Congo Park Watercolor By Jenny Mathews

Jenny and I went on vacation to New Orleans earlier in the summer. It was an amazing vacation. We stayed at the Olivier House. 

The Olivier House by Jenny Mathews

Of course we received the usual warnings. Don't go here, don't go there, which we did our best to ignore. One of the places we were advised against going to was Louise Armstrong Park. Not safe they said. But we went, anyway. Reading the history of the park and Congo Square was fascinating. It was the one place slaves and freed Blacks were allowed to congregate in freely. Well, semi-freely. One could almost feel the energy that had been imbued into that ground. For me the most striking feature of Congo Park was...

No matter what question you ask in New Orleans, the answer seems to be Marie Laveau, and even locals in the know will freely admit ain't nobody really knows a damn thing about her. I never asked about Marie Laveau, because I didn't want to get the answer they give to tourists. I don't know much about anything metaphysical, but if this tree isn't my spirit plant I don't know what is. 

Pin It

Outsider Poet Visits The Lafayette Blacksmith Bar In New Orleans

Just went through a rather grueling couple of months, which culminated in a vacation to New Orleans and the book release party for The Blood Dark Sea, which I had to host and perform as Jesus Correa in. 

Now all of that is behind me, and the last thing that is wearing on me is I did an Echocardiogram last Tuesday after my cardiologists ordered it nearly two months ago and I waited for insurance approval, and now I'm awaiting those results. I hope they will be casual about it and just use the online medical chart to say everything is fine, but until that happens there's really no way to know.

All of my book projects are wrapped up, and all I have is one more dental procedure in terms of my health, and ongoi g fitness and good nutrition, so maybe I can spend the next little while working on some of my goofy personal projects that only I know or care about, like Shadmock, Ubermenscher, Hall of Bad Dudes, Momus Shrugged, not quite blank, The Outsider Poetry Slam League of America, Things of the Dead, or even one of my own books.

This is poet Thomas L. Vaultonburg standing outside the door of the Lafayette Blacksmith Shop Shop Bar in New Orleans. They claim it is the oldest bar in America. 

Finally got an air conditioner into the window at the apartment, now I am worrying that it will fall out. Probably won't have a lot to say about Outlaw Poetry now that I wrapped up the last book. 

Pin It