Day 26 & 27: Trying to be Productive

I had another work related meeting yesterday morning, on that Saturday morning, and it was great and worthy of a Saturday time slot. The person came to my side of the city and we met at Cake Café, which you may remember from its bagel decency earlier in this adventure. I did not get a bagel. That was my fault. It was also pouring so I looked more drowned because I walked then if I drove. Rain or no rain, I'm not walking three blocks.

So I spent today redoing my resume. One, because I needed to and Two, because working on resumes calms me.

I am a workaholic. Trying to find myself a job is not enough.

Day 25: The Maybe Date

So, a boy invited me to go see a brass band show uptown. We were going to bike but the weather report said it was going to pour all night. Instead, I drove and wore a pretty dress.

Thank you, Weatherman for saving me from a sweaty evening.

I met him at Avenue Pub, which was the first place I went to when I arrived in New Orleans the first time. It was there where I experienced the greasy splendor of "Dumptruck Fries". Combine that with a huge beer menu, beautiful balcony seating, and a chill backyard and this place is easily in my Top 5 Bars of All Time.

We were only a little late for the show

The show was at Loyola University and was the second day of their NOLALoyola 2012 festival. While the auditorium was lovely, there was a weird tension between patrons who wanted to be wild (i.e., dance and chat) and those who were better suited in an opera hall somewhere. Our little twosome got our fair share of dirty looks so we moved over to the aisles with all the other weirdos who had the need to shake their tailfeathers.

Dirty Dozen Brass Band

Afterwards, we went to a crappy-ass college bar, Madigan's, who's saving grace was $2.50 beers. But apparently, that's a thing around here if you're willing to drink at a Budweiser level. I don't know if it's the constant heat, being back in the South, or the lack of an income flow, but after however many years of strict beer snobbery, I am more then willing.     

Day 24: Wardrobe Updates

Tonight was my second ride with the NOLA Social Ride. This week's theme was "My Generation", which riders picked their favorite decade for costuming. I, of course, went with the 90s and rocked my normal clothes. While deciding between mismatched patterns and school girl accents, I did think I should upgrade my wardrobe. New residence deserves a new look. Then I remembered that I am still unemployed, so if Clare Danes can become relevant again then maybe so can dresses with jeans.

The group met in front of the aquarium before we took the ferry over to the West Bank and rode through Algiers and Gretna. 

The cardigan detailing slayed me. 

This is a casino located in the middle of the Central Business District. 

Nothing says closing a deal quote like a few rounds of blackjack afterwards.

Days 22 & 23: Coach Potato

Cleaned up the apartment a bit and yes, I am still unpacking boxes. Don’t judge me.

The upside (and admittedly also downside) of funemployment is the overwhelming volume of TV one watches to keep themselves amused and from spending money. I started this post with a list of the TV shows I'm watching but I will spare you and promise myself that I will get out more.

Day 21: 3 Week Anniversary Recap

Things I have learned about living in New Orleans so far:

1) Do not drive through the Quarter at any hour, regardless of what Google Maps say.

2) Turning right on red is great. Not being able to turn left at major intersections is the worst.

3) You can sit in a coffee shop for 4 hours and not get stink-eyed by the staff. Also iced coffee is more expensive and tastes so much better.

4) You can learn your way around without using street name signs. Which is good because intersections here either don't have them OR they exist embedded into the sidewalk.

5) It is difficult to adjust your feminist trainings to accomodate being called "sweetheart" and "baby, but  while you (kinda) have to get used to it, you don't have to like it every time it happens.

6) Laundry is more expensive. I have no explanation for that.

Days 19 & 20: Iced Irish Coffee

I went out on Friday night. First to the opening night party of the blogger conference. I got the start time wrong so I had a drink over at Irish House, which reminded me way too much of every generic Irish pub in Midtown. But it had Iced Irish Coffee, which was delicious (and "oh my god you're crazy expensive, even by New York City standards").

The party was interesting. People are very keen to smile and say hi to the woman they don't recognize in the corner, trying to look interested in the art on the wall rather then awkwardly bury herself in her phone.

It was worth going though, the band was outstanding.

And like every good blogger party, a food truck was present to serve the masses pan-Latino cuisine. 

I stayed for a hour or so and then met up with some folk from the Social Bike Ride, all of which are from New York City original (2 Queens kids and a Long Islander). This did not lead to the productive Saturday that I intended. 

It did lead to me riding over to Gene's for a hot sausage po boy with cheese and then over to Louis Armstrong Park for a picnic for one.

