The Big Easy...Crescent City...NOLA...N'Awlins

Julie, Tiffany, Me @ Lake Ponchartrain

The title of this post are all names for New Orleans, where I spent Memorial Day weekend. Two of my friends from West Africa days went to the seminary in New Orleans after Africa. They were there when Katrina hit and were of course forced to leave. Julie has been taking classes online and is finishing up on campus this summer so Tiffany and I decided to visit and hang out...Et voila, here are photos from the weekend:

Mmm...the famous Aunt Sally's Pralines
Thank goodness for free samples!
They have an open window where you can see them make the pralines from scratch...the smell is heavenly, and you can watch workers stir massive pots of gooey, sugary praline stuff. Then, just when you think any more glucose would do you in, they grab the sugar and pour in another bag...so tasty.


Peek Pete. Peek Peggy.
When I was in New Orleans at New Year's, Christine & I visited around 3,263 art galleries. While we saw a lot of the same art in different galleries, Pete the Cat art was only found at the Crab Bag Gallery. I love Pete the Cat. For the story and more info, visit www.petethecat.com. I think you'll like what you see. I bought 3 prints and this nifty book of all the sketches.


The Natchez on the Mississippi River

Jazz Entertainment
Part of the charm of New Orleans is the fabulous local music scene. Musicians can be found everywhere throughout the French Quarter. Local artists are also plentiful.

Frozen Guy

More charm in the form of this statuesque guy in the middle of a street in the French Quarter.

Pretty Pink Flowers

These lovely flowers were not in bloom back in December. Aren't they beautiful?

John Stamos' Limo

Yes, Uncle Jesse was roaming the French Quarter. Tiffany was the only one of us to recognize him as he walked right past us. He had his hat pulled low on his face like the didn't want us to recognize him. What's that about? His limo was parked in front of the Cafe du Monde.

Lamp Posts

This is how all of the streets are marked in the French Quarter. I love it.

St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square

Cafe du Monde

The world-famous Cafe du Monde has a very limited menu...coffee and beignets. And variations on coffee, like frozen coffee or iced coffee or cafe au lait. That's it. I've spent a total of 7 days in N.O. now and I believe I've been to Cafe du Monde 10 times. Yummy. If you go to New Orleans, this is a MUST.

Powdered Noses

An order of beignets yields 3 individual pieces of heaven, and they are COVERED in powdered sugar. It gets all over you, no matter how careful you are. Warning: if you go, do not wear jeans.

Beignets

A close-up of the French doughnut deliciousness. (And yes, there is in fact powdered sugar all over the table...I wasn't exaggerating.)

A Love Affair

Have I mentioned how much j'adore les beignets?

Acrobat Show

Can you see the guy flipping over the six people? He's in mid-flip, belly-up.

Apprentices (Apprenti?)
Shayne (above) and Cookie (below) are all set to be Home Group leaders. They start on Monday!

Cookie

random...

My current celeb crush is John Krasinski (otherwise known as Jim of "It Should Be Jim & Pam" on The Office).

I do not have a current real-life crush, which I've decided is perfectly fine b/c John is more than sufficient at the moment.

I bought a couple of cards today. One of them says, "Is it butt naked or buck naked? These are the kind of questions I go to you for." I could send this card to several people. I'm dang blessed, I tell you.

My madre would be 56 years old today. I miss her.

It took a year and 2 days at work to have my first crying student. I need to go buy that box of Kleenex I've been thinking about buying for a year and 2 days.

Is "Kleenex" supposed to be capitalized?

Is it ridiculous (or something I should be ashamed to put on a blog) that I really, really like the soundtrack from "A Walk to Remember?"

I saw 6 movies in the last 6 days...and I can't remember the titles of 3 of them. That shows how well that time was spent. Incidentally, the 3 that I remember are The History Boys and Pirates of the Caribbean 1 & 2, in anticipation of seeing the 3rd one tomorrow night.

