Grand Opening Sparkle!

The Grand Opening Gala in New Orleans was so FABULOUS that it has taken the New Orleans Times-Picayune 4 days to come up with enough adjectives to publish an artice describing its grandeur!!! It was a VERY flattering article, and Miss G was thrilled to find her Kate Spade Handbags, Coach Shoes, and several other pieces of her FABULOUS merchandise prominantly features! Gawd, she had to grovel to get KS into that store!! She would have included a link to the actual article online, but, alas, it was nowhere to be found on the Times-Picayune website (http://www.nola.com/) If anyone can find it, please let me know!

Playing 'Possum

We're very used to possums around here. They love to live in the crawl space under the house, and for years they have come up onto the back porch to eat cat food. When they start coming around, Miss Ginger baits her live trap with a Little Debbie Oatmeal Cake (possums love those and you can smoosh them onto the trigger so they can't steal the bait!)

Catching them is like shooting fish in a barrel, and the next day I call the city and they come in a truck, pick the possum up, and take him to the city's "possum playground". At least that's what I tell myself. They're kinda of gross but they are warm-blooded animals and I have a hard time thinking of God's creatures as "disposable". And it's not like they come in the house are anything.

Miss G caught 5 of them last spring, and we thought we were done for the year, but this fall apparently a new family has moved in. They always come up on the back porch and eat Nog's food, but now this one is sleeping in his bed!!!

Is that some unmitigated gall, or what? Guess we'll have to get the trap out tomorrow!

FABULOUS Day in Texas!!

Today is one of those days that makes one "Thank their lucky stars they're in Texas"! The weather is FABULOUS and makes up for the eternally hot summers, the sloppy, wet winters, and the the unpredictable hurricane season we endure each year. It was cool and and breezy this morning, and even after the sun came out it stayed cool and never rose above 70 degrees. Unheard of for this time of year! After the sun went down tonight it got quite chilly, so we actually got to use the fireplace!



It's not a real fireplace, but one of those gas ones where you push the button and "poof!" the fire lights. Better yet, when it gets too hot or you want to run out of the house, you can push the button again and it goes off. No smell, no embers, no burned up kitties from getting to close! The whole thing is enclosed in glass, but you can't tell by looking at it!



The kitties love this weather, too, especially when they get to have their fireplace!










It's a perfect night for one of Miss Ginger's southern favorites: shrimp and grits.














Miss G didn't grow up eating shrimp and grits- Momma Ginger only ever made grits for breakfast. Shrimp and grits are most common around Charleston, and thoughout the Carolinas and that part of the south. Miss G discovered them during her travels to Atlanta, and eats them there whenever she gets the chance.

Gala Recap and Home, Sweet Home!

Miss Ginger is Home, Sweet Home after 6 tiring weeks and 3 really exhausting days! You know Miss G was REALLY nervous about having to walk her Senior VP (the one with the Miranda Priestly reputation) through the store. Well, she couldn't have been lovelier or more complimentary of both stores, so all those nerves were for nothing! Last night, all the hard work paid off with the Charity Gala benefitting NOCCA, the New Orleans Concervancy for the Arts. Miss G is not speaking out of turn to recap the Macy's presentation of a gigantic check to NOCCA for $250,000 dollars to help them establish a culinary arts programs to supplement the performance and visual art programs they already have. The Emeril Legasse Foundation also announced a donation, bringing at least half a million dollars in funding to NOCCA's program!

But Miss G is getting ahead of herself! It all started when Special Events teams from Atlanta, New York, and Houston all converged on the store to transform it from retail hotspot to Gala Central!

They tented, carpeted, and air conditioned a large section of the parking garage to create a FABULOUS ballroom, which Miss Ginger immediately dubbed the "GarageMahal". There was a special red carpet reception for the visiting celebrities and the "high dollah" guests in the tent, and then there was entertainment, food, drinks, and celebrity appearances all over the store. Tommy Hilfiger in mens, Martha Stewart in housewares, Russell Simmons in mens, Steve Madden in shoes- it goes on and on. After the "in-store" cocktails and buffets, all of the guests were ushered to the GarageMahal for Miss Ginger's favorite part of the night- a cooking demonstration by Martha Stewart and Emeril Legasse.

It started with Emeril showing Martha how to make a sazerac, with ensuing discussion about Peychoud Bitters vs. Angostura Bitters, blah blah blah.

Once Martha had her sazerac in hand, she never put it down! Girlfriend sucked on that sazerac for the rest of the demo! She showed Emeril how to make homemade shrimp boil, and I'm sure most in the audience noticed that between blabbing about bitters and sucking on sazeracs, they boiled the damn things for like 8 minutes, which surely meant they were like rubber by the time she took them out!

Miss G was so busy trying to get these great pics of Martha and Emeril for you that she almost didn't notice that Tyler Florence was standing like 5 feet away from her!

She managed to snap one shot before his handlers came to wrangle him into position. Dayum he is a cutie!

After the cooking demo, there was a FABULOUS fashion show created by the FABULOUS Lenny Matuszwski, who produces some of the greatest fashion moments anywhere. The white tent runway show was spectacular, as always! Miss G has worked with Lenny and his team on so many events she can't event remember the first!

Once the show was over Miss G and some of her teammates dashed out to dine, since they were starving! After an italian feast, it was off to beddy bye, and all we could think of was "WE GET TO GO HOME TOMORROW!!!"

This morning was marching bands, speeches, confetti cannons, ribbon cuttings, and mobs of shoppers as the 2 locations had their "official" public grand openings. Now the regional team has left their little birdies to fly on their own, and we have flown home as well!

Are You Sick of it Yet?

Here's more info on the Store Openings that you may find interesting...

Info on the Gala from NOLA.com

From NOLA.com- the website of the New Orleans Times-Picayune
High-powered cooking: Martha Stewart appears with Emeril Lagasse in New Orleans
Posted by Judy Walker, Food editor, The Times-Picayune October 23, 2008 4:44AM
Categories: Breaking News, Living: Food, Top News

AP file photo
Martha Stewart presents celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse with a birthday cake made entirely out of Rice Krispie treats, in New York, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2008. The cake was fashioned in the shape of a golf course green after Emeril's passion for golf.In February, Martha Stewart and Emeril Lagasse cooked up a business deal. On Friday, the two will cook -- really cook -- together for the first time in New Orleans.

At a gala to benefit the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, they will prepare a recipe from her new book, "Martha Stewart's Cooking School." The gala is being held in conjunction with the opening of two Macy's stores here, at Lakeside Shopping Center and at The Esplanade. And Stewart and Lagasse are just two of the mega-watt stars of the culinary world coming to town for this weekend's festivities.

But it is Martha Stewart who has become an icon in her own time. Who else is invoked as the epitome, as in "My friend is the Martha Stewart of neighborhood shrimp boils," or "I'm not Martha Stewart, but I like to arrange flowers"?

