Trip to New Orleans

The seniors at my school are offered some wonderful opportunities at the end of the year.  They are given several options for trips, experiences, and investigation.  We call it "Senior Explorations.  One of the teachers in the Upper School is planning a trip to New Orleans, and she asked for my input on things for them to do.  I was so eager to help that I have been asked to even go.  I have now started contacting people for ideas and help organizing the trip.  It's a fun challenge to keep 17 and 18 year olds entertained for 5-6 days in New Orleans.
I would like the students to go on a ghost tour, perhaps tour the SuperDome (Sacredome?), eat at one of Emeril's restaurants, go to Cafe' Reconcile, the WWII Museum, Aquarium of the Americas, and do a bunch of other touristy things.  The only thing I have done on this list is Cafe' Reconcile.  I think a critical part of this experience is to do some kind of community service, but I don't simply want them to do Habitat for Humanity.  There's nothing wrong with Habitat, but I think they need to see another part of New Orleans - one that was flooded and doesn't get much attention.  So far, I am thinking that we can work for the St. Bernard Project. 
If anyone has other groups that are doing good in Gentilly or New Orleans East, I would appreciate more information. 
Here are some of the things I could use help with:
Cheap food
A cooking demonstration that doesn't cost a fortune
interesting and offbeat opportunities (610 Stompers - I am looking at you!)
Soup Kitchen (Is Ozanam Inn the only place?)
Food bank or pantry
fun breakfast places
sporting events

Leave a comment if you can help me out!

LT

Connection?

I can't help but think that there is a major connection between the type and ferocity (and frequency) of crimes in New Orleans and in border towns in Mexico recently.  It seems that both places depend heavily on tourism, drugs and the drug trade is a major source of revenue, and poverty abounds.  I am sure that sociologist, anthropologists, economists, etc., could tell me more, but I wonder why life is so undervalued in such environments?
The principal of my school lived for several years in Mexico, and it is very interesting to see the correlations between life there and in New Orleans.  There are many similarities in our daily life and in our interactions with each other.  But especially interesting are the ways that holidays and Holy Days are celebrated.  I like trying to explain why we New Orleanians do things a certain way and I like hearing how others do it. 
Much of life in both places seems to be a celebration of life, but I still can't get it out of my head - why the high crime?  What is it that causes people to think that violence and revenge are the answers?

"Louisiana isn't the only place with shrimp"

Mr. Prescott,

You have made my life simpler.  Thank you. 
Louisiana isn't the only place that has shrimp, that's for sure!  But it
is where I grew up and where most of my family is.  None are shrimpers
or oystermen or even work on the rigs out in the Gulf of Mexico.  So
this little spill of yours doesn't directly affect my family.  But you
and your irresponsible company have ruined countless miles of our
valuable coast.  You see, the wetlands that the oil is invading and
destroying protect the rest of my state from hurricanes.  I was there
for Katrina.  The oil and gas industry that we have welcomed to our
coast is raping Louisiana of natural resources and natural protection. 
Your oil spill is just the latest in long line of travesties committed
against my home state.  To compound the feeling of ill will, you chose
to make a poor decision in saying that Louisiana isn't the only state
with shrimp.  This is true.  Other states have shrimp and access to
shrimp.  But the money made in Louisiana by Louisiana fishermen and
Louisiana restaurants should stay in Louisiana.  Before this, we did not
have to get shrimp from other places.  Now we do.  Thank you.


But definitely don't need to buy any products from BP.  And I am
committed to sharing that feeling with any others that may ask.  In
fact, there is a BP just down the road from me.  I plan on spending a
few hours each week there holding a sign with a dead pelican on it, a
burning oil rig, and the words "Can you afford this?"  on it.  Be
responsible, do all you can to fix your mistake, and watch your words
carefully. 


Thank you again for giving me a new job to do in the coming weeks.  I
wasn't sure what I was going to do with my summer.

