Everyday Amy

2012: More Fun.

2012-01-16T09:17:00.006-06:00

Every year I make New Year's Resolutions. Usually it's a long list full of unpleasant chores or personal qualities I wish I had, but clearly don't; And every year I am disappointed when I fail to make myself a better person or check all of the unpleasant things off the list.

This year I made resolutions again... But instead of a list that overwhelms me in it's drudgery, I resolved to have more fun. For so many reasons, Philadelphia has been a hard destination for me. Joy takes an effort here; An uphill battle that I too often feel I am losing. I guess this list is my last stand. A full assault against loneliness and boredom.

The List is 52 things long. One for every week in the year. My goal is to get through at least 1/2 of them:

1. Snow Tubing!

2. Scavenger Race

3. Learn to Make Croissants

4. Make a Baking Portfolio

5. Cape Cod Trip

6. Visit Texas (Non Holiday)

7. Grow Extended Herb Garden

8. Participate in Farm CSA

9. Cook a whole fish

10. Seasonal Recipe for Winter, Spring, Fall

11. Make own tamale recipe

X 12. Make homemade ice cream

13. White Water Rafting

14. Make fresh pasta

15. Go to Italian Market in Philly

16. Bike Ride by River in Philly or Fairmont Park Loop

17. Rent a cabin for the weekend

18. Be in a baking or cooking contest

19. Dance Lessons w/ Anthony

20. Build or restore a piece of furniture

21. Cook lamb rack

22. Try a mussels/ seafood bowl

23. Create a reading list for Emma

24. NanoWrimo 2012 - volunteer/ NPO book

25. Dress up for Halloween

26. Make my own lamp

27. Make a quilt patch that is poster-styled

28. Preserve Tomatoes

29. Make pickles at home

30. Go on a movie date with Anthony

31. Go to nice restaurant (Cake or Drakes or Top of Hill Cafe or American Cookery) in Chestnut Hill

32. Go to Hershey with Mom

33. Take a trip to Smithsonian in DC

34. Road trip to Bluebird Cafe in R.I.

35. Go back to New York for a weekend.

36. Go to Jersey Shore Boardwalk / Ocean City

37. Get a deep tissue massage

38. Stay in a hotel with a big tub for a weekend and take a bubble bath.

39. Play mini golf with Choi

40. Go to a farm to table restaurant

41. Go to Getteysburg with Dad.

42. Go to the Mutter Museum

43. Put wedding vows on canvas

44. Race Car w/ Anthony

45. Manayunk Bike Race festival in Summer

46. Create Something with my Kodak photos.

47. Play a social sport/ Join a team

48. Go to a concert: streetlight, suburban legend, woody pines, etc.

49. Go to a drive-in movie

50. Longwood Gardens at night

51. Philly Art Museum (free Sunday mornings)

52. Hike on the Appalachian Trail

Life in November 2011

2011-11-25T14:16:00.004-06:00

It's Fall in Philadelphia. Anthony and I got married in October and are living with a roommate in an apartment in Chestnut Hill. We have a big tree in the front yard that just dropped a thousand red leaves onto the yard.

Anthony is working for an electrical contractor. For the last few months they've been short on employees and heavy on work, so he works six or seven days a week. It's so strange to me that in the middle of this recession, they can't seem to find any new hires. I guess of all the thousands of unemployed out there, not many of them went to trade school.

They probably all went to College! Like they were supposed to! Only to be unemployed, underemployed or underpaid! Like me!

I'm still working at the "temporary" case management position I started almost a year ago. I actually got promoted to Senior Case Manager a few months ago after my boss was laid off.

When I took the job, I was thinking it would be a nice part-time pay check while I tried to start my own freelance business. Once I gave up on freelancing, I thought it would be "a nice part-time pay check" until I found a full-time job doing something more interesting and/or advanced. A few hundred resumes later, I find myself having worked only part-time for a whole year with no new prospects in sight.

This means I have 4 days off a week and Anthony has 1 or no days off a week, so I've become a master at entertaining myself.

We have a pet turtle named "B" that we rescued from an after school program, where she was regularly shaken, unfed and generally abused. After bringing her home, we found out that turtles don't really have a life span. As long as they aren't eaten or mistreated - they'll just keep on living. So suddenly instead of a pet, we have a new family member. Also, if she dies - It's definitely our fault.

Anthony has 3 friends and one cousin nearby that he grew up with. When he has a free weekend, we hang out with them. They are all true Philadelphians: sailor-mouthed and rough around the edges, but good people.

Philadelphians can be a little shocking at first. They're opinionated, outspoken, brash, impulsive. I blame this on their heritage. The settlers of Philadelphia were some of the first Americans. The constitution was signed in this city. I think of that generation of Americans as a slightly more eloquent version of modern day Philadelphians.

So that's our life now, an update that I hope will generally describe what I've been up to in three months of lapsed blogging. Living this life... oh! and getting married. Which was lovely!

The New Year is coming up... I hope in 2012 to be more ambitious, have more adventures and see my family more. And hopefully keep a record of it all here.

2011-06-19T22:48:00.004-05:00

Anthony Choi. King of All Things Practical. Went out and bought me a ring. And carried it around in his pocket for a month. And then today asked me to marry him.

Side note... Is it normal to feel like you're amped up on speed after saying yes to a marriage proposal?

29th Birthday!

2011-06-04T11:56:00.006-05:00

So we're sitting around the apartment on my birthday-eve. We'd made loose plans to go to this farm-to-table restaurant I'd been reading about online, but nothing concrete when Choi exclaims out of nowhere: "Hershey Park!"

Hershey Park is an amusement park in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The whole town is built around the Hershey Chocolate company. There's a Hershey School, Hershey Recreation Center, Hershey Hotel, Chocolate Avenue, Cocoa Drive - and Hershey Park: A chocolate themed amusement park.

We drove up the next morning and spent my whole birthday riding roller coasters together.

End of the day. I look a little disheveled - but Anthony looks so good in this photo I had to post it.

Choi and I in "The Kissing Tower" - a tall tower with Hershey Kiss shaped windows with an amazing view of Hershey, PA.

Hershey Park - Arial View

After the park, we had an amazing dinner in Hershey. I had this incredible de-constructed wedge salad. It was one of those meals you think about long afterwards. So delicious. Then at home, we ate key lime pie: homemade by Anthony, and cut using the knife set he bought me for my birthday.

I can't imagine having had a better day. It was fun, exciting, spontaneous and filled with things and people (one specifically) that I love.

28 was a rough year - one that I had to trudge my way through. I spent half of it unemployed, and the other half under-employed. I spend a quarter of it living in a weird basement, jobless and alone. I tried and failed to start a business.

All this to say - It felt good to start off 29 with a bang. It felt hopeful and exciting - A forecast of a more exciting future. One filled with more than just getting by.

Philly: Getting Less Terrible Daily!

2011-05-10T08:47:00.003-05:00

So Philadelphia is slowly becoming ever so slightly less miserable:

I'm no longer living in a tiny, kitchen-less basement. I'm actually paying LESS money to live in a two story apartment, in a beautiful neighborhood, with a kitchen, AND a landlord who speaks English.

I also found a part-time job case managing at a homeless shelter, and talked them into letting me work only 3 days a week. Every week I have a 4 day weekend. I feel like I'm retired.

I made it through the winter without dying or sliding my truck into anything. I've also learned to use the train system here which helps me avoid angry Philly drivers anytime I'm headed down town.

I continue to search out the good in Philly despite the angry drivers, angry shop owners and angry co-workers lurking around every corner. I think "angry" is a badge of honor for Philadelphians. My first week at this job I was actually accused (by several people) of "being too nice". It's certainly a lot for a Southern girl from "the friendly state" to absorb.

At any rate, I seem to be surviving the cultural climate with my friendliness in tact.

I am allowed one gushy, girly rant on this blog each year. So here we go:

2011-02-13T21:56:00.003-06:00

Best Valentines Weekend EVER

Anthony and I celebrated Valentine's Day over the weekend, since we're both working on Monday and work is sort of the opposite of romantic.

First of all, Anthony planned everything - which was AWESOME. I got to sit back and relax, and he did a great job! Anthony has really been out-doing me in festiveness this year, even going so far as to invent "Christmas in January" or "Fake Christmas", since we were in separate time zones for the traditional version.

On Saturday he brought me some really pretty flowers. He went to a flower shop and picked out each flower himself and they were all super pretty and are sitting in my window right now making my day a little brighter.

Then Saturday night we went out for Mexican Food! The best kind of food ever invented! There is a whole section of my heart dedicated to Mexican Food that has been sadly wilting away in Philly, but we found a random place in a nearby suburb that had pretty decent Mexican and even better Frozen Margaritas! Bonus.

Sunday he took me to the Philadelphia Zoo - the country's first zoo. It was Amazing! The zoo is actually one of the nicest I've ever been too, and we got to see a lot of active animals including the cutest family of Orangatangs ever.

Anyway, it was a wonderful weekend. I'm really glad we didn't try to cram something in on Monday night - this was so perfect. I'm feeling really happy, relaxed and lucky to have such a nice, thoughtful boyfriend.

A+ weekend in Philly.

Boys on the Train

2011-02-06T09:47:00.003-06:00

Took the train downtown this morning. Two boys in the seat behind us look out the window onto an industrial dump with smoking pollution towers in the background, fenced off with chain link and razor wire.

One boy exclaims to his mother, enthusiastically: "It's BEAUTIFUL outside!! I see a castle!!"

The other boy chimes in: "I see the castle too! Woah !!! Beautiful!"

...

Sitting in a downtown coffee shop having a warm smokey coffee with Anthony. He gets up enthusiastically, kisses me on the cheek and goes to see a man about a job. He's happy to be productive; running off to carve opportunities for himself in the world.

I'm happy to see him happy. Happy with my kiss. Happy to be surrounded by certain kinds of boys, who see beauty and opportunity out every window.

Northern Winter in Photos

2011-01-27T17:14:00.004-06:00

Northern Winter, Part 2

2011-01-13T07:02:00.004-06:00

So yesterday was my first, official Philly snow day. It took me about half an hour to uncover my car under 6-8 inches of snow. I also got to shovel out my first parking spot, and experience the frustration of having someone park in my shoveled out spot later that evening.

Cultural Point: Parking in a spot that someone else shoveled out is somewhat of a social taboo in the North; something worth smashing a mirror over I've been told. But what's interesting is how unavoidable it is. For example, yesterday I drove to Choi's house. I don't live in that neighborhood, so obviously I didn't have a spot shoveled out for myself there. Once a road has been plowed, the snow is piled up in 2-3 foot piles by the side of the road, except for the gaps where people have dug out spots for themselves.

