Friday, December 2, 2011
Coming to Realizations
Tomorrow morning I am flying out to NJ to visit my ailing father and, I'm not going to lie, I'm scared. He's dying. And there's nothing I or anyone else can do about it. I've never been in this position before and I don't know what to do or say that will be of help or comfort when I get there. I do know that I don't feel old enough for this to be happening. I watch my mom (from a distance) dealing with all of the details that go along with a terminal illness and I realize how ill-equipped I am to do the same if it fell upon me. I mean, come on, your parents deal with that stuff, right? And then I also realize that I am an only child and that that responsibility could very possibly become mine. The thought is positively overwhelming. How do people know which arrangements to make? How do they learn this stuff? I guess I better find out because I have also realized that more and more people I know are dying. When did I join this group? When did I become THAT age? I honestly still see myself as I was in my early 30s! (Quite a bit of denial is involved here but nevertheless, that's how I feel.) The reality sandwich I've been chewing on isn't going down easily........I'm aging. And it's not going to stop. And the people I love and admire are not going to be here forever. It's a hard sandwich to swallow. And it's hard not to dwell on it when you realize that your time is coming......relatively soon. In my teens and 20s I didn't give this shit a thought. But now it's keeping me up at night. And I realize that I truly need to do more to ensure that the remainder of my life is full of joy. I need to learn from my father's awful experience and start to treat myself and my body with respect. And realize that I've been perpetuating the unhealthy habits that we originate from. I see my father's suffering and I wish I could take it away. As I watch what my mom is going through, suffering alongside my dad, it breaks my heart. And I see that if I keep up the way I've been going, my fate could be similar. I don't want that. I want to be able to go out and hear music and dance when I'm 80, if it suits me. I want to be able to participate in life in my old age and not give in to stereotypes of aging. I want that opportunity. I realize that now.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
How Stacy Possibly Found Her Groove
Just made one of my favorite annual purchases - a new calendar book for next year. (One with an audacious red cover, because that's the kind of year I plan on having.) I love the clean slate and the possibilities that this simple book represents. Mapping out my favorite festivals and the birthdays of my favorite people. Planning vacation/staycation time, casual get-togethers, or just a night out. Nowadays, most people prefer to use their smartphones, or whatever current gadget is trending, to do these things. Not me. I love seeing the written words on the page, filling in the spots on my "dance card". I actually enjoy scheduling and planning. And with a book, at year's end, you have a physical record of everything you've done.....good, bad, busy, or not.
Last week, for me, happened to be busy. I had five straight days of social obligations with friends in town. A great time was had by all and I wouldn't have had it any other way, but I was reminded of the stamina that is sometimes required to "hang" in this city. It can wear you out, especially if you're out of practice. The festivities began, as mentioned in my previous post, at Harry's Corner. When I entered the bar at 3 on a Monday afternoon there were two old guys, a woman on the other side of middle age, the bar tender, and me. I wasn't exactly enthused about drinking - I've come to a point where I REALLY have to be in the mood for it, and I wasn't. But I grabbed a seat at one of the few tables, determined to make the best of it. And that, we did. Fran and John arrived from Canada, other friends joined us, and I'd say I rolled in bed right around midnight. Drunk, smelling like smoke, and having to work on Tuesday.
After plugging through the day, we had Fran and John over for dinner on Tuesday evening. This was "spur of the drunken moment", as during the previous night's libations (sans dinner) Fran drunkenly indicated that she HAD to have red beans & rice and Lester drunkenly volunteered to make them for her. Thus, an evening was born. A very nice evening, indeed. Lester made the promised red beans along with some fried chicken that was just on point. Great food and great company. And we all chose to abstain from alcohol.
Wednesday it was back to work, where I anticipated the arrival of my old friend Becca, from my NJ hometown, for her first visit to our fair city. Her visit was short and I loosely planned a variety of things to give her a nice sampling of what the city has to offer. So, after fetching her from the airport we headed straight to Port of Call for burgers and monsoons. And even though we agreed on an early night, we stopped at the Balcony Music Club to catch a few songs by the Deja Vu Brass Band.
Thursday we were up and at 'em. Cafe du Monde for beignets & cafe au lait, a stop by the river, some souvenir shopping, a quick jaunt through the French Market, then lunch at El Gato Negro. I absolutely love El Gato Negro and can't say enough about the freshness of the food and margaritas! After cheesy nachos with chorizo, refried beans, & sauteed peppers and onions; filet mignon tacos; and fresh raspberry margaritas; it was time for a nap. By 8pm we were refreshed and ready to head to Vaughn's for trumpet player Kermit Ruffins. I hadn't been to Vaughn's for some time but it hasn't changed and still got as crowded as ever. When we tired of the crowd, we left for Mimi's in the Marigny for Gal Holiday and the Honky Tonk Revue. Gal Holiday has a stellar voice and Mimi's offers a much more chill atmosphere that includes music, booze and tapas. I am in love with their Mushroom Manchego Toast (mushrooms sauteed in sherry wine, butter, garlic & a bit of cream, served on bread topped w/ melted manchego cheese) and have tried numerous times to duplicate it at home, to no avail. Relatively early to bed again.
Friday we toured our neighborhood while walking the dogs, had roast beef po' boys and cocktails at Liuzza's By the Track, lounged around the house, hit Three Muses for happy hour with singer Debbie Davis and tapas (the brushetta of the day involving pesto, corn, ricotta, tomatoes, & balsamic glaze; and the meyer lemon chicken were terrific!) and, finally, The Spotted Cat for cocktails and Cassidy & the New Orleans Kids.
An incredibly pleasant five days catching up with friends. And we were lucky.....everything we experienced was lovely. Nothing at all to complain about and I felt as if my mission to give a quick, but thorough, glimpse of the city was accomplished.
Which brings us back to calendars, plans, and schedules......I LOVE planning ways to spend time in New Orleans. I need to find a way to make a living doing it and am going to research it. It could actually be possible for me to LOVE my job.
Maybe I found my groove.
So.........know anyone coming to New Orleans?
Last week, for me, happened to be busy. I had five straight days of social obligations with friends in town. A great time was had by all and I wouldn't have had it any other way, but I was reminded of the stamina that is sometimes required to "hang" in this city. It can wear you out, especially if you're out of practice. The festivities began, as mentioned in my previous post, at Harry's Corner. When I entered the bar at 3 on a Monday afternoon there were two old guys, a woman on the other side of middle age, the bar tender, and me. I wasn't exactly enthused about drinking - I've come to a point where I REALLY have to be in the mood for it, and I wasn't. But I grabbed a seat at one of the few tables, determined to make the best of it. And that, we did. Fran and John arrived from Canada, other friends joined us, and I'd say I rolled in bed right around midnight. Drunk, smelling like smoke, and having to work on Tuesday.
After plugging through the day, we had Fran and John over for dinner on Tuesday evening. This was "spur of the drunken moment", as during the previous night's libations (sans dinner) Fran drunkenly indicated that she HAD to have red beans & rice and Lester drunkenly volunteered to make them for her. Thus, an evening was born. A very nice evening, indeed. Lester made the promised red beans along with some fried chicken that was just on point. Great food and great company. And we all chose to abstain from alcohol.
Wednesday it was back to work, where I anticipated the arrival of my old friend Becca, from my NJ hometown, for her first visit to our fair city. Her visit was short and I loosely planned a variety of things to give her a nice sampling of what the city has to offer. So, after fetching her from the airport we headed straight to Port of Call for burgers and monsoons. And even though we agreed on an early night, we stopped at the Balcony Music Club to catch a few songs by the Deja Vu Brass Band.
Thursday we were up and at 'em. Cafe du Monde for beignets & cafe au lait, a stop by the river, some souvenir shopping, a quick jaunt through the French Market, then lunch at El Gato Negro. I absolutely love El Gato Negro and can't say enough about the freshness of the food and margaritas! After cheesy nachos with chorizo, refried beans, & sauteed peppers and onions; filet mignon tacos; and fresh raspberry margaritas; it was time for a nap. By 8pm we were refreshed and ready to head to Vaughn's for trumpet player Kermit Ruffins. I hadn't been to Vaughn's for some time but it hasn't changed and still got as crowded as ever. When we tired of the crowd, we left for Mimi's in the Marigny for Gal Holiday and the Honky Tonk Revue. Gal Holiday has a stellar voice and Mimi's offers a much more chill atmosphere that includes music, booze and tapas. I am in love with their Mushroom Manchego Toast (mushrooms sauteed in sherry wine, butter, garlic & a bit of cream, served on bread topped w/ melted manchego cheese) and have tried numerous times to duplicate it at home, to no avail. Relatively early to bed again.
Friday we toured our neighborhood while walking the dogs, had roast beef po' boys and cocktails at Liuzza's By the Track, lounged around the house, hit Three Muses for happy hour with singer Debbie Davis and tapas (the brushetta of the day involving pesto, corn, ricotta, tomatoes, & balsamic glaze; and the meyer lemon chicken were terrific!) and, finally, The Spotted Cat for cocktails and Cassidy & the New Orleans Kids.
An incredibly pleasant five days catching up with friends. And we were lucky.....everything we experienced was lovely. Nothing at all to complain about and I felt as if my mission to give a quick, but thorough, glimpse of the city was accomplished.
Which brings us back to calendars, plans, and schedules......I LOVE planning ways to spend time in New Orleans. I need to find a way to make a living doing it and am going to research it. It could actually be possible for me to LOVE my job.
Maybe I found my groove.
So.........know anyone coming to New Orleans?
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Friends To Look Forward To
The end of October. Wow. We are settling nicely in the new old place. Feels like I never left and Sidney (the dog) even seemed right at home in his old stomping grounds. Almost everything is put away as I want it to be, just some odds and ends left here and there. And I do believe I'd like to paint the kitchen, eventually. Other than that, everything is as it was or better. The girls who just moved left it spotless and I'm deeply grateful. I'm glad the move and that living situation are behind us. A weight has been lifted.
Moving definitely has a way of consuming you. First, you are obsessed with finding a place. Scouring Craig's List and the classifieds, pestering friends and even strangers, hoping the perfect place will come along. Then, after having several places not pan out (shabby conditions, too expensive, scary neighborhood, 50 people got there before you), when you find a place, you become obsessed with the packing and cleaning. Cleaning because you do not want to give the landlord any possible reason to keep your security deposit (New Orleans landlords are notorious for not giving your deposit back, they seem to think it's some sort of gift.). After that, it's the logistics of the move. (Which day, the truck rental, who is going to help, when are they available, etc., etc..) Most people do not want to help you move and are even happy to go to work that day if it gets them out of helping you move. And I don't blame them. Add to this the obsessing over the expense of it all (missing work to move, coming up with ANOTHER security deposit along with the first months rent, the truck rental, some kind of compensation for the good souls who did help) and the stress level ratchets up another few notches. And finally, after the move is said and done, it's time to obsess over the unpacking and arranging of stuff. The whole process is tedious and I'm done. I will be in this apartment until Kathy sells it, I come into an unexpected (and unlikely) windfall and buy my own house, or I die. Period.
Needless to say, there hasn't been much fun excitement going on around here. Still catching up financially (No, we don't have our deposit back yet. But today the 30 day period they have is up. The phone calls will begin, and won't stop until I have a check.) and haven't had the cash or time to do much socializing. I did get to meet up with an old friend from high school for a night on the town, and had a great time, but that's been it. Well, the dull times should be over! I have something to look forward to! I have some friends coming in from Canada on the 7th and my old friend, Becca, from my hometown, coming in on the 9th for her first visit to my fair city. And I'm excited!
My friends from Canada......we met in typical New Orleans fashion......
It was a rainy Monday afternoon. I was standing in the doorway of the Voluptuous Vixen on Chartres St., where a had a part time job, watching the rain and wishing I was down the street at Harry's Corner having a heavily vodka laden beverage. A couple stopped in front of my door to grab some shelter from the rain. We started talking and before I knew it, it was time to close the shop. I said that since it was still raining I was going to stop at Harry's for a drink or three before biking home. It turned out that Harry's was precisely the place that they were looking for. We agreed to meet down there. Fran and John were friendly, interesting people with a love for New Orleans. Easy to talk to, fun to hang out with. Too much time was passing so I had Lester meet us at the bar and in no time it was 10:30pm. Since they were staying on Frenchmen St., and it was Monday night, we headed over to d.b.a. for Glen David Andrews's set. Just a great, spontaneous, drunken evening. A rainy afternoon in New Orleans can be inspiring and you never know where it will take you if you let it. We've kept in touch through the wonder of facebook (what else?) and this will be their first trip back since we met in the summer of 2010. The last time we met they were leaving the next day. Hopefully, this time, our paths will cross more than once.
With Becca I have only 2 full days to give her a good mix of the touristy and local sides of New Orleans that's fit for a first-timer. I've got the wheels in motion and it will probably be a hectic couple of days trying to get everything in, but it will be worth it. I love it when someone comes here for the first time! I always want them to love the city as much as I do, and I want to make them want to come back. Doesn't always work out that way, but that's ok. I've always said about New Orleans, "You either get it, or you don't." It's that simple. If you have an open mind and can embrace diversity; enjoy food, booze, live music and friendly people; all in a decadent, laid back atmosphere.....then you should have no problem here. There's nothing but good times to be had if you know where to find them, and that's where I come in. It's my job to make the first-timer a repeat customer. To show them a good time, to make them fall in love, to make them feel that magnetic pull when they're not here. And I can't wait.
