Thoroughly Modern Mimi

Between text messages, cell phone voice mail, two flights and final arrival in New Orleans, Mimi learned of the birth of her newest grand-daughter. The methodology of instant messaging may be new, but the same old words proclaim the news. “It’s a girl,” announces the proud pappa and love is born. 

Sweet baby Claire arrived on February 20th at 3:24 PM, weighing 8 pounds.  Mother and child are now home from the hospital and doing well. 

Big sister Caroline is adjusting and I am thrilled to welcome Claire as grand-baby number four. 

The family’s first photo arrived by e-mail on my Blackberry .

Ain’t technology grand? 

“Laissez les bons temps roulez” means “let the good times roll,” and they do every year at America’s liveliest party, Mardi Gras.   

Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, as it is sometimes called, is the last feasting day before Lent- indulgence before penance.  The preceding weeks, known as Carnival, are celebrated with parties, masked balls, parades, and food. Time to be a bit naughty—and so thousands converge on New Orleans.

 Whatever you want, you can find. Bourbon Street in the French Quarter draws an outrageous bunch. Stale beer reeks in crowded honky-tonk saloons; rum concoctions and jello shots are sold from street vendors.  Crazy fun and frivolity for some, but many people don’t like the lusty and busty atmosphere.  No problem; simply avoid these few blocks. 

 Try Royal Street, lined with million dollar Victorian homes and Creole cottages.  . Wrought-iron railings drip with festive baubles and bows and antique shops are jammed with vintage jewelry. You’ll find eclectic art galleries, my favorite— Blue Dog by George Rodrigue .

Jackson Square , dominated by the St Louis Cathedral, is a landmark of activity.  Stoll past palm readers, face/body painters, and the surrounding iron-fence posted with drawings and crafts.  Everyone ends up in the corner coffee shop, Café du Monde .

 Indulge in an order of beignets, deep-fried square donuts dusted with mounds of powdered sugar and a cup of café au lait- chicory coffee with steamed milk.  Starbucks will never beat it. 

The area surrounding Canal Street features plenty of family-friendly parades, and choices in fine Cajun and French dining. 

Mimi is off to NOLA and will be filing reports from the scene.  On Monday, Lundi Gras , she is escaping the madness and day-tripping to historic Natchez in Mississippi.  Stay tuned as she aims her camera, wondering and wandering through the South.  

George Washington’s home - Mount Vernon

Mimi visited Mount Vernon shortly after new museums opened  in 2007 and shared this story in her local paper.  She still loves the old house and grounds, but believes the addition of  state-of-the- art technology in the museums make a visit or return mandatory. 

New Museums: Grand Old House

George Washington sleeps in his tomb at Mount Vernon , as he has for the past 210 years.  However, most Americans believe he slept in every city, state, and tavern up and down the east coast during his 67 years of life.  Confusing myths grow like vines on a forgotten gravestone, intertwined with few facts about the real George.

To awaken national interest and debunk untrue stories, the Mount Vernon Ladies Association spearheaded a $100 million campaign.  They built new educational centers and a museum mostly underground – leaving the original, tranquil grounds undisturbed.  The decade-long project was completed two years ago – in time to celebrate GW’s 275^th birthday.

Visitors discover rarely seen glimpses of our first president, through the action adventure move, “We Fight to be Free,” featured in the Ford Orientation Center .  Young Washington, a British officer under General Braddock, encounters a violent attack during the French and Indian War.  Braddock is mortally wounded, so GW takes charge of the regiment, though, in this battle they are defeated. 

In addition, guests may be surprised to learn that as a plantation owner, George experimented with crop rotation, ran a lucrative fishery and owned the largest whiskey distillery in the colonies. 

Another exhibit drawing attention is an intricately crafted dollhouse, an exact one-twelfth replica of the mansion.  Fifty miniaturists spend over five years creating flickering candle lights and fireplaces that glow, needlepoint rugs, hand-painted china and bedrooms prepared for guests (apparently a common practice for the Washingtons, as they had 637 overnight visitors one year).

Some choose to tour the historic estate and gardens, hike to the tomb or visit (April- October) the working Pioneer Farm.    Others proceed directly to the Reynolds Education Center and Museum , featuring state-of-the-art galleries, interactive displays and five additional theaters. 

The exhibits teach through an osmosis-like process, slipping knowledge into the minds of children and teens without their notice.  The atmosphere is a pleasing new-age design:  a combination of a natural history museum with Disney-type animated motion, wax figures Madame Tussard would envy, a theater in the round and computer games.   Despite all the gadgetry, the presentation retains a reverence for the genteel hero, without sugar coating his lifestyle or his era. 

My teenage daughter raved about the Revolutionary War film, complete with seats that rumble during cannon fire and falling snowflakes during scenes re-enacting the crossing of the Delaware.

Toddlers explore the hands-on history room, bursting with child-sized colonial costumes, a pus-button mural that produces the sound farm animals and 18-th century toys.

