Done that 6.31 hours ago! Woken up then by noisy rooks feasting on what we left out on the patio after our Midsummer party which turned in about 3am local.
It’s cool to see a FBC diary up so early in the day. But now I have to contemplate the pic not matching the new logo… <sigh> Think I should get back to work on it?
Changing font and color is easy! Finding the original psd file where those layers can be edited….. oh, lord I make such a mess with draft files…. <yud think I’da figured this out by now…>
Meant to introduce myself before today, but, well, you know how that goes.
I work in a coffeeshop in New Orleans, and I recently went back to school to study for a certificate in teaching. I’ve done all kinds of things in my life time, not to give away my age or anything: journalism, mental health counselor, purchasing agent for an oil refinery (now that was a long time ago), but somehow I feel my most important work began when I got involved in local issues here in New Orleans.
You’re going to find me pushing the local involvement issue. Excuse me for my passion. I guess I’ve come to realize that the most effective use of my energies begins in my own backyard, something akin to what Dorothy once said, eh?
Thank’s for your kind interest. The one issue where I’ve invested most of my time here has to do with affordable housing for low income workers. There has been a trend across the country to tear down housing developments. Here in New Orleans, developers and the city, along with HANO, tore down St. Thomas Housing Development, displacing over 700 families. Turf wars claimed the lives of several people as these families were scattered throughout the city and into other housing developments.
Long story short: there are lawsuits, no one knows how these residents have fared (we’ve started contacting them in the hopes of getting their stories), a Wal Mart was built on the site along with expensive condos.
Now developers have set their sites on Iberville Housing Development, built by FDR during the New Deal. Affordable housing is vanishing in New Orleans, so where will the low income workers live who work in the center of the city?
Is something I’ve learned a lot about. My brother works for Vashon HouseHold — A non-profit that is working on affordable housing projects on Vashon Island in Washington state. And we’ve had lots of conversations about it.
I never did get around to an introduction, but affordable housing is also something I know quite a lot about.
I work in the housing division and manage much of our CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) programs in my city of 93,000. I don’t do the development part of things, I’m more the nonprofit and social policy person, but since there are really only 5 of us in my division and I’ve worked there 12 years, I’ve learned a lot. 🙂
We don’t have the kinds of problems you’re facing in LA, but since I live in the county recently designated as the most expensive housing market in the country, we face a whole different set of challenges when it comes to affordable housing.
Uh oh…it’s Saturday and this is sounding too work like…must stop…must…play.
I love the idea for a local political action area. I intend to start a web site for progressives in Louisiana (yes, we do exist), and a web site for the Hands off Iberville Coalition I’m involved with. Check out my response above as to some local issues.
Welcome, duranta. You work in a coffee shop? Does it have that famous chicory coffee? Maybe you could send some for this cafe! Oh, and some beignets (sp?) while you’re at it?
Beignets are hard to come by in New Orleans. They are fried, and we aren’t set up for cooking. Good thing, because I love the fat little puffs.
We have cafe au lait, but no chicory. Lot’s of tourists, and a few locals, asking for chicory though.
Interesting side: in the old days, chicory was used to stretch the coffee, but it actually has some beneficial medicinal properties as well. I just found this: it acts as a counter-stimulant to the effects of too much coffee drinking!
Just tea for me. I’ve been up since 6 EDT when my cat Sara woke me to let her outside. The birds are singing like crazy here at that hour, do yours? Oops, I don’t know your time zone – that PDT means nothing. I forget that over here on the east coast we have to wait for the rest of the country to catch up
I read the news here before the paper – today started with Leftvet’s ‘Coming Home.’ It’s always exciting to encounter someone who remembers the same world that I do, his diary is excellent. Wish I could get a magnet that says I support warriors for peace.
I was just reading the comments so I could get to the bottom and post a link to leftvet’s Coming Home diary. His diaries (and the conversations they inspire) always blow me away.
