Crashing down

**Warning: This post contains explicit language. Parental guidance is highly suggested...if you care.

I just finished watching the movie Crash not even 30 minutes ago. The last time I cried that hard, I was mourning over my city.

In summary, the movie stirred the shit out of my emotions because it dealt with racism, a subject that is on the top of my list of subjects that make me fucking angry. I never knew that racism was going to be the main theme of the film. It's not like I would not have rented it if i knew, I simply would have been better prepared.

For those of you readers who haven't seen it, rent it. Borrow it. Buy it. I just highly recommend that you get your hands on it.

There were so many disturbing scenes. Many of them makes you reflect on your own life and the experiences that you have had.

One thing I couldn't get out of my mind is my own views. As I stated above, I hate racism with a passion. I strongly dislike people who will simply not open their eyes and see that there is more to life than stereotypical labels. I was shocked to learn about a side of my dad that I never knew existed when, years ago, my parents and I had a casual conversation about dating. After I jokingly stated that there were times when I wanted to date a black guy just to peeve off my somewhat racist grandma. My dad countered with "she's not the one you need to worry about" quite sternly and very seriously. I was speechless. I gave a look to my mom, with her only explanation of my dad's view (which even surprised my mom) was that he was his mother's son. I can't exactly say that makes things any better.

The older I get, the more I realize that society plants the seed for these racist views. I mean that more in the sense of communities. I'm surrounded by a lot of white folk who speak of black people as if they are a disease. Here's an example:

I grew up in the Westminister subdivision down here in LA. My parents bought it less than a year before I was born. I loved growing up there. It was a cultural haven, with a mixture of white, black and Asian people living on our street. (Though I must point out, there really was that many families the were white, maybe 1/3.) The neighborhood was great. It was like a big family. Unfortunately, only five years after being born, a hurricane blew in and flooded the entire subdivision. about 1/3 (no, not the white 1/3, silly) of the neighborhood said the heck with it and moved out. We stayed and watched over the next 15 years a decline in our neighborhoods character. It no longer was diverse, with more black families moving in. The people that moved in didn't seem to be considerate or heck, not even nice. A man called the police on my dad b/c my dad went over to the guy's house to ask him to watch his trash. (It mysteriously kept appearing in our backyard. The guy lived behind us.) We all realized after that, the neighborhood we knew was no more. What kind of neighborhood is it when you can't even settle your problems without the police being involved? We moved about two years after. We lived there for 23 years, and the only thing we were going to miss was our next door neighbor who were there since day one.

Now every once in awhile I get asked where I grew up from my customers at the local restaurant I work at. Now get this, every single time I tell them Westminister, there eyes bug out and the question always arises from their lips, "Isn't that a black neighborhood?" You can here in their voices a "WTF were you doing living there?" The same theory is always told to me that the neighborhood went downhill b/c of "the blacks" moved in. I swear, they talk about them as if they were roaches, those mother-fucking bastards. How small minded can you get?

My upbringing was a combination of people of different cultures, extremely open-minded, and a combination of subtle racists. I seen comedy sketches of a black guy going undercover in the white world simply to see they act different when white is the only color around. Sadly, that is true in some places. I live in a city that has those crowds of people that think just b/c I'm white, I must think the same way they do.

I just wish that people werent so hung up on skin color and statistics. America refers to anyone who's not white to be a minority, when I don' think that's the case at all. It's us open-minded folk, who see what's going on around here. Those of us that can't seem to figure out when it will all end. It probably never will because we mainly live in a close-minded neighborhood.

Good Day Sunshine

I'm in such a great mood today! It's a strange winter day in which it is a perfect 65%. You can't be that.
I just wish I was in this mood Saturday night. And I wish I didn't have so many housechores to do. I wanna go outside and play, WAHHH!!


Editor's note: "65%" link shall only work for today, January the third...unless we luck out again tomorrow!!

Just another day...

I was hoping to put something fresh or new or simply interesting here for the new day, but lo and behold. Eh...

I can't dwell into the tremendous fun I had partying last night in celebration of today, because nothing went down. Heck, just in case you out of towners haven't heard, it was a tad on the foggy side down here. If i had a digital camera, I could've shown you. Alas, I's don't.

I don't have any words of wisdom to pass on or some silly reflection of the year gone by, because it would be just that, silly. Heck, I'm pretty sure I'll be spending a number of years reflecting on the last one.

What I will say is have a good day. And if not, don't let it bring ya down. Every day will turn out like every other, simply a day in the past.

Queen Angie, the Outspoken

After a morning of finding out that I was not needed at work, I then came to find out that I had nothing planned for the day. What to do...what to do...

I ended up calling CK up with a request of accompanying my bored azz to the movies, where we could see how good that Narnia movie is said to be. (I felt a little antsy; King Kong was not a barrel of monkeys...)

On my way to pick up CK I discovered that children are complete idiots when it comes to riding their bikes in high traveled traffic areas. This kid stopped his riding in the middle of the street not even two feet away from the sidewalk, so he could lick the ice-cream that was dripping down his fingers. His two friends rode around him, waiting for him to complete this important task, while they all saw me driving not even a block away, and made no attempt to move. Where the hell are the parents when their kids were riding and stopping in the middle of the streets even when a car was coming? Huh? WHERE?? Dare I say, I tried to scare the tweens by getting as close as possible as I could to them with my car, though I learned that didn't phase them one bit.

I continued my drive to CK's hut, picked him up, and we headed out the the theatre. That was after another run-in with the idiots. This time they were on the move, swerving back in forth in the street, looking back every once in awhile to spot the lucky person who would get to run them over. I related my initial run-in with them to CK, though was completely dumb struck when Kid Lick stopped, again, in the middle of the road, again, and licked his fingers, again. I gave a hearty "you've got to be shitting me" laugh and pulled up aside Kid Lick to instruct him on the laws of cycling. It's a shame I didn't speak his language, because from the look he gave me, he must've not spoken english.

Oh well, off to Narnia! (After a McNugget stop that is...mmm, McNugget...)

The movie turned out to be delightfully wonderful, with only one con: the moron who sat on my row. (No, not CK...sheesh.)

About 70 minutes into this movie, the moron pulled out her phone and could be heard loud and clearly saying, "Yea", "No", "Uh-huh", all followed by me going, "Excuse me...EXCUSE ME! SHHH!!(commence pointing finger to movie screen in a slight reminder to moron that there's a movie taking place.) I got the feeling that this one understood english by the way she quieted down, while sinking into her seat. I swear, nothing can pull you out of a period piece quicker than someone going, "Yea." I wish I had a cattle prod...

You know what day it is...

Best wishes for a holiday that doesn't drive you crazy.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

The Goose is Getting Fat

"Deer", James Jean


It has been spoken with many a co-workers, friends, and family, that Christmas has come just too darn quickly this year. Though for many, many, many of us, that is a sentiment felt year after year, I feel that this year it especially rings true with the disappearance of September.

2005 Christmas Revelations:

1. Chocolate is beleived to be the fundamental required gift of many a persons during the season. I currently have about 5pds of the deliciously evil stuff in my home, and I'm sure to receive more.

2. Company Christmas parties can become really fun when the invitation list consists of only those who work at the company and not those that the company is smoozing (AKA kissing up to). Oh, that and also about 3 Vodka Collins can do the same.

3. While CK confesses that he really, really loved the "Adventures of Superman : Season One" DVD I gave him as a gift, it will nver ever beat his own gift of getting a car. (Finally!!)

4. Speaking of CK, it has also come to my attention that he has a hidden power to seduce the girls, which did not make Satcey too happy. ;)

5. Satcey's friend Em is a fun woman to hang with...especially when she's drinking.

6. Santa and the wife are apparently having marriagable problems. (Well, either that or she doesn't mind his loose ways.)


All in all, this has been one heck of a year with surprise after surprise after surprise. The year in reveiw blog will come next week, so instead,

HAVE A HECK OF A HAPPY HOLIDAY!!

HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

HAVE A GRANDE OL' TIME!!

Oh, and good luck with the family. Now I shall end with my all time favorite Christmas song (sung to the tune of the Twelve Days of Christmas) which is also a new Orleans classic!

