Eat, Drink, Sing, Dance, Play

Welcome to New Orleans. Where you get to do all of those things. This recent trip with Firas was my second visit to the incredible city of New Orleans. Again, it wasn't long enough to delve into the history of the city and the impact that Katrina had, but it was just enough to scratch the surface and appreciate the diversity and culture that the city embodies. Having been plagued with the flu prior to our weekend trip, we were a bit nervous about making the eight-hour drive and then being confined to the hotel room if by chance I had a relapse or if Firas were to experience flu-like symptoms. However, luck was on our side. And not only was luck on our side physically, but also in the way of our wallets. After enjoying a delicious dinner at Acme compete with chargrilled and raw oysters, I told Firas that a good start to our trip would be a quick visit to Harrah's Casino (see my Vegas post to understand my healthy admiration of casinos and slot machines), and he agreed.

Firas played a not-so-lucky hand at blackjack and I spent five unlucky dollars on a slot machine. He tried very hard to convince me to join him at the blackjack table and after I refused four or five times, he sat down at a slot machine and I sat down at the one right beside him. I put in another five-dollar bill, pressed the "Max Bet" button, and all of a sudden.... cha-ching! cha-ching! cha-ching! Three in a row.... and the machine started tallying up the money I won.... final number: $250!!!!!! Two HUNDRED and fifty dollars! Holy casino moly. Firas took a video of me as I looked back and forth between him and the machine (mostly at the machine, as I was in complete shock). I didn't think people actually won on the slots. Especially ME! I deemed it necessary to yell, "Cash Money Ho's!"... I'm not even sure where I picked that up... is it from a movie? Deirdre will know. But it felt like the perfect time to shout it out. Wish I had thought that out more carefully since Firas insisted on showing his Mom the video... I tried to laugh really hard during that 3-second clip so that she couldn't pick up what I was saying. I think it worked. Anyways, I was just completely giddy after that, for lack of a better word. Firas was too, he'll admit it. It was just nice to know that I wouldn't be spending any of "my own" money in New Orleans.

After striking the jackpot, we continued on to Bourbon Street and enjoyed drinks at a few great bars. Firas was intent on having me drink my first "hand grenade", which would have been a fine idea if we didn't follow it up with a hurricane at Pat O'Briens. Never again. I will blame us picking up sliders and french fries at Krystal Burgers on our way home on those two drinks. Not guilty.

But we we did enjoy live music and even ventured into my favorite bar that my Dad told me about.... it's called The Cat's Meow, and it is a BLAST, especially for karoke fanatics like myself. In between songs, the karaoke DJ will do group songs, funny competitions, etc... it really is a good time. The DJ started a congo line at one point and half of the bar joined and danced their way around the place... I'm pretty sure Gloria Estefan was playing for this one, and you can't go wrong there. She finally led the group towards the stage where they had people doing the limbo. Within 30 seconds, Firas turned to me and said, "I've GOTTA do it!" and he darted towards the stage and was shimmying under the limbo bar without looking back once. It was amazing. On another note, the bar happened to be filled with lesbians the night that Firas and I were there... he asked if I was sure it wasn't a gay bar, and I told him I was pretty confident that Dad and his co-workers wouldn't be hanging out at a gay bar on their business trips. A lesbian duo was on stage singing, "Cruisin", one of my favorite songs from the movie "Duets". Only they added a whole lot of super-scandalous motions (think thrusting and fondling), facial expressions and extra words to the song. Being a tad uncomfortable (before you call me judgmental, just know that I would have been just as uncomfortable had a man and woman been doing what they were doing on stage), I thought it would be funny to elbow the two random guys next to me and shout, "I think they're single!" They looked at me kind of funny and I figured that they didn't hear me (obviously, or else they would be laughing) so I repeated myself even louder.... "I THINK THEY'RE SINGLE!" I got a slight chuckle this time, and then looked back over in five minutes and realized that the two random guys I elbowed were also gay. Good going, Jaclyn. Next bar, please.

