Its a war zone

When we left the army my husband had a lot of prospects job wise. He knew I wanted to go home. I've always aimed to end up back in New Orleans eventually. When his time was up with the army I thought this would be my time to make the move. Then my husband said he was considering joining the NOPD. THAT changed my mind. He's been to a war zone, even now he works for a company that will bring him back to a war zone. And my thinking is which is safer, the streets of New Orleans or a base in Iraq. If you've read this blog you already know the choice we made.

In New Orleans the very few who choose to a criminal lifestyle who would shoot a cop just as soon as look at them. In Iraq an insurgent will as well. I perceive both as war zones the only difference is my husband is relatively safe on a base in Iraq. It's a sad comment about the state of New Orleans. I really do want to end up back home by the time we have children. I want them to really understand my culture not just experience it from time to time. I hope some change will come to New Orleans but it will have to start with its people. Corrupt, lazy politicians have to go. Our politicians can no longer be our source of entertainment. Our social institutions have to become developed and functional. The status quo has been maintained for so long I'm not sure people are ready for this.

French bread

Now that I am closer to home I am convinced I should be able to find french bread in south Alabama. So far no luck, if anyone has any leads I would be eternally grateful.

It feels like Mardi Gras

Since we can't go to Mardi Gras we have brought Mardi Gras here. Yes the decorations are up on the house. A King Cake is on order. And my friends have explicit instruction to catch some mardi gras cups for me (because I'm running low and it's the only thing i like drinking out of) Yes glass cups feel unnatural to me. I grew up only drinking out of mardi gras cups. We've been gone from new orleans so long I am gradually running out. It's getting critical because what would I drink out of when they are all gone. I may dehydrate!!!!!!

So anyone wanting to make a donation.......

Moving Fallout

Well we are truly screwed. We get here and our mustang has an oil pan that is rusted thru and overheats. Now it requires a new engine. Fast forward three weeks and my Aztec throws a rod (mind you it only has 70 K miles and gets regular oil changes) Now it too needs a new engine.

Now my poor husband has to commute on a Harley in freezing weather.

When it rains it pours. Mardi Gras is out this year. But at least we have that cash to fix one of the cars. More later.

Race in New Orleans

I was watching an interview with C-Ray on WWL online and the issue of race came up. My husband is from Florida and these types of issues aren't as prolific as they are in New Orleans. Since we have been married I have come to look at his perspective of the city's race issues and have become embarrassed by it.

After two year of marriage we had moved back to New Orleans before Katrina hit. He was a deputy in Florida and he worked at the juvenile detention center in bridge city. He would always come home upset because someone had made a comment like "your pretty good for a white guy" or "why don't you go work at the adult center, there are more whites there" He was baffled and upset that his race was such an issue at a place of employment. He had never experienced a work environment in which any racial comment were uttered or tolerated.

But it does go both ways. White segregate themselves from blacks. I have family members, mostly older generations, that are racist without seeming to understand that they are in fact racist. In fact at christmas I had family memebers discussing city issues in racial terms. (My husband is sitting there confused and I'm mortified.) So this battle between the races in New Orleans goes on. It's 2008, how long will we continue with these antiquated ideas that race matters? New Orleans is a great city but we definitely need to catch up with the rest of the country when it comes to race relations and tolerance. It's a disservice to all New Orleanians.

I'm Back...and closer

The pneumonia is gone and it allowed me to quit smoking quite easily. We left Texas and stopped off in New Orleans on our way to Alabama. Spent a few days visiting family and friends before heading out into this strange new world they call Alabama. It's only a four to four and half hour drive. Much more manageable than the nine I was doing. People are friendly. However, witnessing true rural poverty in the small Alabama town that's just a couple of miles from where we now live was eye opening. It was also a little frightening to experience a tornado siren (at 1:30 am) in our first week here.

But I am overjoyed that its a short road trip to New Orleans and I can come home whenever I want. So the trade off is fair.