I was crying while I read one from the middle of the night several days ago.
(I posted this in CDT — I wanted to do it earlier, but couldn’t resist sleeping in. Luckily, I had a “quick and dirty” template I could use!)
I love oolong. I was the worst kind of coffee addict – carrying a cup everywhere. After quitting smoking I decided to abandon everything that had enslaved me, coffee wasn’t as hard to escape as smoking. A cuppa now and then is good, but not constantly. No way would I consider an occasional ciggie, just walking through a cloud of smoke is bad enough.
I actually slept in today for a change until six thirty. Boy, did that ever feel good. I am treating myself to having a gal come in and clean my apartment from top to bottom and do my laundry today while I go play. It is my birthday present to myself and I deserve it…right?
I just took a stroll in it and it was beautiful. Katie, may I have my cafe con leche and a croissant to go, please? I think I’ll go sit on one of Sybil’s park benches and commune with the roses for a little while.
Happy birthday Alohaleezy. . .from here in the land of the Great Inland Sea. . .which is what they called the tall grass prairie as the settlers’ prairie schooners sailed (well, bounced and broke down) upon it. . .to your real and gorgeous sea, sparkling in the Hawaiian morning sunshine.
Umm, gracias and merci. Emergency croissants! Now there’s a great idea whose time, she has come, n’est pas? One should always carry an extra croissant for emergencies, even if it means flakes in the bottom of one’s purse. If you can’t eat it while it’s fresh, let it harden and throw it at anybody who calls you a cheese-eating surrender monkey.
This garden reminds me of my wonderful Mother’s rose garden which I can no longer visit. Keep it going and share more pictures often. I wonder where it is. I might gander to guess it might be in the South…perhaps??
Why thank you, however I am no longer in Kauai but still on the east side of the Pacific a block to the shore in Del Mar, Ca. I would like to share with all a site that sends me a note each day in my email. It is not a horoscope but thoughts that are so unique. You have to sign up but it is free. Enjoy! http://www.tut.com/
Back here after 9/11. Felt it was more important to be closer to my son and his family. I had eight wonderful years over there though. A real spiritual haven for me. I learned so much about me there. Del Mar is also wonderful, just a lot more noise and of course the traffic…ugh! luckily my commute is just eight stairs to my office!
When I was little, back in the 70s, we lived in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, and then for awhile in La Jolla. Both were just cool, sleepy little surfer towns and not the hip expensive places they are now. For a family splurge, we’d eat at Bully’s (before there were two!). I loved growing up in that area. Despite how it’s all changed, I’m still envious of you living there!
Is it too late to order a nice hearty bagel with cream cheese and a glass of fresh-squeezed OJ?
hi diane, can’t say I have any great ideas on how to shake the ‘am feeling down and don’t know why kinda days’ except to say when all else fails eats lots and lots of chocolate -you probably saw that remark coming a mile away huh. Actually skip the when all else fails and go right to the chocolate.
Homeland Security: Give everyone a Hershey bar and we’d all be to busy savoring that incomparable, delicious taste to think about invading or bombing other countries. hey it’s as good of idea as any isn’t it?
Good morning all, I don’t think I’ve really introduced myself to this community – only snuck in when my daughter hosted the cafe as the Oracle on Thursday. I’m an Episcopal priest in Laguna Niguel, CA, Vicar of Faith Episcopal Church. Saturday morning is usually sermon finishing time – and that always goes better with good strong coffee and a pain au chocolat.
Hi y’all, I intro’d myself the other night at the lounge, but everyone had gone to bed. I’m a musician/songwriter/music teacher in the heart of Texas. I’m here pretty much because of DemFest in Austin last weekend. Got a question: Has anyone got a secret method for dealing with their negative reactions to the news? I’ve been pretty much on permanent-stomach-ache for most of this week. I know there’s work to be done, but one can’t work all the time. And one also can’t do non-stop massage therapy, or a good stiff drink for breakfast (however tempting). I could use some suggestions….