The next morning, we enjoyed a fantastic (and very, VERY pricey) brunch at Brennans, a well-known restaurant, especially when it comes to their eggs benedict dishes. I should have known we were in for it when our two bloody marys cost 25 dollars. Seriously?! Despite the breaking of the bank for this meal, it was quite good. It seemed the most cost-effective to order from the Prix Fixe menu and we both had soup (I had oyster, Firas had onion), a specialty eggs benedict dish, and dessert. I had the bananas foster and Firas went for the crepes... both SO good and prepared by the chef right in front of the table.... fire and all!

We spent the rest of the afternoon walking around the French Quarter, enjoying live music, street performances, and the sun that finally decided to come out! We enjoyed another good meal at Desire for dinner, explored Bourbon Street some more, and ended the night at Cafe du Monde for the most incredible beignets EVER. Oh my gosh, I am so glad I don't have access to those every day.

There's so much that I'm leaving out, but hopefully the pictures will tell a better story. Overall, it was a great trip... we did a LOT, but it was relaxing too. The ride home was not so fun, but it was worth it... I think Firas would agree. We will definitely be back, especially now that our friend Brittany is moving there very soon! Thank you Nola for another memorable visit.

P.S. This boy is my soulmate.

Why Didn't I Think of That?

Once in a while, I'll come across something in the store and ask just what the title of this post reads: "Why Didn't I Think of That?" Here's a prime example:

Panty Latte.

I've always wanted to drink out of a coffee mug that once housed several pairs of Rugged Wearhouse underwear. Haven't you?

Re-post: Go Nicki, It's Your Birthday

It's my sister Nicole's birthday today, and I want to remind everyone as to why she is the best big sister in the world. I posted this top 10 list exactly one year ago, and the only thing that's changed is that Nicole is even more wonderful and we are even closer, despite the thousand miles between us. And I didn't think any of you would mind seeing the picture of her in a box once more.

In honor of my sister's birthday on February 23rd, I have created a list of the top 10 reasons why Nicole is one of the two best sisters in the world. Keep in mind that there are thousands of reasons, but these are some of my favorites. Here goes...

1.) When she was a kid, she went over to our neighbor's house to see if her friend could come out to play. When the Mom told her that she wouldn't be able to play that day, Nicole sulked away, found a dead bird on the sidewalk, returned to the house, knocked on the door, threw the dead bird into the house, and ran away.

2.) She is the best hostess in the world. Whether I visited her at college, in San Diego, or in DC, she always planned out the entire trip so that we would have a memorable time. It's amazing what we packed into one of my 4-day trips to San Diego... Laguna Beach, Disneyland, Tijuana, Encinitas, Mission Viejo, and the list goes on...

3.) See picture below.

4.) She stuffed a box of raisins up her nose when she was itty bitty, forcing Mom to pull off the interstate and perform emergency raisin-removal.

5.) It was her and Tony's move to San Diego that inspired me to be gutsy enough to move to Austin.

6.) She participated in sister/cousin plays when she might have been a few years too old for it. Well let's be honest, we were all probably a little too old for it. She directed and produced several unforgettable performances, including "Do You Have Any Shoes?", "Detective Ray", and "The Coolest Thanksgiving Play Ever". Oh wait, can't forget the performance voted least popular by the family, Marilyn Manson's "Beautiful People". Bad idea. But hey, we were living in an MTV world.

7.) She is 29 (now 30 - woohoo!) and still gets extremely hyper = hilarious.

8.) She jump-started my adventure in Austin with me by driving me all the way from D.C. to Texas. She made the trip much more exciting (see #3 and #7).

9.) On top of her having the most fun and beautiful wedding EVER, she also had a risotto bar at the reception.

10.) She is up for anything. Whether it be moving across the country, planning a Cinco de Mayo themed party in September, riding every single ride at an amusement park, attending multiple Britney concerts, "pulling an international" by trying out an Ethiopian restaurant (never again), making several trips to Tijuana for reunions with Froy and Pancho, or jumping/singing/dancing/crying to Bette Midler's "Going to the Chapel" with me and Dee the morning of her wedding, she is in it to win it.

And that is why I love her!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NICOLE!!!!!!!!

