Sticking to It

And this is my story. So I am in New Orleans at the lovely Rue de la Course coffee shop, with free internet. There are about twenty computers going full speed right now all around me. It took a while for me to get to this place. First of all we have to start on Christmas day, when this whole travel extravaganza began. So I got home from a day of napping at Grandma and Grandpa's when I went to check my e-mail and saw that a lovely co-worker was able to take my shift on Tuesday. So then I called Zach and Casey and learned that the excursion to see Kate and her family in Chicago was going to leave at 9:00 am December 26th--the next morning. The time changed to 10:00 due to scheduling mistakes, which still meant that I had to wake up at 6:45 am drive to Indy to pick up Casey by 9:30, then drive to Zionsville and arrive at 10:00 so that Zach's mom could take our trio to Chicago. Whew. I realized that I had not slept in past 9:00 am since...since...since a long time ago--I can't remember (at least 3 weeks). Well we got to our hotel in chicago, which was strangely enouhg right next to Midway airport, not really near anything fun. Zach and Casey were worried that Kate would be mad at us. I mean they were so stressed that they couldn't take it and were going a little nutzo. I was fine, but being around them made me a little on edge, too. So Kate arrived with her family and we surprised the beJesus out of her and it was great. Then we took the El downtown so the Korroch clan could go see Wicked, and Casey, Zach, Z's Mom, and I went to N. Michigan Ave. to shop. We were all amazed at how strange this whole situation was while making the best of it at H&M. All I bought was a really nice black merino wool v-neck sweater, a pair of cute undies, and a pair of comic-book undies for Jason. When that was over we grabbed some grub and then headed back to the theatre to meet with the Korrochs. After they were done we hopped the El back to the hotel where we proceeded to sit and talk until about three or four in the morning. I'm not sure what time it was, because, as always, I was the first to fall alseep. It was great to see Kate and Zach, and get a chance to just chill with them and talk about IU and Bloomington and look forward to senior year of college. It will be grand. Anyway, we had to wake up at about 8:30 am and get downstairs to enjoy the continental breakfast at 9:00 and then we left at about 10:00 am, becaue Zach's mom had an appointment that afternoon in Indy. So we got back and then I took Casey home and headed for Bloomy. It felt like an eternity and a million unneccessary stops before I got to the yellow barn, where I had to do a few random things and then pack like my life depended on it and get to sleep by 8:00 pm. I was so cranky all afternoon and was super stressed about the trip the next day. Why? Because I had to drive to the airport--I wasn't lucky enought to be able have someone drive me and the earliest shuttle wasn't early enough. I was nervous/stressed about parking because I thought the lots would be full, and I tried to do this Reserve-a-spot thing online and it said it was full and I panicked. I woke up at 3:30 am, showered, ate, and then got a travel mug and got on 37 and headed to the airport. Luckily the Economy lot at the Indy airport wasn't full, so I parked no problem, and it won't be too crazy expensive for nine days. Okay. So. I got on my flight at 7:00 am to Detroit no problem. Then I got there, went to my gate for my flight to O'Hare and it was delayed by an hour due to fog in Chicago, and it was overbooked. I volunteered to go on a later flight (direct to NOLA) to get a $300 voucher for airfare, but they didn't need me. Then I went ot Chicago, and my flight to Memphis was "On Time" which meant 25 minutes late. My flight from Chicago to Memphis to New Orleans was the same flight and same plane, but when we got to Memephis they told us that we'd have to change planes, and when I went to my new gate, I was like, sweet, Swe should be boarding in like ten minutes. Wrong! The plane we were waiting on was over an hour behind, so I didn't get to New Orleans until about four thirty. Thank Jehosephat that I got here at all! I was so ecstatic to see Jason that I was going crazy. He hasn't changed a bit, still the sweet wonderful guy that I love! We've been having lots of fun, and today is his last day of work until I leave! Five days of non-stop fun! Yesterday I was a dork and did his laundry and unpacked his clothes so we didn't have to do that later. He works like 12 hours a day and doesn't need to spend free time doing laundry. Jason and my parents and other people think that I should be a food writer and a travel writer. Interesting idea. I love food and I like to think I have a discerning taste. I want to write a book about food and travelling. I could write one about coffee shops and wine bars. And one about just food. What a life, writing about food. Then I'll have to write a book about dance clubs and gyms to burn off all of those calories. Jason and I ate at Jazmine Cafe--yummy light but filling Vietnamese food. Last night we ate like chick peas are a separate food group and had the most amazing humus ever at Cafe Lebanon with some Felafel on the side. Heaven. Heaven on a plate. Three plates, actually. I slept fourteen hours the first night I was here and twelve hours last night and then here I am at the Rue, on the internet with twenty five of my best friends. I have a few errands I need to run today, like picking up a menu at the day spa, but that is like a block away and right by the apartment. I'm glad that Jason moved, because things are closer for me to walk now. And his new apartment is huge and so nice! It's not in a bad area except for the one really crappy house where the creepy guys hang out and lurk. That's what they do, they lurk. I really wish there was a gym I could go to for one day, that would be nice. I also need some lunch. Mmm. Food. Does Rue have food? Hmm... I should go now. My fingers are so tired. Next time, I should post pictures with my new digicam! Bye.

