Gustav and Palin

So the two main things discussed in our household,
and mostly because the TV news is on
all the time are
Hurricane Gustav and
VP nomination of Palin.

I'll start with her as she is the lesser of two evils.
I really like her story,
her being a woman in power.
But her nomination is calculated,
and would never have happened had it not been for Hillary Clinton.
I don't believe she is the best qualified candidate.
She has no foreign policy experience,
as Obama's campaign has already noted.
Unless removing caribou from your car is
key qualification in VP candidate,
I just don't see her as it.

Now....Gustav.
Oh my poor New Orleans.
I'm worried.
Cuba, specifically Havana is screwed.
We'll see the damage soon.
Glad I'm not in the Grand Cayman Islands,
where I would have been had I chosen to go to med school.
And I can't believe I escaped Tulane
just in time for round two.

Fingers crossed it hits Texas!
Not that it will help much.
Also...side note I've been thinking about,

How will Gustav affect the upcoming election?

Kerli Fries With That?

I am totally feeling this Estonian singer Kerli.
She was featured on Perez Hilton, of course.
But I really think she has potential.
Yea she's kind of blonde Barbie-esque, and it is totally studio produced quirkiness, but I'm ok with it.

Here is the video for Walking on Air


I can't wait to hear the rest of her album!

Updates, updates, updates!
Well I graduated!!!!
Still have no idea what I'm doing,
but I'm starting to be ok with that.
It's actually really nice to be home.
I've actually been able to focus on weight watchers.
I'm taking daily walks...
starting to build a bit of a tan in fact!
My parents want a dog!
Though I suspect this is a ploy to keep me home.

I'm looking at cars.
Boy do I hate car shopping!
They are so expensive and I really don't feel comfortable making a move until I know what my salary is going to look like.
We shall see what I end up with.

So I need to update the blog too,
as I no longer live in New Orleans.
I'm actually ok with Tampa,
for now that is.
I'm trying to adjust,
I think if I can make some friends
and find activities that suit me,
I might be alright.

I'm looking at ballroom dancing,
I need to research book clubs.
I know there is a knitting group that meets at Borders,
I saw them once while on vacation.
Wow, I am such a granny!

HOLY SHIT...I just google imaged granny and this is what came up!!


wicked.

Speaking of grannies, one of my new neighbors is a spitting image of my tiny colombian grandmother...except this lady is kind of a bitch...so I know lovingly refer to her in conversation as Nelly's Evil Twin.

Mardi Gras Indian Practice.

What an incredible experience!
Words can't explain the energy in this room.
The feeling and community behind a truly authentic experience.
Here is some video that don't come close to explaining the feeling of the practice.
The rythmn of everyone around you.
The sound and dance.
The pounding.
It was amazing.





My whole weekend was amazing really.
A great potluck dinner with good friends.
Went to The Presbetyre,
a museum on Mardi Gras with my Caribbean Festival's class.
Did Sparta and Pegasus Parades Saturday night.
Had a float full of little girls get a flat tire right in front of us.
Relaxed most of Sunday
and then went to the Indian Practice.
One very full weekend.
Now I need to put my presentation on the Mardi Gras Indians together!!

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!

Old Hickory.

Loving the new Janet Jackson.

I decided I'm over TFA.
Mom agreed they were stupid.
Bitter? meeybe....but its ok.
Nothing should make me lose track of med school.

Today was such an easy going day.
Woke up at 1pm.
Watched a PBS special about Andrew Jackson.
A fascinating man.
Truly a man of the 18th century would aptly describe him in my mind.

Then I took a nap.
Vicki came home,
Mom came home.
Dad called and he's working really really late.
Had some pot roast.
Treated Mom to a mocha a starbucks,
Oh how I love thee!
Now it is time to pack.

Asta luego Tampa!
Bienvenidos a Neuvo Orleans jueves!


Tampa's itty bitty downtown :)

Cheer Up.

Its been a few days.
They haven't been crazy,
but they have been plenty busy.
Saturday I went to lunch with Jess at Zea's Rotisserie.
VERY good.
The prices for dinner may not be worth it,
but for lunch it was a great meal.
I had veal with sweat snap peas
and buttered sweet potato!
YUMMY...just writing about it makes me want some now!

Currently I'm waiting to do behavior and inject some ratty rats.
Yuck!

Then after lunch Jess and I saw
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
LOVED it!!!
SO much better than the other movies.
I liked it so much I went with Katy and Haylie
to try and see it at the IMAX theater in Covington.
Unfortunately the IMAX showing was sold out.
Boo.

But we saw it on the regular screen again,
which I didn't mind so much.
I really liked it!
It was dark and intense.
I'm so glad the kids are growing up.
Rupert Grint was pretty cute too!
I hadn't really noticed him before.

Before:


After:

I couldn't find a very good pic online...:-(

There are also more nuiances to the film
Now I can't wait for the 7th book!
Though I may just need to skip to 6 and read fast.
I've been really bad about just picking up the books.
Plus I've been busy too.

I'm trying to finish up the first batch of
secondary applications.
Seriously, the University of Minnesota has 12 questions!
I mean...come on!
But New Jersey only had two, so I went ahead and got that one done.
I just need to reread and get the courage to turn it in.