The fun begins next week when I meet up with Fran and John.
At Harry's.
On a Monday afternoon.
Hope it's raining.
Moving definitely has a way of consuming you. First, you are obsessed with finding a place. Scouring Craig's List and the classifieds, pestering friends and even strangers, hoping the perfect place will come along. Then, after having several places not pan out (shabby conditions, too expensive, scary neighborhood, 50 people got there before you), when you find a place, you become obsessed with the packing and cleaning. Cleaning because you do not want to give the landlord any possible reason to keep your security deposit (New Orleans landlords are notorious for not giving your deposit back, they seem to think it's some sort of gift.). After that, it's the logistics of the move. (Which day, the truck rental, who is going to help, when are they available, etc., etc..) Most people do not want to help you move and are even happy to go to work that day if it gets them out of helping you move. And I don't blame them. Add to this the obsessing over the expense of it all (missing work to move, coming up with ANOTHER security deposit along with the first months rent, the truck rental, some kind of compensation for the good souls who did help) and the stress level ratchets up another few notches. And finally, after the move is said and done, it's time to obsess over the unpacking and arranging of stuff. The whole process is tedious and I'm done. I will be in this apartment until Kathy sells it, I come into an unexpected (and unlikely) windfall and buy my own house, or I die. Period.
Needless to say, there hasn't been much fun excitement going on around here. Still catching up financially (No, we don't have our deposit back yet. But today the 30 day period they have is up. The phone calls will begin, and won't stop until I have a check.) and haven't had the cash or time to do much socializing. I did get to meet up with an old friend from high school for a night on the town, and had a great time, but that's been it. Well, the dull times should be over! I have something to look forward to! I have some friends coming in from Canada on the 7th and my old friend, Becca, from my hometown, coming in on the 9th for her first visit to my fair city. And I'm excited!
My friends from Canada......we met in typical New Orleans fashion......
It was a rainy Monday afternoon. I was standing in the doorway of the Voluptuous Vixen on Chartres St., where a had a part time job, watching the rain and wishing I was down the street at Harry's Corner having a heavily vodka laden beverage. A couple stopped in front of my door to grab some shelter from the rain. We started talking and before I knew it, it was time to close the shop. I said that since it was still raining I was going to stop at Harry's for a drink or three before biking home. It turned out that Harry's was precisely the place that they were looking for. We agreed to meet down there. Fran and John were friendly, interesting people with a love for New Orleans. Easy to talk to, fun to hang out with. Too much time was passing so I had Lester meet us at the bar and in no time it was 10:30pm. Since they were staying on Frenchmen St., and it was Monday night, we headed over to d.b.a. for Glen David Andrews's set. Just a great, spontaneous, drunken evening. A rainy afternoon in New Orleans can be inspiring and you never know where it will take you if you let it. We've kept in touch through the wonder of facebook (what else?) and this will be their first trip back since we met in the summer of 2010. The last time we met they were leaving the next day. Hopefully, this time, our paths will cross more than once.
With Becca I have only 2 full days to give her a good mix of the touristy and local sides of New Orleans that's fit for a first-timer. I've got the wheels in motion and it will probably be a hectic couple of days trying to get everything in, but it will be worth it. I love it when someone comes here for the first time! I always want them to love the city as much as I do, and I want to make them want to come back. Doesn't always work out that way, but that's ok. I've always said about New Orleans, "You either get it, or you don't." It's that simple. If you have an open mind and can embrace diversity; enjoy food, booze, live music and friendly people; all in a decadent, laid back atmosphere.....then you should have no problem here. There's nothing but good times to be had if you know where to find them, and that's where I come in. It's my job to make the first-timer a repeat customer. To show them a good time, to make them fall in love, to make them feel that magnetic pull when they're not here. And I can't wait.
The fun begins next week when I meet up with Fran and John.
At Harry's.
On a Monday afternoon.
Hope it's raining.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Here We Go Again
The packing has commenced. We are moving again at the end of this month and this time I know we are settling in for a while. How do I know this, you ask? I know because we are moving into the apartment I moved out of 2 1/2 years ago. I lived there for 6 1/2 years; I know the apartment, the neighborhood, and the landlady. And I'm very happy to be moving back! Well, then why did you leave in the first place, you ask? I only left this apartment because my roommate (Mike) and I had decided to go our seperate ways, he found a new place very quickly and moved out. I would have stayed but thought the place was too large for one person and didn't want to pay the rent by myself. Didn't know anyone looking for a roommate and didn't want to live with a stranger. Decided to look for something smaller and cheaper. In the process of doing so, I met my boyfriend. Had I known we would end up staying together I would have stayed right where I was. But, you know what they say about hindsight. There are definitely things I will miss about living in The Quarter, a 5 minute bike ride to work being the main one. The decaying beauty and gorgeous colors being another. But I'll just go back to taking the bus and will have the beauty of live oaks sheltering my street to look at. The Quarter is where most tourist activity takes place but there's plenty to do in my MidCity neighborhood too. It is home to Jazz Fest every year. Also the Bayou Boogaloo and VooDoo Fest. The NO Museum of Art, City Park, and Bayou St. John. Lots of neighborhood bars and restaurants: Crescent City Steaks (old school steakhouse), Lola's (paella!), Santa Fe (incredibly strong margaritas), Cafe Degas (fabulous, quirky atmosphere), Liuzza's By The Track (neighborhood characters), Pal's Lounge (corner bar, kinda hipster-ish), Parkway Tavern (the BEST roast beef po' boy!). There two grocery stores, Terranova's (housemade Italian sausage) and Canseco's; two coffee shops, CC's and Fair Grinds; a wine shop, a small spa called Lux, a pharmacy, and our dogs' vet. All of this is in walking/biking distance of our place, so I'm not going to feel as if I'm missing out on anything. And without the constant tourist vibe, these places offer a more authentic New Orleans neighborhood experience. I've had some good experiences and met some really great people in both of the places that we've lived in the last 2 1/2 years. Took some chances, learned some lessons, but now I feel as if we're going home. I can't wait to have a cocktail on the balcony by our oak tree.
Happiness and excitement aside, I am not fond of moving. The packing.......oy, what a pain in the ass. Finding boxes, taping them together, wrapping all of your breakables in newspaper, newsprint on hands, face arms. Tedious. And the financial aspect: renting a truck, taking off from work, coming up with the fucking security deposit when work is dead and no money is being made.....let's just say that my stress levels have been through the roof. I'm not a last minute kind of gal. I plan ahead and prepare and am ready for everything ahead of time. When I can't do so, I feel helpless. I know that things usually work out in the end and I'm trying my best to look ahead to when the move will be over, but I'm just not wired that way. I worry (thanks, mom) when things are unsure. And furthermore, the stress of the past two months has translated into weight gain for me. Something I definitely didn't need. I guess I am an emotional eater. Whether celebrating or lamenting, food makes things better. Not a good way to be. I've never looked at food as a required fuel for my body, but always as pleasure. (Well, maybe there was a time in high school when eating wasn't very important.) Anyway, when I went to put on a fresh pair of jeans the other day, they were uncomfortably tight. And I know the dryer didn't shrink them. I could feel myself expanding slightly, certain shirts were snug in places that they weren't before, but it's amazing how easy it is to ignore such things. The jeans woke me up though. There is nothing more uncomfortable than stuffing yourself into a pair of too-tight jeans (10 lbs of shit into a 5 lb bag). Have to get control over my eating/weight. I'm actually toying with the idea of joining Weight Watchers again but I'm less than enthused about the leader at the location that is convenient for me. Ok, I was a member before and quit because I couldn't stand her. But I might have to give it another shot.
So, here we go again. Packing and moving again. Jumping back in the weight loss saddle again. Grateful for the opportunities for a fresh start. Hoping for progress and smooth transitions. Looking forward to getting settled and getting out to have some fun.
Happiness and excitement aside, I am not fond of moving. The packing.......oy, what a pain in the ass. Finding boxes, taping them together, wrapping all of your breakables in newspaper, newsprint on hands, face arms. Tedious. And the financial aspect: renting a truck, taking off from work, coming up with the fucking security deposit when work is dead and no money is being made.....let's just say that my stress levels have been through the roof. I'm not a last minute kind of gal. I plan ahead and prepare and am ready for everything ahead of time. When I can't do so, I feel helpless. I know that things usually work out in the end and I'm trying my best to look ahead to when the move will be over, but I'm just not wired that way. I worry (thanks, mom) when things are unsure. And furthermore, the stress of the past two months has translated into weight gain for me. Something I definitely didn't need. I guess I am an emotional eater. Whether celebrating or lamenting, food makes things better. Not a good way to be. I've never looked at food as a required fuel for my body, but always as pleasure. (Well, maybe there was a time in high school when eating wasn't very important.) Anyway, when I went to put on a fresh pair of jeans the other day, they were uncomfortably tight. And I know the dryer didn't shrink them. I could feel myself expanding slightly, certain shirts were snug in places that they weren't before, but it's amazing how easy it is to ignore such things. The jeans woke me up though. There is nothing more uncomfortable than stuffing yourself into a pair of too-tight jeans (10 lbs of shit into a 5 lb bag). Have to get control over my eating/weight. I'm actually toying with the idea of joining Weight Watchers again but I'm less than enthused about the leader at the location that is convenient for me. Ok, I was a member before and quit because I couldn't stand her. But I might have to give it another shot.
So, here we go again. Packing and moving again. Jumping back in the weight loss saddle again. Grateful for the opportunities for a fresh start. Hoping for progress and smooth transitions. Looking forward to getting settled and getting out to have some fun.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Where Does The Time Go?
It's been a minute since my last post and it will always amaze me how we can allow ourselves to be consumed by worry and stress while letting life pass us by. No matter how I try to roll with the punches, some things just find a way to get under my skin and I hate that I let it happen. This time it was our living situation. First, let me say that I love the location of our apartment. The French Quarter is a glorious place and, let's be honest, being able to get to work in less than 5 minutes is a wonderful thing. But living here is not for the faint of heart. Although beautiful, the buildings are OLD. Which translates to old plumbing and electrical systems, and no insulation. It can also translate to decay - leaks, loose bricks, cracks, holes, etc. The Quarter is also full of mice and roaches who find ways into your home through the aforementioned cracks and holes. Then there are the tourists, who keep our fair city going - God love them, but who may also leave you an unexpected "gift" on your porch or sidewalk after too much to drink. In the past year this has been our experience. Our list of issues with our crumbling building has been long, and the landlords less than responsive. It starts to wear you down after a while. Then there is the fact that we have had a roommate for the past 11 months, which turned out to be a less than ideal situation after being used to our privacy and can put a strain on your relationship. So, what has consumed me for the past month is the transition into change. A parting of ways with our roommate and possibly our apartment, and wanting it to be done amicably. At the present time, part of the situation has resolved itself. Bryan had absolutely no problem finding a friend to go in on a place with and will be moving at the end of the month. We, however, have not been able to find anything in the area where I want to live. Anytime I find something, a crowd of people has gotten there before me. But if we have to stay here, it's OK. Because even though all of the needed repairs and the landlords can be extremely frustrating and annoying, somehow being in the French Quarter makes it tolerable. It just makes it all better. Early in the morning, when the streets are deserted and still wet from being cleaned; the air is cool, the colors are vivid, and you may hear the steam whistle of a riverboat, and I can't imagine that there is a more beautiful place in the world. Letting things go and enjoying your life and your surroundings is the way to go. Doing this isn't always easy, sometimes it's easier to let the fact that you still haven't finished that class you've been working on for way too long cause you to have a panic attack. Or to feel the steam coming out of your ears when you have to call the landlord a fourth time about your shitty air conditioner. But all of the stress doesn't help anything.....it's only harmful.
And I'm letting it all go.
I did have some moments of fun in my month of absentia. I went to a fundraiser at Three Muses for Animal Helper, the organization that rescued Pancho. Really nice time! And I can say that Three Muses is a great pleasure when less crowded. But the biggest fun of the past month was a visit from my best friend, Liz. A great time was had by all! We ended up having to stay in a hotel because of the excessive heat and our crappy air conditioner, but it felt like a little vacation for me and was a nice change from daily life. So I'll give a shout-out to The Lamothe House - a pleasant surprise with a pool, a nice breakfast variety (Mmmm.....doughnut), and a bangin' air conditioner. Some of our activities that weekend:
~ Our first food stop was Mother's. Mother's does an incredible tourist business, there's always a line down the street to get in. And I don't quite understand why. On previous visits I was disappointed, but Liz wanted a particular sammich from there so, what the hell. This time I chose to get the "Debris" Po' Boy. Debris is basically shredded roast beef and has the potential to be delicious. This was bland and watery. Some gravy might spruce it up.
~ Checked out The Insectarium (mainly for the air conditioning)
~ Hit some bars: Fahy's, Evelyn's Place, Apple Barrel, Cafe Negril, Spotted Cat, Napoleon's Itch, Johnny White's and Tujague's
~ People watched at the Satchmo Club Strut
~ Ate well: Adolfo's - fabulous, as usual; Port of Call - ditto; Coop's - why did I stay away so long? Great food, strong drinks; Buffa's - first time for Sunday brunch - loved it! Biscuits and gravy - YUM! Will definitely go back; Marigny Brasserie - tasty comfort food
~ Followed a second line down Esplanade
~ Sifted through the junk shops on Decatur St.
