Intruder!

It was a sunny Saturday afternoon around 5PM, and Bruce, Kaya and I were watching a movie in the living room. All of a sudden we heard the back gate squeak open, and as the kitchen door was open, I jumped up and headed to the door, expecting Kaya's neighbor friend. Instead, right on my porch was a tall, lanky guy who looked seriously high. He seemed unfazed by my big black dog, who was barking ferociously and lunging at the door (except that I was restraining her).

The guy asked if little Mikey lived here, and then asked if he lived next door. Then he kind of stood there for a minute before leaving. The whole thing was strange, because who comes to somebody's back door unless they are close friends? Why hadn't he knocked on our front door? I found myself making note of his appearance (about 6' tall, maybe 170 lbs., buzz cut light brown hair, tattoo of a cross on the right side of his neck, black T-shirt, black jeans). I told Bruce that I had a feeling he'd be back, that he was casing our house. I even thought that maybe, as he was distracting us at the back door, somebody else was up to no good out front. So I ran to the front door and looked out as soon as he left, and the guy was then standing on the sidewalk in front of our house, looking at it. Weird!

We got on with out lives, and by 11PM Bruce and I were again watching TV in the living room, and had lights on in the house. Bruce stepped out on the back porch to have a cigarette, and Sasha pushed past him howling off into the yard like a wild thing. Just then Bruce screamed "Bridgett, call 911! The fucker's in the yard!" So I called 911 for the first (and hopefully only) time in my life to summon the police. We filed a report and gave our description of the guy to the officers. They looked around the neighborhood, but far as I know, he was gone.

I felt so violated and vulnerable! There was no way I could sleep in my house that night, and I had to get up at 5AM the next morning for work. I packed up myself and Kaya and drove to my parent's house, while Bruce sat up all night with a baseball bat, a stun gun and Sasha by his side, waiting. They guy did not return, thank heavens.

Within a few days, we hired my dad to secure the house. We now have bars on the basement windows, locks on the kitchen windows and a new storm door that actually locks. Bruce also posted "No Trespassing" and "Beware of Dog" signs at the two gates to our yard, and padlocked the front gate which we never use, but our intruder did on his second visit.

Oy vay!

New Orleans, part 2

My new buddies, "The Shit" of Faubourg Marigny

Anne Rice's former residence

A sobering reminder

Tee Eva's Creole Soul Food

Bruce and I returned to New Orleans from May 12 to 14, 2008. This time we stayed at The Frenchmen Hotel in Faubourg Marigny (we had stayed at a Holiday Inn last time, which was fine, but we wanted a more authentic experience this time around.) There is a lovely courtyard with a gorgeous little pool (though the jacuzzi smelled swampy). The rooms are tiny but clean, and the rates are very reasonable. Best of all, it is a stone's throw from the Quarter, yet put us in a neighborhood we might not have explored otherwise that is not to be missed. The Marigny's picturesque streets are lined with beautiful shotgun houses, many still bearing their spray-painted codes from Katrina's aftermath, reminiscent of tragedy like faded tattoos on the forearms of concentration camp survivors. Still, it is a bustling neighborhood with great bars, cafes and restaurants.

Besides walking all over the Marigny, we also took the St. Charles streetcar up to the Garden District. The homes there are unbelievable, just immense and classy and gorgeous. Of course we sought out Anne Rice's former house. We also checked out some of the shops along Magazine Street, most of which were way out of our league. Unfortunately I had only brought my Birkenstock sandals, which under every day circumstances are most comfortable, yet are not ideal for miles upon miles of walking at a stretch. My feet and legs were in agony, and so we still have a large chunk of this area to explore next time.

Of course, we spent a good bit of time in the Quarter again (why not?), mostly watching two fabulous bands. Ka-Nection Band plays regularly at Fat Catz @ 438 Bourbon, and they are so good we sat/danced through their set two nights in a row. We were also pleased to see Mo Jeaux again (we were practically the only ones in Funky 544 @ Bourbon & Toulouse one rainy Monday night in October, and Mo Jeaux still rocked the joint).

As for food, I finally got my first taste of a muffuletta from the famous Central Grocery. Oh my gosh, it was so good, and I'm not even a big fan of cold cuts. We also had a mouth watering shrimp Po Boy, red beans and rice, and oysters on the half shell. I got super excited when we came upon Tee Eva's on Magazine Street because I had seen her gumbo featured on Food Network, but I was disappointed to find that they had sold out of gumbo that particular day. Now I regret not getting one of her pies instead. Next time, for sure! I had iced cafe au lait at Cafe du Monde, which is very refreshing along with the requisite beignets, all perfectly delicious.

My mission on this trip was to get my hands on as many fertility good luck things as I could find in the Voodoo shops. My favorite place was Voodoo Authentica @ 612 rue Dumaine, where I got a fertility candle and gris gris bag. Hey, I'll try anything to help the process along!

It was a short but full trip. We had a wonderful time, and were very sad to leave. On our way out of town, we stopped at Sonic in the airport, because Baltimore does not have any Sonics, and we are tortured seeing their commercials on TV. They have pretty good grub for a fast food place, and really great shakes!

Though it may be a little while before we can make it back to the Big Easy, we talk about returning almost every day. New Orleans has a permanent place in my heart.

Happy birthday to me!

Oh, happy day! I love my birthday (which was yesterday), always have. Part of it has to do with the time of year: early May in Baltimore is traditionally warm and sunny, trees in full bloom. People emerge from winter's hibernation to frequent a multitude of festivals, and weekends especially just feel like a celebration. But more than that, a birthday is the one day of the year that truly feels special, just for me.

There is much to celebrate this year. Thursday was my last full-time day as a women's health nurse. Yesterday was a great day which began with meeting a good friend at a community playground with our little ones. The kids had a blast, and we got to chat in the sunshine with each other and a couple of other cool moms we met along the way. Then Kaya and I met up with my mom and Nyla (my niece) for lunch at an Indian buffet, which is one of my new favorite things to do. Bruce gave me flowers and an iPod shuffle to use at the gym (much better than lugging my full-sized one on my arm).

My parents and brother gave me a gift certificate to Pazo, a hip tapas restaurant in Fells Point where Bruce and I had reservations for a late dinner. The restaurant is dramatic and gorgeous, very chic but also comfortable and romantic. My only complaint is that the "house music," while groovy, is just too loud and prevents conversation without shouting. Otherwise, I was thrilled to be there. The food was fantastic, as was the service. We ordered three tapas plates (ceviche, braised lamb shoulder on smashed chick peas, and mixed olives) then shared two half-portion entrees (saffron gnocchi with lamb ragout, and pork confit canneloni). I was in heaven, it was all so delicious. We stopped at Vaccaro's Italian Pastry Shop in Little Italy for dessert (cannoli, vanilla butterball cookies and almond cookies), then met up with a couple of friends at a bar on the way home.

This weekend should be a lot of fun: there are the Towson Town Festival and the Flower Mart going on. If the weather is nice tomorrow morning, we might go to the farmer's market down town. Monday is my first day of orientation at my new job -- I am really excited and nervous! Next Sunday is Mother's Day, and we have reservations for brunch at Little Havana, which is a neat Cuban restaurant right on the water in Baltimore. I booked us an outdoor table (fingers crossed for sunshine!). The brunch is really reasonably priced and includes bottomless mimosas or bloody mary's. My kinda place! The next day we leave for New Orleans. Yippee!!!