From Here On Known as Soco.

I was asked again by an old friend what my post-gradutation plans were.
Embarassingly, I again had to say I have no idea.
He is going to UVA,
on a full ride,
for his Master's in Roman Art.
I am so happy for him.
I am so disappointed in myself.
I feel so directionless,
and lost and I don't know what to do anymore.
I came up with a plan,
but I don't have confidence in myself to pull it all off.
How utterly frustrating!



Aside from my real life woes,
I had a nice, distracting weekend.
Friday we had a Hullabaloo Fair.
There was a hot dog eating contest.
Eight guys participated.
Winner at 9 hotdogs in 4 minutes.
Gross.
But...it was highly entertaining.

Cecilia turned 19 this weekend.
So we bought a bottle of Southern Comfort,
from here out known as Soco.
Had about 5 Soco and Lime shots,
played some Uno,
and then went out to Brunos.

New Bruno's first.
Some dart, Chris won.
Then Old Bruno's.
After a Corona and 2 Margaritas,
we were properly lit.
Played some pool,
took goofy pictures.
Damnit, I am breaking out like crazy!
I need my body to chill out.

As though that is possible these days.
Between worrying about post-graduation life,
unsuccessfully following weight watchers,
and the mountain of school work I have this semester,
my body doesn't know the meaning of relaxation anymore.

I am reading Eat Pray Love
by Elizabeth Gilbert currently.
It is amazing.
In it she writes about meditation in the ashram in India.
I need to try meditation.
I need time to clear my head.
Which is why, almost not having a plan post-graduation,
may be my saving grace.
I'm trying to spin this...
let me be as delusional I a want!



Ok...well what is not a delusion is the first draft of my 20 page paper due manana!
Time to focus...it's carnival time.
Well my paper is on the spectacle known as Mardi Gras,
too bad analyzing it destroys all happiness surrounding the event.
Once you realize the racist undertones,
and what a celebration of the elite it is,
it's a bit of a buzz kill.

Bloody Mary.

My old friend Meagan came into town.
She is such a breath of fresh air.
I met her new boy friend.
Interesting guy.
Into theater directing.
Ate at Lebanon's.
Very good, but not what I thought it would be.
I had lamb on a giant bed of hummus.

Then first staff meeting.
That seemed to go well,
aside from my idiotic self messing up the time.
I like the programs they are coming up with!
Mardi Gras story telling,
Safer Sex in the City,
Pancake Breakfast,
Cooking class!
Go IRBY!

Afterward I met up with Meagan for some drinks.
Ended up at St. Joe's on Magazine Street.
I was told it was sketchy,
but really it was fine.
Affordable drinks.
Very strong drinks.
One rum and diet and I had to switch.
So I tried a bloody mary.
A-M-A-Z-I-N-G-!

My new love.
and they made it with green beans.
Lots o-fun.
Then we played Catch Phrase before passing out.
Great night!

Today it is raining and pouring.
It is freezing and miserable.
Yay!
Potluck dinner tonight.

Also...found these online.
Made me happy!




Whoopi.

Close up.

Jessica Biel as Pocahontas? Look at her legs though! Damn.

Close ups!

Oh the Cultural Offerings of Lutz.

Went to The Rack down in south Tampa.
Got way lost on the way there.
Mapquest should really be shut down already.
Had two Bud Lights, sushi and nachos.
Sushi was great.
Nachos sort of sucked.
LSU beat OSU.
Geaux Tigers.

Met two boys from Lutz while I was there.
Country accent.
Hicks all the way.
Sweet enough, just a little naive and dumb.
One was a soldier back from Iraq.
I think he goes back soon.
I felt bad for blowing them off.
In truth, stupid men just don't work for me.
You can be country and not stupid.
You don't have to know about fine things
or have a large vocabulary to hang with me.
You do however need common sense.
Something I know and in my desire to be nice often let people slip with.
No more.
I need to do what is correct for me.
It scared me.
I would have given one of those boys my number if they had asked.
What would we even have spoken about?