THE TWELVE YATS OF CHRISTMAS
(Benny "Grunch" Antin) Anzel Anzel, BMI

1. On'da foist day'a Christmas mah
Mawmaw gave'to me a Crawfish'dey
Caught in Arabi

2. In'da Christmas Picayune I seen it
Dere'n Section E, Tujaque's Recipe

3. On'da thoid day' a Christmas we
Stopped at McKenzie for Three French Breads

4. On the fourth day I said OK let's get a
Christmas tree Before'ya Drive Me Nuts

5. On the fifth day of Christmas we
stopped at A&G for Frrried Onion Rrrings

6. On'da sixth day'a Christmas we
stopped at K&B's for a Six Pack'a Dixie

7. Cemetery traffic got backed up to
Metairie at the Seventeenth Street Canal

8. On'da eighth day of Christmas me and
Rosalie Ate By'ya Mama's

9. On the ninth day of Christmas we drove
down Delery in'da Lower Ninth Ward

10. I used'ta be at Kaiser now I'm woikin
down'da street at'da Tenneco Chalmette Refinery

11. On the eleventh day at Vetran's
Highway try'ta cross the street with Eleven Schwegmann Bags

12. On the twelfth day of Christmas my
true love gave to me a Dozen Manuel's Tamales

Merry Christmas!!

It's never too early too early (in the month of December) (ONLY in the month of December) to celebrate Christmas!

The Outer Limits: Part I

I'm off work today and tomorrow. It was hard not to take advantage of this beautiful 60 degree weather we're having down here by taking a little drive around the city.

It turned out to be quite revealing.

I asked CK to join me since two is better than one, and we toured Uptown, Riverbend, the French Quarter, City Park, Esplanade Ave., Canal Street/Boulevard, Lakeveiw and Westend. I really wish I had my camera with me.

We started out with a drive down St. Charles Avenue, with the destination being this great sushi place on Oak Street. The avenue really was pretty darn nice. There was trees missing here and there, though it was the complete absence of the St. Charles Streetcar that proved to be a little unnerving. We drove just waiting to see a streetcar that wasn’t going to pop up any time soon.

Speaking of unnerving, we took a stroll through the French Quarter after lunch. I had a main objective of satisfying this major craving I’ve been having for a cup of java at my most beloved coffee shop in the entire city. (Ask CK all about how freaking giddy I was when I found out that they were indeed open!) As we were taking our steps into the Quarter itself, I couldn't help but take notice of something that was missing: music.

We were on the very corner of the famous Jackson Square and not a peep, not a single note could be heard in the air. If you've never been to the Quarter, let me just tell you, it's down right scary for the only sounds to be heard are the vehicles that are occupying the road. Jackson Square is famous not only for the St. Louis cathedral that crowns the top of the park, but also for the many artists and musicians that set up around the area day in and day out. You could find at least one artist on the Square even at one o'clock o a Tuesday morning. Now all that could be found were vehicles, which pre-Katrina, was not allowed. CK expressed his disappointment with me for bringing up this observation.. Apparently I answered his unspoken question on "what's wrong with this picture." This outing was his second time to post-Katrina Quarter, and he couldn't figure out what was wrong when he last was there. I figured it out. Anyway, we headed to my java spot and ended up chatting with the owner for a bit, which ended with the guy suggesting that we drive up Canal Street/Boulevard to see the damage that was endured up there.

At least 45% of the places we drove by were unlivable.

You see, Canal is scattered with businesses that eventually dissolve into beautiful homes as you drive further up the street, going toward Lake Ponchatrain. In post-Katrina New Orleans, you could now spy the dried up evidence of where the flood waters decided to stop at as you drove up the street. The stain gradually moved up from one foot, to two feet, to three, four, and five. Inside some of the structures we could see homes that were gutted out, nothing but their skeletons remaining. Two things went through my head.

1. Thank freaking god this did not take place in my hometown across the Mississippi. The Westbank--well, most of it--lucked out greatly. I was so glad I didn't have to see my parents react to what could've been. They just bought a new house a little over a year ago due to the downfall of our old neighborhood. For years, they would speak of a misjudged decision to stay in that neighborhood after a category 1 hurricane flooded the crap out of our neighborhood back in 1985.



Those pictures you see on your left-hand screen is what went down. Our house was elevated about 4 feet higher than the average home in the subdivision and we still got two feet in our house. (I want to also mention that before the subdivision was built it used to be a swamp. Needless to say, my old neighborhood got hit horribly for Katrina. heck, any place in the city that used to be a swamp got flooded.) It took about four months to fix up the place before we could live back in it.

That first week after the Katrina hit, during the family's evacuation, my mom spoke fearfully that if our home flooded again, that was it. She wasn't going to stick around to gut out and fix up the place again. I'm pretty sure that type of feeling is what many have felt with Katrina. If you been through it once, chances are you don't want to go through it again.

2. Potential Real Estate. I felt kinda bad for thinking this, but it was hard not to. I think ever since I was 15, when I first experienced the exquisitely beautiful homes that are in uptown/garden District, i wanted to be a part of that history. One of my main goals in life is to purchase an antique, one hundred or more years, home and restore it than call it home. In the wake of Katrina, many homes will end up being abandoned due to feelings that have been stated above.

As bad as things were out there, it was hard not to crack a smile at a local's inspirational phrase that was spray painted across his house: F U Katrina.

Life's Lessons

Lesson of the day:

Mischeif can lead to exaggeration.

The other day, some co-workers and I delve into the land of "you know you're not suppose to do that" by tasting/drinking an alcoholic beverage at work. I must mention that this was on company time. Like I said, into the land of "you know you're not suppose to do that."

The restaurant I work at was physically a small place, and at the time, we had no customers. Earlier that day, due to our bartender not being on the clock yet, a waitress (we'll call her Elle) made a few White Russians for some customers. They ordered numerous White Russians from her. Later that day, during the time i refer to, we asked Elle if she could make another one so we could taste it and she happily obliged.

We discoverd why the customers ordered numerous drinks.

We discovered that she offered a taste to a waitress that was in the kitchen.

We discovered that our cook noticed this.

None of this would have been that bad except that our dishwasher said that he noticed a customer storm out of the restaurant.

Now not one of us waitresses noticed this, which we would of, because the seating area was directly behind us. We heard about the "so-called" customer about ten minutes after the taste test took place. I do not cut back on the tasting by calling it that. A few sips was all that was had.

Of course, our manager found out about this the next day. The story that she heard was practically told to her as "the girls were making/drinking mixed drinks at the bar and neglected a customer."

BULLSHIT!

All of us waitresses were informed by the manager on that fateful day on how stupid a decision that was to do what we did. If we do it agian, we fired!

To Ms. Manager: Good decision. The main fault was that we had alcohol on the job. I know that no matter how little it may be, you're not suppose to that. Very much, our bad.

The one thing about the reprimanding that really irked me was that a fellow co-worker confirmed the entire thing. She wasn't even there during the so-called incident. She came in later that evening!!

Grrr...I really hate that woman.

Now that I have reflected on the matter, I should change the lesson learned:

You should always follow your mantra when it comes to never doing anything against the rules for no matter how little or rare an occasion it is, you will get caught.

Second hand drive to fate

I just returned from a failed expedition to find a really good wool coat for the winter. The objective was pretty damn simple: go to Burlington Coat factory, look at coats, return home. We all know that most things are not as simple as they seem.

I called the trustworthy mom up to ask what locales on the Westbank would be open for business. Ever since Katrina, most places have been boarded and closed (like Mr. Burlington), leaving the only place to go to being the dreaded Metairie/Kenner. There’s just so many extra folk around. New Orleans is starting to have traffic that can vie with Los Angeles. It has become that bad.

well, after explaining to mom that “no. Burlington will not be opening anytime later this afternoon” she suggested the Riverwalk mall. For those of you readers who are unfamiliar with this shopping center, it’s located downtown, right along the Mississippi River, on the edge of the french Quarter. Mainly a mall put there with the mission to attract tourists, us locales have heard that it has just recently opened up its’ doors. I figured what the heck, and decided to wait in the traffic that laid ahead that would end with me to the Riverwalk.

Now this was to be the first time since Katrina in which I went downtown. Prior to her, I would go down at least every other week, no fewer than once a month. i did work in that area for the past six years, though I was just recently transferred to another part of the city about six months ago. What I’m mainly getting across here is that downtown is like a second home to that. heck, I’m more familiar with that area than i am with my own home town!!

The route I ended up taking to the mall with be down a street called Convention Center Boulevard which, if you haven’t figured it out yet, ran along the Ernest Memorial Convention Center. It was the quickest route to the mall. Un-expectantly, my stomach dropped the second I begun to turn onto the street.

It wasn’t in disarray, though there were parts that still needed a little mending, but what happened was I was suddenly flooded with the images that CNN streamed violently across the nation (and world’s) television sets during the days that followed our levees breaking. I kept seeing images of hundreds of people waiting in misery for help that took too damn long to come. I recollected the pictures and stories of bodies that were left dead among the stretch while people waited. I felt sick.

I drove on, looking for an entrance to a nearby parking lot, but do to the way cars were parked in a mixed up fashion, it was had to find an entrance, or to even see if it was opened. the search led me into the French Quarter, where my stomach dropped even more. It wasn’t like the streets were abandoned, but compared to pre-Katrina, it was eerily empty. Harrah’s casino was boarded up as if never to reopen again. Construction crews and machinery were scattered about. There were few cars and few people to be seen and I’m pretty darn sure I saw a tumbleweed roll across Canal Street. I couldn’t take it. I barely drove ten blocks downtown, but I already wanted to head back. I did.

