Is that not the most perfect streetscape you've ever seen? (NOLA)
Yeah, I know it's been awhile but every time I thought about writing on the blog it made me feel guilty for not writing my papers that are due at the end of the semester. I'm here now though and not feeling guilty because I've been at school 11 hours today and made some good head way on one final paper. Two more papers, two tests and a project left before I'm free! Well, I'll have 56 architecture finals to grade after I'm done with my work...then I'm free! Cue in some pop song about summer...
This semester has definitely been a whole lot busier then last semester, academically as well as socially (thank cussin' goodness for the latter!). The amount of writing I've had to do this semester should be illegal and would you believe that I'm considering prolonging this higher education kick into a PhD?! We'll see. I've been told that by a few people that they definitely could see me as a professor and one even flat-out said it was because I was weird. What the cuss?! I know I'm strange, but that's no reason to become a professor! Or is it? I was hoping people would see me as a professor because they thought I was a serious academic, but I guess not. Who am I kidding anyway? Serious academic? Not possible...
Despite my oddities I've managed to make a few friends. Sad part is, they're all in a one year master's program and will be gone by the time I get back to Auburn for the fall. I do have a couple friends in my program, so I won't be going back to complete and utter loneliness.
I did get to go to New Orleans for the American Planning Association Conference, which was great and not for the professional part. Yeah, I'm glad I got to pretend that I was a professional for a few days but let's be honest, I'm more comfortable in my rainbows then heels. Good god why the cuss do we have to wear heels?! Maybe I do need to be a professor...
Anyway, the great part was getting to spend time in NOLA. I'd been before, but never for longer then a day. Let me tell you, I fell in love. The neighborhood called The Marigny is probably where I belong. Please visit and tell me you can't see me there. Cafes, bookstores, music, Bohemians and bars abound! I was grinning ear to ear the whole time I was there and the group I was with thought I was crazy (a recurring theme in my life?). I seriously haven't had that strong of a reaction to place since being in Italy. Those of you who have been to that sacred nation know how big of a deal this is. After this trip I've decided a place can't be worth me living in unless I have a strong, gut reaction like that. It's what I'm basing my life on after all. This may seem ridiculous to you, but it is fundamental to me.
There's a lot more I could say about New Orleans, but I will say this about travel in general:
1. Don't travel with 12 people.
2. When traveling with 12 people, everyone has a different sense of what "good" is.
3. You learn a lot about people when you spend 4 days non-stop with them.
There's a lot more to say and I know there are tons of funny things that have happened but my mind is burnt out on land use law and can't think much more. I'll just leave you with some images of my new hometown...
My next residence.