Weekend of Champions

I had such a good weekend. Good enough to blog about. My friend Angie moved back to Austin, which is good enough news to make my weekend blog-worthy. Angie and I became close after she moved here from Michigan in August, but soon had to relocate to Dallas for work, which was quite a bummer for me. However, she's back, and I'm ecstatic! I started off my Friday with a happy hour at Botticellis, the most relaxing place I can think of to grab a beer after a long work week. They have a biergarden in the back of the restaurant and it's a cozy little outdoor area with tables underneath a few large trees and a small stage for live entertainment. Whoever was in charge of the layout and vibe of the place gets an A for Ambiance. Their happy hour menu also features $5 appetizers and they have a little something called "Botticelli Bread" which you might describe as a non-greasy vegetable stromboli. Mouth-watering. Later on that night, Angie, Bri, and I ventured more east than usual to meet up with an old friend of mine from Richmond who is in town for a few days. I had my first "Emos" experience, which I am ashamed to say occurred after already living here for a year. I suppose I can't claim to love live music if I've never stepped foot in Emos after a year in Austin. It was quite an experience. Four bands were on the line-up, and the first was a band that my friend Joe knew of through a member of the band who he knew through a friend, through a cousin, etc... one of those deals. The band was young and so was their music, but it was refreshing to see how elated they were to be playing at a music goldmine like Emos. I enjoyed observing their group of devoted followers who knew almost every word to the eight songs they played. They were standing six inches from the stage, bopping along to the not-so-melodic tunes, hootin' and hollerin' for their band. My favorite part was the huge black X's on both of their hands. Oh, to be under 21 again. It reminded me of when Nicole would take me to Trax in 8th and 9th grade to see Sweet Baby J perform. We were smitten with the band. They might have sounded terrible, but my amateur ears (and eyes) told me they were perfect. It was amusing to see myself in those fans on Friday night. Only I'm almost positive I was wearing my Mudd flare jeans and sugar t-shirt while they were decked out in skinny jeans or fishnets. One was even wearing a silver cape. Nicole would have killed me if I tried to wear a silver cape to Sweet Baby J. That's what big sisters are for. Overall, it was a great night - good to be reunited with Angie, always great to see a friend from home, and excited to finally say that I've seen a show at Emos.

On Saturday, I decided to be semi-productive... I cleaned out my closet, rearranged my bedroom, and did a massive amount of laundry. I was quite proud of myself. Even though there's a million other things to get done. But it's a start! And on Saturday night, Firas and I ate an amazing dinner at Thai Spice. YUM! For those of you that live in Austin, you should definitely make the trek to this restaurant. Firas had the drunken noodles and I had the massamun curry. I dared to be different, and I was glad I took my chances - SO good! Following dinner, I had my world rocked by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals at La Zona Rosa, a well known concert venue in downtown Austin. The concert deserves it's own post. It was the most incredible show with the most miserable crowd experience. Ever. More to come on that topic. But Firas and I had such a blast and we were both blown away by the show.

Sunday was a relaxing day... enjoyed a good cup of coffee from Fair Bean Coffee, watched a few episodes of Greek on Netflix (love it), and enjoyed a delicious meal with Firas and his family in Cedar Park. It was the perfect end to a memorable weekend.

Dear Diary

This is the longest I've ever gone without blogging! I deeply apologize to my handful of faithful readers. I want to start by saying THANK YOU for the sweet outpouring of love and kind words in response to my post about Jimmy. Writing has become such a positive outlet for me again. I write 'again' because I used to be the (oh so dramatic) queen of diaries. My family can attest to this. I provided them with much entertainment from the time I learned how to write a complete sentence until the time I was too old to be hysterically crying and talking to myself, while furiously scribbling down why life was unfair in the pages of my diary. Troubling life of the American pre-teen... woe is me. They now joke about how they would crowd at my bedroom door and try to keep from laughing as I worked out my "problems" through tears and diary entries. I don't blame them. I've always been a bit.... emotional. But regardless, writing in my diary seemed to help. And later on in high school as I began to explore my faith a bit, my journal once again became a meaningful outlet. I would scribble thoughts, prayers, quotes, and so on... it was always nice to look back on those and see how I had grown, how my faith had developed. And now I have this blog. Who knows what you'll find on here... restaurant reviews, sappy stories, humorous happenings... oh, and I LOVE alliteration. Whether I'm writing about my favorite outdoor patio in Austin to enjoy a margarita with friends or pouring my heart out about somebody close to me leaving this world, it just feels good to share. Thank you for letting me.

