Made a Liar out of Me

My friend Jessica came into town last Friday to have some fun during FQF though Jazz Fest. She said on Friday that she got the feeling that all we did down here was fest it up, drink and enjoy music. I said, well really only during certain times of the year. Like now. We laughed it off. Until last night. She met me out at the Wednesday at the Square, where I have been volunteering. Which is a free concert. Which also has food and drink. Kinda like a festival. We then went to Palm Court to see Craig and Mark Braud.....she then pointed out that yeah, we do kinda do the fest thing all the time here. There is always something to do here in this city, even now. Its such a good feeling.

Speaking of so much to do....I have so much work to do here at work it isn't even funny. You may be thinking, how then do you have time to blog? Well, one of my jobs is to cover the phones for breaks. And its one of those times right now. I can't seem to keep up. And I am in demand as well. HR came and asked me today, "What's going on?" I said, "There is only me...I can't do it all" She said she knew. I don't have an immediate supervisor. I am helping in Accounting, Purchasing and covering phones. Now some people want me helping them out in a different area. I came to work at 6:30 AM yesterday to try to help them. Its not working out. I can't seem to keep caught up in any dept. Remember when I used to be bored? Yeah not anymore. And I kinda like it. I just need to figure out how to juggle all of this. And if I could have my own work space, I think that would help. Oh and also? It would help if they actually hired me permantely. It should have happened by now!

Some Gripes

I really will put up some pics soon from FQF, I haven't had time in the past few days to sit, let alone do something constructive. I have been home to sleep. That's it.

Yesterday I was checking out the Tivo, to make sure none of the shows I wanted to watch hadn't gotten deleated and guess what? It didn't record "How I met Your Mother" nor did it tape the full half hour of "Surreal Life" There are several other things missing as well. It is ticking me off. One of my roomies takes the cable connection out almost everyday to use it on her computer. Of course when I am home? Everything records just fine. When I am not home? It doesn't. What's the point?

This morning I got up earlier than normal, as I was getting a ride to work from the other roomie (had some boxes to bring with me), I was half asleep as I poured Liza's kitty food into her bowl, guess what crawled out of the bowl??? MAGGOTS. We have FUCKIN MAGGOTS all over. Its those damn coffin flies. They are back again. Right after the storm they were everywhere, we used Raid and all other things to kill them. Well they are back. And they are bringing maggots. I took out the garbage, which was filled to the brim with nastiness. I have NO clue as to what to do to get rid of these damn flies. Maybe if someone other than myself cleaned the kitchen, we may not have as many. Since I haven't eaten at home or used any dishes in, oh I don't know....a week....I don't see why I should have to do them. I always make sure to wipe down the counters, the stove, the sink, and run the garbage disposal, and sweep. It hasn't happened in over a week. Nasty.

Its finally raining here. It hasn't rained in several months. It rained a bit on Friday, then again last night and today. All rain here is accompanied by thunder and lighting....which is always a good show. Its gonna make for a very interesting Wed in the Square tonight....it happens rain or shine.

What is my name again?

I can barely function today. My eyes are so heavy and just want to close for several hours. But once again it was so worth it. I will put up some pics in the next few days. There will be a nap this evening before we go to d.b.a. to see Rick play. Since my brain can not form full thoughts, you get bullets again just some highlights

• Beautiful sunny weather
• Running into the same people at every stage.
• When the NOLA "locals" start to recognize you and talk to you.
• Helping Barney Floyd win battle of the bands with the rest of the Arabi Wrecking Krewe.
• Hurricane Brass Band....they are so much fun.
• Meeting wonderful new people.
• Wandering all over the quarter.
• Watching the Mayoral results come in at Lafitte's
• Hearing Lillian Boutte sing.
• To walking past a stage and seeing Matt Perrine up there.
• Not sipping slowly, but rather sucking down.
• Craig really should be mayor, he does know EVERYONE!!!
• Seeing Rick and Steve on a random stage.
• The crowds, it was so crowded it was wonderful
• Seeing the Rads, they sounded so good.

