Annunciation | NOLA

New Orleans is hanging in there and is making strides. Part of the historic St. Charles Avenue Streetcar line started again this week. The overhead power line get decimated by all those old oak trees on St. Charles Ave falling over during Katrina. The tracks and cars are OK, but the power infrastructure is being completely rebuilt. It's now running between Canal Street (French Quarter) to Lee Circle, about 1/4 the whole length.

New Orleans has also been named "Travel Hot Spot for 2007" - somebody in the tourism marketing department has been doing their job. Here's a fabulous video they put together summer of 2005. It features trumpeter Irvin Mayfield and singer Ingrid Lucia with beautiful shots of the city with funny and moving cameos of everyday locals. The song is called "Do they Play Jazz in Heaven." Check it out, you won't be disappointed.

Everyone is thrilled about the Saints being division leaders and goin' to the play-offs, though the last game against the Redskins was heart breaking, especially after they stomped Dallas just the week before. I'll admit, I'm a fair weather Saints fan. I didn't grow up here, if I had I'd be true blue. But frankly, pro football just doesn't do it for me. But the excitement around the Saints if contagious and I'm happy to jump aboard.

The metro area got slammed yesterday by rain, the same system that dumped snow on the west. There was some pretty deep street flooding in areas. It was the first major rainstorm since Rita.

Greg and I will be driving up to his parents for Christmas. Hopefully the weather won't be too bad or rainy. It's supposed to be cold. You never know if it's going to be in the 70s and humid, or cold Christmas day. I vote for cold. Two years ago - the Christmas before Katrina - it snowed in New Orleans, a rarity indeed. We were in Baton Rouge and it didn't snow there, even though BR is north of NO. Go figure. Merry Christmas everyone!