~ A Sunday afternoon at Satchmo Fest listening to New Birth Brass Band, Hot 8 Brass Band, Glen David Andrews; dodging thunderstorms and sampling some food (banana Nutella crepe)
Just a busy, fun weekend with friends and I was sad to see it end. I wish we weren't so far apart and could do it more often. Just the thing to take your mind off of life's daily trials.
Now, if I could just get that air conditioner fixed........
And I'm letting it all go.
I did have some moments of fun in my month of absentia. I went to a fundraiser at Three Muses for Animal Helper, the organization that rescued Pancho. Really nice time! And I can say that Three Muses is a great pleasure when less crowded. But the biggest fun of the past month was a visit from my best friend, Liz. A great time was had by all! We ended up having to stay in a hotel because of the excessive heat and our crappy air conditioner, but it felt like a little vacation for me and was a nice change from daily life. So I'll give a shout-out to The Lamothe House - a pleasant surprise with a pool, a nice breakfast variety (Mmmm.....doughnut), and a bangin' air conditioner. Some of our activities that weekend:
~ Our first food stop was Mother's. Mother's does an incredible tourist business, there's always a line down the street to get in. And I don't quite understand why. On previous visits I was disappointed, but Liz wanted a particular sammich from there so, what the hell. This time I chose to get the "Debris" Po' Boy. Debris is basically shredded roast beef and has the potential to be delicious. This was bland and watery. Some gravy might spruce it up.
~ Checked out The Insectarium (mainly for the air conditioning)
~ Hit some bars: Fahy's, Evelyn's Place, Apple Barrel, Cafe Negril, Spotted Cat, Napoleon's Itch, Johnny White's and Tujague's
~ People watched at the Satchmo Club Strut
~ Ate well: Adolfo's - fabulous, as usual; Port of Call - ditto; Coop's - why did I stay away so long? Great food, strong drinks; Buffa's - first time for Sunday brunch - loved it! Biscuits and gravy - YUM! Will definitely go back; Marigny Brasserie - tasty comfort food
~ Followed a second line down Esplanade
~ Sifted through the junk shops on Decatur St.
~ A Sunday afternoon at Satchmo Fest listening to New Birth Brass Band, Hot 8 Brass Band, Glen David Andrews; dodging thunderstorms and sampling some food (banana Nutella crepe)
Just a busy, fun weekend with friends and I was sad to see it end. I wish we weren't so far apart and could do it more often. Just the thing to take your mind off of life's daily trials.
Now, if I could just get that air conditioner fixed........
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Taking The Good With The Bad
I have become disillusioned with technology. (She says as she types her blog on a laptop.) All kidding aside, I'm tired of it. Problems with laptops, problems with my iPod, problems with facebook. Who needs the stress? We spend hundreds of dollars on gadgets only to be angry and frustrated when they break down a week after the warranty expires, and then have to spend hundreds more to fix or replace them. Now, I will admit that I'm technologically challenged and short on patience but it just isn't fun anymore when you find yourself muttering "serenity now" over and over while restraining yourself from smashing a costly piece of equipment to pieces. It's also not fun when some crazy-ass from your hometown creates a bunch of fake facebook profiles, includes your picture on them, and you get a message from the police. WTF??!!? I'm not going to go into details and I'm not going to dwell on it, but I will say that this is a person with way too much time on their hands. Deriving joy from causing problems for others.....very sad. And not good for your karmic score either.
I was a latecomer to the facebook party and although I have enjoyed re-connecting with people I haven't seen in years, enjoy using it to communicate easily with loved ones, and find it to be a nifty networking tool; it can also be a mindless, numbing, time-suck. I mean, I have facebook on my phone. Why?? While I'm at work do I need to let everyone know that I don't feel like being there? Is there a pressing need to know, in an instant, that a friend is sitting in front of the tube with a bowl of Lucky Charms watching CSI: Miami re-runs? Or that another friend's kid finally pooped in the toilet? Not to trivialize anyone's important news, but the answer is no, I don't need this information in the palm of my hand. With that being said, I am on hiatus from facebook and will only post blog updates. I will also post any earth shattering news I may have. Like, say, if Derek Jeter shows up at my door and asks me to marry him. Or, I come into some money and I'm packing my shit and taking off for Bali. Now, some may ask themselves, "Well, what's the difference between writing a blog and posting on facebook?", and surely, you jest! I started this blog because I like to write and wanted to use it to hone what little skill I may have for writing. And maybe if I practice enough I could someday be paid for writing. (Cue the sound of harps playing while I sigh dreamily and look off into the distance.)
Moving on.....my health challenge this week. In a word: shitty. Cut out sweets? Nope. Exercise? Nope, again. I'm an emotional eater and emotions were running high for me this week. I haven't been parking myself at all you can eat buffets or gorging myself on mozzarella sticks, but I did let the vegetables slip away. There were also alcoholic beverages involved. (Not too many, I can't take the hangover.) I'm not giving up, though. And I forgive myself because, after receiving some sad news, I needed to get out of the house and be around people for a bit. I didn't want to be alone. Here's what transpired (pretty tame, but social, at least):
On Friday afternoon I headed down the street to Fahy's Irish Pub for a few cocktails. I don't go in there often and I don't know why. I like the woman who owns the place (Katy) and it's close. Nothing fancy, it feels like you're sitting in someone's rec room with the drop-ceiling and pool table. Lots of neighbors bring their dogs and I love it, but then I start to feel bad for the dogs because there's so much smoke. Spent a couple of hours there (Katy told me to come back more often, maybe I will.) and then biked over to Mona Lisa on Royal St. for dinner with Mike. We started with their brushetta. I LOVE IT and was craving it. It tastes of balsamic vinegar and seems very simple. I'm going to try to duplicate it this weekend. I then had a moderate portion of spaghetti bolognese (very tasty) and capped that off with a very fine cannoli. Probably the best I've had in New Orleans. (And, yes, I'm aware that I f'd up my no sugar challenge just hours after I posted it.) I was satisfied to call it a night after that meal. After two days of doing nothing but procrastinating, I ventured out again on Sunday evening. I was in the mood for some music but had to eat before cocktails. I decided on The Copper Monkey for their steak quesadilla, which is as I believe a quesadilla should be: chunks of rib eye steak and cheese between tortilla. No raw onion, no raw tomato, no cilantro. Just perfect beefy, cheesy goodness. Jalapenos, sour cream, and salsa on the side. Amen. They also make a good (read strong) cocktail. The Boyfriend met me there and I convinced him to go hear some music with me even though he wanted to go to bed. Good guy. (Well, really, he didn't want me out gallivanting by myself.) We went to Maison on Frenchmen St. for a little funk from Margie Perez and her band. Not a large crowd but a good showing and I can't think of a better way to spend a Sunday night than with great music, food, and cocktails.
Need to make the good things happen more often and stop letting stress get the best of us.
Here's hoping for a better week.
I was a latecomer to the facebook party and although I have enjoyed re-connecting with people I haven't seen in years, enjoy using it to communicate easily with loved ones, and find it to be a nifty networking tool; it can also be a mindless, numbing, time-suck. I mean, I have facebook on my phone. Why?? While I'm at work do I need to let everyone know that I don't feel like being there? Is there a pressing need to know, in an instant, that a friend is sitting in front of the tube with a bowl of Lucky Charms watching CSI: Miami re-runs? Or that another friend's kid finally pooped in the toilet? Not to trivialize anyone's important news, but the answer is no, I don't need this information in the palm of my hand. With that being said, I am on hiatus from facebook and will only post blog updates. I will also post any earth shattering news I may have. Like, say, if Derek Jeter shows up at my door and asks me to marry him. Or, I come into some money and I'm packing my shit and taking off for Bali. Now, some may ask themselves, "Well, what's the difference between writing a blog and posting on facebook?", and surely, you jest! I started this blog because I like to write and wanted to use it to hone what little skill I may have for writing. And maybe if I practice enough I could someday be paid for writing. (Cue the sound of harps playing while I sigh dreamily and look off into the distance.)
Moving on.....my health challenge this week. In a word: shitty. Cut out sweets? Nope. Exercise? Nope, again. I'm an emotional eater and emotions were running high for me this week. I haven't been parking myself at all you can eat buffets or gorging myself on mozzarella sticks, but I did let the vegetables slip away. There were also alcoholic beverages involved. (Not too many, I can't take the hangover.) I'm not giving up, though. And I forgive myself because, after receiving some sad news, I needed to get out of the house and be around people for a bit. I didn't want to be alone. Here's what transpired (pretty tame, but social, at least):
On Friday afternoon I headed down the street to Fahy's Irish Pub for a few cocktails. I don't go in there often and I don't know why. I like the woman who owns the place (Katy) and it's close. Nothing fancy, it feels like you're sitting in someone's rec room with the drop-ceiling and pool table. Lots of neighbors bring their dogs and I love it, but then I start to feel bad for the dogs because there's so much smoke. Spent a couple of hours there (Katy told me to come back more often, maybe I will.) and then biked over to Mona Lisa on Royal St. for dinner with Mike. We started with their brushetta. I LOVE IT and was craving it. It tastes of balsamic vinegar and seems very simple. I'm going to try to duplicate it this weekend. I then had a moderate portion of spaghetti bolognese (very tasty) and capped that off with a very fine cannoli. Probably the best I've had in New Orleans. (And, yes, I'm aware that I f'd up my no sugar challenge just hours after I posted it.) I was satisfied to call it a night after that meal. After two days of doing nothing but procrastinating, I ventured out again on Sunday evening. I was in the mood for some music but had to eat before cocktails. I decided on The Copper Monkey for their steak quesadilla, which is as I believe a quesadilla should be: chunks of rib eye steak and cheese between tortilla. No raw onion, no raw tomato, no cilantro. Just perfect beefy, cheesy goodness. Jalapenos, sour cream, and salsa on the side. Amen. They also make a good (read strong) cocktail. The Boyfriend met me there and I convinced him to go hear some music with me even though he wanted to go to bed. Good guy. (Well, really, he didn't want me out gallivanting by myself.) We went to Maison on Frenchmen St. for a little funk from Margie Perez and her band. Not a large crowd but a good showing and I can't think of a better way to spend a Sunday night than with great music, food, and cocktails.
Need to make the good things happen more often and stop letting stress get the best of us.
Here's hoping for a better week.
Friday, July 15, 2011
One Thing At A Time
Week two of my challenge is done and I did ok again, but I have to do better. I'm still good with portion control and avoiding deep fried foods but I need to cut the sweets and amp up the exercise. Don't get me wrong, I'm still happy with my progress and I'm sticking with it, I'm just admitting that there is room for improvement. Being premenstrual is never good for the female diet and that's probably why I wanted more sweets this week but, no excuses. I'm the one who controls what I put in my mouth. I didn't go haywire or anything but it was enough that I noticed.
Another thing that I was able to confirm about myself....adult beverages lead to "bad" eating. I went to see Steve Earle at the House Of Blues on Monday night, had three drinks and, after the show when I was hungry, had no problem ordering a cheesesteak. Without the buzz I know I would not have ordered that sandwich. Again, I didn't go haywire, I hadn't really eaten much on that day, but it shouldn't have happened. The show was awesome, by the way. Such a talented guy in so many ways. AND he and his band donated their whole fee from the show to the New Orleans Musicians Clinic. A stand-up guy, to boot. The cheesesteak was awesome too. Mr. Chubby's (appropriate name) has the best cheesesteak in New Orleans, in my humble opinion.
Anyway, this week I'm issuing myself a challenge within the challenge. NO SWEETS. Starting today. Cutting the deep fried stuff has worked for me. I don't miss it and, truthfully, the thought of it makes my stomach hurt. I need to do the same with sugar and get myself to where having a treat doesn't make me want one EVERY day. Discipline is the key, I guess.
So, that's where I am. Not flawless, but not a failure either. I'm not really noticing any weight loss and that is disappointing but maybe I will after cutting out the small doses of sugar every day. And maybe after I tackle sugar this week, exercise will be next on list.
One thing at a time.
Another thing that I was able to confirm about myself....adult beverages lead to "bad" eating. I went to see Steve Earle at the House Of Blues on Monday night, had three drinks and, after the show when I was hungry, had no problem ordering a cheesesteak. Without the buzz I know I would not have ordered that sandwich. Again, I didn't go haywire, I hadn't really eaten much on that day, but it shouldn't have happened. The show was awesome, by the way. Such a talented guy in so many ways. AND he and his band donated their whole fee from the show to the New Orleans Musicians Clinic. A stand-up guy, to boot. The cheesesteak was awesome too. Mr. Chubby's (appropriate name) has the best cheesesteak in New Orleans, in my humble opinion.
Anyway, this week I'm issuing myself a challenge within the challenge. NO SWEETS. Starting today. Cutting the deep fried stuff has worked for me. I don't miss it and, truthfully, the thought of it makes my stomach hurt. I need to do the same with sugar and get myself to where having a treat doesn't make me want one EVERY day. Discipline is the key, I guess.
So, that's where I am. Not flawless, but not a failure either. I'm not really noticing any weight loss and that is disappointing but maybe I will after cutting out the small doses of sugar every day. And maybe after I tackle sugar this week, exercise will be next on list.
One thing at a time.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Like Nina Simone Said, I'm "Feelin' Good"
I've made it through the first week of my challenge and I'm happy with my progress so far. In fact, I'm enthused about it. And it hasn't really seemed all that painful. Honestly, I think my body was pretty much craving this after being pushed to its limit of laziness and crappy eating. Again, I'm not going to use this forum to journal everything I put in my mouth and every calorie I burn, but I do want to hold myself accountable for my shortfalls. And do some bragging too, of course. So, lets get to those guidelines I came with up this week........
