News Break - The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

I'm taking a brief break from the trip blog to fill you in on the news I alluded to in this morning's post. Well, there is not really Ugly news, just good and bad.

First, I found out this morning that my puppy of 12 years died this afternoon. He was taken to the hospital yesterday evening because his temp was up and his back legs weren't working. Apparently he had an enlarged heart which couldn't pump enough blood to his limbs. He also had a tumor that was metastasizing.

He was a pretty awesome dog...you know, about as awesome as they come. And I'll miss him dearly! I'm a little bummed I didn't get to say good bye, but glad to know he's out of pain and holding on to the memories of the good times. And now he and Gobby are likely sitting on a porch swing together, somewhere in heaven, having a smoke break!




And the Good...

I wasn't going to announce this until it's official. But, I really hate sharing bad news without something to counter it with. Yesterday afternoon I received a job offer to teach religion at Ursuline Academy!! For those unfamiliar with New Orleans, this is an all girls school located in uptown. It's actually the oldest Catholic school and oldest all girls school in the country!

I don't know any details yet as far as grade and particular subject matter. I'll find that out when the principal calls me back. As far as why it's not official yet, we're just waiting on the particulars regarding salary and such before I officially accept. But, let's face it, it's not like I'm not going to accept. This is a great offer!!

So, now you're all filled in. We'll return to your regularly scheduled travel blog some time this evening once I finish uploading and editing pictures.

Sarah and Oscar's Excellent Roadtrip! Day 1

Have you met my friend Oscar? No? Well, meet him now.

This is my friend Oscar. I love him a lot. I love him for myriad reasons. He did some pretty awesome things and said some pretty inspirational words to help the Salvadoran people during the 70's and 80's. And that's all great, but not truly why I love him the way I do.

2 1/2 years ago, while cleaning out an office at St. Teresa's, Erica and I found this framed picture of Oscar Romero. We put it aside in my office for safe keeping. A few days later, Erica was having a particularly bad day, and she found the picture sitting on her desk chair with a post it note attached to it saying "Smile Sunshine! Oscar Loves You!" It brightened her day so much that a tradition was formed.

Throughout the past 2 1/2 years, Oscar has traveled back and forth between the two of us sharing his intrepid words of wisdom - sometimes thoughtful and profound and sometimes just downright ridiculous! But he has become an incredibly important part of our lives.

Upon my departure, Erica decided that Oscar hates winter just as much as we do (perhaps more) and he wanted to return to warmer climates too. So, armed with a full take of gas and a juiced up iPod, Oscar and I hit the road yesterday. My blog over the next three weeks will capture our many wonderful adventures.



Day 1: The Drive Begins

Sarah made the somewhat horrid decision to consume far too many cups of coffee at breakfast. So, during the 4 1/2 hour road trip to Door County, the Caravan had to stop no fewer than three times for her to pee. But all in all a rather uneventful drive. Here are some snapshots of Oscar:

We're staying at a resort overlooking what I guess is Sturgeon Bay, and most of the afternoon was spent planning the many adventures we'll have for the next two days. I did stop to enjoy the sunset though. GLORIOUS!!!

At the end of the day I received some potentially excellent news and some potentially very sad news. More details to come on those as they become available. But just know that life has been a whirlwind!

But many more adventures to come!

Lillian Made Me Do It

Yeah, yeah, yeah! I'm well aware of the fact that my blogging record stinks. Once I ran out of canned topics to write about, I ran out of interesting things to say...or at least the motivation to open the blog and say them. But my new friend Lillian told me tonight I need to blog again, so here I am.

Seeing as 2 weeks from today I am departing Chicago for good, now is as good a time as any to reflect on my time here. I certainly don't plan on writing every good thing that has happened to me in the past five years. There isn't enough blog space in the world. So I shall sum it up in a few lines:

great new friends
reconnecting with old friends
lots of life lessons
love gained and love lost
great food
great weather (you know 3 months out of the year)
the joy of outdoor festivals
cold swimming water
adventures. many many adventures
urban family
being a part of other people's families
rooftop soirees
expanded horizons
new vision for myself and my future

for lack of a better word...home

New Orleans is and will always be my first home. But, Chicago has a piece of my heart that will never be given back. I'll certainly be back, and be back often...just not in February!

