Today was travel day. I left this morning and got to Jacksonville Florida. I am here for a week of class. Oh well somebody had to go. I just got here and I am starving I am going to head out and try a place to eat.
I hope the Fiesta for Andrew and Trisha went well. I can not wait to see photo's etc. I will be heading to Utah on the 15th of May but I will be flying out to DC on the 16th I will be back in town on 19th and will be in SLC until Sunday so I have time to visit with Family and Friends. Set your appointments up Hector, Hiram, Isa, Sam and all others as well :-) Allison Sushi sounds good to me you just tell me the time and location.
My hair needs attention to all you stylist in the area that are willing to tackle the job :-)it is long and out of control.
Well I am hungary and I am getting a headache so I am off to find food and will write more later.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Birthday
Today is my big day. It is my Birthday so here are 47 things about me that I will share with you all.
1. My middle name is the same as my maternal grandmothers 1st name.
2. I love to make things with my hands mostly woodwork things. My favorite project was a table I made for a friend for Christmas.
3. My favorite candy bar is “Big Hunk” which by the way they do not have in New Orleans. So sad :-)
4. I will eat a “Milky Way” but well Milky Way just has a whole other meaning for me
5. I love sugar cookies and I finally learned how to make them in the last two years. It was a great recipe and I had a great teacher. Currently my neighbors and coworkers love them the best of all the baking I have done thus far in this place called NOLA.
6. I am the 12th child of 12 that my mother and dad had. Yes same father and same mother.
7. I have 33 nieces and nephews between the age of 9 (Nick or are you ten?) and 35 Allison (which will be 36 one month from now).
8. I have 40 great nieces and nephews between the age of 15 (Whitney I think will be 15 or is it sixteen, boy Allison and John you are getting old) to new born (Breezy).
9. I also love to do cross stitch, I know Mila I am behind on the angels but someday I will finish the rest. Two are done and two are almost complete that leaves 3 more to go I think there were only 7 but I don’t remember. After all I am getting old and can claim a senior moment.
10. I love to sew; quilts, my sister Mila and my Mom have been very patient in trying to teach me.
11. I love to go with my oldest sister Chach and buy Carmel Apples and I love when she goes with me to pick up Sushi. She hates sushi but she will go with me to pick it up when I lived in Salt Lake, she would even sit at the kitchen counter and watch me eat sushi.
12. I loved when I made the little wood benches for my sister Isa and her new Store “The Purple Cow”.
13. I love my brothers, Sam, Ed, Joe, Hector and of course the baby boy Hiram.
14. I love that Hiram takes good care of his favorite little sister. OH wait I am his only little sister . I guess he has no choice.
15. I love that I can call Hector and invite myself to dinner at any time. I also love that his wonderful wife lets me come and eat at any time.
16. I love that Sam and I had an opportunity to take woodshop class together. Although the wood shop instructors always tell me that I am a much better woodworker than my brother. But you should see some of the things he has built he is incredible and I love that he always was willing to share his woodshop table with me.
17. I love that Joe did not disown me when I put a huge dent in his truck when I moved recently. He is a good brother that has a huge heart and is willing to forgive his little sister for all my mess ups.
18. I love that Ed takes the time to visit my parents and for what he does for them.
19. I love to cook but at times it is very hard to cook for one.
20. I love that my mom and dad always told me that I could do anything and become anything I wanted to do when I grew up.
21. I love that I am my Tia Naela’s favorite, sorry guys but you all know it is true.
22. Did I mention that I love my brother Hiram? He has been such a great example for me and he has helped me through some tough times. And he has also introduced me to the world of bikes. I am joining a team, coworkers that ride the levees here in NOLA. I am hoping to ride in the 100 miler for his company.
23. I took a line dancing class, here at NOLA. A Mexican with no rhythm is getting maybe just a little groove.
24. I love walks in the park with a good friend.
25. I love the wii, Nick get ready because I am getting really good at bowling and at boxing, you are going down when I see you in May
26. I love that when I call Hiram and Jane’s house Zach always answers the phone. Hiram and Jane I really hope you pay him good for his services.
