tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94192062011-10-29T00:12:09.163-06:00This was a random blog until August 29, 2005. Then Hurricane Katrina turned my world upside down, sideways, backwards, inside out... This is the story of my experiences, as well as those of my friends, family, school, and city, when applicable. Don't ever forget us. And make levees, not war.Maenoreply@blogger.comBlogger1751100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-6979368753184386302011-10-28T21:15:00.004-06:002011-10-29T00:12:09.189-06:00

Haven't thought of that quote in years. One of the plays we did in high school required my friend Tree to say this. She said it with such zeal. And while considering a title, it popped into my head.Rather fitting, because lately, I've been confronted with things long gone.First, I have set my DVR to record all of these amazing new episodes of Pop Up Video. Holy cow. I loved half days in high

Maenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-52241345879003510842011-08-29T19:07:00.000-06:002011-08-29T19:08:17.827-06:00

Don’t rebuild. Those two simple words were heard ‘round the world six years ago. But I’m not hearing them today, the day after Hurricane Irene flooded parts of the northeast. Vermont, oh Vermont. My heart goes out to you. I know all too well the pain you went through and will go through as you slog through your lives and realize there’s nothing left. New Yorkers who were not able to evacuate

Maenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-65587542175564718112011-08-09T23:23:00.002-06:002011-08-09T23:38:37.056-06:00

Summer's over. I go back for staff week in..oh...less than 8 hours. It was, hands down, one of THE best years at camp ever. We have a solid staff with competent...no, BEYOND competent head teachers. We had people who didn't create or care about drama. It all went too quickly. I have had to spend the night away from home every week for like 8 weeks. Week 3 of camp had me spend the night to

Maenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-65146105431067748742011-06-23T23:01:00.003-06:002011-06-23T23:55:53.903-06:00

I've had several people tell me that I need to get back into this. I had neglected things a bit, but the school year tends to be a little difficult for free time. And once we hit spring, I have my bowling team, and then I go back to camp every few days to prepare for the upcoming summer. My available hours are slim.Don't let my Facebook presence throw you, though. I keep the browser window open

Maenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-51636013940872947952011-06-16T21:18:00.003-06:002011-06-16T22:46:37.085-06:00

As of last Friday, I have officially spent half of my life working at my summer camp. Sixteen years. In some ways, it doesn't feel like it. In other ways, I feel ancient. I think about how young I actually was, about how green I was, and about all of the big events I've gone through since I started working there.There was the burial ceremony for my grandfather's ashes, the deaths of my maternal

Maenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-19454766980911864142011-06-16T21:13:00.001-06:002011-06-16T21:14:50.636-06:00

They did okay in certain areas. Areas which contain family and friends. But that clock is ticking. One day...it could happen to you, too.

Maenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-83690881560035629432011-05-13T22:28:00.002-06:002011-05-13T22:45:36.998-06:00

Mmm...yep. People of the Atchafalaya Basin, you are playing Russian Roulette. If I see/hear one more of you say, "Well, it never floods here," I will break you/the nearest item. It never flooded here, either. "But we check our levees!" I thought I picked good food that time I got food poisoning, too. Nothing looked weird, and I was sicker than I had been in a very long time; in fact, it had been

Maenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-53693919158017402010-09-04T12:54:00.003-06:002010-09-04T13:24:00.924-06:00

This morning, I had to meet my mom at the Cat Hospital. My sweet baby Nala, who is 16 now, was going into kidney failure. Given her age, the only real option was to put her to sleep. For the second time in 6 weeks, I watched a cat who I loved die. We got her because in my freshman year of high school, I caught chicken pox from my brother. I missed a week of school right before Christmas break. I

Maenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-73180770999304423872010-08-26T21:44:00.003-06:002010-08-28T12:48:33.953-06:00

I would like to refer you to my journalistic idol, Chris Rose, once more. He's moved on from The Times Picayune and can be found at the site of my college internship, Gambit Weekly. This column is making the rounds right now, and it's great. Unfortunately, it's not an original concept, because, if you are from an area affected by Katrina, you play this game on an almost daily basis.http://

Maenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-38322765841960600782010-08-24T21:11:00.004-06:002010-08-24T21:15:45.406-06:00

Went to Target tonight. Was in the market for some new "ball of foot" cushions from Dr. Scholls to stick in my school shoes (gotta rebuild those callouses after a summer of flip-flops and tennis shoes). In this particular Target, the foot care products are across the aisle from the condoms. Two young males (teens) were perusing the selection. One was on the phone with his mother asking her for

Maenoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-57138252414466969842010-08-03T20:33:00.002-06:002010-08-03T21:39:19.644-06:00

So I've finally got some time to sit and post. I return to school on Thursday (the kids arrive on the 11th), and camp ended on Friday. Not a full week off, but I will take what I can get. It's given me time to do this.First: I've changed the look of the blog for the first time...well...ever. Second: Here's a preview of topics for this post.1. Super Bowl2. Saints parade3. Greece4. Portland5. Oil

Maenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-14650572217748534292010-02-07T12:11:00.001-06:002010-02-07T13:33:05.031-06:00