That's all I got for now. I am gonna attempt to wake up a bit since I have to go deal with some $$ here at work. Need to be focused for that!!

It was only the first day

• Dancing in the rain....we were under severe thunderstorm watch all day yesterday. It decided to rain at the New Orleans Nightcrawlers set....a few of didn't seek shelter and just danced.
  
• To not sipping slowing!!
• Craig changed the lyrics to "oh margy" to "oh stacey"
• All the yummy yummy food
• Listening to Rick sing
• drying off from said rain in only like a half hour
• listening to good music on Bourbon street instead of the canned music normally pumped out of the businesses
• only ONE person out campaigning yesterday.
• The Bonerama set. It seemed way to short but maybe cuz I didn't get to pay attention to it so much cuz I was too busy selling cds!!!
  
• handing two cds to Craig for him to sign from my sister and him handing them back like 5 mins later, with all the guys siggies.
  
• No sunburn
• Getting voting advice from Michael Mullins. (he is 5-1/2) then later a big hug from him.
  

Gimmie a Tab

I was proud of myself last night. I stayed home. I didn't go out as planned and for that matter I didn't clean as I had planned (if I didn't go out) I sat on the couch and caught up on Tivo. I was in bed by 10. Then I started waking up. A LOT!! Like 5 or 6 times last night. I finally got up for good about a half hour ago. I now need to do the cleaning I put off. Jessica's plane gets here at 10:45, so she should be to my house by 12 at the latest. Then its off we go. I want a Tab energy drink!! Have you tried it??? Its not so bad.

Another long one

The hours are slowly ticking away. I am just 2 hours and 40 minutes away from having another 3 day weekend. And I dont want to work. I so have spring fever. I just want to go lay in the sun and nap. Maybe even clean up a bit around the house and do some laundry. You know the real exciting stuff. However? After tonight? Chaos kicks in for the next 3 weeks and I could not be more excited. French Quarter Fest starts tomorrow, goes all weekend. Next weekend? Jazz Fest. Lots of stuff in between the fests as well. Not to mention the week between Jazz Fest weekends....then I go to NY to see Harry on Broadway....celebrate my mom's birthday.....then I think I will have a few days rest.

Man this is so freakin boring and lame. I apologize. I need to be doing something right now while covering the phones so I don't keep staring at the clock and wishing it would jump to be 3:25 rather than 1:25.

My Many Faces

I read over at RSM's about a fun little site called MyHeritage, in which you can find out which celebs you look like. I did only one pic. The one that is on the Arabi Wrecking Krewe website and these are the celebs I supposedly resemble. Not once did Ricki Lake come up and since that is really who I have ever been told I look like....well it was suprising (some people in college only knew me as Ricki.) anywhoo. The list:

• Scarlett Johanssen (say huh???)
• Carrie Fisher
• Mischa Barton (ew)
• Matthew McConaughey (I am still laughing my ass off about that side by side we don't look alike do we???)
• Annette Bening
• Glenn Close (gag)
• Jennifer Love Hewitt
• Judit Polgar (who????)
• Catherine Deneave
• Naomi Watts (in my DREAMS maybe)

My First Official American Idol Post.

Okay....so I literally had to tie my hands down so I wouldn't throw my TV out of the window when they were playing Rod Stewart just killing standards. I really really really don't think he should have tried it. He said something about going back to Rock and I can only hope to hell and pray to the Rock Gods that he is.

That being said I am gonna comment as they perform. I decided when Chris started:

Chris: FINALLY a decent song. It pains me to say it. I thought he had too much Vibretto (is that how you spell it) but it was soooo much better than he has done. And that is saying alot considering his song choice. I was ready to hate it, and didn't.

Paris: I am kinda starting to love her. Its not all that strong, there is some moments of flatness, but damn she is good. I would loooove to hear her sing "At Last"

My baby daddy (aka Taylor): except that he just now said that Rod is one of his favorite artists. We may have to break up because of that. ;) not so impressed....at first....but now I am LOVIN IT. Strong ending!! niiiiiice. The dancing is dorky as hell but I love it. I swear to gawd I had posted this before the judges talked.