I'd have to say that, by far, the area I most excelled in was portion control. And I'm proud of that since it was my biggest problem area. I even actually stopped eating when I was full and ate when I was hungry. Imagine that. What a concept!
Other high points: I had nothing too cheesy, just sprinkles here and there. Ordered no take-out. Drank water. Cooked at home with produce. Had no alcohol. I minimized my beef and pork intake. [The only beef I had was in the two Lean Cuisines I ate (and we know how stingy they are with beef) and the 2 braised short ribs I had at work (I know, I tried to avoid it, but I was starving!). The short ribs were a big mistake - they tore up my stomach, lesson learned. The only pork I had was the questionable bits on an individual pizza.]
Lower points (but not horrible): Full disclosure.....I ate something deep fried. BUT, it was only 3 of my boyfriend's french fries (and they didn't even taste good to me). HE ordered take-out last night and I will say I was proud of my restraint. Usually I would have given in, said "what the hell" and ordered something for myself. But I didn't. Yay me! Exercise was another non-perfect area but I did more than usual. The same goes for sugar, I had one small treat a day but far less than I'd been eating (usually a pint of ice cream and sometimes snacks at work). And I probably had too many diet sodas. I can live with that.
I'm staying positive, and I'm going to keep up the momentum. I'm feeling more energy and a spring in my step after just one week. But let's be honest (and superficial) here, I want to see some weight loss too. I mentioned before that I don't own a scale, and that's probably a good thing. I think I'll stick with that policy and just go by the feel of my clothing. Too many times I've let that number define me and make me feel like a failure. Not this time. Healthier all around - mind and body. In 4 more weeks my BFF will be here. I want to be in top form for having fun and shakin' my thang without feeling like my clothes fit like sausage casing or that I need to go take a nap. I want to feel good about myself. That's what it's all about. Feelin' good.
I'd have to say that, by far, the area I most excelled in was portion control. And I'm proud of that since it was my biggest problem area. I even actually stopped eating when I was full and ate when I was hungry. Imagine that. What a concept!
Other high points: I had nothing too cheesy, just sprinkles here and there. Ordered no take-out. Drank water. Cooked at home with produce. Had no alcohol. I minimized my beef and pork intake. [The only beef I had was in the two Lean Cuisines I ate (and we know how stingy they are with beef) and the 2 braised short ribs I had at work (I know, I tried to avoid it, but I was starving!). The short ribs were a big mistake - they tore up my stomach, lesson learned. The only pork I had was the questionable bits on an individual pizza.]
Lower points (but not horrible): Full disclosure.....I ate something deep fried. BUT, it was only 3 of my boyfriend's french fries (and they didn't even taste good to me). HE ordered take-out last night and I will say I was proud of my restraint. Usually I would have given in, said "what the hell" and ordered something for myself. But I didn't. Yay me! Exercise was another non-perfect area but I did more than usual. The same goes for sugar, I had one small treat a day but far less than I'd been eating (usually a pint of ice cream and sometimes snacks at work). And I probably had too many diet sodas. I can live with that.
I'm staying positive, and I'm going to keep up the momentum. I'm feeling more energy and a spring in my step after just one week. But let's be honest (and superficial) here, I want to see some weight loss too. I mentioned before that I don't own a scale, and that's probably a good thing. I think I'll stick with that policy and just go by the feel of my clothing. Too many times I've let that number define me and make me feel like a failure. Not this time. Healthier all around - mind and body. In 4 more weeks my BFF will be here. I want to be in top form for having fun and shakin' my thang without feeling like my clothes fit like sausage casing or that I need to go take a nap. I want to feel good about myself. That's what it's all about. Feelin' good.
Monday, July 4, 2011
On A Roll
Day four of my challenge is coming to a close and I'm feeling good about it. Still not perfect but that's ok. There has been improvement and that's all I can ask of myself.
I stayed pretty close to home this first weekend in order to avoid food and beverage temptations and, to tell the truth, since my visit to NJ, money has been a bit tight so frivolity must be sacrificed for the time being. But I did get out to do some walking and on Sunday afternoon I strolled over to the French Market to check out the produce to see what kind of vegetables I could incorporate into our dinner that evening. I was sadly disappointed. Only 2 or 3 vendors had produce and it was mostly fruit. I did see some red peppers but they were so puckered and old looking that I couldn't believe they were on display. I really thought that the French Market had lots of local produce and other local food products and spices. Nope. And I was sorry to see that a lot of the stuff there is the same stuff being sold in the gift shops around the city. Going to have to look into other farmer's markets. Anyway, from the Market I walked over to the grocery and picked up the ingredients for turkey chili. Simple and tasty. It's been so HOT here that spending extended periods over a stove is not an option. And forget about the oven. Simple is definitely key. Although, an upside to the heat is I've been sweating like an animal on my walks - I'll take any kind of loss, even if it's water weight.
Now I have another guideline I'd like to discuss:
17) 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night, not 12 to 14. Sleep. I love sleep. But I do it poorly. A lot of times I have trouble falling asleep, then when I do it's not so great either. My sleep is disturbed several times a night, whether it's to go to the can or something else wakes me. In addition to all the weight I've gained, I've also gained a case of sleep apnea. Never officially diagnosed but it is what it is. Lack of health insurance prevents me from going and getting one of those fancy breathing machines. Anyway, every person I know of who has one never uses it. I'm hoping some weight loss will right the situation and I'll be better rested.
So, not a very exciting holiday weekend to report on but I'm happy with it and I'm in a good place to start my work week tomorrow.
Hope you had a great 4th, y'all!
I stayed pretty close to home this first weekend in order to avoid food and beverage temptations and, to tell the truth, since my visit to NJ, money has been a bit tight so frivolity must be sacrificed for the time being. But I did get out to do some walking and on Sunday afternoon I strolled over to the French Market to check out the produce to see what kind of vegetables I could incorporate into our dinner that evening. I was sadly disappointed. Only 2 or 3 vendors had produce and it was mostly fruit. I did see some red peppers but they were so puckered and old looking that I couldn't believe they were on display. I really thought that the French Market had lots of local produce and other local food products and spices. Nope. And I was sorry to see that a lot of the stuff there is the same stuff being sold in the gift shops around the city. Going to have to look into other farmer's markets. Anyway, from the Market I walked over to the grocery and picked up the ingredients for turkey chili. Simple and tasty. It's been so HOT here that spending extended periods over a stove is not an option. And forget about the oven. Simple is definitely key. Although, an upside to the heat is I've been sweating like an animal on my walks - I'll take any kind of loss, even if it's water weight.
Now I have another guideline I'd like to discuss:
17) 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night, not 12 to 14. Sleep. I love sleep. But I do it poorly. A lot of times I have trouble falling asleep, then when I do it's not so great either. My sleep is disturbed several times a night, whether it's to go to the can or something else wakes me. In addition to all the weight I've gained, I've also gained a case of sleep apnea. Never officially diagnosed but it is what it is. Lack of health insurance prevents me from going and getting one of those fancy breathing machines. Anyway, every person I know of who has one never uses it. I'm hoping some weight loss will right the situation and I'll be better rested.
So, not a very exciting holiday weekend to report on but I'm happy with it and I'm in a good place to start my work week tomorrow.
Hope you had a great 4th, y'all!
Friday, July 1, 2011
One Down, Thirty To Go
Day one was a success. At least according to my standards. Not perfect, but a helluva lot better than usual. I know, I know, day one is always great because you are so enthused about your new beginnings. But progress is progress, large or small. I'm not going to list every morsel I put into my mouth on here, though I will say that I did incorporate fruit and vegetables into my menu and controlled my portions. I also did my thirty minutes of walking. I did not, however, limit myself to one diet soda. And I also had a cupcake. A fabulous coconut cupcake from the coffee shop where Mike works. And it was delicious. So, there it is. But you know what? For the first time I'm not going to focus on the imperfections and ignore all of the positive aspects of my day. There was a time when I would have eaten that cupcake and then said "screw it, I might as well eat what I want for the rest of the day and start again tomorrow". I'm not doing that. That way of thinking is why I'm fat. One cupcake should not ruin your whole day. I ate it and then for dinner I had a Lean Cuisine. End of story.
I also have a few more guidelines to add:
14) Avoid the cafeteria at work. I think that everyone can agree that free food provided where you work is pretty great. And generous. But here's the thing, at my job it is served buffet-style. There are hot choices, a salad bar, a soup, and deli meats & cheeses with rolls and bread. A buffet is not the best situation for me because of my portion control issue and because even if there are healthy options available, I will choose the unhealthy option while berating myself for the rest of the night after. And since I have an aversion to raw vegetables, the salad bar is lost on me. Better to just eat before I get to work or bring something along.
15) No eating after 10pm. My work hours are from 2-8pm and for the longest time I have let this dictate my eating schedule. I also like to sometimes cook and eat dinner with my boyfriend. Both result in eating a lot of late dinners. To be fair, I don't eat and go right to bed because I stay up late, but what I've been doing so far hasn't been working. Time for something new.
16) Eat when I'm physically hungry, not when I think I should. I don't know how many millions of times I've said or heard the phrase "it's lunch/dinner time, let's eat." And I would eat. Even if I wasn't really hungry. Because it was "time". Listening to your body is the way to go.
Making healthier choices isn't always going to be fun, but feeling bad about yourself because you're fat isn't fun either. I wish I was one of those girls who can say, "I'M FAT AND FABULOUS", but I'm not. I believe I'm now ready to do what needs to be done in order for me to regain my self-confidence.
I will go to bed tonight feeling good about my day. I will also probably go to bed feeling hungry.
I also have a few more guidelines to add:
14) Avoid the cafeteria at work. I think that everyone can agree that free food provided where you work is pretty great. And generous. But here's the thing, at my job it is served buffet-style. There are hot choices, a salad bar, a soup, and deli meats & cheeses with rolls and bread. A buffet is not the best situation for me because of my portion control issue and because even if there are healthy options available, I will choose the unhealthy option while berating myself for the rest of the night after. And since I have an aversion to raw vegetables, the salad bar is lost on me. Better to just eat before I get to work or bring something along.
15) No eating after 10pm. My work hours are from 2-8pm and for the longest time I have let this dictate my eating schedule. I also like to sometimes cook and eat dinner with my boyfriend. Both result in eating a lot of late dinners. To be fair, I don't eat and go right to bed because I stay up late, but what I've been doing so far hasn't been working. Time for something new.
16) Eat when I'm physically hungry, not when I think I should. I don't know how many millions of times I've said or heard the phrase "it's lunch/dinner time, let's eat." And I would eat. Even if I wasn't really hungry. Because it was "time". Listening to your body is the way to go.
Making healthier choices isn't always going to be fun, but feeling bad about yourself because you're fat isn't fun either. I wish I was one of those girls who can say, "I'M FAT AND FABULOUS", but I'm not. I believe I'm now ready to do what needs to be done in order for me to regain my self-confidence.
I will go to bed tonight feeling good about my day. I will also probably go to bed feeling hungry.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Am I Up To The Challenge?
My weight has been a disappointment to me for years and, yet, I've done nothing about it. My clothes don't fit right, I'm lazy, sluggish, and I'm tired of feeling like I'm invisible. (Yes, ironically, the bigger you become the more invisible you become. People just do not treat you the same.) I'm tired of thinking about being fat all the time. So, I'm issuing a challenge to myself to be healthier for the 31 days of July. They say it takes 3 weeks for a habit to form....here's hoping.
These things always have a set of rules or guidelines to help schlubs like me along, here's what I came up with so far. I'll add to the list as I go along and see fit:
The 31 Day Be Healthier Challenge
1) Absolutely Nothing Deep Fried!!!! Rule number one because deep fried = garbage as far as diet is concerned. Good-bye mozzarella sticks.
2) Don't even think about extra cheese. Enough said.
3) Banish the take-out. Although there ARE healthier take-out options around, they never seem to be the ones chosen.
4) More Water! I understand the need even though I will spend half of my day in the can.
5) Utilize the French Market for produce. It's local, it's healthy, and it will help increase my fruit and veggie intake. I am constantly amazed at how little I eat of these items.
6) Be creative and cook at home. Using what is obtained above.
7) PORTION CONTROL!!! This is probably my biggest problem area. The amount of food I can put away in a sitting is sometimes astonishing.
8) At least 30 minutes of exercise a day. This exercise will probably be walking for me. I'm saying 30 mins. because that's probably all I'll be able to handle in the July New Orleans heat. And then there's the fact that I'm incredibly out of shape and lazy.
9) One diet soda a day. Need to get away from artificial sweeteners. And see # 4.
10) Less beef (and pork). I have totally disassociated myself from the fact that what we buy in the store is actually sweet natured animals. When I see them, my stomach turns in disgust with myself for eating them. They break my heart.
11) Minimize Alcohol. Not a problem for me. It just doesn't hold the same appeal that it did in my youth.
12) Deal with my affinity for sugar. Another of my problem areas that needs major work. I am one of those people who looks at the dessert menu first when in a restaurant. I have a sweet tooth, what can I say?
13) With all of that being said, Allow myself the occasional treat. I can not, and will not, be totally deprived. Life is just too short.