I overheard a teenage girl joke that a forensically age-reversed wax replica of nineteen-year-old George liked “sorta hot.”  A father and son jumped with fright when a surprising cough arose from a lifelike sleeping soldier, encamped at a reconstruction of Valley Forge.

Most tourists are fascinated by the famous false teeth, encased similar to the crown jewels’ display in London.  The dentures aren’t wood, but human and animal teeth sunk into a metal contraption.  No wonder the picture on the dollar bill depicts a puffy-faced George. 

The Reynolds Museum, another 6,000 square-foot complex, houses over 500 Washington artifacts including a portrait gallery, Martha’s table set for entertaining, a war room full of military memorabilia, jewelry displays and original documents.  History buffs savor the previously un-viewable treasures.

By George, anyone wishing to learn about Washington and our country’s past can triumph at Mount Vernon .  The place isn’t asleep; it’s awake with new energy and dancing (not on Washington’s grave), but under a slumbering old homestead. 

If you go:

Mount Vernon is located in Virginia, just 16 miles from downtown Washington, DC.  The estate is open 365 days a year and includes on-site dining options.  Usual admission fees are $15 for adults, Seniors are $14, youth ages 6-11 are $7 and children 5 and under are free. 

The Distillery is open from April to October.

Visit www.mountvernon.org for additional information. 

If Valentine’s Day got you thinking of romance, how about springtime in Italy?  Mimi adores Italy, a country oozing with love and sauced with spirit.  Oh, how I wish I could go.  However, I’ve got two new grandbabies coming in the next two months.  I’ll be busy helping out in Baltimore and Boston, not to mention snuggling those tiny bundles.

But…if I were planning a trip, I’d take this driving tour .  It starts in classical Rome , the Eternal City, moving on to Abruzzo in Umbria, a base for daily explorations of centuries old hilltop towns and pastoral countryside. Even includes a day-trip to that peaceful hamlet of Assisi , home of St Francis and his Basilica with the famous frescos by Giotto .

Then the small group will explore Tuscan villas, vineyards and castles.  They visit Siena and Florence , Renaissance cities housing priceless art museums and magnificent churches with ceilings begging you want to lie down on the pew, for a better view. I could never have enough time in Tuscany.

And what’s a trip to Italy without the iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa , where everyone must take a photo like this for laughs.  Make sure to visit the fascinating Duomo and Baptistery, as well, keeping in mind that these building were started around 1170.

Finally return to Rome, toss your coins in the Trevi fountain , then arrivederci.

What’s truly special about this trip is that you will be driving a classic Italian roadster, like an Alfa Romeo .  I know I’d feel like punching the gas pedal, pretending I’m in chase scene of a Bond movie, roaring up and down the country roads.

My colleague, Rich Truesdell, of AutomotiveTraveler.com , has put together one heck of a tour. Everything is primo, as smooth as fine wine or should it be Corinthian leather?

Visit this link for more information on the Springtime Classic Car Tour in Italy , and be prepared to drool over the itinerary.  It’s better than a home-cooked meal straight from Rosa’s kitchen.    Manga, manga!

                      Happy 200^th Birthday Abraham Lincoln : February 12, 1809

I grew up in Arlington, Virginia, a stone’s throw from the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery. The Potomac River acted as a fence, the Nation’s Capitol, a neighbor on the opposite side.  When I was very young, I imagined all cities had beautiful marble buildings like Washington, DC.

My family, like many others, only visited historic sites when we had guests. One of my favorite outings was the drive across Memorial Bridge to visit the Lincoln Memorial .  The building is like a classical Greek temple including 36 enormous columns, one for each state at the time of Lincoln’s presidency.  An immense marble statue of the former head of state, 5 times larger than his actual size, sits at the front opening.

I’d stare, mesmerized by Abe’s huge hands, one sort of clenched and the other open, resting on  the arm of his chair. Some say the sculptor, Daniel Chester French , who had a hearing-impaired daughter, carved Mr. Lincoln fingers to sign his initials “A” and “L” in American Sign Language.  Who knows?

The statue’s dominant features are the probing, deep-socketed eyes, the kind that hold your gaze with compelling power. Lincoln wears a sorrowful look, as if remembering horrific battle scenes from the Civil War.

Then, there’s the mole on his cheek.  Fascinating in the way moles are fascinating.

Today, the National Park Service guards the monument and tries to maintain a quiet aura, despite large school groups milling around. Somehow they manage because I feel  serenity in the place, a peacefulness and sense of pride.

Nighttime is the best time to visit, when fewer tourists linger.  Sit on the steps (there are 87, which equals four score and seven) and look down the Reflecting Pool toward the Washington Monument and Capitol .  The scene stirs with history, overflowing memories of past events, even if you’ve only seen them on film.

I’m not sure if Lincoln was our greatest president; his assassination certainly catapulted him into fame. Maybe the same is true of John Kennedy?  Roosevelt perhaps?  Others insist George Washington deserves the honor.

