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Drove to NOLA to pick up my girls from the train station.  They were healthy and happy and full of excitement.

They saw The Bean.  They went to the aquarium.  They ate real Chicago deep dish pizza.  They had meals on the train, and meals through Chicago.  They ate breakfast at a diner with two guys next to them, one of whom looked like Bill Murray.

They met people on the train and in the hostel.  They saw a production of Cats that Little Girl enjoyed thoroughly and Bigger Girl said could have stood to be slowed down in two places.  (She has firm opinions of how it should be done, and thought they were rushing those scenes, going through the motions.)

They bought souvenirs and took pictures.  They shopped in a couple of authentic ethnic shops, and brought me a tiny stuffed kitten that sits in a wicker slipper.  (Guess the number of kittens in this place, i'm the old lady in the shoe with so many kittens i don't know what to do.)

They had their pictures taken in one of those photo booths and got quite silly over it.  They enjoyed themselves thoroughly.

Of course, the train got in just as the traffic was building up, and on the way out of downtown i had two choices.  Sit in the mess on the interstate, or take the scenic route around.  This mimi chose the scenic route.

That meant i got to show them where i went to high school, and a couple of old hangouts, and the back way to Grandma and Grandpa's house (they weren't home, so we didn't stop), and by the time we worked our way to the interstate again at the very edge of town it was moving quite well.

Now they are home safe and back to school and ready to finish up the year.  It was worth letting them go, as i knew it would be.  Another step toward flying free, and they loved it.


Today is



Childhood Depression Awareness Day / Children's Mental Health Awareness Day

Dog-Prodding Day -- Fairy Calendar (Gremlins)

Fête de l'iris -- Belgium

Helston Furry Dance a/k/a The Flora -- Helston, Cornwall, England

Iris  Day -- celebrate these beautiful spring flowers

Liberation Day -- Czech Republic; Slovakia

Miguel Hidalgo Day -- Mexico (birth anniversary of the father of Mexican independence)

National Coconut Cream Pie Day

National Empanada Day

National Student Nurses Day

National Teacher Day

No Socks Day -- sponsored by Wellcat Holidays

Parents' Day -- South Korea

Stay Up All Night Day -- some teenager probably thought this one up, as an excuse to go ahead and convince the parents it was okay

St. Ida of Nivelles' Day (Patron of erysipelas patients, toothache sufferers)

St. Wiro of Utrecht's Day (Patron of Holland)

Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War -- International

Truman Day -- Missouri, US

V-E Day -- some countries celebrate today, some tomorrow

World Red Cross Day / World Red Crescent Day




Birthdays Today:

Enrique Iglesias, 1975
Robert M. Hensel, 1969
Melissa Gilbert, 1964
Toni Tennille, 1943
Peter Benchley, 1940
Rick Nelson, 1940
Don Rickles, 1926
Robert Johnson, 1911
Bishop Fulton Sheen, 1895
Harry S Truman, 1884


Today in History:

Hernando de Soto  reaches the Mississippi River and names it Río de Espíritu Santo, 1541
Antoine Lavoisier, the father of modern chemistry, is tried and guillotined by the Reign of Terror, 1794
Future US president Zachary Taylor defeats a Mexican force north of the Rio Grande in the first major battle of the Mexican-American war, 1846
At Gilmore's Gardens in New York City, the first Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show opens, 1877
Pharmacist John Styth Pemberton first sells a carbonated beverage named "Coca-Cola" as a patent medicine, 1886
In Martinique, Mount Pelée erupts, destroying the town of Saint-Pierre and killing over 30,000 people, 1902
In Rheims, France, German forces agree to an unconditional surrender, ending the war in Europe, 1945
The roller coaster Revolution, the first steel coaster with a vertical loop, opens at Six Flags Magic Mountain, 1976
Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler make the first ascent of Mt. Everest without supplemental oxygen, 1978
The World Health Organization announces the eradication of smallpox, 1980
The new Canadian War Museum opens, in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of V-E Day, 2005