So there it is. My challenge to myself. Let me say here that this is not supposed to be a self-imposed quick weight loss bootcamp. I'm not even weighing myself at the start ( I don't own a scale). It's about being healthier and not looking at a vegetable as if it were a foreign object. I need to do something to show some love for myself. Plus, I have my BFF coming down next month and I want to have the energy to enjoy and experience her time here. I start tomorrow. You can too......are you up to the challenge?
These things always have a set of rules or guidelines to help schlubs like me along, here's what I came up with so far. I'll add to the list as I go along and see fit:
The 31 Day Be Healthier Challenge
1) Absolutely Nothing Deep Fried!!!! Rule number one because deep fried = garbage as far as diet is concerned. Good-bye mozzarella sticks.
2) Don't even think about extra cheese. Enough said.
3) Banish the take-out. Although there ARE healthier take-out options around, they never seem to be the ones chosen.
4) More Water! I understand the need even though I will spend half of my day in the can.
5) Utilize the French Market for produce. It's local, it's healthy, and it will help increase my fruit and veggie intake. I am constantly amazed at how little I eat of these items.
6) Be creative and cook at home. Using what is obtained above.
7) PORTION CONTROL!!! This is probably my biggest problem area. The amount of food I can put away in a sitting is sometimes astonishing.
8) At least 30 minutes of exercise a day. This exercise will probably be walking for me. I'm saying 30 mins. because that's probably all I'll be able to handle in the July New Orleans heat. And then there's the fact that I'm incredibly out of shape and lazy.
9) One diet soda a day. Need to get away from artificial sweeteners. And see # 4.
10) Less beef (and pork). I have totally disassociated myself from the fact that what we buy in the store is actually sweet natured animals. When I see them, my stomach turns in disgust with myself for eating them. They break my heart.
11) Minimize Alcohol. Not a problem for me. It just doesn't hold the same appeal that it did in my youth.
12) Deal with my affinity for sugar. Another of my problem areas that needs major work. I am one of those people who looks at the dessert menu first when in a restaurant. I have a sweet tooth, what can I say?
13) With all of that being said, Allow myself the occasional treat. I can not, and will not, be totally deprived. Life is just too short.
So there it is. My challenge to myself. Let me say here that this is not supposed to be a self-imposed quick weight loss bootcamp. I'm not even weighing myself at the start ( I don't own a scale). It's about being healthier and not looking at a vegetable as if it were a foreign object. I need to do something to show some love for myself. Plus, I have my BFF coming down next month and I want to have the energy to enjoy and experience her time here. I start tomorrow. You can too......are you up to the challenge?
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Need To Focus
I had an unexpected day off today and actually got up off my ass and did some walking (meandering, really) in this heat and took in my surroundings. Met Mike for lunch at Louisiana Pizza Kitchen and had a tasty pepperoni pizza that negated the previous and any subsequent walking we would do but, hey, at least I made the effort. After lunch we picked up Lois (the dog) and continued on a short, sweaty walk through an area of the Marigny that I would LOVE to own a house in. We had looked in an apartment in this area before moving into the Quarter but the guy who got there before us also got the apartment. Don't get me wrong, I love the French Quarter, love being 2 minutes from work, and dread the thought of moving again.....but I wouldn't mind moving over there.
Anyhoo, it was good to get out of the house to just observe some beauty and occupy my mind. Since arriving home from NJ I haven't been sleeping well at night and have had trouble focusing. The news on my dad's health was not good. The original tumor found was not the only one, the cancer has metastasized and his heart problems aren't helping the matter. MY heart hurts for him and my mom. She tirelessly stays by his side for hours on end to make sure he is comfortable. It was an emotionally draining 5 days for me so I can't imagine what they are going through. And although I'm happy to be home, I feel uneasy and "off". Maybe that's what's fueling my thoughts of moving. I want to finally find my place, career, etc. because, as they say, life is short. Very short, folks. So, take a look around you and ask yourself if you're REALLY happy; and if those around you are happy. Anything less is a shame. You have to take care of your self and your happiness.
As an afterthought....I wrote this previously but didn't get to post:
I finally made it out to Three Muses (with Mike and Valerie), a club on Frenchmen St. that specializes in small plates, cocktails, and music in an intimate setting. Open for less than a year, Three Muses is small, crowded, noisy, and enjoyable but they have no system in place for doling out tables. It is a free for all where first come isn't necessarily first served and can be quite stressful. It's hard to enjoy your company when you each have one eye surveying the room for movement indicating that someone is vacating a table. After finally securing a table, we ordered some food and all was right with the world again. The mushroom gnocchi with housemade ricotta were fantastic - the lightest gnocchi I've ever had; housemade fries with fontina cheese - perfect; the chicken masala flatbread had the glorious taste of fresh tarragon; creamy, delightful mac & cheese; all topped off with a banana mascarpone strudel. Very pleasant, indeed. The entertainment that evening was provided by Glen David Andrews, a local trombone player who is currently riding quite a wave of popularity. I enjoy seeing him work and find him to be a talented guy but I have one complaint.....he is constantly shouting "somebody scream!" throughout his set. Besides being totally outdated, (I keep waiting for him to start with "throw your hands in the air and wave 'em like you just don't care!") it just takes away from the show. Once or twice.....OK. Every five minutes.....annoying.
Overall, a good night out and I would go back. But I would hope for it to be less crowded.
Anyhoo, it was good to get out of the house to just observe some beauty and occupy my mind. Since arriving home from NJ I haven't been sleeping well at night and have had trouble focusing. The news on my dad's health was not good. The original tumor found was not the only one, the cancer has metastasized and his heart problems aren't helping the matter. MY heart hurts for him and my mom. She tirelessly stays by his side for hours on end to make sure he is comfortable. It was an emotionally draining 5 days for me so I can't imagine what they are going through. And although I'm happy to be home, I feel uneasy and "off". Maybe that's what's fueling my thoughts of moving. I want to finally find my place, career, etc. because, as they say, life is short. Very short, folks. So, take a look around you and ask yourself if you're REALLY happy; and if those around you are happy. Anything less is a shame. You have to take care of your self and your happiness.
As an afterthought....I wrote this previously but didn't get to post:
I finally made it out to Three Muses (with Mike and Valerie), a club on Frenchmen St. that specializes in small plates, cocktails, and music in an intimate setting. Open for less than a year, Three Muses is small, crowded, noisy, and enjoyable but they have no system in place for doling out tables. It is a free for all where first come isn't necessarily first served and can be quite stressful. It's hard to enjoy your company when you each have one eye surveying the room for movement indicating that someone is vacating a table. After finally securing a table, we ordered some food and all was right with the world again. The mushroom gnocchi with housemade ricotta were fantastic - the lightest gnocchi I've ever had; housemade fries with fontina cheese - perfect; the chicken masala flatbread had the glorious taste of fresh tarragon; creamy, delightful mac & cheese; all topped off with a banana mascarpone strudel. Very pleasant, indeed. The entertainment that evening was provided by Glen David Andrews, a local trombone player who is currently riding quite a wave of popularity. I enjoy seeing him work and find him to be a talented guy but I have one complaint.....he is constantly shouting "somebody scream!" throughout his set. Besides being totally outdated, (I keep waiting for him to start with "throw your hands in the air and wave 'em like you just don't care!") it just takes away from the show. Once or twice.....OK. Every five minutes.....annoying.
Overall, a good night out and I would go back. But I would hope for it to be less crowded.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Clarifications
I'm leaving for the airport in a couple of hours to board a flight to Philadelphia to see my dad and can't sleep, so I wanted to take the time to clarify some things about my last post.....
Although I am very frustrated that my father has squandered the second chances given to him in life, I am not judging him. I'm in no place to do so. As human beings we all make bad choices in our lives, some worse than others. And while I find it hard to sympathize with the choices that brought him to this situation, I am still compassionate about the suffering he is enduring. No one deserves to go through cancer and it is a mystery why some do and others don't. My frustration with his obstinance doesn't mean I don't love my father. I guess overall I'm just sad for him. Sad that he didn't try to turn his health around and live life to the fullest. Life is such a gift and I think it is just a shame to not cherish it. But that was his choice, and we are all entitled to that.
Although I am very frustrated that my father has squandered the second chances given to him in life, I am not judging him. I'm in no place to do so. As human beings we all make bad choices in our lives, some worse than others. And while I find it hard to sympathize with the choices that brought him to this situation, I am still compassionate about the suffering he is enduring. No one deserves to go through cancer and it is a mystery why some do and others don't. My frustration with his obstinance doesn't mean I don't love my father. I guess overall I'm just sad for him. Sad that he didn't try to turn his health around and live life to the fullest. Life is such a gift and I think it is just a shame to not cherish it. But that was his choice, and we are all entitled to that.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
The Truth And Choices
I just found out a couple of days ago that my dad has cancer again, in the form of a tumor growing on his spine that is destroying the vertebrae it is surrounding. Surgery to "de-bulk" the tumor (complete removal is not possible) and repair his spine was scheduled immediately. Everything went well and he is now recovering. He will also have to endure physical rehabilitation followed by chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
I had originally jotted down a very generic paragraph about all of this and then moved on to more upbeat topics in order to avoid hurt feelings or criticism about my feelings on this subject. But then I thought about this.....a person who writes should write what they know and be truthful. So here is the truth. I find it very hard to be sympathetic toward my father's current plight. I love him and I don't ever want to see him suffer but he has been a smoker and drinker all of his life, to his own detriment. Now, before you assume that I am going to get on my soap box and judge all smokers, I am not. I have smoked cigarettes in my life. This is about choices. My father chose, after multiple heart attacks and having 2/3 OF HIS TONGUE CUT OUT AND RESTRUCTURED because of oral cancer, to continue smoking cigarettes and drinking for 10 years. Resulting in the present situation. People will say, 'It's so hard to quit, it's an addiction'. Bullshit. People quit every day. Again, it's about choices. I don't know about you, but if I had my tongue cut out I'd like to think that I would stop doing what caused that. But that's just me. Maybe I don't fully comprehend addiction. But one thing I do know about it is that the very essence of it is selfishness. To keep doing something no matter how it hurts or affects those around you is just plain selfish. I am most sorry for my mom in this situation. She has stuck by my dad for 41 years of marriage, through thick and thin, I might add, and she doesn't deserve to have to keep going through this shit because my dad wants/likes/needs to smoke cigarettes and drink. He's just doing what he's always known but it doesn't make it right. I was conflicted about my feelings and wondering whether I was a bad person because I didn't hop on a plane, but this is my truth. It is also the truth that I'm hoping for the best possible outcome of the moment and that he will finally say good-bye to cigarettes forever.
I had originally jotted down a very generic paragraph about all of this and then moved on to more upbeat topics in order to avoid hurt feelings or criticism about my feelings on this subject. But then I thought about this.....a person who writes should write what they know and be truthful. So here is the truth. I find it very hard to be sympathetic toward my father's current plight. I love him and I don't ever want to see him suffer but he has been a smoker and drinker all of his life, to his own detriment. Now, before you assume that I am going to get on my soap box and judge all smokers, I am not. I have smoked cigarettes in my life. This is about choices. My father chose, after multiple heart attacks and having 2/3 OF HIS TONGUE CUT OUT AND RESTRUCTURED because of oral cancer, to continue smoking cigarettes and drinking for 10 years. Resulting in the present situation. People will say, 'It's so hard to quit, it's an addiction'. Bullshit. People quit every day. Again, it's about choices. I don't know about you, but if I had my tongue cut out I'd like to think that I would stop doing what caused that. But that's just me. Maybe I don't fully comprehend addiction. But one thing I do know about it is that the very essence of it is selfishness. To keep doing something no matter how it hurts or affects those around you is just plain selfish. I am most sorry for my mom in this situation. She has stuck by my dad for 41 years of marriage, through thick and thin, I might add, and she doesn't deserve to have to keep going through this shit because my dad wants/likes/needs to smoke cigarettes and drink. He's just doing what he's always known but it doesn't make it right. I was conflicted about my feelings and wondering whether I was a bad person because I didn't hop on a plane, but this is my truth. It is also the truth that I'm hoping for the best possible outcome of the moment and that he will finally say good-bye to cigarettes forever.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Making Things Happen
My past month has been plagued with computer and low back problems. The computer problem I solved by getting a new laptop (NOT A DELL!) and I wish the back problem was as easily solvable. But alas, it is not. I cannot order a new hip and sacrum (well, I guess I could but having no health insurance poses a problem). Doing massage full time for the last seven years has taken a toll on my body and my back injury seems to be structural, not muscular as I had hoped. Not sure what I am going to do at this point but I do know that massage cannot be my main source of income for the rest of my working life. I like my job but I can't enjoy it when it causes me pain every day. I had written previously that I was feeling restless in regard to my career so maybe this is my sign to do something about it. As of right now, I plan on sticking with my job while finally finishing up the first part of my aromatherapy course, getting out more to network and establish potential job contacts, and taking some time off in August to rest my body,weigh my options and do some writing. With that being said, things could always be worse. I'm going to work on keeping my dance card as full as possible........if my back is handing me lemons, I have to get busy making things happen and make that lemonade.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Wishing For More
I spent yesterday getting back into the swing of regular life after a two week visit with my mother. Not recuperating, so to speak, but adjusting to her being gone and not having an extra person in the house. Two weeks may seem like a long visit with your mom but, I have to say, it went by quickly and relatively smoothly. We didn't go out at night as often as I would have liked but we ate well and got to spend time together. And lately I've been dwelling on how short life is and wondering just how much time we have left together. The answer is, I'm sure, 'not enough'. No matter how much I enjoy the 1100 mile buffer zone that seperates me and my family, the thought of my parents not being there some day weighs on my mind more and more each day. I'm facing our mortality. But there's no going back for me. I'd rather be waterboarded than move back to Bordentown, but I wouldn't mind my parents coming here. In fact, I often encourage my mother to do so, and I believe that she really wants to but finds the task of doing so daunting. I don't know, I guess I firmly believe that life is too short to not do what's in your heart, no matter what that may be......moving to a new city, quitting a crappy job, going back to school, starting your own business, getting out of a bad relationship, writing that novel. You only go around once and sometimes you just gotta take a risk, even if it seems to be less than responsible. Life is more exciting when you lighten up on the responsibility, I tell ya. Anyhoo....here's some high moments of our visit.....