Sincerely,

Latin Teacher

Deepwater

I showed my class a short video about the oil spill today. It looks as though some of the oil may get caught in the Loop Current and could head up the East Coast. This isn't a Louisiana problem, it's a national one. We aren't getting nearly enough news up here about this, but we should be. Things are going to get much worse, I fear.

My Pledge

The Saints are my favorite team. There are no two ways about it. When I had had enough after the 92 season and yet another playoff loss, I said I was done with the disappointment and heartbreak and was going to root for another team. I sorta did, too. I began following the Philadelphia Eagles - back when they had Randall Cunningham and that really nasty defense. But they weren't my home town team. I still followed the Saints. I couldn't get away from it. On Sunday mornings I would drive or ride my bike down to the French Quarter to get a cup of iced coffee at Royal Blend and some beignets at Cafe' Du Monde. I made sure to get back home in time for the pregame show and watch the Saints if they were on TV. If they weren't on, I would have the radio blaring, visualizing the plays while I puttered around my apartment cleaning up from the night before. I never had enough money back then to go to a game unless someone gave me a ticket or we waited until after kickoff to get in.

In 2006 when the Saints made their run to the NFC Championship game in Chicago, I bought a ticket for an outrageous price, booked a flight and reserved a hotel room to go see the New Orleans Saints. It was a beautiful thing to be there with MY team. And sure there were some jerks. I didn't care. I didn't care that they lost - what they had done was so unbelievable and amazing and spirit lifting that I still can't forget the elation of walking into Soldier Field wearing my Deuce McAllister jersey. And though I was slightly deflated after the game was over, I still was able to hold my head high. The Saints had done all of their fans proud (except that Reggie flip into the end zone in Urlacher's face thing).

Once I moved from New Orleans, I took up the charge. After all, I am from New Orleans. The Saints are my team. I found a dive bar that had the Sunday Ticket. Every Sunday. Then I started going to a hotel Sports Bar. Then another and another - just to root for the Saints. I even found a mob bar that was shut down suddenly when the FBI took the owners to jail for god knows what crimes. I even bought a Sirius Satellite radio so I could listen to Jim and Hokie when we were traveling around the country.

I moved to PA and found a bar and another real life Saints fan to watch the games with. It's weird to have this thing, this love and passion for a team that no one anywhere around here feels. It's my kinship and birthright to be a Saints fan. So I am. And I will be from now on. I am here in Jets/Giants/Eagles country proudly wearing my black and gold (and shrimp boots!). I am sorry that I wavered in my faith in you. I hope you can accept my apologies.

Today I am wearing my Deuce jersey. I have on my Be A Saint t-shirt. I will have on a sweatshirt and drink Abita Amber. I will bring my two year old wearing his Drew Brees jersey with me to watch the game. I will encourage him to say "Who Dat!" and "Deuuuuuce!" I will order the Cajun Burger and not criticize the lack of flavor or depth. I will introduce myself to strangers and entertain them with stories of New Orleans and of the Saints. I will read blogs and learn statistics and memorize all the players names and numbers. I will bleed Black and Gold.

Today I am a Saints fan, proud, unabashed and unashamed. Today I will scream and cheer and laugh with people I don't know. Today, I will show some unsuspecting New Jerseyans what a person from New Orleans is like and I will display the grace and courtesy we show to all our visitors. I will show them the passion of a Saints fan, too.

The Cardinals won a great game last week against the Packers. It was a shootout, and I enjoyed watching all the great plays from two great quarterbacks. Today's game features two great quarterbacks, but this week the two teams are playing in what has to be the loudest and most excitable crowd in the league. I have no doubt about the outcome today.

And when I wake up tomorrow, I am still going to be a Saints fan.

Apologies

After my last post, the Saints have gone on a 2 game losing streak. I did not intend to offend any of the following - God, Allah, Yahweh, Brian Bordelon, voodoo queens, witches, vampires, people who believe in jinxes, or any other person or being who connects with higher powers. I am sorry for this post, and I hope my apologies are accepted. I just want the Saints to finish strong and do us proud in the playoffs. Who dat!