27. My favorite food is a Hamburger. I can eat hamburgers every night.
28. I ate fantastic home made manicotti that a friend made for me with a great salad and of course we had dessert first because we took the youth in our ward to do Baptisms and were treated by the bishopric for ice cream at Baskin Robins. I think Home Made Manicotti is my second favorite food.
29. I am not much of a vegetable eater. Hector’s family can attest to this. Although I do like asparagus but not broccoli and cauliflower so much.
30. I had my first taste of crawfish and I like this new food.
31. I love photography; I am hoping that when I grow up I will get a camera just like my nephews (Pere’s). I love the cannon rebel.
32. I love that I only have to list 15 more things about myself to reach 47.
33. I love my new Branch. The New Orleans 1st Branch rocks. They have taken me in and have welcomed me into the little Branch.
34. I love that I am almost done unpacking from my latest move. I only have 7 more boxes to open.
35. I love to read. So if you have a book for me to read let me know.
36. I have never seen the movie “Forrest Gump” and I hope I never will.
37. I read all of the Harry Potter books last summer for the first time. I never thought I would read them but a friend convinced me to start them. Good books.
38. I love my job at the US Army Corps of Engineers. I love construction and see things being built.
39. I love to read all of my nieces and nephews blogs. Although some of you are slacking and if you don’t change them soon I am going to stop visiting your sites.
40. I love robotics and some day I am going to build a robot.
41. I hate housework but I love to work in the yard and garden
42. I love my mom and dad. They are the best people I know. They are loving and kind to all they meet.
43. I love that I have 8 living siblings that spoil me rotten and I know that I am their favorite little sister.
44. I love that I am currently living in New Orleans.
45. I love my Sunday routine of going to church, coming home and having a big breakfast, taking a nap, going for a walk and then come home and bake goodies.
46. I love that I am a member of “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints”
47. I love that I have a sure testimony that my Heavenly Father loves me and he knows me by name and that he does answer prayers. He is mindful of my needs wants and desires and he has blessed me beyond my wildest dreams.
I hope you all have a great day.
1. My middle name is the same as my maternal grandmothers 1st name.
2. I love to make things with my hands mostly woodwork things. My favorite project was a table I made for a friend for Christmas.
3. My favorite candy bar is “Big Hunk” which by the way they do not have in New Orleans. So sad :-)
4. I will eat a “Milky Way” but well Milky Way just has a whole other meaning for me
5. I love sugar cookies and I finally learned how to make them in the last two years. It was a great recipe and I had a great teacher. Currently my neighbors and coworkers love them the best of all the baking I have done thus far in this place called NOLA.
6. I am the 12th child of 12 that my mother and dad had. Yes same father and same mother.
7. I have 33 nieces and nephews between the age of 9 (Nick or are you ten?) and 35 Allison (which will be 36 one month from now).
8. I have 40 great nieces and nephews between the age of 15 (Whitney I think will be 15 or is it sixteen, boy Allison and John you are getting old) to new born (Breezy).
9. I also love to do cross stitch, I know Mila I am behind on the angels but someday I will finish the rest. Two are done and two are almost complete that leaves 3 more to go I think there were only 7 but I don’t remember. After all I am getting old and can claim a senior moment.
10. I love to sew; quilts, my sister Mila and my Mom have been very patient in trying to teach me.
11. I love to go with my oldest sister Chach and buy Carmel Apples and I love when she goes with me to pick up Sushi. She hates sushi but she will go with me to pick it up when I lived in Salt Lake, she would even sit at the kitchen counter and watch me eat sushi.
12. I loved when I made the little wood benches for my sister Isa and her new Store “The Purple Cow”.
13. I love my brothers, Sam, Ed, Joe, Hector and of course the baby boy Hiram.
14. I love that Hiram takes good care of his favorite little sister. OH wait I am his only little sister . I guess he has no choice.
15. I love that I can call Hector and invite myself to dinner at any time. I also love that his wonderful wife lets me come and eat at any time.
