I can't express how right it feels for me to be in New Orleans. The sights of steam boats and barges floating diligently down the bayou, the smell of cedar wood in old houses, the sound of drills and hammers and WWOZ jazz on the radio, the feel of the cool breeze on a perfectly warm New Orleans winter day...I feel completely filled here. My life in New Orleans feels like a refreshing deep breath after many years of more complicated living in Charlottesville. For the most part, my life here is simple, happy, and refreshing.
But...there's always another chapter after this one. So of course, with my restless heart, I've been thinking about my next chapter. New dreams, new ideas, new goals for my life. I love NOLA and you can tell by the way I never update my blog that I am busy doing things that I think are amazing and fun. Blame it on the engineer in me, but I can't help but think ahead. And I know I'm only 24 but it's almost like I have this fear that I won't get the most out of life. So, I've gone ahead and opened the next chapter in my life: Detroit!
My friend Jen and I will be spending the summer together in Detroit. She'll be researching public health at a clinic in the inner city, and I'll be doing something I'm not sure yet...! But, I am hoping to get involved in prisoner rehabilitation and urban farming. My goal for the summer is so serve my little heart out, and get to know the city I have been dreaming about for years. It's funny how I followed my dream to NOLA after many years and now I am following my dream to Detroit. I live a very blessed life!
As far as life updates go: I moved Uptown to Magazine Street. Now I can get a bike and use it for transport, I can walk to Whole Foods just like in Charlottesville, I can garden in a raised bed and grill out on a patio, and I live with a really sweet coworker and a really crafty pastry chef. Could it get better?
I am posting some pictures of my life over the past few weeks rather than typing out all the cool, exciting things I've done (and there have been a-plenty of cool, exciting things!).Highlights? My Dad getting married (no pics yet!), my best friend getting engaged, and exotic animal races at the NOLA Fairgrounds. My life is so bougie. Oh yea Mardi Gras happened too but who cares about that after Beyonce's halftime show.
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| My view of my boys from the box suite |
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| Homemade vegan donuts |
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| Mardi Gras craziness |
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| Engagement PUNCH! |
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| French Quarter Fest fireworks on the Big Muddy |
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| Electricians huddling around heater during cold winter weeks |
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| Getting to work at 6 in New Orleans East has it's benefits |
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| Annual Crawfish Boil |
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| Need I even say it? BEYONCE |
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| Horse races at fairgrounds! |
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| Santa in Philly on Xmas eve |
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| Bonfire on the bayou |
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| Long Island diner, thank you Lord |
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| First Crawfish boil of the season with coworkers and friends! |
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| Sunset on the River. Notice the tightrope walkers |
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| NOLA style shot-fun gingerbread house |
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| St. Patty's Day cabbage catching! |
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| St. Patty's in NOLA - kind of a big deal |
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| Family :) |
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| Food in Da Parish it literally can't get better |