Hi songmaker – I think I met you last time you introduced yourself – which means only one thing – I spend entirely too much time here…. so yah, it’s get me down, I end up with more information than I can emotionally process, and sometimes I just break. When that happens I come in here and entertain myself with posting goofy pictures – it may be incredibly annoying, but it does give me a way to cope and have some much needed laughs with a bunch of people who’ve just seen and read all of the gut-wrenching things I have…. so here’s your pic…
Ah…the naked-dishwashing approach. My husband would think this is a great idea for therapy. And it’s a good example of multi-tasking which he greatly admires. (I like it too, except for the dishwashing part)
Well…when you’ve only got a couple of early minutes to see if the FBC is open yet and notice all the tables are already full…I have remember that anyone east of AZ always get the first seating anyway.
Oh well…slurped down a cup of Free Trade Ethiopian, went out and did errands and back for lunch. Gosh, for a Saturday morning, I already feel productive…blood donation, smog check, picked up my Rx glasses, shopped (unsuccessfully) for night stands and sandles (no…not at the same store, silly! ;).
Good evening everybody! I’ve gotta HUGE FAVOR TO ASK!!!! Many of you might not know but today the world’s most knowlegable bartender has just posted her first non-welcome wagon, non-froggy bottom diary. ZANDER has posted the following
Now, if you have the time could you please follow the link and read it? Please??? and if you like what you read, could you please recommend? Please????
And I’m going to have some toast with cheese.
Good morning everyone!
Done that 6.31 hours ago! Woken up then by noisy rooks feasting on what we left out on the patio after our Midsummer party which turned in about 3am local.
Thinking now about sauna followed by supper…
It’s cool to see a FBC diary up so early in the day. But now I have to contemplate the pic not matching the new logo… <sigh> Think I should get back to work on it?
It’s fine – don’t fuss 😉
Will it work to just change the font and adjust the colors of the text?
I like it the way it is, personally…
Changing font and color is easy! Finding the original psd file where those layers can be edited….. oh, lord I make such a mess with draft files…. <yud think I’da figured this out by now…>
I love your designs (and this one especially) but, if you do more, I’m sure we would use them also.
I just hope you don’t mind that I pointed to your server to get it up there? I can fix it somehow if you would rather.
Nope – no problem.. It’s at imageshack – I’m hoping they can handle it….
It doesn’t take much of an excuse for me to go play, so I’m sure there will be more – if I end up tweaking, I’ll let you know.
Meant to introduce myself before today, but, well, you know how that goes.
I work in a coffeeshop in New Orleans, and I recently went back to school to study for a certificate in teaching. I’ve done all kinds of things in my life time, not to give away my age or anything: journalism, mental health counselor, purchasing agent for an oil refinery (now that was a long time ago), but somehow I feel my most important work began when I got involved in local issues here in New Orleans.
You’re going to find me pushing the local involvement issue. Excuse me for my passion. I guess I’ve come to realize that the most effective use of my energies begins in my own backyard, something akin to what Dorothy once said, eh?
Thank you for the introduction. I’m the Saturday host of the cafe, but I’m sure the other hosts and regulars will be stopping by throughout the day.
What are the big local issues in New Orleans? We love passion here.
Thank’s for your kind interest. The one issue where I’ve invested most of my time here has to do with affordable housing for low income workers. There has been a trend across the country to tear down housing developments. Here in New Orleans, developers and the city, along with HANO, tore down St. Thomas Housing Development, displacing over 700 families. Turf wars claimed the lives of several people as these families were scattered throughout the city and into other housing developments.
Long story short: there are lawsuits, no one knows how these residents have fared (we’ve started contacting them in the hopes of getting their stories), a Wal Mart was built on the site along with expensive condos.
Now developers have set their sites on Iberville Housing Development, built by FDR during the New Deal. Affordable housing is vanishing in New Orleans, so where will the low income workers live who work in the center of the city?