Now unless I am willing to take someone's spot in this foreign

neighborhood, my options are to either: a) park my car in the middle of the street or b) carry a shovel in my car with me, and leave my car in the middle of the street with the hazards on for half an hour while I dig myself out a spot. (Nobody does this.)

It's quite the social conundrum. Everyone will tell you how infuriating it is to have your dug out spot taken, but everybody does it anyway. You have to.

Anyway, my neighbor took my dug out spot before I got home from Choi's house last night (the audacity!), leaving me in the middle of the street, with no shovel and no parking spot. I stopped my car in the street trying to decide what to do, and ultimately ended up plowing my car into a pile of snow to "park" it. No doubt that pile iced over last night, so I need to go chip my car out again this morning to get to work.

Here's a picture of me out in the snow with my Christmas boots (Thanks, Mom!)

#3 Experience a True Northern Winter

2010-12-16T21:59:00.002-06:00

So "Winter" hasn't even officially started yet, and we've already got 6 inches of snow outside.

I work 4 miles from my house and it took me an HOUR to get home today... That's how bad Texans are at driving in snow. I keep trying to convince my boss that this is "CANCEL EVERYTHING" weather, but she just keeps laughing at me.

Crazy Yankees.

On a related note, while sliding my car home at 3 miles per hour, I fully realized how much driving a stick shift sucks. I know I'm supposed to be a high-and-mighty elitist about driving stick:

"I have so much more control over my driving..."

"Automatics were only invented so women could drive during the war..."

...and so on, but that's just what people who can't afford to trade-in their stick shift for an automatic tell themselves so they can sleep at night. The next time I buy a car I plan to fully embrace the one-pedal, comatose driving lifestyle. It's the next step in my progression from stick-shift to chauffeur.

So starts my Northern Winter. Will keep ya'll posted.

A Confession and a Goal

2010-11-22T06:46:00.004-06:00

I'm starting a new job today. I'll be case-working for an agency that helps step homeless people out of poverty through a mixture of housing support and what they call "Life Action Plans". Thinking I should get one of those... ;)

It's only part-time, which means I can continue working towards #1 on my Life List: Work for myself one day. This particular goal is very important to me because it means I would have the freedom to work from anywhere: meaning I could spend 2-3 months a year at home with my family - but still be able to travel around, live in new cities, etc.

Which brings me to a confession:

Since leaving New Orleans, I've been working pretty steadily towards starting up as a freelance web designer. That is until this past week. This past week I fully embraced my state of unemployment and accomplished nothing towards my goals. In fact, I spent most of the week playing video games at Choi's house.

I feel like I needed to say that out loud to the internet today and get it out of my system.

This holiday season I may get to spend a few days with my family. A few days that will cost me $400-500 and a groping by some airport official. And this has been more or less the case for the past several holiday seasons.

Why? Because for the past several years I've been working jobs in far away cities. Jobs that only give a few days off around Christmas. Just enough time to fly in/ fly out.

I have to get to the a self-employed place. I can't afford lazy weeks like this last one, and once I start this new job - I will need to be extra motivated in my free time. I'm setting out a goal today that by next holiday season I'll be in a position to spend Thanksgiving to New Years at home with my family.

Heaven in Philadelphia

2010-11-11T12:34:00.003-06:00

I think I found my own personal paradise today in Philadelphia. I'm sitting in the second story of a coffee shop at the top of a hill. There's something about a coffee shop with a quiet upstairs. I can't even explain it. And this one has a huge window overlooking a beautiful tree-lined street.

Not only do they have great coffee and free wi-fi -- This place actually roasts their own coffee beans upstairs - so the whole place has an amazing aroma. There's a bookstore across the street, and further down the hill the avenue is lined with bakeries and local shops.

I may have finally found a peaceful spot in the middle of this crazy city.

60 Minutes Piece on the Unemployment Crisis

2010-10-26T12:11:00.005-05:00

Misery loves company. I'm coming into my 5th month of unemployment. I will say that I left my job in New Orleans. I wasn't laid off; I chose to leave. The economy was sheltered there and to be brutally honest: the economy felt like something that effected only some people, other people. I had no idea how permeating it could be until moving to Philadelphia.

If you watch the whole video, there's a scene where they poll a support group for the unemployed. Everyone in the room has a degree, half of them have Masters degrees, and about a quarter of them had PhDs. They interview a former fiber optics engineer who is elated that he finally got a job -- at Target making $9.50/hour.

I think what is most frustrating about this economy, is feeling like none of the rules you grew up with apply. I think many of us were taught growing up "if you get a good education and work really hard, you can make a good life for yourself" or a similar philosophy.

In this economy it feels like work goes to whoever is willing to lower their standards the most - and even then you need to be lucky.

2010-10-18T22:53:00.002-05:00

Oh man. Don't even know what to say, except that Philly is kicking my butt. (I was gonna say kicking my ass, but I edited it for mom. Hi Mom! Love you!)

This is not a city for the weak of heart. Not in 2010 in this recession.

Oh man...

I may not be enough of a nerd for this line of work.

2010-10-08T02:29:00.003-05:00

So I was going to "quickly" upload the HTML for a new Facebook Fan Page. Since I had already coded it a few weeks ago, this should have taken about 2 seconds. But of course, upon upload - my layout was totally wrecked! What I thought was going to take a few seconds, ended up taking about 4 hours. It's 3:30am now, and I finally finished it. Dang.

Some good lessons learned though. So hooray for me conquering Facebook!

This one's a keeper.

2010-10-01T18:40:00.004-05:00

Let me just brag for a moment:

Anthony just came home with a box of my favorite stress relief cookies. The ones I buy for only the most serious stress situations. (I eat the cookies. The cookies eat my feelings...) He also picked up a pack of dry erase markers. (I have a somewhat serious obsession with dry erase boards.)

He's been really supportive of my endeavors the last few months. Anthony is one of the most financially responsible people I know, so when I said I wanted to not have a job for a few months and work on starting my own business - there was probably a whole part of his brain dedicated to cringing-- but he's been very encouraging and has offered a lot of good feedback on my business choices and even on specific projects.

Major boyfriend points across the board.

2010-09-30T23:55:00.002-05:00

Can we all just agree that Dirty Dancing was/is one of the best movies and movie soundtracks ever made?

Good News Finally!

2010-09-28T21:36:00.002-05:00

Anthony found a job! So only half of Team "Move-to-Philly-in-the-Midst-of-Recession" is unemployed now. Even better, he found a job in his field (commercial electrical work) that will work around his school schedule.

I'm pretty excited. We've been having quite a time trying to get on our feet, so every little bit of progress feels awesome.

I have an interview on Thursday for a part-time bookkeeping job. I'm just looking for something light to pay the bills, while I continue to pursue #1 on my Life List. Progress made in September includes: designing and ordering business cards, purchasing my domain name, and building out my portfolio by completing some pro-bono projects for some of my favorite non profits.

Slow and steady wins the race...

2010-09-22T14:29:00.001-05:00

Just came home to my tiny, no air flow apartment to the smell of rotting meat.

Trying to work without gagging.

A Beautiful Philly Day

2010-09-19T00:30:00.005-05:00

Anthony and I had a great day in Philadelphia! We went to Tyler State Park which is only about 15 minutes from Anthony's house and is so beautiful. Combine that with the PERFECT weather that is Fall in the Northeast - and there is nothing left to desire:

We played frisbee and walked on the miles of trails there. It was very peaceful and serene.

I've definitely noticed I spend a lot more time outdoors when it's not 108 degrees outside with 100% humidity. I could get used to this weather... Anyway - Philly's not all bad it turns out. If you can ignore the drivers, it can actually be quite pleasant.

An Aunt Times Three

2010-09-14T02:07:00.003-05:00

My sister had a beautiful baby girl last week, making Hannah Faith the latest addition to my collection of nieces. She is so sweet and cute... just perfect! This is her fresh-out-of-the-womb, so she still looks kind of shocked I think...

I love being an Aunt. All my booger bears are beautiful girls and so much fun. Can't wait to see them again soon...

On Job Hunting Part 2: A Constant State of Rejection

2010-08-26T14:03:00.002-05:00

Every call that's not the call.

Every time your email says Inbox (1) and you rush to check it and it turns out to be one of a million generic email updates (you never realized how many subscriptions you had until now).

Every phone call that turns out to be a telemarketer or your mom.

Every hour that passes; The deafening silence of non-communication.

Ode to the job hunt.

On Job Hunting

2010-08-21T11:47:00.002-05:00

When listed in a job-description, "great learning experience" should translate almost directly to "we have higher level work, but would rather not pay for it."

An update seems appropriate

2010-08-19T11:17:00.003-05:00

Since I last posted, I have moved to Philadelphia! I am deep in Yankee territory, but trying to blend in. (Side note: The best way to blend in here is to adopt a semi-hostile attitude towards anyone who may walk within 10 feet of you. This aggression should double when driving.)

I am presently subletting a basement apartment that consists of a room and a bathroom. There is no kitchen, but I have a mini-fridge and a microwave and have fully (re)embraced dormitory-styled cuisine. In college, I dreamed of publishing a Ramen Noodle cookbook. I have about a dozen recipes featuring this $.10 microwavable noodle as the main ingredient. The dream is still alive!

I don't get cell phone reception in my basement and sometimes I can't get a wi-fi signal. I don't own a television, so frequently the only thing to do in my apartment is lay on my cot (Did I mention I don't have a bed?) or read a magazine. Some have noted the prison-like nature of my new sublet. Here's what I have to say to that: Even prisoners have cable.

In all seriousness, I have settled into the quiet isolation of it, and am actually enjoying the long quiet hours alone with my thoughts and a book. After shutting out all of the noise, I can finally hear my own creative voice. I have ideas again, enjoy books again, feel like blogging again!

This video has been floating around the internet, and it really hit my browser at an interesting time in my own life:

Honestly, I forgot how much I enjoy being alone. And by alone, I mean alone with my thoughts. Not alone with my television, or alone in the car listening to the radio, or alone watching Hulu or surfing the internet. We spend so much of our day with our minds set to "download". We are constantly taking in information and entertainment; always stimulating our brains.

It's amazing what happens when you stop absorbing, flip the switch, and let your mind create, pour out, generate it's own interesting information. I wonder how much creativity has been lost in recent generations, simply for the fact that we never give our own minds a chance to speak. We're too busy cramming ourselves full; interrupting our own thoughts with junk.

