Bye-bye, Day

I'm a little frustrated because today was supposed to be productive. Instead, I've been driving around from cafe to cafe, and the one I'm currently at has a dearth of outlets and my battery life is quickly dwindling. The last place I was at had a shotty wireless network, and the first place (The Orange Couch) was amazing, but I left it. Err, I have to pick up the kids in less than two hours so I'm going to stay in the Garden District since I'll be close. Oh, and E has just come on the gas gauge so I will have to get that after I pick the kids up. Where did $15 dollars go? I filled it on Friday! I'm annoyed. I'd rather read than work on NANO now because I just feel negative. So maybe that's what I'll do. Though I can't even just read for fun because I have homework assignments. Blah.

Oh, and the NANO site's being uncooperative. I'm trying to reset my password and the site keeps timing out or something. I hope the rest of November is better than today. Oh, but I did bring Jesse a delicious sandwich from Satsuma though, and I made myself a veggie quesadilla.

The First Day of November (Disclaimer: Long play-by-play)

I begin National Novel Writing Month today. I honestly don't know how committed I'll be to this project because I have so many other pieces to juggle, and I have two assignments for my classes.

On the bright side, I have picked out my classes for Spring. I'm particularly excited about beginning French, and I wanted to take Advanced Spanish Conversation, but unfortunately, it conflicts with my nannying position so I'll have to hold off. The classes are Span Lit Golden Age, Studies Hispanic Culture and Civilization, and French 1001.

Well, I should get started with NANOWRIMO, but before I do so I would like to recap on my exciting, albeit tiring weekend.

Saturday, Jes and I left our apartment sometime between 9:30 and 10 to walk Saki and stop by the bank in the quarter so I could deposit some money. Well, our anticipated short jaunt turned into a 4-5 hour expedition. We walked all the way down to the dog park, and on the way met a nice barber who gave Saki a doggie [treat] bag for Halloween, and Saki met the man's dog, Bebe. The gentleman also told us about Satsuma, a cafe/juice bar/good place for brunch so as we were now looking for a dog-friendly place at which to eat. So we vowed to seek it out! I thought I had seen something about it in Edible New Orleans, too. Well, once we got to the dog park, we stayed there for a while (who knows how long since neither of us had our phones!). We had some fun meeting people and dogs and spending time with our baby (49 years in dog years) girl. Well, finding Satsuma proved difficult, but we did not give up and 20-40 blocks later, we found the stretch of Dauphine in the Bywater that was so adorably eclectic. The food did not disappoint, and we drank delicious (though overpriced as all fresh juices are in the US) fresh-squeezed juice. I definitely recommend this place. And, I don't know that I've ever spent any time in the Bywater, especially because i used to think the Marigny just blended in with it. Well, the area reminds me of a combination of Algiers Point and Oak Street Uptown. Either way, you'll find something unique. We even ran into a friend of mine there, and met her friend. Yay, making new acquaintances. So we walked home, and the three of us were quite tired by then. I believe Saki took a nap, I know I did. And, Jes played a video game. A few hours later, Jeff and Drew came over, and we had a good time with them! It's hard to believe it's been four to five months since we've seen each other--maybe since we have our sporadic Skype meetings! But, Drew tried to catch me up on some TED videos and other things I should make myself aware of. And, we spent the night, eating, playing Monopoly, and even went to Harrah's once for Starbucks to keep us awake. They ended up staying until around 3 in the morning, with the hope of dinner at Green Goddess the next evening.

Sunday proved to be another unexpected day as plans just didn't work out. But, we had fun nevertheless! Halloween. Mia wanted to go to Voodoo, and since plans with Drew and Jeff weren't til the evening, we decided to go, and I'm glad we did because I discovered two new musicians that I had not heard of before. They are Janelle Monae and Dead Mouse, but we also saw Interpol and MGMT. Mia came over and got ready to be Katy Perry (her costume was pretty cool with ribboned cupcakes, and she handmade it!), and Jes and I impromptu dressed in our holiday garb. The day was long and hot, and tiring, but we got some neat Voodoo Fest memorabilia, hung out a bit with Neill and his roomies, and ate some yummy fair-type food. By the evening, we were tired, with a little appetite for dinner. We ended up going to Whole Foods for groceries since between trick or treating and the Saints game, plans to go out to eat were difficult to make a reality. But, I made some delicious vegetable tacos and some ground meat ones for Jes and Mia, and we ate while watching an old 80s movie, The 'Burbs, that Jes loved as a kid. I fell asleep, but it wasn't because of the movie; I'd like to finish it. The weekend was just packed with crazy and somewhat spontaneous fun! I'm now at The Orange Couch, probably my favorite place to spend the day and write. I'm hoping to meet up with Drew soon for some writing and just to hang out while she's still here, but we'll see what happens since I have to nanny at 4:30, and tomorrow they leave. Maybe we'll make it to Il Posto or Saint James Cheese Company. Green Goddess doesn't have dinner on Monday evenings, but I do have to go this week so I can write my debut restaurant review. There were a few things I didn't get to do this weekend that I would have liked to, but there's always next time. Burlesque show in particular; we missed Fleur de Tease at Voodoo, and we didn't go to Ballroom Burlesque on Friday because we were listening to Muse! I would have liked to have seen Tori and Charles, too. But, it's okay. The weekend was great. And, now, Jes and I should visit New York as soon as we can.

Sorry this post is so long. Okay, NANO now.

A Happy Halloween Post

Well, it's been an exciting week. I've been working 12-13 hour days juggling my jobs, and this weekend I was well-rewarded with good company and Voodoo tickets from Edmund at Amelie G.

I wanted to be productive this morning/today, but it seems like we'll be leaving for Voodoo again in about an hour so I don't know how much I'll actually accomplish, BUT Drew is coming over/spending the night tonight so we'll be working on NANOWRMO (National Novel Writing Month) so hopefully this is the start to a wonderful month of productivity and creativity.

I also have quite a few deadlines approaching for my freelance career, and only being scheduled one o/c shift and babysitting on morning this week will probably be an advantage as I sort through the transcription, research and interviewing and writing.

-finish cover shoot piece

-interview/photograph men's boutiques for shopping features

-interview for profile piece

-eat at ________________ for restaurant review (a surprise)

And, surprisingly, I believe that's all. Definitely manageable.

Friday was a lot of fun because I got to go with Jes, Mia and Neill to Voodoo Fest in City Park. It was my first time going because I've never been able to justifyingly afford the tickets. But, Amelie G surprised me Thursday night with two all-weekend passes to the Halloween weekend annual music extravaganza. We saw Metric, Weezer and Muse! And, if you don't know, I've been loving Muse since I was in high school, I believe. They really were amazing (and the former two were wonderful as well), but I was slightly disappointed at their abrupt end to their show, twenty minutes before schedule according to the program. Anyhow, at least I got to see them. Their technology (lights and instruments) were incredible, Matthew Bellamy has the voice of an angel (I'll say it again), and the three as a whole are so cohesive and electrifying. Probably the best live show I've seen (closely followed by Bond and Imogen Heap). Weezer was another off the radar act, but this was heavily because of the lead singer's stage (or offstage) personality. He was climbing the sound stage and porto potty towards the back of the audience, and because he slowly made his way there, we had already moved to the other stage to camp out a few minutes early for Muse. But, we could hear Weezer at a slight distance and they were also broadcast on the screen on the stage in front of which we were standing so we got it from different perspective. Weezer did a cover of "Poker Face" (where he wore a blonde wing and danced) and MGMT's "Kids." All in all, I was impressed by the three groups I saw (and I much prefer Metric in person then recorded).

Yesterday...

Long Hair on Middle-Aged Women

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/24/fashion/24Mirror.html?_r=1&ref=fashion

I must say this is something I'm not looking forward to. I love short hair so much on me right now that I think eventually, I'll want to have the luscious long locks spoke of in this article (I won't even think about greys yet though!). Will it be too late by then? Or, will I defy American conformity regarding long hair for the middle-aged? How does this apply to men, too? And, will hair style change in the next 25-35 years? I remember my mom having very long hair when I was a very young child, but then sometime after my sister was born, she cut it. Oh, what beautiful black hair she had though! Now, she's worn it less than shoulder length for probably a decade. Hmm, hair really is a way to express yourself. I do it, minus the coloring. I don't go for too edgy or trendy though I admire those who are gutsy or fashion forward enough to do so. Sometimes, I put very little effort (time and money...), but this is to my dismay in retrospect. So what does your hair say about you?

New post to come.

Fleur de Tease

Tonight I went to my first ever burlesque show. It was rather spontaneous as around 9:43ish, I was doing some research on the woman I'm interviewing tomorrow for an Amelie G piece, and I noticed her troop went on at 10 at One Eyed Jack's. So after contemplating a few minutes and throwing on some clothes, I drove the three-minute drive, found parking, waited in a line and then stood up a good 20 minutes until the show began. Jesse didn't want to come, and I can't blame him since I decided to go less than 10 minutes before. But, then again, burlesque isn't really his thing either.