I did those Saturday afternoon.
At this point Ashley had come in.
She stayed with me that night
and then we moved her in to her new place Sunday.
Then we moved her into her new new place Monday.
But I was treated to Baskin Robbins...woot woot.

Though weird things happened.
We were sitting outside Baskins
and a couple approached us.
They were asking for money,
wife had surgery,
kicked out of brother's house,
need $27 for a motel.

I think in the past I would have ignored them.
But I've been on a social justice kick.
And even if they were lying,
to put your pride aside and ask,
they probably really needed it.
I gave them the $7 in my wallet.

Even now, part of me is thinking,
why?
But even if I was taken advantage of,
atleast I feel like a decent person for trying to take care of our society.
Now I am bummed out.
I can't wait to finish these rats.

I'm supposed to get together with Jenny tonight.
Which means no reading today.
Argh! I love seeing everyone and having a life,
but I am such a loner!!!
I think if I had just had one afternoon this weeekend
I wouldn't be feeling quite so edgey.
Plus work doesn't make me any happier.

So all my Rainbow Brite stuff here...is to make me happy!
Because I feel more like Stormy.


I want to feel like this:



Toooo funny...and perfect!
She could SOOOOOO make that movie!
And I would totally buy a ticket!!!

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!

Why, hello there?

What a surprise!
I woke up from my nap
and was debating ordering Fresco's
when we heard a knock on the door.
Who is it?
Why it's my mother!

They drove all the way from Graceland
to New Orleans today.
Coincidently my phone ran out of batteries.
Thus, it was charging, on off mode
while I napped.

It worked out really well though.
We went out to Superior Grill.
(Seriously, I've spent way too much time there this summer!)
No margaritas tonight.
but that is A-ok with me.
It was soooo good seeing them.
Sometimes you just need a hug!

It reminds me of this moment from the Chipmunks adventure.

Unfortunately this version is with real voices.
Its cuter in the Chipmunk, overdosed on Helium voice,
but the idea is pretty clear...
I love my mother!

Well...good night!

PS...HP OOTP is officially out today!!
Must call Katy and get to movie theater!!!

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.

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!

Ahhh...two caca roaches in one dinner!

My lovely friend Katy and I both had insanely horrible days at work. What better way to solve the work time blues than food shopping at Wal-Mart, right?

Haha, well, I can't lie, it sort of worked. Commercialism, blatant materialism and the chance to spend my first paycheck bigger than $60 bucks in a looong time was pretty fantastic. We discussed our mutual scorn for Wal-Mart produce, Katy's fear of any meat other than venison (meat snob from Wisconsin), and my concern over if the jello would melt and go bad if I didn't keep it in the fridge? Does anybody know that answer...its the precupped(is that a word?) jello? I have one of those tiny college fridges that are absolutely useless, except to store one can of coke and one bottle of vodka. Oh life's subtle mysteries.

Anyway, after dropping my stuff off at campus, we hit her sublet for dinner. It is a tiny little building with a tight stair well, but once inside it opens up to a spacious living room, with gorgeous wood floors, tall windows and high cielings. These are the things I love about New Orleans.
The things I don't love about New Orleans?? The cacaroaches. I grew up in Florida, so we always called them cacaroaches...most people probably just call them roaches. Potato, potato...as I was taking out a spoon to stir the ravioli, out flies, yes FLIES! a giant roach!

As I scream and dance like a mad woman, wondering what thing just grazed my arm, I see the little bugger scuttle off under the dryer. Katy comes in, just in time to see the tail end of the 3 inch roach. I kid you not, the roaches in New Orleans are huge and equipped with wings. They have also been rumored to live in the pipes and crawl up through the toilet. I'd really prefer to believe that isn't true, or else I may have to invest in Depends until I graduate.

Now, I can laugh off a roach. Sure they are scary at first, but now that we were on roach alert, I'd be ready to stomp and Katy grabbed the spray. She prefers the spray and catch method, I on the other hand have no qualms about stepping on them, more regional differences I suppose. Roach #1 wasn't coming out, so we commenced preparing dinner, and as I was washing out the pot...what do I find???? Roach #2 crawling on the counter, towards the very sink I am washing the pot in!

Once again, I scream and dance like a mad woman. I drop the pot and the roach crawls behind the microwave. Now, you must be thinking, what kind of dirty house keeper is Katy? I swear she is one of the cleanest people I know (which maybe doesn't speak much for my friends...hmmm). Truthfully though, giant flying roaches are as much a part of New Orleans living as beignets and hurricanes. They are just a hell of a lot scarier.

In conclusion, I am happy to report we did catch one of the roaches. Roach #1 decided to crawl out of the dryer in the middle of dinner. So we were able to corner him behind the garbage can, then he made a daring exit by flying into the hallway, were Katy used her stunning roach spray powers to get him. We then trapped him under some Tupperware until he stopped moving. Roach #2 is still on the loose. We suspect he is somewhere behind the toaster oven and the microwave.

I have safely returned home. I don't really know what kind of damage roaches do, other than scare us, but I'd rather not risk it. Any of you know?? Regardless, I hope all of you sleep better knowing there is one less roach in the world!