The Upstairs Lounge Fire

Picture from: http://www.bilerico.com/2012/02/new_orleans_inferno_the_upstairs_lounge_fire.php

On June 24, 1973, thirty-two people were burned alive in The Upstairs Lounge in the French Quarter.  Why?  It was a gay bar.  Because some inhumane schmuck decided to throw a flammable liquid on the stairway and light it.  It took the fire approximately twenty minutes to completely engulf the building.

The windows were covered with burglar bars through which only the smallest of men could pass through.  Witnesses helplessly watched as men jammed up to the windows, arms flailing through the bars, burned alive.  Four bodies were found under the piano.  Four men huddled in fear under the piano helpless to do anything to save themselves.  It was the deadliest fire in New Orleans' history.

Today, I'd like to think this city would react better, but then, in 1973, many bodies weren't claimed because of the stigma of being gay.  Many churches refused to hold services for the victims because they were gay.  Worse, the city's population felt like these men and one woman got what they deserved.    J. remembers the incident and remembers the general feeling that these people deserved to burn alive.

I could post about my birthday, or my cats, or my weight, but I think that remembering these people today is important.  No one claimed them back in 1973, so today I'll claim them.

In memory of:

JOE WILLIAM BAILEY

CLARENCE JOSEPH McCLOSKEY, JR.DUANE GEORGE MITCHELLLOUIS HORACE BROUSSARD.MRS. WILLIE INEZ WARREN.EDDIE HOSEA WARREN, son.JAMES CURTIS WARREN, son.REV. WILLIAM R. LARSON.DR. PERRY LANE WATERS, JR.DOUGLAS MAXWELL WILLIAMS.LEON RICHARD MAPLES.GEORGE STEVEN MATYI.LARRY STRATTON.REGINALD ADAMS, JR.JAMES WALLS HAMBRICK.HORACE GETCHELL.JOSEPH HENRY ADAMS.HERBERT DEAN COOLEY, bartender.DAVID STUART GARY, pianist.GUY D. ANDERSON.LUTHER BOGGS.DONALD WALTER DUNBAR.JOHN THOMAS GOLDING, SR.ADAM ROLAND FONTENOT.GERALD HOYT GORDON.KENNETH PAUL HARRINGTON.GLENN RICHARD GREEN.ROBERT LUMPKIN.FERRIS LeBLANC.Three Unidentified White Males.  (Names from: http://www3.gendisasters.com/louisiana/1484/new-orleans,-la-cocktail-lounge-fire,-june-1973)

Weight Loss Wednesday: How to gauge just how out of shape you really are...

The scale and my pants say I'm lighter, but the camera still says, "wow look at those ham hock arms."

There was an incident the other day where I chased down a receipt for someone in the local "mart" parking lot.  It's been a really mild 90 degrees and breezy this week so that receipt went flying.   I found myself running across a several rows of cars before I caught the thing.  I was gasping for air,  saw a few stars, and am fairly certain I was beet red when I handed over the receipt.  I got into the car with Sis #2 who was laughing at my condition and I turned to her and reminded her that she is going to look the same when we run with the bulls in July.  

Actually you don't really run, this is New Orleans and it will be July, and frankly no one here has any desire to move quickly for anything.  It's more of a jog/walk/panicked run thing.  It goes like this: You line up in a big crowd of other "runners" they start you off and you jog a bit from the pure adrenalin and then you run into someone you know and slow into a walk and have a little catch up convo and then people from behind get louder and run past you shouting, "Oh my GAWD here comes a bull, (roller derby girl with a plastic bat), RUN!"  And then when someone gets hit and the "bull" moves on everyone settles down and walks again.  See jog/walk/run.  Anyways they've extended the route because the thing has gotten bigger, (I hate it when word gets out on these little festivals) and now after the "mart" run I figure it couldn't hurt to hit that orbital machine again.  Right?  

Exercise:  Okay once this week in the pool @ mom's condo.  