16. I love that Sam and I had an opportunity to take woodshop class together. Although the wood shop instructors always tell me that I am a much better woodworker than my brother. But you should see some of the things he has built he is incredible and I love that he always was willing to share his woodshop table with me.
17. I love that Joe did not disown me when I put a huge dent in his truck when I moved recently. He is a good brother that has a huge heart and is willing to forgive his little sister for all my mess ups.
18. I love that Ed takes the time to visit my parents and for what he does for them.
19. I love to cook but at times it is very hard to cook for one.
20. I love that my mom and dad always told me that I could do anything and become anything I wanted to do when I grew up.
21. I love that I am my Tia Naela’s favorite, sorry guys but you all know it is true.
22. Did I mention that I love my brother Hiram? He has been such a great example for me and he has helped me through some tough times. And he has also introduced me to the world of bikes. I am joining a team, coworkers that ride the levees here in NOLA. I am hoping to ride in the 100 miler for his company.
23. I took a line dancing class, here at NOLA. A Mexican with no rhythm is getting maybe just a little groove.
24. I love walks in the park with a good friend.
25. I love the wii, Nick get ready because I am getting really good at bowling and at boxing, you are going down when I see you in May
26. I love that when I call Hiram and Jane’s house Zach always answers the phone. Hiram and Jane I really hope you pay him good for his services.
27. My favorite food is a Hamburger. I can eat hamburgers every night.
28. I ate fantastic home made manicotti that a friend made for me with a great salad and of course we had dessert first because we took the youth in our ward to do Baptisms and were treated by the bishopric for ice cream at Baskin Robins. I think Home Made Manicotti is my second favorite food.
29. I am not much of a vegetable eater. Hector’s family can attest to this. Although I do like asparagus but not broccoli and cauliflower so much.
30. I had my first taste of crawfish and I like this new food.
31. I love photography; I am hoping that when I grow up I will get a camera just like my nephews (Pere’s). I love the cannon rebel.
32. I love that I only have to list 15 more things about myself to reach 47.
33. I love my new Branch. The New Orleans 1st Branch rocks. They have taken me in and have welcomed me into the little Branch.
34. I love that I am almost done unpacking from my latest move. I only have 7 more boxes to open.
35. I love to read. So if you have a book for me to read let me know.
36. I have never seen the movie “Forrest Gump” and I hope I never will.
37. I read all of the Harry Potter books last summer for the first time. I never thought I would read them but a friend convinced me to start them. Good books.
38. I love my job at the US Army Corps of Engineers. I love construction and see things being built.
39. I love to read all of my nieces and nephews blogs. Although some of you are slacking and if you don’t change them soon I am going to stop visiting your sites.
40. I love robotics and some day I am going to build a robot.
41. I hate housework but I love to work in the yard and garden
42. I love my mom and dad. They are the best people I know. They are loving and kind to all they meet.
43. I love that I have 8 living siblings that spoil me rotten and I know that I am their favorite little sister.
44. I love that I am currently living in New Orleans.
45. I love my Sunday routine of going to church, coming home and having a big breakfast, taking a nap, going for a walk and then come home and bake goodies.
46. I love that I am a member of “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints”
47. I love that I have a sure testimony that my Heavenly Father loves me and he knows me by name and that he does answer prayers. He is mindful of my needs wants and desires and he has blessed me beyond my wildest dreams.
I hope you all have a great day.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
UTAH IS A WHITE STATE.....
So I get to work today bright and early 6:00 a.m. I am tring to make up time so when I come home in May I am not using any of my annual leave. Anyway back to the topic of why I am writing this from work. I get to the office and we have a person that visits our office once a month to just talk about issues if we have any. Kind of like a free shrink if you need to vent etc. So anyway I am at my desk working away and she comes over and sits at the chair by my desks and introduces her self etc. she asked me where I was from I told her I was born in Mexico but that I was raised in Utah. The next thing out of her mouth is "UTAH IS A PRETTY WHITE STATE!" I just kind of looked at her and she proceeded to say that she had been to Utah once for a wedding and felt very out of place because she was the only minority there. I just sat there stunned. I told her I had never had a problem or ever felt out of place no matter what state of the country I was at.
