The Way We Were

First Day of School

2010-01-20T00:42:00.000-08:00

Mon Petite Acadienne started pre-school this year. This is a picture of her about to start her first day at a Muslim school.

Our First House

2009-11-11T14:21:00.000-08:00

Well, if all goes well, we'll be moving into our new house in about three weeks. It's a gorgeous two-story home at the end of a cul-de-sac out here in Baton Rouge, La. It has three bedrooms, plus a bonus room that sits on top of the two-car garage. The house is only six years old, so it's basically move-in ready. However, we do plan to paint the walls and have an electrician come through to run wires for our home theatre system before we move in.

This is the view from the front of the house. You can see the workout room/office above the garage. The window above the door is in the third bedroom. Since it's the smallest of the three, we plan to use it as a guest room.

We plan to refinish the front door. We're considering having two panes of glass installed so that the foyer can let a bit more light into the living room.

We're going to replace this light as soon as we move in. It's really, really dated. Now we just have to decide what we're going to replace it with.

The living room has beautiful, glossy wood floors. The color on the walls is a bit hard to describe. "Olive green" is probably the closest I could come up with.

The kitchen has granite tile counter tops. The tiles are mostly black, white, and orange colored minerals. It matches nicely with the peach tile on the floor and back-splash.

We can't understand why the builders would use such an ugly faucet. That thing has to be replaced. It works fine, but I think another one would look nicer in that spot.

From the doorway of the guest bedroom, you can see my daughter's bathroom (the doorway on the left) and the master bedroom (the doorway on the right).

Each of the bedrooms have really nice six-blade fans that we plan to leave in. I think we're going to change the sconces, though.

There are two sets of sconces above the mirror. Each one has four lights, so the space is perfect for putting on make-up or fixing your hair. The tile matches the ones on the floor in the kitchen downstairs. I'm sure it made things a lot simpler for the builders just to use the same tile on both floors.

The third bedroom is the smallest, which is why we decided to make it the guest room. It's not that small, though. There's still enough room for us to fit a queen size bed in it. We're getting ourselves new bed-room furniture and we'll move our old set into the guest room since it won't be getting used very often. I did buy a new set of linens for it, though.

Upstairs, all of the rooms (except the bathrooms) have beige carpet and beige walls. We plan to use this as our office and workout room.

I can't wait until I find a nice seat to put in that window so that I can sit there and read. We're still trying to figure out what sort of window treatment will work for that space.

I think this is my daughter's bedroom.

The master bathroom has a huge jacuzzi tub that is big enough for my partner to sit down and relax in.

I'm not crazy about it, but I guess I can live with the white counter top...for now.

That's my reflection in the glass on the door of the shower in the master bathroom.

The walk-in closet in the master bedroom is a lot bigger than the space I have now.

I love the built-in shelving inside of the guest bedroom.

The granite surrounding the living room fireplace matches the granite in the kitchen.

This is the living room from another angle.

The garage is in great shape. The walls are painted and there are plenty of electrical outlets.

This is the half bathroom located on the first floor.

The laundry room has great built-in cabinets. After our new automated kitty litter system arrives, we plan to install a cat door so that our kitties can come and go as they please without us having to keep the door open.

The kitchen appliances are all black. We would prefer a gas stove, but this electric one runs just fine so we're keeping it for now.

The kitchen has lots of counter space and plenty of cabinets.

Welcoming the Newest Baby

2009-06-19T16:07:00.000-07:00

VanGoghGirl has two new cousins, both boys. Here's one of them. Hopefully, I'll have some pictures of the other after this weekend when they are all getting together for the christening.

Is it too much to ask for us to get at least one sweet little brown baby in this family? The German thinks it's so funny that, no matter how dark brown our partners may be, we can't hide the fact that we're only a couple of generations away from being white.

Easter with the Animals

2009-04-12T20:46:00.000-07:00

Gizmo the Mal-Shi Pup

My sister-in-law just got a new puppy. He's such a cute little ball of fluff and really friendly. His little legs are no more than a couple of inches long. Even when he runs, it looks like he's barely getting anywhere. After hours of running around, he sat on VanGoghGirl's lap and went right to sleep.

Cleo the Calico Cat

She's the meanest and loudest kitty I've ever known. The whole time we were by my mother-in-law's house, she yowled whenever anyone even came near her. VanGoghGirl was the only one that could even hold her without getting scratched and bitten.

