Thoughts on Katrina

I am stunned by the flooding and devastation in New Orleans. It's the nightmare always feared when any hurricane threatens the city. In 1988, just 2 weeks into my freshman year at Tulane, Florence came through. They locked down the dorms, including my 12-story building, Monroe. We taped all the windows and sat in the hallways, communing and, of course, drinking hurricanes. But it was a minor one as storms go and resulted in little more than strewn debris. This time, the campus is shut down completely, indefinitely. Freshmen who had barely arrived were evacuated on Friday. Students were sent to Texas and Mississippi. I can't even imagine having to flee campus, leaving behind the belongings you had just toted in suitcases and shipped in boxes, not knowing when you can return or what will happen to your semester. It's surreal.

Playing hooky

Took the day off from work today to cash in an almost-expiring SpaWish gift certificate and get a hot stone massage and facial at Jolie Day Spa in Bethesda, with coffee and idle book browsing in the morning, French bistro dining for lunch, and a little shopping in the afternoon. And the weather was bright, blue and warm. Ahhhhh ......

Fried Oreos & riding lawnmowers

We went to the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair on Saturday with Kevin. The weather had finally cooled down to less than broiling. We took Julia to see the various animal exhibits, but she was most excited to see the John Deere riding lawnmowers. (She is currently in a cars and steering wheels phase.) I enjoyed a snack of fried Oreos. Batter + slightly melted chocolate cookie + cream filling = yummmm.

Another one bites the dust

Hooray! Our friend, Sammy, pop music reporter extraordinaire, has ... er ... popped the question to his girlfriend. They are going to have the best music ever at their reception.

Heavily lined rock stars

Tommy Lee is the new Keith Richards.