I'm going to New Orleans for Memorial Day weekend to see Julie & Tiffany, a couple of my West Africa homies. I'm excited!

I didn't vote the last 3 episodes of American Idol b/c I honestly couldn't pick a favorite. Melinda was outstanding and I loved her voice and personality. However, Jordin's voice was just as good, but in a different way (different sound, in other words). Then there was Blake...I LOVE how unique he is but I agree he is not the best singer of the 3. Is Idol "a singing competition" as they keep claiming or is it an "idol" competition that doesn't necessarily require the best singer to win? Also, my allegiance to Blake was strengthened as I get more excited about moving to Washington (he's from there, for you non-Idol readers).

Does the fact that I capitalized "LOVE" when I talked about Blake just now signify that perhaps subconsiously I do indeed have a favorite and should've voted for him? Perhaps my vote would have changed the results. (Okay, I don't really believe that.)

I am currently listening to Baby Got Back on my ipod. Yep. You know the girl that gives the little speech at the beginning? Someone actually thought that was me once...apparently, I sound like her..."OMG, Becky..."

I get to leave work in 9 minutes. I am eating at Panera tonight. I ate at Panera last night. I have no problem with this at all.

My friend is currently dealing with a major rodent problem at her apartment. I have been VERY grateful this week for my relatively painless apartment living thus far. The worst thing I've had in my apartment was a little snake-like worm. Granted, it was the nastiest snake ever that had a 99.9% chance of being poisonous and killing me at the time.

I led home group for the last time on Monday night. I am glad I get to be a member of the group for 6 weeks before leaving.

I think that's all for now. Oh, and Superfreak is now playing on the ipod. All I can think of is the little girl at the end of Little Miss Sunshine..."This is dedicated to my grandpa, who taught me all my moves..."

What a year...

A year ago today, I moved to Denton to work as an academic advisor in the School of Visual Arts at the University of North Texas. What's happened in a year?

On the drive up to Denton, I got my first (and hopefully only) speeding ticket. Christine & I were driving UNDER the limit most of the trip b/c of the u-haul and I accidentally sped through a school zone in a little town. Boo.

I have discovered that I do indeed want to work in higher education. The purpose of coming here for a year was not to add yet another move to my list (oh, what an annoying long list--I will settle down sometime soon). The purpose was to find out if working in higher education was really for me before pursuing a doctorate in said field. The purpose was accomplished.

I found a church home almost immediately thanks to a random friendship. The Village has been my home this year. It's where nearly every friendship I have here was made and flourished. The Village has so many opportunities that God gave me ample opportunity to use MY gifts for Him. I didn't have to fit a square peg in a round hole. I have written articles. I have loved on babies. I have led a home group. I have experienced God.

Speaking of leading home group, I can't even begin to describe that experience. I was a member of one (kind of) one day and a leader of one the next. 6 girls in October grew to 19 in December which resulted in a multiplication of groups. Our new 8 grew to 15 (including one running off to get married). God is being glorified.

I have been able to go home several times. Thanksgiving, Christmas, Tony's inauguration, Grandma's birthday. Next year, that will not be the case.

I went to New Orleans for New Year's and will go again Memorial Day weekend. How odd to go twice in such a short time to this random city. I really was impacted by the uniqueness of New Orleans. Art, music (jazz, of course), acceptance of the individual, appreciation of tourists by the local businesses still re-couping from Katrina, red beans & rice, and beignets. Who could ask for more?

It was my first full year to feel like an actual adult. I had my own place, my own job and did my own thing. There is a feeling of triumph. Yet, I do not want to become consumed with the American dream of independence and "making it," only to forget I've only come to this point because of others. Also, the American dream pales in comparison to the sights and sounds of Africa. The African dream is comprised of simplicity and family (the definition of family is much broader there). Africans know what is truly necessary to live life. And their appreciation is much higher because of this.

It's been a good year. Someone asked me recently how many friends I have who truly love ME. This requires them to really know me. Two of them are friendships made here this year.