On another note, I hope everyone had a fantastic Valentine's Day. I was able to celebrate with my 99 Valentines on Monday afternoon at our party for the residents. It was really an event to write home about. The residents were clapping, dancing, and hollering for the band to keep playing. The band was on point, playing Johnny Cash, classic country, waltzs, folk, and more. One of the male residents, who recently had an amputation from his knee down, waved for me to come dance with him in front of the band. I grabbed his hands and he started twirling his wheelchair around as if he was on ice. He was kicking his good leg (and his half-leg) out in front of him with such energy that I thought the front row might be in danger. However, it turned out that I was the only one in harm's way as I got kicked so hard in the shin (with the good leg unfortunately) that I had a bruise the next morning. I was proud of this bruise though. Evidence of a good party.

And of course I was able to enjoy the day with my 100th, and most favorite, valentine. Firas saved me last week when I was eaten alive by the flu. He made multiple trips to the store for me, stocking my apartment with soup, crackers, ginger ale, medicine, etc. He came over after work and sat several feet away from me on the couch and kept me company while I was bored out of my mind from being home alone and/or sleeping all day, and even made sure I got to bed alright before he headed home. He's a trooper. We enjoyed a fun weekend in New Orleans, which I promise to blog about soon... and on Valentine's Day, we just relaxed. We ate salad and turkey meatloaf from Central Market, with sherbert for dessert. It was just what the doctor ordered. Quiet and relaxing, no pressure or crazy gifts. That's the way (uh-huh, uh-huh), I like it (uh-huh, uh-huh).

(The picture in this post is of a Valentine craft that my football player resident made for his wife. He made her this felt valentine and beaded bracelet a week or so before V-Day during an arts and crafts activity. When I brought it to him on Monday and told him that I would be putting it in his room for her, he patted my back and said, "Ha, alright! Thanks! You gonna play it off like it was me who made it?" I responsed, "Yes... because you DID make it!" His response: "Ohhh sure it was. Thanks again.")

Side by Side

I had a humorous post forming in my scattered brain Friday morning as I watched the city of Austin face an inch of snow, icy roads, and clueless drivers. Complete chaos. As I was finally making it to work at 11:00 that morning, I got a phone call letting me know that the resident I refer to as "Jimmy" had passed away that morning. Jimmy is probably the resident I blogged about most (even in the previous post), as he had the best sense of humor, greatest zest for life, most unbelievable stories, and the ability to completely turn my day around if it were headed in a bad direction. Just by calling out, "Hey baby!" I had written a post a few months ago about Jimmy sharing with me that he was ready to go, comparing himself to the hunchback being envious of the gargoyle made of stone. I had trouble accepting this, but it seemed that the minute I finally did, Jimmy bounced back and continued to participate in his favorite activities. I was once again confident that Jimmy would outlive me. The day before he passed away, I brought his breakfast to his room as he didn't feel like eating in the Dining Room, and I was greeted with, "Hey my darling!" As usual, he was underneath three blankets in his t-shirt, long-sleeved hoodie, and down jacket with the jacket's hood on his head and a Navy cap over it. When I informed him of the trivia activity that afternoon, he told me he wasn't feeling up to it but promised he would make it to the next one. I even said to him, "You're not getting old on me, are you?" He laughed and said he thought that may be the case. That would be my last interaction with Jimmy. There are days where I feel that working in this field is a gift. And then there are days where I feel that it's a curse. Selfishly, I wasn't ready for Jimmy to leave this world. I wasn't ready for him to leave my world. Even though he was. There is nothing keeping me in this field except for people like him. I can say with confidence that we made a difference in eachothers lives. And that's what keeps me here. People are always commenting on how fun my job must be. They insist how great it must be to "play" all day; one younger resident even asked me how I liked being a camp counselor for the elderly a few weeks ago. Naturally I was offended, but responded politely as I didn't see the need to defend myself to a bitter 55-year old stuck in a nursing home for rehab. While parts of my job can be enjoyable, there's nothing fun about getting close to people and having them die. It is a gift to gain a hundred extra grandparents when I have lost three of my own, but the process of losing them is just nearly as painful. Some people at work don't even seem shaken when a resident dies. I suppose they expect it to happen and understand it to be part of their job, and go on with their day as if the person didn't even live here at one time. I pray I am never that way. I don't ever want to be desensitized to somebody dying. Even if it was their time to go, I think they deserve to be mourned... and missed. I will miss Jimmy. I will miss strolling down the hallway next to him in his wheelchair, hand in hand, as he propelled himself with his two feet and used my hand for extra energy. I will miss him clapping off beat and playing his instrument at all the wrong times during music therapy. I will miss him yelling, "Wooooowee!", "Yeeeeehaw!", and "Wahooooo!" whenever he felt like it. I will miss his inappropriate jokes, outrageous stories, and animated facial expressions. I will miss singing "Hey Good Lookin', What Ya Got Cookin" with him. I will miss him trying to set me up with his 45-year old friend. I will miss sharing stories about him with you all. When I met his brother over Thanksgiving (another time he fooled me by telling me that he hadn't seen his brother since he was seven years old and received a call from him out of the blue.... I went on and on about how exciting this was until finally he shook his head and told me he made that up), he introduced me as the girl that gave him something to look forward to every day. That was a moment when working in this field is a gift. And I will have to remember moments like that when I remember Jimmy.

