Jobity Job Job Job

It's all new beginnings up in here, y'all! Look! We have a flower! A flower on the cucumber plant! And yes, that is a chopstick, holding up the plant. Whatever you have on hand, right?

Plus, I got a J - O - B!

I am over the moon. Excited and calm about this one. It's the right fit. A creative fit and a positive new opportunity for me and what it will mean for us to exist in this city.

If you looked at the scorecard of Kelly and Kevin Move to New Orleans, it would look something like this:

NOLA - 4
K&K - 1

You might be asking, why do we only have one point? Because our #1 All Star Game Player Kevin. He's the only one in this household who has acquired and kept his job here in NOLA. Way better than just a measly 4 months. He will have been at the Hospital for a year this summer.

But, that doesn't mean the game is over. It's really just beginning. You know, like in baseball. That game goes on forever. Seriously. America's favorite pastime is an excuse to sit around for five hours and drink beer and eat peanuts and Cracker Jacks. But who doesn't like that? I like to pass a good time with the rest of 'em.

But, back to the game of K&K vs. NOLA. It's really not a game. This is our home. It's not some novelty that is depicted on television. It's being able to pay the electric bill when it's 100+ degrees outside. And not being cooped up in the apartment, day after day after day.

Not that I didn't enjoy my little sabbatical. I did, thoroughly. It gave me a chance to re - situate our priorities here.

I promised myself that I would work with creative, like minded people. So far, that has become my reality.

I start Monday. I am working for a graphics/architectural design firm that has done a lot of corporate branding projects here in the city.

And yes, this is the job that is above the coffee shop.

*BLISS*

Have a FABULOUS weekend!

xoxo

Creative Choices and The Full Moon

I want some crayons. I miss how they smell in their boxes and I think it might be a fun medium to try and work with again. I don't know. I read about the history of Crayola crayons and the years they added new colors. Did you know that peach used to be called "flesh", but in 1962 they realized that there are other colors of skin tone than peach? Crayola now sports over 130 colors to choose from. Hmmm....

On another note, things have been stormy and happening. I don't know, things are changing right now. It's the full moon right now and Leo is roaring out there in the stars so things might be a little intense for others. I dunno. Just saying. Say your prayers and meditate on something positive. It will be better for everyone involved.

I had to take a personality test for the job above the coffee shop! Like a THEY PAID MONEY for me to take this test. :D I believe in my heart that this is the path I am meant to be on currently and things are about to look up. Plus, I go to my interview for the other place on Wednesday - that's TODAY actually looking at the clock.

But the personality test was interesting. Wow. Now, I think they are doing some comparing to their own tests and we shall see. I must commend them for this practice, actually. It's a small firm. Like a family. So, I get it.

I believe that had I been made to take a test like this at my previous endeavor, I would not have been hired in the first place. Just saying. But, that was the path I was supposed to take at the time.

And now we are here and things are getting better and prayers are being answered. So thanks.

Happy Wednesday! I wonder what shoes I'll wear to the interview?!

xoxo

Great Seed Watch: More Growing

We have been paying close attention to the progress of the garden. Watering, fertilizing, sunshining (well, that's more the sun's job), and talking to the plants.

The oregano looks happy! Getting bigger every day! I think oregano is pretty.

We have a new addition to our garden. I convinced Kevin to buy us a strawberry plant! I know, we didn't start this from seeds. But I have always wanted to grow strawberries and I'm thinking this might be the right weather for those babies!

The garden, growing.

The mint is growing slowly. But, things are coming right along. Thanks for the help watering, Princess Watering Frog!

Here is one of the cucumber plants. He's getting his little spindly finger thing! Yay! AND they are starting to develop flower buds.

The tomatoes are moving along nicely. Their bases are getting stronger and thicker. And they are MUCH taller.

Next time, I'm going to show you the progression of the plants thus far. I think it will be nice to see a side by side comparison of how far they have grown in a months time.

