24 Hours In New Orleans

Sometimes my job brings with it some interesting perks.

At the last minute, I found myself boarding a plane for the Big Easy to do a presentation at a national conference. I was asked to go... how could I pass up the opportunity?

My latest trips to the City have been limited to drive-in, visit my brother, and drive back out--all in the same day. This time, though, I did the "touristy" things.

After dinner with my brother and his friends at La Crepe Nanou, I checked into my hotel in the Quarter and decided to take a midnight stroll.

Now, let me just mention that if I were travelling with anyone, I wouldn't even venture out, for fear of their safety or the eternal taunts of "well it was your idea we walk out here at midnight." However, I was by myself and thought to myself, "if I should die tonight, at least I died in the French Quarter."

Well, I doubt there would be any crime that night. Nearly every cop in the parish was out there that night, chatting with the few tourists with those tacky boob beads and the occasional homeless man.

I found myself transplanted into my own movie. It was surreal... the fog was so thick I could barely see down the streets, and the air so numbingly chilly. Outside the Cathedral, some of the scariest people were gathered, chatting and drinking. They were extremely friendly as they'd say, "How ya doin'?" when I smiled at them.

I walked block after block before I finally returned to the hotel and went to bed. The next morning, I enjoyed another stroll and a stop at the Cathedral for prayers

I worked while I was at Cafe du Monde for breakfast. I was preparing notes for my presentation and doing some follow-up phone calls with different organizations. I was so tempted to say, "hey, I know you're in the office stuck behind a computer, but guess where I'm at?!?"

Finally, by the afternoon, I was ready my presentation. I was right on target and think I did a heck of a job. It was only for thirty minutes, anyway. Afterwards, it was a drive to the airport and hours of waiting at the airport before my evening flight.

Twenty-three and a half hours in New Orleans in return for a thirty minute presentation (of which I only spoke about five minutes?)

I think my job does have its perks!

An Update Long Overdue

I'm home for the weekend in Pensacola and suddenly have time on my hands before going out for the evening, so I thought I'd give a little update.

I'm drowning well into the tsunami I call work. I've travelled across Florida nearly every week for the last month and a half to visit our programs... I really do miss being out in the field at times, but some days it does take a toll on me.

The job is a temporary assignment on a prayer that it could be permanent. I'm starting to look casually at other opportunities-just in case-another grant opportunity doesn't pan out. I trust it all in God's hands, though I'll probably say differently by the start of the year when full-blown nail-biting anxiety kicks in if I have to suddenly find new work. Any good leads out there?

Things can always change too... we have a new administration coming in January. I'm interested to see what the new governor will have planned for us.

I've slowly gotten back to volunteering with the youth group again... I have missed it, but I've held back really because of the commitments and demands a new job has placed on me, coupled with the lack of certainty in the future. I'd hate to start developing relationships with the youth and suddenly have to pull out. One thing I've learned about youth ministry... you've got to be committed to getting to know your youth. It's important to be friendly, but you're not their friend... you're an adult and they're still trying to understand life and "the big picture." (If you know how to understand... enlighten me!) That's what I've learned it takes to be a good mentor.

I've also volunteered with my former employer, hospice. I've been serving in development, assisting with fund raisers. I did the Smoked Boston Butt sale... (next year I will dress up as a pig with a sign that reads, "wanna a nice piece o' ass?!?) and a home show yesterday.

Today was the baptism of Sofia, my goddaughter. What a cutie! My friends from Holland are here for a few weeks and it was exciting to see them and their new addition today. I'm excited to have a goddaughter that will grow up speaking Dutch, Spanish, English, and French. I have a future tour guide in the making!

Tonight, I'm headed to the Flora-Bama... (that's what they wanted-- I swear) I haven't been there in years, the last time was when we took a state coord. of Red Cross out and she got sht-faced drunk. Apparently, she didn't get out much. I was the good guy... I made sure she got back to her hotel okay... and she did, about three hours before her morning flight.

Well, that's about it for now.

May God continue to bless all of you, my wonderful friends and family!

Down in the Muck

"We goin' on de muck."

"Whut's de muck, and where is it at?"

"Oh down in de Everglades round Clewiston and Belle Glade where dey raise all dat cane and string-beans and tomatuhs. Folks don't do nothin' down dere but make money and fun and foolishness. We must go dere."

Zora Neale Hurston,
Their Eyes Were Watching God,chapter 13.

Again, it's funny how I always post on my blog at a weird hour. After a few hours of sleep, I'm up at 3:45 a.m. It's always hard adjusting to a hotel room, even though it's nice.

I'm out in the field this week, visiting a site in Belle Glade, a community on the southeastern shore of Lake Okechobbee, and staying in a hotel in Clewiston, a larger town with a decent H-Inn Express.

My visit down here is to provide some training and technical assistance to a community organization, facilitating on disaster and volunteer management. I love training, especially when there's AmeriCorps*VISTAs involved.

This is a part of Florida I'd never seen, and I was really excited to come, knowing this area was part of the setting for Their Eyes Were Watching God. As I flew into Ft. Lauderdale, I saw Florida's Great Lake and the thousands of acres of wetlands and sugar cane.

And there is sugar cane! Everywhere! And I saw the muck-- that rich soil that comes at the environmental expense of the Everglades. Driving in, I felt like I was in a different country... the poverty is obvious and there are still plywood shutters and blue roof on trailers all over here.

This is the home of the powerful U.S. Sugar Corporation (whose big industry makes them very arrogant-- I had a bad experience with an executive during the 04 Hurricanes), yet there is such an obvious class division of the haves vs. have-nots. I see all this sugar and the powerful mills that provide jobs, yet many of these communities are very poor.

I had dinner at the Clewiston Inn (clewistoninn.com) last night with some of my colleagues from the project site, and they gave me some great insight into the area. One of them has strong political ties and will probably run for Congress in a few years (she's an awesome person we need people who know the struggles non-profits face in serving the poor!) The Inn was built by none other than U.S. Sugar to house visiting dignataries and execs. They really have great food, and at a great price too! I got some of the local catfish with hushpuppies that included a salad, steamed veggies, baked potato, bread-- all for $9! There were four huge fillets, and the potato was the size of my head!

I complete the training today, and fly back up in the afternoon.

Another year has passed for me... now, I'm forging ahead in this last year of my 20s.

I'm not really the type to go all out for my birthday. I'm very simple; just a quiet day, enjoying this beautiful weather we've been having, and reflecting on my life.

There are many great people who share my birthday, and I've come to the conclusion that the world would be a better place if more Libras were leaders. We're thinkers and feelers... and we strive for balance.

That'd be great world, huh? But that's just my humble opinion.