The scrumptious Kobe Beef Cheeseburger Po' Boy @ Hermes Bar
Chorizo&cheese nachos w/ fresh squeezed fruit margaritas (pineapple cilantro = fabulous!)@ El Gato Negro
Port of Call - mushroom burgers and monsoons
Drinks and eye candy @ Napoleon's Itch (On this day, again, reaffirming why I don't like drinking too much.)
The always amazing Adolfo's
An oh-so tender filet mignon @ The Gumbo Shop
Watching the awesome musicians and actors in "Nine Lives" at Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre'
The Palm Court for a tasty dinner, strong drinks, & beautiful music provided by Leroy Jones. Loved our waiter, Stanley!!
Tending to the courtyard, talking, laughing, and spending time with friends.
I was sad to see it end. Every day, through the "magic" of facebook, I note the number of my friends who have lost their mother. I feel very lucky to have mine and wish we didn't have all of these miles between us. I cherish the days we get to spend together....just wish there were more of them.
Happy Mother's Day.
The scrumptious Kobe Beef Cheeseburger Po' Boy @ Hermes Bar
Chorizo&cheese nachos w/ fresh squeezed fruit margaritas (pineapple cilantro = fabulous!)@ El Gato Negro
Port of Call - mushroom burgers and monsoons
Drinks and eye candy @ Napoleon's Itch (On this day, again, reaffirming why I don't like drinking too much.)
The always amazing Adolfo's
An oh-so tender filet mignon @ The Gumbo Shop
Watching the awesome musicians and actors in "Nine Lives" at Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre'
The Palm Court for a tasty dinner, strong drinks, & beautiful music provided by Leroy Jones. Loved our waiter, Stanley!!
Tending to the courtyard, talking, laughing, and spending time with friends.
I was sad to see it end. Every day, through the "magic" of facebook, I note the number of my friends who have lost their mother. I feel very lucky to have mine and wish we didn't have all of these miles between us. I cherish the days we get to spend together....just wish there were more of them.
Happy Mother's Day.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Searching For My Thing
The remainder of my French Quarter Festival was extremely pleasant. Saw artists I had never seen, got some sun, ate some good food, even had a couple of Pat O'Briens Hurricanes.
Some standouts of the weekend....music-wise: the previously mentioned Lillian Boutte' and Los Hombres Calientes, plus Gal Holiday and the Honky Tonk Revue (awesome rockabilly style), Paul Sanchez & the Rolling Road Show (damn! Debbie Davis can sing!), The Brass-a-holics, The Renard Poche' Band (damn! Leslie Smith can sing!), and Los Po-Boy-Citos (just plain fun).....food-wise: (my yearly tradition of) beef brisket topped with a sinus clearing horseradish sauce from Tujague's, beef tenderloin with mac & cheese from Crazy Johnnie's, pulled pork sammich from The Joint, roast beef po' boy from Boucherie, and strawberry shortcake from Begue's .
It's hard to beat spending a leisurely weekend by the river with a friendly, music loving crowd eating, drinking, and watching musicians who love what they do. That crowd is such a BIG part of my Fest. I will always find humans to be fascinating creatures and there is not a better place for people watching than FQF. There are happy people everywhere. The Brass Band Stage is the biggest party. People from all walks of life come together for the funky groove. You will see kids, old people, white, black, women in tight-tight shorts, guys in hawaiian shirts, and always lots of gold teeth. It's all there. Everyone you can think of dancing, sweating, and smiling blissfully. Another happy group I witnessed was during a jam band set that I happened to catch. Not really my kind of music but they were funky enough and in the end they kind of converted me by doing the "old school" song "No Parking on the Dance Floor" by Midnight Star. I couldn't take my eyes off the group of hippie kids squirming, jerking, and flailing to the music. There was a hula hoop, a crystal ball, body glitter, unshaved legs & pits, dreadlocks, and B.O. aplenty! It was like watching a strange hybrid of the Manson Family and Austin Powers - creepy and funny at the same time. But hey, they were having a good time and weren't hurting anyone (other than the B.O.). To me, our differences make life interesting.
I was sad to see it all end and to say it was difficult going back to work is an understatement. I like my job and the people I work with but I've been feeling restless lately. Feeling the need to be creative. Feeling like I haven't quite found my "thing" yet. This is something I want to figure out. I remember when, after much indecision, I settled on accounting as a major in college (just to get it over with). My cousin Sherrie said to me, I can't believe you are majoring in accounting, I thought for sure you'd do something artistic." I didn't have an answer for that at the time but now, looking back, I see what she meant. When I was a kid I was the first one to sing into the hair brush and dance in front of the fireplace at family functions. I also had no problem singing and dancing in the doorway of the bar downstairs from our apartment for the old men who put quarters in the jukebox. My favorite song was "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" by Jim Croce and I usually got a Slim Jim or a brown bottle of Birch Beer after my performance. Payment enough. But as I grew older I became riddled with the insecurities that plague most adolescents. I refused the spotlight in the high school choir....the fear of that large crowd overrode any small confidence I may have had in my abilities. And yet, I still loved the thought of singing in a band. I also always enjoyed English, literature, and writing but doubted that I had any particular talent for it. And besides, what was I going to do with an English degree? Teach? That involved being in the spotlight and wasn't for me. I didn't even consider that there were other possibilities. The fear won out. It's sad when you realize that you let self-doubt prevent you from doing something that you might have loved and enjoyed doing. I settled on accounting because it was "practical" and I will always be disappointed that I let myself do that. It went against my natural way of being. Practical is not me. But as they say, you can't rewrite history. The least I can say is that with age came enough wisdom for me to be comfortable being me. I found a place that I love, and since I'm still alive and kickin' there's always the possibility that I will find my "thing".
Some standouts of the weekend....music-wise: the previously mentioned Lillian Boutte' and Los Hombres Calientes, plus Gal Holiday and the Honky Tonk Revue (awesome rockabilly style), Paul Sanchez & the Rolling Road Show (damn! Debbie Davis can sing!), The Brass-a-holics, The Renard Poche' Band (damn! Leslie Smith can sing!), and Los Po-Boy-Citos (just plain fun).....food-wise: (my yearly tradition of) beef brisket topped with a sinus clearing horseradish sauce from Tujague's, beef tenderloin with mac & cheese from Crazy Johnnie's, pulled pork sammich from The Joint, roast beef po' boy from Boucherie, and strawberry shortcake from Begue's .
It's hard to beat spending a leisurely weekend by the river with a friendly, music loving crowd eating, drinking, and watching musicians who love what they do. That crowd is such a BIG part of my Fest. I will always find humans to be fascinating creatures and there is not a better place for people watching than FQF. There are happy people everywhere. The Brass Band Stage is the biggest party. People from all walks of life come together for the funky groove. You will see kids, old people, white, black, women in tight-tight shorts, guys in hawaiian shirts, and always lots of gold teeth. It's all there. Everyone you can think of dancing, sweating, and smiling blissfully. Another happy group I witnessed was during a jam band set that I happened to catch. Not really my kind of music but they were funky enough and in the end they kind of converted me by doing the "old school" song "No Parking on the Dance Floor" by Midnight Star. I couldn't take my eyes off the group of hippie kids squirming, jerking, and flailing to the music. There was a hula hoop, a crystal ball, body glitter, unshaved legs & pits, dreadlocks, and B.O. aplenty! It was like watching a strange hybrid of the Manson Family and Austin Powers - creepy and funny at the same time. But hey, they were having a good time and weren't hurting anyone (other than the B.O.). To me, our differences make life interesting.
I was sad to see it all end and to say it was difficult going back to work is an understatement. I like my job and the people I work with but I've been feeling restless lately. Feeling the need to be creative. Feeling like I haven't quite found my "thing" yet. This is something I want to figure out. I remember when, after much indecision, I settled on accounting as a major in college (just to get it over with). My cousin Sherrie said to me, I can't believe you are majoring in accounting, I thought for sure you'd do something artistic." I didn't have an answer for that at the time but now, looking back, I see what she meant. When I was a kid I was the first one to sing into the hair brush and dance in front of the fireplace at family functions. I also had no problem singing and dancing in the doorway of the bar downstairs from our apartment for the old men who put quarters in the jukebox. My favorite song was "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" by Jim Croce and I usually got a Slim Jim or a brown bottle of Birch Beer after my performance. Payment enough. But as I grew older I became riddled with the insecurities that plague most adolescents. I refused the spotlight in the high school choir....the fear of that large crowd overrode any small confidence I may have had in my abilities. And yet, I still loved the thought of singing in a band. I also always enjoyed English, literature, and writing but doubted that I had any particular talent for it. And besides, what was I going to do with an English degree? Teach? That involved being in the spotlight and wasn't for me. I didn't even consider that there were other possibilities. The fear won out. It's sad when you realize that you let self-doubt prevent you from doing something that you might have loved and enjoyed doing. I settled on accounting because it was "practical" and I will always be disappointed that I let myself do that. It went against my natural way of being. Practical is not me. But as they say, you can't rewrite history. The least I can say is that with age came enough wisdom for me to be comfortable being me. I found a place that I love, and since I'm still alive and kickin' there's always the possibility that I will find my "thing".
Friday, April 8, 2011
It's The Most Wonderful Time Of My Year
French Quarter Festival is here and, I have to say, it couldn't have come at a better time. My past couple of weeks have been trying, starting with a hellacious bout of food poisoning from a "diner", progressing on to a general funk in which I wanted to sleep 18 hours a day, and finishing off with a "misunderstanding" with our landlord that has since been resolved. Oh, and I turned 41. But, enough of that shit, it's festival time! I've mentioned previously that FQF is my favorite event in New Orleans and this is why......the weather in early April is gorgeous; there is an abundance of food, drink, & music and it's ALL LOCAL; the crowd is made up of diverse, music loving people; the price of admission? FREE! And such a grand time that I tolerate going to the can in a Port-o-Potty. (Always carry an extra roll of TP.) This year, for the first time, the festival has added an extra day as a gift to locals who would rather avoid the weekend crowds, which have grown enormously over the years. I am filled with gratitude for this because I truly enjoyed my day yesterday! Actually, my musical weekend kicked off on Wednesday evening when I found out that The Soul Rebels Brass Band and Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews were auspiciously scheduled for the, after work, "Wednesday at the Square" show. The square being Lafayette Square on St. Charles Ave. in the CBD. For those acts I was more than willing to venture across Canal St. I hadn't seen The Soul Rebels in many years and they put on a dynamic, fun show. Troy & Co. were fabulous, as usual, and I don't know how much longer he will be able to play The Square. It soon won't be able to contain the crowd he draws. Called it an early night after the show in order to be up bright and early on Thursday. And.........
My Thursday started out with a massage followed by a pedicure. A lunchtime visit to Lester (boyfriend) at the Gazebo Cafe. Home for a half hour nap, gathered belongings, sunscreen application, made my way to the Mississippi. At this time I'd like to point out that the music is not the only entertainment available at a New Orleans festival......there is also the crowd. You will see quite the array of people. All ages, shapes, sizes, and colors in one place feelin' the groove and doin' their thang. The long skirt wearing, barefoot, twirling, hippie girl; the rhythm lacking, dancing white dude; the 75 year old lady on her "Rascal" bobbin' her head; the guy in the extremely tight seersucker pants with the round "dip" canister stuffed in the back pocket, taking photos....the variety is inspiring. As is the music. There is something for everyone. The first set I saw was Lillian Boutte', diminutive with a roaring voice, backed by a fantastic band with lots of familiar faces. Second set was Los Hombres Calientes, the project of Bill Summers and Irvin Mayfield - dynamic! My first time seeing them and I'm so glad I did. I then wandered a bit to pass by the Brass Band Stage and the One Mind Brass Band was sounding hot. I also realized that I didn't have any festival food. But it was time to end my day of fun. Normal routine (my overflowing clothes hamper) called. So, as I made my way slowly home through the French Quarter I decided that I wasn't going to ruin a perfect day by doing laundry AND cooking. Po' boys from (FQ institution) Verti Marte were in order.
And, just think, I get to do it all again today.