Salmon Spend Most of Their Adult Lives in the Ocean

And then they swim up the river to spawn--it is here that most of them end their life. Is that really what the commercial said? I dont' know. I am not used to TV, unless it's on DVD, and the commercials are making me zany. Oh--wait! It's Paula Deen and Rachel Ray. You need to watch Paula Deen, she is my hero. Totally. I want to see the movie Elizabethtown, because Paula plays someone's aunt or something. I love it. Okay, now a stupid show is on, and I am not distracted by the TV anymore.

So far, this break has proved far from boring and relaxing. Today is the first lazy day I have been privileged to have. I worked pretty much every day from ten in the morning until seven in the evening, and never had a night after work to just chill. I either went out with friends or had a million things to do around town/the house to get ready for Christmas and New Orleans. (The latter of which I am so excited about that I am forgetting about Christmastime with the fam.) Basically, I bought everyone in the family wine or wine related things. (Not Carly, though.) I got them the good stuff, which is neat, since it is stuff that they wouldn't buy it normally, and I get half off. Tongiht I'm going to open a bottle of Ice Wine, and we can all share it. Mmm. This is the first time that I bought everyone's gifts with my own money, since I'm lucky enough to be employed.

Well, I gotta get going, I need to change my clothes and stuff so that I dont' look so bummy.

Coffee & NPR

And I'm feeling slightly better this morning. Last night I had a slight fever and a strangely horrible stomach ache. I ate a bagel and felt like I ate a giant boulder. Yesterday I slowly digressed into a more painful state where my back (think kidneys) hurt really bad, and it moved up to my neck and head. I was basically a mess. Maybe it's stress, I don't know. In five days I'll be fine. In 21 days I'll be great! Mmm.

So I'm sitting here in my undies, finished with my coffee, listening to 'Morning Edition' on NPR (KCRW) getting ready for my day. I'm not sure what to wear, and the fact that my room is now messy and dirty is disconcerting. How the freak-nasty did my room get dirty? I know why it's messy--it's scattered with clothes, shoes, and secondary sources.

*Jason on phone!*

Um...now it's time to go!

On My Marks

And this week is going to be fun. I worked all weekend, basically, as well as saw the amazing and unparalleled Casey star in W;t and the illustrious Stephanie in The Nutcracker. I can't even explain how great both of these girls are. Amazing. Wow. Okay. I could gush forever about them, but I have the busiest week of the semester this week. Aside from having to work all weekend and having just had a fairly insane week last week I have:

1. 8-10 page Medieval drama paper due on Friday
2. review of W;t due tomorrow
3. Reading for Medieval drama
4. Reading for L371
5. Reading for Playwriting
6. Student dance concert tonight for Jazz
7. Rehearsal Mon., Tues., & Wed. for Honour from 6:30-10:30 pm
   
8. Intern at the IR every day
9. Work on Saturday
10. Family in town on Saturday
11. Go to W;t again (yay!) on Saturday
12. Oliver Winery staff party on Sunday (yay!)
13. 8-10 page L371 Paper due on monday

After all of that...I'M DONE! Finally! I can clean my room since the three-hole-punch exploded in my bookbag and my room is just messy. I can clean the house since it is nasty in places. I can knit, work out, read, drink wine, and go to work next week. Whew. I'm glad I have no tests and the paper is due Monday. Ahhh! Sounds from heaven! When I'm crazy-busy like this I seem to be more organized, although a little run down by now. I haven't really gotten to stop since I started McBeth rehearsals. This is by far the busiest semester of all time: two shows, job, interning, and class. Oh my goodness. It'll be nice to not have to spend so much time interning next semester, but it's just going to be time devoted to another class instead. I like the IR people anyway. ...erm...that reminds me that I need to tweak my schedule for next semester. And find gifts for people. Aha! Winery, here I come!