Happy Tuesday!

xoxo

Ha Ha Ho Ho He He

They're coming to take me away! Ha Ha Ho Ho He He!

Oh, that song used to scare me really bad for some reason. I don't know. Also, having dreams where people were talking to me and they would start out in a whisper and then gradually get louder and louder and louder and then quieter and quieter and quieter. You know, kind of like the wind but with talking. FREAKY!

But that's not the point. I forgot to mention that my darling blogging friend Jon presented me with The Laughing Raptor Award! Wow! I feel special. Thanks, friend!

The purpose of The Laughing Raptor Award is to pass on to fellow bloggers who consistently make you laugh your pants off.

So, here is my list of folks that have me in stitches:

1. Jean - I wish I could be as brazen as Jeanie. She's kickass. And, I wouldn't ever want to anger her.
2. Jules - The fact that she's having to deal with a 2 year old reincarnation of herself on a daily basis makes for good reads. And she's fabulous.
3. Jon - Not only did he bestow me with this award, he also makes me laugh a lot. And he's super nice. And he lives in Ohio which means I think he might have been to Cincinnati before and eaten Skyline Chili maybe once before he stopped eating meat.
4. Sue - She's super woman. And kind of like MacGyver in her daily life at the Symphony. Plus she's remodeling her house and has great taste in shoes.
5. Ken (a.k.a. MY DAD) - He's been battling with not having his truck to drive due to a series of unfortunate events. His rants are funny. He has since been reunited with his truck. Now he rants about tornadoes. Which is more frightening than funny, but still.


You guys make me laugh. Seriously.

xoxo

A Window of Opportunity

Hey y'all! Happy Friday! I hope you all have had a wonderful week! My week has been prosperous.

I had a great interview the other day. Very excited and things are progressing nicely with that arrangement. I also got a call back from the nice lady that said I was really probably too nice for the other job. They want to interview me sometime next week.

I'll keep you posted. Things are looking up - I feel it in my bones.

Have a FABULOUS Friday!

cha - cha - cha <-----the Friday Dance

xoxo

Shhh...it's a secret

So today I am going to a job interview. Yay! We shall see - it's part time. Which, well, is better than no time. Nervous a little, but kind of over it already. Eh. Take me or leave me. I'm tired of trying to convince people to hire me.

I'll be polite because, well, that's what I do most of the time.

But, oh, sheesh. I hate this self-imposed pressure to impress.

I'm just going to go in there and figure it out.

The coolest thing? It's above a coffee shop. The office, that is. And it's a really cool old house building.

Yum.

Iced coffee in the afternoons. Yes please!

Hope you all had a great start to the week. Think of me at 3 p.m. and send me super positive vibes!

xoxo

Monday Again?

I hope you all have a FABULOUS Monday and it flies by!

Louisiana Swamp Up In HERE!

I walked into our bathroom this evening while I was talking to my dad on the phone and I discovered THIS at the very tip top of the wall. We have like 14' ceilings in this place. He is still in there. I'm just hoping the cats don't discover him and make him their after dinner snack. EEK!

But isn't he pretty? In a get him out of my house PLEASE sort of way!

I'm so dependent on Kev to take care of all the buggies and creepy crawlies. Oy. And don't get me started on the cockroaches.

We also had a firefly in the kitchen. So peaceful by the refrigerator. I went to get the camera to take a picture. Next thing I knew, CatZiLLa was eating him.

I so wish Kev was home right now to make sure the lizard stays a lizard for another day.

I hope you all had a fabulous weekend!

xoxo

But You're So Nice: An Update

This is becoming a trend in my work life. I'm nice. Nice, nice, nice. I know I keep harping on this, but seriously? I had a phone interview yesterday with this head hunter company thing. Anyway, I thought the interview went well and the woman that interviewed me was lovely. At the end she kind of revealed she thought I was too nice for the position she was interviewing me for.

*SIGH*

She still thinks I'm a good candidate, but I don't know if she thinks I'm cut out to work for this particular person. Perhaps I am not. It would probably be a repeat of my previous situation on many levels, and we all saw how well that worked out.

