Checking In

So it's been another 2 months since I've written. Mardi Gras came and went and we're all waiting for the warm weather to return. I finally officially joined KOE and walked with them on Fat Tuesday. Then I found my friend Danielle and kinda "crashed" the walking parade she was in.

I had two Los Angeles friends come to town, just to either not spend time with me OR being weird. So much for that...makes my leaving Los Angeles even more proper. Just when I start remembering how sweet I had it with a HIGH paying job and expenses that topped $200, I get a message from the universe that it wasn't all that great. Anyway, that job and apartment was full of crazy.

I spent a LOT of money during Mardi Gras and now what was my nice savings is back to being mediocre...actually, not much of a savings at all. Oh well. Sometimes I wonder if I should have quit. Part of me says no, should have stuck it out. Things would have either gotten better, or I could have gotten enough experience to apply elsewhere. The other part of me says it was the right thing to do. I wouldn't have been able to enjoy MG or the other upcoming holidays & festivals. Maybe next year then? I don't have a clue what I'm doing anymore. On one hand, that's kinda exciting because it has me open to possibilities. On the other hand, it kinda sucks because it means I probably won't be moving up any ladders any time soon. siiiiigh

St. Patricks & St. Jospehs Day is in a few weeks, which means about a dozen Irish & Italian parades. I'm such a sucker for celebrations; makes any suffering worth it just to be in New Orleans during the amazing times.

I finally returned to the Voodoo Hashers last week. Only took me 5 weeks to get my lazy ass in gear. It kicked my ass because I was more out of shape that I realized. At work, I've been walking good distances, but not at a good pace. So I have to walk FASTER. But my friend Danielle has deemed herself my personal trainer, so I'm really expecting to get in shape...for real this time. I mean it...hehehe

hhhhmmmm I'm all tapped out for now. I know there's tons more...like how I'm going to start being a somewhat regular at Finn McCool's, maybe. Went to the Drunken Spelling Bee and got dropped twice by two words I'd never heard before. LOL

Okay, bye for now!!!

2010

I can't believe it's been almost 3 MONTHS since I've blogged. And so much to add (I guess). Where to begin???

I quit the Sheriff Office. Yeah, I know, right?!?! Why? My diplomatic answer is the hours were too much. Nooo life. Lots of hours with inmates and BS & no real reward. Who knows when they're ever going to have academy. They even stopped stringing us along with dates. Now, just silence. Right...gotcha. I met some GREAT deputies and have contact #'s for them. So that's one upside. I won't get into the details; all this is really confidentiality stuff...but suffice to say, I'm a civilian again. Back to the Rangers with good pay and a relaxed schedule. Well, sorta. I only have one full day off. LOLOLOL what?!!!??!

My Aussie friend, Steve, came to town. Because of the Sheriffs, my time with him was VERY VERY short/rushed. But it was golden, nonetheless. It was good to see him and experience some fine dinning. Yay for Commanders Palace!!!

Since I quit, I'll get my pension back. No matter what anyone thinks, I'm using it for my plane ticket to...wait for it...AUSTRALIA in November!!!! That's right. I'm going to get my passport and go to Australia to see Steve. I've never been anywhere, really, so this will be the best thing to happen in a LOOOOONG time!!!!

WHO DAT!!!! SAINTS ARE GOING TO THE SUPERBOWL!!!!!

Mardi Gras is here and I'm excited because I have 3 new costumes to share. I'm glad I'm a civilian because I have the time to enjoy the season.

What else? hhhhmmm Guess that's it for now. I'll try to return soon...at least sooner than 3 months

Blogging About Nothing

I started with the Orleans Parish Criminal Sheriff Office July 11th. It's funny that it's been only 4 months because it feels like it's been much longer. And now, the year is closing fast and I've got some thinking to do. I love the job, so no, I'm not thinking of quitting. Just thinking of getting a transfer to another building. I feel like, by new years, I'll have learned all I can from my current placement. We'll see what they say. No clue when they'll have academy, because they keep changing the date. Sigh

I think I might totally fail at NaNoWriMo because I have zero motivation/inspiration for writing. Well, it's not like I've ever completed it before, so I'm not very choked up.

The holidays are just around the corner. I might find myself working, rather than enjoying friends. I knew that signing on for this job meant working holidays. But I am kinda bummed that I won't get to enjoy festivities with friends. I'll find a way to get through it; everyone else in this field does. Anyways, ever since I moved to Nola, I've been a sort of orphan because I have no family here.

I go back tonight...in fact, I'll have to get ready in about 30 minutes.