During a telephone interview to promote her appearance for the department store, which carries a line of her housewares, linens, dinnerware and cookware, Stewart's famous voice was calm and modulated.

She said she has not been to New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina.

"I'm anxious to come down and see that things are getting back on track, as I hear they are," she said.

But it is primarily a business trip. In addition to doing the Friday cooking demonstration, Stewart will sign her book from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Macy's Lakeside.

She and Lagasse, the area's own high-wattage culinary star, teamed up earlier this year when he sold his line of branded products (retaining his 11 restaurants) to her company, Martha Stewart Omnimedia, for $45 million in cash and $5 million in stock.

"It's working out very well," Stewart said of the partnership.

"Emeril is working very hard, as usual. He's very entrepreneurial, a very hardworking man. He and Tony Cruz, his partner, are wonderful additions to our company. We look forward to all his products, and we've been working with him on the development of his new series of books he's doing for Harcourt Brace.

"The reason he and I work so well together is we can bounce ideas off each other. We're not competitive. We're very cooperative. He appeals to a different audience. I think we broaden our audiences by this liaison."

In September, Stewart's company announced that Lagasse and HarperStudio are collaborating on a multiyear, 10-book project. The first book, on indoor and outdoor grilling, will be published in time for Father's Day 2009.

While she's in Louisiana, "we'll have a shrimp boil, which is one of my favorite things in the whole world," Stewart said. "I'm going to visit my little haunts, go to Lucullus, which is one of my favorite shops." Patrick Dunne, the owner of the culinary antiques shop in the French Quarter, is an old friend, she added.

"I'll just look around and eat some good food," she said. "And have a Sazerac or two."

Her own new book is accompanied by a new "Cooking School" segment on her TV show, "The Martha Stewart Show," which airs at 1:05 a.m. weekdays on WGNO-TV. Episodes are repeated the following weeknight at 7 p.m. on the Fine Living Network, available locally on Cox (Ch. 356) and Charter (Ch. 158) cable, DirecTV (Ch. 232) and the Dish Network (Ch. 113) satellite.

The new book, at 504 pages, was a long time in the making, Stewart said. Each recipe in it, she explained, "teaches a technique or a point or an important lesson in the preparation of food that, once mastered, everybody will be able to cook."

And being able to cook healthful meals at home is more important now, in the current economy, than ever before, she said.

The recipe for salt-crusted fish uses three pounds of kosher salt, which used to be 89 cents a box, Stewart said. Now, it's about $3 a pound.

"You have to use that good coarse kosher salt, which isn't as salty as regular table salt. And the fish is just so succulent and tender and wonderful. And it's easy. This is an easy dish," she said. "And when you bring it to the table, the presentation just astonishes people."

On the telephone, Stewart's voice reflects her enthusiasm also for her blog, www.marthastewart.com. She takes most of the pictures for it herself.

"Isn't it fun?" she said. "We are very interested in giving sort of educated information to our readers and our Internet users. .¤.¤. So the blog is really my way of giving them a glimpse of what I do on a daily basis that's not necessarily public or well known."

The day of the interview, she had taken a tour of all the new barns in her neighborhood, she said, and was planning to blog about interesting techniques different barn owners had used.

Besides Lagasse and Stewart, other familiar foodie figures who will be on the red carpet at the Macy's opening gala are chefs Tyler Florence, Dave Lieberman and Cat Cora, who is an American Iron Chef. They also will do tastings and sign their books Saturday at

At tomorrow night's Gala, Entertainment Tonight has their own tent set up to do celebrity interviews and coverage of the event! Isn't that wild! I'm not sure which reporters they are sending, but you can bet Miss Ginger is gonna march up to that tent and demand to be interviewed! Of course her fans want to see her on the red carpet!!!

But that's tomorrow night night at Lakeside. Before that, we have to "entertain" the Senior Management Committee at the Esplanade store, with no specific agenda. That means the Senior VP in charge of Miss G's areas will be picking through the store, fixture by fixture, wanting to know "where's this? Why didn't you do this? What's up with this?" ARRRRRRH!!!

We call our SVP "Miranda Priestly" because A: she looks just like her and B: she acts just like her!

So Miss G has to get through all that, then get back to the hotel to get "gussied up" for the big event! At least she finally gets to go home Saturday!

Insanity!!!!!

Today can only be described as "insanity"! It was the charity shopping day for the return to New Orleans of "America's Favorite Department Store". (I'm not authorized to speak to the press so I can't "say" the name!) OMG- I have been through 9 or 10 of these events in my 20+ year career, but I have NEVER seen so many people in one department store in my life!!! It was CRAZY!!! We opened the doors at the mall entrance and it took 4 full minutes for the waiting crowd to flow into the building. And there are 3 other entrances that were just as crowded! I heard that the people in special events estimate 100 people for every minute of flow, so that would be 400 people times 4 entrance, meaning 1,600 people flooded into the building in the 1st 4 minutes!! And the floodgates never closed! Can't wait to see what kind of volume we did!!
I wanted to badly to snap and post a picture but that would have been against the rules. So you'll just have to use you imagination!
So tonight it's room service of panini, wedge salad, and a bottle of pinot grigio. Tomorrow we clean up the mess and rebuild our beautiful store!

For Miss Alaineous

Miss Alaineous commented that if Miss Ginger's shoe department had these shoes, she wanted them.

I'm pretty sure these are the shoes she coveted.

Just email me your size and chargecard number and we'll get these right out to you, sweetie:

Now that's internet shopping, GingerSnap style!

The Old Queen Finally Croaked

According to the LA Times, Celebrity Fashion Criticizer (that's different than critic) "Mr. Blackwell" is dead. But as Bette Davis always said about Joan Crawford: "I should say something good about the dead. She's dead. Good!" The bitter old fart NEVER had ANYTHING nice to say about ANYONE!! Which I why Miss Ginger deems him a "criticizer" instead of a critic.

Oh. And he was ugly, too!

Let's talk about that "fey" scarf and those hideously dated glasses!