I'm tried, and I have lots to do tomorrow. But, I'll share more about the show and the woman I'm interviewing, Trixie Minx. I'm still processing it all, I guess. The show, I mean. It wasn't what I expected, but I don't know much I liked it and how much I didn't yet. I told Jes when I walked in a few minutes ago that I guess I thought it would be more classic. And, he questioned, like Moulin Rouge? And, that's not it, but I can't put my finger on it. I left early too so though I think I saw at least one act of each of the members, I missed the finale with the ensemble of characters. I'd give it another chance, but I don't think it would be something I regularly go to. I didn't feel gross as if I was in a strip club, but I did feel a little awkward by myself. And, this show was their Halloween one so probably the irreverence isn't always as gorey. Like I said, I'll get back to it once I've had time to make a solid opinion.

But, boy, would this have been a good place to write an ethnography on! Oh, and even though it may have been irresponsible and unpredictable, it felt kind of good to ignore my inhibitions. If that makes sense.

Oh, did I show you my website?

http://angelabernadette.wordpress.com/

Drew did it for me!

Excuses, excuses

I'm so overdue for a blog entry, and a lot's been happening. I get my new macbook pro tomorrow so I'll my own computer at hand most of the time so I'll be more likely and motivated to blog, I think. You know, instead of using Jes' macbook (which he has to take to work and school most of the time) or trying to type from our loveseat to his 40' tv which serves as the monitor to his desktop. Don't get me wrong, he has a great wireless keyboard and mouse. I just can't see the small print from afar. And, I don't like the scrolling zoom options. Anyway.

Update on life ongoings. Because I'm rarely scheduled at Anthro, I've decided to take a part-time nannying position for Jes' boss. 2 kids, one of which I've babysat before. I will pick them up from school, so I'll be using Mia's car and spending a few hours with them during the week until their parents get home. I'm looking forward to this. It'll be kind of a change for me though because I haven't picked anyone up from school since Mia was in middle school. Yay trips to St. Louis King of France with Neill and Kayla (and sometimes Yuka?). Stops at the fried chicken place across the street from her school where creepy Vietnamese guys hit on us. Stops at the bubble tea cafe. And, Fashion India for samosas and mango, lychee and guava juice!

I am going to keep on the schedule at Anthro since it doesn't interfere with my other life. However, I will continue to babysit as much as I can, and I'm hoping to schedule 3 classes next semester at UNO. Oh, and I'm pretty sure I want to write a thesis for my Master's. Besides looking good and bringing my overall grad school course load to 30 hours (instead of 33), it'll give me an excuse to research something and challenge my writing ability. Ah, academia!

Hmm, Jes and I have been living the good life, or our version of it. We've been enjoying the CBD and impromptu walks through the quarter to satiate our appetites. We discovered a few new places recently, and when Drew and Jeff come at the end of the month, we're gonna have to share at least one of them. I've found my "go-to" place for when I'm hungry and not sure what I want. It's an Argentine place in the building next door, outside of the food court area, but still a space in that general vicinity. Monday, Jes stayed home with me because I wasn't feeling well. I walked next door to grab lunch: a fruits de mer crepe for him and tomato basil gnocci for me! Yesterday, I went back for more gnocci. And, today, disappointed that my macbook pro (but not as disappointed when Apple credited my account $99 to our account) was lost at the hands of UPS, I treated myself to lunch at Tango, ordering the baked tilapia, a side salad, and a side of gnocci! Yum :)

What else? I took the Foreign Service Office Test on Friday just to see how I'd do and if I might be government material. We'll see. The test was eclectic, as Jes said it would be. And, though I don't know how I did on a couple of parts (leaning to not as well as I would have liked), I am pretty sure I was 100% accurate in the English section. I didn't finish the essay part, either. Amelie G is going well, and I have quite a few articles in the works. I'm going to a photo shoot with Trixie Minx because I'm going to write a short feature on her. I have another development, job-wise, in the works, but I don't want to say anything until I know for sure.

Well, I'll leave it at that right now because Jes and I are going to try to exercise for a bit.

To write or not to write? No longer a question.

With the help of my best friend [turned personal webdesign publicist], I'm more committed to seriously launching my writing career. First step, assemble hardcopy and online portfolios. I read this article that this same friend shared with me, but even before that, her pep talk and encouragement yesterday elicited feelings of optimism about how my life is currently and what I can do to be happy in chasing a realistic dream I've had for a while: to write (and make a living from it). Anyhow, I do have to go because I have to babysit at 10:30, work at Anthro between 4 and 9, and find time to do homework and Amelie G spread sheets. But, I am in higher spirits and I hope that things are the same for you, my readers.

http://www.self.com/health/2010/02/one-woman-follows-her-heart-and-her-dream?currentPage=1

Oh, the things we have to do! Book clubs, NaNoWriMo (http://www.nanowrimo.org/) and more. Til next time!

"Awful Day" in Mia's words

I'm pretty tired. My neck is stiff and hurting. A lot has happened today. My mom's closest sister, Tita Alit, died and I don't know what to do or say. It's made me think a lot. I see how painful it is and how much she's suffered in her life.

I'm not going to be so idealistic anymore. It's time to try harder and find a better-paying job so I can help my mom, so I can take the burden of the loans she took out to send me to Loyola. I've applied to the Department of State in the hope that they will notice my application and test scores. (Maybe this very act is naive, but we'll see.) I was encouraged to do this by my parents and extended family, but I had resisted on idealistic and uninformed principles. Now, I'm going to try to learn more about positions as a civil servant. I think with my interests, I might be a good candidate and then I can consider a position in academia in the more distant future. Who knows where this will take me?

Well, I'll write more later. I have a busy week with an exam and work. I have so much more to say, but I'm drained and unable to articulate it.

Jobs, jobs, jobs...nothing

I cannot believe the predicament I am currently in. Every time I find a new job, I think, hey, no more craigslist browsing. Sayonara, webpage visits! And, then, two to four weeks after the job has begun, I find myself in need of more income due to disappointing wages or lacking hours. This is still the case with Anthro. The more money we make, the more payroll we get to divide hours among our staff. Consequently, the opposite it true as well. Get it?

Ahh, so I'm looking for yet another part-time job, even though I have two classes, work at Anthro and write as needed. My alternatives start with more babysitting gigs (though I recently referred a lot of the people asking me to other friends of mine since I had been working so much at Anthro the first 4-5 weeks). I could also put my name on McGehee's substitute list. I think I'd stick to lower/middle/upper schools over LG though. What else? I have been to craigslist and the pickings are slim. Because I'm scheduled 4.5 hours on call! this week, and only 4.5 hours next week as well, my next pay check is going to barely cover rent (because last week I worked a considerable amount of hours, and last week's will be on this next check, I think). That's another thing. Payroll and the pay period are confusing and it's all paperless. But, for some reason I cannot access my paystubs on the company website so I cannot even check if I'm being paid accurately. Why does this always happen to me? Why didn't they tell us this was the job climate when we signed on for tens of thousands of tuition debt?

Well, I'm off to The Orange Couch to do some homework. That'll distract me from real life :) If I don't get a babysitting job towards the end of the week, I'll go visit my mom in BR. She came in yesterday and Mia, Jesse, Eric (my cousin), Neill, and I had lunch with her at Suhko Thai on Magazine (yum!), and boy do I have leftovers. I got vegetarian pad thai and my mom gave me her Thai iced tea because she didn't like it. Enough procrastination. Shower than walk to The Orange Couch!

Work and play = study

I thoroughly enjoy being back in school even if I find myself in a classroom full of bi-/multi-lingual students who seem to understand the professor far better than I do. Even if I struggle in readings. The idea that I've returned to being intellectually stimulated and that I'm not mentally stagnant--or worst, degenerative, is actually beginning to motivate me! I was worried at first because in the beginning, I'd find myself nearly falling asleep during my reading assignments, but I want to chalk that up to being tired now. I had previously been working 40ish hours a week at Anthropologie, and now with only 6 for this week, I'm taking advantage and making my schedule work for me. Taking my time with the readings, but also making them a priority. I'm enjoying them (especially the efferent and aesthetic pieces I've had the pleasure to read in my Research Romance Languages [think literary theory and criticism ] class), and I am sort of on a roll. On the other hand, I am having delusions of grandeur where Jes gets an international attorney job in Spain or France and I transfer to the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid or Le Sorbonne. A girl can dream, right?

