Home, From The Land of Rice and Red Beans

With mixed album, "Kiss You Down South," in hand.

Also returned plus many itchy welts on feet, ankles, lower legs and arms from mosquito bites. We left NYC in 92 + steam heat and went to ... 92 degree steam heat, and returned again to same. Yet, it's different.

Feline Update: Mz Minneola KittyKat Empress of the Universe, who never has allowed anyone but TR to pet her, or in any other lap as she ever deigned to sit, was petted by, played with and lapsat upon, by moi. Now, as keeper of the beefy feast cans and the kibble both, I had mucho leverage. TR's epression when he came home and found Mz KK sitting in my lap, being petted, while Elvis played on the house sound system and I was reading, was priceless. IOW, all was right in KK's world. "Who needs you?" she said. "You, who go away without warning, abandon and reject me, leave me nothing to rely upon but the kindness of strangers?"

Needless to add that she forgave him. Very quickly too. Besides, she was partly convinced we'd kidnapped TR, tied him up and locked him away from her. Or maybe not. We were still very good amigas by the time TR drove us to Louis Armstrong airport, blasting "Kiss You Down South" all the way (release date, 2011).

El V went to visit with the Hudson News Booksellers's manager and sign books. But again, they were all out, except for a single copy of The Year Before the Flood. She said this title was also a very good seller for them, and as of last month started out-selling The World That Made New Orleans. She speculates that is because there are so many repeat fliers coming through. They loved TWTMNO and wanted another New Orleans book by the same writer.

We had a bad flight home, the worst flight I've experienced in a long time. The weather, first. Thunderstorms all up and down the east coast canceled or delayed many flights and diverted many more. So our flight got packed with passengers from another airline that got diverted to LA airport. We ourselves sat on the runway and took off nearly 50 minutes behind schedule. But what was the worst is among the passenger that boarded us from a canceled flight was a preggers woman, her husband, their 5 month twins and three year old daughter. They complained that we were taking up too much room in the over-head -- i.e. el V's guitar kept them from stowing their strollers, car seats, etc. above our heads. Can we say breeders? They were seated right behind us. The kid in the middle who kicked my seat the entire time. The twins screamed in stereo the entire time. Who in their right minds was traveling with infants when they don 't have to? Evidently they were on their way to a conference - meet-up - something with Our Own Kind, targeting femnazis, commies, socialists, public school supporters and those who are pro contraception and family planning. I devoutly desired opium -- not for me, but to put in the milk, whatever, of ALL of these terrifying enemies of the nation. On our way to NO, all we had to contend with was the cutest tiny doggie, who was fed "Calming Doggie Treats" all the flight, and who only issued cute, tiny barks upon descent.

We lucked out at the end though. The latest thunderstorm didn't break until after we got into the taxi and were over the bridge. At home we'd cleverly had frozen pasta sauce beforehand, and had pasta on hand. I also had some more of Elizabeth's garden stuff which I'd cleverly stowed in my carry on, in which the produce weathered the flight admirably -- kept cold as in a cold case in the overhead.

It did take almost all night for our little a/c unit plus fans to cool off the apartment, in which over 90 + heat had not been dissapated or mitigated for 11 days.

This morning we learn the publishers don't want the short version of the Haiti book. It is unanimous with everyone with decision power at the comany that they want a full length book about Haiti instead. They are unanimous also about wanting the Slave Coast book. Which is all good. But when can the Haiti book then be finished? When can el V go to Haiti??????? Because we are committed to the American Slave Coast project while in Maryland, and then Angola in September 2011. I supposed it will get worked out. The upside is that there is more time for el V HERE, to work on moving.