we spent the night dancing our butts and watching the Jetsons. To see everyone loosen up and have fun was a real treat.

We stayed out longer than we'd planned- we were going to try to go home on time to catch Saturday Night Live. But that's what DVR is for, so I didn't miss out on the Betty White goodness. A little delayed SNL gratification was worth our night on the town.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Invasion of the In-Laws

Yesterday my mother-in-law and her father, whom we all affectionately know as Dee, made the trip from Port Arthur, Texas to visit us. Having spent most of the day in the car, they wanted to rest up a bit before we squired them around town. Patricia has been to see us three times since we've moved, but it was Dee's first time to be in New Orleans in over 30 years. Although he's from Bunkie (holy crap, this place has a website!?), he's only been to NOLA twice, the first time in the late 40's. And of course, we had to hear the tale recounted of that horrible trip to the sinful city, where he went to visit a relative at Charity Hospital and had his car broken into. The bandit broke the window and made off with a suit jacket and a basket of fruit. Thankfully, he didn't think to look in the glove box, where Dustin's grandmother's wedding ring happened to be.

Once the visitors were rested, we loaded up the MIL's PT Cruiser and road from Audubon Park, down St. Charles, took Decatur to Esplanade and back up to Rampart. Dustin also drove us by the house where he got sot at while responding to a call, and a place that he gets hot wings from while on duty. Finally we drove back across the highway and went to VooDoo BBQ where Dustin and I left the others in the car to make our to-go order.

We've never had any problem with VooDoo, and their food is delicious. But last night, we waited almost an hour for our food, as people who came in well after we did were eating and leaving. When we finally said something, they discovered that the wrong name had been put on our ticket (not really understanding that one, as we were given a number for our table). I don't know what that had to do with the fact that our food hadn't been boxed yet. The man offered us a free brownie, so we accepted (seriously, do we look like the kind of people who refuse free brownies?). The girl came out and yelled the wrong name, which we knew from our talk with the other waiter, before acting like she was going to take our food back to the kitchen. Se spoke up, got our grub and finally headed back to the car full of starving people. My pulled pork was delicious as always, as was Dustin's brisket and chicken. They got Patricia's side wrong, but she said she didn't mind as the Gris Gris Greens turned out to be quite tasty. And they didn't give us our brownie. So, since we were all set for brownies, Dustin took his mom to Winn Dixie to get dessert. He came back with a giant cookie decorated for someone's graduation (I asked him Who's graduating? and he said "I don't know, but I'm gonna eat their cookie!") and some New Orleans brand ice cream. The have such delicious flavors! We've had the Bananas Foster before, which tasted just like the real thing, and this time we had the Coffee & Chicory and Vanilla, both of which were rich and yummy.

I think our dessert was a fitting end to a nice day about town. I love being able to share the city we love with the people we love. :)

Sunday, May 2, 2010

An Impromptu Before-The-Prices-Go-Up Cookout

If you've been near a TV in the last week or so, you've probably heard about the massive oil catastrophe. It's such a horrific thing to happen, but to happen when the oysters I would be eating next year are just babies in their comfy little oyster beds- sacrilege! As well as the devastating damage it's doing to our coast, our natural hurricane barrier and our wildlife, it is seriously gong to cramp our seafood style.

So since we're bracing for the impact this disaster is going have on the prices of shrimp, crab, oysters and fish, we decided to take advantage of the shellfish we knew was uncontaminated. We'd heard tell of long lines winding from the seafood counter, but Laura said she had no trouble picking up the oysters for our little feast. We grilled some fish he had stored in her freezer, and grilled it with just a little salt, pepper and fresh lemon. The oysters we ate raw on crackers with a dash of Crystal. I'd never eaten pre-shucked oysters from the sore raw, but there were no ill effects, and they sure were tasty.

The next day, Dustin and I thawed the local shrimp I had in the freezer and fried it up with the rest of the oysters (oh Laura, by the way, we ate the rest of your oysters) and had po-boys with my home made tarter sauce.

The full extent of the damage done by BP's idiocy won't fully be felt until next year, when all those poor baby oysters and shrimp haven't had a chance to grow up into the delicious mouthfuls we know and love. Thanks a lot, BP, you've ruined my next two Summers. Shame on you!