Long days, short entry

I'm about to go to bed, but I wanted to share this short article before I do. It's discouraging and sad, but at the same time should motivate us to change our ways. Reduce, reuse, recycle.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/31/photos-most-polluted-plac_n_693008.html?alacarte=1#s130978

Today was nice and relaxing...my first weekday off in a while. I did babysit Adele, but before that I ran errands and did minimal homework readings. I don't got into work tomorrow until 2 so I'm hoping to get some more homework done beforehand.

Also found out that Scriptura is considering a word-pressing internship. I found out today that their word presser interned with many presses such as Lucky Paper and Dauphine. I am so happy to hear that, and a part of me really, really wants to apply and wishes I could to do it. But, I don't know how I could juggle work, school and Amelie G. On the other hand, I don't want Scriptura to lose its specialness for me because I work there on a regular basis and know its nooks and crannies like the back of my hand. Either way, it's not something I need to do right now; I could have the opportunity when I'm done with my Master's. And, I want to see where Anthro takes me. But, it is something I would like to do. Papermaking as well is something I've been wanting to do. Why are all these near ideas and cool opportunities presenting themselves at once?! Ah, well, buenas noches!

Back from the...work days?

It's been over two weeks since my last post, and so much has happened between then and now. I guess I could have made time to update, but I've let it all build up to the point that I was anxious about writing so much and the emotional drain and organization it would require.

Well, Jesse and I have now been living in our new CBD apartment for nearly a month. There's still a lot to do--organization, decluttering and my own prioritization of papers and things that I need to keep versus discard. However, excuse again, I have been working a lot. He has been working hard at it when he gets home from work or class, and on the weekend even, especially while I'm gone. Today we had a lovely day walking around the Quarter after stopping in for Anthropologie's grand opening brunch event this morning. Our day started later than usual because we stayed up til 4 last night watching the first disc of The L Word (from Netflix and I've been wanting to get into the series for a while now. So far, so good, but I'm only on episode five. There's a lot of sex, too). So we missed the hors d'oeuvre brunch at Anthro. The music from Preservation Hall's junior band was nice though. And, after traipsing in the intermittent rain around the Quarter, Jes and I finally decided on Stanley! near the Cathedral. He had Beaux Bridge Benedict (boudin, poached egg, Canadian bacon) atop french bread, and I had a fried oyster poboy and a delicious rum raisin milk shake! It was pretty good.

I started class at UNO last week. I finished my Amelie G articles--late, but done and reportedly great! The grand opening of Anthropologie went fantastically well with a few special events, but now that we've been there for a couple of weeks, scheduling will be decreased as payroll also has. Whereas, I've worked 40 hours the past two weeks, this next week I'm scheduled only 23, and that's with an on call shift tomorrow. A former coworker of mine quit because she was only scheduled 5! and she had open availability. I'm lucky I got the 23, but either way, I'm looking forward to a slower week. I've got lots to do!

• homework for my classes
• junk and useless stuff reduction
• letter-writing
• grocery shopping
• reading and blogging
• renew license?

I'd also like to keep up with the news on a regular basis and get some exercise. I've been walking to work on a regular basis and working so much that I haven't had time to snack/eat three meals as much usually do. As a result I haven't felt like I'm gaining weight, but it would be nice to get into the 24-hour gym we have in our apartment building now. Unfortunately, Downtown doesn't have grass streetcar tracks for me to run down.

As soon as we get our apartment a little more homey, I'll post some photos. Jesse has really worked hard to make it our home, but we're currently in the process of repositioning certain furniture because we need a console table for our TV. The mount Jes ordered will not work with our walls, but we'll save it for another place in the future :)

Just wanted to say a few things tonight. But, I have Tuesday and Wednesday off, and possibly tomorrow if I don't get called in. I will say more about school, going back, starting a Master's; and the difference between living Uptown and Downtown; clothes and things at Anthro; among other things I remember. Ta ta for now. It's good to be back!

A hot mess

Alas, I haven't had time to post, but I will soon. This week went by so quickly. Today's the first day Anthropologie will be open. Honestly, I'm a little nervous, but I just need to relax. It's exciting, especially to see who comes in today and what they buy. I hope that I can shop on my lunch break, but we'll see. I'm not sure how much time I'll have, but I went ahead and scheduled a haircut at 6:15 (it's happened again. I'm tired of my straggly hair and its reaction to humidity) so I can't shop for an hour after I get off like I had hoped. Jesse will meet me around 6:45 to walk through the store. We really won't have time, but we can come back tomorrow :)

Lots on the plate still though. I'm going to finish the men's boutique pieces I've been working on. I submitted the women's yesterday, and Elsa seemed okay with them though I really pushed back the deadline and I feel regretful about it. With moving and working at Anthro, I was so tired and it took me a while to finish the transcriptions. Speaking of moving, lots of observations since we moved in, which should be discussed in a future entry.

I have some letter-writing to catch up on, too. But, Jesse's been setting up the place all by himself while I work on my articles so I need to help him first. He did most of the move himself because I worked all of Monday and two hours on Tuesday. I requested off but didn't get it. Plus, not that this is an excuse, but I really realized how lazy and adverse I am when it comes to physical labor. I did try, but my trying wasn't good enough. I need to change this!

Oh, and tonight we're having dinner at Lydia and John's house. Lydia has a lot of her "cenas pocas" (little dinners), which she and a friend cook (comida puertoriqueña deliciosa!), and they're always attended by fun and interesting friends. This'll be our first visit since they moved in together so that should be fun. I've missed Lydia because we haven't see each other in a couple of months except once when we ran into each other at Canal Place. She studied abroad earlier this summer so I didn't see her for so long.

Happy weekend, everyone!

An article

Quite interesting!

http://jezebel.com/5602749/do-men-find-vintage-sexy-and-do-we-care

To Long-lived Opportunities

I know that I really should post something, but I have too much to say right now and not enough time or energy. Today was the beginning of a busy and exciting week for me. I had my first day of working at Anthropologie (after an orientation and a meeting) and I'm busy preparing to write my first shopping feature! Not to mention, next week, Jes and I are moving into our new apartment. Like I said, I'm pretty excited, stoked even that I have the opportunities I have! So once I'm settled a little more in my new life, I'll be back on here, sharing its ongoings.

To long-lived opportunities, here here! I'm liking 24.

Auf wiederschen! Guten nacht!

Louisiana, the laziest state

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38382866/ns/business-bloomberg_businessweek/

At the risk of proving their point, I'd like to know what the definition of work is as cited in this article.

Secondly, why is sleep connoted as a negative? I mean, I know that the article says that these sedentary activities aren't to be confused with not having a work ethic. Sleep, however, is something the average American doesn't get enough of. I'm proud that Louisianians are getting the necessary amounts. And, I can't say that I'm proud of Louisiana for much that often. But, kudos to New Orleans and even Baton Rouge and the changes/efforts for biking and physical exercise.

Lastly, unfortunately, though I rarely watch TV (unless it's via netflix, hulu, another website, or a DVD), I definitely use the Internet as much or more as they say we do.

I just got done running, and I'm about to read. I won't fit into their statistics and stereotypes.

New hire

Hi, everyone.

Just a quick note before I fall asleep. I got a call today while I was doing dishes. Not thinking anything of it, chalking it up to Mia or Holli, I did stop mid dish-washing and answer it. Lo and behold, it was the assistant sales manager from Anthropologie. She called to offer me the position that I interviewed for on Thursday, to which I preemptively said yes, ever so enthusiastically. It's part-time and my "yes" came even before she told me the pay. Over eager? You bet! I was just so happy, awkward, relieved, and so many other adjectival emotions.

This morning was quite exciting and entertaining as well. Jesse and I did quite a bit of shopping after our failed attempt at going to the DMV at 8 to renew our licenses. Apparently, they're not open on Saturdays as we were informed by the policeman outside via car speaker. So we ended up spending the morning into the afternoon shopping for mattresses and other things. Will discuss more later because I'm falling asleep.

Good night, friends.

Next blog: About moving

And how excited we are and the beds we're considering getting. I can't wait to have pictures to share as well!

Just a little self reflecting and rambling/Confessions of a House Girlfriend

This is the first day I feel like almost nothing to do. Though I went to Whole Foods and will do some housework soon.

I've definitely been feeling independent during the day, but also a little lonely. Whereas, when I was working at McGehee, I had a regular schedule, and I was surrounded by people all day most days, by the time I got home, I was always tired and not wanting to socialize. When Jesse went to Europe, I actually looked forward to my alone time. I didn't want Mia to visit in large part because of this desire for my own company. But lately, though I've been babysitting a lot and having an occasional visit to or from BR or with a friend, I'm in the opposite situation that I was when I worked. Not working (other than babysitting) gives me plenty of free time to myself, and between searching for jobs, household chores, and exercise, sometimes I'm kind of bored with myself. I hate to say that. I can only surf the internet for so long, and when I am bored, I find myself leaving the apartment, which almost always inevitably leads me spending money.