There are a few other things brewing right now and therefore, I am hopeful and positive that I will not be unemployed for much longer.

Too nice. Sheesh. It got me thinking though. Why am I being perceived as too nice? I did some research last night and found an article on Emotional Intelligence. Basically, being aware of your emotions and keeping them in check while reading the emotion's of other and responding accordingly.

I think I might need to work on my EI. Be a zombie, robot person when it comes to emotions. It would do me some good, I think.

I just never thought that nice would be a bad thing. That's ok. I'm going to work with people who appreciate my craziness and niceness.

Hope you all are having a fabulous Saturday!

xoxo

Great Seed Watch: The Garden is Placed!

Hey, Hey, Hey! Happy Friday, everyone! I hope you all have had a week filled with sunshine and happiness. We finally have all our plants planted in the appropriate place! I'm so excited! So far so good!


If you were to walk out our back door onto the balcony, this is what you would see! I am anticipating a very fruitful growing season with our little spot of sunshine! No chairs on the balcony, but that's okay. I love having the greenery so close. Maybe eventually we can plant some flowers amongst all the veggies. We will see!

Have a great weekend, y'all!

xoxo

WINNER: 100th Post Celebration GIVEAWAY!

Hey, y'all! I'm sorry I disappeared for a bit. I'm back again. I haven't forgotten about my promise to give a present to one of you guys. I wanted to give it some more time to have people comment, so I picked a winner this morning!

And the winner is JON from MeVS.College! Yay, JON! Ok, so I think I'm going to paint you a painting. We will chat...

Thank you everyone for the encouragement. I appreciate all of you!

Hope you are having a good week!

xoxo

On the tip of your tongue...

Sausage (a.k.a. CatZiLLa!) enjoying time in the sunshine. Sooo nice...sleepy time in the sun.

I hope everyone is enjoying their Saturday. Today is a beautiful day in New Orleans, LA. The windows have been opened and so has the door to the balcony. The kitties couldn't be more pleased and the breeze is nice.

So I'm at a point now where everyone is asking, "So when are you going to get a job?" I'm trying. There are jobs out there, just not jobs that I am qualified to do or I am overqualified and they can't take the chance on me quitting, therefore, they don't hire me.

Times are tough, people! Arggg...I think my biggest crisis is that I am realizing that I must reinvent myself a little here in New Orleans. Find a different profession, perhaps. I dunno. But I just can't seem to quite figure out what it is I should do.

I will say, I'm feeling very creative lately and that is good. In my incessant need to be creative, we have been cooking and I've been painting it's all very bohemian of us, I suppose. We are conserving. I have some ideas of what I would like to do, however, that requires a leap of faith and a bankroll that we do not possess.



I am happy with my life, even if we are still just trying to find our way.

I'm happy with my husband and I am blessed that I'm living this life here with him in this beautiful city.

And I am so happy it's SATURDAY!

Go outside and put your toes in the grass if you can!

xoxo

Seed Watch Update and Another Experiment

It's a little cool outside this morning. A big rainstorm yesterday morning brought with it a cold front. Not cold, cold. Just cooler.



Because the temperature is so nice, Kev opened the windows and is baking bread this morning. MMMMMMMMMMmmmmmmm.....bread.

As far as the little seedkins, the cucumbers have now all found their permanent homes in the trellis boxes. They seem to be doing just fine, aside from the occasional nibble from Alice or Oliver.

Speaking of things taking a little nibble out of the plants, there was a green wormy caterpillar that fell into one of the boxes yesterday and wiggled around. Kev removed him from the box and we *believe* he is now living in the oak tree.

R, my brother R's girlfriend, warned me about caterpillar season down here. Yikes! Apparently, these babies get all hairy and fall on you out of the giant trees during April. Note to self: have umbrella open at all times.

Here are the tomatoes! Jules has a tomato on her plants that is ready to be plucked. :( Ours still have an entire summer to go. I have to keep reminding myself that good things come to those who wait.