Nonetheless, Abe seemed to be the right man at the right time.  I hope our new president will be equally remembered.

*************

The Lincoln Memorial is open 24 hours a day. However Rangers are on duty to answer questions from 9:30 A.M. to 11:30 P.M. daily.

The Renaissance Orlando Resort at Sea World couldn’t be more convenient. The hotel sits just across the street from Sea World’s parking lot.  No need to drive, a nice feature.

The atrium lobby becomes a kid’s fantasy: a waterfall and goldfish pond; oversize high definition flat screens feature undersea footage of Neptune’s garden; a huge open area, an indoor field of sorts, great for hide and seek or tossing a football. And glass-sided elevators allow spying on the way up or down.

Children find a complimentary Shamu bath toy in their room. (Amazing how these 99 cent items become cherished belongings.) Mimi’s favorite thing–the sheets.  They were smooth as fine cashmere, perhaps 600 thread-count, enveloping with the feel of luxury.  Lots of pillows, too. Oh yes, a Starbuck’s in the lobby with free WiFi to keep Poppa Jay happy.

Tradewind’s Restaurant sets out an extravagant breakfast buffet, enough to feed a whole team of  NFL lineman, but is pricey.  Then again, it kept us so full, we skipped lunch.

Sure, Orlando offers many less expensive lodging options, some even serve free breakfast.  The Renaissance , however, flaunts location, location, location.  And that is a worthwhile perk at the end of a long day in the park- no hassling with busy Orlando traffic.

When I was a younger parent, I would have stayed farther away, some place that was merely safe and clean.  Being a grandparent is better. Either way, kids usually love any hotel. What’s important — holding the child’s hand and enjoying the day.

If you get lucky, very lucky, that little person will look in your direction and say, “Mimi, I love you.”

A few weeks ago, my daughter-in-law, Cory, was forced off the road and crashed into an embankment. The good news- she is fine; which makes me especially thankful because Cory was seven months pregnant at the time. Another relief, her two-year-old, my grand daughter, was not in the car.  The bad news- the car was totaled.

Afterward, Cory learned and shared some important advice on car accidents and child car seats.  I admit I was unaware of the facts and want to pass them along to other parents and grandparents.

Even though no child was in the car seat, the child restraint is considered unsafe after a major crash.  Cory was told to get a new seat and cut the straps in the old one, before disposing. That’s to prevent anyone else from using it, should they find it in the trash.

I investigated online and found the following recommendations from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  Please note that the following applies only to MINOR accidents:

Child Restraint Re-Use After Minor Crashes

NHTSA Position

*      NHTSA recommends that child safety seats be replaced following a moderate or severe crash in order to ensure a continued high level of crash protection for child passengers.

*      NHTSA recommends that child safety seats do not automatically need to be replaced following a minor crashes.   Minor crashes are those that meet ALL of the following criteria:

*        The vehicle was able to be driven away from the crash site;

*        The vehicle door nearest the safety seat was undamaged;

*        There were no injuries to any of the vehicle occupants;

*        The air bags (if present) did not deploy; AND

*         There is no visible damage to the safety seat

*         Clarifying the need for child seat replacement will reduce the number of children unnecessarily riding without a child safety seat while a replacement seat is being acquired, and the number of children who will have to ride without a child seat if a seat were discarded and not replaced. The clarification will also reduce the financial burden of unnecessary replacement.

Lastly, I found this website with  information on NHTSA’s  5-Star Ratings on purchasing a car seat: NHTSA

Three guesses now.  Name the iconic symbol of killer whales; the spokesman of the Orca’s; the star of Sea World ?

Of course, it’s Shamu, the slaphappy black and white mammal with the stupendous tail.  He shamelessly sprays and splashes his way into your soul, showering smooches on his trainer, then snorts a soggy smile. He spins, spirals and submerges, holding the crowd spellbound, only to surface with a startling slick stunt. He soars, he slides, and he shimmers and shines.

Don’t forget; he’s also a sleek, slippery scavenger, stealth of the ocean and a superb swimmer.  Yet, a sappy old salt who can summon spontaneous shouts from the crowd and smack a sopping somersault.

Sensational Shamu, put him in the spotlight and he steals the show. 

Last week  Mimi stepped out of her ordinary life and shot into the fast lane to photograph the wining race car from the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona .  

You see, Brumos, the local Porsche dealer, sponsors the Grand-Am race team.  Their cars placed first and third in the big event.  So, to celebrate the victory, the vehicles were displayed in their Jacksonville showroom. 

I drove over and snapped the #58 Porsche along with all the surviving dents, dirt, bugs and winner’s row confetti.  I also interviewed legendary race car driver Hurley Haywood.  

To see my gallery of pics and read about Brumos Racing Team please visit the AutomotiveTraveler.com blog, where I post under the name  Bimmer Dreamer .