Yes, part of this sandwich is cut off by the Instagram filter. Thing was a greasy mess but delicious. Reminded me of the 3 dollar sandwiches we used to get at El Mercado on the south side of Hartford. There was no ennui, anger, hang-over, longing, exhaustion, or quarter-life crisis those sandwiches couldn't cure

The view from my on-again, off-again park nap

Back in May, when I was thinking about what I could and could not live without of my New York rituals, dim sum brunch was a big one. Let me not play, food was a lot of the items but once I got back from my trip I realized living by myself for an affordable price and not doing a Queens to Manhattan commute were more important. But back to the dim sum. So, I voiced my concern to Dr. Anna who assured me that I would be able to find my Asian fix here. We did a little research and dug up Dim Sum and Then Some, conveniently located in The Joint, as a random Sunday pop-up shop.

This Sunday, it popped up and I met up with some friends in the neighborhood. The pig ear salad was great but the pork buns were lacking. They weren't bad but they weren't right, just stewed pulled pork in a biscuity encasement. Definitely erred on the side of pork buns for generic white people. 

The search will continue.  

Days 16, 17, 18: Happy Thursday

Holy shit, ya'll! I got things to write about today!

Last night, I did the NOLA Social Ride's Happy Thursday. 30 something people riding their bikes around for three hours of drinking, laughing around the CBD and French Quarter. Did I mention the guy leading the ride was wearing fake dreadlocks and blaring reggae music?

I found the group on Meet-Up and met them at 12 Fulton (the Yelp review says it's closed down but I was there last night and while it wasn't bumping, it wasn't closed). 

 

I'm going to need a bigger backpack

Stop 1

This is under the bridge to the West Bank, or as I formerly knew it, the Bridge to Target.

Stop 2

Armstrong Park

So that's the good stuff. Now on to the bad.

This place is a food desert. In my neighborhood, there's the Food Co-Op but this is not an affordable or day to day grocery option. There's convenience stores. There's places to order from on every corner, but not a lot of options if you want a box of Rice Krispies and a bag of frozen chicken strips.

Don't judge, I'm a single woman on a budget.

So, exploring one option was to go to drive to Rouse's (there's one in the Quarter, but it overwhelms me with its tiny aisles), which is the local grocery chain. Might as well go to Whole Foods, prices are the same. Though I'm not sure Whole Foods can compete on alcoholic whipped cream options.

On the docket for tonight, Rising Tide 2012 Opening Night Party and BBQ with Social Ride folks (also former New York Expats). And yes, I'm biking there.

Day 15: National Cheeseburger Day

Today, the weather was outstanding--sunny, touch of breeze, only mildly humid. I went on a quick 9 mile bike ride through Downtown and the French Quarter. Biking in here is so much different than in New York. For one, there are cobblestone and broken streets every where. But two, it's mostly one way streets with significantly less cars. 

This city feels empty most of the time. Even living out in a slightly sheltered neighborhood in Queens, there was always someone on the street. Late at night, there were apartments with their lights still on. Here most of the streets are desolate most of the time. 

The 9 miles was a deal I made with myself to earn a cheeseburger at Port of Call in honor of National Cheeseburger Day.

Round 1

Round 2

On the way back, I blew by the site of the Hubig Pies site. Please note the color of the equipment. Her work is seen all over the neighborhood--now that is Nontraditional Employment for Women.  

Day 14: Story-telling

We've hit the two week mark. Celebrated by auditioning another local, Mimi's, who will serve you a BlackSmith, but it will look like this:

Had another promising work-related meeting this morning. Having somewhere to be in the morning (even in this case it's just awake and mentally sharpened) is good for motivation.

On two different errands, I participated in deep conversations with strangers about the nature of opportunity, one in regards to his exit from the military and another involving the power of strong parenting. These two gentlemen both opened up their lives to me during standard bank and internet installation transactions.

The banker told me about how when he was younger, he was going to go to college but his friends went into the Navy and he went with them. Because he was smart, they put him behind a desk while his friends were on the boat. He was so miserable that he acted out and got thrown out. He made it clear that he got discharged on purpose. The internet guy told me about how he was raised by a single mother and that she kept him out of trouble, but he doesn't know how and doesn't know how kids these days can't do the same.

I want to get back to work.

Days 12 & 13: Stir-crazy

I'm a workaholic who is about to go on her fourth week of being unemployed. Money-wise, it's not ideal but this is less of a concern then how mentally and emotionally stir-crazy I'm going.

Sure, there is plenty to do around here and I've been going out on mini adventures every day. I have an apartment to unpack and set up. I'm not a domestic person so organizing and decorating is two of my least favorite activities of all time, so there are still more boxes then most people would be comfortable with. I'm not comfortable with it either, but I need to break it up into little chunks here and there.

