Tuesday, October 27, 2009

I'm heading out to Tunisia. Will resume Blogging upon my return.

Photo by Claire

Monday, October 26, 2009

Who 'dat?

Krewe of Boo

Waiting for the Streetcar

The Sky is On Fire

Monday, October 19, 2009

Spanish Moss

The Canal by Babs'

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Driving Downtown

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Gertrude Geddes Willis Funeral Home

After the Rain

Rain

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

King Zulu, 1979

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Second Line

Monday, October 5, 2009

The Ritz, It's Bliss

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Driving to Laplace

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Franz Kirmann Treated

Burning Paper

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Derek and His Cat

Nick

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Kyshun's House

The mosquitoes are thick as thieves,
and the springiness below my feet
reminds me
that this was all swamp
in the past
and the future.

Kyshun says:
"I haven't been inside in a while...
usually I just drive by."

I am trying to find rapport
I am looking for common ground.
But all I can manage is a memory about mosquitoes
and the trucks that would come
to spray chemicals in the air.

Then I see him slip into the past.
I see what he remembers.

This is his mother's house and her mother, Ms. Mary.
Later, Ms. Mary and I rock in rocking chairs
sitting across from each other.
She tells me stories of things that came before.

And I am almost asleep
but for the faint buzz
of the mosquito
in my ear.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

High School Football

What's Behind This Stupid Wall?

Waiting for the Ferry

Watching TV

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Cutting Barbie into a Thousand Little Pieces

Kitter and the Girls

We fall into step
with Kitter and the Girls
at Charters and St. Ann.
In just 15 minutes, his shirt is off.
And the camera is out.
He tells us a story of hope and woe.
And being lost at sea.
He tells us a story
about the birds
etched on his breast.

Daneeta and Daisy Butt

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

River's Edge

Monday, September 14, 2009

Back to Village Square

Freaky

Destiny is Happy

Hanging Barbie

Wings

Lion-Fairy

Playing Barbie

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Bubbles

Trampoline

Empty Pool

Maura and Destiny by the Canal

Maura

Friday, September 11, 2009

Down the Road

Raincoat

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Blonde

Principal Photography Finally Begins On New Kirmann Project

Thursday, September 3, 2009

St. Claude Avenue Early in the Morning

The Park at Night

Monday, August 31, 2009

Itchy Back

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Dusk

Condensation

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

The Bywater can be Dark and Eerie at Night

In Sound Cafe, and on posters stapled to telephone poles around the Bywater, I read about one girl who got shot riding her bike home. She was not from New Orleans. She had come down to help with the recovery efforts. Bad form, I think...to shoot someone who is trying to help you.

I worry sometimes too...when we are riding after dark. My mother says she will not cry for me if I get shot. She has warned me this is a bad neighborhood. I try not to be self-righteous in my defiance. It's hard, though. This is the land of the free, so I should be free...

free to ride my bike...
with no thought of danger...
except that the back break doesn't work...
and the tire is all wonky.

My mother-in-law reads about murders in America. She is Swedish, and there aren't too many murders where she lives. She wants us to come "home," where there is safety and health care and snow. She doesn't want to lose us.

We are living in the wild, wild west...
where people batten down the hatches...
and angry, drunk voices scream out in the night:
"I oughtta pop a cap in your ass."

We ought not to be popping caps in each others asses.
This is the south, people.
We ought to be polite...
and say "Howdy do,"
and "pardon me,"
when we are riding our bikes
in the middle of the night.

This is who we are.

Us, Back in the Day

Monday, August 24, 2009

The Street where we Stay

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Biking Home

Summer Canal

Hogshead

Chalmette Bicycle

Algiers

Biking to Algiers

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Franz Kirmann Visuals

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Dancing

Bowling

Mask

Toy Gun

Friday, August 7, 2009

Sno-Cone

Riding her Bike

Mandinas

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

A year ago today, we were living in the Rowell's Living Room. Today, we are living on Desire Street

For the past four weeks, we have been staying with Spencer and Nicola and their two children Oscar and Maud, in London. We live in their lounge, which they have cleared out for us. Most evenings, the six of us pile into Spencer and Nicola's bedroom to watch TV. Maud sometimes practises her cello and Oscar is learning Sweet Child O' Mine on the electric guitar. There is always tea and biscuits, and fresh eggs (the children are rearing two free-range chickens in the back garden).


