A Tale of Two Cities

In December 2004 I was wrapping up my first semester of college, and I had not been living my life in line with the Lord. Yes, I still went to church sometimes, thought I excused the Sunday's I didn't go with the "I haven't found a place I where I feel at home in my new city" cop-out. I "got involved" in a campus ministry, but that just meant showing up to a Bible study from time-to-time and popping into their Thursday night services when my whims allowed. This campus ministry had been promoting this mission trip to New York City, and I decided I had to go. I claimed I felt called to go help the people of the city, but even my grandma read right through that. I wanted a cheap way to visit a new adventurous place - and an excuse to be able to fundraise to do it. Sure I still loved service, but for my own selfish reasons.

So, on the night after my finals wrapped up, I attended an end-of-semester party with my friends from home in which I did a whole bunch of stuff I shouldn't do while in no way living up to the example of Christ I knew deep down I should be. I lived for me, and my desires, just as I had been doing for a copule of years - then drove to New Orleans at three am with another friend who'd been partying through the night too, and had my parents take me to the airport for my 7:30 am flight to LaGuardia.

Several hours and a slight hangover later I arrived at a church in Bay Ridge, where I and my friend were asked by the campus minister "how we got hooked up on this trip"? Because obviously, no one there knew us. We hopped the train into the city to see Times Square, met a few new people who also didn't seem to know anyone else there (and who I haven't seen since and couldn't tell you the names of), came back to the church, and I called my friend back home and cried over the phone about how I'd much rather be there hanging out with them than on this trip where I felt like an outsider. I'd see the New York skyline, I'd seen the bright lights on 42nd and Broadway, I was pretty set.

Little did I know...

Over the next week, God wrecked my world. Permanently.

I met people whose weddings I've stood in, people who became roommates, people who radically shaped who I am today by challenging me to grow and learn and fellowship like I never had before. I learned to love serving people for the sake of sharing the love of Christ, and all the while, I became enamored with the magic of this great city.

Charlee and I on my first NY trip ever, December 2004

I returned to Louisiana with a new outlook on life. That trip to New York was probably the single-most important turning point in my relationship with God. He brought me back after a few years astray, and I am forever grateful that I stumbled upon that opportunity.

Over the next few years, I grew to love this city like I never could have imagined. I took my first vacation with a friend the next summer to come back just for fun. I came on a few more mission trips, and most importantly, I dedicated the summer of 2007 as a summer missionary at the Metro New York Baptist Association - at which time I became involved with the church that has been my family for the last six years, and I started this blog.  In the two years that followed, I visited my friends here on every occasion I could, until finally, in Summer 2009, I moved here "for good" (which means until I feel God is ready to move me on to a new place).

Laura and Andrew on my first vacation with friends, July 2005 :) 

There's so much more to this story I could detail, but I've been talking about just ONE city, and as you can see this post is titled a tale of TWO cities...

because I'm also mildly obsessed with my home city - New Orleans.

In the same way I used to visit New York every chance I got, I visit New Orleans at least four times a year. I can't get enough.

Growing up I never thought I'd leave South Louisiana. I always talked about moving to Los Angeles to be an actress/singer/hairstylist/pilot/whatever else I thought I wanted to be, but deep down I kind of always knew I'd stay in South Louisiana  Thankfully, my parents moved out of the house where I spent most of my formative years and over to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and then Katrina hit, and then I figured out that there's a life outside of the glorious swamplands and riverbanks I had always called home before, and the rest is history.

When it came time to actually move though, the reality of just how much I loved home hit hard. I had graduated college and moved back in with my parents, who had moved back to the greater New Orleans area, and I'd grown to appreciate my hometown in ways I never knew possible. I was fascinated with the music like never before, and the food, and the unique traditions (this from a girl who tried to write a Louisiana history book in fifth grade).  When I booked that one-way flight to JFK for May 30, 2009 - with only six weeks notice, I felt at peace about it in a way I'd never felt at peace before. Despite not having a paying job lined up, or a permanent place to live, I knew I was headed where he had called, but I sure wasn't emotionally prepared for leaving my lovely home.

I still, four years into being a New Yorker, don't feel like I've fully left New Orleans - and honestly  having spent three months there last year plus having logged a bazillion miles back and forth - I kind of haven't. I love everything about home, and I constantly feel as though I'm missing so much family stuff - including being able to watch my sweet Godchild and other cousins grow up.  Over the next year I have big decisions to make - as I'll be finishing graduate school and applying for jobs - and the biggest task I face is deciding where I want that to happen.