My Thursday started out with a massage followed by a pedicure. A lunchtime visit to Lester (boyfriend) at the Gazebo Cafe. Home for a half hour nap, gathered belongings, sunscreen application, made my way to the Mississippi. At this time I'd like to point out that the music is not the only entertainment available at a New Orleans festival......there is also the crowd. You will see quite the array of people. All ages, shapes, sizes, and colors in one place feelin' the groove and doin' their thang. The long skirt wearing, barefoot, twirling, hippie girl; the rhythm lacking, dancing white dude; the 75 year old lady on her "Rascal" bobbin' her head; the guy in the extremely tight seersucker pants with the round "dip" canister stuffed in the back pocket, taking photos....the variety is inspiring. As is the music. There is something for everyone. The first set I saw was Lillian Boutte', diminutive with a roaring voice, backed by a fantastic band with lots of familiar faces. Second set was Los Hombres Calientes, the project of Bill Summers and Irvin Mayfield - dynamic! My first time seeing them and I'm so glad I did. I then wandered a bit to pass by the Brass Band Stage and the One Mind Brass Band was sounding hot. I also realized that I didn't have any festival food. But it was time to end my day of fun. Normal routine (my overflowing clothes hamper) called. So, as I made my way slowly home through the French Quarter I decided that I wasn't going to ruin a perfect day by doing laundry AND cooking. Po' boys from (FQ institution) Verti Marte were in order.
And, just think, I get to do it all again today.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Something's Missing
Pork roll, egg, and cheese. On a round roll (usually buttered). With ketchup. If you're from NJ, you know what I'm talking about. One of the greeziest, high calorie, fat laden breakfast sammiches around. And simply divine. I'm not going to go into what, exactly, pork roll is. Because honestly, I don't know what's in it. And I don't care. I'll just say it's mainly a breakfast meat, it's good, and I can't get it in New Orleans.
I live in a city that is known worldwide for its food and, even though I'm not a seafood eater, you can tell just by looking at me that I don't often miss a meal. But sometimes you just want what you grew up with. There are very few things that I miss about my former home....my parents, occasionally (I'm kidding!), my BFF, the ocean, and certain food items. Pork roll being one, but I'd say that the biggest food void is pizza. For the most part, the pizza in New Orleans is an abomination. Some more edible than others, but not good. To give you an idea of how much I miss NJ pizza: On my last visit I took a picture of a pie with mushrooms that now serves as the desktop background on my laptop. I look at it with longing every day and want to put my face in the cheesy, sloppy, goodness of it. There is one place down here that comes close to the stuff I grew up with and that's Venezia on Carrollton Ave. But I hardly get up that way anymore. Truthfully, Italian food in general is lacking here. A lot of the Italian places are not owned by Italians. The red sauce is usually sweet, they make calzones without ricotta cheese, and I don't think I've ever found a decent chicken marsala besides the one that comes out of my own kitchen. The same goes for meatballs. I can't abide frozen meatballs. Thankfully, a new place opened in the CBD called Red Gravy (and it's not sweet!) where the owner feels the same way. Guess what? She's from NJ. I've become addicted to the meatball parm sammich over there and it saves me from having to make meatballs and sauce every time I crave them.
My list of missed NJ favorites is long - DeLorenzo's pizza, Chicken Valentino @ The Farnsworth House (their ricotta cheesecake too!), Rosario's calzone, a good cheesesteak from anywhere, Pete's Pizza @ Columbus Market, fine Italian dining in the Chambersburg section of Trenton. But I've developed some favorites here too - the stuffed chicken or chicken parm @ Adolfo's, the mushroom cheeseburger @ Port of Call, the panne'd chicken w/ fettuccine alfredo @ Coop's, the brisket w/ horseradish sauce from Tujague's served in the setting of French Quarter Festival. The one difference between the two lists is that there is a nostalgic component to the NJ list. I have some great memories that were created with friends and family while dining. I miss the dinners with a group of my girlfriends, the impromptu cocktails and dinners at The Farnsworth House, Thursday night "steak nights" and cocktails with my BFF Liz at Eddie's. I miss the female connections. I don't really have that in New Orleans. But what I do have is the luxury of taking my meals in an atmosphere that I wouldn't trade for the world. I am surrounded by beauty here, some of it unconventional and decaying, and while it may be lonely at times, I feel incredibly free and fortunate.
Now, if I could only get them to open a DeLorenzo's down here.........
I live in a city that is known worldwide for its food and, even though I'm not a seafood eater, you can tell just by looking at me that I don't often miss a meal. But sometimes you just want what you grew up with. There are very few things that I miss about my former home....my parents, occasionally (I'm kidding!), my BFF, the ocean, and certain food items. Pork roll being one, but I'd say that the biggest food void is pizza. For the most part, the pizza in New Orleans is an abomination. Some more edible than others, but not good. To give you an idea of how much I miss NJ pizza: On my last visit I took a picture of a pie with mushrooms that now serves as the desktop background on my laptop. I look at it with longing every day and want to put my face in the cheesy, sloppy, goodness of it. There is one place down here that comes close to the stuff I grew up with and that's Venezia on Carrollton Ave. But I hardly get up that way anymore. Truthfully, Italian food in general is lacking here. A lot of the Italian places are not owned by Italians. The red sauce is usually sweet, they make calzones without ricotta cheese, and I don't think I've ever found a decent chicken marsala besides the one that comes out of my own kitchen. The same goes for meatballs. I can't abide frozen meatballs. Thankfully, a new place opened in the CBD called Red Gravy (and it's not sweet!) where the owner feels the same way. Guess what? She's from NJ. I've become addicted to the meatball parm sammich over there and it saves me from having to make meatballs and sauce every time I crave them.
My list of missed NJ favorites is long - DeLorenzo's pizza, Chicken Valentino @ The Farnsworth House (their ricotta cheesecake too!), Rosario's calzone, a good cheesesteak from anywhere, Pete's Pizza @ Columbus Market, fine Italian dining in the Chambersburg section of Trenton. But I've developed some favorites here too - the stuffed chicken or chicken parm @ Adolfo's, the mushroom cheeseburger @ Port of Call, the panne'd chicken w/ fettuccine alfredo @ Coop's, the brisket w/ horseradish sauce from Tujague's served in the setting of French Quarter Festival. The one difference between the two lists is that there is a nostalgic component to the NJ list. I have some great memories that were created with friends and family while dining. I miss the dinners with a group of my girlfriends, the impromptu cocktails and dinners at The Farnsworth House, Thursday night "steak nights" and cocktails with my BFF Liz at Eddie's. I miss the female connections. I don't really have that in New Orleans. But what I do have is the luxury of taking my meals in an atmosphere that I wouldn't trade for the world. I am surrounded by beauty here, some of it unconventional and decaying, and while it may be lonely at times, I feel incredibly free and fortunate.
Now, if I could only get them to open a DeLorenzo's down here.........
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Top O' The Mornin' To Ye
There was a time when my friends and I treated St. Patrick's Day as if it were a religious holiday and were very serious about its observance. It called for taking a half day from work and starting the festivities over lunch at one of the little bars that we frequented around the corner. The party then, inevitably, moved to the bar called Tir Na Nog on Hamilton Avenue in Trenton. If St. Patrick's fell on a Saturday, the day started much earlier and breakfast at a diner would be substituted for the lunch. The day always began well but ended, well.....drunk. After Tir Na Nog, if anyone was sober enough, one of the local cover bands was usually playing at one of our other watering holes or we would just stop by Eddie's (our neighborhood corner bar) for "one more". Normally, there wasn't much coherance after Tir Na Nog and we called it a night. I have some fond memories of those days, others, not so fond. But I wouldn't trade 'em. Today on St. Patrick's Day I will be going to work and probably just coming home right after. Different from the old days but equally exhausting. Though not having a hangover tomorrow will be a plus. Who knows, though? I could always end up going out, there's always something to do here and there will be plenty of St. Patrick celebrations. The parades in the French Quarter were this past weekend, but Pat O'Brien's (home of the hurricane) and Molly's at the Market will be celebrating along with the hundreds of other bars. And in the section of the city named "The Irish Channel" two rival bars will be holding their annual block party. If I decide to join the party this evening, it won't be anything strenuous. Probably just head over to Frenchmen St. to hear some music, depends on the crowds.
Last weekend, after getting through my first Mardi Gras living in the French Quarter, I was so looking forward to basking in the peace and quiet and just chillin' at the apartment with the doors open and a good book. Alas, it wasn't meant to be. First, I got a text from our roommate, Bryan, telling me that two of his friends surprised him and are on their way to New Orleans and will arrive in the evening. Crap. Then I look outside and see the neighbors from the third floor setting up a table in the courtyard and spreading newspaper on it. That means one thing in New Orleans.......crawfish boil. Crap, again. I am not a fan of seafood of any kind and the steamy scent from boiling crawfish will make me gag, (my BFF, Liz can confirm this) so my mind is quickly trying to devise a "plan B" for the day but is interrupted by the loud, lovely sounds of death metal. Blasting in the courtyard. Crawfish, a crowd of people, AND death metal. Definitely not what I had in mind for my day. Luckily, my buddy Mike was home and I went over to his place. Decided to go eat dinner around the corner at La Peniche....mediocre, at best. We used to go there all the time pre-Katrina and the food was great diner-type food served by sassy, gay waiters. This time it was cold, just o.k. food served by a plain ol' woman. Can't win 'em all, I guess. All in all, it was a good outing. I got to see Lois (our dog that we used to share when we were roommates), hang with Mike, and by the time I got home the party was over. Then Bryan arrived with his guests......*sigh*.
This is why I'm on the fence about going out tonight. I've been craving some peace and quiet and going out on St. Patrick's evening isn't going to provide that. Not by a long shot. But we'll see. I have a four day weekend ahead of me and can have my solitude then. Maybe.
Last weekend, after getting through my first Mardi Gras living in the French Quarter, I was so looking forward to basking in the peace and quiet and just chillin' at the apartment with the doors open and a good book. Alas, it wasn't meant to be. First, I got a text from our roommate, Bryan, telling me that two of his friends surprised him and are on their way to New Orleans and will arrive in the evening. Crap. Then I look outside and see the neighbors from the third floor setting up a table in the courtyard and spreading newspaper on it. That means one thing in New Orleans.......crawfish boil. Crap, again. I am not a fan of seafood of any kind and the steamy scent from boiling crawfish will make me gag, (my BFF, Liz can confirm this) so my mind is quickly trying to devise a "plan B" for the day but is interrupted by the loud, lovely sounds of death metal. Blasting in the courtyard. Crawfish, a crowd of people, AND death metal. Definitely not what I had in mind for my day. Luckily, my buddy Mike was home and I went over to his place. Decided to go eat dinner around the corner at La Peniche....mediocre, at best. We used to go there all the time pre-Katrina and the food was great diner-type food served by sassy, gay waiters. This time it was cold, just o.k. food served by a plain ol' woman. Can't win 'em all, I guess. All in all, it was a good outing. I got to see Lois (our dog that we used to share when we were roommates), hang with Mike, and by the time I got home the party was over. Then Bryan arrived with his guests......*sigh*.
This is why I'm on the fence about going out tonight. I've been craving some peace and quiet and going out on St. Patrick's evening isn't going to provide that. Not by a long shot. But we'll see. I have a four day weekend ahead of me and can have my solitude then. Maybe.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Unconditional Love
Mardi Gras is over and I'm glad. There I said it. I tried to give it a chance but have figured out that I just don't like it. I will say that I do enjoy Mardi Gras Day (Fat Tuesday) which has a great local vibe and so many beautiful costumes (I envy the creativity of some people!) but the weekend leading up to the day is pretty awful. During that weekend the city is crowded with people who's main goal is to see how much they can drink and still stay alive. Not all who participate in Mardi Gras are of that mentality, I hear there is a large family atmosphere at the parades, but in the French Quarter drunkenness seems to be the goal. The idiocy is tiresome. And it wears on you. Now, I'm not saying that I never drink, but I can say that I drink MUCH less than I used to. And when I do get drunk I annoy myself at times, so I'm certainly not going to enjoy a city full of out of control drunks. With that being said, it only happens once a year and I can always choose to spend it in the house watching movies, as I have before, while staying open to the possibility of a one of a kind experience if it is offered. Mardi Gras is great for the city (financially) and it ain't goin' anywhere. An easy thing to accept in a city that offers you so much more.
Further thoughts on drinking.........I guess I've grown out of it to an extent or maybe I'm just getting old but I don't see the allure of not being able to "get right" for two solid days after tying one on. Again, not saying that it doesn't happen, just fewer times and far between. And when it does happen, I try to annoy as few people as possible with my antics and just go to bed when I need to. It didnt used to be like this, drinking was the life of the party and I enjoyed doing it. It was no problem drinking on consecutive nights of the week, I actually wanted to! Now, if I overdo it I can't even THINK about alcohol the next day. I don't love it like I used to. But there are just some afternoons when walking through The Quarter, passing the open door of a barroom, that smell just hits you....that perfect combination of stale beer, booze, and cigarettes that makes you want to just drop everything and grab a stool. I usually can't do this, but the want is still there. I prefer afternoon drinking in grittier bars where your company is usually older "gentlemen" chain smoking and drinking shots with beer chasers, and something like "Bonanza" is on the tv. A small neighborhood bar offers a sort of escape from the daily grind. But then again, can also become part of the daily grind. And this is what always happens for me, that line is always there. I enjoy the atmosphere of certain bars....the darkness, the characters, the sound of the ice in the glass, the camaraderie, the swirls of smoke, the jukebox. But I sometimes don't enjoy the results....the hangover, the regrets, the unhealthiness of it all, the questions - "Did I make an ass out of myself?" was always popular, the losses - money, keys, credit card, license, phone. In most cases, for me, the bad outweighs the good and I don't "get loaded" nearly as often as I used to. But there are some days in The Quarter when the lure is too strong and I gotta give in. I just prepare myself for the regrets. And the shame. Because the shame is there, though not always warranted. I find that in New Orleans, shame is mostly in your mind. Because New Orleans will always accept and forgive you. She loves you unconditionally.
