live simply

I think when you know you could lose it all in 24 hours, you’re less inclined to acquire too much stuff. I have everything I need, well, maybe I could use some more professional teaching clothes and some more New Orleans CDs. A/C in my car would be nice too. But really, it’s more about experiences and community than it is about stuff.

I spent my morning in a substitute teacher orientation and my afternoon researching Louisiana field trips for my science and social studies methods classes. I tutored, or tried to tutor, a 2nd grade student in literacy and I continue to advocate for him to be placed in a better educational situation. I’ve spent my evening enjoying granola with chocolate soymilk and a homemade banana nut muffin for dinner and listening to Mardi Gras music on WWOZ, all New Orleans music all the time.

We didn’t go to any parades tonight because they were all canceled for the thunderstorms, but I did get stuck in traffic coming back across the Crescent City Connection bridge yesterday afternoon because the police were escorting Mardi Gras floats. ‘Tis the season. I’m new here, so even traffic associated with Mardi Gras makes me happy.

I cook my own meals, go to class, enjoy live music as often as I can and bike down to the Quarter when the mood strikes me. I shop in used book stores at every opportunity and I’m going to start teaching next fall. Life is good.