Post Jazzfest Random thoughts

On the City of New Orleans headed to Chicago, listening to Justin Verlander dominate the Angels, (thanks to MLB atbat for android), reading about oil spill and its potential effect on the wetlands that protect this region while they go rolling by my window (thanks to free NYT from hotel). The freshwater wetlands have been decimated by the actions of man and nature over the last decades; man has diverted the critical silt from the Mississippi that used to replenish what nature would take away via ocean and storm erosion, and oil companies have cut channels through them that allow saltwater to infiltrate the marshes. This and the work still required to rebuild from Katrina got me thinking of a goal for next year.
I want to do some research and find an organization that could use unskilled labor, like myself, for a week to clean/rebuild wetlands or work on rebuilding neighborhoods in New Orleans. I am sure the organizations exist, I hope I am strong enough to help out. I would want something where I arrive on mid-day Sunday, start working early Monday, sleep at group house or something until friday or saturday. Then maybe head to biloxi for a few days of golf, beach and gambling, to NOLA on Wednesday for second weekend of Jazzfest, sounds like a good two weeks. I wonder if I could do something that all of that time is not charged as vacation.
One thing I feel really good about is taking the train this weekend. Been a good experience, except for the shower, not recommended, and about same cost as flight would have been, plus free meals. Would like to see wifi and more power plugs in sleeper cabins, hopefully that is coming.
I am all in for Jazzfest next year, that is for sure. And I need to be in better shape to handle the day and go out at night, couldn't do it this time. Missed a couple great shows at Tipitinas last night apparently, but so tired and sore, and either getting cold or sinus infection, and couldn't do it. Met fun people, heard great music, had great food, even tried alligator pie, crawfish bread, shrimp and sausage crawe mache (spelling way off). Also had two glorious orders of Cafe du Monde beignets.
Only disappointment, other than me, was what Bourbon Street has become. I hadn't been there for ten years, but, except for the seafood or other fine restaurants, it seems like more a charactature of itself, a drinking olympics, an overly exaggerated movie frat house. I had no desire to be there after dark. Plus there seemed to be very little live music that was not rock/pop/dance cover bands, seemed like there were more good, unique live music locales in previous trips. Maybe I am too old, but how many Big Ass Beer stands and strip clubs are needed; I think there were 5 times as many strip clubs as ten years ago. They must be working though, or they would be shutting down.
Another note about jazzfest, you can go to noJazzfestlive.com and download selected shows, this is a great idea and I hope they can expand the show selection in the future, but most of it is probably rights issues.
I plan to be back in 2011, NOLA.

Post Jazzfest Random thoughts

On the City of New Orleans headed to Chicago, listening to Justin Verlander dominate the Angels, (thanks to MLB atbat for android), reading about oil spill and its potential effect on the wetlands that protect this region while they go rolling by my window (thanks to free NYT from hotel). The freshwater wetlands have been decimated by the actions of man and nature over the last decades; man has diverted the critical silt from the Mississippi that used to replenish what nature would take away via ocean and storm erosion, and oil companies have cut channels through them that allow saltwater to infiltrate the marshes. This and the work still required to rebuild from Katrina got me thinking of a goal for next year.
I want to do some research and find an organization that could use unskilled labor, like myself, for a week to clean/rebuild wetlands or work on rebuilding neighborhoods in New Orleans. I am sure the organizations exist, I hope I am strong enough to help out. I would want something where I arrive on mid-day Sunday, start working early Monday, sleep at group house or something until friday or saturday. Then maybe head to biloxi for a few days of golf, beach and gambling, to NOLA on Wednesday for second weekend of Jazzfest, sounds like a good two weeks. I wonder if I could do something that all of that time is not charged as vacation.
One thing I feel really good about is taking the train this weekend. Been a good experience, except for the shower, not recommended, and about same cost as flight would have been, plus free meals. Would like to see wifi and more power plugs in sleeper cabins, hopefully that is coming.
I am all in for Jazzfest next year, that is for sure. And I need to be in better shape to handle the day and go out at night, couldn't do it this time. Missed a couple great shows at Tipitinas last night apparently, but so tired and sore, and either getting cold or sinus infection, and couldn't do it. Met fun people, heard great music, had great food, even tried alligator pie, crawfish bread, shrimp and sausage crawe mache (spelling way off). Also had two glorious orders of Cafe du Monde beignets.
Only disappointment, other than me, was what Bourbon Street has become. I hadn't been there for ten years, but, except for the seafood or other fine restaurants, it seems like more a charactature of itself, a drinking olympics, an overly exaggerated movie frat house. I had no desire to be there after dark. Plus there seemed to be very little live music that was not rock/pop/dance cover bands, seemed like there were more good, unique live music locales in previous trips. Maybe I am too old, but how many Big Ass Beer stands and strip clubs are needed; I think there were 5 times as many strip clubs as ten years ago. They must be working though, or they would be shutting down.
Another note about jazzfest, you can go to noJazzfestlive.com and download selected shows, this is a great idea and I hope they can expand the show selection in the future, but most of it is probably rights issues.
I plan to be back in 2011, NOLA.