Nicola says they get a lot out of having people stay. "It helps the children to be open-minded and prepares them for the world out there," she says. She doesn't like British attitudes towards owning property. "We are a community, we should have people coming into our houses. It creates memories and shared experiences."

Next month we are moving to New Orleans and we have already set up the first two months of surfing. There is an ideology forming here: of freedom and mobility. Less impact on the environment through shared resources. Less impact on the bank account. Helping each other. A bit hippy perhaps, but with rising living costs and a rapidly changing climate, maybe it's time for that again.

The Dog Park

Friday, July 31, 2009

Corner Shop

The man behind the plexiglass says:
"Next time the beer'll be $7.85."
"What is it today?" I ask.
"$7.00." He is resting his belly on the counter, and, because he is elevated, I am eye to eye with it. This makes me angry for some reason.
"It was $6.85 last week." I say.
He shrugs his shoulders: "Inflation," he says.

I don't care. This is the closest corner shop to my temporary home, but there are a gadzillion others within walking distance. Maybe the beer will be cheaper at one of those places. But, he's counting on me being too lazy to find out. He obviously doesn't know me very well.

Ms. Pac-Man

Graffiti

Animal Crackers

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Married for One Year

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Power

Destiny and Daisy May

I had every intention of being bothered by this dog.
She eats my underwear and steals my shoes.
In all honesty she does smell pretty bad,
Yet when I saw her I couldn't help but love her.
She's a happy, lovable, but scared puppy.
She's starved for affection no matter how much she gets.
I suppose I needed new underwear anyway.
Maybe she doesn't smell that bad after all.
All things considered I love this wonderful dog.

Guest Writer: Dominique Thopmson

Saturday, July 18, 2009

The Pool

St. Mark's

Friday, July 17, 2009

Baby Girl

Isn't it funny
that we saw Antonio today
at the bus stop...
downtown
with Baby Girl...

and we had scant little time to talk
'cause he had to catch the bus,
but I touched her skin
and I said hello.

and all the people looked...
and wondered
and made stories in their heads.

and they had to go...
and we walked on by...
and...
and...

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Rain. Every Other Day Now.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

All in the Family

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Joe's Cozy Corner

Me at my Birthday Party

Picture by Derek Thompson

Chewie

Backyard

"Sausage"

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Swamp

Monday, July 6, 2009

Daisy May

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Destiny and Buddy

Destiny in the Rain

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Storm is Rolling in From Across the Lake

Climbing the Steps

Jr.

Buying a Big Ass Car

Charlie

Relaxing in the Back Seat

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Me and Noonie

Guest photographer: Noonie

"Where's Squeaky"

Maw Maw

Star and Her Tattoos

Otto vs. Squirrel

Charlie's Kids

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Nap Time

Saturday, June 20, 2009

My Lady In the Bywater

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Back Projection

Waiting for the Laundry

Monday, June 15, 2009

Cat in Window

The Police are Keeping us Safe

Analysis of FBI statistics shows New Orleans is still the nation's murder capital

Last update: June 2, 2009 - 4:17 PM


NEW ORLEANS - A newspaper analyis of fresh FBI statistics finds that New Orleans is once again the nation's murder capital.

The Times-Picayune determined that with 64 killings per 100,000 people in 2008, New Orleans had the highest per capita murder rate in the nation, well ahead of second-place St. Louis, which had 47 murders per 100,000 people.

Location Recky

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Playing

Breaking the Surface

A New Day

Empty Quarter

Foggy

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Street Lights

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Falling Apart

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Crossing

Water

Messy Hands

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Rain In the French Quarter

Algiers Ferry

Monday, June 1, 2009

Sunset

Summer Break

Grand Theft Auto

I walk out my room and think to myself, it could be anyone.
It doesn't have to be him.
Unfortunately I know the back of that head all too well.
His head is surrounded by an ominous circle in the back ground.

Why?
Why now?
Why here?
Why my life?
Why my house?
Why my family?
And then I know why.
I am strong enough to handle him.
I have a plan to get rid of him and the misery.