Like I said before, we had a big rainstorm yesterday. Here's to hoping some good sunshine can help these guys pick their heads back up.


This is a bucket o' herbs from my mom! They seem to be coming along quite swimmingly.

So these guys kind of got hit hard with the rain as well. But, I must say that planting seeds in egg cartons is a great way to get things started!

And I started another little experiment. I read that you can plant the bulb part of the green onions you buy at the grocery store and they will grow. So, I tried it. I concur, this works beautifully. I have planted these gradually over the week as I have used the green onions in my recipes this week. But, look at that! One week and they have already grown this much!

Notice how there is a lighter green down at the base of each stock? Well, that is the line of where I started with them!

So, try this. I swear, anyone can do this. And, you can save some $$ at the grocery store next time you need some green onions. When you are cutting up your onion, don't cut off the white part at the bottom. Get a pot of soil, poke a hole with your finger and bury the onion bulb! Voila! Green Onion Garden!

I hope you all have a fabulous FRIDAY!

*Doing the Friday tap dance*

xoxo

All For a Pair of Alligator Shoes

This is my mom in 1957. Isn't she pretty? I love the pictures of her growing up in Cincinnati because she always looks so glamorous and proper. Her mantra for me growing up was always, "Be a lady!"

So my mom went to college at the University of Cincinnati (Go Bearcats!) and participated in a sorority. Mom majored in education and became a school teacher. (She's a nurse now, but that's another story.) She had a friend and sorority sister that she was very close to. They would hang out, wash their hair (I dunno...isn't that what girls did back in the 60's?), play pranks on their fraternity boyfriends, go shopping. They were really besties, I think.

On a particular shopping trip with her bestie, my mom found the most fabulously delicious pair of alligator pumps and matching handbag. Gorgeous. Fabulous. She was in love with these shoes. She had to have them. But, being that she came from her family, there wasn't a ton of money to throw around for a 19 year old to have a pair of alligator shoes and matching handbag. Her bestie, sensing my mom's adoration for these items suggested that they charge the purchase on her family's charge card at this department store. Then, my grandparents could just pay her family back.

Dilemma! Oh, Mom loved those shoes. She loved that handbag. She wanted for those items so desperately, she NEEDED them.

And, so my mom walked away with the most fabulously delicious pair of alligator pumps and handbag.

Her parents received the bill. They were not pleased. I think she was severely punished.


But now I have the most fabulously delicious alligator handbag. Thanks for being a pioneer, MOM! (I wonder where those shoes ended up...)

xoxo

100th Post, A Celebration of Sorts

Dooo Do DOOOOO!!!! Today, I am celebrating my 100th post! I started this baby back on May 28, 2009 - the day before my Daddy's birthday, actually. (Shhh....don't tell him I told you) So, I looked back at my very first post this morning, and currently, I am sort of back where I started on that day of May. Other than actually living in New Orleans, in an apartment and making groceries here and such, I don't have a job. Kev has a job. Granted, it's here and not back in Texas so I get to see him every day, but I'm the one that's not making the cheese. I know my job will come again. I just have to find it. And it has to find me.

I found this picture when I was looking for the pictures of the Babushka trip. It's funny, because this picture is almost identical to this. Yep. It's the very first posting. That picture was taken very close to the time that I started the blog. The picture above was taken in 2001, I believe.

It's funny how some things don't change much in New Orleans. Slow. Easy. It is the "Big Easy", after all. (Except it's not always easy...)

I am so happy we are here and settled, and I am grateful for the experiences this journey has already provided me. I am excited for what comes next!

So, in the spirit of spring, and writing 100 posts, and well, trying to start anew, again, I want to give away a present!

WHAT?!? A PRESENT?!?

Who doesn't like a present? I like presents!

So, leave me a comment on this post. I will then randomly pick (I'll do it the right way, ya'll) one of the entries to receive a personally created present from moi!

What is this present you are giving away, you ask?