NaNoWriMo Starts Slow For Me

I've got a whopping 628 words and it's mostly crap. But hey, it's better than zero words.

Tonight's the Saints game. They have several injuries, so it's questionable who they'll play. But so far, they're undefeated. I'm going to some random bar/restaurant on Bourbon to get the full effect of a crowd. Gawd, I hope they win!!! Who Dat????

Geaux Saints and NaNo...(cough)...

SAM!!!!!!!

Being loopy is sometimes the by~product of working over 12hrs. And with Daylight Savings hitting this morning, I worked 13 & 1/2hrs. So I was crazy when I got home. Sam was awake and was unlucky enough to be caught in the tornado of my insanity. Between making coffee and can't even recall all that happened. I just know that I might have come really close to being admitted to the psych ward. LMAO

Yeah that whole Black Dress Run...too much "running" than I'm prepared for and it's less than 3hrs from now. I'm painfully exhausted and can't feel the motivation to get involved. Instead, I might just stalk some coworkers and end up walking more than the run. HA!!! Now that's smart thinking!!!

I was going to blame SAM for something in here, but I forgot what it was...maybe he can chime in and remind me. Tee~hee!!!! Maybe it was something about a bowl or ...hhhhmmmm...nope. Really can't remember.

It's November and I've got to start putting together my NaNo. Maybe I'll find some inspiration on these 2 days off. Since I am ditching my main plot idea later today. Sigh. The failed life of a failed writer.

Short Ramble

Wow, October's over and we're looking down the barrell of 2010 just 2 months away! I hadn't really noticed the weeks fly passed because I was spending 1/2 my life working.

Lately, I've been getting put on various tiers with the inmates. Not stuck in sallyport like before. This pleases me. I feel like I've been there for a long time, but it's really been less than 4 months. Time flies, but not really. Sigh. LOL

I'm working tonight~Halloween~ and I'm bummed about it. But I get NEW YEARS EVE off. Perfect, because my friend from Australia's coming to visit. It's been a long, long year and a half since he was here last. I can't wait to play tourist and share some laughs (and pics...helly myspace).

By NYE, I should have the new house. Well, not MY house, my friends. They're just working on a few things & say it shouldn't be much longer now. I'm excited because I hear that the neighborhood's cool. Plus, it'll be great to have a house that isn't falling apart on a daily basis. Also, it's totally in walking distance to my job. So yay!

While I'm working tonight, I'm off tomorrow (cruel joke). And the Voodoo Hashers are having a Black Dress Run @ 3pm. I'm really going to try and not fail at attending. I've missed out on all the hashes since I got the deputy job. Well, I went to ONE...but still...

NaNoWriMo starts tomorrow. Last night I finally picked a plot and timeline. I'm only going to try to cover 2 days and have a simple plot that gives me tons of room to come up with zany antics that will no doubt hit the 50k mark. So I'm excited about this years' NaNo.

I said this was a short ramble. So there, I'm done.

Apartment Hunting & Probably Rambles

It's finally time to really hunt for an apartment. I finally make enough money to live fully on my own; looking for a studio or 1 bedroom. There are a few places that I'm looking at. By New Years Eve (if not sooner), I will be in my new own place! YES!!!!

So last night I celebrated SAM'S birthday! A few bars and yummy drunk eating at Clover Grill. Made me realize how different life is these days. Last November was the catalyst: a friend going to NOPD, another friend giving birth, and me and a friend applying to the Sheriff Office. It's a year later and we're all gone. Some of us haven't even spoken due to work schedules and who~knows~what~else.

I try to keep in contact with friends, but I find myself not finding time. While I don't want to lose total contact with them, I can't help but wonder if it will really happen and how long it'll take. Sigh...

I switch to the night shift tomorrow and have been teased with the thought of being trained in a new area of the jail. I'm hoping so, because I have pretty much done all I can in the sallyport. I mean, really. It's just a bunch of button pushing and then staring at cameras. Of course, if they are teasing me and put me back in sally, then so be it. But I'm ready to move to something else.

Today I went to Oktoberfest at the Deutsches Haus. This will be the last year because the area's going to be bulldozed for a medical complex. I, like many, are bitter about the demolition of an entire neighborhood and a historical landmark. I had a blast & will be sad when I'll have to find somewhere else to go next year.

Ohh!! My Australian friend's coming to New Orleans for New Years Eve!!! Soooo excited and can't wait to show him the places I didn't have time for last time. He's awesome and I just know we're going to have a blast!!!

Well, guess that's it for now...