I was hanging out with improvisers on Friday (yes, I live blocks from the improv theater ), talking about period of my life where I stopped doing comedy and how I felt like I wasn't funny any more. My friend said something that really nailed it, that when you're too immersed in something and that's all you do,  you fall too far away from the source. 

I think that sums it up well.

So I've been thinking about that line a lot, what the source could be, and where could I find it again. One of the reasons why I left New York is because I felt like I was in "Groundhog Day". Wake up ever so slightly late for work, shower, same jokes and same songs from Rosenberg and Cipha Sound, traffic in the same spots, clears up in the same spots, morning to the receptionist, order egg, cheese, and something on a roll from Castillo, workcrisiskidsworkcrisiskidswork, whoops forgot to eat lunch, go home and watch TV with roommates/go out to one of 4 places with one of 4 people, bed, wake up...In this instance, my source was my job and while there is nothing wrong with your career being a large part of your identity, it was the vast majority of mine. This was not good for any area of my life, but it was hard to change it up. Overall, productivity was a stagnant stream.  

Granted, the monotony is a bit exaggerated for effect and I definitely tried in my last year or so to do different things. There was Knicks Friday, where Stephen and I went to a different bar to watch the Knicks game in a different neighborhood. Epic Bike Ride Saturday was a great way to go along the same streets but from a very different view. I made an effort to hang out with people while I was trying to do new things. Notice how everything had a grand title. If you're not overstimulated in New York City, then maybe it need not be a big thing to throw you off the loop you're on.

I've been exploring my neighborhood a bit, walking or biking on a non-internet connected tour of the coffee shops in my area, working on the manuscript I started for Camp NaNoWriMo in August. For once, I live in the cool neighborhood and not on the outskirts of a not-hip one. My car hasn't moved in days and I'm setting impressive writing goals for myself (and up until today I have been hitting them). I think I might take an improv class again. I should do more yoga since I found a studio I like. I'm sure one of these things will reconnect me with my source. 

Or point me in the direction of what or where my source is.

I purposefully left my phone at home to cut down on distractions so I can't post the picture I want to take right now of this cat curled up and knocked out on a chair at the table next to me. 

Day 11: Rubble

Instagram filter free

If you Google Map, 3021 Dauphine Street, New Orleans, LA, it is still using images from this building when it was intact. It won't, however, tell you what this building was before it came down. 

Day 10: Cat Blog

There is an abnormal number of cats that wander my neighborhood. At first, I thought it was just my building and that the owners of Watch Cat and Guard Cat were braver then most. But having an outdoor cat is a thing around here. At least there won't be a rodent problem.  

Tonight was my first night out on the town to meet a friend (other than Dr. Anna, of course). I am in the process of auditioning local bars and so I started with the one closest to my house, Lost Love Lounge, which is divey awesome and serves Vietnamese food. So that's three points in its column. I met up later at J&J's Sports Lounge, which is in the Bywater, and is also divey awesome with a $9 dollar for 3 drinks round (including tip). 

For those of you need a better point of reference for where I live and what it's like, The Bywater is the Williamsburg and The Marigny is the Greenpoint. If you don't live in New York, I don't know your area like that but if you describe your biggest hipster neighborhood and its neighboring  more older family-based hipster area, then my zone is like that.

Day 9: Edible Bagel Found

I found a decent bagel, and it's walking distance from my house! I didn't take a picture of it because I scarfed it down in amazement. 

I also had a meeting today that went really well. 

They say one of the bad things about living alone is that you don't have anyone to greet you when you get home. I am not one of those people. Watch Cat greets me when I get home. 

There were also errands to be run. All of which within a two mile radius, so I unwrapped my handy Triumph and went for a spin. Within 3 minutes, I heard the sound of drums, syncopated, spirited, and somewhere towards the train tracks. 

I found them. 

I also found the food co-op, which was not as local as I had hoped. I call shenanigans when the location sourced label says "USA". It's like having a mini-Whole Foods 5 blocks away. There are worst things.

Day 8: Quest

I have been on a quest for a decent bagel. I keep being told that it cannot be done, but it is hard to believe that this city that runs wild with kitchens can't bake a bagel.

Artz Bagelz was better then the first two I tried (Stein's and Orange Couch). But still not great and not helped in its cause by the hipster attempt of a name. I will continue to hunt. The craving must be satiated.