And moments like these of course....

http://jaclyninaustin.blogspot.com/2011/01/tgialmostf.html

http://jaclyninaustin.blogspot.com/2011/01/come-here-grandpa.html

http://jaclyninaustin.blogspot.com/2010/12/trip-down-manure-lane.html

Mary Had a Little.... Laugh

(Sitting outside with my All-American football player)

Jaclyn: "You didn't serve in the military, did you?"

Josh: "No. I would have ended up dead if I had."

Jaclyn: "What makes you say that?"

Josh: "I would have done something stupid."

Jaclyn: "Oh yeah?"

Josh: "Yeah. Probably would have gotten a medal of honor.... but who cares, I'd be dead."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(During Trivia)

Jaclyn: "Mary had a little..."

Group: "Lamb!"

Jimmy: "I've got a better one for you..."

(The group groans)

Jimmy: "Mary had a little watch, she swallowed it one day, she took a dose of Castor oil, to pass the time of day."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Trina: "Honey, you have a boyfriend, right?"

Jaclyn: "I do."

Trina: "Oh, that's just wonderful. I bet he's very handsome."

Jaclyn: "Eh, he's alright."

(just kidding)

Jaclyn: "Oh yes, he is. You have a handsome man too! How old were you when you met him?"

Trina: "Oh, 16 or 17."

Jaclyn: "Wow. So he was your first love?"

Trina: "Oh no. There was another before him. But he was a son of a b*tch."

Jaclyn: "Oh! I'm sorry to hear that."

Trina: "He wanted the hoochie-coochie before we got married. You know what I mean by hoochie-coochie, honey?"

Jaclyn: "Yup. Think I got it."

Trina: "Like I said, son of a b*tch."

Bi-Polar Weather

Just three days ago I was enjoying a glass of wine outside at Opa, one of my favorite spots in Austin. I was wearing jeans and a short-sleeved shirt while Firas was in shorts and a t-shirt. We were listening to a man singing and playing acoustic guitar to a few of my favorite tunes that I grew up with.... "My Girl", "How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You", "Stand By Me", "Bye Bye Love"... it was heavenly. Firas had a little too much fun the night before and told me before we left my apartment that all he was craving was an italian soda. Random, right? What do you know... one of Opa's few beverage options beside their extensive wine selection is italian soda. Crazy. Opa has a lot more going for them than just good wine and live music. They have a porch swing, outdoor ping-pong... and hula hoops. I haven't been brave enough to swing a hula hoop around these hips just yet, but I have a feeling that I will after I frequent the place a few more times. Or have more than just one glass of wine. Our friend Palak joined us towards the end and the three of us crossed the street to Olivia, a restaurant that we've been wanting to try for a few months now but have steered clear because of their steep prices. However, on this perfectly warm Sunday evening, their entire bar menu was 30% off. We sat outside and enjoyed more wine, mussels, frites, pork bbq sliders, and the amazing 70 degree weather. It seemed too good to be true.

And it was.

