Cheers

I had the ills for a little over a week and it kept me pinned down the bed and pining for sleep aids that impair your nervous system like elephant sized sedatives.

Up and at em', I was a weekend warrior, taking back the city one cocktail at a time. With nothing more than a few drops from the threatening "Storm #10", the past weekend was prime weather for getting back to normal.

I was fortunate enough to have the free-time of two of my closest friends all to myself! You know who you are- swapping animal themed pens, how I adore Flamingos!

With every passing moment it is so easy to forget about that stolen bike, the empty bank account, the sickness I felt for 6 long days, the fragile state we live in...
Thanks for the fantastic cocktail therapy. It was long overdue.

Bring it.

So there is this pesky little storm out there in the gulf coming this way (or so they believe). It's only a tropical storm, nothing to worry about, right?
But remember, we've had just a normal rainstorm last for two hours that inundates the area and floods low street levels.
Some will recall in the last 3 months, two such storms that rolled through, flooding the streets to knee level and left us wondering,"Now, how in the hell would this city last through a hurricane?"
How soon we forget.
Today at work, they are filming K-Ville right in front of the gallery. I took some opportune shots that similarly match with shots I took with one of those said storms.
Where these actors are standing, there was standing water 1 1/2 feet deep.
I due truly hope that this storm blows through quickly, about as quick as a TV production crew doing street shots.

We.

I remember the days long ago when cell phones were something that the über rich in Los Angeles or drug dealers in NYC owned.
These days I've had texting conversations that hide tones of voice, reduce thoughts to simple numerical figures and basically obliterate the most basic of human connection, TALKING.

Once we finally spoke with one another, we saw where the misconnection happened.
This was immediately followed by a long weekend of Cocktail Therapy in the French Quarter that seemed long overdue.
Friends were in town, drinks were had, laughs were shared and it was all a perfect end to endless weeks of work and a stressful month overall.

You see, she describes our relationship like we're a couple, and in a way we are.
Since IT, we've endured living across the street from a collapsed building for two years.
We've slept on the same mattress on the floor for 3 months while our house was still under construction
We've shared a lot of our lives with each other.
We've driven the other crazy & had the craziest times together.
We had a simple misunderstanding and I understand that she and I will always have a connection that no dog, landlord or megalith hurricane can destroy.

This Once

This once, my roommate found a puppy. This once, she didn't try to find it's owner.
This once, I had a landlord that didn't like our 2 dogs and then we had 3.
This once, my landlord saw me walking 3 dogs and gave me a look that said "What the hell is that?"
This once, I assumed I was going to be evicted.
This once, I told my best friend I didn't like her dog.
This once, she told me she didn't want to live in that house anyway.
This once, I saw how assuming can ruin you.
This once, I had a bad day.
This once, I felt....alone.

Reason #325 Why I'm Single

I have this slight obsession with my dog.
I came across this realization yesterday, when I flipped my Kodak picture calendar from my mother to see that Maddie is September.
Some things you should know:
She has a rainbow collar because I firmly believe she has gay tendencies.
She barks when people dance, clap or kiss.
She loves her football the most.
She loves to swim.
She loves car rides.
She lays on my bed and prefers to have her head on my pillow.
She can SIT and LAY, but not shake.

Every morning on our walk, we arrive at the corner and I say "Maddie, where would you like to go today?"(Hey I've never let on that this is a sane relationship have I?) By the pictures, you can see she chose the park.
I sometimes imagine that if she were human, she would be a gym teacher. She would teach softball & archery and have a mullet.

Come to think of it, maybe my dog isn't the one that's insane, it is I. If I can put in this much effort to observing my dog, the same energy could be put to better use. Like finding someone of the opposite sex to share my dogs life with and I can cross reason 325 off my list!

The driving force

Once again I join the drivers on the roads of New Orleans. If I didn't have to work 2 jobs in one day, then I would much rather have walked to work than throw myself at the mercy of drivers in this city. (And I used the word drivers loosely)

They are more like preteens behind the wheel of machine that they have yet to master. Hurling their vehicles down the street as if they are the only ones on the roadway.

Most people neglect to use turn signals, opting for halting to a stop in the middle of the road and giving all inquiring drivers around a "mental" signal that they will be parallel parking or picking up their best friend from Shoe Nami.

A large majority to make way for on the road are the SUV drivers. In case you weren't aware, when they are on the road, you don't exist. If you show any sign of competition for space or have the intent of being in their lane- whooo boy- watch it. They'll fling their massive, gas-guzzling, obtrusive, uptown-wife-toting, Whole Foods front row parking, yuppie motorcoach across your path so fast you'd swear your doors were ripped off by a jetliner. This is done only to remind you that you're only a peon in the world of car ownership.

This is only coupled by the fact that about 20% of the drivers out here are uninsured and if something should happen on the road, they'll take off faster than Paris Hilton her first night in jail. Leaving you with a sense of wonder to go with that fresh dent or ripped off side mirror. The kind of wonder as to how many licenses does Wal-Mart give out? And who in their right mind would join these people on the road?