Celebrity style sniper 'Mr. Blackwell' dies at 86
"Mr. Blackwell," 86, whose annual worst-dressed lists skewered celebs for their fashion mistakes, died Sunday of complications from an intestinal infection.
Blackwell began his infamous criticisms almost 50 years ago, way before Joan Rivers and the fashion flock honed style sarcasm to the daily lambasting it's become in mags such as Us Weekly and InTouch as well as on TV shows and the internet.
Click here to see a gallery of Blackwell's life.
Even though Blackwell's no longer with us, his legacy will, no doubt, live on.
No one escaped this man's wrath, the dowdy or the daring. Let's stroll down fashion criticism memory lane with some of Blackwell's most memorable style snips:
Cameron Diaz: "Looks like she was dressed by a colorblind circus clown."
Madonna: "From Ghetto Glam to Rhinestone Cowgirl to Mrs. Guy Ritchie."
Christina Aguilera: "Is she a boring and body-baring bungle -- or just auditioning for 'Sheena, Queen of the Jungle?'"
Mary Kate Olsen: "A tattered toothpick trapped in a hurricane."
The Dixie Chicks: "Truck-stop fashion tragedies trapped in a typhoon."
Renee Zellweger: "A painted pumpkin on a pogo stick."
Ann-Margret: "Marlon Brando in a g-string."
Martha Stewart: "The centerfold for the Farmer's Almanac."
Sharon Stone: "An over-the-hill Cruella de Ville."
Elizabeth Taylor: "Looks like two small boys fighting under a mink blanket."
Cher: "A million beads and one overexposed derriere."
Mariah Carey: "Shrink-wrapped cheesecake."
Queen Elizabeth II: "The palace Christmas tree or just a royal clown?
Camilla Parker-Bowles: "A petrified parakeet from the Jurassic Age."
Will you miss Mr. Blackwell's annual "worst dressed" list? Or do you wish everyone would stop making fun of people for the way they dress?
Photo credit: Wireimage

Sneak Peak for the Ginger Snaps!!!!

Here's an exclusive Ginger Snap sneak peak at all of Miss Ginger's hard work over the past couple of months!! (She had some help from a lot of really awesome teammates!) Ginger snapped the photos on her way out tonight, and it's really interesting how you catch things in photos that you don't see in 3D! We'll touch all those little details up tomorrow and then we're "ret to go!" We actually opened the building tonight for the staff's friends and family to come in to shop and see the blood, sweat, and tears their loved ones have put into the building!

Just a reminder of the magnitude of this project: exactly one week ago today, every piece of this stuff (including most of the fixtures) was still in cardboard boxes!! Teamwork can move mountains!

More pics tomorrow!!!

Mystery Illness Resolved!

Miss Ginger finally figured out why she has been so sick! And she's feeling kinda stupid about it!Ya see, the Marriott has these beautiful plush fluffy beds, with lots of big fluffy down pillows on them. Well, guess what? Miss Ginger is alergic to goose down! That explains why she felt better when she would go home, and worse again when she came back. And why she got REALLY sick when she was here for 2 straight weeks!So this time when she checked in she had the housekeeper switch out the pillows to synthetic, and guess what? No sneezing, no coughing, no hacking- just a great night's sleep!

Car Rental Jackpot

Miss Ginger usually rents cars from National

when she travels, because she loves the concept of 'Emerald Aisle", where you walk among aisles of cars and pick the one that suits your fancy, for the price of whatever class you reserved. Normally, Miss G can get a luxury sedan or an SUV for the price of a midsize, but her luck in New Orleans has not been good. The last few times she has arrived, the Emerald Aisle was empty, and Miss G had to wait until a car could be washed and prepped for her. Of course, it was typically an Impala or a Malibu. Last week she needed a car with more capacity, and she was lucky to get a Kia minivan that smelled like a soccer team of 8 year olds had lived in it for a week. Ewe.

So Miss G was eleated today when she arrived at the Emerald Aisle to find is stocked with a veritable smorgasbord of delicious cars! She chose a Saturn Outlook,

and it is one of the sweetest rides Miss G has ever driven (next to Veronique Volvo, of course!)

It has a plush leather interior, seating for 7, and XM sattelite radio to boot! I'm not gonna want to give it up and the end of the week!

Good Night's Sleep!

Here's what Miss G slept like last night:

Miss Ginger prefers rocks #1 and 2. Not so much #3, unless someone treats her badly and she needs to throw it at someone!

If you're like Miss Ginger and always associate this song with the Chevy commercial, you may be as surprised as she that it has a really good verse and is a pretty inspirational song!

Stood there boldly
Sweatin' in the sun
Felt like a million
Felt like number one
The height of summer
I'd never felt that strong
Like a rock

I was eighteen
Didn't have a care
Working for peanuts
Not a dime to spare
But I was lean and
Solid everywhere
Like a rock

My hands were steady
My eyes were clear and bright
My walk had purpose
My steps were quick and light
And I held firmly
To what I felt was right
Like a rock

Like a rock, I was strong as I could be
Like a rock, nothin' ever got to me
Like a rock, I was something to see
Like a rock

And I stood arrow straight
Unencumbered by the weight
Of all these hustlers and their schemes
I stood proud, I stood tall
High above it all
I still believed in my dreams

Twenty years now
Where'd they go?
twenty years
I don't know
sit and I wonder sometimes
Where they've gone

And sometimes late at night
When I'm bathed in the firelight
The moon comes callin' a ghostly white
And I recall
recall

Like a rock. standin' arrow straight
Like a rock, chargin' from the gate
Like a rock, carryin' the weight
Like a rock

Like a rock, the sun upon my skin
Like a rock, hard against the wind
Like a rock, I see myself again
Like a rock


Did you ever sleep so hard that you woke up with a "sleep hangover"? That's how Miss G is today- it's like she's in a fog! As Earl "Brother Boy" Ingram would say: "My minds a blank!"

Miss G's going back to bed with the kitties- it's the only way to cure a sleep hangover!

Take Me Home!!!

Yea!!!! Miss Ginger gets to go home today!!! Even if it's just for one day!!! Tonight after work she gets to fly back to Houston for 1 full day, to pet her pussies, wash her unmentionables, and repack her bag to leave again early Sunday morning. After that, it's straight through next Saturday, then she's DONE!!!


It's one of my favorite Cher songs, and also the number Miss G performed when she won Miss Mint Julep 2007!!!



Take me home, take me home
Want to feel you close to me
Take me home, take me home
With you is where I want to be

Wrapped in your arms tonight
Just makin' love
Music and candlelight
Stars up above

Take me home (take me home)
Take me home (take me home)
Oh can't you see I want you near
(Can't you see I want you)
Take me home (take me home)
Take me home (take me home)
Ooh, baby let's get out of here

I'd follow you anywhere
Your place or mine
Just a one-night affair
Would be so fine

I'm in heaven (heaven), seems like heaven (heaven)
So much in heaven (heaven)

(Take me home)

(Take me home)

One night with you
Lyin' here next to me
It's the right thing to do
It would be ecstasy

Ooh I'm in heaven (heaven), seems like heaven (heaven)
So much in heaven (heaven)

Take me home (take me home)
Take me home (take me home)
Ooh I want to feel you close to me
(I want to feel you close)
Take me home (take me home)
(Take me home) Ooh with you is where I want to be

Wrapped in your arms tonight
Just makin' love
Music and candlelight
Stars up above

Well I'm in heaven (heaven), seems like heaven (heaven)

(Take me, take me home, home with you)
C'mon and take me, ooh baby baby take me home
(Take me, take me home, home with you)
You'll be lyin' next to me, baby it'd me ecstasy
(Take me, take me home, home with you)
Ah can't you see I want you near, baby baby let's get out of here
(Take me, take me home, home with you)

Miss Ginger is a Busy Gurl!