I've really relaxed into the silence of my own apartment, and was just starting to think, "This is how I want to live..." when Anthony sent me this article on modern homesteading. As soon as I read about this family, I instantly had one of those falling-in-love, yes-yes-yes, "this is me" moments. I love the idea of picking and choosing your modern conveniences. I love the internet, I hate television and fast food. What a luxury that we can choose the best parts of both worlds.

More to come... Have an interview I need to get to.

Number 5 - Make my own Tamales

2010-08-09T22:08:00.002-05:00

I won't go into the "how" of making tamales, other than to say that it is a lengthy process one should not begin on a whim. It took me 2 full days in the kitchen, but the end result was wonderful, delicious and bountiful. (If you're looking for a how-to, here is the guide I used.)

I actually really enjoyed the process of making such a traditional food from scratch. In the era of McDonald's and food that comes wrapped in plastic-covered, serving-sized units - it feels nice to make something people have been making for hundreds of years.

I also enjoyed the communal aspect of making tamales. My mother, sisters and two nieces all jumped into the tamale assembly line at some point. I've heard in Mexico that each family has their own, unique tamale recipe. My family and I are already working on our own family-recipe for our next tamale venture.

27. Have an AmeriCorps team over for dinner!

2010-06-18T13:42:00.005-05:00

For those of you who don't know, AmeriCorps is a national service program through which people commit up to a year to full-time community service. Some have called it the domestic version of the peace corps.

I participated in AmeriCorps in 2005-2006 and got to travel all across the southeast USA serving with different non-profits. It's how I ended up in New Orleans after Katrina.

One of our service projects was in the Florida Keys, and while we were there - a family that no one on my team had ever met before called up our team and invited us over for dinner. Her son was serving in AmeriCorps on the West Coast, and she had called the main office to see if any teams were serving in her area.

The woman cooked us an amazing home made meal served with a cooler of cold beer and let us hang out at her beautiful home on the Florida keys. For AmeriCorps members who had been sleeping in tents for 3 weeks and living on a food budget of $4/day - her gesture felt like complete luxury. Ever since then, I've wanted to invite an AmeriCorps team over for dinner and pay it forward.

It just so happens, that I've been managing an AmeriCorps team for the past year, so Wednesday I took the chance to cross this particular item off my life list. I asked them all to attend a mandatory team meeting at 3pm on Wednesday. When they got there, I gave them an envelope that started them off on a city-wide scavenger hunt.

Each envelope they came across had coordinates to their next locations. I planned it so that the team would end up revisiting several of our project sites from the last year. At each site, they got a statistic highlighting their impact in the community. One of the envelopes led them to the top of a sky rise in downtown New Orleans, where they got their most impressive statistic: 5,000+ volunteers engaged in service in the past 10 months.

The last clue led them to my house, where I had a big pot of chili on the stove, some roasted-corn salsa, and of course... an ice cold cooler of beer. I think they had a great time, and it felt amazing to pay it forward as an AmeriCorps alum.

Here are some of the photos from their scavenger hunt:

#11. Try 100 Different Kinds of Cheese

2010-05-31T22:18:00.007-05:00

I'd like to dedicate this item on my Life List to my sister, Lara, who once told me she would not give up cheese for a million dollars.

I got the idea for this Life List item at Whole Foods. Our local branch is amazing: On Sundays they cut up different fruits and cheeses and you can sample all kinds of interesting things. Those little tooth-picked cheese cubes were the first step in expanding my world of cheese, which formerly consisted of cheddar and sharp cheddar.

They already had me hooked on Sundays, and then they started putting out a bowl with tiny cuts of different spendy cheeses. The cuts were bite size, and only cost a dollar each; Like the cheese version of a travel-sized shampoo. Between sample Sundays and the daily sample bowl, trying fancy cheeses has suddenly become affordable.

The first cheese I tried was this Brie:

I read up online about the best ways to eat it, and discovered a whole world of cheese snobbery I wasn't quite prepared for. There is a whole set of etiquette guidelines just around eating this particular kind of cheese. For example, Brie should be sliced along the radius so that everyone can receive equal parts of the rind. Cutting the end off the Brie is called "pointing the Brie" and is considered extremely rude. (If you are anything like me, you are thinking back to a dozen parties with cheese and fruit plates, and wondering how many obscure food-etiquette rules you've broken in ignorance.)

Despite a dozen different condiment combinations, I wasn't a huge fan of this cheese; but then I read the wiki on Brie and found out that what I tried would not even be called real Brie by cheese connoisseurs. Real Brie is made in France and isn't pasteurized; therefore, it cannot be imported to America. In fact, they have to spray the outside of American Brie with mold spores to try and recreate the rind found on real Brie. What I tried was a complete impostor.

To sum up, there's a lot to know about cheese. Maybe more than I wanted to know... But I think half the fun of a Life List project is in opening up new doors - Even the doors with snobby cheese connoisseurs behind them.

Happy Birthday to Me!

2010-05-30T11:29:00.003-05:00

I know my sister, the photographer, is probably cringing at this snapshot full of shadows and glasses glare. But sometimes it's worth posting a bad picture to remember the time your boyfriend got up early on your birthday to bake a home-made key lime pie. The thought of Choi trying to find the measuring cups in the kitchen... or crafting little whipped cream dollops... or placing a delicate pink candle into a pie... It's enough to make me smile any day. =)

This guy can run pipe through a commercial building all day, and then come home and bake with the best of them... What a catch!

Anyway, I had a great birthday. 28 isn't as scary as I thought it would be. I've still got 2 more years to blame it on my 20s, and you better believe I'm taking advantage of it.

Thanks Mom!

2010-05-09T15:28:00.002-05:00

For all the homemade dinners, eating together at the table.

For letting us loose in the neighborhood to play.

For making a beautiful yard and home for us to live in.

For homemade birthday cakes with candles.

For giving us blank paper instead of coloring books.

For teaching us how to sew and cook, and expecting us to help with chores.

For cool wash clothes on our foreheads when we were sick.

For taking us to church every Sunday, and giving us a quarter to put in the collection plate.

For reading to us every night.

You are the best Mom! And I love you... (more!)

Spontaneity

2010-04-11T21:10:00.003-05:00

Anthony and I decided Friday night to hit up Orange Beach this weekend. It was a totally unplanned trip, but so nice to get out of New Orleans for a few days. We went down Saturday afternoon, had some seafood at a little dive off of the beach, and then lay out in the sun for a few hours this morning.

I'm coming home with a sunburn, and a few more items for my Carpe Diem list! Based on this trip, I'm adding: #7 Para-sail and #8 Look hot in beachwear.

I figure my best time slot for achieving #8 will be while I'm still in my 20s, which brings me to another update. I've been working really hard at improving my health and wellness! Some folks from work started a Biggest Loser challenge in our office, so I joined that. I've also been eating a lot of healthy natural foods, counting calories, and trying to fit in some exercise.

My goal is to get back to 'just after AmeriCorps' Amy, which is probably the fittest I've been in my adult life...

...Now that may not look incredibly fit to the untrained eye - but it's pretty dang fit for an Allen girl. (Thanks for the giant calve genes, Dad!)

I digress... It's going well so far. I've lost about 6 pounds and feel a lot better just from cutting the crap out of my day-to-day diet. Now if I could just get into an exercise routine...

Anyway: The beach was great. Life is good. To be continued...

Video Games Live

2010-04-04T20:05:00.004-05:00

Choi and I went to see "Video Games Live" - a concert series featuring music from video games.

YES. We are big nerds. I'm OK with that.

Anyway, there was a costume contest before the show, so of course we entered. We went as the Companion Cube and the Cake from Portal; One of the few video games I've really loved so far.

Those are my legs sticking out from underneath the cube.

It ended up being a really fun evening. Here's a picture with a Portal fan who was dressed as the "Little Sister" from Bioshock.

It took a trip to Michael's and 2 evenings of crafting to get our costumes together. So even if you don't get why this is funny from a gaming perspective, at least you can appreciate the idea of Choi cutting out pink paper hearts after work.

A Start to my Life List:

2010-04-02T18:46:00.004-05:00

I've been reading Maggie Mason's blog for awhile now, and have been keeping a mental "life to-do" list as a result. (Check out Maggie's "Mighty Life List" for inspiration.)

The idea of coming up with 100 things is a little intimidating, so I figure I'll add to my list as I think of things. Here's a few to start:

1. Work for myself someday.
2. Organize my photos into meaningful and beautiful collections of memories.
3. Experience a true northern winter... (and survive it).
4. Host an elaborate party for no particular occasion or holiday.
5. Learn to make tamales.

To be continued in my sidebar... What's on yours?

2010-03-10T00:23:00.003-06:00

It's after midnight... Can't sleep. Up watching reality TV and chowing down on girl scout cookies.

This is my therapy. This is me sliding downhill...

>>>stressed<<<

I'm grumpy at work... I come home and can't stop replaying frustrating scenarios out over and over in my mind... Can't get my thoughts out of overdrive, so they keep me awake.

I don't sleep enough and just get grumpier and more frustrated. Work just gets harder.

Tired, overworked, stressed out, can't sleep... more tired, more overworked, more stressed out, even less sleep, even more tired...

'Til I hit bottom, quit and move to another city. I've hit this wall before and ended up back in Texas... I hit it once before then and ended up in AmeriCorps.

I'm starting to wonder if it's really the jobs or the cities...

Or if I just can't keep still.

2010-02-28T18:48:00.000-06:00

If you are at all serious about food, MAKE THIS IMMEDIATELY.

Best recipe of the month!

Saints Won the Superbowl!!

2010-02-07T23:36:00.002-06:00

Can you believe it?

As soon as the game was over, our street filled with neighbors in black and gold jerseys screaming

'WHO DAT!' We shared a bottle of champagne with people in the street, and then drove down to Canal. Before we could even get into the quarter traffic came to a dead stop, with everyone honking their horns and screaming out their windows. People were getting out of their cars and dancing in the street.

The whole city is flooding the quarter as I write this. It's the biggest party I've ever seen in New Orleans... and this is a city that knows how to party.

Geaux Saints!!

Favorite Quote from Home:

2009-12-22T20:03:00.001-06:00

"Ohhh! It's NCIS: California! The best show on television, except for NCIS regular!"

Missing Home...

2009-11-30T22:46:00.003-06:00

I love this print by exploding dog, and can't wait to come home for Christmas...

Thanksgiving!

2009-11-27T23:26:00.003-06:00

This is the first Thanksgiving I've had where I haven't been either at home with my family or cooking for volunteers in New Orleans. In lieu of sitting home bored watching bad cable, I decided to cook a full on Thanksgiving meal.