This is a random picture of a cadet online.
I guess it makes me question who we are sending over there.
Who are we making our official representatives?
I question this kids judgement.
I don't question his commitment and sincere beliefs,
but we are sending kids out there.
America doesn't know how to be an adult.

I didn't get into Teach for America.
I don't understand.
I thought I had a good interview.
I really feel passionate.
I thought my presentation was well done.
I'm not sure what else it could have been aside from my grades.
I'm really upset and disappointed by this.
I feel kind of heartbroken.
I didn't get into my plan B.

Aside from that bad news,
which has been bothering me for some time now,
the night was good.

It was great catching up with Vicki.
Her friend Julie was nice.
She travels all around the country
setting up computer systems in hotels.
I really need to find a life plan.
I have no idea what I'm going to do for myself.
What is going to happen if I don't get into med school?
I hate this uncertainty.
I have spent $160,000 on my education,
and I am unhirable.

You can't do anything with a science degree.
F* * *
I have no idea what I'm going to do.
F* * *

Sorry, depression setting in.
I thought for sure I'd get in to Teach for America.
It was my back up plan!

Moving on I guess.
I don't want to tell my mother.

Mug Night.

What a great night.
Went to The Bulldog with Katy.
We ended up going to the Mid City Bulldog.
I've only ever been to the Uptown one on Magazine,
but they are under renovations right now.
The Mid City one is huge and quite lovely.


Wednesday is mug night,
so we had a few pints.
My personal favorite has to be the
"One for the Ladies."
On the pint glass is a picture of a
man in an American Flag speedo!
Too much! Too much!
Coincidentily, only Katy and I got one of those.
Hmmmmm....
I'll have to put a picture of them on here another day.


Here are some sample glasses.

The selection of beer was amazing.
I had a Stell Artois, which is a Belgium beer
and a Rogue, Chocolate, which is brewed in Oregon.
The Rogue had quite an after taste/bite.
Both were interesting
and quite enjoyable.


The selection on draft.

Afterwards we went to Bruno's.
Vodka tonics for life.
We were engaged in quite the political talk.
It was pleasant enough.
Then I went home
and slept like a baby.

I have my interview with Princeton Review today!
Fingers crossed.
I need to finish my "lesson."
I'm starting to get worried its not creative enough.
I am teaching basic piano...how to read notes.
Oh boy!
Katy made a turkey sandwich for her interview.
We'll see how this rolls!!!

More to discuss later!

Independence Day

Happy Fourth of July.
Happy 231st birthday America.
I feel so bittersweet about celebrating this year.
I think we have lost the meaning of "Independence."

It is not just relinquishing ourselves from British rule,
it is about having the stregnth to remain independent.
Our policies and nation building efforts have made us imperialistic.
We are an imperialistic nation.
We have lost the values our nation was founded on.
Within ourselves we have become intolerant, scared and complacent with the gradual elimination of our freedoms (habeus corpus, cough, senior bush).
On an international level we are controlling, minipulative and an all around control freak.

We must regain the values of tolerance, consideration and peace set forth by the writers of our constitution.
It is called Independence Day for a reason.
Our simplistic minds may prefer July 4th,
but the history of holiday should not be lost admist fancy fireworks and tasty barbeques.

Today Ashley and I went shopping at the mall.
I got two really cute tank tops!
One good for my presentation later this summer
if I can find a jacket for over top.
Later we went to Wal Mart...more cheap love.
Then went to Superior Grill,
where I could not help but get a margarita and the enchilladas.
YUUmmmmYYY!!!!

After dinner we had desert at Sucre.
I would not recommend the Cafe Glace...
I should have known by the bullshit name that
the drink itself was bullshit.
It was an over priced frappucino...which is sort of silly since those are overpriced anyhow.

Post desert we went to the top of the parking garage and watched the fireworks.
It was a lovely evening,
though as I said before, I find the entire holiday bitter this year.
Over the course of the year,
my political beliefs have started to be defined by my personal beliefs, not whom my parents should say I should vote for.
I feel this is an important step in maturing,
and I hope to keep this same level of passion towards it in the future.