I sit here writing, realizing that maybe I’m not really ready to satisfy my curiosity by driving through New Orleans east. I realize now why the bars are the current most popular attraction with us locals. I realize now that I should’ve taken a different route downtown. C’est le vie.

I wonder if I can cash this in?

My blog is worth $1,693.62.
How much is your blog worth?

Height or happiness?

I'm conflicted.

As my close friends and family know, I've been bitching like crazy about my current work status for quite some time now. I have been with current employer for almost seven years now ( exactly six years and six months) in which I have learned so many freaking things and have gained so many skills that it is not even funny. (Okay, it actually is...HA HA HA!!)

Side note: I'm having trouble concentrating while writing this do to the amazingly talented guys with Franz Ferdinand and their excellent rock album. Cue music: ' Do you wanna go where I've never let you before.'

Now back to the meat.

Okay, so I've been bitching like crazy about the current misery in my life. Today, I realized that I do enjoy, no, love my job. Currently.

I should start somewhat at the beginning for those that have no clue what I'm talking about. for the quick summary, I got this job with this big name tourism company in my city to be the traditional part time job that every college bound student obtains to pay the bills. Shoot forward six years in which this "job" has practically have become a "career." Quite unexpected. I've down everything from tourist information to customer service to cook/sous chef. Yes, I said cook.(Well, as of today. I got to be a cook! Yay!)

I had become extremely unhappy with my job, especially since a so-called "promotion" that I was offered turned out to be more of a demotion. I was going to talk to my manager about it after the seasonal hurricane evacuation. Well, due to Katrina, my tourism related job has morphed into the restaurant industry. On September 1, in an unnamed division of the company, a restaurant was to open. Instead , the ball got rolling about a month later when us folks was allowed back into this portion of the city. Due to Katrina, I'm now a hostess/waitress/sous chef/cook who does a little bartending. (Just don't ask for anything more complicated than a bloody mary.)

I figured with the many job opportunities that have arose, I would look for something that would offer a step up the corporate ladder, something that would actually show appreciation/respect for the skills I have. I found that job. It's with the pet store XXXXX. (You honestly thought i would tell? HA!) They were offering a management position after getting my feet wet in the business. I accepted it about a week ago.

Now on Monday I'll be starting up at XXXXX, though now I'm wondering...

Is this what I want? Heck, where do I see myself in the future? Where do I want to be?

I love the tourism industry. I have come to love everything about my current job. (My coworkers are no longer only of the age forty and over, and I actually am working, not like I was before Katrina in which the high-point of my day was cleaning the restroom. Sheesh...)

I can't help but wonder if I should stay where I am. I find myself asking myself if climbing the corporate ladder is what I want. Now I'm not debating on wheter or not I should quit my upcoming job, because I'm not. I do plan to stick with the two for now ( two jobs equals two paychecks which also means happy Angie.)

What do y'all think?

Liscense Plates and Chickens

Yesterday evening I was headed to my friend Rob's place to participate in the ancient American pastime, pizza and a movie[s]. The drive there was quite peculiar. During my ten minute drive to his home, my eye never caught the view of a Louisiana license plate. There was Alabama, Texas, Tennessee, Mississippi, and even Indiana. The thought did run across my mind that those plates probably belonged to out of state visitors helping out with the hurricane efforts, but damn, it was quite peculiar.


This morning a young gentleman arrived to my house to set up an internet router that was purchased so I could get the internet on my IBook. The young gentleman was quite cute.

"Hi. I went to your neighbor's house thinking the address was 1117."

Mmm...Glad ya found it.
"I'm pretty sure I wrote 1113."

"No, you did. My bad."

"Well let me show you to the spare room."

Small talk, small talk, followed by me pulling up my screen on our Dell.

"Cool screen saver, Batman Begins. Definitely the best Batman film, and the best movie this year."

My ears perk up.
"If you like that, you should see the poster I have of that image. It's, well, just rolled up in a tube for the past five months..."

Once again, I'm irritated over how I can't afford to frame one hell of a poster. Damn 1/10 of an inch...

Followed by once again, small talk about Batman, my IBook, and our education. Also followed by my thoughts of:

"Damn this guy's cute. Looks like Jimmy Fallon a little, but heck... I wonder if they could date a customer?"

"Well, there's only one way to find out."

"But he's probably seeing someone. Cute guy, friendly demeanor, and pulling in, my guess, a hefty paycheck each week."

Enter computer jabber, how this works, how that works, how bad it is to have limewire on my computer (followed by a Napster suggestion. Apparently those sharing programs can end up having yo share more than music...) and more small talk.

"I bet you're wondering how is it that "this guy" can type so fast. Apparently those lonely Saturday nights are paying off."

"Oh look, he made a joke about 'lonely Saturday nights, how 'bout that."

"..."

"Well, like I said there's only one way to find out."

"And that's it. You're all set to go."

"Thanks a lot. "

We head out the room to the door. No, not that door, that's the garage door, yeah, that one."

"Oh look," he says, spotting my Nova, followed by him bending down, totally transfixed by the powers of a house-cat.

"Here's your chance!! Here's your chance!! Just ask him, ya chicken shit!!"

"Thanks a lot again."

We shake hands and he flashes one heck of a smile.

I wave him off, he waves back.

The door closes.

Ya chicken shit...

Mmm...tasty

Lesson of the day, kids: You should always treat your waiter/waitress with respect.

Reflection

I write this listening to Guns 'N Roses Patience, mainly because that is the song that has been randomly selected by my computer. I just thought y'all would like to know.

Though I would like to share some random thoughts:

1. The Christian god is supposed to be all forgiving, correct? I ask because if this is so, why would there be a hell? A bedtime story to actually make the childrens behave?

2. Micheal Jackson's Thriller, after hearing it for the first time in 1984, still creeps me out when I hear it. Strange...

3. The statement "who needs enemies with friends like these" greatly speaks true when your "friends" buy you many, many chocolates, no matter how delicious it is.

4. I shouldn't label my Sunday post as "Quote of the week" when I actually don't post it every week, like I said I would do.

5. Two of our shopping centers opened back up this past week. Yay! Not like I'm a shopaholic or anything, but it's good to hear there will be more variety (IOW, crowd disbursement) with the holiday shopping season approaching. Gosh, I hate what Christmas has become...

6. I like movies. If I could, I would marry them.
"Angie and movies, sitting in a tree
K-I-S-S-I-N-G..."

Another Meme Request

So what is the fifth line of my twentyfifth post?

"Anyway, the help comes in the form of a question: What do you wish you knew or wish somebody told you after you graduated from highschool?"

There it is.

Who I would like to see do the same:

1. Orchard
2. Drew
3. Rob
4. heck, anyone who reads my post
%. See number 4

Quote of the Week

I'm going to start posting a quote of the week. I want to show off those words that amuse me, like the following:

" ...you couldn't throw a rock without hitting a drug dealer."

Correspondant for WDSU New Olreans very own Richard Angelico's regard on the corner of Forstall and Derbigny in the Ninth Ward, post-Katrina


Stay tuned for next week's "Qoute of the Week."

Coming Soon to a Theater Near You

Taking the Wheel

Will this be made for tv or straight to theater?

Will this be inspirational or drama?

Which studio got to him first?

Who will be the lead actor?

What will the catchphrase/line be?


Bets are now be taken...

To do or not to do...

...that is the question.

I returned from my wonderful visit to my lovely friends in Brandon, Mississippi, just about five days ago. Gosh, I really missed you guys! (And do, once agian...Go figure.)

Strangely, the high point of the trip had no direct relation to my freinds, but instead to my introduction to LimeWire. (Think napster, without all the legal mumbo-jumbo.) I got to download 255 songs onto my IBook! 225!!! (I's got dial-up at home, they had wirless. If you put 2 +2 together, and keep in mind that my IBook had wireless capabilities, it will equal one happy camper. DSL ROCKS!!)

On the trip I got to sample some ever so delicious venison burgers, made by the ever so talented Drew. Mmm-mmm good! Good lord!! I almost forgot! Stacey paid me back in full and made the most ever so delicious, mouth watering, delectable, sugary, chocolatly, eye popping oatmeal chocolate with chocolate chip cookies ever! Mad love majorly to you, girl!

Than there was Rob. You can always count on him to spill out something from his mouth that will boggle (and always amuse!) the mind. This time he requested my prescence on a 3 week trip with him to Northeastern United States. The places that stood out was New York, New York; Nantucket,Massachusetts; Salem,Massachusetts; Wasington,DC. Simply many places I've been wanting to check out again, if not for the first time. In other words, he was presenting quite a compelling case.