Yes, even a turkey. If you've ever lived with me you know I get kind of grossed out by raw meat, but I went full out this year!

I cooked an Emeril recipe: Cranberry Glazed Turkey Breast. Came out great! The meat was really juicy - Not dry at all.

Anyway. Missing my family this year, but overall - a pretty good Thanksgiving!

2009-09-07T20:13:00.001-05:00

I baked my own bread!

2009-08-29T21:35:00.002-05:00

Family Make Overs!

2009-08-29T20:45:00.002-05:00

Found this really funny website.

So MOM GETS A MAKEOVER!

Here is what Mom looked like in 1984... Totally.

Too funny...

2009-08-26T21:44:00.002-05:00

So Choi and I have been sharing my car. His is in the shop after it rained last week, and the street he normally takes home turned into a river. A river no VW Golf was meant to forge.

So yesterday, I left work in the middle of the day to pick him up. I had him drop me at the office for a meeting and sent him home in my car. While I was in the meeting, I missed 3 calls from Choi and the following texts.

4:02pm. Choi: I'm locked out of the house.

And then a second text, the one I can never delete from my phone:

4:48pm. Choi: I might have to poop outside.

2009-08-09T21:16:00.003-05:00

Just found out my good friends Reggie and Mary got engaged this week!

SO HAPPY FOR THEM!

2009-08-05T23:31:00.003-05:00

Has anyone else seen the "I Didn't Know I was Pregnant" show on TLC?

I can't believe there are enough women out there with that experience that they can make a whole series out of it. Absolutely insane.

Ode to the Trek 7100 Womens Multi-Terrain

2009-08-04T22:35:00.004-05:00

So a few months ago I decided to trade in my cheapo-Craigslist cruiser for a nice Trek mixed-terrain bike. For a whole year before the upgrade, I had been struggling to keep up with Choi on rides, and was starting to think I didn't like biking all that much.

Someone suggested the bike might be to blame. I thought about upgrading for months and went to 3-4 different bike shops, several times before finally purchasing one, and even then - only because I was driving Choi insane with all the trips to look at different versions of a frame with two wheels and pedals.

Turns out, the right equipment does make a difference. Having a bike with hand brakes and gears is like a whole other experience. I really do enjoy riding. Choi and I even rode our bikes up to Metairie for dinner one weekend (an 18 mile trip).

It was great!

But this is New Orleans, so that's not how this story ends. HA. Happy endings? This is the birthplace of the blues. In N'awlins the story ends with someone breaking into your screened-in porch and stealing your bike.

And your roomate's bike.

And then the cops don't show up for 5 hours. Incidentally, they don't file a report, because you gave up on waiting for them after an hour and went out for a beer.

But wait a second ya'll. The story can't just end with crime. This is New Orleans! There has to be crime AND incompetence.

So the next morning, instead of pursuing the stolen bike or the break-in, the cops stop by to ticket my car for "parking against traffic". NOT in front of a fire hydrant, NOT blocking someone's driveway, NOT too far from the curb. A ticket for parking in a completely valid parking spot, on the left side of the street.

GAH. New Orleans is such a kick in the face sometimes.

2009-07-27T07:08:00.003-05:00

I should be leaving for work right now, but I'm so sleepy and unmotivated.

What an ominous start to the week. It's Monday, I haven't even done any work yet, and I'm already wishing the week were over.

Oy.

Cruel Cruel World!

2009-07-22T08:54:00.002-05:00

I am so sad right now! I went out this morning and found 6 FAT disgusting catepillars on my one desimated tomato plant. I planted that tomato from SEED before Christmas, and it had finally gotten some flowers on it and was doing really well.

This is BEYOND heart breaking.

I sprayed them with the hose on jet spray, but they are still stuck to the plant. And they are so fat and sticky looking I am afraid to touch them.

Gah! And now I have to go to work, so they will probably finish it off while I'm away.

I won't even lie - I am shedding actually tears this morning... Over a plant. I don't know how farmers do it... I can't imagine working all year, and then losing whole crops to a freeze or some other random act of nature.

2009-07-22T08:31:00.001-05:00

I am missing the days when I didn't have to convince people to care.

Quickie

2009-07-14T08:45:00.003-05:00

Argh. Getting calls at 7am from crazy volunteers is not my favorite part of this job.

Unrelated: Dad broke down and got two dogs. Some guy had some mutts in a Target parking lot. I knew he wouldn't last. =)

Ew Ew Ew Ew

2009-07-02T16:05:00.000-05:00

Dean just pulled a tick out of Emma's head.

EWWWW.

I will be compulsively checking myself for the next 3 days.

San Francisco...

2009-06-22T23:44:00.005-05:00

...is the perfect temperature and smells like freshly baked bread.

Also - Apparently the magnet in my torso that draws crazy-old-homeless guys to me is not just limited to the Southern states. It's a national phenomenom, perhaps even global. It took a whole of 4 minutes out of the airport shuttle before a West-Coast crazy-old-homeless guy was following me around telling me how pretty I looked, and maybe we should hang out all day, or hell - get married and have crazy-old-homeless offspring.

I had two excellent meals today - both on accident. At the Houston airport I tried Einstein's bagels for the first time - delicious. And their "Darn good cup of coffee" totally lives up to it's name. Then in San Francisco, I ducked into Center Stage Deli to grab a sandwich on my way to the conference, and it was maybe one of the best sandwiches I've ever had.

The opening session of conference was all out. Guest speakers included: Arnold Schwarzzenegar, Maria Schriver, Nancy Pelosi, Matthew McConaughey, Jon bon Jovi, and MICHELLE OBAMA.

Holy crap. It's cool to see so many big names come out for a conference in Volunteerism and National Service. The Arnold was surprisingly self-deprecating and funny. Also - Did you know that he does not accept the governor's salary he is offerred, and instead acts as governor on a volunteer basis and gives the funds to charities?

He listed is governorship as part of his volunteer work, so I looked it up when I got back to the hotel. Very impressive. I wish more people would look at public office as a service role.

Anyway! Too much to say, but so far so good.

Yikes!

2009-06-18T08:48:00.002-05:00

You know you're working too much when:

1. You go a whole month without blogging.

2. You can't ever remember what day it is or what you are supposed to be doing.

3. The burrito-maker at Felipe's doesn't have to ask what you want, because you go there for dinner every night.

Ugh. I am so ready for vacation. Looks like I'll be hitting San Francisco next week, then Oklahoma, then Texas... Possibly going up to Cape Cod later this summer?

The heat, the humidity and the job are all unbearable lately. My survival strategy is avoidance. So I'm getting out of the city for as many weeks of the summer as possible.

Another failed attempt at greatness...

2009-05-17T18:08:00.004-05:00

So for Choi's birthday, I signed us up for a class on Pasta-making. The boy has an Italian stomach, and a drive to customize almost every experience to meet the most enjoyable specifications. If you know Choi, then you know it's true. This is a guy that would rather walk out of the movie theater, than see a film from a bad seat. And when it comes to food, his passion, he is master of the customized order.

But I digress... Saturday came around, and we were definitely in a lazy, half-dazed, weekend-nap kind of mood. We didn't end up leaving the house until 20 minutes before the class was supposed to start. I think Choi was caught up in a video game and I was napping. Thirty minutes in the car, and a traffic-nightmare Tulane graduation at the super-dome later... we didn't end up making it to the class.

I was pretty bummed, probably more than Choi even, as a lot of my reputation as a cool girlfriend is based on my ability to spoil someone on their birthday. (I really can't take credit for this. Anyone who knows my family - knows that an Allen Christmas, birthday, or other commemoration, MUST be blown into titanic proportions of celebratory fun. In fact, I would say, I am a much tamer version of my parents in this respect.)

So today, dinner rolls around. I'm hungry, bored and still riding on a residual wave of disappointment... I decided to rally. I told myself, 'Amy - You're from the internet generation. You don't need a class! The world is at your fingertips.' I googled a recipe for homemade pasta (surprisingly simple by the way) and went to work.

... Disaster.

You may not be able to judge from this photo, but my noodles are gigantically proportioned. They have the diameter of a human finger. I wasn't brave enough to taste one... I bet if you bit one chaulky flour would spill out, like a sad, pasta pixy stick.

Anyway - I managed to multiply my initial failure, and rack up two pasta-related disasters in one weekend. I guess some things (especially things dealing with doughs), still do require a little face-to-face explanation.

...Which somehow I find comforting.

Please watch this BEFORE you freak out about Swine Flu:

2009-05-07T23:37:00.001-05:00

Our Legacy

2009-04-17T22:32:00.003-05:00

I hope that one day in a future mellennia, when archeological digs mean combing through computer chips and servers, that someone uncovers this gem (and videos like it) and tries to make inferences about our culture based on our art:

How We Decide

2009-03-28T20:10:00.003-05:00

I just ran across this video on the web, where Jonah Lehrer discusses how the human brain makes decisions.

I thought it was 1) fascinating and 2) spoke to my current dilemmas. It's so interesting to think about how we make decisions... And to hear that YES - Having too many options overwhelms the human brain - on a base, chemical level.

I've always suspected I'd be happier if I had a few less choices. My generation has been told since we were kids that we can "be anything we want to be" and "do anything we set our minds to"... Sounds great, but my cerebral cortex is completely overwhelmed with all the possibilities.

Oh, New Orleans...

2009-03-28T18:44:00.005-05:00

Someone at the Chicago Tribune did a research study to find out which state was more corrupt: Illinois or Louisiana...

I don't think I have to tell you who came out on top...

Here's the link.

We're still apartment hunting, and I am in the middle of all of the usual pre-lease signing stressers that I am so prone to. "Is this really where I want to be for the next year?" is a question I grapple with at the beginning of every new lease; but somehow in New Orleans the question seems particularly poignant... (*See beginning of this blog entry.)

What can you do though? Gotta live somewhere... I think I need to figure out what I'm working towards with this life of mine, and then see if New Orleans is the place to accomplish that. I have good roommates, a good job, nice apartment... but I don't have a goal that I'm excited about, or any end in mind for my life.

I think I get depressed when I feel like I'm just "coasting".

Looking for a New Home.

2009-03-25T15:31:00.004-05:00

I'm writing this entry purely out of spite for everyone who keeps telling me I never blog anymore. Well, HaHA! I am blogging now. What? Huh? That's right - I blogged, so you got nothin' to say to me about it. =P

Let's see - What's new with Amy.

Our landlord decided she misses New Orleans and is coming back, which means we're getting the boot. Apartment hunting here, has all kinds of special New Orleans considerations: Will water come in the door if it rains really hard? Is the wood the old termite resistant kind or will I step through the floor one morning on my way to the bathroom? Did the owner put up new drywall after Katrina or just paint over the water stains?