Wow...started drifting there...
the point was...
I'm not happy with how our country is looking.
The pendulum must swing back.
We have gone too far.
The tide of change is flowing.
I hope by this time next year to feel differently and proud of my nation.
I hope we will all learn from the gross abuses in power both internally and externally our nation is fostering.

Happy Fourth of July!


What we are???


What we were.

Ratatouille!

What a great weekend!
Saturday was quite productive.
I got my laundry done, vacuumed and
cleaned up a bit.
Then I went out to Taco Bell with Megan,
and later on Ms. Mae's.

It was such a great night.
We met so many new people.
Played pool and foos ball
(which Megan and I beat two very cute guys in twice!)
Didn't pay for a single drink the entire night.
And woke up with out a hangover!
phew...I was starting to worry lately about my new found sensitivity.

Babysat on Sunday for Nolan and Anna.
We went to Audubon Park, had Sno Balls
and basically sweated our toushies off!
It was nice to get some sun though.
I actually ran into Jenny, my lab person,
and found out I didn't need to show up today!
Whoo hooo!

It has been one great day!
Slept in till 11am,
watched Wimbledon...did anyone see Serena's cramp??
That was CRAZY!!! Poor thing. Thank god it started raining!
I have now officially decided to follow tennis.

Going food shopping with Ashley later.
She's staying at my place for the week.
Some more fun.
I also found out I don't have to work Wednesday or Thursday.
A Gold Star Weekend.
Tuesday we are having a make-up 21st birthday,
and hopefully hitting the mall Wednesday.
Gym Tonight!!! It has to happen!!!

Whew...lots going on.
Glad its not work!
I just have really checked out.
We'll see how the gym trip works out.
Saw Ratatouille yesterday...very cute.
Sort of hyped up, but I really enjoyed it.
I want to see Sicko...
maybe I'll bring it up and we'll do it Wednesday when we hit the mall.

Damn its only Tuesday

I'm never gonna drink again!
Ok, that is a blatant lie,
but damn I feel like shit today.

Megan came into town.
We stopped by Martin's but it was closed.
Ended up at Whole Food buying wine.
Then did dinner at Superior Grill.
Yum.

I had Enchilladas Suiza con Pollo,
guacamole dip, and margaritas!
Ohhh it was delicious.

Back to my place.
One bottle of chardonay down.
Off to Bruno's, $3 pitchers.

Was home relatively early,
but we had lab meeting today.
I got to present my results.
Which would have been great had my experiment worked.

I just generally feel like crap.
And whining makes me feel better.
I want to puke.
I can't believe it is nearly 2pm and I still feel this shitty.

I'm doing behavior on rats.
Ew, does it smell.
I need to find a new gig.
Damn its only Tuesday.

But in funnier times...my favorite quote from yesterday....

"Megan, you're like a three year old in the bath tub, now give me my wine."

Happy Birthday to ME!

So my 21st birthday has come and gone. It was a great time. Dinner, Pat O'Briens for hurricanes and Uptown Cajun for shots and a few pitchers of Abita Amber. No complaints from this happyily un-hungover 21 year old!

Yea, I don't hang over easily, plus I decided that I'd rather remember my birthday this year. It was a great time, out with the girls. The weather was beautiful for summer in New Orleans. Low humidity, still kind of warm and sticky, but not a bad hair day, so yay! Happy birthday to me!
Wow I feel old. Another thing about living in New Orleans...I've been partying for so long underage, being legal kind of takes the thrill out of it. Isn't that silly? I guess part of it is that so few places card here, that the "special" factor is taken away.

Just for fun, some little known alcohol facts about New Orleans:

1) Only about 20% of the bars in the city card...no lie, I have actually seen a friend hand over a library card once and gotten in.

2) To Go Cups...if you aren't finished...pack it in plastic and be on your way.

3) Plastic Covers...be sure if you are driving to get a cover for that To Go Cup.

4) If you are under 21 and drinking in a private residence, it is perfectly legal. When the cops come knocking at your house party its only to tell you to lower the music.

It is a great city to come of age in...hurricanes aside. So overall, a very happy birthday to me!
And of course thanks to my very wonderful and lovely friends who made it such an amazing time!