Miss Ginger is a busy gurl getting these 2 stores ready to open!!! Even though she's literally got hundreds of people here helping her get it pulled together, there is some much to do and so little time to get it done! It's amazing to look at the Lakeside store today and realize that 3 days ago it was pretty much just a mountain of cardboard boxes! "General Ginger" has marched her Army through the fray, and in 3 days time the place looks pretty much like a department store, with the exception of a couple of spots where merch is still en route, or a fixture is missing, etc. It will all get fixed in the next couple of days! Tomorrow's "bog project" is the shoe department, where the stockroom is run and organized, which is the most important part there. We'll send the team through the stockroom to pull samples of every style, and then inventory the balance to set up the electronic locator system so it will know where every style "lives" in the stockroom. Technology has really revolutionized the shoe business in ways most consumers don't even realize.
Miss G saw the very handsome and talented Lennie M in the store today, which means the opening has to be near! Miss G has worked alongside Lennie for years. He is a fashion show producer extraordanaire, and his shows get rave reviews from Paris to New York to Houston to, now, New Orleans! He's producing the tent show for the gala, so it should be spectacular! Here's everything else that's going on for the opening:

Macy's Lakeside Shopping Center, Grand Opening October 25
Directions Catalogs
3301 Veterans Memorial Boulevard Metarie, LA 70002

10/25/08 9:50am
Grand Opening Ribbon CuttingJoin us as we start the day in style!
10/25/08 11am
Martha Stewart Book SigningWe're thrilled to help Martha celebrate the launch of her newest book, "Cooking School." Purchase your copy for $45 and enter our special VIP line to meet Martha and receive an autograph, as time permits.Appearance is subject to change based on availability.
10/25/08 1pm
Meet Shoe Designer Steve MaddenDon't miss this exclusive opportunity to meet shoe designer Steve Madden as he showcases footwear from his latest collection. You'll receive an autographed t-shirt just for coming, plus you'll get a free gift with your Steve Madden purchase of $50 or more made at the event. Special guest host & MTV personality Julissa Bermudez, plus a live dj will be part of the excitement.
10/25/08 1pm
Come Fall in Love with JeansCould you fall in love? Style&co. thinks so. In fact, we're so confident that our brand new line of jeans has your favorite fit, we have our fashion stylist on hand for a special shopping event with refreshments and music.
10/25/08 2pm
Shopping with the Designer: Sunny Leigh at LakesideShop, talk and enjoy refreshments with the designer herself! Sunny Leigh will offer her own expert style and fit tips while you enjoy personal shopping assistance.
10/25/08 2pm
Chef Tyler Florence is cooking at LakesideMacy's Culinary Council proudly presents the one and only Tyler Florence to inspire you with a gourmet tasting of some of his signature recipes. Chef will be signing purchased copies of his cookbooks, while supplies last and time permits. Meet us on Level 3 in the Home Store.
10/25/08 3pm
Jones New York Fall Fashion PreviewCheck out the newest styles and hottest trends at an exclusive sneak preview of Jones New York Signature and Jones New York Collection. Enjoy modeling and light refreshments. Plus, purchase a limited-edition tee illustrated by Sujean Rim just for New Orleans. 100% of Jones New York's profits will be donated to Jones New York in The Classroom, a non-profit organization supporting teachers and children's education. Visit www.jnyintheclassroom.org.
10/25/08 4pm
Clinton Kelly Shopping PartyRSVP to 1.866.226.0449 The famous co-host of TLC's "What Not To Wear" shows you what works for fall. Enter for your chance to win* a $500 shopping spree with Clinton on the spot. Spend $150 on I.N.C International Concepts, Alfani, Charter Club or Style&co. at the event and you?ll receive a copy of his new book, "Freakin' Fabulous," while supplies last. He'll also sign your book, as time permits. *No purchase necessary. See entry form for complete details.
10/25/08 6pm
Rock out with Tommy Hilfiger and Gavin DeGrawJoin us for the grand finale of our opening day celebration! Check out the new fall line during an exclusive autograph session with the iconic designer and singer/songwriter Gavin DeGraw, followed by a live musical performance by the breakout artist. Make a Tommy sportswear purchase of $50 or more, and receive Gavin's latest CD plus VIP access to the event, while supplies last.
10/26/08 1pm
Meet New Orleans Queen if Soul, Irma ThomasGet up close and personal with the Grammy® winner at an exclusive signing event. Show us your receipt for a $100 or more storewide purchase and you'll receive her latest CD, "Simply Grand," while supplies last. Then have Irma autograph it for you!
11/11/08 2:00pm - 5:00pm
Meet Waterford Artisan John ConnollyCelebrate Holiday.Celebrate Family.Celebrate Love.The Artisan Tour 2008 invites you to join John Connolly, Waterford Chief of Design, at Macy's Lakeside, beginning at 2pm. John will be available to assist with your holiday selections as well as enhance your Waterford purchases with his signature.As part of this special occasion, we are proud to offer our Exclusive Limited Edition Ashford 10" Vase.(Retail price of vase $325)If you are unable to attend, you may pre-select your choices today.Please call 504-484-4600 for additional information.See details
Macy's The Esplanade, Grand Opening October 25
Directions Catalogs
1401 West Esplanade Kenner, LA 70065

10/25/08 9:50am
Grand Opening Ribbon CuttingJoin us as we start the day in style!
10/25/08 12noon
Meet New Orleans Queen if Soul, Irma ThomasGet up close and personal with the Grammy® winner at an exclusive signing event. Show us your receipt for a $100 or more storewide purchase and you'll receive her latest CD, "Simply Grand," while supplies last. Then have Irma autograph it for you!
10/25/08 12noon
Join Skoodlez at The EsplanadeIntroducing Kingston and Cupcake from Skoodlez, exclusively at Macy's! Join us for an interactive storytime with life-size Skoodlez Kingston the Lion and Cupcake the Hippo, who will be arriving on the Skoodlez Story Mobile.
10/25/08 1pm
I.N.C International Concepts® Fashion ShowJoin us for a runway-style celebration highlighting our own I.N.C International Concepts® collection for men and women! Meet us at the Mall Entrance fashion stage.
10/25/08 2pm
Cubavera presents Nestor TorresCome experience an intimate jazz performance by Latin Grammy® award-winning artist Nestor Torres. You'll have the chance to meet Nestor, receive his latest CD (which he will sign as time permits), as well as a Cubavera graphic tee with any $50 Cubavera purchase, while supplies last.
10/25/08 3pm
Chef Cat Cora is cooking at The EsplanadeMacy?s Culinary Council presents the one and only Cat Cora to inspire you with a gourmet tasting of some of her delicious signature recipes. Chef will be signing purchased copies of her cookbooks, while supplies last and time permits. Meet us on Level 2 in the Home Store.
10/25/08 4pm
Russell Simmons is in the HouseRussell Simmons will make a rare special appearance to introduce his new collection, ArgyleCulture. Get up close and personal at our intimate Q&A with Russell. Plus there'll be great music, hot models and more. Afterwards, Russell will be on hand for autographs (VIP line with a $75 ArgyleCulture purchase made at the event).
10/26/08 2pm
Chef Dave Lieberman is cooking at The EsplanadeMacy's Culinary Council presents the one and only Dave Lieberman to inspire you with a gourmet tasting of some of his delicious signature recipes. Chef will be signing purchased copies of his cookbooks, while supplies last and time permits. Meet us on Level 2 in the Home Store.