After my most recent magical trip home, I was 100% certain that one year from June I'd be living in a apartment somewhere near Louisiana Avenue and Magazine Street, but as always, I arrived back in NY and remembered that I love my life here on so many levels and am going to have a hard time leaving it when I do. I say WHEN I do because I WILL. I most definitely will end up back in New Orleans one day - and who knows, maybe DC, Chicago, LA, Boston, or somewhere else inbetween - but I know that my heart lives in two places, and I wish we could just develop some sort of teleportation device so I can be in both.

The beautiful thing about being in tune with God is that he makes those decisions for you, or at least tells you how to make them. When I made the decision to move here it was totally against my own logic - but I never doubted it was what he planned for me.

I'm anxious to see what kind of wrench he throws in my plans over the next year and how he is going to direct me on my next steps.

Sweet Southern Sunshine

Mom and I before the race - she walked it. 

By way of skipping a class (tisk tisk), I managed to get somewhat of a Spring Break, and made my way down to New Orleans for four days to visit my family and run my favorite race, the Crescent City Classic.  It'd been four years since the last time I did it, seeing as how I always manage to have something to do Easter weekend, but I was thrilled to get to run down some of my favorite streets and take in the city - despite having a pretty cruddy finishing time.

And of course, they give you Jambalaya

Springtime in Louisiana is my favorite, well, that and fall, which I guess are my favorites anywhere, but whatever.... it was a good time to visit.  For four days I got to enjoy catch-up time with good friends, crawfish, strolls through the city, crawfish, live music, crawfish. You get the point.

My College Friends, And CRAWFISH!! 

Being that it's Tuesday, I'm going to join in to a little Too Cute Tuesday action and show you just how adorable my baby cousins are in their Easter garb. These little cuties are pretty much the scale-tipper in my decision as to whether to stay in NYC after I finish grad school, or to go home (but that decision is a whole 'nother story for another day).

My sweet Godchild, Sofia

Clayton, who was apparently really sad I left :( 

These brothers - really 

My cousin Nicole, her husband, and all FOUR of her babies

That's my Paw Paw Charlie

Their NaNa, my Aunt Tina - this makes me laugh

Sweet baby Sy! The newest addition - but we've got another on the way  :) 

(link up HERE!)

Also, side note, on my trip home, I was yet-again blessed enough to share the stage at the Blue Nile with some of the most talented artists in the country - Friday night with Kermit Ruffins, and Sunday night with my dear friend Mykia Jovan.  Kermit has never been able to call me by the right name in the two years I've known, him, but Friday he got it right, so I will always refer to this as the night Kermit finally remembered my name.

Reasons to Wake Up in the Morning

I'm the kind of girl who likes to live for a purpose. This is easy when I'm actually busy. You know, when I'm working 60-70 hours a week, having a social life, being around the kids I love, singing at my church.

Aside from those things though, a girl can get lost in the endless supply of mindless activities  that leave one feeling kinda funky.  And not cool music on a Tuesday night at the Maple Leaf kinda funky, but the other kind of funky. The kind where you can forget to take showers because you have no place to go for a few days kinda funky.

So anyway, being out of my normal routine and trying to establish a new one has been more difficult than I thought it'd be this summer.  Assuming I'd find a steady source of income, I moved in with my parents back home to save some money. What resulted was a summer full of unsteady work, no money, and endless hours at the gym because really, if I'm going to spend my mornings watching "Say Yes to the Dress," I might as well be on the treadmill while I do it, thus increasing the chances that I might one day get to look nice in one of those dresses myself (or so I tell myself).

Typically the most exciting part of my day involves heading over to a friend's house, where talk about life and I get to play with her kids. Maybe if I get really lucky, the baby will poop and I'll change a diaper, thus giving me a hint of a purpose for about twenty seconds.

While itching to get back to NY, I'm trying to embrace this "vacation."  The little bit of work I have gotten involves listening to free live music by some of my favorite artists, so that's kinda like vacation, and then I babysit in a really cool neighborhood.

Today I decided to stop moping, and start embracing life Danielle style again. Refusing to give into the funk.  I've been gifted with this amazing ability to see all of the amazing little blessings God gives us EVERY day, but lately I've been brushing those blessings aside and asking for more.  Never being satisfied.  This is not cool.