(seriously is Paula a robot????)

Elliot: Okay he is doing a VERY special song....I mean HARRY sings it. And so far....I am likin it but I really really really really want to strangle the background vocalists. They are so freakin distracting. But Elliot is lookin like and sounding like he is having fun.....Yeah.

dude....Paula just said Harry Connick Jr. heeheehee

The Pickle: hmmmm.....she looks like she has a bubble butt. I know it was the lighting. Okay...not really liking it so much. Its too, well cabereting for me. and slightly broadway. Now I am a HUGE theatre geek...but not for an American Idol. Plus she is off key. ew.

hey just heard the Alien baby was born today. (aka freak a leek Tom Cruise's kid. you know he isn't gonna let Katie claim that baby)

Ace: He hasn't given anything cuz he isn't GAY. Just come out of the closet and make so many boys happy already. He looks fairly nice....but he is suckin ass on this song. oh. my. gawd make him STOP. My ears are bleeding. I would rather hear Rod singing this right now. That is how bad I don't like this version. OH THE HORRORS MAKE HIM STOP!!!!!!!

now Randy is drunk. Paula wants to jump his bones so bad. oh god Simon is drunk too.

Katherine: Okay she alright. Too Barbara for me. That is Streisand. I don't really dig that. Not bad....not great.

so my bottom three? Ace, The Pickle....and I am gonna have to say either Chris or maybe even Taylor. Okay gonna go vote for Taylor and Elliot.

Peace Out.

It's Hot Out

Weather.com says its 82, but feels like 85. I am gonna have to disagree. Humidity is only at 58%. For awhile this morning it felt like it might be cooler than it was yesterday. Now I am not so sure. I mean its only 12:30 here, and ya'll know it gets hotter in the late afternoon. When I got home last night, walking into the house was like walking into a furnace. And this was at 9 last night. Seriously. We broke down and turned the AC on this morning so the kitties don't have heat stroke. I had my ceiling fan on, a seperate smaller fan on, a tylenol pm in the system, little amount of sleep from the night before, and I still had a hard time sleeping. Oh well. I would rather bake then freeze. That just means lots of sunscreen, loose clothes, a hat, and lots to drink this weekend for French Quarter Fest!! So I guess I will add water to my Jack Daniels...so I don't dehydrate. ;)

Where has the time gone??

I have been so busy all weekend and now here at work. That is a good thing. Just some highlights while I have about 2 mins. Bullet style. Yeah baby.

• Molly's on Thursday was soooo much fun listenin to the Stompers and drinkin and dancin
• Megan and I have made it a rule that if you are working on a house for Arabi Wrecking Krewe, don't come hung over. See the first bullet point.
• Working on Drea's house on Friday, she is so much fun. It was a girl's day as Andy was there for only a little bit.
• Bonerama at French Quarter Tips later that night.
• More work on Saturday for Arabi Wrecking Krewe.
• A packed d.b.a for John Boutte's set where Leroy was also playing
• a yummy brunch at the house yesterday.
• a even yummier dinner at some friend's house last night.
• getting to finally see Lucien and Mark Braud last night for the first time since the thing. I got big hugs.

Its all fun and games....

Till someone throws beer on you. Don't worry, its now a war. I will get you back, you know who you are. If I could have run faster and around tables I wouldn't have gotten the beer on me.....

Speaking of fun and games, I am finally, hopefully making SOME progress on the car. I finally found a lawyer who is going to do some research and help for me on getting me the title. Hopefully I will get to drive my car around before hurricane season.....

Oh the HORRORS!!!

Normally every Tuesday a rep comes in, bearing the yumminess of Krispy Kreme. Lately? For like the past 2 weeks, he hasn't come in. That in itself is a horror. Today, someone comes upstairs and says "donuts downstairs" I am thinking that its the Krispy Kremes and that life is returning to normal. However....its from some other donut shop. I sighed and took one anyway, knowing it wasn't going to be anywhere as good. I was right. A little while ago??? A box from Krispy Kreme appeared. I am trying to be good here people. That box is just sitting there, tempting me. I haven't had one yet. Maybe if I wait long enough to go get one....they will be gone, but its been two weeks since I have had a Krispy Kreme, I shouldn't deny myself the splendor that is in that box should I??? Miss Zoot would be ashamed of me.

