Cold Spaghetti

For helping us parents spread the message to our children that guns are objects of violence, not toys. You are doing a great job of telling us just how seriously you take the issue of violent crime in New Orleans.

We’re home. It’s dusty. Very dusty. Big dirt from the demo came through the walls into the bedrooms… we planned on me returning early this morning to bring the kids right to school so that I could have a few hours to clean before the kids were in the house. (Thank goodness for the IRB- related downtime.)

We are down to one tiny tiny bathroom in the front of the house. Stuff is packed everywhere. Other stuff is in the new section, covered in dust. The washer and dryer (complete with a dent from a falling beam) are still in the gutted section — Paul was reluctant to take these away without being ready to hook them up in the new section. They won’t stay in the new section, he’s just putting together a temporary location.

The next few months of renovation/construction are going to be the worst.

—
In the midst of the afternoon cleaning, we were visited by a the-end-is-near type storm. There were a few moments where we paused to listen if we were hearing a tornado, but the real excitement came from the leaks in the new ceiling. From all three skylights. The good news is that Paul investigated and feels that the wind was pushing the layers up and water under (it’s still only the first layer up there) and feels confident that it will be fine… but he’s still checking with the expert guy at the local supplier warehouse tomorrow.

Paul is doing well from the weekend warrior marathon… despite stepping on two nails which went through his shoe and deep into his foot.

—
In other more topical news, this completely inappropriate bit of fun had me in stitches.

Me and my friend, Tammy, are totally reading this book.

“Everybody,” she said, “needs to make it their Life’s Work to teach at least one kid to say, ‘WHEE!’ And mean it!”

Amen to that.

Now that we have doors and windows, we were able to move stuff into the space without concern of severe damage from the elements. This meant that it was time to move to the next step… gutting the existing bathroom and laundry area.

First, to explain: our original house ends with two bedrooms in the back of the house, currently one is our “master” bedroom (which means it’s a little bigger than the others) and the other bedroom is the one Will and Kate share. (The “third” bedroom is a small 8×12 or so sized room that was Will’s bedroom at one time and is now the home office — an important thing for us since Paul works full-time from home.)

At some point in the home’s history, a lean-to type addition was created that made bathrooms and laundry outlets for each side. This happened when the home was still two homes (we live in a shotgun double, which is two shotguns that share a common wall in the interior — it was combined into one home in the 1980s). So, when we bought the house there were technically three bathrooms… although the tubs in the back bathrooms were not hooked to water and could not hold water and the front bathroom was hardly functioning. In reality, the house had no kitchen or bathrooms when we bought it — the first thing we did was the front bathroom. The shower was okay and the only usable thing in the front bathroom (and has served as our only place to wash since we moved in — it was also where we washed dishes for our first 4 months in the house) — we used a toilet in the back of the house until we finished the front bathroom. You can see some of the before and after shots here: hall bath before and after — kitchen before and after. (Note that the “kitchen” in the before picture was completely for show — nothing was vented, plumbed, or otherwise functioning… the cabinets weren’t even screwed in.)

From what we had seem in comparable homes, we knew that we were going to have to do the kitchen right (which is the way we do everything, anyway, crazy perfectionists that we are) so we used all our available funds on the kitchen and front bathroom (and re-wiring the Whole. Entire. House. and installing attic stairs, installing recessed lights in Every. Room., installing speakers in the kitchen…. etc., etc.) We did some beautifying before Kate was born, but really, the vast majority of the work on the house has been over protecting ourselves from electrical fire or having a ceiling fall down in the middle of the night. Priorities. So, the unfinished bathrooms sat. We used the bathroom on the kids’ side of the house for the laundry. We took out the unusable tub on this side and gave it to a very friendly organic blueberry farmer in Mississippi. The tub on our side was in better shape; we worked with a local tradesman and refinished it (some of the work was Paul, some was the tradesman… love people who will work this way). But nothing was ever hooked up since we knew we would be doing work to the room. We vacillated for several years about what to do with the back until the plan came together last fall.