Well, that would be me. Not by my choice mind you. Getting myself off the road is my first priority, saving to purchase another bicycle. And if the ghetto kids in my neighborhood would do me a big favor, steal my car next time and leave my bike alone.

A little His-tree Y'all

"New Orleans was founded in 1718 by the French Mississippi Company. It was named for Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, who was Regent of France at the time. In 1763, the French colony was ceded to the Spanish Empire. Most of the surviving architecture of the Vieux Carré (French Quarter) dates from this Spanish period. Louisiana reverted to French control in 1801, but Napoleon sold it to the United States in the Louisiana Purchase two years later.
During the War of 1812 the British sent a force to conquer the city. The Americans decisively defeated the British troops in the Battle of New Orleans on January 8, 1815."
Because it was built on a great turn of the river, it is known as the Crescent City. Elevations range from 12 feet above sea level to 6 1/2 feet below! Thank god for those levees!

A hint of blue.

There happens to be this technique in the ever interesting paint choices of New Orleans homes. It is painting ones porch ceiling blue. While the first assumption is that it is to mimic the sky, it is actually thought to keep nesting bugs away such as spiders, bees and wasps.
That is all I have for today. It's Labor Day after all!

The color is coming back.

Since having my bike stolen, I've been ranting about theft and how disrespectful humans are in my neighborhood. Truth be told, my neighbors have all been great.They have shared their own stories of crimes against them and also reassured that they would keep their eye out for my bicycle.
I haven't felt like publishing anything painting this picture of New Orleans, let alone the Irish Channel as intriguing or precious. Especially when I turned every corner with suspision and hatred, seeing bad things in everyone and everything.

Today I started out with my walk in this very mindset and was slowly reversed by the colors of the neighborhood. Amidst these random bad experiences, there are still people that care. People that support. People that make it worthwhile.

A Sad Sad Day...

It rained all day yesterday here. I drove my car instead of my preferred mode of transportation, my cruiser.
I got home and it was gone. My new neighbor says he saw two boys hoisting it over my gate. To my dismay he let it happen and now it's gone. It was a birthday gift and I loved it. It had baskets that I put beer in for parades, carried groceries in and even gave a friend a ride in those baskets.
My intent for this blog was to keep New Orleans this little piece of wonder through small intimate peeks at life. Yet, now it goes to show that everyone, everywhere can't have it so ideal, no matter how much you desire.
RIP my lovely cruiser. I hope the young man riding you gets hit by a car.

Purple Green and Gold

The colors of Mardi Gras!

These houses all sit on the same corner in the Irish Channel. They are my some of my favorite houses to go by. It's almost like it was planned that they sit so close and are the 3 primary colors of Mardi Gras.
•Purple represents justice
•Green stands for faith
•Gold stands for power


"Mardi Gras was celebrated by the French as the last of the three days before Ash Wednesday and the start of the fast of Lent. Mardi Gras is thus the last opportunity for merrymaking and indulgence in food and drink. Mardi Gras is marked by spectacular parades featuring floats, pageants, elaborate costumes, masked balls, and people dancing in the streets.

Mardi Gras originated as one of the series of carnival days held in all Roman Catholic countries between Twelfth Night, or Epiphany, and Ash Wednesday; these carnivals had their origin in pre-Christian spring fertility rites.

The first American Mardi Gras was celebrated near New Orleans on March 3, 1699.

A new idea

So, I adore New Orleans. Just as much as any other crazy person that lives here.
I was walking my dog this weekend and came up with the idea of capturing some of the bizarre things I come across or little intricacies that make this place what it is...home.

Trying to strike a balance...

I was writing this story all last week about my single little life.
Trying to justify being alone with no real career in sight and nearing the age of 30.
But as I continued with my writing, inside I was going in the other direction.
Feeling a little listless, bereft and lonely. I hibernated in my house when I wasn't at work and abandoned my usual barstool at Parasols. I opted for watching movies and doing crosswords, turned my cell phone off and literally pushed people away.
Not exactly the same person I was writing about in the story.
So, I started amping up on potassium vitamins and viola!
Not to claim as my own discovery, but a friend showed me this video and it perfectly describes how i felt all of last week, if you have some time, I think you'd find it might apply to parts of your own life at times.

Not Sure Why...

I've jumped on this train of blogging. I have a diary. Don't write in it. I have thoughts all day and don't write them down...perhaps this is a beginning of getting some information out there in a more systematic and organized way.

This is my work environment. Lots of crap everywhere. And I pick the things that I think someone will be interested in and PUSH IT.
That is, photograph it. Market it. Some of it does alright. I always say, it's like the theory that pasta is done once it sticks to the fridge.
I throw things up on the web. If they sell, they "stick", if they don't sell, it's not their time.

We'll see how this blog goes. It might stick.