I'm convinced there exists on every realtor's desk, a bell curve that relates every property's affordability, to it's proximity to "the hood". Every other house is "shotgun" style, meaning every room is lined up in a row, and you end up walking through your roommate's room to pee at 3 in the morning.

Don't get me wrong. There is no shortage of available properties here in NOLA. Apartment hunting is only a bitch if you have standards. If you don't care about your health, safety or indoor plumbing - There are plenty of spacious, gutted out, moldy Katrina houses with rent/sale signs outside, available by the hundreds.

I will say - It is nice to have roommates right now. New Orleans is not as immune to the economy as we were last year. It's nice to share rent and bills and food with other people, and especially nice to have a little community away from home that can help out when things are hard, or money is tight, or you live in the murder-capital of the country and you don't want to be alone in a house at night.

I think if this economy gets much worse - you'll see a lot more people living the way we do. Families sharing houses; Individuals going in on places together. It makes everyone's life a little easier; a little less lonely.

Paying Tribute

2009-02-28T23:10:00.002-06:00

Went the funeral of Ms. Antoinette K-Doe this morning. If you want a taste of how New Orleanians deal with death, you can read about it here.

My non-profit renovated Ms. Antoinette's lounge, The Mother-in-Law Lounge, after Katrina. She became a good friend to the organization, hosting fundraisers at her lounge, feeding volunteers and serving on our Board.

She was a really unique and caring lady.

Mardi Gras in New Orleans

2009-02-21T21:05:00.003-06:00

It's Carnival Season in New Orleans, which means for the past couple of weeks this city has been throwing parades, attending balls, having huge parties and wearing ridiculous costumes... I love New Orleans.

We're in a really sweet spot this year. We live about four blocks off of the parade route which means 26 parades will be passing within walking distance of our house, but when we come home - we don't have too much noise.

After Carnival culminates on Fat Tuesday, we'll have a weekend off, and then in March we have the St. Patrick's Day Parade, St. Joseph's Day and Super Sunday (the day the Mardi Gras Indians roam the streets and show off their hand-made costumes). Then, in April we have 2 weekends of Jazz Fest.

This city sure loves to party while the weather is nice... and every other day of the year too. =)

Mary and the girls road-tripped it out here to catch some of the fun. The girls are passed out in a pile of stuffed animals and beads right now. None of the float riders could resist Madi's chubby baby arms waving up at them - and she banked on Mardi Gras loot. Mary came with a friend, and they're out right now enjoying the French Quarter.

I'm taking the night off so I can gear up for three more days of parties and parades.

Good times all around.

Is walking everywhere an option?

2009-02-08T14:03:00.002-06:00

I hate travel in this city. Since moving back here a year ago:

My truck was hit TWICE while parked in the parking lot at work.

Crunched in the front corner of my truck on a pole, while trying to back out of a cramped underground parking lot

Got in a fender bender on the Causeway in the middle of a huge traffic jam

Ticketed by a camera for not making a complete stop before the crosswalk while going right on red.

Ticketed for parking on a street that a bus makes a turn on

Got into an accident while riding the streetcar home from the french quarter

Witnessed first-hand 2 other streetcar/car collisions

Almost was run over by a streetcar while riding my bike on the neutral ground

Almost got hit by a car trying to cross a street.

Just now almost got hit by another car - when I HAD THE RIGHT OF WAY, and he turned into me without a turn signal, and with no apology for almost breaking my legs with his fender.

Have been yelled at, cursed at, honked at and otherwise assaulted in my car too many times to count.

I am the first to admit, that most of this problem is my own fault, but regardless: I can't take it anymore. I can't drive here. I can't even park here. I try to be really careful, but I'm just not used to living in a place where the streets are so congested, small, busy - and FULL OF CRAZY PEOPLE.

I'm at the end of my transportation rope...

Public Self-Shaming

2009-02-01T15:01:00.005-06:00

So yesterday I posted my monthly review, tracking progress made towards my 2009 goals in January. For those of you who looked at it, you will note it as a scathing and humiliating glimpse into my own lack of ambition.

This whole exercise has been very revealing. For example, I realized that I'm more likely to achieve tangible, one-time goals, than to maintain ongoing "habits".

Also, in tracking my expenses and looking at the breakdown after a month, there were some really unexpected surprises. To give you an idea, here is a list of my expenses from most expensive item to least in January:

Car Insurance
Rent
Traffic Tickets
Groceries
Cash
Eating Out
"Other"
Utilities
Gas
Entertainment
Phone Bill
Clothes
Coffee

Traffic tickets were third on the list. I spent more on traffic tickets than on food this month. Coffee, which I tend to think of as my 'wasteful', indulgent habit... turned out to be the least of my worries.

Another surprise was the huge 'cash' category. This represents cash I withdrew and didn't track, making my 5th greatest expense a total mystery.

I know this is all a little dry, but I feel like January was a month for evaluation. While I didn't accomplish much, I did get a good analysis of the status quo. Hopefully this will make a good "before" picture at the end of the year.

Shame is a huge motivator for me; probably more so than personal ambition.* So I'm going to continue to post my monthly reviews here, whatever progress is (or is not) made.

*As an example of how this works, I posted the review yesterday, spent the rest of the evening mapping out jogging routes and creating a budget for the year; and today had a healthy breakfast and lunch, biked 2 miles, and walked/jogged 3.2 miles (5k) this afternoon. Never underestimate the power of humiliation.

January Review of Annual Plan

2009-01-31T12:10:00.002-06:00

Operation Porch Swing - Complete!

2009-01-25T20:15:00.003-06:00

This porch swing only cost me $30 in new chains and hardware, and about 3 hours of my time to stain it, replace a broken slat, and get it hung on my porch. Hooray for finding things on the street for free, and turning them into something great!

In other, completely unrelated news, the US inaugurated our first African American president this week. I wish I had taken the time to write about it in detail on Tuesday. For now I'll just say: I think this president is a testament to our country's amazing ability to change course.

The Civil Rights movement was only 40 or so years ago. It's just incredible to think that in so little time, so much ground has been made that an African American now holds the highest office in our country.

My Latest Project

2009-01-18T22:20:00.003-06:00

My roommate, Tim, and I found this on the side of the road a few days ago. We put it out on my back porch, and I bought some new chains and a wood stain. I'll keep y'all posted.

Also wanted to post this picture I just found on my camera:

I'm sorry Mom and Dad. I never thought it would come to this.

2009-01-11T13:54:00.003-06:00

I grew up in North Texas in the Cowboy's hay day.... I'm talking Emmit Smith, Micheal Irving, Troy Aikman - Three Superbowl Rings. On game days our neighbors would come over, we'd tape a blue number 8 on our white dog Nessie, and scream for the Boys until we lost our voices.

All this to say... I never... NEVER thought I'd find myself quietly rooting for the Eagles.

But early this season, when the Cowboys beat the Eagles in their first meet-up, Choi could barely look at me afterwards. He was crushed and angry, and I - the sole Cowboy fan in the vicinity - became the living embodiment of everything that was wrong with the world and the target of his football wrath. (Did I mention Philly fans are notoriously known as the 'angriest' fans in the nation?)

So now the Eagles are in the playoffs, the Cowboys and Saints are out - and I find myself secretly hoping the Eagles will win, lest I have to find a new boyfriend. I am, in fact, typing this over the mixed screams of joy and panic, that is the soundtrack of Choi watching an Eagles playoff game.

It turns out that the only thing worse than the Eagles winning a football game, is living with an Eagles fan after they've lost one.

2009 Annual Plan

2009-01-04T20:17:00.002-06:00

I've done a lot of reflecting in the past few months: on the choices I've made, the current state of affairs, what kind of person I envisioned myself becoming compared to the kind of person I've become. I would say the second half of 2008 was spent in reflection.

I met a good friend at a coffee shop this morning, and we got into a conversation about choices - and the dangers of over-thinking. This is definitely a trap I fall into, and it goes something like this:

Amy is presented with a choice. Amy thinks about the pros and cons and possibilities associated with each choice. Neither option seems obviously good or obviously bad, so Amy continues to think. And think, and think, and think... 5 years go by. No choice is made.

I hope that 2009 will go down in the books as a year of action. I am tired of reflecting my life away. I would rather be moving in a less than perfect direction, than not moving at all in fear of missing "it" ...I don't think there even is an "it".

With this in mind, I decided to approach my 2009 personal life, the same way I would approach a new business year: with an Annual Plan, a Budget, Standards and Goals.

I reserve the right to add to this list throughout the year... but here is the start:

Standards. Habits I would like to develop over the next year.

Exercise regularly.
Pay bills on time.
Eat a healthy, low-calorie breakfast and lunch. Avoid overly processed foods. Eat out only on weekends and occasional evenings.
Keep daily journal of things I am thankful for.
Track expenses against a budget.
Keep personal spaces clean (car, room, desk, bathroom, etc).
Blog once a week.
Volunteer once a month.
Maintain friendships. Initiate activites, return phone calls, send more mail.
Evaluate progress towards goals/standards on a monthly basis.

Goals. Specific targets for achievement.

Participate in two races/walks this year.
Join a gym and establish an exercise routine.
Invest money in a savings account.
Pay off student loan.
Switch over car insurance.
Take web design course.
Do two freelance contracts this year.

2008-12-09T10:13:00.000-06:00

Every job I have - only makes me want to work for myself.

A step in the right direction...

2008-12-07T12:16:00.004-06:00

I am so proud of New Orleans today!

Yesterday was the election for the 2nd congressional district here in Louisiana. William Jefferson has held that office for the last 20 years despite extensive corruption... He actually has been indicted on 16 charges of corruption, and the FBI found $90,000 stuffed in his freezer.

After he won the primary in November, the polls indicated that he would be a shoe-in for the seat, despite his upcoming corruption trials.

To make a long story short, New Orleans voted in Joseph Cao instead. Cao had a home made website during the primaries. But in only a month - he's been able to not only get a decent website, but build a huge campaign and convince enough people to come out and vote... Not so much for him, as against Jefferson.

I am happy to say that my vote was one of the 1800 or so that won him the election.

New Orleans is rated #1 in Public Corruption, #1 in Crime, last in Volunteerism and last in public schools.... Oh, and half the state is eroding into the ocean.

...But yesterdays election makes me feel like there might be hope for Louisiana yet.

Thanksgiving - All Welcome!

2008-11-18T06:38:00.007-06:00

Thanksgiving is traditionally a big volunteer day with my non-profit. This year we're dedicating the week to helping out our neighbors in Chauvin, LA.