Not so bad, except I still haven't secured a job. At Jesse's encouragement, I did go to Anthropologie's open hire event at Canal Place yesterday. It was an all around good day, but I ended up spending $28 on lunch for myself! I woke up, went running, got ready, took the bus to Jesse's work to pick up my resume (he prints them on pretty paper for me), walked to Canal Place, had a pretty good group interview, and then decided what to eat. I had already had the inkling to see a movie at the Canal Theatre because Jes asked if I wanted to hang out downtown until he got of of work so we could ride home together. So, last minute, I decided to see Cyrus. I ordered food at the theatre, and less than two hours later, I had spent $28 on a movie ticket, a small gourmet pizza and bottled water! I tried to get tap, but they "can't do it." So it was kind of fun, but too expensive for right now. Plus, harking back to the loneliness issue, it would have been nice to have had Mia or Neill or Drew or another friend to see the movie with.

That's just it though, all my friends have moved away. I have made some new acquaintances, but it seems so difficult to sustain friendships. The people I hang out most these days are the people I babysit for. They've become my friends, but then again, they pay me to watch their kids so I feel it's not such an equal-footed friendship. To some degree, I guess I'm being silly and doing what I did my junior year in high school. When I went to Baton Rouge High for that one year, in the fall, I didn't want to make new friends because I was afraid of replacing my old ones. Well, I know that this is pretty hard to do and that I'm being a little irrational, but I feel like I have grown distant from some of my friends. Not at all intentionally, but still. Neill works now so I couldn't just ask him to hang out during the day. Mia's in Baton Rouge. Now that she's gone, I miss hanging out with her. When she's here in the City, sometimes I feel like I'll go nuts if she asks me to hang out again. What's wrong with me? Why can't I appreciate the friends I have when I have them? Jesse's at work all day, which I'm thankful for. And, when I babysit, it is enjoyable for the most part. Luckily, Jesse isn't taking a summer class so his evenings have been free and we've been spending a fair amount of time together doing things we've been wanting to do for a while and things that come up spontaneously. But, what would I be like if he was in class four evenings a week? Am I that dependent?

On a brighter note, I've been writing friends the few weeks whenever I fancy it--sing my beautiful stationary that I've acquired and been given recently. It's really relaxing and there's something heart-warming about sending them off and getting some back!

Well, I was using today to catch up on some little and not so little things I need to do (e.g., change address for the move, register for fall classes), but there's a registration hold on my account. UNO hasn't gotten my immunization records yet so it seems as though I won't be registering until next week. Additionally, I found out today that the only aid I'll be receiving is in the form of federal unsub or subsidized loans. I'll have to talk to my parents and Jesse some more about how I'm going to fund this Master's because without a job, I don't know how I can. They're offering many times over the amount of tuition. I guess so many students do live off of these funds, but I don't want to take out any money. I told myself that I won't borrow any more. But, I might have to take out tuition at least. And, I'm trying to get acquainted with UNO's system--email, registration, etc. Will I ever become as comfortable as I am with Loyola's website?

Short and Quick

Boy, I am so tired, but I just wanted to get on quickly to say hi. A lot has been going on in my life, but at the same time, not really a lot has been going on. Still looking for jobs, in retail, and even the food/service industry as well as administrative assistant gigs (gross). Anyway, it's nearing the end of July which means no more salary directly depositing into my account after this month. Sigh, but I am looking forward to a change of pace, job-wise and starting my first Master's degree. I can't help it. I really like school! I'll be a better student this time. No "hopefully" about it. I have to be.

Jes and I officially got our 19th floor CBD apartment, and we found out late last week. I finally just called to check in and she told me it was all approved. We're pretty excited, of course, but the move will be stressful as we consolidate and let go of the unneeded fluff (as well as all those papers I keep and treasure so dearly often never to give them a second look-over).

Well, it's late. Jes and I are going to play some Rockband because I want to sing after being inspired last Thursday at karaoke. It's been a long time since we last played, but it used to bring us so much joy!

Will update again soon. I've been babysitting and going to BR visiting my family. That's my excuse for my hiatus.

Cogito and Video, a class

Sorting through stuff and came across my Philosophy on Film syllabus. So I wanted to throw it away, but there are still some films on it I have't watched. I'll just copy the entire list down on here though so I'll have it in case I want to watch any in the future. Dr. Dietrich was my professor, and a very good one at that.

Here goes. The ones with asterics are those I've already seen.

Cold Fever

Drunken Angel [Yoidore Tenshi]*

When We Were Kings

Seven Samurai [Shichinin no samurai]

I <3>

Being John Malcovich*

Eternal Sunshine

Avalon*

Ghost in the Shell*

Les Triplettes de Belleville*

Richard III*

Breaking the Waes

The Shining*

Blue Velvet*

Lost Highway

Wild at Heart

Bad Lieutenant

Irr e versible

Requiem for a Dream*

Cidade de Deus*

Amores Perros

L'Enfant

La Madre Muerta

Mar Adentro*

Soy Cuba

Before Nigh Falls

Dead Man*

Barton Fink

Blow Up

L'Avventura

La Notte

L'Eclisse

Il Deserto Rosso

Lots to do this weekend and UNO Acceptance

Yes, I finally got an official acceptance to UNO via email yesterday!

This is Jesse's pre-birthday weekend so we'll probably be looking for things to do this weekend. Jesse thinks that I think my life is boring. He said that after catching up on my blog entries, but I don't think that's the case. My blog entries just aren't as imaginative as his because I don't use my blog to tell stories or recount dreams really. But, I honestly don't know if I think my life is boring. I'm trying to figure things out so sometimes I'm bored and sometimes I'm tired. Sometimes it feels like I have plenty to do and other times, I'm laying at home, calling Jesse at work 8 times in one hour. Anyway, tomorrow is the Running with the Bulls Sangria pub-like crawl. Also, there are a lot of Bastille Day festivities going on.

http://invadenola.com/2010/07/09/weekly-roundup-encierro/

http://www.nola.com/dining-guide/index.ssf/2010/07/sevem_restaurants_where_a_bast.html

Sunday is the World Cup. Mia's coming into New Orleans to watch it with us and pick me up. I'll go back to BR for the day do some errands. Tuesday is Jesse's birthday. I can't say what we're doing yet though because it's a surprise. Well, happy weekend!

Octopodes and Occupational Woes

Boy, I'm a nerd. Check out this etymological bit on the world "octopus."

Press play on the Ask the Editor video. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fruition

Also, I feel exactly how I did last summer, after I graduated. Looking for jobs, sending out multiple cover letters, resumes and emails a day! SOMEONE, please hire me.

Amelie G meeting

I had my first Amelie G meeting today. Amelie G is the New Orleans fashion magazine that I'm starting to write for. It's all TFP though so it's not exactly my full-time job. Nevertheless, especially after this meeting, I'm excited to jump on board and learn about the industries as well as work on my craft. The staff seem to really be forming an amazing publication that may one day be New Orleans' Vogue. It's ambitious on their part, but they're doing it! Their photography and fashion styling is currently their forte, but I hope myself and other new contributers will fill in the gaps editorially. It was honestly a little intimidating; I can be so awkward, and of course, I was self-conscious about everything from my facial expressions to my breath to what I chose to wear.

The Business Manager seemed the most personable and he was extremely friendly. He spoke the most during the meeting, but his presence was both professional and jovial. Each person however seemed to be doing their own part to function as cog in the magazine machine. The Editor in Chief was stunning and to accomplish what she has at 26 is impressive. You should check out her fashion line at http://www.ottiliebrodmann.com. The website's Editor in Chief brought me home, and I felt a little uncomfortable because there was a lot of silence, but I was just nervous and at a loss of what to say. Maybe it was just late and we were both tired. It was really nice of her to bring me home though. I told them that I would have gladly taken the streetcar, but they didn't want me too.

Well, I hope next week will be less awkward and intimidating for my part.

24 for one month today

I've been 24 for a month today. I haven't really gotten into any of the books I got for my birthday though. Shame on me. I had been babysitting a lot though so that's my excuse. I have an open next couple of weeks so I'm going to use that time to read those books, my magazines; to clean the apartment in preparation for our move to 200 Carondelet; and to search search search for jobs.

I'm still waiting for UNO to officially accept me ::surprise, surprise:: and tell me if I have any financial aid to apply to this endeavor. Their interdepartmental communication leaves something to be desired, but so far, I'm quite satisfied with the professors and staff from the Romance Languages office. I have also decided, if time allows, especially utilizing possible summer abroad programs, I am going to concentrate in Spanish, but take on two second languages, both French and Portuguese. Ambitious, I know, but it can be done!

Oh, and Austin was a flop. We didn't get to go. Sort of long story, but I don't really want to rehash it. We weren't able to go because of car trouble. Upsetting, but we made the most of it; went to BR and spend it with family and friends.