Is something I’ve learned a lot about. My brother works for Vashon HouseHold — A non-profit that is working on affordable housing projects on Vashon Island in Washington state. And we’ve had lots of conversations about it.
I never did get around to an introduction, but affordable housing is also something I know quite a lot about.
I work in the housing division and manage much of our CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) programs in my city of 93,000. I don’t do the development part of things, I’m more the nonprofit and social policy person, but since there are really only 5 of us in my division and I’ve worked there 12 years, I’ve learned a lot. 🙂
We don’t have the kinds of problems you’re facing in LA, but since I live in the county recently designated as the most expensive housing market in the country, we face a whole different set of challenges when it comes to affordable housing.
Uh oh…it’s Saturday and this is sounding too work like…must stop…must…play.
Local is a great thing…!
Maybe we can start a series of local political action areas. I’m in California but we have lots of red away from the coastal cities.
Please share your stories and ideas.
Don’t worry about showing your age around here…lots of us are well past 40!We all learn from each other…young and older. ;^D
I love the idea for a local political action area. I intend to start a web site for progressives in Louisiana (yes, we do exist), and a web site for the Hands off Iberville Coalition I’m involved with. Check out my response above as to some local issues.
Welcome, duranta. You work in a coffee shop? Does it have that famous chicory coffee? Maybe you could send some for this cafe! Oh, and some beignets (sp?) while you’re at it?
Beignets are hard to come by in New Orleans. They are fried, and we aren’t set up for cooking. Good thing, because I love the fat little puffs.
We have cafe au lait, but no chicory. Lot’s of tourists, and a few locals, asking for chicory though.
Interesting side: in the old days, chicory was used to stretch the coffee, but it actually has some beneficial medicinal properties as well. I just found this: it acts as a counter-stimulant to the effects of too much coffee drinking!
enjoy the ambiance here at the Cafe. Good place to relax and unwind, be silly or whatever strikes your fancy.
Just tea for me. I’ve been up since 6 EDT when my cat Sara woke me to let her outside. The birds are singing like crazy here at that hour, do yours? Oops, I don’t know your time zone – that PDT means nothing. I forget that over here on the east coast we have to wait for the rest of the country to catch up
I read the news here before the paper – today started with Leftvet’s ‘Coming Home.’ It’s always exciting to encounter someone who remembers the same world that I do, his diary is excellent. Wish I could get a magnet that says I support warriors for peace.
Amazing, Alice —
I was just reading the comments so I could get to the bottom and post a link to leftvet’s Coming Home diary. His diaries (and the conversations they inspire) always blow me away.
I was crying while I read one from the middle of the night several days ago.
(I posted this in CDT — I wanted to do it earlier, but couldn’t resist sleeping in. Luckily, I had a “quick and dirty” template I could use!)
We get it from here, and we have lot’s of choices.
What would you like?
I love oolong. I was the worst kind of coffee addict – carrying a cup everywhere. After quitting smoking I decided to abandon everything that had enslaved me, coffee wasn’t as hard to escape as smoking. A cuppa now and then is good, but not constantly. No way would I consider an occasional ciggie, just walking through a cloud of smoke is bad enough.
Brew me up some Lapsang Souchong, please!
For the hard-core tea fanatics, I recommend this site.
You can get sample packs of everything for a buck or two. If you like green tea, I highly recommend the Japanese green cherry bancha. Yummers!
Aahhhhh, there is a God, and She is kind, fresh ground coffee, mmmm mmmm, (pours a lil shot of Bailey’s in it)
Nutt’n better than a good start to the day, “tanky spanky”
Coming right up! There’s plenty — we’ve got a bottomless pot-o-coffee here at the FBC
You drink Bailey’s in your breakfast coffee…? OMG
I actually slept in today for a change until six thirty. Boy, did that ever feel good. I am treating myself to having a gal come in and clean my apartment from top to bottom and do my laundry today while I go play. It is my birthday present to myself and I deserve it…right?