So today, I had one of the most "normal" days I could have for someone who has no job and no kids to take care of.  I went to the New Orleans Museum of Art, as it was free day today.  I spent about fifteen minutes in the guest shop enjoying THIS book. I packed a bag lunch with peanut butter and jelly, some terra chips, and two oreos, as well as a VIA packet of the Starbucks refreshers and sat by the ducks in City Park while watching young families stroll about and not feeling the least bit jealous.  I took a stroll through the sculpture garden, which, fyi, IS free and is not part of the standard admission to the museum (as I had previously thought).  I finished off my nifty little day in the sunshine by trying a snoball place I hadn't tried before, and being pleasantly satisfied to find out that it was ranked as one of the most crowded places to spend an afternoon for a reason (and I EMBRACED the long line, enjoying the satisfied look of teenagers enjoying snowballs on the sidewalk, and dad's buying cotton candy flavored treats for their kiddos).

Today I was reminded of how I prefer to view life.  Rather than always seeking the next opportunity, I had to step back and embrace the day.  Yes I'm ready to start grad school, but I'm vowing to take advantage of the time I have now - as I won't have much time to enjoy the little things once paper writing takes over. I'm taking the Francie Nolan approach to the next month, and despite the fact that Im not watching the trees grow in Brooklyn, I'm really having a heck of a time enjoying the moss-covered vines of New Orleans.

"Dear God, let me be something every minute of every hour of my life. Let me be gay; let me be sad. Let me be cold; let me be warm. Let me be hungry...have too much to eat. Let me be ragged or well-dressed. Let me be sincere- be deceitful. Let me be truthful; let me be a liar. Let me be honorable and let me sin. Only let me be something every blessed minute. And when I sleep, let me dream all the time so that not one little piece of living is ever lost." - Francie Nolan, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

I got to be in that number

Because my church is awesome, someone anonymously donated money to fly me home to watch the Superbowl with my family and celebrate in my city. It was truly amazing. I got the chance to see a team carry a group of people to joy in a way I'm sure no team has ever done before.

I also got to see God's provision once again. I learned a lot from this experience.

1. It's okay that I don't live in New Orleans, because when it comes down to it, he'll provide a way for me to be there for the important things. So as much as I miss home and it's luxuries, and the people there, I still get to enjoy them often enough to maintain that appreciation.

2. The Lord provides in the most unexpected ways. I have no idea who paid for that trip, but it's cool that they did.

3. Jesus is a lot like the Saints players, but way bigger and more important. I'd lose no respect for any of those players if after the game and the parade, they had ducked off to their homes without ever talking to a fan. It's hard for them to live regular lives. BUT they didn't. All of them take time out to see the fans, talk to the fans, spend time with the fans, and be a part of the city. In the same way, Jesus has every right to live high and mighty and have no interaction with us whatsoever, but he DOESN'T, he wants to be a part of our lives, daily, and we should accept that offer.

4. If Heaven is anything like the city of New Orleans after that game, minus the alcohol, then boy are we in for a treat. I'm pretty excited about that celebration. I wanna be in THAT number!

In the meantime, I'm trying to figure out what it is he's got going for me here on Earth. I've REALLY been considering going back to school for journalism. It was my original major, it's what I love, and I think it'd be a job I'd be good at and enjoy. I have enough connections in the media industry that I could find good internships. The ultimate goal, of course, would be to get a job at either WWL or the Times Picayune, but that's after years of experience and exploring the world through other outlets. So prayer during this decision making time would be helpful.

I'm also in the process of designing business cards, which cost money, so I am praying I make the right decision and find a way to pay for them. They are cheap, but still, cost money. But, of course, God always seems to provide a way for me to get out of financial crunches, so lets hope he does so again.

when the SAINTS go marching in

I've never missed New Orleans more than I missed it Sunday night.

And I'd only been there five days before.

But here I was, in an apartment in Harlem, in a room full of black and gold, and jambalaya, with people I'd just met who all shared a common love: A City and a Team that for so long has lived as an underdog, and now, people care.

I've felt it all season. Almost every Tuesday afternoon these past few months, someone has walked up to me and said something like "Congratulations." or "We're so happy for you right now."

Why?

Because of a football team. A football team that for 43 years has seen many many downs, and not many ups.

For as long as I can remember "When the Saints go to the Superbowl" has been used in place of a more cliche "When Hell freezes over." We never thought it would happen. We wanted to believe it, and we dug down, and we had faith. Faith people no where else understand. We were that team that the other teams rested their starters against. We were not a team you had to bring your A-game to.