Miss Ginger is a Blonde!

Miss Ginger is a total blonde. Don't let the signature red hair fool you- it's definitely a wig!! One thing about blondes- their brains are kind of sticky. Once something get's stuck in there, it's doesn't come out easily. Not that much gets stuck in there. but when it does......
Soooo, when Miss G first met NutWOOD Beth back in Jland, her mind went all Diva on her and she thought: "I wonder if she lives near Tina Turner?! You know: Nutbush City Limits!" Ever since then I have always accidentally called her Nutbush Beth. And she has patiently corrected me! And I still get it wrong! So I'm gonna try, baby! Really! But if I get it wrong again, think of it as my little pet name for a very special J-land Blogger friend! Anyway, my dear, please accept my HUMBLE apologies. This song's for you:


and the words:
A church houseGin house
A school houseOuthouse
On Highway Number Nineteen
The people keep the city clean.
They call it NutbushOhNutbush
Call it Nutbush city limits.
Twentyfive was the speed limit
Motorcycle not allowed in it
You go t'the store on Friday
You go to church on Sunday.
They call it NutbushOhNutbush
Call it Nutbush city limits
.You go t'the fields on week days
And have a picnic on Labor Day
You go to town on Saturday
But go to church ev'ry Sunday.
They call it Nutbush. . .
No whiskey for sale
You can't cop no bail
Saltpork and molasses
Is all you get in jail.
They call it Nutbush. . .
Little old town in Tennessee
That's called a quiet little old community
A one-horse town
You have to watch
What you're puttin' down in old
Nutbush.They call it Nutbush.
-Ike and Tina Turner

Miss Ginger Discovers a Cure for Hiccups!!!

Miss Ginger has learned as simple, quick, easy way to cure hiccups! She got them this morning, and after a little bit of internet research and some experimentation, she has found a yoga-type routine that worked! Try it the next time you get hiccups and let her know if it works!

1. Stand straight, heels and toes together. Head up, chin up, arms at sides. Relax. Breathe normally. Find your center.
2. Inhale slowly, raising the arms to shoulder level, palms down. Press thumbs to forefingers. Strech fingertips toward opposite walls.Tighten the arms.
3. Continue the inhale. Slowly drop the head back and push the chest forward, tightening the buttocks and locking the knees.
4. Maximize the inhale and hold, pushing the breath against the inside walls of the chest with your postioning. Reach for the walls. Tighten the arms and buttocks. Reach. Stretch. Push. Hold.
5. Release the breath slowly. Head up. Arms float down. Return to mountain pose.
Repeat if needed.

Miss Ginger's hiccups went away with just one set. Beauty of this is: you can do it just about anywhere, with no liquids, salt, sugar, or anything else!

Miss Ginger Channels "Eloise"

Miss Ginger is has been at the Marriott so long she is turning into "Eloise"!

The staff all know her. When she walks into the bar, Steven, the bartender says: "Hi, Miss Ginger! Pinot Grigio?" To which she always replies "Yes, yes, yes!!!"

When she walks into the restaurant for breakfast, John the waiter, always says "Diet Pepsi, Miss Ginger?" To which she always replies "Please, please, please!"

When the man from room service brings her tray and says "Where would you like this?" Miss Ginger replies "on the desk. Charge it, please!"

and when Miss G skibbles past the front desk to the parking garage each morning to her car, Danielle at the desk always says "Don't forget your parking validation, Miss Ginger!' to which she always replies "Oh, my Lord!"

Last night she even had to do laundry, because she was clean out of clean unmentionables! Miss G doesn't even do laundry at home, so doing it in a coin-op was a real treat! At least it was right here at the Marriott! It's not the Plaza, but we've got it pretty good! As we get closer to opening are more of the vendors are here to assist, they are staying in "lesser properties" and are quite inpressed that we are in such a nice hotel within our per diem!

Once great thing about working for the World'ds Largest Department Store: we have a GREAT internal travel services department and they get us great deals in nice places!!!

By the bye.... Miss G is feeling MUCH better!!! Miracle drug, that codeine! Slept like a baby!

Waiting for Nyquil Codeine, Part II.

Miss G is up at 3:30 am waiting for the next dose of codeine to kick in. She is not hacking, and there is hardly any drainage!! Yea! Still a bit raspy sounding , but that will come with time!
Snaps to Nutbush Beth for agreeing with my comment about medicine names!! I mean, really, why didn't they just do the full Monty and call "FloMax" "P%$sMore!" Have to admit, "Lodrane" certainly lowered Miss G's drainage!!!
Earn snaps by commenting to Miss G about any other medications you know with "way too literal" names that describe their function! Not made up names- these are real medications for which real doctors write real prescriptions.
Here's an example, though not a funny one. Momma G used to take a synthetic thyroid compound called "Synthroid". Gee, I wonder where they got that clever name?!

Miss Ginger Visits McDoctor's

Miss G finally gave up and decided to go to McDoctor's for a Sinus Infection Combo, supersize the cough syrup.

Or was is a Stardoc's Medicine, for a Head Cold Frappacino with a shot of steroids?

She's not sure which, because she's kinda looped right now.

She had to go, because every 15 minutes or so she would go into these maniacal hacking/coughing fits that left her red-faced, sore, and frustrated. She's had a cough drop in her mouth almost every second of the last week, and has even been sleeping with a cough drop in her mouth, but she would wake up every couple of hours when the cough drop melted and she would start hacking again. The drainage and the coughing are the only really bad symptoms, but they were really bad and not getting any better, until now.

So, Ronald McDoctor gave her a steroid shot in her derriere, plus a prescription for a codeine cought syrup (you know, the kind that actually work!) and a prescription strength antihistamine with the very literal name of "Lodrane". (She likes that medicine name almost as much as "Flomax"!)

