Missing pieces

This was my alternative picture for September's Theme Day -- Street Lamps or Street Signs. If you missed the theme day, it was September 1 -- just page down a couple days and see what I posted and what other City Daily Photo bloggers put up for the theme.

This just seemed to capture the spirit of New Orleans from me -- struggling not just to rebuild all the damaged housing and businesses, but struggle to get the amenities back that we take for granted -- street lights, street signs, parks, walkways etc.

But, celebrating life and not giving up traditions as we do it.

--steve buser

Jazzing it up

The Storeyville Stompers were blowing the roof off at a recent party we attended for our good friends Will and Mary -- celebrating their recent marriage. It was good ole, traditional, Dixieland Jazz and it sizzled.

--stever buser

Street sign of the times

Today is September Theme Day on City Daily Photo blogs. The theme for the month is "Street Signs and Street Lights." I thought this sign on Claiborne Avenue seemed to be appropriate -- it speaks to where New Orleans' spirit is.

Broadmoor is one of the neighborhoods hard hit by Hurricane Katrina. The residents there have banded together to provide a civic leaership to get past the hundreds if not thousands of issues it takes to bring a neighborhood back from rampant destruction.

It is a key signature of this recovery == neighborhood organization have assumed key leadership roles. They have become information clearing houses for people still scattered around the country and have put together work teams to lobby and conjole for actions from dozens of city, state and federal agencies. They have stood watch over hurricane protection projects to make sure their area is given its fair due.

These are far more powerful and far reaching groups that the neighorhood organizations of regular times.

The sign, then, seems to assess the mood. Though tattered, it still carries it's message of hope and determination. Similarly, the neighborhood organizations still work tireless, if some what battered by having to fight a now two-year-old battle for help that was promised when the storm was still blowing.

--steve buser

Check out the other City Daily Photo blogs participating in September Theme Day:Seattle (WA), USA - Ocean Township (NJ), USA - Cottage Grove (MN), USA - Cleveland (OH), USA - Menton, France - Monte Carlo, Monaco - Singapore, Singapore - Boston (MA), USA - Mexico (DF), Mexico - Kajang (Selangor), Malaysia - Mainz, Germany - Evry, France - Port Angeles (WA), USA - Sequim (WA), USA - Maple Ridge (BC), Canada - Nottingham, UK - Toulouse, France - Wassenaar (ZH), Netherlands - Manila, Philippines - Mumbai, India - Montpellier, France - Bellefonte (PA), USA - Stayton (OR), USA - Moscow, Russia - Paris, France - Saint Paul (MN), USA - Austin (TX), USA - Lyon, France - Stockholm, Sweden - Hyde, UK - Hong Kong, China - Joplin (MO), USA - Seoul, South Korea - Chandler (AZ), USA - St. Louis (MO), USA - Arlington (VA), USA - Anderson (SC), USA - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Villigen, Switzerland - Sydney, Australia - Ampang (Selangor), Malaysia - Montego Bay, Jamaica - Norwich (Norfolk), UK - San Diego (CA), USA - Bandung (West Java), Indonesia - Albuquerque (NM), USA - Melbourne, Australia - Nelson, New Zealand - Quincy (MA), USA - Kyoto, Japan - Tokyo, Japan - Bend (OR), USA - Wellington, New Zealand - New Orleans (LA), USA - Cypress (TX), USA - Nashville (TN), USA - Bucaramanga (Santander), Colombia - Detroit (MI), USA - Saigon, Vietnam - Selma (AL), USA - Phoenix (AZ), USA - Miami (FL), USA - Arradon, France - Sheki, Azerbaijan - New York City (NY), USA - Inverness (IL), usa - North Bay (ON), Canada - Melbourne, Australia - Port Vila, Vanuatu - Tenerife, Spain - Auckland, New Zealand - Forks (WA), USA - Rotterdam, Netherlands - Chateaubriant, France - Madison (WI), USA - Wailea (HI), USA - Orlando (FL), USA - Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation - Ajaccio, France - Baltimore (MD), USA - Crepy-en-Valois, France - Rabaul, Papua New Guinea - Budapest, Hungary - Lyon, France - Saarbrücken, Germany - Adelaide (SA), Australia - Le Guilvinec, France - River Falls (WI), USA - Stavanger, Norway - Naples (FL), USA - London, UK - La Antigua, Guatemala - Philadelphia (PA), USA - Montréal (QC), Canada - Paris, France - San Diego (CA), USA - Trujillo, Peru - Haninge, Sweden - Prague, Czech Republic - Oslo, Norway - Grenoble, France - Shanghai, China - Toronto (ON), Canada - Durban, South Africa - Zurich, Switzerland - Cape Town, South Africa - Singapore, Singapore