Guest Writer: Dominique Thopmson

Mrs. Carmella

Mrs. Carmella Working

Relaxing In the Fountain

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Late Night

Early Morning in Chalmatia

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Morning Coffee by the Pool

I had this weird dream, for true.
I was sitting next to the pool
in the courtyard
of my apartment
in the French Quarter.

The next thing I knew
I was awake.

I can no longer distinguish
between dreams
and
reality.

On the Phone

Mimi by the Window

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

God's House

Mimi the Cat

Window

Daneeta Just Got the Bad News about Pancho, May he Rest in Peace

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Cemetery

Rain

Cruising

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

One of Daneeta's Speech and Debate Trophies from '83 in Barb's Kitchen + an Italian Chef

Canal St

Monday, May 11, 2009

Wing Snack

Near the Iberville Projects,
where my mom grew up,
there is the Wing Snack
and the Brown Derby
No. 2 Liquor Store.

I want to stand outside,
drink ice cold beers,
hidden by tiny, brown bags,
and shoot the shit.

I want to yell "Hey baby"
at the young girls.
I want to ask:
"You stay here now?" and
"How's ya mamma?"

But, because:
I don't sound like here,
I don't look like here,
I don't smell like here,
it's too late for all of that.

I cannot
authentically
move backwards
through the distance
between me
and my history.

I can only look out the car window
with the doors locked.

Nickabob is Playing the Flute

Daniel and Marissa

Big Eyes

Blake

Big Book

Marissa

Destiny and Shalyn

Mrs. Carmella and Andrew with Goggles

Birthday Boy

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Writing with Howie in Mid City

Humping the Monkey

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Football Stadium

Crescent City Connection from Pace Blvd

Bike

Storm is Coming

Swing!

Guest Photographer: Derek Thompson

Friday, May 1, 2009

Shrimp

Garden

Teeth

Gulf of Mexico

Moon

Mr. Bill

Thursday, April 30, 2009

The Bus

Balcony

Man United vs. Arsenal

It's 1:30 p.m. on a Wednesday, and I'm in Fritzel's European Jazz Pub on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter. I'm nursing an honest-to-god pint of Abita Amber, and Big Daddy can barely contain his excitement: he's bootie-scooting all over the pub. We are here to watch the Semi-Finals of the Champions League Football: Manchester United vs. Arsenal. If we were back in London, the pub would be packed. As it is America (where football is soccer), it's just us and a dude wearing a Brett Favre jersey who may or may not be here for the football.

Writing at Barb's

Spider Santa

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Lake Pontchartrain

Driving Home

Mrs. Carmella and the Virgin Mary

Mrs. Carmella and Pancho

Cannon Ball

Pool Party

Crawfish Boil

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Exhausted

Battle

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Central City

Daneeta and Otto

Monday, April 20, 2009

Walgreens, Part 2

Technical Rehearsal

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Street Light

Driving with Barb

The Casino

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Kitten Chow-Mein

Friday, April 17, 2009

Scrap Yard

Horse

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Lucky Clover

Gareth's Tattoo

Gareth and Kush

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Rabbit

Bee

Monday, April 13, 2009

Firefighter Nick

Nick can see the fire blazing in front of him.
He can feel its heat.
Note how he uses his breath
to aide his fight.
He is flip-flopped and focused.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

It's Easter Sunday and Derek has passed out on Sugar

Donnie

The Neighbor's Backyard

Friday, April 10, 2009

The Ice Cream Truck

The Burned Down House

Nick and Grace

Canal

Dusk

Listening to NPR

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

A Cop Car

There is a Fire Down the Street!

Don't Walk

Fuel

Our Cash Point in Chalmatia

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Running Around

Driving Home

Basketball Court

Domino Sugar

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Marissa by the Canal

Punished Again

The Scooter Gang

Pinata

Waiting for the Bus. It's Very Late and Freezing Cold.

The Garage

The Refinery

Friday, March 27, 2009

The Flag

Javante and her Daughter are Waiting for the Bus

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Mixing it Up

Katrina Was Here, 3 1/2 Years Ago

Dead End

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Washing Buffy

Checking the Hair

The Zoo