Anyway, they both cause drowsiness, so Miss G figured she would pop them down and sleep the weekend away until she felt better. Not so much. Actually, the drainage has already stopped. Just like that. Not sure whether that the shot or the pill, but within 2 hours of each, that's done. And since the drainage has stopped, most of the coughing is gone. But instead of feeling sleepy, Miss G feels jittery. REAL jittery. Too jittery to drive, for sure. Jittery like she needs a drink. But that would make things only worse!

Maybe in a few hours, when it's time for her cough syrup again, she'll mix it into a glass of Sprite and pretend it's a cocktail before she goes to bed. A cocktail always calms her nerves!

At least she won't be coughing all night!

Waiting for Nyquil

Miss Ginger is waiting for her Nyquil to kick in, so she thought she'd knock out some blog to make use of the time.

We made quite a bit of progress today toward the opening of the upcoming 150th anniversary installments of America's Favorite Department Store.

We've only got 9 days left to work, and still TONS to do, but it will happen. It has to happen! October 25th is the 150th anniversary of an American institution, and the return of these stores to the rebirth of New Orleans is our way of giving back to the country we now serve from coast to coast! Tommy Hilfiger will be there. Emeril Lagasse will be there. Martha Stewart will be there. Clinton Kelly will be there. Miss Ginger will be there, making sure they are all comfortable, happy, and in the right places at the right times! Oye!

The Gala they are hosting should be QUITE the shindig! The event benefits NOCCA, the New Orleans Conservatory of Contemporary Arts, and tickets for VIP admission are like $750 a pop.

Martha Stewart, Emeril Lagasse, and Macy's Team Up To Benefit The NOCCA Institute!
Join Martha Stewart and Emeril Lagasse
TO CELEBRATE MACY’S COMEBACK TO NEW ORLEANS
VIP GALA TO BENEFIT THE NOCCA INSTITUTE

Ooh! – Macy’s celebrates the opening of two new stores at Lakeside Shopping Center and The Esplanade.
Ahh!! – See and be seen at a fabulous cocktail gala featuring lively entertainment, culinary delights and a high-energy fashion show all to benefit The NOCCA Institute on the night of Friday October 24, 2008 at Macy’s Lakeside Shopping Center.
Wow!!! – Mingle with Macy’s famous friends including Steve Madden, Chef Tyler Florence, Clinton Kelly, Tommy Hilfiger, Gavin DeGraw, Irma Thomas, Nestor Torres, Chef Cat Cora, Russell Simmons, Chef Dave Lieberman and of course, Martha Stewart and Emeril Lagasse!!!
Macy’s is the place to be this fall when Macy’s returns to New Orleans. Honorary co-chairs Martha Stewart and Emeril Lagasse will be joining Macy’s Inc. Chairman, President & CEO, Terry Lundgren in welcoming an assortment of both local and national celebrities to Macy’s Cocktail Gala benefiting The NOCCA Institute. The night’s festivities include an exciting cocktail gala on all three levels of the store, a first time ever cooking demonstration by Martha Stewart and Emeril Lagasse, and a riveting fashion show in the tented venue adjacent to the store.
Macy’s celebrities will be walking the red carpet as they arrive at 6PM for the Private Megastar VIP Reception. VIP guests will then walk the red carpet at 6:30PM to attend the exclusive and intimate reception where they will get to meet all of Macy’s famous friends up close and personal. 7PM marks the official start of the gala in the store where guests will experience wonderful culinary delights, cocktails, and entertainment on all three levels of the store. Meet your favorite celebrity friends and designers in their department.
At 8PM, Terry Lundgren welcomes everyone to the tented venue and for the first time ever, Martha Stewart and Emeril Lagasse will be cooking and demonstrating together! Stay seated for an exciting community connection fashion bringing you a dramatic experience of fashion and dance as gorgeous models, edgy street dancers, local celebrities and pillars of the New Orleans community strut the runway finishing off the evening. All guests will receive a complimentary gift bag designed by a local NOCCA student filled with premium vendor items.

Gotta love a swag bag, right? Check out the history and culture we're celebrating right here!

Projecy Runway and more....

Miss G got really sick yesterday. Actually started Monday. BAD sinus infection. She's gonna have to go to a McClinic tomorrow to get some Biaxin to knock this out (can't take a z-pack 'cause she's allergic). So while the rest of the group went out for another FABULOUS New Orleans dinner, Miss G ate room service at the Marriott and watched Project Runway. Here predictions were pretty much right on except for a few obvious point, to which she will admit:
1. Stankley rented a new stank chamber in Brooklyn so we didn't get to see her stankboat.
2. Leanne didn't actually have to shrink Tim for him to fit in her workroom.
3. She totally didn't see the jungle drum thang coming. And if she had she wouldn't have blogged it because that would have read as racist!
Other than that, she was right on target about Tim's Saturn, Korto in the woods, and Leanne whispering through the whole visit.
I loved Jerrel but that dress was atrocious! And Kenley's McQueen knockoff was well done, if not original.
But Leanne will win. Because Michael and Nina don't like booty or stank.

PS- Jerrell was incorrect for his bitter comment about Michael Kors- totally uncalled for! Gay people of this millenium: let's pull together to dispel the "bitter queen" stigma our forefathers developed in the 90's. They had their reasons, but let it go, already!!!!

Migration Complete!

Miss Ginger has successfully migrated her old blog from AOL onto Blogger. It was easy. She gave it it's own URL so it's separate from the new blog. If you ever want to backtrack, just follow this link!

Ho Proof Room!

When Miss G checked into the Marriott Lakeway tonight in Metairie, she made sure to check the door for scratches, as mentioned in her earlier post. Well... good news! Not only were there no scratches, her lock is framed by a rectangle of unscratchable stainless steel. Miss G's room has been tranny proofed! Thank gawd, because even though Miss G is here to work, she's not here to work! It could get awkward if potential "johns" became confused. Miss G is worth all that, but she's better than all that, too! I mean, Miss G is a gurl who works, not a working girl. Let me know in a comment if that needs more 'splainin!

Who is the Ginger Snaps Favorite to win Project Runway?!

Check out the poll on the right hand side bar and vote for your favorite to win Project Runway! Let's see if the Ginger Snaps can predict the winner!

Funny Pics

These came to me from a friend with a mass of others I edited away. These 2 struck my fancy, and unfortunately i can't credit the origin. Claim it if you can!

Queen of the blondes... or just really drunk!

Baby Cat Jackson Goes to the Vet

Those of you have have followed TFBOMGG for a while may remember that the cats went on a diet about 6 months ago, weighing in at a hefty 17.5 lbs for Jackson and 13.7 for Shelby.

Miss G began to realize that even though the 2 cats have been on the same diet for the same period of time, Jackson seemed to lose a great deal of weight, and Shelby lost none! That didn't seem right, and at the same time, Sonna and Denise, the cat sitters, observed that Jackson drinks and pees a great deal more than Shelby does. He's also been a bit lethargic, so a trip to the vet would be in order.