And now, after all this time, our day has come.

We were criticized for spending 200 million dollars to rebuild a stadium when there were thousands of people still homeless.

Ask any of those homeless people in New Orleans four years ago, and each and every one of them would tell you they'd rather have that stadium up and running. We don't function well without our Saints.

And back they came, roaring, with a new team, a new coach, and a new agenda.

Carry the ball for the people.

I remember in 2006 the joy I experienced when we earned a first-round bye. I remember going home for a few weeks at Christmastime, and there was a different air in the city. It felt like a different place. New Orleans no longer felt like the city that care forgot. It felt like a city that had hope. They saw hope in those boys, and their eyes were focused on the road ahead.

I remember winning the divisional playoffs, and realizing in tears that we were, in fact, only one game away from the Superbowl. Letting that sink in was intense.

I remember the pain of losing that Championship game, and being just-shy of the glory that could have been. What I remember most is thinking that the Saints had done just what we always knew they did. Sweet victories wouldn't be as sweet if they were good all the time.

LSU has my heart, and I cannot imagine being more excited and proud on the fourth row at that BCS National Championship game. I screamed and shouted, I pinched myself a few times, but I felt nothing like this. And we all know, I love LSU a wee bit more than my Saints.

But LSU is good most of the time. Or at least decent.

The Saints are a different story altogether. When the Saints are good, it means something. And it gets under your skin. I love those boys. I love how they are a part of the city. I love how they care. I love how they know what it means to us.

I may not live in New Orleans anymore, but New Orleans lives in me. Cheezy as that may sound. I can almost promise you that I will end up back there. I can't seem to keep myself away. I know the Lord has me in New York right now for good reasons, and I am learning so much in turn, but boy do I miss that city. Especially now.

There was a video that nola.com posted of a bar in the quarter where people were watching the game. And watching that last moment, I felt everything I felt Sunday night on Madison Avenue. I felt the tears rush back, and I watched those people in that video scream and shout and cry and pour out into the streets and celebrate. The whole city celebrated, brass bands came out of nowhere and marched down the street like it was Mardi Gras day.

I wanted to be in that number.

Saints Video: Bourbon Street

And it's almost over :(

Last day in Louisiana. Not really sure how I feel about this.

Usually when I'm away from wherever it is I live, I am anxious to get back to all the things I left behind. especially when it is New York.

But right now, for some reason, I can't seem to make myself want to go back. I miss the kids. I miss my church, but I don't miss being broke and stressed and overworked.

I'm really praying about what it is God has in store for next school year. I want to teach again. Really bad. I want a job that allows me to pay off my student loans, really bad.

I've gotten very good at managing money, but I'm not really making enough of it to survive or pay off loans or anything. Which drives me crazy. I want to get those loans paid off ASAP so I can serve the Lord wherever and whenever he pleases so without worry about them.

Whatever it takes to work next year, I will do. I don't want to leave New York, but if that's what it takes, I will have to make it happen. I figure it's more important for me to make myself available to him in the future than it is to worry about doing everything right now. I'm trying to stop rushing through life. So, if it takes moving somewhere to get a job so I can concentrate on paying back loans, then I will.

This is How We Do it Where I'm From

Sugar Overload

When I return to New York, I am going on a full detox. Nothing but fruits and veggies, fresh ones, for two weeks....

or something like that.

Before heading down here, I started to notice that I've been really inactive and really unhealthy lately, which is strange, cuz I'm usually overly active and overly healthy.

So I decided it was time to try to fight the cold, deal with it, and get back into a routine. Somehow, someway.

Then I realized I was headed to Louisiana. And upon my arrival, I shoved down two pieces of king cake. This has since been followed by a series of delicious baked goods, and fried delicious food I can't get in New York.

I have now decided I'm going to eat whatever I choose to this week, even though it makes me feel like crap, because it tastes good.

And maybe I'll go for one of my long uptown runs to celebrate, or a nice run down the levee tomorrow in Baton Rouge. Who knows.

I'm LOVING vacation time in New Orleans. I cannot even describe. It feels so nice to be in a stress-free zone, with nice weather, and good food. It's kinda hard to think about how I could be here enjoying it, not fat, and not broke. THEN I am reminded that the Lord knew exactly what he was doing when he moved me to New York, and I am more than thankful for that.