They expect the temperature to fall well below freezing today with wind chills falling near three degrees. I woke up to no electricity, finding out that the state of Texas is enforcing "rolling blackouts" after there were generation shortages from so many Texans cranking up the heat. This allows them to shut off the power for 30-45 minutes at a time throughout the day. I didn't even know that was legal. This includes traffic lights, and drivers in Texas already scare me. I got ready by candelight this morning, putting my hair back in a wet braid. It all felt so Amish. Until I was almost out the door and the electricity flickered back on. I ran for the bathroom, plugged in the blow-dryer, and got to work. Let's be honest, I wasn't made for wagons, long skirts, and braids.

I can deal with the cold. But it would be much more bearable if we had a little snow to go with it.

The winter storm that swallowed my house in Charlottesville a year ago....

Beware: Cheesy Birthday Post

I consider myself to be one of the luckiest girls in the world because of my family and friends. Note: I am aware that I should be calling myself a woman now that I am 27... well, I should have been calling myself a woman nine years ago, but I'm just not there yet. It wouldn't have the same ring if I were to say, "I consider myself to be one of the luckiest women in the world." Well, it doesn't sound half bad actually. I'll try it next time. Or as soon as I stop trying to find clothes that fit my body shape and style of fashion in the Juniors department. That's another post for a different day.


I am writing this to share my gratitude for my wonderful family and friends. I was born into the most thoughtful and loving family, and for that, I am thankful. Being far away from home is quite tough on a birthday, but they somehow find a way to make me feel special, even over a thousand miles away. My Mom and Dad surprised me with a HUGE birthday package, including all sorts of gifts... clothing, movies, gift card for more clothing, leopard slippers (so snazzy), beef jerky (they know me well), birthday glasses, and more... all beautifully wrapped, as Mom is quite the professional. It's always obvious how much thought she puts into the gifts she gives.

My sisters surprised me with the sweetest and most thoughtful gift in the WORLD. They had the first year of my blog turned into a book! I didn't even know that was possible. I first thought they had sent me one of my old yearbooks by the shape of the package (which would have been slightly funny), but was in shock when I realized what it actually was. Flipping through it made me laugh and cry, seeing my first year in Austin on the pages of a hardcover book. It's incredible! They told me they had that planned for almost a year, ever since I started the blog. I'm glad that it's something I've kept up with, and the book will always remain a keepsake.

While reading sweet messages and listening to voicemails from friends far away, I was reminded how lucky I really am. I come from a group of girls that make a big deal out of birthdays. While I always brush off my birthday and make comments about how it's really not that big of a deal, I think I've finally realized why I do that. It's because I know my friends will make it into a big deal even when I claim that it's just another day. I've had friends kidnap me at 6 in the morning, drive me all the way to Virginia Beach with a blindfold on, and together we enjoyed a 3-day weekend at the beach in January. They even went through one of those weirdo Haunted Houses with me on the "strip", where you have to wonder what kind of creep is behind those props making strange noises and grabbing at you. I've been blindfolded and taken snow-tubing at Wintergreen on a school night in college. Oh, by the way, we love using the blindfold. Any kind too... bandana, beauty mask, monkey mask, etc... we're not picky. Dana has prepared my Mom's famous meatloaf on a birthday night that I wasn't able to make it home for. We have planned infamous "guido" parties (and this was pre-Jersey Shore) that were really something to write home about. My friends make my birthday worth being excited about. This year, my friend Eliza Joy dedicated a very sweet blog post to me on my birthday (http://myroadtoemmaus.wordpress.com/2011/01/22/happy-birthday-to-my-bestie/) and my friend Dana sent me the sweetest package, complete with the nicest card and a little black dress! Even when miles and miles away, they know how to make me feel loved.

Meanwhile, Firas probably wanted to flee the country as I'm sure I wasn't easy to get along with over my birthday weekend. Because I do have such thoughtful family and friends, it makes me miss them even more on special occasions such as this. But I trust I will find that here in Austin, and looking back on my friends from home, we've been at it for 8-17 years! That's just amazing, and evidence that these things take time. Firas was a trooper though AND he is taking me to New Orleans next weekend for my birthday gift! Woohoo! I love New Orleans, and we have such a good time traveling together. Here's to good music, cajun food, and hurricanes!

A big THANKS to everyone, near and far, for helping me to celebrate!