Amelia, Bryce Eleanor, and I went to New Orleans for a Mother's Day girls' trip. Oh, my! My feet are still tired, but what a wonderful experience. We got there around 8 on Friday, tired after the long drive, but we were up and going Saturday morning. We met Suzie at Commander's Palace for brunch.
Amelia, Bryce Eleanor, Suzie, Me
Although you didn't have to wear a mask outside, every shop and restaurant had strict mask rules, and if someone had a mask pulled under their nose, they were reminded promptly. New Orleans has been through too much to take the precautions lightly.
Mail
(I made a postcard and sent it to Hannah, but I guess I didn't scan it.)
from Hannah
to Max
to Mila
Books/Reading
Lots of reading over the last month or so, but recent favorites include Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir and One, Two, Three by Laurie Frankel. Lots of mysteries, too. Most are reviewed on my book blog.
Right now, I'm reading Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century. Yes, the movie was great, but it was mainly a tale of Fern's grief. The book is excellent, startling, and disturbing-- retirement often means living in a van or RV and traveling from job to minimum wage job with no security at all. The writing and research are exceptional. Finding out more about Linda May, Bob Wells, and Swankie is almost like reading fiction, but Jessica Bruder has done her homework on the places that hire Workampers and the conditions of the working environments. Not all of the van dwellers are there of necessity, but most are, the 2008 recession having increased the numbers exponentially.
The book was first published in 2017, and I have to wonder if Bruder will already be researching how the pandemic is effecting and enlarging the nomad life style.
What are you reading or watching ? What projects are keeping you interested?
What a lovely pictures. I'm happy you had such a lovely weekend celebration. I love the post cards as well.
ReplyDeleteBTW - I read Nomadland and liked it and have wanted to catch the movie but so far that part hasn't happened.
It was a great trip, and I'm grateful that Amelia organized it. I'm a hermit to start with and the pandemic only magnified that, but that trip and my girls was a game-changer! Nomadland--I liked the movie, but I'm loving the book. :)
DeleteWhat a great Mother’s Day, Jen. It looks like it was a lot of fun. Your mail art is awesome. I love seeing it. Your characters are always such fun.
ReplyDeleteThe food. There is really nothing like the food if you know where to go, and Suzie and Amelia know where to go. Thanks, Annie, I have fun with these cartoon-y characters!
DeleteHow wonderful to have such a fun outing for Mother's Day. I've never been to New Orleans, but I'm sure I'd love it! I hear the food is amazing.
ReplyDeleteI'm eager to get a copy of Andy Weir's latest and think my husband would enjoy it, too. I got lucky and got an ARC of Laurie Frankel's new release the other day and can't wait to dive in. I loved her previous novel and still think about that family. Nomadland is a good film, but I think the book is better. It goes into much more depth than the movie.
I've been reading the same three books for what feels like weeks. Dreaming of the Bones (a Deborah Crombie mystery), The Oregon Trail (nonfiction for book club) and The Sewing Room (another nonfiction collection of essays, which I've already read once). I'm busy planning our upcoming road trip to CA and trying to tackle some yardwork before we head out for five weeks. We're also enjoying Mare of Easttown and anxious for the next episode!
Have a good weekend!
I feel so lucky that Amelia planned this trip!
DeleteThe Nomadland book is better, more insight, more details, and still reads so well! I hope you enjoy The Hail Mary Project and One, Two, Three as much as I did, Les. I read Jubilee Trail as an adolescent and have been intrigued by the Oregon Trail ever since, and Deborah Crombie is always good. I do like essays and love the title The Sewing Room; I'll look for it since you're reading it again. :)
Your Mother's Day trip sounds like so much fun! I'd love to vist there too! I always love your art-it's really adorable-how about doing a children's book?
ReplyDeleteDebra, being with three of my favorite women in the world was wonderful! First outing in over a year, and I got to spend with people I love. Thanks for the sweet comment on my cartoons!
DeleteWhat a lovely trip!
ReplyDeleteMe, I'm back in post-Roman Britain with "The King in the North", by Max Adams. No pandemics, but much mayhem..
Oh, just looked up The King in the North and it looks! I love history and know little about the Picts, but love Scotland. Thanks for this recommendation, Rachel--I'm going to check my library. :)
DeleteI'm glad you had a fabulous Mother's Day trip. Commander's Palace is worth the money to me. Always an experience. PE quite mature, isn't she? I'm glad you shared something about Nomadland, the book. I read a lot on-line after I saw the movie. Interesting to see who has settled down and who is still part of the caravan.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a foodie, but I could become one if I lived in N.O. I would go place to place eating appetizers only!
DeleteNomadland gives some distressing facts about companies (like Amazon) that hire retirees. I've long had that love/hate relationship with Amazon; the book only increases the loathing for a company that treats its employees so badly.
What great pictures and so glad you were able to get away and enjoy your day! The last time I was in New Orleans was pre-Katrina but I would love to visit again one day. Your mail art is just so delightful. I'm so sorry I'm behind on my letter writing but soon! And, Nomadland is definitely on my radar to read!
ReplyDeleteI've been once to N.O. since Katrina. Suzie visits here once or twice a year, so we got to see each other until the pandemic but a halt to that. :) I get behind on my letter writing, too, so don't worry!
DeleteHi Jenclair! I haven't stopped by in quite some time but I have got back into blogging again! How nice that you got to visit with your family! I can't believe how grown up Bryce Eleanor is!!! It was good to see your face in the photo too :)!!
ReplyDeleteHi, backatcha, Sherri! It has been a while, and I'm glad you are back to blogging. Grandkids have all these surprising changes in such a short time! How old is Owen? Off to visit and see what's going on with you.
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