Free BEER!!!!


I signed up at the encouragement of my friend Megan to help out at the "Wednesday at the Square" events. There is a concert every Wednesday until June 21st. I will hopefully be helping out at the beer sales. That is where I asked to go. Megan and Andy did it last week, and I am joining this week. Free music, free beer and food (for the volunteers) good weather....what more could you ask for???? Except for maybe George Clooney, Matthew M, and Orlando Bloom to fan me with palm fronds.

Political Frenzy

So NOLA is looking for a new mayor. Or re-elect the current one. Have you heard about that? Elections are on April 22nd. A SATURDAY. I will have to get my butt up early to go vote before I head out to French Quarter Fest. At least they finally seem to chosen a polling place for my precinct, it had changed several times.

I am sooo tired of all the phone calls to my cell phone though. In past 3 days I must have had like 20 phone calls from surveyors, the canidates "themselves" (hello auto-recording) and others......I wish I had a land line right now just for this purpose. I mean was it really necessary for Mitch Landrieau (sp) to call 4 times last night????? I don't think so. Maybe he has a crush on me or something. At least his recording does. If I vote for him do you think I will get flowers?

Spring is here!! Spring is here!!

Now that the Monday from hell is over, I can relax. I spent most of yesterday up in A/R fighting with the stupid computer program. The fact that the computer did not go flying down the stairs is amazing.

So Friday night, Bonerama had another sweet gig at the Maple Leaf. Both Matt Perrine and George Porter Jr. were there, making for a very funky bass section. It pretty much rocked my world.

Then came the wonders of spending almost the entire weekend outside. It was so nice. The weather has been so wonderful the past few days. There has been a nice breeze that has been blowing, the temps are in the mid 70s. There were a few moments of real hotness, but then that breeze kicks back up and cools ya down. Saturday it was working out in Craig's yard, then on Sunday we went to the Strawberry Festival to celebrate Kendra's bday. It was an almost perfect weekend. Which is why I am not suprised about the sucky Monday.

Both yesterday and today have been pretty much the same.....weather wise. Today after I get home from work I am gonna take a nice long walk that may or may not end up at the Plum St. snowball stand. Its my spring time crack. I have a craving for another Strawberry Shortcake cream snowball.

Welcome to Monday

• I forgot my vitamins that I have been so damn good at taking....it was a new box, which is under the sink and I forgot to get them out. Therefore they weren't in front of my face, and I forgot
• My cell phone is still sitting on my bed charging. I feel nekkid w/o it.
• My ass hurts. Let me specify. My ass muscles hurt from pulling weeds all day Saturday. No I wasn't pulling weeds with my ass, it was from squatting.
• I have to climb stairs all morning, making my ass muscles hurt even more.
• The lovely computer program we use here lost one complete order that I did on Friday.
• My coffee is cold, I just got the chance to take a sip. damn it.

Not Enough

Yesterday we spent the day at Craig Klein's house, inside there was pressure washing, outside was yard work and pond water removal. No one wanted to touch the pool. The difference inside the house from the start of the day to the end of the day was amazing. Just amazing. They will still need a mold inspector to come out, but they are so so so so close to getting the house ready to live back in it. All Kay wants is electricity and she will be back. I spent the day weeding a portion of her garden and she is coming back this week to start planting....her easter lily survived and is in bloom.

After we left, we took a bit of a tour of St. Bernard Parish. There was a line almost 8 blocks long to get supplies at an aid station......the debris piles there are large, who knows when they will be picked up. Not only is everything moldy, but some areas where hit in the oil spill, so its all black. We went to check out two houses. A lady had contacted the Arabi Wrecking Krewe after seeing the piece on EHM and pretty much she hasn't gotten anyone to help her yet. She is a retiree and she is helping out an eldery couple as well, and no one has touched their home yet either. Almost 8 months after the storm.....and their things are just sitting in this moldy waste, and yes covered in oil. We went to the elderly couples house and by some miracle, a tree in the back yard missed the house and the closly spaced shed....really there was maybe 4 ft in between.....there is some roof damage and an entire house to gut. We then went to the ladies house, and I had the hardest time to not cry. Her house was the only house in sight, that had half its roof blown off.....and no one has helped her to cover it. There is spray paint on the sides of the house, snakes. She has snakes and other critters in her house. No one is helping her. AWK may bend the musicians rule to help her and the elderly couple out.