The Bayou communities tend to go fairly unnoticed by most of the world. The Red Cross, FEMA and other big-name disaster folks don't tend to travel that far south. So when these communities get railed on by Hurricanes every few years, they don't expect to get any help picking up the pieces.

These folks have a very unique culture. They've lived in the Bayous of Louisiana for generations, and most don't plan on leaving until their yards erode and their houses fall into the Gulf.

The Louisiana Coast loses a football field worth of land to erosion - every thirty minutes.

Louisiana is literally disappearing into the ocean.

The wetlands along the coast naturally compact themselves as heavy mud sinks to the bottom. The Mississippi River used to flood every spring - which would naturally replenish the coastline with silt and nutrients that fed the marsh. Communities all up and down the River have spent the last century building levees to keep the River from flooding. Now all of the silt that would typically replenish the coast, is deposited into the Gulf of Mexico, and Louisiana is eroding off the map.

Why should anyone care about the Louisiana Coast? Well for starters: A quarter of US natural gas production originates, is transported through, or is processed in LA coastal wetlands. And Louisiana fisherman provide 25-35% of the nation's total catch. Also, a whole host of rare birds nest in the Wetlands, and several indiginous Indian tribes still call the Bayous home.

Having said all that, this erosion could be prevented and the coastline somewhat restored, by the instillation of pipelines that would divert silt from the Mississippi River back to the Coastlines... But nobody's putting up the money.

Where was I going with all of this...

THANKSGIVING! The Bayous got slammed by Hurricanes Ike and Gustav, and aren't getting much (or any) assistance from the typical disaster response folks.

We're going down to Chauvin the week of Thanksgiving to help re-roof 15 homes. We'll be there from Nov. 22 - Nov 26th.

Then on Nov. 27th - We're having a potluck Thanksgiving Dinner in New Orleans!

If you don't have plans already - EVERYONE is invited to come on down and volunteer in some very appreciative communities.

Don't forget about Louisiana! New Orleans and the Bayous still need help. After Katrina, everyone was predicting a 15-25 year recovery. Now just 3 years out, people want to know why it's not fixed already. As a nation, our attention span tends to be short...

Totally Worth Embedding on my Blog:

2008-10-21T23:32:00.001-05:00

Going on vacation!!

2008-10-08T06:59:00.006-05:00

A real honest-to-God vacation. It's not a holiday or a wedding, and it's not my only chance to see someone. A just-for-fun, no obligations vacation.

To Philly! Home of the Cheesesteak, the Declaration of Independence, Rocky, The Liberty Bell... Betsy Ross...that LOVE statue... and some other stuff I'm sure I'll find out about once I get there.

In the meantime, I have one more day of work to get through...

This job... Oh man. Higher highs and lower lows. I love what I do, love working in the community, love being given so much freedom to create and really own my programs... But it can be really challenging working for a start-up non-profit. There's so much uncertainty...

Sometimes you just want someone to come in and say: "Here is your goal, a map, and a how-to book." Instead, we're making the map and the how-to book, while at a full sprint to an undetermined end...

It sure beats paper-pushing... But I'm ready for a little break.

Photos and Thoughts on My First Evacuation...

2008-09-15T00:18:00.009-05:00

Hurricane season is killing me.

Growing up in tornado alley, I never understood all the fuss over hurricanes. You see them coming while they're still days away, and have plenty of time to pack up all your things and get out of the way. Compared to the 2-5 minute warning siren you hear before a tornado starts tearing down your block - Hurricanes seemed like a breeze.

Needless to say, I have adjusted my opinions on the matter. Seeing a hurricane coming while its still days away is like having a psychic tell you the day you're going to die. As soon as you hear about it - it consumes your whole life.

With Gustav, we had a whole week to listen to meteorologists guess which way it was headed. (Read: Inform us of all the most terrible things that could happen, and remind us over and over about our weak levee system.)

And then, once we were decidedly in the "cone" - we began the tedious, frustrating and expensive process of evacuating. (Read: Getting the hell out of that cone with whatever we could carry with us.)

And then once you're evacuated - You spend the whole time glued to CNN watching it slowly and devastatingly approach your home, while you keep remembering things you left in your house, friends who didn't leave, etc.

And Lord, is evacuating expensive. I'm lucky enough to have a very generous family in Texas who took me, my roommates, and a co-worker into their home while we waited it out. So Gustav only cost me a few hundred dollars for gas and evacuation supplies.

Most folks end up staying in hotels for 2-3 nights, paying for all their meals, gas, evac. supplies, etc... And all that expense is before you even consider what you might come home to...

Living on the Gulf Coast is a commitment... Let me tell you.

The people here deserve so much better.

2008-08-15T00:01:00.004-05:00

I just wanted to link you guys to a couple of articles that pretty much answer the question - "Where did all the money go?"

First of all - Kudos to the New York Times for keeping up with the continued scandal down here. I love this article, because it does a great job of highlighting the corrupt local government - but also the strong will and gumption of the New Orleanians still trying to rebuild their city.

Favorite quote from the article: "The classic New Orleans blend of possible corruption and certain mismanagement has dominated headlines for days..."

Doesn't that just sum it up perfectly...

The second article is from the Times Picayune (the local paper). I thought this was interesting:

"In pitching the idea, Nagin said nonprofits providing gutting services had become overwhelmed. The city, he said, should pick up the slack."

Interesting - because the year he pitched and started this city program - was the same year that the city stopped picking up debris piles for non-profits who were gutting, which by the way - was the only "overwhelming" part of the gutting efforts that year.

...

We're a few weeks away from the three year anniversary, and I would say the greatest block to recovery progress right now, are the government officials being tasked with distributing relief money. You know what - I'll even go as far as saying -they have been the greatest block to recovery efforts this whole damn time.

It was FEMA who kept people in limbo for a year or more after the storm - while they developed flood maps of the city and corresponding rebuilding requirements. Before that was released (A YEAR OR MORE AFTER KATRINA) -- nobody could even start on their home.

It was the city who has refused to hire any additional electrical inspectors - even though nobody can close their walls back up until they've had their house inspected, 80% of the city has or will have electrical work done, and there are only FOUR INSPECTORS FOR THE WHOLE PARISH.

It was city officials who shut non-profit gutters out of the schools, so that three years later - many of them have still NOT BEEN TOUCHED AT ALL since Katrina - despite an army of free labor ready and willing to get the ball rolling.

It was FEMA - who provided trailers filled with formaldahide and mold for people to live in, while they took their sweet time with the flood maps.

Recovery dollars are still in limbo THREE YEARS LATER - because city and state officials cannot agree on how they should be spent. And the dollars that have been appropriated to New Orleans - are being tucked into the pockets of fat city officials - who MAKE UP FAKE ADDRESSES, claim to work on a house - and then demolish the same house (WITH TAX DOLLARS), and hire their buddies at ludicrous rates to run the whole circus.

Meanwhile - we've got citizens driving around in their cars after work - investigating city programs and reporting it to federal authorities. We've got teachers and volunteers painting classrooms and building libraries for their schools, because the money hasn't come through yet...

The people here are continually striving to get their lives back, and the government - so much of the time - is continually in their way.

Circa the Depression Era

2008-08-09T10:02:00.002-05:00

Anthony has been hoarding copper in his room for months. He's an electrician's apprentice, so there are scrap pieces everywhere on his work site, and the boss lets him take it home.

At first it all fit in his closet, but before long, half of his room was filled with his copper stash.

He woke up this morning, like it was Christmas. Today is scrap yard day! He just carried a box of copper (that almost weighed more than him) out to his car, so he can go cash it in.

I'm dating an 87 year old man, trapped in a 22 year olds body.

Blog CPR

2008-07-29T20:56:00.002-05:00

To be fair: Anthony stopped playing video games 17 days ago... Right after I finished writing that last blog post.

What can I say? Things are great, but nothing blog worthy to report.

I'm trying to learn about investing, and mutual funds, and all that serious financial stuff I hear people talk about in movies. For the first time in my life, I'm making more money than what I need to survive. Now if I can just figure out what to do with it...

Nothing new... Nothing new...

Nine and Counting...

2008-07-13T01:06:00.003-05:00

My boyfriend has been playing video games for nine hours.

NINE...

HOURS...

...And I still think he's good looking.

Must be love.

Big Easy

2008-07-02T22:32:00.002-05:00

Well if "living in the Big Easy", isn't the perfect way to sum up my life right now, I don't know what is. Everything feels good and... well, easy. Work is just the right amount of challenging right now. There is a little drama with our National office, but I feel like I am handling it with a certain measure of success.

I am probably in the best roommate situation I have ever experienced. Everyone is clean, fun, easy going, pitches in for chores, pays the bills and rent on time, and are all relatively drama free.

I think things with the boyfriend have been especially great lately. I'm making friends, and overall having fun and saving some money all at the same time.

We went tubing this weekend, which I still think was fun - even if I spent 70 % of the time clinging to the tube and worrying about all the river creatures swimming unseen between my legs. I also had an unfortunate collision with one particular tree, as well as some minor ones with rocks and branches, and USOs of various size and texture.

Also my very very good friend, Kenda, came to visit us in New Orleans! Here she is with Anthony on the street car.

Happy to report that all is well.

Travelling Alone, Silent and Over-Reflective

2008-06-21T14:28:00.004-05:00

I just returned from a whirlwind tour of San Antonio. I boarded a plane yesterday at 10:30am, and returned to New Orleans today at 10; there and back in less that 24 hours. I went to witness the wedding of my college best-friend, and sometimes roommate, Crystal Schulze.

There is a certain out of body surrealness that someone my age experiences when all their friends start to get married. Time, usually passing by quietly under the radar of our consciousness, is suddenly a tangible wind whirring through and past you. Seeing people your age, making sweeping life-long commitments to other people; embracing a lifestyle formerly emboddied only by your parents; laughing with a knowing blush as the father of the bride toasts to healthy grandchildren... You become painfully aware of the alarming rate at which your body is hurdeling through its meager 80 years of existence.

The truth is, most of the time I still feel like a child. I still ask myself what I want to be when I grow up. Not in those exact words, but most days I still feel a broad, undefined expance of future laid out before me, full of opportunity and time. Time to figure it out, or more accurate to my disposition: Time for it to fall into my lap.

But weddings, funerals, birthdays, children being born... These milestones - They bring about in me moments of clarity. It's like when you first wake up in the morning, and your mind has to take a minute to sort out real from unreal; dream from reality. You look around your room, remembering the rules of the real world that were suspended in your sleep: gravity, social norms, colors... As you rub your eyes and blink, your mind sifts out dreams and actualities - until you are fully awake and aware to your surroundings.