So Family and Friends what experiences have you had living in a white world and being maybe just a little brown or in some of our cases a lot of brown. CAN WE NOT JUST LOOK AT THE OUTWARD AND LOOK AT WHAT WE ALL HAVE TO OFFER FROM WITHIN. After all we all do bleed red don't we?
It reminded me of the time I got pink slipped out of Chemistry class in high school to go visit my Chicano counciler who informed me that if I ever was not prepared for a chemistry test he could always get me excused because after all I was the only Mexican in the class... As you all know my favorite thing to be called is CHICANO....NOT
So Family and Friends what experiences have you had living in a white world and being maybe just a little brown or in some of our cases a lot of brown. CAN WE NOT JUST LOOK AT THE OUTWARD AND LOOK AT WHAT WE ALL HAVE TO OFFER FROM WITHIN. After all we all do bleed red don't we?
It reminded me of the time I got pink slipped out of Chemistry class in high school to go visit my Chicano counciler who informed me that if I ever was not prepared for a chemistry test he could always get me excused because after all I was the only Mexican in the class... As you all know my favorite thing to be called is CHICANO....NOT
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Activities and some stuff
Just a few highlights of the past week,
I am back to baking on Sunday afternoons. My neighbors and my coworkers seem to like and enjoy the fruits of my labors. It does keep me out of trouble and by giving away the goods the temptation to eat them all by myself is gone....
I was out inspecting the levee system from the Bonne Carrie Spillway up to Baton Rough, 110 miles of levee system, when a coworker called to see if I was interested in going to the Hornets Playoff game. It was so much fun I really had a lot of fun.
I went to V-Day in hopes of seeing Oprah. It was good overall but I think I could have done with not hearing a couple of the monologues. Oprah was supposed to be there but at the end they announced that she was ill and unable to attend. It was a disappointment because I basically wanted to see her but oh well. It was a good evening of entertainment. I guess I am still into plan B of going up to see John and Karoyln when they move up to Chicago… do I have any takers to join me?
Levee inspection continues, the flood watch continues and thus it makes for very long days. When I go on Flood Fight (levee Inspection) it takes any where from 12-18 hour days. It is good only because I am trying to earn time so that when I go home in May I will not have to use any of my annual leave it will be good to go home.
I took some pictures of our levee inspection. Any day out in the field is a better day than a great day in the office. This was taken in the morning at the beginning of our inspection day it was about 6:30. The mighty Mississippi River can be very impressive. God has created a beautiful world for us to live in and enjoy.
This was taken about 1/2 way through our inspection it is a Church property, I think it is Jesuit but I was not sure. I just thought it was an awesome view with the trees and the manicured lawn.
The story goes that this is Patches house. This is a house that when the levee system was built was on the flood side of the levee. The owner was an older gentleman that was self sufficient. He lived off of what he could hunt and fish. When Katina was baring down on the area he did evacuate. He returned to his home and lived out the remainder of his life. He died shortly after returning but the story goes that this man was an incredible man he lived off the land. I thought it was a pretty cool house out on the Mississippi River it reminds me of Tom Sawyer.
Not to interesting of a post but I am just tired. More later.
I am back to baking on Sunday afternoons. My neighbors and my coworkers seem to like and enjoy the fruits of my labors. It does keep me out of trouble and by giving away the goods the temptation to eat them all by myself is gone....
I was out inspecting the levee system from the Bonne Carrie Spillway up to Baton Rough, 110 miles of levee system, when a coworker called to see if I was interested in going to the Hornets Playoff game. It was so much fun I really had a lot of fun.
I went to V-Day in hopes of seeing Oprah. It was good overall but I think I could have done with not hearing a couple of the monologues. Oprah was supposed to be there but at the end they announced that she was ill and unable to attend. It was a disappointment because I basically wanted to see her but oh well. It was a good evening of entertainment. I guess I am still into plan B of going up to see John and Karoyln when they move up to Chicago… do I have any takers to join me?
Levee inspection continues, the flood watch continues and thus it makes for very long days. When I go on Flood Fight (levee Inspection) it takes any where from 12-18 hour days. It is good only because I am trying to earn time so that when I go home in May I will not have to use any of my annual leave it will be good to go home.