Catching the Fever

Not swine flu.  The Saints.

ESPN.com (amazing story about New Orleans AND the Saints)

SI.com

USAToday.com

Other than that, things are great.  More once this amazing season ends.  WHO DAT!

We're really moving

Sure the house is smaller.  But there are three acres of land.  And it's 15 minutes from work, 10 minutes from Princeton, NJ, and 15 minutes from the train to NYC.  Also, it's just down the street from the Delaware and Raritan Canal State park and tons of hiking trails. 

We sold our house in a couple of weeks, but then the buyer backed out.  In less than two weeks, we sold it again.  This time for sale price.  Staging helped, but really we think the price was the main reason. 

All I know is damn.  Jersey is expensive.

I still have to fix a few things here before we can officially sell it (broken windows replaced, sidewalk fixed, new gutter on the garage, etc.)  But we are pretty much all done here.  It looks like we will be in the new place by Thanksgiving.  That's not all that far off.  Time to start packing!

Predictions Come True

It didn't take a genius to see this coming. 

I know Cerasoli's quitting was a big disappointment.  The way that he was running the IG's office reminded me of Carl Hanratty played by Tom Hanks in Catch Me If You Can.  He was willing to work in the most deplorable and degrading conditions because he viewed his job as important.  Others, I fear, will be positioning themselves for other not-so-altruistic reasons. 

Already there seems to be a gnashing of teeth and conflict of personality.  I wonder if they have phones yet. 

I don't have time to pay attention, but are any of the proposed IGs connected to the Jeffersons?

Wish I had known...

About this race.  I am not sure I can run uphill for 300 feet, but I would have been willing to try.  There was no press on this at all.  I just happened to be in town crossing the Crescent City Connection around 6:45 and saw a ton of people running.  Since I am running part of a marathon as a relay team next week, this would have been a nice way to train while I was around.  Thanks, nola.com.

Remember

It was 4 years ago today.  There are so many other things going on in the world that it's hard to keep this in the front of our collective minds.  But New Orleans is still suffering and reeling from the blow struck by Katrina and the failure of our federal levees. 

Welcome to New Orleans

For Sale

Our house is for sale.  I worked tirelessly this summer to get everything just right, and its time.  I have been commuting for 6 years, and it's just too hard with 2 dogs and a toddler.  And the prices in New Jersey have come down substantially from where they were 2 years ago.  So we have our house listed and have had 4 showings in 10 days.  Another showing is scheduled for Saturday.  I hope someone comes in and just has to have it, like we did.  Wish us luck!

What am I going to do now?

Jason David waived.

Well, there's been talk that this wasn't his system. Blah blah blah. The guy was just not good enough. Sure he made a couple of big plays in his time with the Saints, but he also gave up a lot of big plays, game deciding plays. Honestly, who cares if you return an interception for a TD in the first game of the season when your team gets waxed. I care that the opposing quarterbacks mouths watered when they saw his number on the field. "Oh, it's 42 (0r 29). Run deep. Either we'll score or he'll be so out of position that he will have to interfere."

I wish him luck somewhere else. Unless it's Atlanta.

UPDATE: Clay Smith says it well over at the Blog of New Orleans.

YAY!

Two stories of good news, I think, for New Orleans.

• NY TImes assigns a new reporter to cover New Orleans
• The Roosevelt Hotel reopens - Sazeracs anyone? (put in zip 43201 if asked)

Keep on keeping on.

Changing Focus

After my endless tirade against #42 for the Saints last year, I have realized that perhaps I was too harsh on the man.  Maybe it's time to move forward from 2008's suckfest.  So I am going to hope for the Saints to do their best, make the playoffs, and win a game or two in the postseason.  And I hope that #42 makes the team and does a great job this year.

#29*, on the other hand, sucks, even if he had a good day on the first day of practice. 