To top that off, he said I could look at it as a business proposal. He was going to be spending $$$ on a rental car, but if I came, I would be making $$$. He said to look at it as a job search, since that was what he was going to do. (Or so he says.) Due to current events, job searching has become a popular pastime down here. Heck, I've been starting to have a little fun applying!

Now if you caught that, I did say "down here" and "applying", all meaning the present tense. If you understood that, you would also have gotten from it that I'm down south, instead of doing a little traveling, which is what my heart and sould really, really, wishes that I did. But avast! She did not follow her heart, nor her soul, making regret the forfront emotion at hand!!

You see, momma Robichaux raised her little girl up to have a guilty conscience on top of a strong sense of ethics. It's primarily the latter which is making me stick home. That, a nd finacial crap. Main reason Rob got to run off and do soome traveling is all thanks to a little, "help". I have not yet received any requested "help" to, um, help, with the financial strains I have. I gots some bling-bling to spend, but I'm afraid if I spend it, I will not be able to find a job that would help me pay for that crap we all have to pay for.

But mooommm! I wanna go!!

To make matters worse, he has brought up the subject, again, when he talked to me from,um, somewhere in the Carolinas? Anyway, he said "why don't you meet me in DC?" When he pointed out that would be tomorrow, I had to decline. (Just a little too soon to make a move like that!) "Ok, what about New York. I'll be there in a few days." *Hmph* That actually sounds real nice. Really nice.

Nice enough to make me reflect about it.
Nice enough to make me wonder if I should go with it.
Nice enough to make me contemplate the cost involve.
Nice enough to make me feel bad for even thinking about doing it when I know that finances are a little tight plus I already told my soon-to-be-former- job that I'll help out with their much needed help for the restaurant that they own plus the evil eyes I would get from my mom. (Y'all know those eyes. It's something every woman inherits when her first born arrives. Always.)

I simply don't know. I would ask, "what do y'all think", but I already know that many of you will say "DO IT!!"

And heck, why not ask. "Do y'all think I sjould go?"

If so, give me reasons, good ones. Heck, while you're at it, give me sensible reasons to why I should stay. List things I should think of before even considering this. Spiritually and emotionally I know I should do this. Plus it might be a once in a lifetime oppurtunity. (It would be nice to be one of the persons who makes a good thing out of what happened.) Finacially, I'm simply unsure.

Maybe I just need to crunch some numbers.

Or maybe I'm feeling this way in fear of my parents reactions.

That's probably it. Damn your evil upbringings! How dare you make me a child who feels guilty to do anything that may be against your wishes! (But very good parenting! ;D )

Bradndon Here I Come!

It's been a littloe over a month since I've seen any of my friends. Isn't that weird? I've only been around family, not there's anything wrong with that. My family and I actually get along...well most of them.

Anyhoo, I quit my job so I can be back in New Orleans, presnting that problem of finding a new job, though I still have some things to close in Thibodaux before a permanent stay.

I'll be working two more nights this week for what shall be my former boss, due to a personal flaw in me in which I simply can't quit on the spot. I perfer to give an advance notice. On the bright side, that means two days to gain more cash! Boo-Ya! I also need to officially drop out of school. The only reason I stuck around was due to the excellent teacher I had, making it my only regret.

So off I go today till Saturday, once again shacking up at grandpa's place. Though sadly, no Nova. My grandpa really enjoyed the company of my precious.

I look forward to Saturday, in which I will head off to Brandon...after I get me paycheck!

It's going to be elated event when I see Stacey and Rob again, who I look at as sister and brother. (I have one, brother that is, but we're not exactly as one would say, close.) I can't wait to see Drew again, who I see as more of a Brother in law. Get it? Stacey sister, husband brother in-law? I know, I know, CHEESE!

Oh, and Stacey owes me a cookie, and I will hold her on that.

My meme

Since I love my Satcey so much, I figured I would respond to her request.


7 things I plan to do before I die:

1. Visit New Zealand/Australia
2. Learn Japanese
3. Visit Japan
4. Live in New York City for a few months
5. Renovate an old New Orleans home
6. Take cruises in Alaska and Mediterranean
7. Become a mother

7 things I can do:

1. Sing…good
2. Draw…good
3. Use my extreme powers of common sense to its full potential
4. Wear sizes 10 jeans (WOO-HOO! Look out size 8, here I come!)
5. Drive and drive and drive
6. Have seizures
7. Program my VCR, fix a flat tire, use power tools, use hand held tools, use a knife without cutting myself

7 things I can't do:

1. Drive a motorcycle.
2. Touch my nose with my tongue
3. A backflip
4. Type over 45 words per minute
5. grammer no write best
6. Write and design my own webpage
7. Stand on one foot with my eyes close, on the edge of a very tall building, wearing nothing but a burlap bag and sing the National Anthem backwards

7 things that attract me to the opposite sex:

1. A warm, great smile
2. Outgoing personalities
3. Athletic/energetic
4. Cultured (but not in that snobby way)
5. Lean/fit body
6. Striking eyes
7. A great personality…behind a great smile!


7 things I say most often:

1. Uh…
2. Come here my precious… (Seriously, to my cat! Damn movies…)
3. You’re kidding!
4. Well…
5. Okay now…
6. …I’m just making up stuff…
8. ...to fill in this last three!

7 celebrity crushes:
(This was actually the hardest one. I really had to think!) Now, in no particular order…

1. Micheal Rosenbaum (ever since I saw him on MTV’s cribs…)
2. Julian McMahon
3. Jamie Bamber (He's the one on the left)
4. Hugh Jackman
5. Ewan McGregor
6. Brad Pitt (He’s like wine…gets better with age!)
7. Okay, there ain’t no more…go away

7 people I want to do this:

1. Just to summarize, pretty much everyone and anyone. These things are fun and it’s fun to alo get a look into someone else. Fun, fun, fun!!!

Be Careful what You Wish For

To quote on e of my past co-workers,"Lord Lord Lord Lord Lord!"

So, you already heard my rant about how I wish I could stay home and how I was going to quit my job, right? Well here's the update...

Yesterday afternoon, my mom was crotched on the floor, between my bed and entertainment center, looking for Nova who was hiding under the bed. This posistion blocked the door. I wanted out. I went to hop over her, than WHAM! A few choice words came out of my mouth while I grabed my toe in misery. That was the end of that...so I thought.

This morning, I was awoken with a slight throbbing pain in my toe. Crap, I thought. I figured it was a sign to wake up and get of bed, so I flung my legs over the saide, stood up, than BLAM! Right on the floor I went.

No, I didn't trip.

No, I didn't slip.

Yes, my toe apparently decided overnight to cause me great pain in the morning, which is exactly what I felt when I stood up. Yay!

I hopped, with tears in my eyes, crying out desperately for help.My toe seemed to have some foreseeing powers in which if I even tried to touch the floor, it would scream out in pain. Damn entertainment center.

To amke a long story short, I have found out that my toe is badly sprained, henceforth I must saty off it, using crutches--I beleive that crutches are an evil created by man to add more pain to you misery.

What this ends up doing is keeping me at home.

What this also ends up doing is keeping me from work.

What this will do is make my employer think I'm using this as an excuse when I say "I quit."

Oh well.

I leave you now so I can start hoping and wishing for myself to win the lottery.

Home Sweet Home

I'm home for a day or two due to Rita. It went west, henceforth I went east. See how that works?

I really miss being here. I've ben staying went the relatives just out of Thibodaux, Louisiana for school. I also picked up a job waitressing (just in case ya didn't know, IOW read the previuos post!)

Strangly, I only get homesick when I'm forced to stay away from home. There's only been two-times in my twenty-five years in this life in which I felt that. I had it right after 9/11, in which i was vacationing went some freinds in Los Angeles. I was suppose to return home on the tragic day, but to obvious reasons, i had to keep away from home for awhile.

Presently, this is the second. I'm technically not being forced to keep away from home, but if i wanted to go to school...yet after this kind of crap, school just doesn't seem so important...for now.

now I just gotta find another way to finance myself.

I wonder if i could get that tour guide job that's being offered in Costa Rica?

Tidbits and of the Like

Hello there. I'm back. Sorry that I haven't written, I've been a little, pre-occupied.Oh, and I didn't have the internet for quite some time. Oh, and frankly, I kinda forgot.:D

There's so much to say, and I really don't want to ramble, which is what I'll end up doing. So i figured "tidbits" is the best way toc onvey all that crap that's been going down, and simply has amused me.

—To all those people who have been jumping on the cases of all those kind and generous souls that have been doing the best they can for New Orleans, shut the hell up. Why are you picking on our local government? Were you here? Why are you bitching about evacuation procedures and what "little was down"? Were you here? Why were you shooting your guns at people who were coming to RESCUE you? Are you mental? (okay, that last satement was directed at those who will never read this, but I still had to say it.)