I took some pictures of our levee inspection. Any day out in the field is a better day than a great day in the office. This was taken in the morning at the beginning of our inspection day it was about 6:30. The mighty Mississippi River can be very impressive. God has created a beautiful world for us to live in and enjoy.
This was taken about 1/2 way through our inspection it is a Church property, I think it is Jesuit but I was not sure. I just thought it was an awesome view with the trees and the manicured lawn.
The story goes that this is Patches house. This is a house that when the levee system was built was on the flood side of the levee. The owner was an older gentleman that was self sufficient. He lived off of what he could hunt and fish. When Katina was baring down on the area he did evacuate. He returned to his home and lived out the remainder of his life. He died shortly after returning but the story goes that this man was an incredible man he lived off the land. I thought it was a pretty cool house out on the Mississippi River it reminds me of Tom Sawyer.
Not to interesting of a post but I am just tired. More later.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Life is great!
Just a quick post to tell you all that I have had a great week. I love that I am here in the Crescent City and the vicinity. It has so many things to offer an I am excited to just get out there and enjoy what it has to offer. I am going to the strawberry festival on the north shore (across lake Ponchartrain)they tell me it is one of the funnest festivals. I am going to the French quarter for what else "French quarter Festival", Andrew Alba you need to come out so you can hear all of the Jazz bands etc. and I am also going to go see Oprah at V-to the power of ten. I am really excited I will take pictures see if I get a good one from the nose bleed section.
Andrew the Jazz festival is coming up the last weekend in April first week in May. They say it is a great time to listen to jazz and all other types of music.
Well family and friends, remember who you are and how tall you stand!!
And to you my friend "I spy with my blue eyes?..."
Oh one more thing. I got my flipper (tooth) adjusted so it did not cover over half of the roof of my mouth. It is much better and I am hoping to not talk with a lisp nearly as bad as it was before.
Andrew the Jazz festival is coming up the last weekend in April first week in May. They say it is a great time to listen to jazz and all other types of music.
Well family and friends, remember who you are and how tall you stand!!
And to you my friend "I spy with my blue eyes?..."
Oh one more thing. I got my flipper (tooth) adjusted so it did not cover over half of the roof of my mouth. It is much better and I am hoping to not talk with a lisp nearly as bad as it was before.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
My day started early today so don't look to close at the dark circles under my eyes. I got to work this morning at 6:00 am. I thought I was going to be riding the levees today. The Mississippi river is running high and we ride the levee in 12 hour shifts and document weekenesses on the levee's. Don't worry I am not the one determining if the levee's are safe. I am just a scribe. Although the old saying a day out in the field is better than any day in the office.
Not only that but Sylvia check out the hair. This is after letting my bangs grow out for two weeks so you can imagine how short they were. I got a little carried away with the scissors.
Look MOM I got my front tooth and it is not even Christmas. I still have an adjustment getting use to the FLIPPER when I eat. Usually I get frustrated and just take it out. I find myself playing with it. I usually catch myself and try and keep it in place. Although my boss asked me if I was eating candy. And we laughed when it was my tooth I was playing with.
Look what I ate for dinner tonight. It was so good. On Sunday, between sessions our little branch had a pot luck. One of the members of the branch brought craw fish. I had never had them before. They were really good. I got cravings today and went and got me some. Not a bad meal for $5.00. It was very good but very messy to eat.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Distrubance in the Hood!
You have all heard that New Orleans in the murder capital of the nation. Over Easter weekend, two days there were 10 shootings in the city. Kind of scary but I have never been scared in the hood.