Pictures From the Bayou

2008-03-27T17:49:00.001-07:00

Ana Hijabi

2008-03-26T13:47:00.000-07:00

My two nieces playing dress up like their mother. Aren't they beautiful Muslim girls?

The Christmas Season

2008-01-01T16:23:00.000-08:00

VanGoghGirl's first visit with her uncle.
December 21, 2007

My Art Diva

2007-11-08T22:15:00.001-08:00

Isn't she just adorable in this photo?!

Mon Petite Acadienne

2007-11-01T21:19:00.000-07:00

My angelic niece, le petite acadienne, at one years old

Post-Katrina Clean-Up

2007-10-31T10:40:00.001-07:00

My Sixth Grader

2006-12-29T09:25:00.000-08:00

My Young Angela Davis

2006-12-29T09:19:00.000-08:00

2006-12-19T17:02:00.000-08:00

Another Cousin's Baby

2006-12-08T04:42:00.000-08:00

This is my cousin's baby. She was the first one born this week but I forgot to post it until today. She's her mother's firstborn.

My Cousin's New Baby

2006-12-07T22:38:00.000-08:00

VanGoghGirl, PetiteSouris, Mommy and baby

Mommy and baby after a nice, sleep-inducing breastfeeding session

The new mommy by herself. I have never before seen her without any make-up on her face. Isn't she beautiful?

PetitSouris holding her little sister for the first time

Of course, VanGoghGirl had to hold her too.

The daddy with his two gorgeous daughters

Everyone posing with the new baby. The German was taking the picture for us.

Going To Texas To Pick Up A Pumpkin

2006-08-30T04:52:00.000-07:00

Noor Mahal In Her Jacket

2006-06-28T19:04:00.000-07:00

The Hands

2006-06-28T18:49:00.000-07:00

I showed The German this photo and he said, "Oh, finger-hells!" which made me giggle. My daughter didn't believe that I could grow really long nails, so I decided to prove it to her. She's in Texas right now and I uploaded this photo to show her that the experiment is still going strong. I must say, it does make typing a heck of a lot more difficult. Thank goodness that there hasn't been an abundance of "x" and "z" words in anything I've had to type lately. I'll be kind of relieved when they break, so she'll let me out of this deal.

In this one, we were both wearing our fancy rings. She has on the pink rhinestones and I have the heart-shaped ring that she got me around Mother's Day last year. It's my favorite ring. We took this photo right before she left for summer vacation when we promised to wear our rings whenever we missed each other, so that we wouldn't feel sad.

Noor Mahal, The Kitten

2006-06-21T17:33:00.000-07:00

While looking for some other files, I came across my first pictures of Noor Mahal. These were the photos listed on the SPCA's website. I fell in love with "Lizzy" when I first saw her and I knew she was the cat for me. She's the best animal companion I've ever had. I could tell that she was really special even before we ever met. Looking at these photos is almost like looking at VanGoghGirl's baby pictures.

Feeling Pretty (and) Happy

2006-06-21T01:53:00.000-07:00

The German actually took these photos before we went to a couple of my doctor's appointments. Surprisingly, I woke up in a good mood, so I spent a little extra time doing my hair and putting on my makeup. I felt really pretty that day.

Pre-Summer Vacation

2006-06-21T01:31:00.000-07:00

Me and The German giving VanGoghGirl our last hugs before she heads to Texas for the summer.

As you can see, she's an unabashed daddy's girl.

I can hardly believe that she's already this tall and she hasn't even started middle school yet!!

VanGoghGirl insisted on Mimi taking a picture with her "sister" (doll).

Mimi and PawPaw pose with their other grandchild.

Maya is always eager to take a car ride. I could barely get her to keep still long enough to photograph her.

My Volkeswagen Silver-Bug

2006-06-20T11:04:00.000-07:00

I finally got around to posting a few pictures of me and Mrs. Bugglesworth. I still think that the flower vase next to the steering wheel is one of the coolest features on a VW Bug. I finally found some decent fake Sunflowers to put in the vase that don't obstruct the driver's view of the dashboard. If you're a Bug lover/owner, feel free to let me know in the comments section.

Flowers From My Lover (Part I)

2006-06-01T00:08:00.000-07:00

My Beautiful Cats

2006-05-31T01:08:00.000-07:00

Layla (the tabby) and Noor (the Siamese) cuddling in The German's chair.

It's so rare to see them getting along so well. They usually prefer to sleep in different places.

Don't they look like sweethearts in the photos above? However, would you like to see the truth?

When the moon is full and there's a cloudless sky...