—Why are you jumping all over a school's workers about overbooking a class or an office not being open at a convenient time so you could get your book vouchers? SHUT UP!! At least they're helping you. They didn't even have to let us into their college.

—I miss cable. I miss Adult Swim. I miss Battlestar Galactica. I miss home. I miss Delgado.

—I'm happy I have the prior stuff to complain about since all that is still there, and not completely gone. (Thanks up there!)

—Nova's with me and his the bestest cat in the whole wide world! (I love ya' baby! XOXO)

—Thanks a whole freaking bunch with hugs and kisses and sunbeam and sunshine and with a huge cherry on top to all those that have helped out with the victims of Katrina. No matter how big or small that was, it mattered.

—My American Literature teacher is the BOMB! One of the only good things I have found at my temporary college.

—Waitressing isn't as bad as I thought...especially when good tips are involved!

—Thank you to the countless cities and states that have opened up there doors and homes for those who need it. Thank you to all the countries who have helped us all out. I can't speak for everyone, but I feel that there's no way to convey the many thanks that go to each and every one of y'all. XOXOXO

—Why is it that you appreciate something after it's gone?

—The prior statment does not refer to the city of New Orleans; I have always appreciated her, have always loved her, and always will.

—Celebratory, after party on Bourbon Street in the month of January. Specifics to be posted later on.


Hugs and kisses to one and all and love and prayers to those whose lives were drastically changed by Katrina.

Sooner or later

I'm writing from the safety of Lake Charles, Louisiana, anxiously awaiting some kind of news of my hometown, Marrero, only minutes outside of New Orleans.

So far, the only optimistic news us locales have been getting is that "it could've been worse."

The footages I have seen, are probably the saem you have seen. Many locales in New olrenas that I have come to know and love are either underwater or have crumbled due to the high winds, which we just aren't prepared for.

I'm scared of how bad my (and my friends'and family's) lifestyles will change. I work in the hospitality industry and just like many others, I'll be out of ork (IOW, no income) for an unknown anount of weeks. Weeks.

Once agian, if you pray, pray.
If you can donate to the Red Cross, pleas do so. (Not for me, but for those who are in a heck of a lot worse shape than those I know...there is so many.)

An d if you are also a native, or if you were affected by this storm, I hope you bade well...I hope I will.

XOXO
Best Wishes to All

To all the N'awlins folk in the House!

Take care and be safe.

Katrina looks like she'll be heding this way and is gonna be a realbitch. Some women... : D

I'm one of those folk and the family is gonna run on out later this evening in the hopes of missing the storm. God bless relatives kind hosting actions!

If you're one of us folk who's in the projected path, please be safe. It's not so much our possesions that matter, but our lives.

Okay, that's not really true, but you get the point.

If you pray, please pray for us adn keep us in your thoughts.

TAKE CARE!!
XOXOX

Finally, something to past the time with

Heaven rejoice! Trumpets sound! Angels sing in jubilations!

School has started back up!!

Yes, small childrens of the world, I hear you cries and screams and declarations of how crazy I am to say that. Please listen to these words of wisdom: all your hatred of school shall begin to disappear when you enter college.

Of course, reasons shall vary.

Maybe it'll be the many oppurtunities that shall arise to make new friends. Maybe you will take joy in moving out and away from the powers of authority that take care of you. Maybe you will be so drunk and drugged out* that you won't even notice the drudging school life you have entered into. Or maybe there is a small chance you'll wind up like me, and actually appreciate and love the different things you'll be learning.

Or maybe you'll be so bored that even the "punishment" of term papers and tests and the numerous books you'll have to read overnight is like Heaven compared to the boredom that once infested your life.

Hey, it could happen...

In the end, I really don't give a rats azz how you feel about school because I love it...even if it just costs me $1000** for three books that I won't even give a second glance to after this semester ends.


*Here at Javafoofoo we do not endorse the use of alchohol and drugs, though we would be hypocrites if we say anything else, for reasons that cannot be dwelved into. Thank you for your understanding!
** Okay, so it wasn't really $1000 but $300, but it's still a lot!!!

Glimmers of humanity

http://postsecret.blogspot.com/

Glass half full...or half empty?

Half Full: I work with a charming group of individuals who love to share their life-learned wisdom.
Half Empty: My co-workers are a bunch of old farts who won’t stop talking!!

Half Full: I work only a short four-minute drive
from where I live.
Half Empty:I’m trapped in seeing and meeting the same freaking things everyday.

Half Full: At work, I have the opportunity to develop
the job I fulfill.
Half Empty: At work, I have absolutely no chance of moving up the corporate ladder, so I need to shut up
and deal with it.

Half Full: My job offers many opportunities to catch up on reading and writing, e.g. writing this entry.
Half Empty: I am BORED!

"Ode to Angie"

Way back in the early nineties, my best friend was this amazingly creative girl, Kate. She loved to write, which she had a gifted talent for. Anytime we got together, extereme goofiness was guaranteed to follow. (I remember we recorded our own "talk show" on caseette. (I can't beleive I still have that embarrasing giggle fest...)

She wrote this about and for me. Everytime I read it, it brings huge smile to my face, even if it is a tad out-dated.

Ode To Angie

November 6, 1993, by Kate T.

"She was a wild one--constantly "sunny." From her head to her ten toes, Angie was the perfect example of a comedy actor. She did want to be an actor. She was funny, loving, and a lover of Disney movies (especially Aladdin!) As funny as Angie is, she does have a serious side. Her favorite color is teal--a symbol of proof that she was many interesting colors interwoven to form something so unnique, you would recognize her ANYWHERE! (Even if she were disguised as an old man.)"

Thanks Kate.

“Dreams are weird and stupid and they scare me.”

I normally don’t have nightmares, not even bad dreams. I never knew why and I’m not complaining. I had a few when I was young, but even then it wasn’t that bad (and they were very strange, like every child’s worse dream, a shower head in my room!)

Last night became one of the first I had in many years.

I woke up around 4AM feeling scared and apprehensive. Not exactly emotions that are fun to have.

It started off with me in a hair salon. My family was also there getting haircuts. My cousin Heather was in it—not exactly someone I ever got along with—and she wanted me to cut her hair, short, like mine was. I didn’t want her to look like me, so I suggested her to just cut a little off so she can work her way to having short hair, and she obliged.

The typical dream phase begun in which weird things appeared, like people that would be more comfortable in an S&M club, and a laundry mat appeared in the salon. Can’t you see how they both
complimented each other?

I went to wash some clothes. I noticed this mousey looking fellow staring at me with crazed look to his face. He asked me strange questions, which you could imagine didn’t exactly make me feel comfortable. I try to be nice to him, telling him I’m not interested in him, trying to keep him from going crazy. I than headed away from him as quickly as possible into an enclosed staircase that
headed to a second floor.

He followed me. Though he was no longer who he was, he was now
a crazed midget.

Yep, you heard me right, a midget.

I went through the second floor immediately asking for help from the first person I saw, which was that mousey guy. When he heard who was following me, he freaked and told me to run, following him
to his apartment.

The crazy midget was quickly following us. The mousey guy fumbled with his apartment keys, trying desperately to get inside the apartment before we were spotted. The door clicked and we practically fell through the door in a rush, and slammed it behind,

We were safe…thank god.

Or so we thought.

The midget was outside the door trying to charm his way inside, asking nicely for us to open the door. I guess it worked because mousey guy did, even though I pleaded with him not to be so damn stupid. I swear, some men…

The midget approached me, and offered me these severed fingers. They looked like they were children’s fingers. I pleasantly declined saying “sorry, I got to go”, trying not to let the fear that enveloped me appear in my voice.

Than I headed downstairs, so I could get the hell away from him.

Went I hit the salon, the S&M characters were gone, with insane patients taking their place. They seemed docile, even drugged, just roaming the salon. Though I would’ve so much would’ve of
taken the former.

I want to get away form this place so I head out of the salon, which was in a shopping mall. I parked my car on the other side of the mall, right outside the JCPenny’s that was located at the end.

Before leaving, someone gave me a cup of smothered potatoes, which I gladly took, since I was hungry. I walked toward my car, eating the potatoes and found severed fingers in them. (What the hell is up
with those fingers?!)

Once again, I was scared to show fear and stunned, so I simply ate around the potatoes and headed even faster toward my car.

When I finally reached Penny’s, I saw that the midget was close by, stalking me. I immediately searched and found a security guard, asking for his help. He went after the midget, and proceeded to bring him back to where ever he was meant to be.

I was almost out of the store, when the guard returned with something in his hand.