Day 30- A picture of you today & 20 goals you want to accomplish.

I can't believe it! I actually did it! 30 days worth of blogging! And it only took me 2 months! My list of goals are an odd combination of short term and long term goals. They are in no particular order, simply how they came to mind. It's amazing how hard it is to come up with 20 goals! Maybe I'm just not goal oriented enough!

1. Find a job!
1.a. Actually finish my resume and start sending it places

2. Finish the next two months at work with continued perseverance and dedication, no lame duck slacking.

3. Visit every state and every continent (every ocean/sea would be cool, too)

4. Lose weight and get in shape

5. Learn another language with decent fluency.

6. Continue to practice and master my guitar skills

7. Create a successful and productive veggie garden.
7.a. Learn to compost

8. Figure out what to do for my next 30 day challenge

9. Watch the first season of Treme, now that I know how OnDemand works (yeah, I'm that lame! Lame enough not to know how OnDemand works, not lame to watch Treme)

10. Take an active role in coastal restoration in south LA

11. Get a fancy camera and learn to use it properly

12. Finish my Easter dress before Easter.

13. Get a dog.

14. Make lots of awesome new friends in New Orleans (not to replace my awesome old friends, just to supplement and sustain me in my new/old home)

15. Pay off my student loans in enough time for me to actually enjoy life after loans.

16. Make myself a more goal oriented person, so making lists of 20 goals is a bit easier.

17. Successfully keep in touch with friends and loved ones around the country.

18. Make lots of cool presents for my little Sproutling, who is due to come mid October!

19. Live life to the fullest!

20. Finish this stupid list.

Day 29- In this past month, what have you learned.

In the past month, I have learned:
*The cruise lifestyle is wonderful, and I need sunshine and warmth in order to survive. (but I kind of already knew that; it was just reiterated)
*Sometimes there is no comforting a friend in distress. All you can do is sit next to them and hold their hand.
*I do have self control when it comes to Girl Scout cookies, I would just rather not use it.
*The first budding flowers of spring bring me more joy than just about anything else in the world.
*My addiction to my cell phone and to facebook CAN be overcome, but it takes going to a remote location (i.e. a foreign country where phone/internet rates are out of my reach) in order to do it.
*IT'S SO FLUFFY!!!!
*Meeting new people is a lot of fun, especially when they are fun new people
*Planning road trips is a lot of fun, especially when going to see awesome people you love and miss dearly!

many, many, many other things that just aren't coming to mind just yet.

Day 28- A picture of you last year and now, how have you changed since then?

And, she's back...

It's been a while. I know. But, I'm back to my blogging goodness (for now).

A picture of me last year:

And Today:

And how have I changed?

Well aside from finding a shade of foundation that actually looks good with my skin color and switching Hurricanes for Lamb Shanks, not much. I am officially a Master of the Divine, but I think I was pretty damn divine before then. I've come a whole lot closer to moving back where I belong to New Orleans. I'm a year older. Geez, I really can't think of much else beyond that. I'm just the same old me!

Day 27- Why are you doing this 30 day challenge?

I think ultimately the reason is twofold:

On the surface it's because I was bored and had nothing better to do with my time since I only work part time and am not in school any more. I did the 30 day photo challenge, and enjoyed sharing daily pictures so much I thought I'd spend the next month sharing my thoughts and words.

But on a much deeper level is the reality that I love sharing my thoughts with people. I don't necessarily care if many read them or not. They are out there to be read if you so please, and I can pretend that millions hang on my every brilliant thought, as it should be!

It's kind of funny because when I'm with people - friends, foes, or otherwise - I hesitate to share my every thought because I'm relatively certain very few really care to hear my nonstop babbling about anything and nothing and all the things in between. But, on the internet, I can pretend that everyone cares. Or at least they can care at their own leisure.

The kicker is that I'm running out of days and then I'll have to come up with my own topics to share unless someone can find me a suitable next 30 day challenge.