It has been snowing nearly all night and all day.

 You know how one can get stuck? Stuck inside, stuck unmoving, stuck... Well, the snow is... really very nice honestly. But, I just wasn't ready. Here were are in January in Chicago and I was able to stand outside and paint in a light jacket... with SUNSHINE for goodness sake. It was just wonderful.

It reminds me of New Orleans. Yes it does. Mm hm.

So what does a bean do on a stuck snow day?

Well, my first move was to get up outta the bed (my office as I rather call it), come downstairs, and immediately listen to some records.
A lil Elmore James, a lil Anita O'Day, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday...
I am laying on the floor wearing red suspenders, headphones,
in a sea of cardstock covers
and paper sleeves.
I'm hittin' all the bargain bin records here but then I toss on ol' Louis Armstrong.
"Satchmo and Friends" was 99 cents...(again with the bargain bin)
and I remembered what a damn fine song he sings
bout missin' New Orleans.
Do you know it?

Have a listen here and tell me
you don't hear the sad desperation
for the big easy! (Do you know what it means to miss) "New Orleans"

Also, a shot I took while in NOLA of the Armstrong park under construction, 2010. 35mm B&W film.

Well Beaner whatcha got to show for ya self?
Here it is. "To Miss New Orleans" 25in x 31in SOLD

(It is still snowing)
(And it ain't the good kind either. Not the kind ya can make an igloo outta)

(An igloo whiskey bar)

(I think I'm onto something)

Let me run to New Orleans in the winter

Chicago is a great city in the summer months. Festivals (I rarely go but the idea that other people do is great), music shows, food, beer, sunshine, the beach (also never go but I hear stories from my friends and it sounds wonderful), bicycle rides in the middle of the night, sitting outside late just talkin' and drinkin'... Chicago is alive in summertime.
But... summer only lasts, maybe, 3 months. Fall and Spring seem to stick around for a week, maybe two. Then there it is...
Dreaded, awful, windy, cold, dark, dreary WINTER IN CHICAGO. So last winter I got the fire in me to go down South for the evil season. I stayed a month and enjoyed my vacation from mother nature.

I painted this window when it felt unseasonably (it was still summer!) chilly and dreary. My initial response to this sort of weather is to stay upstairs in my apartment with some Tom Waits singing from the turntable, the sounds of his instruments and booming voice rippling the surface of my whiskey...

So here we are, Tom Waits lyrics about New Orleans. 32in x 24inSOLD

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There's the cat creepin' in the background. Well, the sun came out after I finished it so I know to keep complaining when the weather isn't right and it will correct itself.