“He wanted you to have this”

“This’ was another severed finger. I took it, said thank you, but threw it away in a trashcan before leaving. (What the heck am I to do with a severed finger, anyway?)

I finally reached my car and pulled out my keys to open them. My key was no longer a key, but a thumb. Somehow this didn’t surprise me. I thought to myself that I forgot he switched my driver’s side key, and went around to the passenger side to enter the car. I was in and safe. Freaking finally.

I slid into the driver’s side and proceeded to drive off, feeling a sensation of peace over taking me. The strange horror was
now behind me.

The weather change from bright and sunny outside and dark clouds rolled in, and rain poured violently down. I needed to roll up my windows, but before hand, I caught a man standing in the road, waving hands for help. I tried to keep from hitting him, but it too late. I slammed into him and he rolled over my car.

He was Adrien Brody (sorry Brody!) Like I said, dreams are weird.

I forgot about the tragedy and went back into trying to roll down my windows, but every time I rolled down the window, it went back up. I looked toward the back where I had my backpack, and saw a small arm sticking out of it, with its hand on the window latch. Then slowly, the midget begins to appear form the bag.

I let out a blood-curtailing scream, and woke up.

Like I quoted, “dreams are weird and stupid and they scare me.’

Hope you enjoyed yet another glimpse in what appears to be
my f***** up mind!

A quick stop

I visited my future today. It was pleasantly nice. The trees were green, the sun was shining, and the air was warm. Actually hot. Actually (*explicit*) hot.

I always thought my future would frighten me and send me into a self induced inward spiral. You know the one I'm talking about. The type that has you dropping further and further into the blackness where no one but yourself can rescue you.

But that wasn't the case.

I was eerily calm and serene.

It was nice to know my future wasn't going to be all bleak and sorrowful. It was going to be just fine and I can't wait to go back there.

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, and Xena?

I don't know if I should be thinking this is amazingly cool or rolling on the floor laughing my ass off!

Decisions, decisions...

Tidbits: Version 2.0

• Vegans are people, too. They, and their food, are not part of a worldwide epidemic, which sole purpose is to search and destroy. Yes, tofu was first created by Satan himself (who else could've made such a bland food?), but it has been resurrected into
  a flavorful commodity.
• Are you seeking employment? Did you fill out an application? Heck, were you one of the first to apply? Than guess what, that doesn't mean you are first pickings for a job! Employment opportunities are not the same as standing in line at a McDonald's, waiting to be served. Oh, and don't even think about stalking and harassing the manager. Why? Because, you idiot, it doesn't help your chances, only hurts them. You will
  come off as C-R-A-Z-Y!
• Gene Wilder was hell of a lot better of a Willy Wonka than Johnny Depp was or ever will be. Oompa Loompas work better looking like horrid little made-for-your office desktop trolls, singing their songs of spoiled rotten kids than Oompa Loompas that hail from American Idol (the good batch, that is!) Just because a movie follows the book it was adapted from a little more accurately, doesn't make it any better as a movie!
• Why tell a business that they should have a recycle bin for the aluminum drinks they sell when you're not going to use them?!
• Coffee is my friend, but Starbucks' Doubleshot
  is my lover.
• Why is it that whenever a once attached woman becomes single, the first thing she wants to do is go clubbing? What ever happened to gorging oneself on Haagan Dazs chocolate ice-cream in front of a TV while dressed in your comfy sleepwear?
• You can make a killer fruit salad with this following recipe:
  Out of the following fruit, select the fruit you like, cut up into bite sized pieces, and put into a bowl: apples, bananas, kiwi, mangos, papayas, grapes; take 1 lime for every cup of fruit you have, cut in half, and squeeze the juice onto the fruit; sprinkle about 1 teaspoon of your choice of sugar onto the fruit for every cup of fruit you have; mix and refrigerate till chilled; Enjoy!

That concludes this version of tidbits. Thank you, and have a great day!

God help my friend Kris... and her ex

I’m so furious today. I wish I wasn’t at work because all I want to do is pick a fight. I don’t care with whom, and that’s not exactly a mentality I like to have working as a customer service representative in the tourism industry.

Yesterday, my good friend Kris’ boyfriend physically abused her. The son-of-a-bitch f-ing punched her in the face twice and tried to strangle her…all because of a fight they got into over her not eating

Kris is a great woman. She is so sweet, is giving, delightfully flaky, and eccentrically artistic. I’m proud of the fact that we have been friends since 1989, when we met in grade school. She deserves a hell lot better than a little prick.

They’ve gone out for years, and she fell for him because he was unlike any guy she dated before being a wonderful gentleman. She discovered over the years that he held more in common with Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde than he had with Prince Charming.

He’s a little man (emotionally and physically) who has always had a temper problem. I’ve known him for six years and during that time period everyone he knew (including me) told him to wake up and realize he has a major problem.

I broke up my friendship with him about two years ago when he threatened my life (and two other friends of mine) over a trivial matter. I did not want to be associated with an f-ed up person like that, and tried talking Kris into finding someone else ever since.

I’m furious that it had to come to this for her to dump his sorry azz. All I want to do is beat the prick up till all that is left is a bloody pulp of meat and bone! Yeah, that may seem harsh, but I’m someone who gets very protective over those I’m close with, especially does that can’t defend themselves.

God help me if I ever run into that prick, and god help him.

If by some small chance you’re reading this Don, FUCK YOU. *

*I apologize to the younger and sensitive viewers blog over that curse word…sometimes they’re the only words that can sum up a situation…

Some Dreams aren't meant to be...

Creativity can be a bitch.

Inspiration sometimes comes from the darnest places, though not unheard of being inspired by a previous work of art...or literature for that matter.

I started re-reading my "Sandman" collection the other week, after failed attempts to introduce my co-worker fell through. C'est la vie...

I can never just pick up one out of the ten volumes of this excellent work of fiction with-out wanting to read another one and another one and etc., etc. (Those who have read "Sandman" could definitely back me up on just how great Neil Gaiman's work was and is!)

Anyhoo, between having Dream on the brain and a whole bunch of new colored charcoal pencils on my table, there was a project just waiting to happen!

I sat at my drafting table with pride filling me. (You see, I had those pencils for quite soem time, like 3 weeks, and I never got to using them! Lazy, lazy Java...) I finally had a reason to draw with them, and draw I did! Okay, technically doodled, but you get the point.

I ended up spending 5 hours that evening entranced by the clors and designs I was putting forth on paper. It came out great! Well, at least to me it did.


Though a probelm arose when I tried to protect my work. Like I said, it was done in charcoal, which meant is was 100%-bonified-smudgable!! So I had to spray it with a made-to-save fixative...and by doing so, it darken up all my beautiful bright colors, as you can see on your left. : (

I wish y'all could have seen it! The blues were electric, the oranges were blazing, and the yellow in his eyes looked like the stars they were supposed to be. Now, they all look, Blah!

Though that was a trial run...with the pencils that is. I'm hoping the next pic looks a shit-load better.

Though in the meantime, if you know about any fixatives that can protect and not darken up one's beautifully bright colors, please share with the class!

Foo Foo Film Fest

Being that the unbearable summer heat has approached us in the Big Easy, it is always a wise decision to find any activity that can be enjoyed in the enveloping coolness that air-conditioners bring, very wise.

For me, I have picked up the delightful past time of renting movies and catching up on my filming education.

About two weeks ago I finally got around to renting “Lawrence of Arabia.” It was a beautiful epic, sad finale’.

This past week, I took advantage of my plentiful discounts I have acquired to Blockbuster, and rented “Lost in Translation”, “Reservoir Dogs”, and “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.”

I need suggestions and more ideas on what to rent. For some strange reason, my mind keeps blanking on what I wanted to rent. (I really need to write them down…) So far, my walk-down-the-aisle-till-you-see-something-you-want method has been proving itself to be useful. Though I ask dear readers, what would you suggest?

What movies would you describe as a must see?

What films have you seen that have impressed you?

What movies have you seen simply took your breath away or made you go “wow”?

Any recommendations will be extremely appreciated!

: D

Conversations with the cat

“Ch-ch-ch-changes...”

Sing on Brother Bowie, sing on.

Sometimes, you feel that it’s the right time. What it’s the right time, depends on who you are and , well, what you need. For me, I need a change. I’ve been feeling that way for, hmm, maybe about four years now. Yes, it is quite a long time, but, well, you know.

I’m ready for that change, at least emotionally I am. Now am I financially ready...that is a totally different subject.

Every other day my thoughts float into the notion of traveling and seeing what the nation, no, the world has to offer. God willing, I only have about fifty more years till Death beckons me to her arms. Which also would give me somewhere around thirty more years of a participating body, to go along with my soul! Ahhh...to think, there actually was a time in our lives in which we couldn’t wait to grow up. How I long for those days of future past.