They transform into "Los gatos de Diablo"!!

From their private lair (also known as the overturned cat bed) they conspire.

While the people sleep, Los Gatos de Diablo make their plans to destroy the human race.

Le Papa et son Bebe

2006-05-31T00:54:00.000-07:00

At first Le Petite Acadienne was playing with her daddy's (my brother) shirt. Soon she was nodding off trying to resist her nap.

There's nothing like being held by daddy to help her get to sleep.

The end result of a hard day at play.

Le Bon Petit Gateau

2006-05-31T00:36:00.000-07:00

That has got to be one yummy cookie!

The Spaghetti Massacre

2006-05-31T00:27:00.000-07:00

My PetiteSouris has so much Tomato sauce on her clothes that it looks like the two of them were shot and knocked unconscious courtesy of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

La Petite Acadienne

2006-05-31T00:08:00.000-07:00

Doesn't she look like a little caterpillar in these first three photos?

Le Petite Acadienne is now fast asleep next to her very own drool spot.

Don't Get It Twisted!

2006-05-27T23:55:00.000-07:00

Me with my ghetto girl expression as we discuss family gossip.

Me and Petite Souris

2006-05-27T23:52:00.000-07:00

I am definitely her favorite aunt as you can see, right?

Where's the Teeth?

2006-05-27T23:49:00.000-07:00

VanGoghGirl told PetiteSouris to make a funny face and this was the result.

Sporty-Spice?

2006-05-27T23:44:00.000-07:00

This cousin is the caretaker. She always keep track of when it's time for me to take my medicine and she makes sure her husband (Tank) eats right and takes his Insulin shots. When I am in pain, she is always the first cousin to notice it. She's also REALLY strong and used to play football with our male cousins when we were children.

Tres Luxeux

2006-05-27T23:36:00.000-07:00

This is the cousin with the best sense of style. She always looks dashing no matter where she goes. Now that she is pregnant, she looks even more amazing.

My Prima Locita

2006-05-27T23:30:00.000-07:00

We are so happy to have her back in the United States with us.

Muffin Close-Up

2006-05-27T23:13:00.000-07:00

We used to call her "Muffin" because her cheeks were so plump that she always looked like she had food in her mouth.

The Cool Uncle

2006-05-27T23:07:00.000-07:00

Uncle "Tank" and his nieces

Nuestro Familia de Mestizas

2006-05-27T22:48:00.000-07:00

Mis primas, mi hija, mi sobrina y mi

It's a Hard Knock Life...

2006-05-27T22:42:00.000-07:00

for any doll that happens to reside at my flat.

The Two Dolls

2006-05-27T22:38:00.000-07:00

Petite Souris loves my daughter's doll because they share the same name.

My niece

2006-05-27T22:31:00.000-07:00

Ma petite souris avec une poupee.

Le Commencement

2006-05-22T22:02:00.000-07:00

Because of slavery and poverty, many black people don't have photos of their ancestors beyond one or two generations. I am blessed to come from a family that was rather affluent even during the days when some blacks were still being enslaved in this country. Well, I suppose the fact that not all of my ancestors were black probably played a big role in this too. Nevertheless, as a result of their relatively comfortable lifestyle, many of my ancestors were able to afford to have their pictures taken formally. These photographs were carefully saved and copied (and restored as necessary), so I was able to grow up surrounded by the faces of those who were long gone before I was born.

My mother took photos of us as children and as teenagers and I never gave much thought to why this was important until a few years ago. I wish that I could say that my entire life doesn't revolve around cancer but it does. After I got diagnosed, I started thinking about what my daughter would remember about our time together if I didn't live long enough to see her grow up. I wondered what I could do to help shape her memories even after I'm gone, so I started taking pictures. I started out with a cheap little 35 mm camera and eventually moved my way up to a digital camera.

Since I don't have any training my photos aren't intended to be works of art but, rather, simply snapshots of time--happy times mostly. My main goal is for these pictures to be something that my daughter, VanGoghGirl, can eventually look at and recall how much happiness we managed to have despite the difficulties. Sometimes I like to show these pictures to others, so I decided to start posting them here to make that a lot easier. Since Hurricane Katrina, most of my family remains displaced and this is the easiest way to have them share in the memories even when they aren't physically here with us.

If anyone else happens to stumble onto this site, feel free to take a look around. I think we all have a bit of voyeurism in us and I wouldn't begrudge a stranger their right to be unobtrusively nosey. Feel free to leave comments if you like. I always enjoy hearing from others.