It was very sad and depressing to drive through that area and see how much work there is STILL to be done. A lot of those houses didn't seem like they had been touched yet. Then you think, there is still the 9th ward, there is still Lakeview, there is still Gentilly.....everywhere so much work to be done still. I know the work we are doing with AWK is helping some people, but there are so many other people out there......so many our small group can't help everyone. I guess I just have to accept that we are helping, that we don't sit in our non damaged homes and bitch about the state of the city, that we are actually doing something to help. I wish we could let people know outside of this city that NO the work isn't being done.....that we do need help in a desperate way. That we are 2 months away from the hurricane season and we haven't nearly completed the cleanup from the last one. How many times can you ask them to imagine that this was happening to themselves, their homes and their families????

We still need the help America.....

Did you watch???

We (a few members of the Arabi Wrecking Krewe and supporters) met up at Cooter Brown's last night, for some food, a few pitchers of beers and watched Extreme Home Makeovers. Sheik was the first shot of the show!! Then we had to wait until the last 10 or 15 mins of the show to see any more. The work done on the church??? NIIIIIICE. I want that kitchen. ;) We cheered so loudly when they showed Craig, the other people in the bar finally tooked notice of our ragtag bunch. We cheered when they showed Sheik again. When the fridge was tossed, well that was a highlight for me. Did you see what they gave us???? I believe I had mentioned it right after it was filmed, but if you didn't see that wasn't it COOL???? I am very proud and honored to be a part of the Krewe. They rock the casbah.

After the show, we hit the road. We went to go show our support for Craig and a few other musicians known as the Storyville Stompers at their weekly gig at Molly's. They were seriously on FIRE last night. They were all having such a good time....we danced and just had a crazy good time.

Because of this....I am exhausted today. But I don't really care. Remember when I mentioned the whole not sleeping thing cuz it was hot? Yeah...its not the heat. I have been waking up routinely at 2 and at 4 EVERY FREAKIN NIGHT!!! Except last night. It was just 4. I don't get it. I just wake up. So my sleep pattern is like 3 hours, wake up, 2 hours, wake up, 2 hours and up for the day. I am only awake long enough to make a trip to the bathroom or to think "what the HELL??" and then fall back asleep. But the interruped slumber sucks.

Tonight it should be a fun time at the Bonerama gig. A few more folks that I know are gonna be there!! Tomorrow? Its Wrecking time!! Then on Sunday the Strawberry festival!! It should be a productive weekend. Good times. I love the spring time in here in New Orleans. Even now with all the crap going on??? I still love this place.

Please Don't Forget!!

ABC's Extreme Homemakeover-After the Storm...its gonna feature some very special peeps.....this Thursday night!!!

On my Mind

There was an announcement made earlier this morning over the PA system...."the shoemobile will be in the parking lot until 11:30 if you need to purchase shoes" I immediately thought "oooh wonder if they have Prada???" ummmmm yeah....these were WORK boots. Not the kind of shoemobile I would like.

Private Eyes

So yesterday Zoot and RSM both discussed "censorship" on their blogs. I have really NO idea who reads this here blog. Okay I know a few people, my sister, Kristy, Marisa, Lisa, and random smatterings of others. As far as I know...that is all who reads. I don't feel the need to censor what I say, because most of those people know me. And by know me, I mean in my real life. There are things I DON'T blog about, because if I wanted them to know I will tell them in person. Or on the phone or whatever. I obviously don't use any splashy pseudonym, nor do I really change anyone's name. Yeah that could get me in trouble one day I suppose. However if I blog about people in my real life and they don't want their name on here, all they have to do is ask and it will be omitted.