Since Jesse had off the day after the fourth (today), he and I have been having a relaxing day. We woke up and took the streetcar down to Joseph St. and walked to Whole Foods for breakfast before making groceries. Tomorrow, I have write an article for that sports assignment. And, more of the same. Oh, and I begin exercising again!

New blog, newly freelance

I’ve decided to separate my writing for a legitimate audience (not to say that my personal blog followers are illegitimate in any way) from my personal blog, mainly followed by close friends. Well, at least regularly by one friend. So from now on, when I write something that I hope or plan to have published, be it by press or online, I will post it on here unless the terms of my contributing employer (or benefactor of TFP) forbid it.

Rest assured, I will continue to blog here under Estranged Jazz/Looking into the Window/oppositeofxenophobic. I may not even like wordpress' user-ability. But, if you are interested in reading non-personalized stories, go to angelabernadette.wordpress.com.

My email address regarding this blog, my writings at invadenola.com, ameliegmag.com, and any other publications that may throw me a bone will henceforth be angelabernadette@gmail.com.

Lastly, here is a site to help budding freelancers like myself. http://freelanceswitch.com/ Hope it advises you with the same insight that I feel it has given me though I’m still figuring everything out.

Cheers.

Lazy Day

Catching up on blog reading, laying on the futon and waiting to be motivated into cleaning up around the apartment. Because I don't have to babysit today!

I found two pages that I had never seen before. I especially like goldenmeans for her extensive coverage on fashion. http://goldenmeans.wordpress.com/

Though inexpensive, I like a lot of the pieces on http://www.shop.nicolesharpdesigns.com/Stone-and-Chain-Bracelet-19735.htm.

I'll read some more, run, possibly watch a movie and maybe if I'm lucky enough to get some cleaning done, finish the day with letter-writing.

Oh, and I've been blog-background searching so I can really change mine up, and I found shabby blog, which is where I got this latest one. What do you think? There really are a lot of wonderful templates and creative people who design them.

Makeover?

I'm getting braces and it's time for a make-over. Nothing extreme. My mom says I need to get my teeth fixed, and her insurance will cover part of it now. I guess I want to reinvent myself physically. Contacts again, too.

I'm going to continue what I started years ago. I will get in shape, do more tfp shoots, and find my way into a minor modeling career. Ha, we'll see if I follow through this time.

Went to Anthro again today. Exchanged yesterday's Ipanema dress (though I had my eyes on it for more than a month!) for another dress on sale (today, a huge sale so I'm glad I returned a second day in a row), a sweater and a beaded belt. And, they credited $0.10 to my debit card, so though miniscule, I still paid less for those three things than the one dress. If I have money when we're in Austin, I hope to check out their location. Speaking of which, I met a manager at Anthro today who filled me in on the status of the Canal location. He'll be helping open our new one and he told me when to come in for open recruiting! So, fingers crossed!

I am self-employed. I am a freelance writer.

For help as I begin this transition. http://freelanceswitch.com/working/time-wasters-fight-time-wasting/

I have a couple of fashion piece gigs. I'm going to take a sample assignment from a sports magazine. And, my rant about my dad's facebook obsession will be gracing invadenola's next issue.

Jesse and Mia made fun of me for my desperate cover letter answering a craigslist post for sports writer, but I got a reply and they want me to work on something their putting together to test me. It's a test piece so they can see my comfort with sports coverage so I'm going to try to learn about football, baseball, soccer, volleyball, et al so I can nail this assignment!

I'm actively looking for a job, but for now, babysitting and freelancing isn't too bad. I'd rather only be freelancing, but I can't afford that life.

Went to Anthropologie today. Spent too much, but got out before I did some serious damage. At least I got 15% off for my birthday.

Finding a neighborhood garden in NOLA

http://invadenola.com/2010/06/28/eat-local-and-learn-to-cook/

Networking sites: regarding parents, facebook and the like

"I respect that your facebook acquaintances are people that you are able to converse with, to have dialogue with about important, global matters. I'm just saying that this type of communication isn't and shouldn't be a substitute for in-person interactions and real discussions."

That's why we say "I'm friends with him/her on facebook." Specifying this denotes a difference from traditional and psychological friendship. Friendship is often physical as well; you meet and meet with your acquaintances who then transition into friends. It doesn't have to be physical though: a pen pal can be a friend. But, online networking has changed this because of the field on which it is played. Friendship on sites like facebook, myspace and twitter are less established.

Internet studies indicate that online relationships between two parties are likely to involve one or both individuals' characters, inhibitions, and actions warped from what otherwise might be the case in the physical world. Online, you are able to take on a role, an alter-ego, a fantasy. This desire is not only fated to online-gamers playing Multi-Player Role-Playing Games (MPRPGs), like World of Warcraft and Final Fantasy. It affects a large majority of internet community members. This is part of the same reason that people who wear masks (e.g., masquerade balls or robberies) do things with less, if not no, regard for moral implications and negative consequences.

Regarding facebook, when my father defended his hermetic and addict-like behavior, I attempted to reason that his social skills were less than mainstream or orthodox, but that ensued in a heated argument. Unable to talk about it on Skype (another internet application of communication) without becoming frustrated, I texted him the quoted above. I think that our parents, of a generation who did not grow up with these technological applications, are encountering them in different, amusing, and sometimes detrimental ways.

At 24, I realize, there are just some mediums I am unable or unwilling to use. While our parents are capable of utilizing the same en vogue sites, they should be able to balance their post-facebook lives and the rate of wall notifications.

Grad school, new apartment, vacay with family

I just finished FAFSA! Kind of sad that I'm so excited about that. I'm really embracing this adult thing. Well, it took a lot less time than I remember doing since I'm no longer a dependent of my parents. And, I can't wait to hear back to see if it's possible for me to get a grant to attend UNO. I received an email today telling me that the Graduate Assistantships (3 in Spanish) are filled at this time, but it encouraged me to apply anyway. I don't understand how I can though when the application requires one UNO professor's recommendation. I guess I may wait until after my first semester if I can do that. So if I don't get some FAFSA money, I'll have to pay my tuition myself because I refuse to take out more loans, and my mom paid a lot for the 4.5/5 years I was at Loyola. It's not so bad though; it's about $2000 a semester with a full load, if I'm not mistaken. I do hope I can work at Anthropologie.

Jesse and I decided take an apartment that opens on August 22. It's a while a way, but it is going to end up being much more feasible and financially beneficial for us. It's on the 18th floor of the Carondelet highrise we've been looking at the last week. I'll go in Monday to drop off the necessary documents, but I will write more about that later.

My mom, Mia, Jesse, and I are going to Biloxi tomorrow until Sunday. A short, albeit anticipated weekend trip. I do have to do some research for the articles I'm writing, but other than that, it'll be relaxing and fun-filled...unless BP has anything to do with it! Maybe I'll get an update here or two in. I also need to do some letter-writing soon. I've been babysitting so much, which is great for my income, but I haven't got to write thank yous and update letters to my friends, especially after reading books that I've been wanting to/got for my birthday. This upcoming week my schedule's more open though; only two days of babysitting and lunch with one or two people.

Okay, good night for real.

Ashamed, but happy. Not a good combo, but...

We're moving! New apartment in the CBD. http://www.200carondelet.com/index.html

A nice, tiny 1BR. More to follow.

Unfortunate news is that I'm hitting a roadblock with job searching. I may just need to find something in the food industry since even my retail seeds have not reaped anything yet. Should I hold out for Anthropologie when I will have bills to pay very soon? I'd like to, but I don't think I should.

UNO: still unofficially in. The head of the department replied to an email inquiry of mine with "I am confident that you will be able to start in Fall 2010." But, no word on graduate assistantship either.

With this new apartment, I need to have something lined up. I am doing these two fashion freelance jobs, but that won't pay anything but my electricity bill.

My favorite things

I've been up because I'm taking a trip down memory lane. This seems sparked by my self-reflection and introspection due to my job situation. I'm trying to figure out what exactly I want to do with myself until I start my Master's (and hopefully during) and how I should go about doing it. Consequently, some of the goals of my idealistic and reckless youth are resurfacing and of course, I can't not be reminded of the music which used to be soundtrack to my life.

As I go back and forth between Muse, Corinne Bailey Rae, Blonde Redhead, Yael Naim, among others, I can't help but feel that I miss my former self. I mentioned this to Jesse, questioning if he felt the same from time to time. I miss how overly-emotional and passionate I was about things. I couldn't make myself get that way if I tried my hardest today. Jesse said that he thinks we're more alive at that age. And, in response to my statement that I've been jaded [by life], he said that in high school, maybe we think adulthood will just be a continuation of what school was. Boy, were we ever so wrong!