Water:  abt. 4 glasses a day, (on a good day)

Food:  Still trying to opt for more veggies, smaller portions, and less sauce.  Oh the horror less sauce!

Confession:  Mom is feeling anxious over buying a house, I'm still worrying over, well a huge worry that J doesn't want me to discuss, and Sis #2 is just flat out depressed so we purchased three different cakes, sat down and watched the entire first season of Downton Abby and Abraham Lincoln Zombie Hunter while finishing off all three cakes.

Congratulations: Cousin's DH gave us some trout he caught  a couple of weeks ago and so we've been eating fish, which is good for you.

Weight loss: I think this makes 10 lbs in total, but I don't remember what my starting weight.  It was either 151 or 149.  I'm going to have to look that one up.

Current weight: 141!  Yay.

Dream weight: 115

Weight Loss Wednesday: Meh, I'm over it.

Well this week finds me once again with a bit of a weight gain and you know what?  I don't care.  Okay well, I care, but I'm not prostrate with grief over it.  Perhaps it's because we are wringing our hands over so many things right now.  Keep your fingers crossed or send us a little prayer.  J is having problems and we haven't heard a thing from our bid on what we hope to be mom's new house. We are still grieving over Maw Maw, the kitchen faucet leaked all over the floor and damaged the cabinet underneath, but it could be worse and I've been trying to follow Dumbledore's words of wisdom.  So here's the run down...

Exercise:  Just those pee pushups by Sheila

Water:  Doing better, still not up to 8 a day.

Food:  Okay, keeping an eye on the portions.

Confession:  I had an Elmer's heavenly hash two nights in a row.

Congratulations: I'm working on the fireplace and am burning extra calories.

Weight loss: none gained 1.5 pounds

Current weight: 142

Dream weight: 115

Two Weeks of Weight Loss: I'm baaaacckkk.

This is the "Before I Die Wall.  Guess which one is mine. : )

The past two weeks have been depressing, (we have many worries right now), and as usual busy.  Mom is looking at buying a house.  We put in a bid and are crossing our fingers.  This means that I've been up at her house and without the Internet.  Well I could have gone to a coffee shop or to the library, but by the time we were done going through some very dirty houses in 90 something degree weather, I didn't want to get back in the car.  Anyways I have good news on my weight loss project...

Exercise:  I've been doing those pee push-ups (idea from Sheila) and while I'm pleased with the tone I'm getting in my biceps I find my triceps flabby and so I alternate from doing push-ups on the counter to working the triceps on a chair.   I am pleased with the bicep progress and find that this fits my style better than standing in front of the TV doing a workout.  

Water:  I've fallen off the wagon and need to get back on.  I am down to four pints of water a day, (and for the past three days I didn't drink any water, bad me.)

Food:  I am working on portion control.  I am cutting my food in half and am trying to eat slowly, which is annoying J because he is a fast eater.  I make an effort not to eat until I feel stuffed, but until I feel full.  Yesterday I think I under did it at lunch because I stuffed my face with chips and candy last night.

Confession:  I stuffed my face with chips and candy last night.

Congratulations:  I feel like I am eating less and trying to be more consistent with my meals and choices.

Weight loss since the last post: 3.5 lbs!

Current weight: 140.5 (Oh my gosh my skinny jeans are feeling loose!!)

Dream weight: 115


Two weeks ago I was feeling so upset with myself for back tracking.  Today I am celebrating almost hitting getting out of the 140s.  Not sure I'm liking how my weight loss is affecting my mood.  We're going through some hard times right now and I don't need a little backslide in this little project to upset me.  J is a great guy and has loved me thick or thin, and I don't want to add to his stress with mood swings over weight issues.  I sometimes think of him as Saint J, but then he doesn't close the microwave door, or leaves his dirty socks in the middle of the floor and I remember he's just as male as the rest of them.






(Answer: Before I die I want to: write on this wall.  All the good ones were taken:  Become a Jedi, get my letter from Hogwarts, survive WWZ, win the Powerball, have fun storming the castle ...  My wants are simple