One of my favorite places in the world...

. ...is the Olympic National Park in Washington State. Now, there's a little town there that is kind of in the middle of where you want to go in the Western part of the Park and I've stayed there the 3 times I've been. It's close to the beaches, the Hoh river valley, and the most spectacular place of all - the Hoh rainforest. The town is Forks, WA. And a movie just came out that was made there. You might have heard of it...."Twilight"? Maybe? In passing, perhaps? Well - I had to go see it and the theatre was packed with high school girls with potty mouths while the screen was filled with dreamy vampires. The girls were giggling then yelling "Shut the fuck up!" when someone got too loud which elicited more giggles. I never drove by the high school or ate at the particular local cafe the hearthrobs frequented (if it was indeed filmed at the Forks high school). The only information I had on the local kids, this was back in 2001-2002, was how bad the meth problem was. Funny they didn't touch on that subject at all, even after learning the main vampire never sleeps and is, like, super strong. No "Are you sure you haven't been dipping into Jarred's candy bowl or something? I can stay up for days..." or anything. They must have a handle on it now.


Thanksgiving was a nice day. I went to a local catholic church that had combined services with a congregation from the 9th ward. There was way more singing and dancing this time - I had been once before, both times with a woman from Honduras who lives on my block. I could have sworn she was from the Islands by the way she spoke. They had an unbelievable spread provide by a local synogugue, so it was a very multi-spiritual vibe.

Monday Night Saints

I realize I've posted quite a few shots of the Superdome, but it is such an imposing structure. I see it every day going to and from work and that coupled with the footage from Katrina has it woven into my subconscious. Went to my first Saints game last night for Monday night ball. A friend from work and I decided to go the day before so we bought the tickets that she would spring for (for which she would spring?). I was willing to go all out since it's something I do so rarely...plus I have no real concept of what money is but anyway the seats were in the rough, loud crowd way up in the tip top and man those stairs were STEEP! Seriously, it was so unsafe, the floor was super-slick, how many people have killed themselves in there I wonder? Due to falling, I mean, not as a result of gross negligence by the feds. But - it worked out because we decided to leave after the first quarter (it was that loud...) and on our way down we ran into some neighbors of hers who let us come hang out in their suite. Much much much better.

Gandy Dancing

http://www.folkstreams.net/film,101 Just found this poking around on the internet - it's a 30minute film on the african american workers that used to lay train tracks by hand.

I went to my first community meeting here and was surprised at how civil the population was, considering what is still lacking 3 years later, how much trust they still have that things will get fixed, get done.

Been awhile -

Well, it's been a little while but I'm back albeit briefly before retiring. Found a bunch of neat mugshots from New Orleans in early 20th century off of their library website - an online exhibit if you will. Speaking of exhibits, there's a huge city-wide art exhibit (s) called Prospect 1 that's showing around town, a bi-annual show. It's here until Jan 18th, haven't gone to see any works yet but I will. I keep meaning to go the last few weekends but I haven't been able to get out of the house much...this last weekend it was my back that kept me in bed and the weekend before it was simply the thought of everything that I had to do at work that kept me from getting anything done. I know that doesn't make sense if it's never happened to you - not being able to do anything because there's too much to do that you're so overwhelmed. Putting it off doesn't make it easier, of course, if anything that makes things harder but sometimes it happens that way.
Had to go get a shot for a migrane this past week, I had one for close to 20 hours straight before going to get the shot since I was unable to shoo the pain away with multiple pain pills. Those are coming way more frequently than I've ever had them before - I'm sure it's stress, or rather how I REACT to stress, that's causing them. I'm working on it - reading books, stretching, need to start exercising regularly again, dang it.
Oh - I applied to work in the Obama/Biden administration! Go to Change.gov and you can submit an application - you fill out a short form, then a day or so later you get another link to a longer form. I would still like to work on the reconstruction of this area -maybe in a national position, but, no expectations really. Did it as more of a lark but one never knows.....I am quite happy to continue the work I'm doing as long as I don't let it get to me so much.
The Asshole Monologues are playing - local columnist Chris Rose is in it, quite funny and it delivers what you'd expect if you know anything about the Vagina 'logues (hated that show, though). Spoke to him about his recent girl troubles, poor guy, he deserves better, as did I.
Hey, that rhymes!

YES - WE DID!

YAY FOR US AND YAY FOR THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

it's sooooooooooo nice out

What a view, huh? This comes courtesy of the 41st floor from one of the architecture firms I'm working with. You wouldn't see no enginEERing firm have this kind of a view.

Man oh man, the last week and a half has been amazing. It's actually been CHILLY at night while sleeping and in the morning the last few days. Everyone here tells me October is the best month here for weather, with April a close 2nd. Keep that in mind, people, if you're thinking about a visit. One of my roommates did as he's had people here the last 2 weekends to go see the rodeo at Angola prison. I'm going the last Sunday in October, maybe take me a longer trip to see other parts in that area as well. It's only a few hours away, like most places in this state, which is so different than the massive area I had for exploration out west. This way, though, you get to spend more time in each place.

Even though I've worked more since I've been here than at any other job in years, I've done some interesting stuff as well. The first weekend of October a group from work volunteered to help scrape and prime a house for Rebuilding Together, the non-profit I was helping out when I first got to town. We were working alongside the Secular Humanists, so therefore I learned what a secular humanist is. I went to a class at the New Orleans School of Cooking, although I only made it for the last hour. We had crab and corn bisque (amazing), shrimp creole (not so hot), bananas foster (our volunteer didn't do such a good job with this one...) and pralines (yummy). Then since we were already in the quarter we went out for a bit, ended up in bars with decent cover bands playing crappy music so I made my way home after only a short time. I broke off of the group to catch the last 30 minutes of the last debate, and then promptly learned how at least 2 of the group I was with are Republican supporters (red state, my friends) which put me in a foul mood for some reason, so even if I was at an Adam Ant show or something I would have been scowling. (note - Adam Ant = dreamboat)

I've been up early and walking the dogs are the river or biking in the park on the weekends. I need to get into work today so it's time to sign off. I'm getting tired once it gets dark, which is around 6 pm right now since I'm such a grand-ma now. Gotta run.

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL!

Saints are playing the Vikings at the Superdome right now...as I type. 7-0 Saints. I park in the Superdome lot everyday at work but when there's a game they don't let us park there unless you pay a huge fee. In the Superdome lot the tailgating that was going on around 6 pm after work was UNbelievable. However, I heard from more than one person that the lot was 1/2 full this morning...at 8:00!!!!!! Wow-ee. Tailgating here is a sport in itself. uh oh. 7-7 now.

What really struck me today since I took a route walking to work that I don't normally take, is just how much real estate downtown is sitting vacant. An entire shopping mall is abandoned minus the temporary (3 years later...) hospital they've got on the first floor - and then a HUGE Hyatt is also abandoned, it's right next door to my office building. It's as big as a casino Nevada, for chrissakes. Who owns all that real estate...and what are they going to do with it? I mean, you see abandoned properties all over town, but these are almost entire blocks in the heart of downtown. What's up with that?

I did some volunteer work with Rebuilding Together on Saturday with some people at work - scraping and priming a house in Central City. That is some tough work, man, but it was a gorgeous day out and kind of fun. uh oh again...14-7 Minnesota with a great play, I must say.