SOOOOOOO I am excited about all of the things God is doing in my life. I am also super thankful that he brought me up in such a wonderful, unique, culturally enriching place. I don't know if it's in his plans that I come back here one day, but if it is, I would in no way be upset about that.

I shall now go and enjoy snowballs and king cake and all of the sugary goodies my mom has in the kitchen.

Magazine Street + CC's Iced Latte + 79 degrees on a spring day = Happiness

God's little blessings need to be noted.

Today was a fairly easy day at work, and afterward, I got to go home at a decent time (something that's been happening a LOT lately!).  My parents invited me out to dinner, so after going to fill out the sad paperwork that terminates my gym membership at the end of the month, we went to eat, and I decided that, since it was still fairly early, I'd come take in the late afternoon on my favorite street.  

I don't have many Magazine Street afternoons left to enjoy.  I thought it best to take advantage of the weather and make the most of the day God has blessed me with.  

I brought along my Apologetics Study Bible, which as become a good friend of mine lately, and the notebook in which I've been keeping notes an thoughts in preparation for my upcoming ministry experience.  I've never felt more prepared going into a summer of missions as I do now, but maybe that's because, this time around, I have experience.  It's been awesome seeing God's work in my life lately.  I feel refreshed and reenergized.  Like my own private revival.  It's been great, truly.  

This city never ceases to make me smile.  no matter how much I may say I'm ready to leave, and no matter how many times I might count down the days, I really am going to have a hard time being away from some of the pleasures of my great home.  

In the words of Bob Dylan:  "There are a lot of places I like, but I like New Orleans better." 

I am so thankful to God for bringing me into the world in such a beautiful and unique place.  I am also thankful for parents who always made me appreciate my roots.  

For the next ten days, I'm soaking it up.  Praise the Lord for weather like this!  There's truly NOTHING like a spring day in South Louisiana. 

Less than five

I've never in my life thought five weeks seemed like such a long time.

When first considering the sudden move, I felt as though six weeks was the shortest time period possible.  Now that I'm ready to go, the remaining four weeks and five days feel like an eternity.  

I can't wait to step off the plane and realize that it I will be stepping off as a New York resident, no longer a frequent visitor.  Chills run down my spine just thinking of it.  I am excited, to say the least.  It blows my mind to think that, after all these years, I'm going.  No turning back. 

I will miss my friends down here, but when I think of all the things I miss in New York, I can't wait to be with them.  My New York friends are really under my skin.  For those of you who read this, please note that you are tremendously missed and I can't wait to be with you all the time.  We're almost there.  

I cannot wait to be at Graffiti every Sunday.  For the past two years, I thought of that church each Sunday, and dreamed of the day I could join them for good.  Even more exciting, I cannot wait to see how God uses this summer to shape my life.  As much work as I plan to do for him, I know he always seems to outdo me in terms of returns...  that is why he is God and I am not.  

It is super difficult to focus right now, knowing what I will be doing shortly.  Chelsea is good at helping me feel like I can quit :)  I thank her for this.  Each time I call, I ask "Can I move today?"  She always responds with a yes. Chris, on the other hand, likes to remind me that I have to stick around to get the paycheck so that I can afford to move... and that my kiddos still need to learn whether they want to or not. I don't like being reminded that I have to be responsible.  I want to be working with the youth, and being with my friends.  Not to mention all of the prep work I still have to do between now and then...  Truth is though, that is exactly why I need to be reminded. 

These next five weeks need to fly by.  This one is pretty jam-packed: Hornets game, Dinner with Laura Little, Jazz Fest, etc.... not to mention all of the events at school this week.  Despite that, this feels like the longest Monday ever.  

Please continue to pray that I can focus on finishing out the year properly, and getting these kids through the material they must get through.  Also pray that the funding would be available for me to get through the summer.  I'm doing a great job at being financially responsible right now, but the summer is when it must pay off.  

Also, pray for guidance in what I do with my life.  I like teaching, but I'm not so sure it is what I am supposed to do forever.  I would really like to work in ministry full time, but until I know that's a calling for me, I can't afford to jump into it without the money.  I have lots of loans to take care of.  

I'm Really Falling In Love With What I Do

Now that I'm establishing some routine, and I'm getting into preparing lessons and such, I am falling in love with this job.

The other day I was putting grades in the system while sitting at home watching TV, and I was remembering little things about each kid as I did it.  I realized that most of my children have at least ONE thing that I adore about them, even the ones that frustrate the heck out of me.  

