Lumus Violin

We have not sunk yet. But there are complaints among the crew. It has been in the high 90's and probably cracked 100 a couple times, and the humidity is stupid! I've been working through all of it. Moving stuff, prepping the warehouse to rehearse in. We moved the boat early in the week, and now it's docked right next to the ApigW (our rehearsal space is an abandoned Piggly Wiggly) and now thankfully we don't have to walk a half mile to get there each morning.

I've been able to practice a bit. But the only private space is the ApigW during 'burn time'. That's when most people nap or lie below deck because it's too hot to work. Some people say you need to suffer to be an artist. To this I say: practicing is suffering enough. Practicing outdoors in Louisiana in the hottest point of the day is unnecessary and inhumane. If there were a better way- I would do that instead, only there isn't.

The crew all have daily chores aboard the Amara Zee. I've cooked a couple times this week, and that was received very well, apart from heating up the salon on a very hot day when the AC wasn't working. After doing that once other people have grilled at least part of the meal. It's difficult cooking for 20 people. I also had the extra challenges to work with ingredients on hand when we didn't have enough money to buy food one night, but a menu of Jambalaya (chicken or veggie) with Chaote squash hit the spot for most people. I'm patting myself on the back especially since people haven't really known what to do with that squash, and we bought a barrel of them.

Weekend arrived and most of the crew took the bus from Morerro to New Orleans. Keely's husband came with a car, and he ferried the lot of us to Morerro where we caught the bus in to town. He also scored a $2-300 room at the Hilton for $115. Several of us ended up splitting it, and after a week of hot sweaty work, the comforter felt fantastic!

We walked through the French quarter in the evening. We happened to be there on red dress run day and there were many people still sporting their crimson. We met several other caravaners on Royal St where we looked in a few art galleries, had the best beer in the world, and heard some great street musicians, and then stopped at a bar and heard a little more music. It was nearly midnight and the bar closed, sadly, but this led us to the happy and amazing discovery that NO lets you walk down the street with a drink in your hand! Brilliant! Closing time meant everyone who still had a drink in their hand could get a plastic cup to take their drink with them outside.

We found a cafe for breakfast, and ended up having it partially in the rain. It was very picturesque- but the food was sub par.  After that we rented a car, packed our bags, and headed to Pensacola for a visit with some of Charity's relatives. Our plan is to return to the Amara Zee on the 19^th once rehearsals and creative things are beginning in earnest.