I just miss the spectrum of emotions I once had--for better or worse--and I know it was more normal at that age to have them than it is now (and my spectrum ran the gamut!).

And, it's not that I'm not desirably content with my life. I have a really good life. I'm happy with Jesse. We're more or less comfortable financially, save a few medical or car maintenance issues that pop up sporadically. I'm not at all insinuating that lack of tempermentality equals mediocrity. I do find my life exciting at times; I just don't have the same reactions I once did.

Well, I should go to sleep. Got adult stuff to do tomorrow, like work on my fashion sample for Invade NOLA! Yay adulthood?! Yea.

BP, Shell, ExxonMobil

I don't think that the BP situation in any way is a fortunate one, but I can't imagine if we were being affected the way that the Nigerian (without such a sounding board as the US) people are being.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10649775

It makes me want to give up driving/buying gas, but how likely is that?

Birthday...if I can remember two weeks ago.

I'm about to start watching The September Issue finally. These past couple of weeks, my first of the summer, have been action-packed (literally since I've been babysitting more than anything) and rushed by. I turned 24 two weeks ago and although, I'm still a little unsure of the future, I have some goals, some direction and some hope. I don't want to be too idealistic, but here's to the future.

I am still waiting to hear back from Amelie G as to what my first piece should be about. Invade NOLA would like me to write a foodie piece, and I plan to do my first one on the Southern Food and Beverage Museum after discovering it through Amanda and Lauren (old college roommates) when I had lunch with them this past Tuesday. It's a real neat place, albeit small and not as appealingly placed for locals (in the Riverwalk). But, you can read all about that when I work on/post the piece. Invade NOLA is also seeking a fashion columnist so I applied for that. It's paid, too. Though I'm sure I will not be able to support myself on the writing gigs I do have (especially since Amelie G is time for print), I am on my way to be one of the people I want to be...a writer. With any luck, I'll land a part-time job in retail and I can write about what I see.

So back to my birthday. It was really nice and low-key. I didn't want to do anything grand, but dinner with friends at Martinique Bistro on Magazine was a treat to say the least. Though the group was definitely a pleasant company, I do wish that a few other of my friend could have made it, but for the most part, those six-plus friends were in different cities so I understand. Speaking of cities, we're going to Austin for Jesse's birthday. We'll stay with Tim and Lou.

On my birthday, Jes woke me up and we decided to try and find the farmers' market. A bit of a fluke at first because I had never been to the Saturday one and being me, forgot to look up the exact address online before I left. I used to go to the Tuesday Broadway market before I got a "real" job. So for the Saturday one, I just thought it was at Napoleon and Magazine. No, Magazine and Tchop. No, Tchop and Fulton. It was a wild goose chase so we just decided to have brunch at Blue Plate on Magazine (or is it Prytania). How long have I lived here? Ahh, why do I still get so confused. Well, while there, guess who sits down right next to our table and Jesse's laughing at the serendipitous happening? I guess it was serendipitous though you won't guess who it was. It was his first high school girlfriend and her now husband. They were nice and we briefly chatted/were introduced. However, they happened to be going to the same farmers' market as we planned so they were able to point us in the right direction.

At Blue Plate, I had amazing pecan and brie pan perdue and Jesse had something called breakchetta which was basically scrambled eggs on toast. After getting a steal on blueberries at the farmers' market (which is on Julia and Magazine in the CBD, btw), we walked around a bit before heading to Scriptura to get me a present from Jesse. I got a sweet book called, The Art of the Personal Letter (whose sleeve could have totally been written by me, not to sound self-absorbed) and I picked out some New Orleans stationary. It's a jazz hall scene with an upright piano on one side, a bass on the other, and a fan hanging from the top. I wanted some personalized stationary, but custom ordering is is pricey. I will get some soon though. I introduced Jesse to Margaret and Sally, since I'm in there all the time and bought that travel journal for Jesse, telling Margaret all about him. Jesse even said that if he opens his own firm, he may get me to pick out paper and personalized headings for everything. A dream!

After a light lunch of cheese and fruit at home, we rested and got ready for 7:45 reservations. Not all of my guests arrived on time, but it was okay. We ended up staying there until nearly 11. Many appetizers, two delicious bottles of wine (a white blend that I forget the name of and a Malbec), lots of good conversation and generous gifts. A little more on this later though since my post is too much!

Birthdays: Mine and Mia's

http://oddindividual.blogspot.com/2010/06/today-was-my-birthday.html

How do I make this a link without seeing the URL address? I just want to call it something like "Mia's birthday blog post." I used to know how to do it on livejournal, but I forget. I see it on blogspots all the time. Boo.

Edit/update to follow.

Jobs, Volunteering, Interning

Friday morning, I woke up to an email reply to a craigslist post I responded to the night before. I called and was asked to come in that morning so I had an interview with Ecole Bilingue for their immersion summer camp. The school is French immersion, but the camp has groups for Mandarin, Spanish and French immersion. I'm still waiting to hear back from them. That's always the case for me though--waiting to hear back. I told them I was rusty, but that I'm confident with support and preparation, I could be a good fit--a learner and a teacher. It's an internship so I'd just have to work 4.5 hours a day and assist the staff they already have. The pay is incredibly low, but it's something. I'd have to lead activities (I can't remember how many a week), and she asked me if I had any special skills. I said I played the piano (uneasy facial expression) so maybe that'll motivate me to get back into that. Three of the kids I babysit are attending this camp so it'll be nice to see them on a regular basis.

Nevertheless, I have other good news! I responded to a craigslist post for contributing writers for a NOLA fashion magazine and they replied saying that they're interested. Unfortunately, it's time for print (TFP), but it really is a good way to hone my craft and to get my work read. That's what I did at Offbeat (who currently has around 11 interns so I haven't wanted/been able to go back) about two years ago so I think getting back into the business is a welcomed necessity. I've also corresponded with Invade NOLA so I might be starting a biweekly/monthly foodie review piece. I don't know what the subject of my first piece will be. Unfortunately, I'm limited by cost right now. I hate to harp on my financial situation, but it really does have an affect on what I do.

So look for these at http://www.ameliegmag.com/ and http://invadenola.com/. Freelance writer in me, here I come. That is, if I can afford to support my lifestyle on the pittance I can scrounge up from writing.

Backtrack

It's been over a week since I turned 24, and I cannot imagine being much happier. 23 was a year of such transition and uncertainty. While I was never full out, down right depressed (as characterized by some of my teenage years), I was just up and down, tempermental and easily upset a lot of the time. These uncertainties were concerned with school, work, finances, my place in life--a quarter-life crisis, if you will.

Well, I'll briefly recap the last week or so, if I may.

Yesterday, Sunday: Jesse's parents came over bringing this beautiful antique dresser to our apartment. They just bought a new house in Arkansas so they'll be renting their Luling house Jesse's cousins. Consequently, they're giving away a lot of their furniture from that house since they had already furnished their trailer in Arkansas in the last two years, most (if not all) of which I imagine will go in the new house. Well, Jesse and I are still toying around with ideas for where this heavy wooden piece of art is going to go, but we're quite happy and we think we've got a good idea for it. Not only is it beautiful with a huge mirror, we have more storage space! Hopefully that's a good-bye to clothes on the top shelf of our closet and in pink-and-purple and blue-and-green canvas storage bags that my mom gave me (and that Saki has since begun using as a her own bed). I know that we want to move out of this place soon (when we can find/afford another) so, to me, it almost seems silly to redecorate/organize the furniture, but I do think it's necessary for our own comfort for the rest of our time here.

Saturday: I took the Praxis, Spanish: Content Knowledge exam at UNO. This is a morning best left forgotten until I get the scores in roughly a month. It was a hard exam, and being the retard that I am, I had to go to three different buildings before getting the the correct one, pay $3 in a parking lot though my car was there for less than 5 minutes, and perhaps worst of all, waited until the last two days before the test to really begin studying. I want to go back to school, but it's my procrastinator ways that make me weary of this future. On a different note, I don't like UNO's campus, but I do hope that I can do all the coursework for my Master's there. It's such a short program, 33 credits, and I could do it for rather cheap. But, if I don't like it, they don't offer enough classes per semester (as I've heard is the case in conjunction with all the budget cuts LA State has been doing--thanks, Jindal! ass), or if Jesse's post-graduation job opportunities take us somewhere else (so crazy and yet so exciting to think about), I can just transfer somewhere else. Later in the afternoon, we went to Jesse's parents' house to begin cleaning out Jesse's closet, etc. I got a bad headache though so I wasn't much help, taking a nap. We packed a good amount of books and some of his old clothes, but Jesse joked that maybe my malaise was from seeing so many things just thrown away. It's the packrat in me. I'm a sentimental and nostalgic person, even if that means I've got stacks of papers I may never look at again all over the house. Later that night, I babysat a new 6-year-old boy in Kenner. That was pleasant and easy; he's the son of one of Neill's colleages and they're Indian! It was a busy, but productive day.