Yes I have kids who have a zero average in my class even after a make-up day.  Yes I have kids who have yet to listen to a word I say, but I am doing the best I can in that respect.  I have some great ideas for lessons to come, and I'm looking forward to the next few months. 

The people I work with are fantastic and supportive, and I am blessed to be in such an environment.  

I've begun going for Uptown runs just about every afternoon.  In these runs, I get a chance to reflect on all of the wonderful things I've been handed.  I was born in the greatest city in America, and for that I am thankful.  I have the opportunity to go to to a new city this summer where I have a church that has changed my life.  I have a job that is both fulfilling and exciting.  

Really, it just doesn't get much better than this. 

And now that I'm back

So I'm back home, and now that I've seen the family and got a small taste of the Big Easy, I could easily hop on a plane and be back in my nice Upper West Side apartment in a heartbeat.

I love it here, and I love the people I've gotten to see. There are people I'd still like to see, but man do I miss the city and all that it has to offer. I'm getting used to being away, and it's going to take a while. It took a while to adjust to the city, even though I loved it, so I'm guessing it's the same thing here. My life has definitely slowed down in the past two days. I miss walking everywhere though (but I sure can't do that here cuz its HOT).

I learned so much this summer and am so incredibly thankful for this opportunity. I can't imagine my life without this experience. I feel like a whole new person. God has done so much work this summer in my life and I've gotten to witness so many amazing things. I am so excited to see how this effects my life from here on out.

A Lazy Couple of Days

Friday morning I got up early and met Charlotte at Battery Park for a trip to Ellis Island. I'd been to the island before, but it's been two years, and being a history major, I could always use a refresher course.

I enjoyed it, but I got the same impression as last time. The building has been restored, but it's also been modernized. The only room that's restored to look as it did when it was a functioning immigration center was the recieving room. I'm not a big fan of modernizing history. I think that's why I liked Edgar Allan Poe's house so much. It wasn't made to look like anything fake, it looked as much like it did when he lived there as possible.

We were going to go to the Guggenheim, but we stopped at church so Charlotte could make some qick phone calls. I took a nap. We decided to leave at about 4, and Charlotte called to see when they closed. Much to our dismay, they were closing at 5:45, so by the time we got there we'd only have about an hour to see everything. Not wanting to be rushed, we opted against going. Instead, we made the trip back to Queens, where we bought some watermelon and watched Ferris Bueller's Day Off with Kyle's family.

This time, I managed to get home at a decent hour. I went to bed around midnite, and set my alarm to wake up for eight. I hate even sleep that late, but I figured I'd give myself some rest since I didn't have anywhere to be. Imagine my horror when I woke up at 10:45!! I couldn't tell you the last time I slept that late. I lazed around for a while, brought some laundry to the basement, and then bummed a little more.

I decided to go to the Museum of Natural History, since it's in my neighborhood and I've been talking about going. I knew that it too closed at 5:45 so I wouldn't have excessive time to browse (seeing as how it was already three when I left my house), but nonetheless, I went, and enjoyed it. I bought a ticket to the planetarium show, which I thoroughly enjoyed. There were some exhibits I would have liked to take a closer look at, but at least I got to see them.

(by far, the Asian Peoples exhibit was my favorite, but maybe its because it was the only one I really took alot of time in)

For the walk home, I decided to take Columbus, which I never do, and I discovered a Jaques-imo's behind the museum on 78th!!! This one is owned by the same guy who owns the highly-reccomended one uptown in New Orleans. Despite it's high prices, I may have to make my way up there soon for a taste of home. They did have a side of jambalaya for six dollars...

All along I've been thinking Mara's Homeade in the East Village was my only option. It's amazing how I never realized how different our menus are down there than everywhere else. Things that are standard at just about any non-chain restaurant in Louisiana are rare gems found only at specialty places here! To those of you back home, TREASURE your easy access to things like crawfish etouffee and bread pudding. This is something I will never take for granted again!

I went to the cafe down the block, grabbed a sandwhich, came home and bummed around some more. Soon, I will go to bed. So good night!

Random Thought on New Orleans Rap Music....

While at Yankee Stadium, I heard the song "This is the way I Live" by Baby Boy being played over the loudspeaker.