Further thoughts on drinking.........I guess I've grown out of it to an extent or maybe I'm just getting old but I don't see the allure of not being able to "get right" for two solid days after tying one on. Again, not saying that it doesn't happen, just fewer times and far between. And when it does happen, I try to annoy as few people as possible with my antics and just go to bed when I need to. It didnt used to be like this, drinking was the life of the party and I enjoyed doing it. It was no problem drinking on consecutive nights of the week, I actually wanted to! Now, if I overdo it I can't even THINK about alcohol the next day. I don't love it like I used to. But there are just some afternoons when walking through The Quarter, passing the open door of a barroom, that smell just hits you....that perfect combination of stale beer, booze, and cigarettes that makes you want to just drop everything and grab a stool. I usually can't do this, but the want is still there. I prefer afternoon drinking in grittier bars where your company is usually older "gentlemen" chain smoking and drinking shots with beer chasers, and something like "Bonanza" is on the tv. A small neighborhood bar offers a sort of escape from the daily grind. But then again, can also become part of the daily grind. And this is what always happens for me, that line is always there. I enjoy the atmosphere of certain bars....the darkness, the characters, the sound of the ice in the glass, the camaraderie, the swirls of smoke, the jukebox. But I sometimes don't enjoy the results....the hangover, the regrets, the unhealthiness of it all, the questions - "Did I make an ass out of myself?" was always popular, the losses - money, keys, credit card, license, phone. In most cases, for me, the bad outweighs the good and I don't "get loaded" nearly as often as I used to. But there are some days in The Quarter when the lure is too strong and I gotta give in. I just prepare myself for the regrets. And the shame. Because the shame is there, though not always warranted. I find that in New Orleans, shame is mostly in your mind. Because New Orleans will always accept and forgive you. She loves you unconditionally.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Let's Try This Again......
Just got my computer back this evening after the hard drive took a crap around 10 days ago. I'm less than enthused about Dell right now but am happy to get back into the swing of things. And things are definitely swingin' in New Orleans right now...."Oh yes, it's Carnival time, and everybody's havin' fun". The immortal words of Al Johnson. I believe I mentioned previously that I have never been a fan of Mardi Gras and I think a big part of that is that I just don't like parades. Especially ones where you're packed in like sardines with people who have been drinking since 7am and where you're constantly being stepped on or jostled by those same people while they scream at enormous floats, as they go by, for worthless plastic beads. Not my idea of a good time. In all of my years of living here, I have gone to only one of the large parades. It was when James Gandolfini, aka Tony Soprano, was the "king" of the Bacchus Parade. A friend of mine was going and suggested that I meet him Uptown. I wasn't doing anything and figured it would be a hoot to see Gandolfini dressed in one of those ridiculous costumes. Well, it was a big pain in the ass getting Uptown, we waited for hours in the crowd for the parade to come, saw Gandolfini for all of 10 seconds, and that was it. My friend wandered off with some girl and I was stuck with some other friends of his, a couple whom I just met, and knew it was time to end my night when the woman started hitting on me. I called my buddy Mike and begged him to come get me. Christ, maybe that experience has tainted my attitude toward the parades but I feel better sticking with my own kind, downtown, at the small parades. Two of those being Krewe du Vieux and Barkus. Krewe du Viuex is a satire of the larger parades and there is always raunch involved. Barkus is the dog parade. This year I went out to both of these parades but saw neither of them. It's like that sometimes around here. On the night of Krewe du Vieux, I headed in the direction of Frenchmen St. but stopped at the Balcony Music Club to see a friend who was sitting in with a band there. Ended up just staying there people watching and listening to the music. Barkus was this past Sunday afternoon and I decided to take Pancho out to experience the crowds to try to get him a little more socialized. We took a nice walk and first stopped at Ragin' Daisy, a funky, sparkly little shop in the Quarter. It was through the girls at Ragin' Daisy that we came to know about Pancho so I wanted to take him over to meet them, and just across the street from the shop happened to be Harry's Corner Bar. Perfect. Since Pancho didn't seem to be very enthused about the parade, we decided to just skip it and stay at Harry's. It was a beautiful afternoon, there were chairs outside and we were still able to see costumed dogs and their people. Hell, it was better than going to the parade....I was able to sit with the dog in my lap and a drink in my hand and there wasn't any danger of having my drink knocked onto my shirt or stepping in poop. Not a bad way to kill a few hours. I haven't decided, yet, if I will give one of the larger parades another shot this year. Honestly, I just find parades to be incredibly boring. But you never know, it just might be a fantastic experience waiting to happen. It's like that sometimes around here.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Winter....Meh.
I've been reminded that I've been neglecting the ol' blog again and I'm actually a bit ashamed because it's not like I've been too busy to write. As a matter of fact, the most exciting thing I've done in the last month is watch the first two seasons of the tv show "Mad Men" on dvd. (The third is on it's way as we speak.) I guess that's not totally true....we did adopt a sweet little dog. He's a chihuahua, his name is Pancho, and considering all he's been through, I can't believe how quickly he has adapted to his new home. We've had dinner with my buddy Mike a couple of times, once at his new place and once at ours. (Mike makes a tomato cream sauce that is divine and I was craving it.) We also attended Offbeat Magazine's Best of the Beat Awards. For those of you who don't know, Offbeat is a (free) local magazine that spotlights New Orleans/Louisiana music and is an advocate for New Orleans musicians and the music industry here. It is really a shame to me that our city does not market our music more to promote tourism and show more support to our musicians, but that is another topic entirely....Anyhoo, I haven't attended the awards in years and it was a nice event over at Generations Hall. And it was also the only live music that I saw in the last month. Winter just gives me the blues and the cold makes me want to stay in the house. Hence, the "Mad Men" marathons. But everything is better in the springtime....and nothing beats spring in New Orleans, nothing! Spring means French Quarter Festival and Jazz Fest, lounging in the sun on a blanket by the river under incredible blue skies with an icy drink listening to awesome music, food everywhere, night blooming jasmine, music drifting out through people's open shutters on every street. There is just a certain, indefinable smell in the air. And I LOVE it!! The weather is warming up this week and I'm feverishly hoping it is here to stay. I want something new to signal the change in the air, maybe a new look, a haircut, something. Well, I'd like to lose about 50lbs, that would be a hell of an exciting change, but that might take a while and I would like my gratification to be pretty much instant. So, maybe a haircut it is. A sassy new look might just be the cure for what ails me. That and getting out of the house. Staying in the house makes me sluggish which makes me want to stay in the house. But with it being Carnival Season it will be easy to remedy that problem. I have lots of choices over the next few days, even have some plans on the books, and I'm delighted. Time to lose the winter FUNK! How much better it would be if more of my out of town people would come down and experience the city! The invitation is open y'all and you would have an experienced tour guide! Come on, you know you wanna.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Mixed Bag
Since I haven't written, this post is a summary of the last two weeks of activity.....
Going back to my last post...had a great time meeting up with Dr. Sullivan and his students. Went to Sidney's Saloon (Kermit's place) and waited around for about 2 hours for the Rebirth to show up and then they only played for about 25 minutes. Not sure what happened there but it was all good, they at least had a DJ.
January 6th - Twelfth Night - the kick off of Carnival Season in New Orleans, King Cake and all that stuff. In past years I've kind of shunned Mardi Gras (I've only ever dressed up once) because, unfortunately, many people only come to Mardi Gras to see boobs, get drunk, and throw up or pee in the French Quarter. Just not a pleasant scene if you live here. But after watching the show Treme's representation of locals' Mardi Gras it made me want to give it another shot. I do have a costume in mind and I will be masking Mardi Gras this year. Anyone want to join me?
On Saturday 1/8 we had Jack and the students over to our place for red beans, drinks, and King Cake. Got to interact with them more than in the bar and they were a nice group of people who seemed to be enthusiastic about New Orleans. Had a great time! Unfortunately, the Saints lost in the first round of the playoffs that afternoon to the losing Seattle Seahawks. Oh well, life goes on.
The next day...the dogs of the land rejoiced when Mike Vick and the Eagles were knocked out by Green Bay.
Friday 1/14.....Found out this afternoon that someone I've known since childhood passed away. The slap in the face of mortality when someone around your age dies is very hard to shake. Through the "magic" of the internet we've all reconnected through facebook, and the sorrow felt by her family and friends is very real and penetrating. But the love is felt also. Makes you realize that everyone should treat each other well because life is very short.
This past weekend found me enjoying stress-free playoff football. And we even made it out for a bit on Saturday night. Hit the Hermes Bar at Antoine's for Paul Sanchez and Debbie Davis - loved them and the bar! Then moved on to the Bombay Club for the Leroy Jones Quartet. Always love Leroy and had the BEST chocolate martini, but the space is kind of dark and really pricey. A nice evening though and we went to two places that we'd never been before, which is always a good thing.
Overall I feel like I've made improvement about getting out and trying to make the most of life. And so far I have some exciting things in the hopper for this year. I'm looking forward to it all!!
Oh, and I can't sign off before mentioning that a co-worker brought cupcakes from Sucre' in to work yesterday.......flippin' FABULOUS! Not only did they taste heavenly, they were gorgeous! Bravo!
Going back to my last post...had a great time meeting up with Dr. Sullivan and his students. Went to Sidney's Saloon (Kermit's place) and waited around for about 2 hours for the Rebirth to show up and then they only played for about 25 minutes. Not sure what happened there but it was all good, they at least had a DJ.
January 6th - Twelfth Night - the kick off of Carnival Season in New Orleans, King Cake and all that stuff. In past years I've kind of shunned Mardi Gras (I've only ever dressed up once) because, unfortunately, many people only come to Mardi Gras to see boobs, get drunk, and throw up or pee in the French Quarter. Just not a pleasant scene if you live here. But after watching the show Treme's representation of locals' Mardi Gras it made me want to give it another shot. I do have a costume in mind and I will be masking Mardi Gras this year. Anyone want to join me?
On Saturday 1/8 we had Jack and the students over to our place for red beans, drinks, and King Cake. Got to interact with them more than in the bar and they were a nice group of people who seemed to be enthusiastic about New Orleans. Had a great time! Unfortunately, the Saints lost in the first round of the playoffs that afternoon to the losing Seattle Seahawks. Oh well, life goes on.
The next day...the dogs of the land rejoiced when Mike Vick and the Eagles were knocked out by Green Bay.
Friday 1/14.....Found out this afternoon that someone I've known since childhood passed away. The slap in the face of mortality when someone around your age dies is very hard to shake. Through the "magic" of the internet we've all reconnected through facebook, and the sorrow felt by her family and friends is very real and penetrating. But the love is felt also. Makes you realize that everyone should treat each other well because life is very short.
This past weekend found me enjoying stress-free playoff football. And we even made it out for a bit on Saturday night. Hit the Hermes Bar at Antoine's for Paul Sanchez and Debbie Davis - loved them and the bar! Then moved on to the Bombay Club for the Leroy Jones Quartet. Always love Leroy and had the BEST chocolate martini, but the space is kind of dark and really pricey. A nice evening though and we went to two places that we'd never been before, which is always a good thing.
Overall I feel like I've made improvement about getting out and trying to make the most of life. And so far I have some exciting things in the hopper for this year. I'm looking forward to it all!!
Oh, and I can't sign off before mentioning that a co-worker brought cupcakes from Sucre' in to work yesterday.......flippin' FABULOUS! Not only did they taste heavenly, they were gorgeous! Bravo!
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Where It All Began
My first trip to New Orleans was back in 1996 with a college professor. And no, it wasn't as lurid as that sounds. As I was finishing up my accounting degree at Rider I saw an American Studies course that looked to be right up my alley (and would complete an elective requirement). The class was "The New South in Literature, Music, and Film" and the professor was Dr. Jack Sullivan. It was my first exposure to Tennessee Williams's "A Streetcar Named Desire". Though the class was an abbreviated summer class, Jack and I formed a bond and became friends. He even tried to persuade me to change my major to American Studies. As attractive as that was, my degree was only a short distance away and the thought of starting over (again) was overwhelming. I took another of his classes and at the end I received my degree. That was also when Jack told me about New Orleans. He said that he brings a class to NOLA every year because he considers it the most unique American city, perfect for American Studies credits. He told me he thought I would love it and encouraged me to accompany them. I did, and the rest is history. I couldn't have had a better guide. We saw The Nightcrawlers at Donna's, Kermit (with BBQ on his pick up) at Vaughn's, Leroy Jones at Preservation Hall. Some of whom I am fortunate enough to consider friends to this day. We ate memorable meals (most memorable was at Emeril's NOLA where I ate myself sick) and saw beautiful sights. By the end of that first trip I knew New Orleans would be my home some day. And now it is. I'm writing this because Jack and his class of 20 students are arriving this afternoon and I'm excited. Over the years I haven't always been able to meet up with them for various reasons but I always love the idea of people being exposed to my adopted city for the first time. I love seeing and hearing their reactions to it, and always wonder if one of them will feel the pull that I felt. And it was a pull, when I went home after that first trip I was constanly wondering what was going on down here. That wonder never went away. I also credit that first trip with motivating me to get out of an awful, stagnant, four year relationship. Life's possibilities were endless to me after spending time in this city. I always hope that another student will feel this. I'll be meeting up with them this evening and heading over to Kermit's bar (Sidney's) to see the Rebirth (Brass Band). Maybe I can make them see just a bit of what I see.
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