Turns out the little fella is diabetic. We caught it early, so hopefully he won't have to have shots, just pills and a change of diet. Diabetes is very common in cats. As total carnivores (wild cats eat nothing but meat), their metabolism doesn't deal well with carbohydrates and fiber. (The fur they ingest from grooming is all the fiber they need! Too much more causes furball digestive issues!) Because commercial cat food producers could not possibly obtain the variety of meats a cat would need to maintain a balanced diet, they add carbohydrate fillers to reduce the cost of the food and to provide certain amino acids and nutrients they couldn't provide otherwise. The high fiber diet we put them on to reduce their weight just made things worse, because it didn't provide enough protein to keep his little system balanced!

So now we're back on a prescription diet

and we have to give a cat pills. (Have you ever tried to give a cat a pill?!) Luckily, it can be crushed, but that leaves us dealing with wet cat food, which is something we have managed to avoid up until now!

To make matters worse, Miss G is off again to NOLA tomorrow morning, for her longest stint yet: 10 days! She hates leaving Miss Sonna and Miss Denise to deal with this, but what's a girl to do? Luckily, Jack lapped up the wet food like a big dog ("Doggie" is one of is nicknames because he has so many dog-like traits!) His other nicknames are Jackson Brown (because he is brown), JB (short for Jackson Brown), and JB Dude. He answers to all of them but Jackson Brown is my favorite!

RUNNING ON EMPTY(by Jackson Browne)
Looking out at the road rushing under my wheels
Looking back at the years gone by like so many summer fields
In sixty-five I was seventeen and running up one-o-one
I don't know where I'm running now, I'm just running on
Running on - running on emptyRunning on - running blind
Running on - running into the sun
But I'm running behind
Gotta do what you can just to keep your love alive
Trying not to confuse it with what you do to survive
In sixty-nine I was twenty-one and I called the road my own
I don't know when that road turned onto the road I'm on
Running on - running on empty
Running on - running blind
Running on - running into the sun
But I'm running behind
Everyone I know, everywhere I go
People need some reason to believe
I don't know about anyone but me
If it takes all night, that'll be all right
If I can get you to smile before I leave
Looking out at the road rushing under my wheels
I don't know how to tell you all just how crazy this life feels
I look around for the friends that I used to turn to to pull me through
Looking into their eyes I see them running too
Running on - running on empty
Running on - running blind
Running on - running into the sun
But I'm running behind
Honey you really tempt me
You know the way you look so kind
I'd love to stick around but I'm running behind
You know I don't even know what I'm hoping to find
Running into the sun but I'm running behind
(c) 1977 SWALLOW TURN MUSIC

In All Siriusness....

Miss G loves Sirius sattelite radio station number 36, "the Beat". And she loves Rihanna. But seriously, isn't there an FAA limit on the number of times a radio station can play the same song in the same day?! There should be! Everytime I get in the car they are playing "Disturbia". It's beginning to disturb me!


Here's the lyrics:
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
What's wrong with me? Why do I feel like this?
I'm going crazy now No more gas in the rig
Can't even get it started Nothing heard, nothing said
Can't even speak about it All my life on my head
Don't want to think about it Feels like I'm going insane
Yeah It's a thief in the night To come and grab you
It can creep up inside you And consume you
A disease of the mind It can control you
It's too close for comfort
[Chorus] Throw on your break lights We're in the city of wonder
Ain't gonna play nice Watch out, you might just go under
Better think twice Your train of thought will be altered
So if you must faulter be wise Your mind is in disturbia
It's like the darkness is the light Disturbia
Am I scaring you tonight Your mind is in disturbia
Ain't used to what you like Disturbia Disturbia
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
Faded pictures on the wall It's like they talkin' to me
Disconnectin' your call Your phone don't even ring
I gotta get out Or figure this shit out
It's too close for comfort It's a thief in the night
To come and grab you It can creep up inside you
And consume you A disease of the mind
It can control you I feel like a monster
[Chorus] Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
Release me from this curse I've been trying to maintain
But I'm struggling You can't go, go, go I think I'm going to oh, oh, oh
[Chorus] Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum

Project Runway Comes into the Homestretch!

Now that she is caught up with DVR, Miss G is a little saddened that Project Runway's 5 year romp is coming to a close! If you haven't been keeping up with the show, shame on you! All is not lost, however! Ginger Snap extraordinaire and head Dust Bunny David Dust has been recapping the show all season in his inimitable style, so check his blog and be prepared to laugh your ass off! Now, Miss G won't even begin to take on David's hilarious recaps, but she has decided to pull out her crystal ball and predict the future a bit!

Before the presentation of the final collections, Tim Gunn always pays a trip to the designer’s homes, to give us some insight into the squalor of their daily lives and underscore to our heart strings the true need for winning that each designer's pathetic existence demonstrates. Oh, the drama. Here's how she thinks the episode will play out.

First, Tim drives up to a beautiful marina in Pompano Beach, FL in his Saturn Sky Roadster, looking dapper in his Rayban sunglasses, yet still squinting in the bright sun. The camera pans across the bay to sailboats and yachts, Tim parks, and walks past more boats and yachts until he finally comes to the berth of Kenley’s dreadful tugboat. Amid the filth of the tugboat, a radiant Kenley emerges from below deck, in too tight dark denim capris, with a tied-at-the-waist red sleeveless woven, a matching kerchief in her hair, and wayyyy too much red lipstick for us to believe she was coming up to swab the decks. She waves Tim aboard, and the boat moves as Tim tries to step from the dock. Tim shrieks. Kenley snorts and puts her hand over her mouth. They hug. Tim wrinkles his nose at the camera.
Below deck, Kenley shows Tim to the tiny Crew Cabin she has converted to her quarters/studio/stank chamber. She has removed the lower bunk to make room for her late mother’s old sewing machine (cue tears), and because the quarters are so tight, she has to take her garments up to hang on the deck railing for Tim’s scrutiny. She shows a look with white peg leg pants and a red knit top. “And look!” she exudes. “I made a little sailor hat to go with it!” “Isn’t it a little Gilliganish?” observes Tim. “It’s not Gilligan!” replies Kenley. Her next look is denim hotpants, with a tied-at-the-waist red sleeveless woven and a matching kerchief. “It’s very Maryanne”, comments Tim. “It’s not Maryanne”, whines Kenley. Finally, Kenley pulls out a long white evening gown, with a slit up the side and graphic detailing near the ankle. “Stunning! Just be sure it doesn’t get too Ginger Grant on us”, advises Tim. “I LOVE Ginger Grant!” says Kenley, and with that Tim steps back to the dock and chides “just don’t get stuck in the 60’s! Make it work!”

