Along with Cozumel and Bermuda, New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast is my favorite place on the face of the earth. Later today, I’m off to the Crescent City for a couple of days of business and pleasure, and to check things out one year after Hurricane Katrina roared through the region. At least, it’ll make for a much-needed diversion away from the Red Sox, whose 2006 ship continues to sink slowly into the sunset. A few thoughts and observations:

* I’m sure everyone along the Gulf Coast will be monitoring the updates from the NHC over the next few days, as it looks as if budding Ernesto might be a cause for concern somewhere between mid-to-late week. Me, I should be leaving at least a day’s time ahead of any potential threat, but you never know, depending on what happens with the Northwest flight attendents’ thing.

* Two of my favorite daily stops around the blogsphere are CrabAppleLane Blog and Metroblogging New Orleans. I see Rob’s got some post-Katrina thoughts as he counts down the days to the NFL season, while MNO has had some truly fine posts this week – everything from Craig Giesecke’s view of things, post-Katrina to Dan Frazier’s love letters number 2 and number 3.

* My absolute favorite newspaper in the world is the New Orleans Times-Picayune (containing, I might add, the most interesting and entertaining obituary section you’ll ever read!). Here’s a link to the T-P’s own extensive look at the state of New Orleans one year after Katrina. If you’re a New Orleans lover and afficianado as I am, it’s a must read.

* One of my earliest fascinations with New Orleans came from its JFK assassination/Cuba connection. Speaking of which: while everyone wonders what’s the latest with the Fidel and Raul show, the island of Cuba waits uneasily to see what will happen once Castro is dead. Maybe this is just wishful thinking, but might Cuba one day be one of the most popular vacation destinations in the Western Hemisphere? Might the economic forces just itching to bring Cuba into the 21st century be enough to overcome whatever the Castros and Chavez’s of the world have in mind?

* One of these days, if I’m ever able to request that extended personal leave I’d need to write “Goodboys Nation – The Book” (working subtitle: “The Bases Were Loaded and So Was I”), I think this area would make a great writer’s base. (BTW, check out the last property on the right side of the page – the “Way Cool” belongs to Dollar Bill’s cousin Rock, who I hope will have time to take me there for a look-see while I’m in the area.

* As Rob alludes to, this anniversary is not only significant for the folks in New Orleans, but those along the Mississippi Gulf Coast as well. Unfortunately, the folks there have not gotten nearly the same attention as their western counterparts, but good people like Leslie at Katrina Networking are helping to spread the word and let the world know that help is still needed and how you can help. Please consider donating in whatever way you can.