Watching another 26 year old get married, or buy a house, or find a career instead of just a job... I stop dreaming about my future. I'm suddenly attune to my own life passing me by. Passing me by while I dream about its arrival.

I am not walking towards my destiny. This place I am in right now, this life I have built and the choices I make every day within it - This is grown-up me. This is my life. This is the "future" I imagine. I have already arrived. And in fact, my life - a handful of years clutched in my hands, is already slipping through my fingers. I am a quarter of the way through with my meager allotment of time.

It's time to stop thinking about what I want to do with my life, and start embracing it, as is. I want my head out of the clouds. I want to breathe in reality, and love the way it fills up my lungs.

Franken-Mom

2008-06-10T06:34:00.006-05:00

I just got back from Texas, where my poor Mom is home with a broken arm. Quote of the weekend from Madi (age 3): "Grandma, Why do you have nails in your arm??" I told Mom to make a sad face for this picture... I don't think she had to dig very deep to pull this one out:

Here's a close up of the horror... Poor mama... You can see how bruised and swolen she is. She broke her arm over Memorial Day weekend trying to pick cilantro in her garden. She had to have surgery, and they put a metal rod and some screws into her arm.

I feel like as a society, we should be past fixing bones the way we would frame a house. I mean seriously, Grandma - Why do you have nails in your arm? This is 2008, for God's sake. We should have invented some sort of bone-mending superglue by now. And are we really still stapelling people back together? Seriously? I'm surprised they didn't Bedazzle her name on her arm. I mean, as long as we're treating my mom like an arts-and-crafts project, it would have been a nice touch.

And finally, for your viewing horror, I present what my family is affectionately calling "The Meat Paw":

Let me catch you up:

2008-05-14T06:51:00.005-05:00

I'm not quitting my blog. I was blogging before blogging was cool. Life's just been a little busy lately.

I won't even go into work - but just know that it's been a little insane, I'm learning a lot, and learning more and more that accounting is really not my cup of tea.

On top of work - I took on another volunteer project, this time - demolding a house in Pontilly. The place belongs to a really cool, parapalegic guy whose house was about 50 feet from the levee breach in that neighborhood. He evacuated to Dallas, and has all his contractors lined up to work on the house - but none of them would touch it until the mold was taken care of. [Enter Amy and a crew of volunteers/musicians from Philly to New Orleans.]

Philly to New Orleans is this really cool music exchange/ volunteer program. Musicians from Philadelphia come down to New Orleans and play gigs down here at night, and go around to hear all the local bands. Then during the day they volunteer in the rebuilding efforts.

So I spent the week de-molding with The Great Unknown, Throws Like a Girl, and Andrew Lipkey (whose name I cannot spell, and website I cannot find, but who was very talented and noteworthy). Also a couple of bartenders from World Cafe Live in Philly, Andrew Lipkey's wife, and this really cool woman named Gretchen, who helped fundraise back in Philly for the whole project.

I was a little worried the first morning on the job. I picked them up at the bus stop - and they all had their rock-n-roll t-shirts on and cigarettes hanging out of their mouths... But they turned out to be extremely enthusiastic de-molders -- an almost completely unprecedented concept.

De-molding is one of the most horrible tedious tasks ever invented for volunteers. It involves literally scraping every square inch of a house with wire brushes and power grinders, literally vacuuming every square inch of a house with a shop vac, and literally wiping every square inch of a house with pinesol and shop rags. But they cranked up the 80s music and scraped like champs.

All this to say... I've been sort of busy helping plan this project, carrying it out, and then coughing up my lungs afterwards. I was able to use the respirator filters that folks donated for the gut last month again for this project. On the last day though, a set got so wet (from sweat) we couldn't use them anymore - so I wore an N95 (dust mask). After only 4 hours on that last day without the proper filters - my throat was raw and felt like it was going to close up, and I spent the next two days with the "Katrina cough"* ...Which has now morphed into some sort of ongoing cold.

I am only noting this - to again point out that importance of respirator filters and my extreme gratefulness for that donation.

*For about the first year after the levees broke in New Orleans, everyone in the city was walking around with a chronic cough from all the dust, debris, mold and who-knows-what-else in the air. The clinics and doctors around here just started labelling it the "Katrina cough", and everyone had it, including myself - and several members of my Americorps team back in 2006.

Anyway... I've also been busy with a certain someones TWENTY-SECOND BIRTHDAY!

He's gonna hate me for posting this picture, but let this be a warning to the rest of you: Don't date a blogger without expecting your picture and personal business to be spread all over the internet, only to be intercepted by stalkers and murderers.

...

Since we both have birthdays in May - that means that for 16 days in the year, I am only three years older than my boyfriend instead of four- and ergo, not such a total cradle robber. A funny story... I went to the store to get Anthony's birthday gift - a video game. And found this cool dinosaur birthday sack to put it in. I went to check out, and the cashier, putting two-and-two together, wished me a happy mother's day. ...YIKES.

Overall - I'd say the last few weeks have been good and productive. I feel pretty good about my life here so far. I'm dating a cool guy, have some good friends, I like the people I work with (even if the job is a little straining), and I find time for a volunteer project once a month or so. Life is good.

One More Thank You

2008-04-21T17:17:00.002-05:00

Just got another check in the mail today! Thanks again to everyone who pitched in.

You all make me believe in humanity again...

2008-04-20T12:28:00.015-05:00

Yesterday, we gutted the house of Gloria Guillard, a resident of the upper 9th ward in New Orleans. I just wanted to post some photos and say THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to everyone who donated time, or tools, or respirator filters to make this happen.

While trying to pull resources from different sources for this project - I have been thinking alot about this kindof group effort giving; this 'potluck' problem solving. I think we get overwhelmed by most problems, because we're approaching them with only our own resources. In this instance, it took a dozen or more sources to bring all the necessary resources to the table, but for the most part - everyone gave something it was fairly easy for them to give.

Hands On, the non-profit I work for, doesn't run projects on the weekends - so they lent us their tools and one of their trucks for the day. Ten twenty-something friends, without any real wealth or resource, lent their labor for the day. A few sympathetic folks from across the country, saw a story on a blog, and donated a little money for filters. A neighborhood association, grateful for the hand - brought out lunch and water. Suddenly, a task that has been overwhelming one resident for 2 years, became achievable without demanding too much of any one person.

I think with all of our technology, self-sufficiency, iPODS, and self-checkout counters - the modern world has lost a little bit of community. We can appreciate it, but don't have a real grasp of the power of collaborative living. "Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."

People are stronger together. Neighbors keep families afloat. And a neighbor-loving nation, can recover New Orleans.

A particular thanks to those who sent checks for respirator filters. Donating money to any cause in the modern day, takes not only a sense of philanthropy - but the power to overcome our nationally embedded sense of skepticism. So thank you to all of you for the leap of faith... and the cash.

The pictures!

This is what the house looked like before we arrived. Gloria had some friends help out with the gutting initially. They threw the top floor debris out the window (which saves alot of backache, dragging it down stairs), but it never got moved to the curb where the city could pick it up.

The house was partially gutted (above) and the upstairs was filled with trashbags (below) full of drywall and debris. In case you're wondering -- Yes. A trashbag full of drywall is 30x heavier than a trashbag full of anything else. I will note that we carried alot of these down to the curb, and the bags did not break. We could have been a Hefty Bag advertisement. It was pretty amazing.

Thanks again to those who donated respirator filters. I used to gut with just a dust mask. Your nose would run all day under your mask, trying to wash out the dirt; and at the end of the day - you would blow black snot for hours. After awhile, I developed an allergy to the mold and dirt in these houses that would make me nauseous, and give me migraines. These little pink 'pancakes' are expensive, but are so so needed. Way too many people gut without them.

This is Gloria Guillard, the home owner. She has lived in the upper 9th ward for 40 years. And was out at the house all day, hauling trash, pulling nails and sweeping up debris with us. She also refused to eat, until all of the rest of us had food on our plates.

I also want to take a moment to thank all of those who came out to work yesterday. Unlike the days right after Katrina, the folks in this picture are not full-time volunteers. They all have day jobs. They work for non-profits coordinating rebuilding efforts, they are tradesmen and school teachers; and they all gave up a Saturday to haul disgusting rotted mattresses and heavy bags of drywall to a curb all day... My heroes.

The "after" pictures. After gutting, the house is ready for electric, plumbing and mold removal. This process can take months. Every home that has electrical done has to be inspected by one of 4 city inspectors. So even if you finally got your Road Home or insurance payout (most are still waiting), and even if you find a contractor who isn't going to rob you and leave the job half done (most of them do), and even if you're not 757th on the waiting list of a good contractor - you could still wait 6-10 months just to have the house inpsected, before you're allowed to close up your walls.

But we do what we can...

Thanks again! I'm sure I'll have more giving opportunities in the future, for those who like to be involved. =)

Filters Update!

2008-04-13T13:56:00.004-05:00

I've had 5 people email interested in helping out with filters so far! Thanks to all those who are pitching in!

Yes YOU! You can help too!

2008-04-10T12:51:00.003-05:00

Hello Blog Readers!

April 19-20th a group of friends and myself will be gutting a house for an elderly woman who lives in the 9th Ward. She has been trying to do it herself, but has recently started to get really sick when in her house. She has probably developed an allergy to the mold from gutting without the right safety gear.

So some of us are getting together on the weekend to help her finish the job... This is where You, (yes YOU!) Can help!

HONO - the non-profit I work for - is going to lend us the respirator masks we need for gutting - but we still need to purchase the filters -- Which run $14/set. (I need 10 sets!)

A respirator filter keeps everything you see on my face in this picture -- out of your lungs. And that is a good thing.

If you would like to donate some dollars for respirators, in exchange - I promise to post awesome pictures from our gut on my blog. =D And then you can walk around knowing that you helped bring one more New Orleanian home after the worst natural disaster in our country's history...

Also - Unlike most non-profits or charities -- 100 % of your donation will go to respirator filters. No overhead costs, no salaries. If there's any leftover money - I'll mail it back to you.

This would be a great one to get your kids involved in. See if they can raise $14 from a lemonade stand for respirator filters to help rebuild New Orleans?

Email me if you want to help!

everydayamy [at] gmail [dot] com

I'm Investing in a Bike... Or a Chauffeur.

2008-03-13T20:14:00.004-05:00

I would like to decree upon New Orleans the official proclamation of 'Craziest City to Drive In'.