Latter half of the week is a blur other than I got my hair trimmed at Paris Parker Aveda and found a great stylist for a great price. Jerilyn cut Mia's hair on Monday when we somewhat spontaneously walked in for a different look for Mia and her 20th birthday. I liked the work she did and her down-to-earth, genuine personality. Jesse's saying that he needs a hair-cut more frequently so we may pay Jerilyn another visit in the next few days. So Mia got bangs and a trim. I got a trim for my layers and she cleaned up my bangs (since I had Mia cut them last and my last hair cut was about a year ago). I like it a lot though I'm still waiting for my hair to grow out; I'm growing it out long and then when I'm tired of it, I'll cut it Audrey Tautou short again. I forgot how hot New Orleans is with long hair so I'll be wearing it in a lot of ponies. Also, Jerilyn blow dried it straight after cutting it and I couldn't believe how smooth and sleek it was without using a flat iron. She gave me some product samples and when I can afford some, I'll probably go in and buy the bottles. Don't know when that'll be though with all the expenses that keep coming up and my lack of a job.

Well, this post is too long so I'm going to divide it up into future posts.

Overdue on a post

Ack, I know I'm overdue on an update, especially considering Mia's and my birthdays happened this week. And, let me tell you, 24 is a great year! I can feel it. It's day four and I'm happy!

I don't want to make a full update though right now because I should be studying for the Praxis I'm taking Saturday. And, just what have I been doing? I watched two episodes of Smallville with Jesse, and I didn't even need him convincing me. For the past hour, I've been searching for jobs on craigslist, which reminds me--I got a call back from Playworks today so I have a group interview in about two weeks. Anyhow, long story short, there's lots I'd like to write/talk about, but until Saturday morning, no blogging, or watching Glee, craigslist-browsing or letter-writing. Boo, but I'm blocking myself. Scratch off "Watching Glee;" I'll study after.

Well, I wanted to write all of this to convince myself with tangible documentation.

Human Trafficking and the Sex Industry

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clPB4ruordo&playnext_from=TL&videos=ddDVvOq_tQc&feature=featured

Birthday number 24

Tentative plans for my 24th birthday

Dinner at Martinique Bistro (http://www.martiniquebistro.com/) on Saturday night, followed by second dessert at [Club] Pinkberry. Then, live music...

The morning of my birthday, I want to go to the Farmers' Market with Jesse. Sunday, we'll probably go brunch too; don't know where yet.

I gotta figure out what to do for Mia's birthday, too. It's the Tuesday after my birthday.

Bitter sweet. More on the bitter side of things

I hate not having enough money to do more than get by, live month to month, paycheck to paycheck. I haven't been able to really do anything in the way of creating a solid savings. My savings account has a signal digit dollar amount in it.

I thought I'd be able to afford one of these three dresses for my birthday because my dad gave me $100.

With my recent job situation instability/change, my mom decided to forgive my $260 debt of J. Crew clothes. But, in light of this, I feel selfish and grandiose because I'm bummed out that I can't afford one of the Anthropologie dresses. And, I know I don't need another article of clothing, but I adore pretty fabrics, embroidery, buttons.

I've been doing budget review to see how much I money I need to live on at the very least. It's a lot! $245 goes to my good ol' friend, Sallie Mae, every month. Jesse and I split rent and even that's hard for me to swing. I guess we're not moving anytime soon (considering we'll have deposits and first month's rents to ome up with). Unless we move to Luling, and I don't think that either of our first choice. Anyway, long story short, my dad's birthday present is going towards a credit card payment. Happy Birthday, me. Nothing says 24 like [trying to be and] paying debt.

Sometimes adulthood sucks! But, then I got remind myself how much it doesn't at other times. I should be thankful and happy for that. And, I am.

Education, the most valuable investment

So many in this situation. I know I am. Student debt.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/29/your-money/student-loans/29money.html

What a week!

Today I babysat a precious little girl who went to Little Gate. I had subbed in her class many times the last semester and her mom also is an attorney at the firm that Jesse works at. Yesterday I babysat the same little girl and Jesse's direct boss' daughter. Both days have been fun and relatively unstressful. Unfortunately, Jesse's boss' little girl got pretty sick so I didn't have the chance to babysit her today. It was nice to get to know some of the people he works with a little better. They have been wonderful and welcoming.

The lack of stress is in contrast to my last couple of days at LG. Tuesday I found out that I wouldn't be given a contracted position. That means that they couldn't find a place for as a teacher in twos, threes or toddlers. I had expressed interest in full-time following my rejection letters form the three programs to which I applied (2 in Anthro and 1 in Latin American studies, remember?). So going into this self-initiated meeting two days after LG's last day, I was disappointed, dejected and inevitably bitter that this late in the year, I was finding out that I could pretty much do what I've been doing this past semester (subbing and floating), but without the two-day infants teaching position and add after-care if I wanted it. Well, call me elitist, but I did not graduate from Loyola to work aftercare. Plus, though they could offer me relatively regular hours, it would also be paid hourly, not on salary. It took me less than a day to make my decision and I told my boss the next afternoon that I must respectfully decline. I have since communicated with her and I am more satisfied by the reasoning behind my not being offered a postion (namely lack of positions and me previously expressing disinterest in toddler teaching positions). Ironically enough, I love babysitting one toddler at a time!

I am counting myself lucky that this past year I was on salary and luckily, that salary will last through July. So, I'm not scrambling to find a job right away, but it is something I have been considering.

Then again, I am also looking at this blow as a big blessing in disguise. Don't get me wrong, I could/would have been quite content and comfy at LG. But, now I'm thinking I may start full-time at UNO this fall. If I can afford it (aka, I get some form of financial aid), it would be more beneficial to go full-time and finish in 1.5 years. Additionally, though it would be unstable, who is to say that I cannot supplement my income with babysitting gigs? I have come to know quite a few preschool aged-children and I am enjoying spending individual time with all of them!

So that's where I was/am this week. Thank goodness for the weekend. I think Jesse and I will be heading to Greek Festival in Gentilly (or is it Lakeview?) sometime this weekend. Kind of funny considering he was in Greece just on Tuesday. I am so very happy he is home though. I feel complete again. Cheesy, but true.

Lastly, I babysat in Algiers Point today. Can I say that I love it and want to move there? So quaint and friendly without compensating a New Orleans nostalgic comfort. Look up and see the New Orleans skyline, Canal Street and French Quarter right over the River. Take the ferry there for free if you'd like. I didn't think it was possible, but I think it takes the cake on my favorite NOLA neighborhoods. Funnily enough, Ms. Lisa (Neill's mom grew up there) and after being there, I can totally see it. I met people at the playground and cafes that just had her confident cordiality!

1. Algiers
2. Mid-City
3. Lower Garden District tied with area around Whole Foods
4. French Quarter

I love learning more about NOLA!

Oh, the week be over!

The bad news is that I'm having a tumultuous week, but right now I need to go to bed so I can head to the Westbank to babysit tomorrow morning. The good news is I turn 24 next Saturday. So long sucky year #23!

I will update once I know more about my uncertain position (for lack of a better word and or lack thereof) with Little Gate. This week hasn't been my best, but I'm still trying to figure out things, ironing out my plans in the immediate future. But, I'm trying not to rush my decision-making so I'm not regretful once I've already started whatever it is I could potentially choose to do.

Next entry title: I don't care if my resume isn't what every HR Department is looking for

I'm going to do it my way, a way that makes me happy. Not the form-letter, fill-in-the-blank resume for cookie-cuttered shapes (aka shadows) of a human being. Ha.

Wow, bitter much?

Pretty pictures and happy news

Photo of Nice, uncredited. I wanted a photo for my blog heading banner, but I couldn't make anything work. I prefer to use one of my own, regardless of how I lack in photographic talent, but I just liked this picture.

Happy news is that Jesse comes home tomorrow! I'll pick him up from the airport around 11:30 PM. I hope that work goes by quickly as does my evening. I'll probably nap so I can stay up all night anyway.

Day in Photos, via CBS

http://www.cbsnews.com/2300-202_162-10003448.html?tag=page

Me-time

Disclaimer: The opinions stated in this journal, while actual sentiments, are in no way meant to hurt the feelings of or criticize any readers. If something seems offensive or hurtful, I really apologize. I just write for emotional exporting.

It's been a long week, but at the same time, where did the time go? I had high hopes of productiveness, but, alas, I'm in BR until tomorrow morning, and upon returning to NOLA, I have an apartment waiting to be cleaned. I wanted to have the apartment completely organized by the time that Jesse comes home, but now it looks more and more like that's not going to happen. Mia and I are leaving for NOLA tomorrow morning because she begins her summer session of class; we had come to BR this weekend to spend it with my mom, but because she works so much it's not like we did really much with her at all. Mia wants me to help her move into her dorm after class, so though Jesse's been gone for the last 8 days, I feel like I have gotten next to no alone time, no me-time.