I hate professional sports of all kinds. I hate that they pay their players exorbitant amounts of money to play a game, when people with real jobs that matter in the world get nothing. I hate the endorsements, the pomp and circumstance, the inundation of every medium for 20 weeks, and the way that I don't exist to my husband when the season starts. And I really hate that it takes place in winter,

Maenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-9187849574166677942010-01-17T23:01:00.002-06:002010-01-17T23:04:39.293-06:00

Dear Brett Favre,I have hated you since I first heard your name. "Farve." But you don't pronounce it the way it should be pronounced, as documented on "There's Something About Mary." Should be "Fahv," just like the bishop -- Bishop Fabre (Fahb).I have nothing personal against you for being 40 and playing football still. What I have against you being 40 and still playing is your random forays

Maenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-45370439762015907712009-12-10T23:53:00.002-06:002009-12-11T00:02:23.821-06:00

Dear Santa,I haven't written to you in quite some time. Perhaps I have never written to you. See, when I was 4, I figured out that you weren't real. I said to my mom, "Mom, I know Santa isn't real." Mom, most likely thinking, "WHO TOLD HER!?!?!?! SHE'S FOUR!!!" asked what I meant. I told her, "At Christmas, there's always sales. Santa wouldn't need money to buy toys. The toys go on sale because

Maenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-370670663079078222009-11-18T21:01:00.002-06:002009-11-18T21:16:38.857-06:00

Yesterday was rotten. First, I found out that I didn't make the cut to attend the Renaissance Festival with the majority of the school. Instead, I was subbing and stuck at school. Whatever. I'll just go another weekend. I have until Dec. 13.On Monday, I'd had to attend a bowling meeting about districting since I "coach" the school bowling team. I also direct the play. Rehearsals are dwindling

Maenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-51598203854006632092009-08-25T20:49:00.003-06:002009-08-25T21:02:00.184-06:00

So, today, I went on the first field trip for school that I will take this year. While all field trips are awesome, none can compare to the one I will take from March 27- April 4: GREECE. Yeah, you right. I'm going to Greece. I was supposed to take 7/8 to Puerto Rico. Then 7th grade moved out of the high school. There weren't enough 8th graders to support the trip. They canceled my trip and moved

Maenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-79351792158003642922009-08-24T22:17:00.002-06:002009-08-24T22:21:18.393-06:00

This is never a good week for me. It's the last week in August, and, well, I have a lot of trouble dealing with this. It gets a little easier as time goes by, but...it's still too fresh.Last year, I started writing a 3rd anniversary post during my off-periods at work. Since I'm unable to get on Blogger at school, I typed it in Word and saved it. I never did get to finish it, because Gustav made

Maenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-84565663164093865242009-06-14T21:27:00.004-06:002009-06-14T22:51:57.508-06:00

What happened? I hit a new decade. I'm 30. I really had a hard time turning 20 ten years ago. I wasn't doing so well with 30, either. But at least this time, I had Mark to do it first and show me it wasn't so bad. Hm.I came into this world 30 years ago. My parents lived in New Orleans East, then moved to Metairie almost a year later. They still live in that same house in Metairie, although the

Maenoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-38007780431638989802009-05-19T21:59:00.002-06:002009-05-19T22:10:23.280-06:00

An ingenious (?) proposal.The J's membership director was asked to help a prospective member propose to his girlfriend this weekend. He called Giselle to set things up, and they rehearsed it. Basically, he was going to bring in his girlfriend for a tour and try to sign up. The guy got into an argument over their membership category. He wanted a couple membership, but you would have to be in a

Maenoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-18151868428694222462009-05-12T19:35:00.003-06:002009-05-12T19:52:06.392-06:00

Swift finger of justice....from the parents!!!!When last we spoke (well, I wrote, you read), We'd busted the kid for alcohol and my 8th grade boys were so wide-eyed in wonderment as to the identity of the rat.The alcohol bearer is still at school. His mom brought him to jail and had them lock him up for a few hours, then brought him to rehab at Children's. I don't think he'll be trying a stunt

Maenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-33587245334905148242009-04-06T21:44:00.003-06:002009-04-06T21:52:31.162-06:00

Great moments in teaching, part eleventy-jillion:7th period writing...7 8th grade males. I love the class...but boy do they drive me nuts. Today, "Rick" came to class and almost immediately started asking what would happen if someone brought alcohol to school. In a water bottle. It started out sounding very hypothetical, and Rick's goal in life seems to be to see if he can get a rise out of me.

Maenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-63315220249200423952009-03-26T17:23:00.003-06:002009-03-26T18:28:31.890-06:00

When I'm frustrated, I do what everyone does: I vent. I've been very frustrated for the greater part of the year. We've had a very rough batch of 7th graders, who are sort of settling in...but may I please point out that 5 of the originals are no longer with us, for various reasons. Makes a lot of difference. So did rearranging their class schedules at midterm. Divide and conquer, you know?And a

Maenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-2787840983641166552009-03-06T17:47:00.002-06:002009-03-06T18:43:24.213-06:00

I made a bust in class today that has my head reeling....My friend Kristin was out sick today, and so I had to sub one of her classes: 7th grade science. Just had to watch a video on baby animals. Awesome. I like animals...especially when they're babies!!!So we're watching the video, it's on VHS, and there's a long section where the sound drops out. About 1 min. in, the sound dropped out, and I

Maenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-65971390362226515172009-03-05T22:11:00.003-06:002009-03-05T22:37:32.093-06:00

I know we can't save them all. And you can only help those who want to help themselves. But I just had to make a painful decision with one of my students. I'm not helping him any more.What kind of teacher is that?It's my second year with him. He's from a bad family situation...a dad with more kids than I can count, a mom with a few kids, and one stable adult: his grandma. But to put him in our

Maenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-29841288027237550012009-02-17T19:03:00.003-06:002009-02-17T19:26:23.518-06:00

So, co-curriculars for the 7th and 8th graders at school changed this year. They go to drama, art, P.E., and Spanish every day for one quarter each. I had no textbook, and so I bought a book on the history of theatre and wrote my own guide. I give the kids notes, then I have them perform in the style they learned. We also pop in some theatre games and exercises.This being the end of the third

Maenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-16789516622310725472009-02-17T18:30:00.004-06:002009-02-17T18:35:34.992-06:00

14. The lady who totaled my car and has me missing work for pain, doctor appointments, and physical therapy.15. The cop who didn't test the idiot who totaled my car, even though she was OBVIOUSLY drunk. Or had been drinking. Why? Because, as we discovered minutes later, he picked up food at P.F. Chang's. HATE YOU HATE YOU HATE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!! This woman is only going to do it again. She should

Maenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-82536181342446334772009-02-11T23:19:00.005-06:002009-02-13T18:49:49.704-06:00

I went to buy some groceries today...needed bread and water and a Coke. Went to check out. Australian guy with an amazing accent (who wasn't much to look at) had trouble with his card. After a couple of swipes, he was ok. So when it was my turn and the same thing happened, I just switched payment methods and didn't think anything of it. Chalked it up as a machine error.Went to buy cat food

Maenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-81021820211730651822009-02-08T23:03:00.003-06:002009-02-08T23:50:23.091-06:00

I was planning to write a blog detailing my trip to Washington, D.C., to witness Obama's inauguration. I got back at midnight on Wednesday, slept on Thursday, which was Mark's birthday, and got in a bad accident Friday night. I have not been able to sit at a computer comfortably for some time. I'm doing better, but the D.C. wrap-up will be lengthy, I feel. I'll get back to that soon.I've been

Maenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-55788627677547950842009-01-14T23:39:00.003-06:002009-01-14T23:42:37.157-06:00

I got word from the Louisiana Department of Education finally:They have finished yanking my chain.They finished processing my June 2008 application for my teaching certificate.I am an honest-to-God secondary English teacher after all of this time, all of these headaches, and 4 years of jumping through hoops at UNO. Could have had another BA in all this time.Now for a break, and then maybe I'll

Maenoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-51204806309414454282009-01-08T20:08:00.003-06:002009-01-08T21:06:38.924-06:00

So, I teach in a school for kids with learning differences -- dyslexia, ADHD, and Asperger's are our biggest draws. I tend to forget that some of them are socially inept. They seem really normal until we take them in public, or until days where something really bizarre happens. Don't get me wrong. I love them. But social skills are not their strong points. This week has been ripe with such days..

Maenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-18720582182199024712008-12-31T17:08:00.005-06:002008-12-31T17:20:10.987-06:00

I'm not normally a violent person. I don't believe in spanking and I hate war (but support the poor men and women sent to do other peoples' dirty work). However, there are people who make my blood BOIL. I just want to punch them. Here's a partial list:1. People who drive the wrong way down the one-way parking garage aisles at J.C. Penney's and honk at YOU when you are driving the right way and

Maenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-17747834452285509242008-12-29T18:07:00.003-06:002008-12-31T17:20:59.151-06:00

So, I was thinking about how I never had time to really blog this past year. I had been so regular when it was all doom and gloom, back when I was relaying the Katrina experience. I typed for hours at a time. We all know it's easier to point out the bad than the good. While things are still pretty rotten for us, I tried to think of the good stuff. That's pretty hard as of late, without getting

Maenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-84897556154246023772008-11-04T09:03:00.003-06:002008-11-05T00:02:29.926-06:00

...Intolerance, and stupid people.Yeah, I'm voting for Obama today. I am a registered Independent who loves being one. But I want a viable third party candidate. It bothers me to say that. But Ron Paul is only popular because of his views on marijuana, which I only agree with when thinking of Dana Carvey's line about making things like that legal and taxing the hell out of it, and I think Nader

Maenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-12391913868029088632008-10-17T00:34:00.002-06:002008-10-17T00:36:58.916-06:00

Today, my alarm didn't go off, I was almost late to work, I didn't get to stop for my Thursday morning coffee treat, I left my lunch home, I didn't have any off-periods, half the laptops in my classroom laptop lab are missing, the other half weren't charged, I got threatened in writing and verbally by a 13-year-old with a borderline personality and oppositional defiant disorder, and a 15-year-old

Maenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-68264293292569282252008-09-03T12:33:00.004-06:002008-09-03T13:27:03.086-06:00

Written August 29:Mark's got an offer for a hotel room free through work in Hammond, and they accept animals up to 50 lbs. He has to work tomorrow, so we'll see then.Also August 29:The in-laws just told us there is a mandatory evacuation this weekend in MC. They're trying to convince their stubborn parental types. But if Nanny, Maw-Maw, and Pops don't want to go, I don't think they are, either.

Maenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-2939737499390128472008-08-30T14:50:00.003-06:002008-08-30T20:35:40.953-06:00

Here's where we are in our evacuation plans:1. Started laundry and packing over the last few nights. All photo albums, yearbooks, college newspaper bound copies, school-mandated items, and favorite summer clothes and shoes to join us.2. Packed winter clothes in trunk of Mark's car.3. Dropped Mark's car off at a warehouse his boss owns out in Harahan. Four feet off the ground, never flooded before

Maenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-27433889719421610062008-08-28T22:28:00.000-06:002008-08-28T22:29:24.678-06:00

I will try to do a 3-year anniversary recap in the next 24 hours.

Maenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-43229532794677072172008-07-04T01:35:00.002-06:002008-07-04T01:52:40.059-06:00

So my group of friends and I like to frequent an establishment late on weekends. It having been July 3rd and all of us being off of work on the 4th, we decided to take a rare Thursday night foray. This establishment is in Lakeview, my former neighborhood. We like to do our part, you know? Anyway, tonight, my cousin Alicia and I were sitting further down the counter on our own. We were talking for

Maenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-48774084822428472942008-05-21T20:23:00.003-06:002008-05-21T20:30:03.868-06:00

At 8th grade graduation, we always select two students to give commencement addresses. It's always two kids who have been there for a while, one boy, one girl, and they must embody our school's mission. This year, I helped the male student, Patrick, with his speech. It's so amazing, to come from him, to see how he has evolved since I first met him two years ago. I wanted to share it, because I'm

Maenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-28310361386672646692008-04-25T19:38:00.011-06:002008-05-02T11:20:05.189-06:00

Every year, due to my former past as a Travel Camp Unit Head (Tsofim Teen Travel, represent!), I am in charge of coordinating our 7th and 8th grade class trip. The trip destinations alternate: one year it's a science trip, the next it's a social studies trip.The year of Katrina, we were supposed to go to Tampa to swim with the manatees. However, after the storm took most peoples' life savings

Maenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-59020404538338963292008-03-20T21:51:00.004-06:002008-03-20T22:42:17.338-06:00

So, back when I was in college, I wrote a column for the school paper. I don't think it ever ran, but I did mail it to certain family members.When we removed our belo9ngings from our attic, our sole possessions after Katrina included a random box that held stuff from college. In it were random, useless things, as well as my college diploma, which I thought I'd lost. My buried treasure was this

Maenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-81190594503469733262008-03-10T19:55:00.004-06:002008-03-10T21:21:10.113-06:00

Hopefully, I am in my final semester at the University of No Opportunity. One of my classes is great fun. It's Materials and Methods in Secondary School English. Our class as nice easy discussions about what we've read and/or experienced, then concludes with a writing workshop. We're using the book "Rose, Where Did You Get That Red? -- Teaching Great Poetry to Children" by Kenneth Koch. It's a

Maenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-31529679645626174002008-03-02T01:49:00.000-06:002008-03-02T01:51:06.913-06:00

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Maenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-71695581763722105442008-02-08T00:58:00.000-06:002008-02-08T02:01:49.687-06:00

Every day, generally, I check into a great "news" website, www.fark.com. They link news articles to sarcastic headlines. It's a great way to kill some time. Well, today, they had this headline, which linked to a story on www.nola.com: "New Orleans continues to make the case against rebuilding it" (this was also tagged "Obvious" by the people at Fark. http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2008/02/

Maenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-72135102930542540082008-02-05T23:14:00.001-06:002008-02-05T23:14:49.788-06:00

Temperature -- high of 80Sky -- Usually overcast, sometimes sunnyBreeze -- PresentHumidity -- check and double checkNumber of friends who dressed with me -- 2Number of times we were asked what we were and were stumped -- eleventy-billionStrangers asking to take a picture with us -- manyStrangers who just took our pictures -- tonsBlisters on feet -- bleedingDrinks -- strongOld women's breasts seen

Maenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-40033636048779658332007-12-16T21:26:00.000-06:002007-12-16T22:13:43.898-06:00

So this came in a MySpace bulletin, but I wanted to do longer answers, and add stuff, so I'm putting it here. I'm pretending someone is interviewing me.1) Where did you begin 2007?2007, as in 2005 and 2006, and will be in 2008, began at my brother's house, affectionately known as "The Cabin." We dress up, we serve hors d'oeurves, we drink, there may or may not be fireworks, we do some kissin' at

Maenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-54798105653155794852007-12-06T00:52:00.000-06:002007-12-06T00:59:13.694-06:00

I was about to post something a few weeks ago and didn't get around to it due to a major crisis in our life. Then I decided to wait until it was rectified. We were running low on funds, so Mark got a part-time job at a local store that sells items special to a certain college in this state. They happen to be verrrrry busy this week.A few weeks later, this part-time job was all he had. After five

Maenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-30236194942384056572007-10-04T19:49:00.001-06:002007-10-04T19:58:00.675-06:00

And this time, I don't mean Katrina...but kindergarten.I was subbing for a religion class yesterday, and the Pre-K/K room is right next door. I was leaving to go to meet my reading class upstairs, and one of teh Pre-K/K teachers stopped to chat. Then she said, "Oh, would you like a piece of apple pie? We're learning about the letter 'A' right now."Who am I to refuse free apple pie?So she brought

Maenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-598403887614919772007-08-29T16:18:00.000-06:002007-08-29T16:22:10.802-06:00

I had someone send me this. It's kind of a neat perspective.Also, thank you, listeners of WIBC in Indiana, for inviting me to tell a microscopic portion of my tale to you this morning. I hope it helped bring things into perspective, and if you've found your way over here, I thank you. Please, stay a while...and stay tuned.And, if you would like my brother's perspective, visit him at

Maenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-61284099607512147232007-08-27T22:19:00.000-06:002007-08-28T21:46:58.906-06:00

http://blog.nola.com/updates/2007/08/neighborhood_touchstones_lost.htmlI wish I'd seen this article before blogging. That's what I get for putting pleasure before responsibility.Everyone has always had a list of "I miss..." in this city. It's part of our charm. Mark has found it annoying, asking why we can't let go of things. We can't. I guess that's the best reason as to why we're here, all of

Maenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-20493681462338523842007-08-27T20:06:00.000-06:002007-08-27T21:09:17.056-06:00

A new school year has fallen upon us, to the chagrin of the scholastic aged everywhere. Or, at least, those in the south. Which brings up an interesting question. Hold on while I wipe that bead of sweat rolling down my back.......ahhh. Oops. There's another. Ok. Anyway, WHY THE HELL DO THEY MAKE US GO BACK TO SCHOOL IN EARLY AUGUST WHEN IT'S SO FRIGGIN'HOT HERE!?!?!?! There are a million and 12

Maenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-72011142404644401672007-08-06T23:40:00.000-06:002007-08-06T23:41:12.738-06:00

Here's what my belief-net quiz told me. It's the religions I most closely associate with, according to my personal beliefs.1. Unitarian Universalism (100%)2. Neo-Pagan (93%)3. Liberal Quakers (90%)4. Reform Judaism (90%)5. Mahayana Buddhism (79%)6. New Age (77%)7. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (75%)8. Theravada Buddhism (73%)9. Sikhism (70%)10. New Thought (66%)11. Bahá'í

Maenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-88687651044817584222007-07-24T20:15:00.000-06:002007-07-24T20:23:44.464-06:00

Things to note:Insurance was reinstated.Painting the outside of your house in July in New Orleans is not something I EVER recommend.We're in Maccabiah at camp. That's...Color Wars....or Olympics...to you goyim...One and a half weeks of camp left.Followed by one weekend, one day off, and staff days at school. Bye bye, summer.I need a vacation.Got dumped in the pool at work while fully

Maenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-87511238532937766172007-07-03T23:31:00.001-06:002007-07-03T23:38:38.357-06:00

There is no feeling in the world greater than the feeling you get when something you hold as important to your life is gone...forever...and then stumbling across that important object later.We had a few boxes in our attic in Lakeview that were dry. Mostly our Christmas Ornaments. The boxes came to my parents' house and have been there ever since.As you will recall, we lost everything but those

Maenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-22704597497996119652007-07-03T23:02:00.000-06:002007-07-03T23:20:46.469-06:00

School is long over, we are mostly settled in the house, and camp is going to be half over on Friday. Unbelievable.A lot has happened, yet nothing has happened. Our roof leaked in a heavy rainstorm. We had it repaired.Allstate is trying to cancel our insurance due to structural issues. We have a couple more weeks to finish our repairs (mortar cracks, replacing weak eaves, etc.)and submit

Maenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-61880623697673027592007-05-21T22:36:00.000-06:002007-05-21T22:51:34.836-06:00

So, last year, I had a student I really connected with. I'd heard about his temper issues, and I'd heard about his lack of care for school, and I pushed that back in my mind. He graduated in May and returned as a Freshman in the fall. Well, his temper got the best of him a few times, and so he was asked not to return. At graduation last year and today, I gave my graduates personal letters. I

Maenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-52058039473172360322007-05-07T22:00:00.000-06:002007-05-07T22:10:53.962-06:00

These are all on my Facebook account, but not all of you have that. Here's a selection.

Maenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-76635474600031223952007-05-06T20:54:00.000-06:002007-05-06T22:11:30.390-06:00

So, due to my chaperoning adventure in D.C. and Williamsburg, I have left everyone in a lurch. I posted that we bought the house, and that is as far as I've gotten.It took less than half an hour Friday morning. I didn't even have to take off work to do it, because Friday was the first day of Jazz Fest. Our school is fairly close, and we sell parking spaces for it, so we close down for the day on

Maenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-78651418188939608872007-04-27T10:48:00.001-06:002007-04-27T10:48:42.313-06:00

We are homeowners!!!!!!!!1Let the cleaning/painting/renovating begin!

Maenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-28596910130287468252007-04-23T21:47:00.000-06:002007-04-23T21:59:09.320-06:00

You may remember that last year, my eldest cousin had the first great-grandchild in the family. Well, this weekend was his first birthday party. The actual day is the 24th, but we celebrated at my aunt and uncle's house in Folsom, LA, Saturday. Ummm...he's adorable and well-behaved. Totally uninterested in cake and presents. But a very happy little guy.On Sunday, we walked in the MS Walk. My aunt

Maenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-64081543133996341492007-04-23T21:34:00.000-06:002007-04-23T21:47:16.450-06:00

Get your own countdown at PimpMyArea.com

Maenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-70674093851480277612007-04-06T00:11:00.000-06:002007-04-06T01:40:27.745-06:00

Your Score Is.... 100%!  Congratulations, you scored in the highest percentile. You don't let very many mispronunciations slip by. No sir, not you. You speak quite properly, and everyone is impressed with your command of the English language. But do keep in mind, you probably come across as bookish and pedantic!Do You Pronounce Words Right?Make a QuizYour life has jumped the shark 13%!  Your

Maenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-35608134306250553422007-03-28T19:26:00.000-06:002007-03-28T20:09:51.429-06:00

I know I've left everyone in an uncomfortable state of suspense these past two weeks. I'd like to apologize. I just didn't want to say anything until everything was set. These past two weeks have been awful. The Friday before our scheduled act of sale, we learned there may have been a problem. When the house was inspected, they noted that there were some foundations issues that were not a problem

Maenoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-64352952148296496972007-03-24T14:14:00.000-06:002007-03-24T14:39:51.565-06:00

Just another reason to dislike the products of Texas....To be clear, I am pro-choice. I know that if I was careless enough to end up pregnant at this point in my life, I would probably abort. At some other point in my life, I may be willing to go for adoption. I don't want kids. I can't afford kids. And to the people who always say, "You can never afford kids," I understand that this is true, but

Maenoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-78355775071070058632007-03-20T19:53:00.001-06:002007-03-20T19:53:42.598-06:00

Maenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-61094994438951860812007-03-14T17:13:00.000-06:002007-03-14T17:17:34.143-06:00

No, stop telling me that you understand or you get it. I haven't even said the whole thing.You don't understand. I lost one house already. I cannot lose another. You have no fucking clue what it is like to be us. And if you do, then skip reading this.I have felt low in my life. I was pretty low upon Katrina existing. But this, this is a new low. I'm saving what's going on for later. It is not

Maenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-58366343735155181192007-03-12T22:00:00.001-06:002007-03-12T22:00:43.996-06:00

THIS IS NOT HAPPENING, THIS IS NOT HAPPENING, THIS IS NOT HAPPENING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Maenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-86843231475714638622007-02-27T22:01:00.001-06:002007-02-28T22:11:27.714-06:00

Get your own countdown at PimpMyArea.com

Maenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-83883610706733405742007-02-25T22:44:00.000-06:002007-02-25T22:46:18.520-06:00

Friday was the end of the inspection period for our prospective house. Nothing entirely major...things that can be major in a few years, but that's all due to it being an old house.We will proceed as planned...2 weeks until the act of sale...then two weeks until they move out...Bought a couch and a recliner today. It makes it more real.You Are An ENFPThe InspirerYou love being around people, and

Maenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-27374646938824874662007-02-07T18:34:00.000-06:002007-02-07T18:35:40.852-06:00

We put in a bid on a house Tuesday morning, and they countered today, much lower than we expected! They want the act of sale to be March 13, and then they want 14 days of occupancy....so we'll get to spend two weeks as landlords!!!! The reign of casa de Stan is about to end after 18 lonnnnnng months!!!

Maenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-66313525679973853472007-02-04T18:14:00.001-06:002007-02-04T18:22:33.572-06:00

I am worth $1,976,056 on HumanForSale.comHow much are you worth?

Maenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-78969178141973530892007-02-04T00:29:00.000-06:002007-02-04T00:30:55.080-06:00

--Looking at houses, round two, involving both sets of parents, 10:30 a.m. Central on Sunday. God help us all.--Flooring finally installed at my parents' house.--To be done in line of Katrina repairs: New baseboards in bedrooms, closets, and hallway, with exception of my parents' bedroom.

Maenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-15940934693320389022007-01-26T18:19:00.000-06:002007-01-26T18:21:45.959-06:00

My brother posted a link to this on Facebook and I wanted to share it, too. It's pretty brilliant. Little disturbing, but I'm strangely desensitized to the visuals. Except the pool and the fridge. Ugh. Quick note: mild language...I'd call it PG-13, maybe PG.Anyway, thanks for bringing it to my attention, Geoff.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlTFuXdbHvc

Maenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-13180274344562893382007-01-22T18:05:00.000-06:002007-01-22T18:17:20.793-06:00

I feel so much sadness over the Saints. And so much hatred towards the Bears.I can't put it into words as eloquently as Chris Rose can, because, frankly, he is the man, and I am not. So I'll let him do it.http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpage/index.ssf?/base/news-7/1169448177104140.xml&coll=1By the way...did I tell you how I got to meet him? Back in...October....I think... there was a huge golf

Maenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-62661450571452488522007-01-19T18:16:00.000-06:002007-01-19T18:21:22.962-06:00

Phone call, 3:42 p.m., as my students are dismissing for the day.Phone: "Bzzzzz bzzzzzzzzzzzzz. bzzzzzzzzz bzzzzzzz." ('Twas on vibrate)7/8 C: "Go Saints!!!!!! See you Monday!!!!!!! Woooooo no school!"Me: (Finger in ear to hear) "Hello?"Loan Officer: "Hi, Aimée...this is A.J. How are you today?"Me: "I'm good...and how about you?"A.J.: "Good...I tried calling Mark, and he didn't answer, which is

Maenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-76466623659795729652007-01-13T12:48:00.001-06:002007-01-13T12:50:34.173-06:00

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/12/AR2007011202169.html

Maenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-61706842472528935552006-12-26T01:10:00.000-06:002006-12-26T01:20:00.330-06:00

The Saints won again! Dear Lord...could this be the year? And Dallas delivered quite the prettily wrapped package today by losing so spectacularly to Philly. First-round bye is OURS.Anyway, the most important thing of all is that Christmas is finally over. No one I know seems to have been excited about it this year. I only shopped and made jewelry because I felt I had to do it. I was purely

Maenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-1837254709038964952006-12-15T22:51:00.000-06:002006-12-15T22:54:01.684-06:00

I intended to do a poignant post for this one, my 100th, but instead, I have a mystery to solve. Perhaps you can help. I got a package in the mail today from an Internet store. In it was the He-Man and She-Ra Christmas movie on DVD. I am very confused. I didn't order it, Mark didn't order it, and neither of us has heard of this website. There was nothing else...no packing slip, no nothing. So,

Maenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-89910412768474976132006-12-08T18:00:00.000-06:002006-12-08T18:04:59.979-06:00

So, the ultrasound showed that I do not have gallstones. This is a very good thing.However, my B12 levels are very low. I have to start injections next week, five days in a row. Then I will go once a week for 4 weeks. Then I will go once a month for three months. Then they will recheck my levels and see if I need more.Also, there are problems with my thyroid. They are referring me to my p.c.

Maenoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-1164433537120472732006-11-24T23:36:00.000-06:002006-12-08T18:06:32.860-06:00

Yes, all of you who posted to me or e-mailed me or tried to call me, I got it. I just don't have much to say. Hence, my updates have become few and far between. I'm not ignoring you; don't think that at all. I just have no reply.Updates:There was a delay in the loan application process that required a 30-wait period. Then they will resubmit. We do not know yet whether or not we have one.We

Maenoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-1161579155821834932006-10-22T21:48:00.000-06:002006-12-08T18:08:11.987-06:00

And when they tumble, they tumble hard.I never, when I started up with Blogger a year and a half ago....which seems like an entire lifetime ago..... intended it to be a real-live blog. I never wanted to be all emo and sad and sorry on this. It was something I could write goofy observations on, and maybe share what Kate once called my "windbreaker" stories in one place without having to tell the

Maenoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-1160451891115643792006-10-09T20:38:00.000-06:002006-12-08T18:09:06.664-06:00

On Monday, September 25, 2006, the Superdome was scheduled to reopen, with the Saints playing a Monday Night Football game. Southern's band was to do the halftime show, Irma Thomas and Allen Toussaint were to do the National Anthem, and Green Day and U2 were to sing some songs pre-game. Businesses were shutting down, schools were closing early (ours didn't, but we all got to wear black and gold

Maenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-1158036463933566422006-09-11T22:42:00.000-06:002006-12-08T18:09:37.692-06:00

Is it so wrong of me to not bat an eye at today's date? September 11. Ho hum.Am I a horrible person for no longer caring?I mean, I care. I feel deeply for those friends and families.But the 1-year of Katrina didn't get nearly the coverage and the national swelling of pride and patriotism that the 1-year of 9/11 did. And our 5-year will get even less. I feel like the 5-year of 9/11 did better,

Maenoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-1157580267252964342006-09-06T16:03:00.000-06:002006-12-08T18:09:52.015-06:00

My brother made this documentary this past weekend. Before you go thinking that New Orleans is "back" or "recovered," go watch this hour-long footage.http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3669658201853703248&hl=en

Maenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-1157085336600636252006-08-31T22:34:00.000-06:002006-12-08T18:10:08.350-06:00

I decided to "back up" the saga by saving it as a Word document. It is, without the pictures, 76 pages long. I really could make it a book.

Maenoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-1156997644118787922006-08-30T21:18:00.000-06:002006-12-08T18:11:16.159-06:00

"Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans, when that's where you left your heart?... The moonlight on the bayou.......a creole tune.... that fills the air...I dream... about magnolias in bloom......and I’m wishin’ I was there" - Louis ArmstrongYesterday was a rough, rough day. But it was a day. As our school president said at our staff meeting, "People keep saying, 'Do you remember what you

Maenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-1156912983894165162006-08-29T22:41:00.000-06:002006-12-08T18:11:34.466-06:00

I was in the midst of a very good post, if I do say so myself, and it was time for dinner. Crawfish Etoufée, if you must know. So I got up midpost, and then started watching Spike Lee's "When the Levees Broke." About 40 minutes into the sob-fest, we lost electricity.It is now about 11:37, and I still have to shower. I will post as promised tomorrow. Sorry to keep you waiting.

Maenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-1156810543072647592006-08-28T16:31:00.000-06:002006-12-08T18:12:57.577-06:00

We are, officially, in the era called "K+1." We had a child psychologist speak to us during staff workshop week, and he used this term. It's been popping up everywhere lately. Ad nauseum.But it's here, and I don't have to like the name any more than I don't have to like those cutesy celebrity coupling names. (Look, I actually have paid attention to some of the rest of the world in the past year..

Maenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-1156550870477867032006-08-25T17:27:00.000-06:002006-12-08T18:14:18.841-06:00

June 1 is the official start of hurricane season. So, naturally, a lot of fear crept into the city's psyche. Even though the world's weather patterns don't have an alarm that rings and says, "Oo...June 1. Time to go to work!" we still feared the date more than usual.When camp started, I was happy yet sad. I was happy because it is my favorite time of year. I also was going to be the assistant

Maenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-1156213807459274212006-08-21T18:57:00.000-06:002006-12-08T18:15:28.570-06:00

In the first week of May, things did not seem so bleak. We took our 7th and 8th grade class trip concurrentl with the high school retreat. The retreat was scheduled to leave New Orleans the DAY that Hurricane Katrina hit us. Thankfully, they cancelled the trip ahead of time. Could you imagine having a brand-new high school, open for 8 days in all of history, and have every student ten hours away

Maenoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-1155617527071642632006-08-14T21:30:00.000-06:002006-12-08T18:16:59.520-06:00

Recap: Last time, we had a smaller, but (mostly) very fun Mardi Gras experience, and things seemed to be looking up.But now it was April, and we were still moving my dad's reopening date back. He had originally expected to be open by mid-February. And now it was April. Things felt bleaker once more.And it was my second sinus infection of the year. It was right on the heels of the first.

Maenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-1153714213913521292006-07-23T21:30:00.000-06:002006-12-08T18:18:02.085-06:00

Recap: We had gotten through a fairly solemn Christmas, Mark's stomach virus, and a much-needed New Year's Eve...made all the more sweeter by the fact that none of Geoff's neighbors were back home yet, so we could be as loud as necessary outside as we raised our middle fingers in salute to 2005...This was followed later in the week by me missing my first day of HRA because I had a much less

Maenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-1151895131079253002006-07-02T19:57:00.000-06:002006-12-08T18:18:53.682-06:00

Recap: We had the first true Thanksgiving of our lives.December 1 was my father's birthday. It was nice to be here for him, but celebrating was hard. He and my Uncle Dan had finished gutting their business, then pressure washed it with bleach, and were at a stopping point. The building owner was taking care of the carpentry, but until they got an electrician, they could do nothing else. Every

Maenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-1148328659554397362006-05-22T13:26:00.000-06:002006-12-08T18:19:49.921-06:00

Recap: Last time, I was moved to 7/8 and found myself with a sourpuss teaching partner. My insurance check came, and I bought a RAV4. We treated the kids to an awesome Halloween, because there weren't many places to trick-or-treat. Neighborhoods were desolate or unsafe, so we had a big fair.We entered November, and it got to the point where sleeping on an air mattress on the floor of my brother's

Maenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-1142918695118509242006-03-20T22:35:00.000-06:002006-12-08T18:20:47.656-06:00

Recap: Last time, at the last possible minute, I had been moved from teaching 3rd and 4th grade up to teaching 7th and 8th grade. This was both devastating, as I had really bonded with my partners and had already seen the kids that day, and thrilling, as my certification area is 6-12 English.I gathered the few thigns I had in our 3/4 classroom. It didn't amount to much, as it is my first year

Maenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-1141352116494655062006-03-02T19:03:00.000-06:002006-12-08T18:21:56.407-06:00

Recap: Last time, we snuck into Orleans Parish using Mark's press pass. Words could not describe what we saw. We were getting ready to move the school from Mid-City to Metairie.Wednesday afternoon, while we were still at the remains of our home, Alicia called me. The call went straight to voice mail, as cell reception in Lakeview was scarce. I talked to her on the way out, and she could tell

Maenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-1138928732026050612006-02-02T19:04:00.000-06:002006-12-08T18:26:56.541-06:00

Recap: We had just survived Hurricane Rita, just weeks after Hurricane Katrina. My job called me back to Metairie, so I moved in with my parents. Mark, however, would remain in the RV in Baton Rouge.My school was, miraculously, fine. Located in Mid-City, it was truly an island. However, due to its location, we had no idea when electricity, water, and sewerage would be restored to our campus. We

Maenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-1135665208363079642005-12-26T22:42:00.000-06:002006-12-08T18:24:27.299-06:00

Recap: Mark was living in Baton Rouge in an RV for work, my parents moved back home, Geoff was staying with Calie's family in River Ridge, and I was living with my in-laws in Morgan City. School was calling me back on Sept. 26, but Hurricane Rita was headed straight for Texas and southwestern Louisiana.....Morgan City included.The winds of Rita from the outer bands of the storm were teasing

Maenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-1135551538977201172005-12-25T16:48:00.000-06:002006-12-08T18:24:45.647-06:00

Maenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9419206.post-1132378330472209182005-11-18T22:30:00.000-06:002006-12-08T18:25:43.298-06:00

Ok...I'm out on Thanksgiving Break, so even though I have to make an exam, grade an exam, and make classroom Christmas decorations, I am probably going to update more regularly. A lot has happened, and I feel I'm getting further and further behind.Recap: We went back to Metairie for a day to check on my parents' house, which suffered mild damage (We would later learn that mild means $25,000 to

Maenoreply@blogger.com2