Oh and may I please have a strawberry smoothie with a banana nut muffin? Thank you dear!
And they make wonderful smoothies. And we’ve got a plate of fresh banana nut muffins, just for you!
i want some! NOW
Oh Zander that is so cool! My soul is soothed by this magical community. Thank you for being the image wizard that you are!
Happy birthday! And of course you deserve it.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. MMMMMMMMmmmm yummy muffins and the strawberries are so fresh. What a great way to start any day!
As we say at our house…Hippo Birdy Two Ewes!
Hope you have a great birthday!
I even wrote it in my planner so I wouldn’t forget. Have a great day!
Good morning! Happy Saturday, everyone, and good riddance to one looong work week!
Good morning, you can visit while drinking your coffee.
Images of a very small earthly paradise await you.
What a beautiful garden. Quite soothing after a outrage meter overload type week.
I just took a stroll in it and it was beautiful. Katie, may I have my cafe con leche and a croissant to go, please? I think I’ll go sit on one of Sybil’s park benches and commune with the roses for a little while.
Happy birthday Alohaleezy. . .from here in the land of the Great Inland Sea. . .which is what they called the tall grass prairie as the settlers’ prairie schooners sailed (well, bounced and broke down) upon it. . .to your real and gorgeous sea, sparkling in the Hawaiian morning sunshine.
Here you are. And an extra croissant for emergencies!
Umm, gracias and merci. Emergency croissants! Now there’s a great idea whose time, she has come, n’est pas? One should always carry an extra croissant for emergencies, even if it means flakes in the bottom of one’s purse. If you can’t eat it while it’s fresh, let it harden and throw it at anybody who calls you a cheese-eating surrender monkey.
This is the funniest thing I’ve read in a long time!!!
This garden reminds me of my wonderful Mother’s rose garden which I can no longer visit. Keep it going and share more pictures often. I wonder where it is. I might gander to guess it might be in the South…perhaps??
Northwest coast climate warmed by the Gulf Stream.
It’s Sidney, BC not far from the ferry dock
the ferry from Vancouver.
The warmth, the sun, acid soil, lots of rain
seems just right for roses.
Why thank you, however I am no longer in Kauai but still on the east side of the Pacific a block to the shore in Del Mar, Ca. I would like to share with all a site that sends me a note each day in my email. It is not a horoscope but thoughts that are so unique. You have to sign up but it is free. Enjoy!
http://www.tut.com/
Oh! I thought, obviously, that you were still in Hawaii. Well, it still sounds pretty nice where you are!
Back here after 9/11. Felt it was more important to be closer to my son and his family. I had eight wonderful years over there though. A real spiritual haven for me. I learned so much about me there. Del Mar is also wonderful, just a lot more noise and of course the traffic…ugh! luckily my commute is just eight stairs to my office!
When I was little, back in the 70s, we lived in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, and then for awhile in La Jolla. Both were just cool, sleepy little surfer towns and not the hip expensive places they are now. For a family splurge, we’d eat at Bully’s (before there were two!). I loved growing up in that area. Despite how it’s all changed, I’m still envious of you living there!
Is it too late to order a nice hearty bagel with cream cheese and a glass of fresh-squeezed OJ?
Here’s to breakfast in California….
It looks scrumptious. 😛
I’m going to meet my sister and her kids at the pool. But, I’ll be back in a couple of hours to open another room if it’s needed.
(I’ll be at the Leawood pool if anyone is looking for me)
I’m taking Katie Fford’s Artistic License and some Sudoku puzzles with me.
Since I don’t swim. Or rather since I don’t wear swimming suits.
Those sudoku puzzles look cool…think I’ll try some of them at the pool with the boys this afternoon too.
But beat, it’s so hot, it only took an hour for me to almost collapse of sun-stroke.