It's my own fault though. Last Sunday I was talking to Mia on skype. Neill had wanted to do something, and so when he got to my house, I asked him if he wanted to go to BR to pick up Mia. Though she said not to pick her up, she just sounded so lame and bored in BR. So we went to pick her up. She had said she wanted to spend the week with me. I told her that I had to work nearly all week and that I had to teach in the evenings, which is why she conceded not to come, but I gave into my own guilt (damn, I hate how guilty I feel; I hope my children are not guilted by me) and thought, well, this is the only time I'll have a chance to get her so I might as well let her stay over for the week. Already, I had planned on going to BR the next weekend to visit my mom. But, everyone seemed to think that I couldn't come home to an empty house in dark New Orleans, that I couldn't possibly take care of myself and have them (miles and miles away) feel that I was safe. They wanted piece of mind. I must admit I was (and perhaps still am) a little resentful because of this. I've certainly been bitter at various times this week, but all by my own doing.

It seemed like once Jesse left, it was non-stop outings and activities, and while this is the way things fell, I hadn't meant for them to be this way. I planned certain things, but I didn't want them to be what I did because Jesse wasn't home. And, it wasn't. But, at the same time, I did want to do these things (e.g., babysit Saturday night, go out for a celebratory drink Monday night with Lizzie after our second-to-last class, dinner with coworkers Tuesday night at Lola's, etc.), and consequently I was stressed. I worried about how things were going with Jesse and me (probably mostly because of the distance), but at the same time, I wanted independence.

I don't want to be away from him, but I also want to make sure I have my own identity, which may be very influenced by and moved by his, but still with my own ambitions. It's been a week of self-refecting, and so far, I still don't love what I see. This might sound bad, but I'm feeling that I've become more easily agitated, more materialistic, and that I'm judgmental and even somewhat racist sometimes. And, I feel terrible that I'm doing this, but I can't figure out how to stop. It's like I'm playing into stereotypes sometimes. I know that that's just what they are, but I'm automatically thinking them more than I believe I should be.

So this was more of a rant, an exercise for myself on how I'm currently feeling. I've got to do some stuff around the [BR] house, among other things before I return to NOLA. This week was the last week of regular LG so I have a breath of a break before camp begins. A week since my last post, I've gotten in arguments with both Mia and Neill, and while I feel bad about how they unravelled, a part of me wanted to say those things--a part of me just wants to tell them how I feel. I'm just not as social or interested in doing some of the things I once used to enjoy; I'm constantly surrounded by people and I rarely feel like I have any me-time. There were good things that happened this week too (like spending time with Mia, my mom, Neill; finally watching It's Complicated and Sex and the City; possibly finding a new apartment that Jesse and I might like--that is, if we can actually afford it; etc.), don't get me wrong. And, I have more to say, but better wait for another time.

Lastly, but certainly not least, I can't wait for Jesse to come home. I miss him.

Update needed

I'm sure I have lots to say about the week, but the most important is that I dropped Jesse to the airport this (yesterday) afternoon. He should be arriving in Frankfurt in less than an hour, where he'll have a layover and then make his way to Istanbul on another flight. [Different] emotions going on, but I'll be thinking about that throughout his trip. When exhaustion/tiredness isn't one of my feelings. I'll have to update sometime tomorrow; I should have plenty of free time, right?

things to do
-run if it's not raining too hard
-sweep house and clean a bit
-1 or 2 loads of laundry
-read
-Praxis studying?
-call Praxis if they're open
-go to ESL party and lesson plan/hang out with Lizzie afterwards
-spend time with Saki
-letter-write (for my infants/toddler class)

Food for thought

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/sex/9-marriage-rules-you-should-break-1387877/

I'll read later and comment on. I'm off to bed now.

Ocupada yet another week

Quick post. Had a lot of fun this weekend from babysitting to having lunch with Jesse and Mia to going to Camillia Grill at 1:30 with Drew, Jesse and Mia early this morning to spending Mother's Day afternoon in BR. Tonight, I've been reading up on Country Day. Their website is very informative, and I've been generating questions for when I have my phone interview tomorrow afternoon. I'm nervous, but I think I'm well-prepared. I just hope nerves don't set in.

I wanted to share a colleague of mine's side business. It's called Gumbo Avenue (http://www.gumboavenue.com/Gallery.html). She works at McGehee in the tech department, but this mother of three (including a toddler) finds the time to cook all of their lunches and operate an out-of-home paper business. I haven't seen her stationary or wedding invites firsthand, but I've heard good things from my co-teachers in the baby/toddler room. The signs with the New Orleans street sign font are pretty cute, too. Someday, I'd like to get one for our kid's room.

Busy week (4 full days of work, one half day with babysitting, two nights of teaching ESL), but I'll post more as soon as I'm able. Oh, and Jesse leaves this Saturday for Turkey and Greece...more on that, too! Well, good night for now.

I was inspired

The car's windows are rolled down. The smell of hot asphalt still lingers from the neutral-grounded street the car just turned off. We meander down this crumbling street, whose borders seems to plateau off into the yards of mismatched houses and their concealed life-makers. I like it when pedestrian traffic and two queues of stationary cars prescribe a “life-in-slow-motion” consciousness, moving just fast enough to be able to notice the neighbors and families congregated on their elevated porches—after work, after mail-checking, after dog-walks and dogs' poops.

Cautionary of the road, yet contemplatively focused on my human insignificance, I am hopeful about what I plan on making my life as I snuggle into adulthood. If only I could always vicariously pull up this sentimental stance.

Probably the last grad school application for Fall 2010

I just "completed" an application for UNO's Master's in Romance Languages. It seems to be a pretty low-competition program, I surmised, as indicated by the lack of application requirements (only GPA minimum, transcripts, and GRE scores; no need for letters of recommendation or essays). At UNO, you choose either a Spanish or French concentration; I am, of course, choosing Spanish. But, you may take classes in the other of the two languages. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like Portuguese or Italian are offered (like they are at Tulane), but I think I'll have my hands full with my Spanish classes as well as the French electives I plan to take. Though your major is one of the two languages, you specialize even further and either focus on "literature" or "language, culture and civilization," and from what I gather upon receiving your M.A., you are qualified to teach said language from elementary school through junior college. Though the admissions standards aren't as high as some of the schools I applied to earlier this spring (and didn't get into), I think the faculty have pretty interesting research and publications. Worst case scenario, I don't like it, and I transfer to Tulane or another school. Now that I'm serious about school (or at least had been my final two years of undergrad), I am not worried about dilly dallying around and screwing up without studying and without a care for my GPA.

I hope I get in, and I think I have a good chance of doing so. I'm still waiting to hear back from the program director though because my enrollment is dependent on whether I get some kind of financial aid or a "graduate assistantship," in which I work in some capacity (e.g. teaching) for UNO while attending. That would afford me a tuition and a stipend. I'm not sure on the size of the stipend so I don't know if I can live off of it. But, even if I don't receive either of these things, I still want to consider going part time in the evenings while working at McGehee. After going to Loyola, the tuition is quite manageable. For 12 hours a semester, it's under $2,000 and for 9, it's under $1,500. Not that I want to have that kind of financial commitment so I'm hoping to get some kind of financial aid, or I'll have to pay it in installments. I am not taking out more student loans, especially now that I'm paying the ones I accrued in undergrad.

Of course, I'm still just turning ideas over in my head right now. Once I'm in UNO and if I get a contract from McGehee, I'll better know how to anticipate my fall schedule. I need to talk to people who work and attend grad school so I can really get an idea of how many hours they take. I'm thinking I'll take 6 a semester. If I do that, I believe I can finish my [first] Master's in 2 years (including summers). Jesse works full-time and and generally takes 12 hours a semester in law school. I don't know if this is normal or translates for grad schoool, too, though. I still want to get a Master's and Ph.D. in Latin American Studies or Anthropology, but I think an M.A. in Spanish will provide me a firmer foundation and a stepping stone into my future academic endeavors. And professional, which I hope are academic. Plus, I'll always be able to get a job teaching Spanish in grade school if I want it.

I know that this will be difficult, going to school and working, but I just have to weigh the pros and cons and try it out! I do need and want plenty of advice though. I'll be asking lot of more experienced people than I. At least, I'm not attempting this being married with kids, or unmarried with kids! If I had a family to take care of, I think this would be 100x more difficult. I'll keep you updated on this, but like all ideas I get, I am initially very excited and hopeful, and when things don't turn out how I hoped, I am strongly disappointed. I hope this doesn't turn out like some of the others.