Car

Just considering, but depending on where Jesse and I live and what my job situation is this summer and fall, I'm thinking about buying a [new] car. Sharing with Mia is nice, and she's so patient and understanding when it comes to letting me use what is really her car. But, I can't do this much longer, and as much as I'm dreading the financial responsibility, I think it's almost about time I make this kind of a commitment and investment. I'll need to talk to Chat (this nice Asian man who we bring all our car issues to) to see if he's selling any of the cars that he redoes and then sells. I want a hybrid though, or at least something with amazing gas mileage. Otherwise, my mom and I will probably go to Team Honda in BR. We'll see though. Any thoughts?

I'm thinking the Honda Insight.

Jazz Fest

Holli surprised me this morning with a call. I thought she'd be calling to ask me to babysit sometime (possibly for the day), which I would have happily done. But upon listening to her voicemail, I learned that she wanted to give her extra Jazz Fest tickets to me. Her husband works for Shell (which sponsors Jazz Fest). I immediately thought of Jesse, but, of course, he had to study all day for a final he has tomorrow. Then, I wondered if Mia could spare the day even though she has a calculus final tomorrow. Nope, she was unable to come. So then I asked Neill. Though he wasn't in the most awake and spritely spirit, he was excited to come with me. So after making our way to Holli's to pick up the tickets and having a Pinkberry snack, we made our way to City Park. It rained intermittently throughout the day, but overall, it was a nice experience. We listened to Trombone Shorty, Juvenile The Neville Brothers and Van Morrison, I believe. We did not get a chance to see B.B. King, however, because of how full the Blues tent was. We couldn't even hear him outside of the tent because of the crowd. The food was delicious; we ended up spending a good bit of time with Neill's friend who was working there as well as meeting up with Holli, Kevin and Adele. I also found what I want to get Dr. Garza for her wedding, but I wasn't able to buy it there because I didn't have enough cash. I'll visit a bookstore sometime this week and perhaps bring it to Scriptura for wrapping. But, probably not...I need to save money!

This week is going to be superbusy for me. I'm subbing MWF for Lindsey in the baby/toddler room (where I usually am Tuesday and Thursdays). I'll definitely have to mentally prepare myself for this stint. Additionally, Dr. Garza's wedding is this Saturday so I'll most-likely be babysitting from Thursday through Saturday. With Mia going back and forth from Baton Rouge (her semester ends tomorrow) and Jesse taking finals, my transportation issues will be interesting and difficult to negotiate. But, after the week's over, it'll be much more relaxed.

I emailed UNO this evening about their Spanish grad program so we'll see if the coordinator's response is more fruitful than Tulane's. If only I can still get a fellowship and teach while going to school. I met someone today at Jazz Fest who went to UNO for her undergrad in language instruction and then a M.A. in Arts Administration. She now works at NOMA, and listening to her talk about how much she enjoys her job just made me think hopefully, longingly a little more.

Well, I was exhausted when I got home this evening and I fell asleep soon thereafter. I woke up, but I think I should get to bed again. Til next time!

Gulf Oil Spill

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/30/deepwater-horizon-oil-spi_n_558736.html

I need to do more research on this; I haven't kept up with the news at all, I'm ashamed to say. Got the above link from my dad's facebook page.

Of course, there's more to marriage than a wedding, but this post is about

my wedding. I've been putting off posting because my right hand hurts at the base of my thumb and across the bottom of my palm. I believe it's a tendon and being myself, I hypochondriatically and preemptively diagnose myself with arthritis. But, putting off blogging hasn't stopped me from wasting time bouncing from facebook to email to random websites. And so, now as I begin to type a post loosely based on marriage, I wonder if this keyboard has been my hand's demise.

Yesterday, Mia picked me up from work since she had the car. I got off at 3, after a day with the Doodlebugs, a toddler class. We decided to go to Pinkberry, where we, of course, stood in line for almost 30 minutes, but then enjoyed our "regulars"--coconut/mango yogurts with various fruits and drizzled with pomegranate juice. Afterwards we went [window] shopping along one side of Magazine, and while there were plenty of articles of clothing I might enjoy, nothing struck me as a must-have. Fortunately, because I've been spending too much lately (a recent and embarrassing obsession with J. Crew). But, then, we went to Scriptura (http://www.scriptura.com/)! I'm looking for a particular present for a particular person, but after browsing and speaking with the store's proprietress, I decided to think about it and revisit in the next couple of weeks to see if they get stock of what I was thinking about buying. While there, Mia asked me in front of the proprietress if when I get married, would I have my invitations from here? The rest of the conversation went something to this effect:

Me: I'm not engaged yet.

