Voodoo Museum (Thursday, February 5, 2026)

An altar in the New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum in the French Quarter. Rituals, zombies, gris-gris, Voodoo queens--it's all here. LaWanda met with Frank, a white-haired man with a cane, for a psychic reading. 
 

The Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club is one of New Orleans' most historic and famous African American Mardi Gras krewes, with roots dating back to 1901.Their parade is one of my favorites.

Otis didn't get to see a real live gator. But he got to see this voodoo gator with a mohawk (?) and cigarette.

Moseying around the French Quarter (Thursday, February 5, 2026)

LaWanda at the famous cornstalk fence

 

Sidewalk entrepreneurship. Dirty jokes for $1. 

Mardi Gras masks at Royal Street tourist shop

Seriously, you don't have to flash for beads. But the T-shirt could be a backup plan for the modest. 

LaWanda under a Gone Gay sign. 

This guy crossed the street to sweet talk LaWanda into all of us eating at Le Spectecle. We did, before the Preservation Hall performance. The food was great!

Jackson Square (February 5, 2026)

I wish I could remember the name of this mule that pulls carriages around the French Quarter. There are dozens of them that rotate through short, four-hour shifts to meet strict local animal welfare codes.
 

Fancy hooves!

Art and music all around the Square.

Somber memorial to the 14 people who died on New Year's Day 2025 in a deadly vehicle-ramming and shooting attack ahead of the Sugar Bowl. Tragically, another 57 people were injured, including two police officers.

French Quarter with LaWanda and Otis (Thursday, February 5, 2026)

Otis and LaWanda on the Mississippi. Not the Proud Mary behind them, but close enough. Either the steamboat Natchez or the Creole Queen, offering jazz cruises.

Papa and me at a closed riverboat dock, now heavy with padlocks memorializing forever love. Yes, we're in the right place.

Beignets buried in powdered sugar at Cafe du Monde. The extra hand is Papa's.

There he is!

City of the Dead (February 4, 2026)

Our first stop after meeting at the airport was at one of New Orleans' cemeteries. The famous Metarie cemetery had closed right before we got there. I can't remember the name of this one, but it's off I-10. Note that some of the graves are not in crypts but are slightly above ground. If you dig the standard six feet, you hit water in New Orleans!
 

The Virgin Mary with her Son decorates a crypt.

Peaceful shady dirt road among the crypts.

Death need not be somber or sad. I believe this woman led a fun life and is probably having fun in the hereafter too. Someone she left behind still takes her fresh flowers. 

Papa, Otis, and LaWanda at the whimsical graveside.

But all isn't old. A family installed this crypt protected by the Archangel Michael and blessed by the Virgin Mary, complete with benches for contemplation.

The Virgin Mary at the recently installed crypt that's full of drawers for family and loved ones to be together in the afterlife.

Another interpretation of the Virgin Mary, Christ, and God, maybe?

Almost Mardi Gras with LaWanda, Otis, and Donna (February 4, 2026)

LaWanda's ready! See the family portraits over her left shoulder? Otis thought Mom was me. I know. It's hard to believe I was once a kid.

I brought a hat and beads from our Mardi Gras room. Donna sent the hat to us for Ryder's 30th birthday party in Cedar Park. Seventeen years later, it almost fits Otis. Ultimately, it was too tight for him.

Donna, Colton, and Keely kindly welcomed us for our visit.

 

Shopping after the winter storm (January 31, 2026)

Time to check out at Costco. I'm always pleasantly surprised at how quickly the line moves. Are Costco shoppers and employees the most efficient ever?
 

Freezing rain and sleet--almost snow (January 25-26, 2026)

 Sunning above the 0.6" of sleet

 

Fall leaves and winter ice

Tom is taking the leaf blower to Greg's to melt the ice on his sidewalk for him. Tom's a good guy!

Mew-sical cat (January 2026)

Sweet dreams! 

Big Boy and Colette are happy we're home from Maui.

Whenever Tom turns on the keyboard, Colette comes running for her "mews-ic" lesson. Usually she is on top of the keyboard batting at Tom's hands to prevent him from playing. 
 

Aloha, Maui! (January 2, 2026)

We and the Moraga Lewises flew home on January 2. At the Maui airport, our bags were inspected by the US Department of Agriculture. No pineapples allowed?

According to Polynesian myth, the demigod Maui captured the sun at the summit of Haleakala. After the sun promised to traverse the sky more slowly for the benefit of humanity, Maui released his captive. The sun represents life and knowledge.

Ah yes! We arrived on Christmas Day and flew home on January 2. The tree was still up.

We flew from Maui to Seattle, where we changed planes. Then to Austin early on January 3, where the moon greeted us.

Red sand pocket beach (January 1, 2026)

We almost didn't find the very secret Kaihalulu Beach (Red Sand Beach) in Hana. Accessed by a steep, slippery trail near the Hana Community Center. Google maps kept taking us to the hidden trail head. Do you see the sleeping monk seal?
 

The Hawaiian monk seal is a critically endangered tropical seal known for its solitary nature. Only about 1600 monk seals remain. The Hawaiian name ilio-holo-i-ka-uaua means "dog running in rough water." We stayed at least 10 feet back as required. This seal sighed in its sleep. So cute!

River really wanted to visit the red sand beach. We did!

More Happy New Year (January 1, 2026)

 At the end of the Road to Hana (actually about 10 miles past Hana) is the portion of Haleakala National Park that contains the Seven Sacred Pools. We took the Kuloa Point Trail for views of the pools and ocean. Swimming in the pools has been banned since 2025. Can you tell which shadow is who? I took the photo.

There are far more than seven pools and they are not technically sacred. The name was coined for marketing purposes. Which begs the question: is nothing sacred? The real name is 'Ohe'o.

Papa Tom and Ryder on the 0.5 mile Kuloa Point Trail. The banyon tree is unique because it is a "walking" forest-forming ecosystem, capable of living for centuries and covering acres from a single seed. The complex system of aerial roots descend from the branches to become new trunks.

Piper in a banyon tree.

Happy New Year! (January 1, 2026)

Happy New Year! (with a lei that Mya or Piper made)

 On our way to the Road to Hana. My belief is that how I spend New Year's Eve and New Year's Day is a portent of the year to come. 2026 promises to be a year of family and adventure.

On our way, we stopped at Ho'okipa Beach to look for sea turtles. The beach is recognized as perhaps the best place in the world for windsurfing. Brandy's looking over her shoulder.

Not surprisingly, strong current and high surf warning flags were up. River in the foreground, Mya and Piper at the water's edge.

Sure enough, sea turtles had dragged themselves on to the sand among the rocks. Good camo!

Chickens like the beach too!

Down the road, we took a dirt trail through the woods to arrive at Waioka Pond (Venus Pool). The ocean pounded just outside the freshwater pool. Are you crazy, Ryder? 

After the plunge

Opposite the Venus Pool is the Pacific Ocean. Coconuts litter the beach.

Mya worked very had to crack a coconut on the rocks. 

Delicious success!