Furlough isn't such a bad thing ...

I knew I hadn't lost my job forever, but there was still a little sting when I applied for unemployment last week. But that sting quickly faded when I hit the ground in New Orleans.

Nothing like a little pampering at the Aveda spa to take your mind off your troubles. Follow that up with some yummy, seriously yummy, food. And throw in a couple fabulous drinks for good measure.

I've been to New Orleans several times over the years that my best buddy Maria has lived there. But I've never been for Mardi Gras. I really don't like huge crowds and strangers touching me. But this year, Maria convinced me it was time. The best part is that I really spent very little time in the French Quarter.

Instead, we spent a lot of time on parade routes in neighborhoods filled with adults and children enjoying the festivities. There is something really fun about getting people to throw beads at you. It's cool to see what you get. I got some cool things, but really a couple nights of that was enough.

There's just something fun about New Orleans. Whether it was at the Hornets game on Wednesday -- where I sat next to the biggest fans I think I've ever met who screamed their heads off but made me laugh. Or whether it was just watching all the characters in the parades. Or savoring every bite of crab au gratin. I love it there.

Maria wants me to move there. I'm not sure I'm there in my mind. I think it might be a nicer place for me to visit than live, but you never know I guess. I certainly enjoy the time I spend there.

I came back with beads and lots of good memories. I'm so glad I went.

It was an added bonus that no one from my office was allowed to call, email or text me at all during the week. I truly let things go. And I didn't feel one bit bad that I was missing a big story and not sitting on a SWAT call out for hours on end.

Now, I might not feel so cheery about it when I get one week's worth of pay on the next check. But for now, I'll take that furlough and relish in the fun time I had.

Ice queen ...

I'm so happy to be spending this Monday not writing about storm debris or people without power, though my trip to western Kentucky to cover the aftermath of the storm was pretty good and resulted in a pretty good Sunday story.

I realized while I was working a 14 hour day on Thursday that the real reason I love my job is being able to get out and meet some new people. It's a privilege to interview folks and hear their stories. I might have been tired (and a bit cranky) upon my return, but it was worth it.

Anyway, I'm not going to wax poetic about it ... but I got an email this morning from a friend that made me laugh. And then I realize that it is pretty close to the mark. So, I wanted to share it.

The subject line read: ode to the ice queen -- the content follows.

Through Sleet or Hail, Snow or Ice, Tornadic Winds and Blinding Rain. She does it all – She’s DISASTER GIRL!

Watch as her pen moves with lightening speed on the pad, writing a full eight inches in less than a minute. That’s right – she’s DISASTER GIRL!

Ice or Snow Storm?? Disaster Girl will hit the streets. 80 MPH windstorm??? Disaster Girl will trudge through it headfirst. Record breaking floods??? Disaster Girl will row her way to the scene.

DISASTER GIRL - APPEARING IN CITIES NATIONWIDE

(now accepting applications for A-1 stories above the fold)

Ice, ice baby

I know I have a skewed perspective on ice and snow having grown up in Michigan and lived in Chicago twice. I was first introduced to "snow mania" when I lived in Washington D.C. where reports of a possible flurry (notice that's not plural) would send people to the Safeway to stock up on milk and bread.

I thought it must be a regional thing. But soon realized after moving to southern Virginia and now Kentucky that this is a southern thing. People FREAK OUT when there are reports of snow coming.

This time, the snow actually materialized. And then came the ice.

I should have known about 2:30 a.m. Wednesday morning as I listened to a transformer exploding somewhere in my neighborhood and then the cracking and crashing of tree limbs that I was in for a busy few days.

Somehow I escaped this storm pretty much unscathed. By some miracle I did not lose power -- only a few flickers early on. My car did not have a tree limb land through its windshield, despite the number of trees I regularly park under. I haven't fallen on my rear or had snow fall inside my boots leaving that uncomfortable cold, wet sock thing going on.

I only once had to bat my eyelashes and cheerily smile at a couple of strangers and ask them to help push my car free from the ice it was stuck in.

But I have been busy as all get out. I've been going to daily press briefings on the status of massive power outages. I've listened to people tell their stories about how they are trying to cope without power. I've had to hear about lives lost because of carbon monoxide poisoning. It's not been fun.

In Louisville, we've seen the worst for the most part. Power is coming back on and the ice is starting to melt. Not so happy to hear that there will be another 1 to 3 inches of snow piling up tomorrow, but what can you do.

I expect I'll be heading out into the state later this week to see how people are coping in the areas that are really hard hit ... those places where they may not get power back for weeks. The areas where the National Guard is being called in to help. I'll keep you posted on that.