Congratulations to the Big Easy! Your tiny streets, potholes the size of the Grand Canyon, missing street signs, trolley cars, and endless one ways with "no turning" signs - beat all. Not to mention your drivers, who must have a daily "honk and yell" quota they're trying to meet.

My poor truck has been in two accidents in the last two weeks- while parked in a parking lot. Aesthetic damage only, but Geez!

Sigh.

Despite her slowly pounding the life out of my truck, I do love New Orleans. I love how when I leave for work in the morning, the neighbor says "Hey Baby!" and gives me a thumbs up sign. I love how there's always something new to do and see and go and be. I love the people I work with. I love the weather, the parks, the big oak trees that line the roads. I love that there is music anywhere and everywhere, and that it feels like NOLA has a soundtrack that everyone you meet is listening to.

I love that this city doesn't feel like thousands of people in a place, who share public transport and tall buildings, but have disjointed lives. New Orleans has a heartbeat that everyone can feel. The city is a common experience that makes you friends with strangers, because you both feel what the city feels, and you both know what it's like to be joyously and achingly in love with this place.

....

We move into our new apartment on Tuesday. When I post photos you will all be oh so jealous, and wish you lived in New Orleans too. And when you wish that, I want you to look at your calendar and mark off some dates to come and visit me.

Because as much as I love NOLA, I miss you all even more.

Checking in...

2008-03-09T22:56:00.002-05:00

Another beautiful weekend in New Orleans.

We walked to the coffee shop down the street this morning and had chickory and banana bread and read the Sunday paper. Then we drove down to the Central Business District, walked around looking at all the tall buildings for a few hours and ended up at the NOLA Grocery, where Anthony had his first po-boy. Then we went over and checked out the National WWII Museum. The part we saw was fantastic, but there was so much to see - We'll have to go back again another day... or three.

I am a little in love with my life right now. Once I have an apartment and can unpack - I will be completely head over heels. Seriously though - Things are thus far, fantastic. There's so much to do. My job is interesting and compelling, but I only give it 40 hours of my week. And the rest of my time I spend hanging out with Anthony and old friends.

To top off the day-to-day joy - I'm getting a tax refund for the first time in three years, and I'm making enough at my job, that I think I'll be able to pay down my student loans by September.

All is well.

Open Letter to the Judicial System

2008-02-27T08:14:00.003-06:00

Dear Brockton District Court Magistrate:

Maybe Bobby Brown doesn't deserve to be in prison right now, but do you really think that the best community service option for a coke head is mentoring youth?

What the hell were you thinking?

Sincerely,

The Rest of America

Clarification...

2008-02-11T18:51:00.001-06:00

I was not trying to say that there is something "safe" or "boring" about having kids and a family. And I completely agree that children are a bold and terrifying and radical thing to bring into one's life. And - as I have said time and again in this blog and out loud - mother's have all my awe for the responsibility they carry and the lifestyle they endure daily.

What I was trying to say - was that most people will not criticize someone who takes on that lifestyle. It is considered socially acceptable, and in fact - in America, is considered the ideal to strive for.

I do not think it is a lesser choice. I only meant to say - that it is not the only choice; and that, in my experience - people have been really critical of my choices, whenever in life I have deviated from the standard.

I also will agree that I invite this criticism by asking for advice. And that YES - I tend to absorb the negative from advice given because I'm an anxious kindof person -- That in fact, was the whole point of my post.

Realizing this - I only meant that I think I need to stop absorbing all of that doubt, and feel more confident in my decisions - since I'm in the best position to know what I'm capable of, and what would make me happy. Other people can only tell me what they experienced.

Advice is good. Counsel is good - but I tend to let other people's warnings, advice, criticism, or anxiety - talk me out of doing things that I know I can do.

I will also say, that this was not directed towards my family particularly (other than the comment about pride - which was a reference to something a family member said). And in fact - this really didn't have much to do with just the self-employment. It's just something I've been running into from a lot of different sources on a lot of different issues - that I didn't write about here, because I didn't want to invite further criticism.

I'm sorry if I offended anyone. I love my family. I respect you all greatly, especially my sister Mary, who is not only a mother - but a business owner, and general all-star.

And I appreciate the advice that I solicit from you all. I'm just trying to learn to be more confident in myself, and make decisions a little more independently.

Love, amy

Back in New Orleans... Again.

2008-02-10T14:50:00.001-06:00

This is my third move to New Orleans. There's something about this place that just gets into you. I feel like an addict that can't drop a habit.

Anyway! So far so good. I'm staying with random friends on random couches until I get my own place in a few months. I start work at my old/new job tomorrow. I'll be working with HONO for a few months while I get my feet on the ground here. Then my ideal plan would be to work part-time, while trying to start up my own communications business.

There - I said it on the internet. I want to work for myself.

The first thing you need to get used to when you decide something like that is all the scoffing. In fact, I will say that with any bold decision - people are quick to share their skepticism and are sure to let you know of all the ways you will fail. I take this as a sign of their own fear of making radical decisions in their own lives. I have been called proud, and don't worry - everyone has been sure to let me know how I will get screwed on taxes, and how it's more than just having a talent for something - it's business and networking, and marketing plans.

Fear, fear, fear.

And because I am a cautious and rational person, who never wants to make a mistake that someone else took the time to warn me about - I listen to their fear. I consider it. It shakes my morale, and it makes me want to choose the same safe life that everyone else chooses - because nobody will have anything skeptical to say about choosing to work 8-5, buy a house and car, generate a societally acceptable amount of credit card debt and start popping out those 2.5 kids. This is the life that America has decided involves the least risk and resistance in proportion to happiness.

Unfortunately, I am one of those people that finds happiness in conflict, and purpose in struggle.

Long-story short... I have decided to stop listening to everyone's fear, skepticism and negativity. I know myself. I know what I am capable of and I know what makes me happy. And yes - what makes me happy - is not what makes you happy. Let's just start the conversation with that as a baseline.

...Anyway.

Here are some photos! Yay photos!

This is going to make me stronger! ...Right?

2008-02-04T21:32:00.001-06:00

Tuesday is the end of more than a year of long-distance dating.

Wednesday is the end of my crappy job.

Thursday is the end of my time here at home with family.

...And Friday is the beginning of a whole new life.

A bitter-sweet week, to be sure. I'm excited to get back to a more active, interesting, compelling lifestyle. Excited to spend more time in my beloved New Orleans. Relieved and thrilled at the chance to finally... finally live in the same city as a certain someone. Beyond ready to leave my boring job.

But I hate. I hate leaving my family. I convened a goodbye party this weekend, thinking it would be a fun way to leave; thinking that instead of a sad goodbye, we could all have a good time and leave on a high note. But having everyone together, only reminded me of how much I love them all.

I'm going to miss everyone terribly...

Every time I try to tell you this, you get really upset before I can even get to the upsetting part.

2008-01-24T19:20:00.000-06:00

I'm moving to New Orleans.

On Feb. 8th.

2008-01-22T20:06:00.000-06:00

Dear God,

You know how people are always coming to you asking for material goods and petty favors?

Well, its been awhile! ...Can you please help me find someone to sublet my apartment?

Much obliged,

Amy

Frustration

2008-01-22T17:30:00.001-06:00

It's one of my least favorite human conditions, and I feel like it's using 90% of my emotional bandwidth lately. And not because things are so terrible, but mostly because I don't have control over any of those things. I've been waiting for one thing or another for weeks now. Waiting for other people to make decisions that determine my course.

I'm trying to be patient.

I started a draft in my gmail with the subject line "Rant Here" - and have been using that as a place to dump all of that frustration. (Trying to save the people around me from having to deal with all my anxiety.) Thing is: that email, that I started this month is about 12 pages long right now.

I enjoy change.

But I hate transition. I just want to be where I'm going.

I need to rant a little...

2008-01-14T17:22:00.000-06:00

I do not enjoy the feeling of someone else being in control of my life.

At present, that someone being the managers of my apartment complex. They will decide this week wether I am able to leave in February or at the end of March for New Orleans. I know six weeks doesn't seem like much of a difference, but trust me. Working at this job... It's a huge difference.

Every day I sit in that cubicle is painful. No... every minute is painful.

But all I can do right now is wait... While someone else makes this decision about my life. Someone who doesn't know me, who doesn't understand how this job is sucking the soul out of my body, day by day. I imagine 60% of this decision will be based on whatever kindof mood this anonymous and all-powerful person happens to be in at said moment.

I hate being robbed of the power to change my circumstance.

Ok. END MELODRAMA.

Still Alive...

2008-01-04T21:45:00.001-06:00

The boss invited me out to lunch today with a couple of other girls. I don't know these people, but it's one of those situations, where it's hard to say "no thanks". They know you don't have anywhere else to be... and it's your boss.

Anyway - long story short. The lady who was driving almost got us in an accident. And by almost - I mean, my life was flashing before my eyes as this was happening. I cursed (in front of my boss) as I watched a car careening towards my door, and we narrowly escaped being smashed into tiny bits.

The driver, as if the fact that she almost killed three people and herself was nothing to shrug over, proceeds to turn onto the highway. Two minutes later, this car comes screeching up in the lane beside ours - matching our speed and yelling through two layers of car window... The guy she had pulled out in front of, of course.

So at this point, I'm thinking - Great! I just escaped dying in a car accident, so I could get shot by this lunatic on the side of the road. He followed us on our way back to the office, but after we drove around and around for five minutes, with no intention on stopping to get murdered - he finally gave up his chase.

I only bring all of this up, because 1) I haven't blogged in ages. And 2) I think any day where you actually believe you are gonna die, even if only for a moment, is an interesting day. It makes you realize how fleeting and fragile everything really is. You sort of stop taking breathing for granted, and it puts everything else after breathing into perspective.

I like breathing.

2007-12-11T19:08:00.000-06:00

Dwight from "The Office" on women:

Reject a woman, and she will never let it go... One of the many defaults of their kind. Also - Weak arms."

Hands On New Orleans Winter Edition Newsletter

2007-12-10T18:50:00.000-06:00

I know I haven't been blogging. But that's mostly because I've been working on this project for HONO for the last few weeks! Check it out!

2007-12-04T17:44:00.000-06:00

I JUST WATCHED HEROES, AND IT WAS AMAZING.

2007-11-17T12:57:00.000-06:00

Haircuts are at the top of my list today of things that will almost always disappoint you. Back to the pony-tail for you, hair! I'm afraid you will never escape your prison.

On the upside - Nobody can say that I didn't try.

On the REAL upside!!!! -- IT'S THANKSGIVING WEEK! THE BEST HOLIDAY OF ALL THE HOLIDAYS IS UPON US!!

Happy Thanksgiving All!