In the project right now, the next big thing we need to do is finish the roof. The first layer is temporary for up to 90 days… and we’ve burned through about half (or more) of those. But before we can get the final roof layer up, the vent stacks from the new bathroom have to be installed. That means that the existing bathrooms/laundry has to be gutted completely, framed out and plumbed so that we know where the stacks should go. With the new space sealed to the elements, we were ready to gut. We started moving stuff out into the new section and I took the kids out of town to give Paul the freedom to do mess, dangerous work without the distraction of kids in the house. Here are some of his pictures. Maybe he’ll post some with comments soon… right now, I think he’s completely exhausted since (in addition to the housework during daylight hours) he also did work-work this weekend and is gearing up for a crazy week job-wise. Thank goodness I’m in a holding pattern until IRB meets and responds so I can pick up the slack!

PICTURES of the DEMOLITION…

This is the door leading to the kids’ room to the left and the exterior wall on the right. You can see that this addition (we’re not sure when it was done… the 70s maybe?) the drywall was pounded up RIGHT ON THE EXTERIOR WOOD PANELING of the house. See the drywall, wood panels (that were the original exterior of the house before siding was put up over it), and then the lathe underneath? Wild.
This is looking from the kids’ door up and out to the new addition. Once the drywall on the ceiling was pulled out, the skylight became visible! This is the new skylight Paul installed when he built the roof. One note about the exterior wall to the left in this picture. It did not have any boarding holding it together under the drywall. And it is very very very flimsy. Paul feels certain that a good push would bring it down completely; it’s already bowing quite a bit. He says we need to take out all the framing and siding and completely re-do the whole wall. If we were paying someone else to do this work, this is where the budget would get blown. There was on way to know about the problem until the wall was out; thankfully Paul has the inclination to learn about these things and do quality work himself… otherwise, we’d be way way behind schedule and over budget. This is the same side of the house and wall that he jacked up and reframed the base of when he was starting the new room in the back.
This wall is the interior wall against the kids’ room. Paul has started removing the wood siding (the original exterior walls that the drywall was nailed up against when this room was added.) You get a sense of just how incredibly messy the work is.
Looking into the bathroom area; the wall to the right is the interior wall with the kids’ room behind it. The wall in the center of the picture is the center dividing wall — on the other side is our mirrored bathroom/laundry. Note the center wall — see the floor? The tile floor was laid after the interior wall was built — see how the wall slopes? The floor is leveled out around the wall. Who knows what we are going to find when the floor starts getting ripped out.
This is the window that was in the kids’ side. At some point, a vine grew through the backwall. Workers ripped the plant out and then put up drywall. You can see the tracks of the plant below (no, it’s not termites, although that is what Paul initially thought… no sign of termite debris and no damage… it’s from a plant!) The whole on the floor is where the toilet in the kids’ side used to be.
Wow! This is looking from where our bathroom used to be. You can see where the wall dividing the two sides used to be. The door to the right is the new door leading to the new room in the back. That’s our washer and dryer still in the same place. Paul is going to make a temporary hook-up in the new room so that we have a washer and dryer during this part of the renovation.
Looking from where the washer and dryer are back to the other side, towards where our bathroom used to be. The interior wall in the process of being demolished was the wall that had washer and dryer hook-ups (identical to the other side).
Same view, with the walls gone!! The door to the far right leads to our bedroom. The pumps coming up from the floor were where the two sinks were (one on each side of the dividing wall). Oddly, the sinks drained way way way to the left (if you scroll up, you can see where Paul sawed off the drain — a big black pipe — down from the sink water pipes.) He said it was hard to work around these pipes, since an accidental hit would have resulted in a geyser. Early on, a beam did fall and put a decent dent in the top of the dryer.

