June 25, 2007
So how does one catch up on months in a new town? Has it really been since April that I posted? I know it was May that I was supposed to up and leave New Orleans for other things, but that never happened…..
Jazz Fest was phenomenal, and to write about 14 days straight of all- hours music just can’t be done. My condo is in the perfect location for the festivities in the evening, and this being my second experience at the fest, and first experience being here for the whole thing, I think I will do some things differently next year. For example, unless there are people I just HAVE to see at the fairgrounds, I think I will skip the hot blazing sun and heat stroke, and instead opt for the late night programming. And of course, pick a day to sleep in. By the end of the final weekend, walking down Frenchmen street was a real kick. There were far less people, and the ones working were visibly spent. Nobody cared if anyone paid to get in anywhere. It was almost as if the run of a Broadway play was over, and this was the cast party for everyone in town. Two good friends from Humboldt came into town unexpectedly for the last night, which was also fantastic. Steve and Amy came just in time for Harry Connick, Jr at the fairgrounds, and the crazy night of revelry on Frenchmen. It was fun to spend the first weekend w/buddies from San Francisco, and the last night with buddies from Humboldt. A little visit from home was exactly what I needed.
At the end of the weekend, all of the owners of Chez Marigny (my condo complex) finally got to sit down together and talk about our complex. There are 6 units in the complex, and five owners. At that time, only three of the units were occupied, and I was the only owner living on the property. One other owner lives in town, but I hadn’t connected with him at that point. The funny thing is, he turned out to have lived in Humboldt, also, and worked at the Alibi, a bar we all frequented. Funnier still, is that I actually realized I had met him even before that (we’re talking 14 yrs ago!) while hiking in Bryce Canyon- he and his girlfriend were on their way to Arcata from New Orleans at the time. In his apartment lived several bartenders, and whoever they decided to bring home with them for the evening. One guy in particular, was a real piece of work. He and his girlfriend would sit outside my bedroom window, or out on the stoop in front (we live on a very narrow one way street- that noise echoes like you would not believe) and argue incessantly. Drunk, high on who-knows- what, the fights would escalate into violence, or turn into dramatic tears. It was like my very own Jerry Springer show right outside my house! Eventually, there was enough complaining that he was asked to move out, but it brought to all of the owners’ attention the need for some agreements involving tenants. So we came up with a great list, and the other two owners whose apartments were vacant, asked me if I would go ahead and find tenants for their places. A job, one in which suits me very well, was born. Two turned into three very quickly, so now I am managing half the complex. I use the term ‘managing’ very loosely, but I am enjoying it so much!
Just before that, I’d gotten a very part time job at a wine store. My friend, Ruth, who was my realtor here, set me up with that. I was working about 2 to 3 shifts a week, renting out my spare room, finding tenants for the other apartment, and then I had a New Orleans moment. I was taking the trash out, and fell into a water meter hole where the grate had been removed. I ended up in a cast up to my knee for a bit, which was pretty interesting to maneuver in this bumpy, pothole-y city.
Working at the wine store was out of the question, and we didn’t know for how long. One of the wine store owner's friends is a lawyer, and their firm was looking for a receptionist, a job that I could still do with a busted foot. It didn’t actually pan out until last week. Of course, this was also a week that I’d taken on a promotion for Netflix, a job I also didn’t apply for but got without an interview. So last week, everything overlapped, and I had 4 jobs- receptionist, promotion for Netflix, passing out flyers for a local condo development rivaling Trump downtown, and the wine store on Friday night. It was a pretty crazy week, especially for someone that had no intent on being here, or working here after May, at all! I’m down to receptionist and Friday girl at the wine store now (filled all apartments, only need to solve problems and collect rent) and wondering what’s next. I was offered this job full time with benefits, but I have, at this point, refused. Though now I am wondering…..maybe this would be a good job to have and a good place to be to get my real estate license. I don’t know- I’ll see how I feel after a couple of weeks of not seeing natural light. It is air conditioned, though……
Fun things? Always. I still go out to see music almost every night. It’s generally free, and some of the best clubs, with many of the country’s top musicians are right here at my fingertips, so I indulge. On my birthday, I went to see Kermit Ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers- the same Kermit Ruffins that just returned from Washington, DC after playing at the Presidential picnic. He sang and played Happy Birthday to me, and I was thrilled! Memorable, for sure.
Just finished off my frantic workweek with a visit from two parents from Ocean Shore school. We had a blast listening to music, and eating heavenly food. It was such a joy to have more ‘home’ here with me in New Orleans.
I still don’t know what’s next, but I feel very confident that whatever happens is an ok choice. All doors are open, and I have dreamed of this kind of life for some time. I didn’t quite expect it to be here in the states- I expected I wouldn’t have this opportunity to just flow until I left the country. It feels less urgent, as I feel like I have the freedom to choose what I want to do and when I want to do it. This receptionist job is really the first thing I’ve had to schedule around someone else’s time rather than my own, but it is also a short term commitment. Having several jobs for smaller periods of time, and on my own schedule really seems to suit me. While I have this opportunity here, I am not sure it would be quite as successful at home in San Francisco. However, having my own schedule, and living here where my overhead for living is so low, could give me the gift of time to enjoy my friends and family in California whenever I can manage.
Again, I just don’t know, but I am also completely fine with whatever happens at this point. All roads lead to something eye-opening and wonderful, and I am going to continue to keep as many doors open as possible.