Next, Tim tools down I-45 south toward the Emerald City skyline view of Miss G’s place of residence, Houston. We see him driving past Neiman Marcus and the Galleria, through the shops of Highland Village and Rice Village, past the Mecom Fountains, and through the University of Houston, coming to a stop at a small white house badly in need of paint and a new roof. There’s no doorbell, so Tim knocks. Muffled shouts from several different high-pitched voices emerge from the house. The door opens, and Jerrell sticks his pixie-hat topped head out. Except for the fact that he’s wearing a hat, he looks like he has just awakened. Tim enters and looks around the room, which appears as if a fabric store and a dress shop have collided. There are tranny ho’s in various stages of dress milling about the, and they are neither acknowledged nor ignored, but simply treated as part of the décor. “It looks like you’ve been working!’ says Tim, to whom a tired looking Jerrell replies “Oh, gurl, you don’t know the half of it!”
Jerrell pulls out a wobbly-ass rusted chrome rolling rack, and shows Tim one stunning gown after another. “These fabrics are exquisite!” drools Tim. “How can you afford such luxury?” “Oh, I have a couple of sideline businesses” replies Jerrell, smacking the seat of a passing tranny ho as he holds a bent spoon over the open flame of the stove. Tim looks befuddled, and trips over a passed out tranny ho as he advises “make it work!”

After a commercial for the Saturn roadster, we return to find Tim driving down a winding highway in rural Arkansas. We pass fields with horses, cows, and other sundry farm animals. We see close-ups of flowers, bees, and butterflies. Tim pulls up to a small house surrounded by a hurricane fence. There is no grass. A filthy child plays in the dirt. A dog barks. The screen door opens with a screech, and Korto appears in a long yellow tied-dyed dashiki with a matching do rag. She is barefoot. Tim struggles with the stubborn waist high gate, and finally he and Korto are reunited on the tiny porch.
Inside, the house is pretty much empty except for a sewing machine on a folding table, another table with neat stacks of fabric bolts, and a dress form wearing a bright yellow satin dashiki with a dramatic gathered neckline. “It’s very Korto” observes Tim, to which Korto replies “Ya think? I don’t know.” She pulls another look out nowhere and says “I’m not sure where I’m going with this one”. Tim asks if she has more to show him, and Korto replies “not yet!” Tim reminds her that she only has 6 months to make a decision on her next outfit, and reinforces that he is sure she will “make it work”.

Finally, Tim drives down a tree-lined street to a small, 30’s era apartment building of brown and tan stucco. He walks down the breezeway and pushes the button on the little plastic doorbell in a box thing on the door that all of those buildings have. Leanne opens the door and whispers “Tim!” What a surprise!” Inside, the camera pans to rococo looking draperies, wood-and-velvet 30’s looking furniture and a kitschy kitchen from an issue of “Old House Interiors” magazine. “Have some tea so you can see my workroom”, and as they drink from tiny little cups they both shrink down to Barbie-doll size so they can fit down the diminishing hall to Leanne’s studio. She opens the tiny little door, and the sun-filled room is alive with tiny wildlife. A squirrel runs in a cage to power the sewing machine, which is commandeered by a raccoon wearing his glasses on a chain. 3 mice are running up and down a dress form with a giant needle, stitching a zipper into place. “My friends are helping me with some finishing touches” whispers Leanne, to which Tim replies “as long as you are the only person working on the garments, I don’t see how anyone could have an issue.” The fashion show begins as tiny bluebirds work in pairs to fly one look after another past Tim, each with a shoulder of the perfectly crafted garment in their beak. “Here’s a look for a tea-party”, explains Leanne. “And here’s one for the Princesses ball”. “And this dress would be perfect for a date with a handsome prince!” “I like what I’m seeing,” says Tim. “But don’t bore Nina!” he prompts, accepting an oversize cup of tea from Leanne for his trip back up the hallway.
Miss Ginger predicts that Jerrell or Korto will win, Leanne will cry, and Kenley will pout. Watch what happens!

The Mardi Gras Artistry of Sands Stiefer!

Miss Ginger's dear friends Sands and Weldon ("Dad and Mom") were married last week- in the state of California, at least. It will be a long time before bible-beating Texas will be recognizing civil unions!

You may remember that Miss G hosted their anniversary party last year. They are truly 2 of the most special people she knows!

Anyho, you may not know that Sands is an accomplished artist and painter! He has a few different "themes" he sometimes follows in a series, and one of them is Mardi Gras. Last night, for the Krewe of Olympus Fais Do Do party, Sands showed his Mardi Gras collection, and donated a generous 60% of the proceeds to the Krewe! There we paintings of the revelry in New Orleans, and also painted interpretations of many of the costumes we have presented at our ball in the past.

Last year's theme was "Olympus at the Library", and Miss Ginger was assigned to the genre of "sex education". Her costume was "Nurse Goodbody", the school nurse who demonstrates condom usage by rolling one down over a banana.

One of the paintings Sands sold last night was his rendering of Miss G's costume:

Of course, Miss Ginger had to buy it, and she had the staff hang it in the stairway, along with the prop she saved from the ball:

Maybe she'll dig the hat out of the garage and add that to the composition as well!

Living In The Shadow Of My Life

Living In The Shadow Of My Life
Check out this blog! I lifted this picture from it because I think it is sooooo funny!

Become a GInger Snap!

Big thanks to Nutwood Beth for creating the adorable "Ginger Snap" tag! Now all my adoring fans can place a tag on their blogs to let the world know they are "card carrying" Ginger Snaps! and SNAPS! to Miss Beth for her artistry!

Feels God to Be Home!!

It's been a hell of a week in NOLA. Can't put the sign on the building because the contractor's truck is not big enough. Can't find the truck that has the glass shelves for the jewelry cases. Fixtures are missing. Merchandise keeps coming. It's chaos that Miss Ginger can't seem to get her hands around! It feels good to be home with the kitties!
And to make matters worse, apparently a "gaggle" of tranny hookers takes over "our" hotel on weekends!!! One of the guys stayed over the weekend, and they were on his floor, making lots of noise and bringing their "bidness" up into the beds where we sleep during the week! And it's a really nice hotel!!!! But he found out the code. They scratch the paint off the door about an inch above the lock. Apparently, this is the equivalent of hanging a sign out that says "A Tranny Ho is is doing bidness up in here-a!" So now Miss G knows that if she goes to check in and there's a scratch on the door, it's back down to the desk to ask for a different room. And she'll be having a chat with Josh, the GM of the hotel, next Tuesday when she checks in. To find out if he's unaware that he runs a Tranny Whorehouse on weekends, or whether he's really just a hot mess pimp who bought a Marriott franchise because he thought it would be good cover!
Now, don't think Miss Ginger is 2 faced! She clearly doesn't have anything against tranny's. Hello! But Tranny Hookers? Honestly! And at the Marriott! What's up with that?!
Anyho, Miss G heads back to the land of Odds next Tuesday, with more stories of mirth and merriment! Stay tuned!