I come home from work today and my normal routine is to turn on the TV just for background noise and I am reviewing emails and I hear on the news "Shooting on Josephine St and Laurel" I jumped up and ran to the TV and found that a person had been shot in his car. I was not sure where Laurel street was but it sounded familiar. I looked it up on Google mapped the location and found that it is about 5 blocks south of where I live. It sounded familiar because a couple of Sundays ago I decided to go for my normal Sunday Stroll and decided to head south because I wanted to check out some houses that I passed when I went to Wall Mart. I had mentioned to my friends at work the area I was walking and they all three just gave me this look like "ARE YOU CRAZY!" I could not figure out what the fuss was. I told them that I was walking around and felt fine and then decided to head back to my place. They told me that I was walking in an area that is called the Jackson Street Projects. They said it was not a very safe area to be walking around in. They made me promise I would not walk around in that hood area again. I told them I liked to walk on Sundays and so they gave me routs to take that were safer. Basically all of them told me to stay between Magazine Street and St Charles Street and that I could walk West to Audubon park and East to the Round about and I would be okay. Who knew.
The whole time I have been here I have never been scared or intimidated. I have been protected but I also have to do my due diligence and research a little bit better where I am going to walk before I head out. I love that I have gotten into the habit to walk to the stores and the restaurants if I decide to go out to eat. It is pretty therapeutic to walk and just think.
Here is to walking in safer areas and to be safe.... Say a prayer for Brianna and while you are at it pray for me as well.
I come home from work today and my normal routine is to turn on the TV just for background noise and I am reviewing emails and I hear on the news "Shooting on Josephine St and Laurel" I jumped up and ran to the TV and found that a person had been shot in his car. I was not sure where Laurel street was but it sounded familiar. I looked it up on Google mapped the location and found that it is about 5 blocks south of where I live. It sounded familiar because a couple of Sundays ago I decided to go for my normal Sunday Stroll and decided to head south because I wanted to check out some houses that I passed when I went to Wall Mart. I had mentioned to my friends at work the area I was walking and they all three just gave me this look like "ARE YOU CRAZY!" I could not figure out what the fuss was. I told them that I was walking around and felt fine and then decided to head back to my place. They told me that I was walking in an area that is called the Jackson Street Projects. They said it was not a very safe area to be walking around in. They made me promise I would not walk around in that hood area again. I told them I liked to walk on Sundays and so they gave me routs to take that were safer. Basically all of them told me to stay between Magazine Street and St Charles Street and that I could walk West to Audubon park and East to the Round about and I would be okay. Who knew.
The whole time I have been here I have never been scared or intimidated. I have been protected but I also have to do my due diligence and research a little bit better where I am going to walk before I head out. I love that I have gotten into the habit to walk to the stores and the restaurants if I decide to go out to eat. It is pretty therapeutic to walk and just think.
Here is to walking in safer areas and to be safe.... Say a prayer for Brianna and while you are at it pray for me as well.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
House Decoating and more!
This is not my house but I want some opinions on what you think of this house. What is the first thing that pops into your mind and what possibilities to you see in it? This house is about 1/2 a block from where I am living.
This is the north wall as you walk in the front door. You can see that I have also placed my stereo in this area.
This is the wall that you see when you walk into my house. It is actually the office west wall.
okay so the picture above is of the wall that is on my left as you come in my front door. to the right of the picture I have kind of an enclove I have set up my fish tank there with the book case but I am trying to figure out what to do with this area. I can actually fit my over sized chair in that area if I decide to move the book case out of the way.
This is the same wall after my pictures are up my couch is in this area. the top of the couch is about 3 feet below the pictures.okay so nothing all to exciting but I need to do something about the current blinds they are driving me nuts.
I thought I would share an experience one of my coworkers had during Katrina. He lived in lakeside (or is it lake view) I get confused. Any way he and his wife and son decided that they were going to ride out the hurricane at home. Needless to say they got flooded they spent 7 nights on the roof of their house they had pets and would not leave them. They had national guard come by and offer to take them to safety but they refused because they would not allow the pets to come with them. He had a family member living in California that ended up driving from California with a boat and came to rescure him and his wife and sons and the pets. It was amazing to hear how they stayed for such a long time on the roof of the house and that it took family memebers to drive cross country to resuce them. One of the stories. I will tell you more later.
I am off to line dancing class! Yes you read right. I am taking a line dancing class. you can all pick yourselves off the floor. I am way out of my comfort zone but it has been great fun.
Love to all,
Aunt Nancy
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