I had a conversation with Nova, my cat, in which I told him I was ready to move on. I asked if he was. Surprisingly, his answer was yes, he was ready to move on...to his food bowl. Ahhh...to have to troubles and worries of a cat. How I envy thee...

The other day I called my brother up.

“Kenny, are you available for lunch or dinner one day?”

“What? What’s this about?”

“What?! Can’t a sister ask her brother out for a meal?”

“Uh, no.”

“Well, Kenny, you’ve figured me out. Here I was thinking I could pull a fast one on you. My real motive was so I could hit you up for some cash,” I answered back sarcastically.

Laughter could be heard.

My brother and I have never been what one would call close. I can’t think of the countless times in my life in which I tried desperately to achieve some kind of bond with him. The notion has occurred to me that I’m chasing a cloud. It’s not something that I’ll ever be able to obtain. Though I was struck with the fact that one day, hopefully in the far, far future, my brother will be my only family. As much as I want them to, my parents will not live forever. Death will greet them, and knowing my parents, they’ll gladly welcome her.

So that’s what that outing attempt was. I want to bond with my brother.

The older I get, the more I realize that I’m a person who’d very comfortable with who she is and isn’t really scared of being alone. I’m perfectly calm at the notion of never finding that “someone” and never having kids. Though there are people I know who simply freak out with that type of radical thinking (way too many folk think that view is one hundred percent pessimistic...what ignorant times we live in,) I just don’t believe it’s for everyone. It’s not my calling. Now my friend Satcey on the other hand... ;)

It’s all random thoughts. I think “Lost in Translation” had an effect on me. A positive effect, but an effect on me none the less.

“...turn and face the strain.”

Like this post will matter...

...but people, when it says "no children allowed", please respect and follow it!!

Now I don't hate kids, but I'm definitely not what you consider kid friendly (probably due to me never being around kids, other than myself, growing up).
Though, at the doctor today, a woman brought her three-year old to the doctor's office and he was simply a wild one. Hopping and yelling and walking around giving magazines to us otehr patients and trying to climb on us and just staring at us...ARGH! I was ready to scream! I do not feel comfortable around kids, especially a stranger's kid. Here I was, waiting for my appointed at the OB-GYN (for those of you that are slow, it's the women doctor) with eight other women who all seemed to fine and dandy with this hyper-active kid. Some were even encouraging his "cute" behavior! there was a reason that sign was put up, yet she was blatantly ignoring the thing. It would've been another if the kid actuall y sat and would shut up, but...

Why can't people follow instructions!! GRRRRR....

Brain Pains

My brain hurts.

About two-weeks ago I came up with this wonderful premise for a story/novel/poem (whatever it wants to be...) and have been working on it ever since then. I got my friend C.K. to collabrarate with me, and so far, it's been great. Though unfortunately my mind won't stop thinking about it.

We've been letting the story write itself, since, as of now, we're definite on who two of our main characters are, and we have about three scenes we're confident about. Unfortunatly, we're stuck on a conflict, which is just a tad important. :D

The past two days I've been immersing myself in no brain activites (watching cartoons, watching eyecandy movies, etc. and etc.), trying to distract my brain from, what's that word? Oh, yes, thinking.

It didn't work.

No matter what I do, my mind starts to wander, trying to answer all the questions that need to be answered. Woe is me!!!

My brain hurts...and I wish it would stop.

NYC: More of Day 2 and 3

Took tons of Empire State building pics because the veiws were so amazing. This was a fave veiw due to the obvious site of Times Square in the midst of the city. I would hate to see their electric bill...




I got on my knees and leaned on my back and took a pretty darn good sanp of the Empire's spire. It came out looking all retro, like it was embellished with neon lights...which it wasn't.




There were these amazing stain glass murals in the Empire's lobby of the 10 or 12 or whatever number of ancient wonders, including this one of the building itself.




See how cool a pic can be when ya invert the colors?




One of my fave spots...Washington Square. It had am absolute New Orleans vibe to it. Don't beleive me? Check out the small nude child playing in the water: bottom left corner, 2nd kid from the left. Can't get any more N'awlins than that!



One of the many inspiring shots I took. There was so much awesome architecture.




This was my only goal: find the enormous billboard of Batman Begins in Times Square! We got there, and it wasn't there. Walked back and forth, looked high and low, and eventually gave up. Came back the next day to check out bargain theatre prices and out of nowhere, my friend Rob screams, "LOOK! There's the Batman ad"! Bull, is what I thought, like they can put a billboard up over night. He swore it was true, so I turned and there it was! Than I watched it dissolve away and watched it disappear! Apparently it shared the Toys'R'Us windows with 3 others ads. The were displayed on 10 minute intervals on theses roll out screens. Go figure! In the meantime, Look how BIG!!




My fave NYC 2005 momnet. While heading to NY's library down a side street, a crowd blocks the avenue creating a lot of racket. "Hey!" "Look Here!' DENZEL!" Yep, Denzel. As in Denzel Washington. He was signing autographs (guy in blu with baseball cap--left center) and making people go nuts. I didn't care too much for the siting, though I was amused at how star struck so many became, and how many camera phones I saw in use, all at once!




THE library. Took lots of photos, this is one of my fave. Not the best veiw of the libaray, but the I love the wonderful atmosphere that was caught that moment.




See what can happen when you try to take an active shot of the subway...damn guy got in the way...


Well, that's it guys and gals! Hope you enjoyed the NYC 2005 presentation.

For prints of teh previous pictures, please post a request with which one. Open schedule tickets to New York City is the only payment accepted.

NYC: Day 2

Really beautiful, really old. I think it's St.Patrick's.



If ya can't read the sign, it says Broadway.



The 'walk' sign was all aglow, so I quickly ran to mid-crosswalk and snapped one of my fave shots.



A central park veiw.


Another central park veiw.



I had time to stop and smell the roses, or pansies as it might seem.



One of my fave all time songs is "Imagine". It would've been wrong for me not to stop here.



The guy who lays out the flowers said he's done it--weather permit--everyday for the past 20 years. I sat here for a couple of hours watching...it was great.

Better Late than Never...

Though my trip has been about three weeks ago, I finally got around to scanning and saving and uploading my pictures.

It was a great trip. Weather was perfect and I traveled in good company...who had relatives witha place to shack at on the Island! (You the man, Rob!)

In the meantime, enjoy the pics, one day at a time! I preent to y'all, Day 1:

Look! Me!...in DC's Reagan Airport.



An infinite number of taxis sat ouside Laguardia waiting for their potential victims, I mean customers.



Some of the best veiws are seen from one's car.

Dennis the Menace

If you're not a Southern United States resident, chances are you think I'm talking about that pestering blond kid, but I'm not.

In actuality, I speak of that darn hurricane that's in the Gulf of Mexico right now promising to wreak havoc on either us folks in southern Louisiana, the Mississippi Gulf coast, Alabama Gulf Coast or somewhere's around the Western border of Florida. It sucks when this happens, because everyone wants it to go soemwhere's else, which is wishing the harm to go on whom-ever that might be. Damned if you do, damned if you don't!

So right now, in the vicinity of New Orleans (which is where this little ol' gal is from), we are being commaded to leave if ya can or we're waiting to be told to get out. (IOW, waiting for the mandatory evacuation message to be placed, which my guess will be this afternoon.) Part of me wants to stay--meaning hurricane go away--another part of me wants to be evacuated--that's the kid in me:D--and than there's the adventurous freak in me who want's to yell to the storm "BRING IT ON!!" and have a NEw Orleans hurricane party! That consist of of one locking themself in their home with numbers of friends and family and getting drunk and mainly having a party! Very unsafe; very dangerous; very stupid, but LOTS OF FUN!

In the meantime, here are some more quizes:

You Are Coffee Ice Cream

Energetic and lively, you are always on the go. You're doing a million things at once and doing them well. You tend to motivate others and raise spirits. You are most compatible with chocolate ice cream.

What Flavor Ice Cream Are You?

I'm compatible with ice-cream?

Part Expert Kisser

You're a kissing pro, but it's all about quality and not quantity You've perfected your kissing technique and can knock anyone's socks off And you're adaptable, giving each partner what they crave When it comes down to it, your kisses are truly unforgettable

Part Passionate Kisser

For you, kissing is about all about following your urges If someone's hot, you'll go in for the kiss - end of story You can keep any relationship hot with your steamy kisses A total spark plug - your kisses are bound to get you in trouble

What Kind of Kisser Are You?

Yeah baby...;)

Your Daddy Is Ozzy Osbourne

What You Call Him: Pops Why You Love Him: He takes you to Disneyland

Who's Your Daddy?

Sch-weet! And all this time I thought I was a simple Cajun girl...

Another A$$hole alert

I honestly can't post what I want to say about the pricks and a$$holes involved with London.