*Making interceptions in a touch game is much different than doing it in front of 70,000 fans.  And getting burned and costing your team at least 2, maybe 3, games is inexcusable.  I once had a girlfriend tell me, "You don't have to go for the interception every time."  That's some good advice.  Jason David had 5 interceptions last year.  Part of that is because the opposing quarterback was throwing half his passes at #42.  5 picks, 3 games lost.  I would give up the 5 picks.  11 and 5 would have been a helluva record last year.

Dear Trader Joe's

Easton, PA is a vibrant and welcoming community whose populace would be interested, I believe, in a Trader Joe's.  We have a great location downtown that was an old Perkins restaurant and has plenty of parking (and a huge parking deck next door!).  It would be the only real supermarket downtown!  You wouldn't be able to build your suburban type store, but after living and frequenting your store in Westfield, NJ, I know you can do it.  Won't you please consider this location?  If not Easton (my first choice!), there has to be somewhere else you can go in the Lehigh Valley...  (Mayor Sal Panto or Easton is very much pro-business, I think.)

Thanks for your consideration!

LatinTeacher

Quandary

Given the iffy economic situation, wouldn't it be good for the federal government to give a little money to each local public broadcasting station?  I mean, there is nothing more agonizing than watching people try to convince you that YOU are the reason we are on the air.  What if I don't have any money to send YOU?  Now I can't be entertained by your excellent programming AND I have to watch you beg. 

I'm just asking.

Dear China

First of all, I would personally like to thank you for your proactive stance on swine flu. It is wonderful to see a rising superpower taking on a potential pandemic by quarantining passengers who may have been exposed to this disease. If only all countries ruled their populace and visitors with such an iron fist!

Secondly, and more importantly, thank you for taking the Mayor of New Orleans, C. Ray Nagin. As far as I am concerned, you can keep him. He's probably doing the city of New Orleans more good being stuck in quarantine over there with you. At least he and his cronies can't continue to undermine the recovery of our fair city while he's away. His inability to be confrontational with local news reporters and others seeking information is needed here. As long as you have him, things can get done over here. Thank you for that.

I would like to add that you may need to dig a little deeper. He may have some other diseases or sociopathic issues that can only be discovered by deep anal probing. Since you guys already have him isolated, I feel this would and could be a great opportunity to remove whatever bug is up his ass. Please consider this sincere request.

Again, China, thank you for helping us out. Have you ever met George W. Bush? We would like him probed, too. I don't think he has any diseases unless you consider being an asshole a disease! (Haha!) But still, do you think you can pull this one off? Let me know.

Sincerely,

LatinTeacher

PS - I just heard that you released Mr. Nagin from quarantine. I sure hope you got that probe in!

Dear City Of Easton Public Officials

I voted FOR the charter change.  I did.  And when I got my tax bill this year, I was pretty upset.  I know you need some money.  I get it.  Things are tough for everyone, not just the city of Easton.  But to raise my taxes from 1% to 1.75% is pretty unconscionable.  My house (and many other houses) in Easton is virtually unsellable because.  My beautiful wife and I have worked hard to improve our house by painting it, remodeling a kitchen designed in the 1890s, and relandscaping the yard.  Why would someone bother looking at our wonderful, historic home when they could go over the hill in to Forks and buy a brand new house with none of the maintenance and a LOWER tax rate.  Why aren't they paying more taxes?  Don't their kids go to the same schools?  Don't they use the same roads (mostly MY road)?  Don't they get water from the now newly privatized Easton Suburban Water Authority?  Why are their taxes lower yet they get to use all the things that I pay for? 

Despite this, I still will volunteer to help Easton prosper and look its best.  I will shop locally, I will eat food from the Farmer's Market, and I will frequent local restaurants.  I will pay to park my car on the street, I will attend Council Meetings, and I will buy tickets for the Home Tour.  I will pay to run in local races, go to local festivals, vote for what's best for Easton, and be a member of my neighborhood association.  Your response to these actions is to raise my taxes.  This is unconscionable.  Reduce the tax on people who CHOOSE to live in Easton.  Find a better way (sales tax?) to fund the city.  I am outraged by this, and I hope you make a change for the better.