The day started with a yoga class with Dr. Anna and then an epically long and expensive trip to Target. Apartment start-up costs are massive. Cleaning supplies and flatware and a pot to cook mac and cheese in -- all came to a total that almost flattened me. And then I remember that I'm not paying $1220 a month in rent anymore, so I threw in some scented candles. 

When I came back, this is what I had to work with.

Five and a half hours later, I had cleaned things I had never cleaned before, but there isn't much visible progress. It did smell better and my sense of accomplishment was kicking. This is the first time I have ever put an apartment together all by myself. Historically, I have had roommates and boyfriends to take care of this for me. I'll take one box down, the overwhelming smell of lemon cleaner, and exhausted muscles as a win for the day.

Day 7: The Great Move-In

(All Photographs Taken Prior to Movers)

This is My Building

It's OK to be Jealous

Stern but Fair

Watch Cat

The Bathroom

Already looks like a girl lives here.

The Bedroom

All Hail The Mighty Ceiling Fan!

The Closet

Will living with the water heater keep my clothes from being wrinkly? Time will tell.

The Living Room

Shares the space with the...

KITCHEN

So pretty!

Front Yard with Benches and Guard Cat 

Bike Rack Within the Confines of the Fence

I live amongst hipsters. I met 4 out of 5 of them today and am the only one without tattoos

 

In the South, Every Season is Picnic Season

 Again, with the Horrible Bagels

Day 6: Job Hunting

Sunday, Part I

Cover letters make me insane. After so many years working on resumes, I can whip one up perfectly formatted in minutes. I am charming and am able to articulate my professional strengths and weakness clearly, so interviewing is not a scary, though definitely awkward, experience.

But cover letters have never, and will never, come out easily.

Today's mission: write two of them.

THIS IS WHAT JOB SEARCHING LOOKS LIKE!

Sunday, Part II

The DVR switched over to the Iowa State vs. Iowa game, and since I fear the stability of my current guest room crash arrangements if I mess with Dr. Anna's great state of Iowa, I finally left the house. Until I get my keys tomorrow morning, I take no chances. 

Down the street is Stein's Market & Deli, supposedly the only "authentic" Jewish Deli in New Orleans. If you skim through the Yelp reviews, you will see it described as a New York Deli. They were out of whitefish, toasted my bagel without asking, and charged more than 2 dollars for an ice coffee. So not a New York Deli, nor is it pretending to be. 

Literacy Fail

Sunday, Part III

Finished the two cover letters while watching the U.S. Open Women's Final, and received and returned my new lease. I'm not out of the woods on this potential disaster until the caretaker actually shows up at the apartment at 9am sharp. There is no possible back-up plan, so if he doesn't, you'll find me in a puddle on the front yard of my building on a stack of my belongings. 

Day 5: Grounding Down

I'm in a sports bar on Magazine Street, where every screen is on college football. Except the one on my phone, because I'm watching Djokavic versus Ferrer. This is what I mean when I say, "I'm going to make this work.

It's been a good day so far. I went back to yoga this morning. The theme is this morning was on the root chakra, or as it's most commonly recognized, the red chakra on lavender yoga mats.

Definition from the internet:

Root Chakra - Represents our foundation and feeling of being grounded.

Location: Base of spine in tailbone area.

Emotional issues: Survival issues such as financial independence, money, and food.

The synchronicty was not lost on me.

All the poses were about planting a strong base, building strength in your pelvis and legs in order to keep yourself standing in balance poses. I have been out of regular yoga practice for a while. I wobbled, fell over, realized that now that my hair is shorter something else has to be down to hold it back. That was not lost on me either.

Right before I walked into class, I tried my trunk again and it opened, loudly and with force. I have been wearing the same clothes for days, clothes that were not fit for public consumption. The only suitcase on the backseat was the one full of underwear, PJs, and a smattering of workout clothes. It was packed with the idea that I was going to make more days out of the drive but each day I wanted to wear elastic waists. It was not packed with a week in town in mind.

Right now, I'm in my normal clothes. Granted, I'm not a fancy girl so it may not seem like I've only taken a tiny step up in my "living" situation. But today has felt closer to normal. Despite being out of the game for a while, yoga was more fluid then last time. Now that I'm saving almost 500 dollars on rent, I don't feel like every dollar I spend is one step closer to the end game. So I was able to go out, have lunch and a couple drinks in a skirt and clean tank top. I was able to leave Dr. Anna's house for longer than a couple hours. I ate the best french fries of my life, with a side of a chorizo slider ($5), alongside an $8 Sazerac. I had a $4.50 Black & Tan (Irish-style and I didn't have to explain what it was, yet it was poured to perfection.