Well, I have to find out who wins first! It could be anything that I make by hand...a painting, something sewn like an apron, or something along those lines. Trust me, it will make you happy!

I will pick out the present for the person!

If you are already a follower of my blog, or you become a follower of my blog, you will receive an additional entry!

As a bonus, if you blog about this giveaway, send me an e-mail and let me know. That will get you 3 more entries! Tell your friends!

I will draw for the present on Friday, April 9.

I'm so happy that I am here and have this blog as an outlet to the craziness that is Kev's and my existence. Thank you all for reading!

And enter the contest! I promise, it will make you happy!

xoxo

Great Seed Watch Update!

NOM NOM NOM....Someone has been eating the houseplant. One would automatically believe it to be CatZilla but she prefers shrimp to salad. The culprit? Oliver. Then he yacks it up.

Great.

Must find a higher location for said houseplant. Perhaps I should buy some wheat grass seeds and grow the plant for him to eat. :( I don't think Kev would be a fan of that.


We saved our egg carton and planted more herb seeds. The chives are doing well!

The other herbs that we planted are growing. I planted a few of the basil and chives and parsley in one of the boxes. Grow, grow, grow!

We also planted a couple cucumber plants and a couple of tomato seedlings in the front trellis box. Alice, you aren't about to do what I think you are about to do?????


NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM


ALICE! How could you!?!


The tomato plants are still growing. I separated all the seedlings that had come up so they have more room to grow. So far, so good!

And so, we continue to watch and water...happy growing!

xoxo

I'm Blessed Friday

Easter is this weekend. You know, I never realized that in an Easter egg hunt, your goal is looking for the golden egg? I mean, I know there are always some eggs you want more than others, but I never realized there is supposed to be a golden egg. I learn something new every day!

Anyway, since we should be humble today, and well, GOOD, I thought I would share some things that make me smile about living in this community. Little sayings and quirks that make New Orleans a neat place to be.

1. Kevin (a.k.a Calico Jack). He makes me smile every day.

2. When we go to the grocery store, we "make groceries". So, if someone asks you where you are going and you are going to the super market, you say, "Oh, I'm about to make groceries".

3. When you are ready to check out at the grocery store (after making your groceries) and you ask the little lady checker, "How are you today?" and she answers, "I'm blessed". Puts a smile on my face every time.

4. I like that I can hear our neighbor's little girl run up and down their hallway (hardwoods rock!). Sometimes, she rides her scooter up and down the hallway...it's quite noisy but it makes me laugh because I know her dad doesn't like her to do that.

5. Alice (a.k.a. CatZiLLa) has developed quite an attitude since moving down here to New Orleans. Our sweet kitty has turned into a diva and has become quite vocal with her displeasure of things.

6. The way people pronounce AMBULANCE. Ok, so say ambulance out loud. You say it normal, as in ăm'byə-ləns. The people of this area pronounce it Am-Bue-Lance. The AmBUELANCE took him away! Not that I want anyone to have to take a ride in an AMBUELANCE.

7. Tchopitoulas. Say that out loud. Can you say it? It's pronounced CHOP-EH-TWO-LAS. Yeah, I am just glad that we knew how to say the name of this street before we moved here.

8. The fact that you can't make a left turn at an intersection pretty much anywhere in this city. Seriously. You have to drive up and turn around in an opening in the neutral ground. And, be aware of the street cars and other cars and pedestrians, and bicyclers.

9. Gone pecan. As in, "I had to get out of there. I was gone pecan."

10. In general, living in a city that has such character and beauty and heartache and spice. Kev and I are blessed that we were able to take this leap and while things are hard sometimes, we are now happily living the life in NOLA.

I'm about to post my 100th post in the next couple of days...I think that deserves a celebration. I am happy that you all bother to stop by and read my ramblings. I started this thing when I first moved here, and well, look at us now!

(More on that celebration soon...)

I hope you all have a very blessed day. Have a wonderful Easter holiday and FIND THE GOLDEN EGG!!!!

xoxo