I’m home and after a cool shower & half a watermelon, I feel much better.
But, I have to check the orders, I have a feeling they’re stacking up.
Have fun! See you later. I am off for my day of fun too.
I am a bit down today, don’t know why, but is there anything cheery on the menu…
Morning – I hope you’re feeling better…
and baked so quickly! You’re amazing.
hi diane, can’t say I have any great ideas on how to shake the ‘am feeling down and don’t know why kinda days’ except to say when all else fails eats lots and lots of chocolate -you probably saw that remark coming a mile away huh. Actually skip the when all else fails and go right to the chocolate.
Homeland Security: Give everyone a Hershey bar and we’d all be to busy savoring that incomparable, delicious taste to think about invading or bombing other countries. hey it’s as good of idea as any isn’t it?
Good morning all, I don’t think I’ve really introduced myself to this community – only snuck in when my daughter hosted the cafe as the Oracle on Thursday. I’m an Episcopal priest in Laguna Niguel, CA, Vicar of Faith Episcopal Church. Saturday morning is usually sermon finishing time – and that always goes better with good strong coffee and a pain au chocolat.
Welcome!
Thank you, glad to be here
Oui madame, J’espere que vous l’aimez.
Welcome Rev Sharon from another Californian -Bakersfield area. One of the very red parts of the state, to my dismay.
Hi y’all, I intro’d myself the other night at the lounge, but everyone had gone to bed. I’m a musician/songwriter/music teacher in the heart of Texas. I’m here pretty much because of DemFest in Austin last weekend. Got a question: Has anyone got a secret method for dealing with their negative reactions to the news? I’ve been pretty much on permanent-stomach-ache for most of this week. I know there’s work to be done, but one can’t work all the time. And one also can’t do non-stop massage therapy, or a good stiff drink for breakfast (however tempting). I could use some suggestions….
Hi songmaker – I think I met you last time you introduced yourself – which means only one thing – I spend entirely too much time here…. so yah, it’s get me down, I end up with more information than I can emotionally process, and sometimes I just break. When that happens I come in here and entertain myself with posting goofy pictures – it may be incredibly annoying, but it does give me a way to cope and have some much needed laughs with a bunch of people who’ve just seen and read all of the gut-wrenching things I have…. so here’s your pic…
Ah…the naked-dishwashing approach. My husband would think this is a great idea for therapy. And it’s a good example of multi-tasking which he greatly admires. (I like it too, except for the dishwashing part)
and of course the added bonus of less clothes to wash. Hi songmaker and welcome to the Cafe.
Please see shirlstars diary, Shirls Saturday Sermon,hurry, it deals with exactly that….and welcome to the site…
Well…when you’ve only got a couple of early minutes to see if the FBC is open yet and notice all the tables are already full…I have remember that anyone east of AZ always get the first seating anyway.
Oh well…slurped down a cup of Free Trade Ethiopian, went out and did errands and back for lunch. Gosh, for a Saturday morning, I already feel productive…blood donation, smog check, picked up my Rx glasses, shopped (unsuccessfully) for night stands and sandles (no…not at the same store, silly! ;).
Just finishing lunch before – ugh – cleaning the house and doing laundry. MUST get it done to day if I want to play tomorrow. And since it is Pride Parade Day in San Francisco…I’m kind of hankering to have some fun gawking at my sista’s on their motored chariots! 😉
alright…off to it…have a great weekend, y’all!
Over here! (Saturday Night at the Froggy Bottom Cafe)
Come on over…
Good evening everybody! I’ve gotta HUGE FAVOR TO ASK!!!! Many of you might not know but today the world’s most knowlegable bartender has just posted her first non-welcome wagon, non-froggy bottom diary. ZANDER has posted the following
Pride Week – in Canada
Now, if you have the time could you please follow the link and read it? Please??? and if you like what you read, could you please recommend? Please????
AND THE DRINKS ARE ON ME!!!!!