Now, he’s starting on taking down the rest of the backwall. The framed windows are what Paul did from the other side when he started the addition in the back.
These are the other two skylights — the ones that will shine over our Master Bathroom one day! See the different paint colors on the boards? We have no idea why. Paul thinks that at one point, the room may have been open to these boards and the color was aesthetic. He also wonders if there may have been a drop ceiling at one point and hence when the white color was done.
Back wall is outta there! Wow. Notice that the bead board up on the far wall (the side exterior wall) is actually different than that found elsewhere. After the board came down, he found that this side is just as flimsy as the other. Both sides will need to be completely re-built if we’re to do it right.
Looking down the backwall to the kids’ bedroom side.
Now he moved to working on the interior wall. Interesting to find that major parts of the lathe had been rough-cut through (see the drywall where lathe should be?) Whether for plumbing or electric or…?… we have no idea.
Paul was impressed by this horizontal beam work. These beams are seriously heavy-duty and the diagonal cuts were all done by hand tools. Impressive carpentry, likely over a 100 years old. These diagonal beams are on each side of the house. We’re not sure what the foundation under them looks like and how they contribute to the load on this load-bearing wall. We would like to cut through this to make our closet open from this side, versus in the room as it does currently. We may possibly have a tough time doing this depending on what we find in the next steps.
The interior wall, siding down. That’s the lathe with drywall on the other side! This is also where Paul got after two long days of hard, dirty work! (Big thanks to hired handy-guy Wesley, a young kid who is in technical school and has helped out with some of the debris hauling and assorted tasks… I’m not sure Paul could’ve done all of this without some extra hands!)
The current plan is for me to bring the kids back early Tuesday (hopefully, we’ll have water and electricity all working by then… although probably no washer and dryer). That will let me drop the kids off in school and then go home to clean thoroughly before the kids get into the house. Paul tells me that the dust is pretty bad (despite all his efforts at clean-up and protecting the rest of the house) and we want to get up all the dust and debris in the air before exposing the kids.

Next steps:
— Tear out the floor
— Rebuild the side walls
— Frame out the interior walls
— Rough plumbing
— Vent stacks
— Roof finished
— Exterior hardiplank hung (at this point, the exterior would be finished and we would really sigh a sigh of relief)
— A/Cs installed on the roof (hopefully before we have too many more 80-degree days)
— Then we can turn to the interior electric, plumbing, shower bed installation, drywall, flooring, tile, fixtures…. etc., etc.

1. Rip apart oreo.
2. Remove inner center.
3. Rub inner center all over nose. Lick what is left off of fingers.

Last night, we went to Jacque-Imos for dinner with friend Sheri Fink (pictured with Will at Thoth below). We’ve been talking about going to Jacque’s for dinner since we met back in October; when Sheri (who lives in New York) was running back and forth teaching the Complex Emergencies course last fall. Now, she’s running back and forth finishing up a variety of journalism projects. By lucky circumstance, she ended up in town for Mardi Gras and we managed to schedule in a dinner on the town.

While we were at the bar waiting for a table, Sheri causally mentions this story she’s working on for the BBC — on the international influences in New Orleans cuisine. This completely makes sense, since Sheri has a PhD in neuroscience, is a Medical Doctor, respected author, humanitarian, journalist, and as she clearly has way too much free time, is also a reporter for BBC’s “The World” series on Public Radio International. We figure that, yes, the place qualifies and she pulls out her big official microphone. Jacque roams down to the bar, completely lit, having a great time, and starts handing out drinks from a bottle that Paul notes has come down from the top shelf. It’s bright green; he tells us it’s illegal in every state except Louisiana (he thinks) and fills our cups. I hear him call it “shark juice” (really, it’s chartreuse) and manage to repeat the mis-heard name enough times to be recognized as one who has already felt the drink’s psychotropic effects. Sheri impressively gets him talking about the French and Creole influences in his menu, which is very interesting. At one point we ask him what his favorite items are on the menu today and he tells us to stick with the alcohol, “cause the food here is terrible,” before we are finally sent to our table.

The mic popped up a few more times as Sheri took some sound bites during dinner (amidst our laughter) and outside with narrative of the famous truck. She had interviews lined up with Susan Spicer today; the final report should be fun to hear. We are still giddy from the incredibly good dinner and company… and are secretly hoping that she keeps getting hired to teach down here so that we can do these things regularly!

Though I arrived shortly after 8am, had a friend in line not spotted me, I may not have made it in. As it was, we got in on the tail end and were rewarded with fabulous seats opposite from the speaker’s podium and high enough above the media throng to take it all in.

Boy, that man can talk. I was impressed.

I’m too cynical to be an Apostle, but have no doubt that he’s been my choice since Edwards dropped out of the race. After hearing him speak, I may have even been swayed to his camp even if Edwards had stayed in. Maybe. He’s not my vision of the perfect candidate, but of the playing field he’s the best candidate hands down. I only hope he can do even a piece of what he promises.