A lot can happen in a year. A year from now, I will be in Seattle. Completing my first year of doctoral studies. Working who knows where. Living who knows where. My community will be who knows who. A lot can happen in a year.

Seattle Bound!

It's official and can be announced officially!

I am moving to Seattle, Washington to pursue doctoral study in higher education! I will be attending the University of Washington beginning this autumn quarter.

My timeline looks something like this:
June 30--last day at UNT
July 15--leave Denton
July 15-Aug 20ish--visit fam & friends (home base in Corpus Christi)
Aug 20ish-31--road trip TX to WA (tentative pit stops at Grand Canyon, L.A., San Fran, Napa Valley, and Portland, OR)
Sept 1--arrive in Seattle
Sept 26--school starts and no one will see me for the next 3-4 years! :)

It's not Cinco de Mayo...It's Cinco de Pegs!

A couple of years ago, Amy renamed the Mexican holiday after me (and rightfully so) since I share my birthday with Mexico's biggest reason to fiesta. So from now on, it's not Cinco de Mayo--it's Cinco de Pegs! Amy, Chrissy, and Chrissy's college roommate Melissa came in town for the weekend to fiesta together and it was so fun!

Of course before the blog can get started, we have to have some Wilbert shots. I mean, really does it ever get old?

Basically, Wilbert will stay in whatever position I put him in...he's THAT mellow. So I sat him upright on the couch and there he sat for about 30 minutes. Sticking his tongue out, however, was his idea.

Johnny Carino's--happy birthday to me a la baked cheese tortelloni & a hot waiter :)

L-R: Amy, me, Chrissy, Melissa

Chrissy brought her brother's dog, who also happens to be Wilbert's cousin, as you can tell. Just teasing. Duke is a half-dachsund/half German shepherd so you can imagine the looks we got when we took these 2 to the dog park.

Pitiful begging for breakfast...Melissa held firmly to her bacon

Chrissy & Mels

Me enjoying my turtle cheesecake birthday dessert

Amy stealing my birthday dessert!

Amy & I reconciled after the dessert fiasco

All in all, a fantabulous weekend. Other highlights included dinner with some of my home group girls so my worlds collided...in a good way. We also went to the annual ArtWear show at UNT, which is the senior show for our Fashion Design students--really fun!

For those keeping count, I turned 29. I actually did. I have found that a _9 birthday invites people to ask, "REALLY?" because they think I'm avoiding my 30s by saying I'm 29. So, no, really...29. And also, thanks a lot. Do I need to start using anti-wrinkle cream?

The Power of the French Simile

Il pleut comme vache qui pisse.

Kari (see blog link to the right) recently learned this phrase in her continued efforts to "French it up" since she's been living in Lyon. Besides being overjoyed that I remembered enough French to understand the phrase before reading her elaboration, I also found the profundity of the saying to be blog-worthy. On my blog, not hers, I mean.

Translated, the phrase means "It's raining like a peeing cow." I mean, seriously...don't you just want to walk up to someone and say it? Now, if taken literally, I could expand on its meaning with an example from last night.

The fifth worst storm on record in North Texas happened last night. While Denton missed the brunt of the winds (up to 100 mph in some areas), the southern portion of DFW was slammed and 300,000 people have no power today. Schools are closed, etc. In short, il pleut comme vache qui pisse.

The profundity, however, occurs when the phrase is taken figuratively. Think of the possibilities! I liken the meaning to that of, "It's raining cats and dogs." Both phrases, of course, can refer to the weather conditions. However, they can also mean that trouble just keeps piling on, as in, "When it rains, it pours."

Which, by the way, also reminds me of one of my favorite comic characters, Charlie Brown, who had the proverbial rain cloud constantly over his head because bad things kept happening to him (self-fulfilling prophecy, perhaps? but that's another blog post altogether). To which I would tell Charlie through the magic television box as an 8 year old, "Cheer up, Charlie Brown...it can only pleut comme vache qui pisse for so long."