I being the country fan that I am, have never really been one to enjoy rap music. Seeing as how I went to a high school full of people that thoroughly enjoy the genre, I was quite exposed to it from about sixth grade on up. I mostly associate it with football season, because for some reason, it seems like that was the time of year I heard it the most.

I think it had something to do with the cheerleading bus.

This song in particular was a big hit on the local scene my senior year of high school. When I hear it, I am immediately drawn back to Friday nights, lights, after-parties, and Taco Bell.

So here I am, sitting in Yankee Stadium, enjoying a memorable experience, and along comes a song from another memorable part of my life. I turn to Ashely and I say, "This guy's from the Westbank, like me. He grew up about ten minutes from where I grew up." I just thought it was interesting.

Today again, Ema and I were driving to New Jersey and we were looking for a radio station, and somehow we got on the topic of New Orleans rap, and I brought up that song again. It was one of those few rap songs I ever actually liked. I don't know why, but something about it was catchy.

Then, tonight, I heard the song on a myspace profile, so I listend to the words. This was the national hit version, which is different from the local one (he also had a version about The Saints this past season- from what I can tell he doens't write new songs, he just keeps recycling the old one). In listening to the words, I realize that most of the song is about "reppin' the Westbank." He talks of working out at French Riviera Spa, and mentions Marrerro at least three times. I typically never listen to lyrics of rap songs, so I'd never noticed any of this before.

So it hits me, here I was, two weeks ago, in Yankee Stadium, and over the loudspeaker was playing a song about my little corner of the world.

Hows that for a small world?

Remembering That I Love this Place

For a short while, I had forgotten just how much I love New York. I'd been bored and lonely and missing home. It's like New Orleans. I go through phases where I'm bored with the place in which I live, and it takes some fun times to remind me why it is I adore the place so much.

Thursday nigth we went out to Washington Square Park and the NYU student center to relax and enjoy the city. In the park, for a moment I thought I was back home. This jazz band was playing, a crowd was gathering, and it felt like I was in the Plaza across from Jackson Square (and as it turns out, one of my friends who lives in NYC full time said that last time she was in New Orleans, she saw the percussionist guy from this band playing on the street down there). We then went up to an 8th floor lounge to get a killer view of the city and talked until they were telling us we had to leave. I realized how much I adore these people, and how much I adore the New York skyline from any angle.















Yesterday, I woke up really early to go to see Brad Paisley play in the Good Morning America Concert Series in Bryant Park. Seeing as how New York is not exactly loaded with contry music fans, there weren't that many people there. After the show, he let the fans just walk up to the stage and signed autographs. So I have now met one of my favorite country stars!!!! What a great way to kick off the weekend.


I rushed back home because for the rest of the day, we helped Ema move to Queens, which ended up being an adventure. The move went very smoothly, dispite having to get rid of her favorite chair because it wouldnt fit up the stairs. Theresa, who has become our mother-figure in the city, had lunch prepared for us on the other side of Queens. All but me and two other graffiti missionaries, live in Theresa's house. All of the people I was with lived there. We mapped out a route since there are practically no cross-town subways in Queens, and after figuring out we had to walk from one station to another then transfer twice, we got on our way. Little did we know we'd end up waiting at one station for thirty minutes before realizing the train we needed doesn't run middays, and that the train we finally decided to get on was not stopping at the stop we needed it to. About two and a half hours later, we arrived safely at Theresa's house and were welcomed by a table that was quite nicely set up with sandwiches, cookies, chips, fruit, etc... It was like a little party. I felt very at home.

These are the kinds of things I've needed in my life since I've been here, and the past weekend has been full of them.

Today I woke up to find out that the floor where my shower is located was locked, so my day started a little later than planned because I had to wait for the door to be opend for me. I left the house at about one oclock en route to Brooklyn. Brooklyn is my favorite NY Borough, and I hadn't been there yet since I've been here. I needed to go to Target, so I made Brooklyn my destination for today. I went down to the financial district, grabbed lunch at a deli, and made my way to my bridge. It was definitely the most crowded I've ever seen it, but I've never walked it on a Saturday afternoon before. I then went to Brooklyn Heights, which is said by some to be the most beautiful neighborhood in New York City, and I must agree. It's so peaceful. It feels almost like a little Southern city, plus it provides a great view of Manhattan. After going to Target, attempting to make my way out to hang out with the others in Queens, and realizing it was probably best that I come home, I hopped on the 3 and made my way back to the Upper West Side.

I definitely needed these past few days, and man am I glad I have them.