He promised a lot: 100-year storm protection starting in 2011*; restoration of wetlands and barrier islands; no cronyism in Federal Government positions; FEMA director a nonpolitical position (similar to the Director of the Federal Reserve); tax incentives for businesses opening in rebuilding areas; a six month turn-around for Road Home applicants; a new city hospital and new Vets hospital; loan forgiveness for MDs willing to serve here; speeding up $58m approved in Congress to rebuild schools; $250m for teacher programs to give bonuses and incentives for teachers to come here for 3-year positions; college tuition tax credits each year of college; and educational systems that embrace all learning (arts, music, dance, poetry). Phew!

The stump speech was strong; followed with his contract — “we will invest in you, and you will invest in us.” It was stirring, motivational, and exciting. He made me forget how much optimism has been beaten out of me and for a minute, really think that the world he envisions is maybe, possibly… possible?

Some may have thought I’d be on the Clinton bandwagon, since she’s the female in the race. Not so. For one, she’s a Republican. She votes for war, she stood by her husband’s disastrous “reform” of welfare, and she went soft on universal health care. Second, I am constitutionally adverse to supporting the continued control of the Executive Branch of our government by two families into a third decade. Third, black men voted, served in the U.S. Senate, and were elected in the House of Representatives before women, so I figure electing a black man into the White House before a woman just falls in line with our traditions (okay, this is glib, but it’s still sort of an interesting bit of history). If I needed another reason, Ann Coulter may be endorsing Clinton and while I am all for the Kumbuyah mentality, I can not ever see a day when supporting anything Coulter endorses is a good thing. For other reasons to vote Obama and not Clinton, read this.

—
*I swear I heard him say 2011, following his saying that we “can’t gamble” the protection of New Orleans, but I’m not sure my ears can be trusted. For a minute, I heard the crowd shout “Let’s Pretend” and then “Let’s Begin” before figuring out that the clamor was actually the words “Yes We Can,” the official Obama fan shout.

UPDATE: Read Obama’s speech HERE. Really, read it. It’s worth it.

Some call it Bacchus Sunday, but as we’ve never been to Bacchus, for us it’s Thoth Sunday. Also known at the Krewe of Shut-ins, Thoth traipses through our neighborhood visiting the Children’s Hospital and several retirement centers. Earlier in the season, Thoth visits other retirement centers off the parade route — last year, the Abeona kids joined one of the centers for Thoth’s visit. The parade route includes the stretch of Magazine right in front of Whole Foods (which is a stone’s throw from our front door) so the situation just begs for a party. We donned our costumes once again (turn down the chance to wear golden boots!? not us!)

Sheri joined us for the morning — with big kudos since she’d been up all night at the Endymion Extravaganza the night before. (Remember that event? We went last year and were very sad to turn down a gracious invite to attend once again. What a seriously fun party!)

Will’s favorite throw was a plastic sword. Two, in fact. But he gave one to a friend (which Paul and I found incredibly impressive.) The 4-year old obsession with warfare is still unsettling to the pacifist parents, but we are jokingly agreed that the old-school swords are preferred to guns. Aye. Is fighting always part of early childhood development?
Kate with her throw of the season: a seriously nice stuffed monkey. Paul was holding her at the time and reported that the float riders burst into laughter when Kate took the monkey and quickly put beads around its neck. Thanks, Thoth rider! She’s been inseparable from it ever since.
Ana and Elliot danced to the marching bands!
Paul juggled. While juggling, a guy came up to Paul and asked if he got his cape on Etsy. In fact, we did. Turns out the guy had contacted the same seller to inquire of capes for Mardi Gras… and learned that she had just done capes for a family in New Orleans (us), “maybe you’ll see them,” she added. He couldn’t believe it when he saw Paul and recognized the capes. He took this picture (one with each of our cameras) so that we could send them to the Etsy seller/crafter.
Views from high on the ladder (by Paul).



Thoth was our last parade this season. We were beat. I really missed getting out to St. Charles for Tuesday’s parades; I love Zulu and there is something that feels “official” about Rex that makes me feel like I’m missing something. (Although I generally feel that Rex riders are stingy in their throws.) Still, it was a great carnival holiday and we are already thinking of how to more fully enjoy the traditions next year!

Parade performers from Xavier Prep (I emailed the photo to the school; hopefully it will get to the right people.)
Ladders lined up on St. Charles, waiting for Iris to fix whatever float malfunction was holding up the rest of the parade.
The last few floats in Tucks roaring up Napoleon. The crowd was friendly and fun.