My greatest thoughts and prayers go out to London and her people during this frightening time.

FREE-DUMM!!*

*My apologies to Mel Gibson for ripping off his emotional line from "Braveheart".

It’s the Fourth of July here in the United States of America. I’m not gonna get all patriotic and blab on about how we’re the greatest nation and all the crap, since that’s what that is, crap! In my honest opinion, it’s a horrible thing to declare since, to me, it doesn’t seem to convey a sense of pride, but a sense of ignorance. Unless one has travel the world and seen every nation that our diverse world offers, there is no way to actually get a personal sense of who or what the greatest is.

Though this isn’t what today’s blog entry is to be about. Instead, I want it to be a celebration in freedom, which is what the Fourth of July is about. A celebration in history when this nation became it’s own. So, in honor of today, I want ya’ll to post whatever you want. Got a gripe? Post it. Is there something you’re proud of? Post it. Do you want to say what you had for breakfast? Post it!!

Whatever it is, no matter how trivial it might seem or how stupid (which are the best; humour funny!). Celebrate today…oh, and remember to pig out on barbeque, the other thing the Fourth of July is about!! Oh, and...

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

Tidbits

Yesterday I celebrated my 25th Anniversary of being alive. I was hoping to write some insightful blog; you know, a reflection of my past-25-years-on-earth type of entry. Apparently, yesterday showed me that birthdays are just another day! Nothing-insightful here…typical.

My ever so great parents took me out to dinner last night at Ruth Chris’ Steakhouse. That place is the bomb! Oh my gosh, the steaks were heavenly! The wine was incredible! The cheesecake was so delicate! *drool* This is definitely a highly recommended restaurant you should hit at least once in your lifetime. Oh, and be prepared to spend your weekly paycheck there, it’s a little pricey… : D

I have successfully returned back to my roots as being Javafoofoo…I am shaking like a leaf because of that! I completely forgot how much I love coffee and completely forgot that one shouldn’t have two cups of coffee in a twelve-hour period when one hasn’t drunk a smidgen of coffee in over a month. My bad!

Also, I'm a Bat-fan and proud of it! So to all my friends who shake their heads while giggling at the notion of me seeing Batman Begins four times, :P ! I don't mind being a bat-fanatic, a bat-geek, batty for Bats, etc, etc. We all have our passions, be it food, films, God/religion, politics, or Batman! So, :P !

It's the Little things that matter

Something has been missing. My life has felt empty for a while. Am I not satisfied at work? Well no, I’m not…but it’s bearable and I can deal with that. Do I need a guy in my life? Ummm….no. Got friends that I care for and love, and I really don’t feel like I’m currently up for the responsibilities of a relationship…for now. Is my travel lust bothering the s*** out of me? At the moment, no. I guess my recent trip to New York has quenched it for a while. Do I need to see Batman Begins…again? Yes, but patience is a virtue and blah, blah, blah.

So what is it??!!

Wait!! I know what it is! I can’t believe I didn’t know. It’s practically been staring me in the face and if it was a snake it would of bit me!

I…need…. COFFEE!

Here I am, Javafoofoo, and I am not even living up to my name. What kind of blogger am I not to do such a thing?! I can’t even remember the last cup I had of that wonderful, dark elixir of energy! Ah, how I love thee, let me count the ways…

I do declare that I, Javafoofoo, will rectify this dilemma, and get all caffinated. Laissez le bon temps roulez!*


*Editor’s note: That statement is a New Orleans saying that means “Let the good times roll”. All inquiries on pronunciation can be posted on site…and you better not be a NOLA native.

Ya' Know...

...my birthday is only six days away!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6540975082

Lazy, lazy, lazy. lazy!

Though I'm not! really! I just haven't had the time yet to organize my thoughts--and my pictures--from my New York trip. So get off my case!! *twitch, twitch*

I'll get to it...you'll see..it'll be here...Soon, so soon...



Editor's Note: We apologize to those who have no idea what this "mental spasm" is about. If explanation is needed, please re-read the information listed below the "JavaFooFoo" title. All great minds--big and small--need to crack every so often. Thank-you for your understanding.

The Stuff Dreams are Made of

Do you dream in color? I do. It’s not the usual bright and vivid or realistic type colors that we see in through our eyes during everyday life. It’s more dark and muted giving off the impression of a perpetual night. Though it’s not. It just seems that way. Is that normal? Is there a normal? Do you dream this way? Do you dream in an Alice-in-wonderland type of world? Or does your imagination stick to the classic black and white? What colors does your id portray to you?

I woke up this morning feeling slightly sad and apprehensive. I remembered my prior dream a lot better than I usually do (which is pretty much never!). There was an occurrence of love at first sight with me and this other man. I think I was at work with a busy (IOW crowded) day. He was there with another woman, which I think was his girlfriend. We slightly flirted, making eye contact, smiling at each other, etc., etc., etc.

Hours, minutes, or moments later (it’s always so hard to tell which in dreamland) I received an anonymous gift of flowers. Nothing fancy; it was practically a stem of beautiful exotic flowers. I wonder who it was from and my eyes went back to the guy I was flirting with. A slight smile came across his face, which, in this dream, confirmed that the anonymous sender was he. Now this is where the imagination kicks in.

Some disaster was approaching, god only knows (since I can’t remember!). In this rush, the man pulled me aside and we “hid” in the restroom and he spoke some words of love or caring or something along those lines that, once again, I can’t remember. We hugged like lovers being, um, torn apart, or, um, something like that. (Okay, I’m not good with romantic themed metaphors. Shoot me!) The panic ensued and the all was evacuated out, stampede style! People were carried away by the vanloads, and I was, of course, in the same van as my mysterious man and his girl. We approached our destination (which looked strangely like my childhood neighborhood) and were to, well; get the heck out of the vehicle. Now during this trip, the guy’s girl caught some vague happenings between her man and me. Tears were welting in my eyes and he kept looking back at me with concern. When we did get kicked out, she grabbed her guy by the arm, looked in his in his eyes, and announced that she was carrying his child. (IOW, “I’m not letting you leave me to raise this kid by myself, you bastard.” If any of ya’ll watch Gilmore Girls Gilmore Girls, it was sort of like that scene in which Christopher told Lorelei that his girlfriend was pregnant.) I was absolutely heartbroken and I could see that he was distressed by this news. WE looked at each other knowing that it was over before it begins. I ran off in sobs and cried, and etc., etc., etc. And that’s pretty much it.

When I did wake up, like I said, I felt slightly sad and apprehensive. It was feelings that stuck with me through the morning. More importantly, what the heck did it mean??!! The only thing I understood was the guy in my dream. It was (*prepare to laugh*) Christian Bale. But that’s because I ended up seeing three movies this week with him as the star. Actions like that will sink people/places/things into the subconscious. But I digress from the subject. What the heck did my dream mean?

So, you peeps out there got two things to answer for me: if ya' can. What color you dream in and, more importantly, what my dream meant?

All responses shall be rewarded with my undying gratitude.

A$$HOLE ALERT!

This morning, maybe only after 30 minutes after clocking in at my customer service-tourism related job, my manager comes to me with a warning.

Manager: " Angie, have you heard about the hearing impaired party that will be on our first (tour)?"

Me: "No."

Manager: "Well to give you a heads up, (the tour company we are in partnership with) has a group of four that are hearing impaired that has been giving the company quite some trouble. They've been e-mailing (us) back and forth for weeks now demanding an interuptor on board the (tour). When they were let known that (we) didn't have one, that all (we) had were written up guides, they said they were insulted by that and they would go to a lawyer if we don't make things right. (We) did check into an interuptor and that'll be somewheres around $1000 for there services! In the end, even though they said they found other tours that would provide them with am interuptor, they still decided to go with (us) and they've still been difficult, though everything that (we) can possibly do for them has been done. So just be aware that they will be on our (tour) this morning."


Demanded? Lawyer? What the %^&$?!? The first thing I thought was why don't they go somewhere else? Heck, even my manager asked her higher ups about us having to take them as guest. When the company 's lawyer was questioned on this, he/she said we did. They even sent e-mails saying they would cause trouble during the tours if their needs weren't met. Cause trouble during the tours. Gosh, it's like children were coresponding with the company.

In my eyes, they were bluffing to get what they wanted. And it worked. Demanded things we didn't have to offer. Threathened us with legalities and disruption of tours. (And these were adults!!) They said other tours offered what they wanted, so why didn't go to them? It was because they were bluffing and because the were pricks and a$$holes.

7 Days and Counting

In exactly one week from this moment, I shall be in New York City with one of my best friends. :D :D :D

I can't wait! I'm finally becoming excited about my long awaited vaction once agian!

In the meantime, would anyone like me to bring them back anything?


*On a side note, only 12 more days to go till Batman Begins. Sch-weet!!