I may be naive when it comes to putting things on the internet. Don't get me wrong, I don't go advertising my address or phone # or anything. But when it comes to trusting people. I think part of that comes from when I first started really getting into the internet. I started posting on a board, it had just been started, it was for an obsession of mine, okay it was for Harry. Anyway...when the board first started it was really a little community. We all got to be friends....not only online but in real life as well. Some of the people I met through that board are now some of my closest friends. Hell, if it wasn't for that community I really don't know where I would have gone when I evacuated out of here in August. I met Dia and Randy through that community. And the people of that community really helped out not just the musicians down here, but myself as well. Now that board isn't nearly the same as it was when it first started several years ago, so I am glad was part of it at the beginning. We all shared a lot of things that we now wouldn't......

I won't really go into politics or religion here, cuz that isn't my thing. I do talk about things I like here, things I am really passionate about. The music down here, the food, things that mean something to ME. It may also mean something to the reader....it may not. In all honesty, I don't care. I write this for me. Yes I do some "advertising" or "getting the word" out on things like where my favorite bands are playing....or the work Arabi Wrecking Krewe is doing....someone out there in cyberspace that I don't know, may read it and care...and that is cool.

When it comes right down to it....it is all about me right? ;) So if you are out there reading this, and I know you, HOLLA!! Say hi every once in awhile...it doesn't hurt. If I don't know you, say hey everyonce in awhile too....this is pretty much what you see is what you get.

Too Darn Hot


In my room. So last night I am chilling, reading a book had the TV on for background noise and I fell asleep. Like at around oh I don't know 7??? I woke up off and on and finally got off the couch at 9 to go to bed. I went into my room, and it was warm in there.....I laid on the bed....just laid there for several hours. HOT. I finally dozed off around midnight....only to have my cat decide at around 3 to crawl all over me, snuggle and meow and anything else she could do to get me to wake up. I threw some food in her bowl and that didn't help. My alarm went off at 6 and I was ready to hurt someone. Its gonna be cooler today, I hope. We may have to break down and turn on the air soon. I don't want to. I am cheap. But damn, sleep would be good.

Opening Day

It's baseball season, the Mariners are opening up the season with Jamie Moyer. I :heart: Jamie. They are playing the Angels today.....I *think* I may pick up the game on TV but not sure. Mom and dad went to a spring training game.....they left early and the Mariners were getting their ASSES KICKED it was 20something to very little. Sad. Very sad. But I love those boys. I need to see where I can try to catch them this season.

Stupid Time Change

I am tired. So freakin tired. We are trying to save $$ at the house and not turn on the AC too much this spring. It was warm yesterday. So frickin warm. It actually wouldn't have been so bad if someone had remembered to shut the curtains in their room when the afternoon sun was shining it it all day.....and it got hot. I slept like CRAP last night, and when I woke up this morning all I thought was its not 6, its 5!!! I think I finally got some good sleep from 2:30-6. So not great but not terrible either. I guess.

I thought maybe I had caught up a bit. Friday night I went the the Leaf, as I always get grief from the sound guy there that I only go the Leaf when Bonerama is playing....so I decided to rectify that. Mullins was playing that night with John Gros, Anders Osborne and Tony Hall. I did not know that until I walked in and saw him. So of course Randy (sound man) thought I was there because of Mark. No. Sorry. ;) Late night that night, a really good day(with AWK) at Tanio's house getting it all cleaned up....well as much as we could anyway. A little bit more to do there.....then I took a nap. Kristen and I headed out for some music at d.b.a Saturday night we only saw John Boutte (with Leroy and Todd Duke), then I got into spring cleaning mode yesterday and cleaned all day!! And I only did my room, my bathroom and the kitchen, laundry and grocery shopping. The dining room and living room need a good dusting....that may happen tonight. I was hoping with all that cleaning and moving, I would just pass out. But nope. Oh well.......I finally stopped moving last night at 7 to watch West Wing and then Surreal Life. Talk about opposite end of the spectrum for TV viewing!!! I am going to attempt to stop yawning at some point today.