Mia: Like you haven't thought about it.

Me (in thought): Of course I have!

Proprietress still on the phone with Metairie location to see if they have stock of what I wanted to buy. After she gets off the phone -

Proprietress: When she does get married, she will have her invitations from here.

Me (in thought): I do hope she's clairvoyant.

More talk among us.

Me: I would love to have my invitations done here, but unfortunately, my boyfriend doesn't share the same affinity for paper as I do.

Proprietress: That's okay. It just means he's a heterosexual male.

A light and enjoyable conversation. And, I ended up getting a replacement ink for my retro pen and a cute Mother's Day card for my grandma. Score! (Mia and I and Jesse and I have been shopping around for cards for all those mamas in our lives). While in Jean Therapy, by the way, I resisted the urge to pick up a New Orleans wedding magazine. I know that it's silly that I'm harping on these ideas. I even thought of Pomplamoose playing at the ceremony; I think coverbands are such the better alternative to djs. I've long-known who is going to cater the reception! But, as for my recent hypersensitivity to most things matrimonial, my excuse is that seeing Dr. Garza and Drew planning their weddings has just been too inspiring to ignore and and not think of my own. When I do have to do this though, will I loathe the pressure and the detail needed in planning? (see AnExtendedVacation's blogspot) I guess I need a different distraction. Luckily, I just started reading Mennonite in a Little Black Dress.

One last point. I love that shopowners on Magazine (and I believe, New Orleans in general) remember you and make a point to talk to you. At Scriptura, she asked me how my friend liked Mastering the Art of French Cooking. I said that she made Boeuf Bourguignon and told her how much Drew loved the paper and ribbon in which the same lady had wrapped it. The other day, I ran into Vom Fass for some more oil and Calamansi vinegar since my mom was over and I was going to attempt to cook Wild Chilean Sea Bass. Vom Fass' proprietress also asked me about the Calamansi that I had gotten for my mom. She was overly helpful (as was another worker there), and it gives me more pride on top of the growing and never-ending pride I have for this city.

Wearing this to Dr. Garza's wedding next weekend :)

Oh the baby bumps

http://www.usmagazine.com/momsbabies/photos/pregnant-models-2009218/2004

I don't know why--maybe it's because of my line of work--but I've been more and more interested in babies and pregnancy lately, much to my boyfriend's chagrin. I try not to think about these things so much because they're not in my near future, but alas, a girl can dream, right? And, just for the record, I'm honestly too selfish and self-absorbed to have a baby right now. I'm content to sit and to work at a preschool until I join the rest of the world's mothers.

Next post: marriage and such

Tomorrow

It's going to be a long day tomorrow. I'll start out at work, where we'll be doing Little Gate Jazz Fest from 9:30 - 11:30. It's a LG tradition which is modeled after the real Jazz Fest. We'll even have watermelon, meat pies and snoballs. Truthfully, I don't know if that really mirrors City Park's Jazz Fest because I have not gone in my adult recollection. I've always had finals around then and/or couldn't really justify the expensive tickets. I know that they would be worth it to see some of the acts, but maybe next year. Jesse'll be done with school. Maybe Mia will be able to come too, but she'll probably be in finals.

My mom'll be in town tomorrow. Her birthday is on Thursday, but so is my Uncle Fel's funeral. I have to babysit tomorrow at 2, on the Westbank. Then, I have to teach ESL from 6:30 - 8:30. My mom'll be sleeping over and though it's a short visit and the reasoning is sad, I'm happy to be able to spend a little time with her.

Jesse fixed his TV tonight! After some tedious and uneasy TV deconstruction and soddering, we plugged it in and lo and behold, the clicking sound did not occur and a visible and discernable picture was there. We're both quite impressed and it only cost him about $15 dollars for the parts he ordered online. He saw a youtube tutorial as well since this is something that's been happening to more than a few Samsungs. Even though he would have liked to get a new LED TV, I think we're both more than content that we won't have to spend hundred of dollars (for a repairman) or thousands of dollars (for a TV). What a learning experience though, and I'm proud of his tenacity!

So to celebrate (though Jesse was playing on his computer while), we finished Julie and Julia and watched the second episode of Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. It was a wonderful and somewhat low key night. Jesse even enjoyed Julie and Julia! That was the highlight. We started Food Revolution yesterday evening, and though neither of us care much for reality TV (but I have my guilty pleasures), we like Jamie Oliver so much! I missed Glee, but I'll catch up. That and on Parenthood.

Til next time. Bon nuit!

Not to be political, but this speaks for itself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbyFeFhUTmI&feature=fvst

And to think when the SLRC was in NOLA, I was recruited. Hahaha