Good Riddance, Willy Wonka!

It was the day of reckoning for the ex mayor of New Orleans, C. Ray Nagin. After being found guilty of 20 out of 21 counts, prison time was unavoidable. The charges ran from corruption to bribery to illegal dealings while in office. The judge sentences Nagin to 120 months. This sentence was extremely light. I am slightly outraged at this slap on the hand for a corrupt, pompous politician. Nagin was an arrogant sob during his trial. He was offered a plea deal that he turned down. It was for less than the ten he received. Nagin was looking at getting at least 20 years. Why the judge decided to low ball Nagin's sentencing is unknown. But, Matthew Coman the federal prosecutor said he would be pursuing an appeal because he objected to the judge's reduction from what the government suggested. This has been a remarkable fall from grace from a man who was heralded as a savior during hurricane Katrina. To know that he took advantage of his position for money and power makes me sick. I say good riddance to bad grass, Mr. Chocolate City. Maybe he'll learn his lesson while thinking in jail. 

Just Because I Felt Like It: Little Black Girls, Big Names

Poetry will always have a special place in my heart and life. I fell in love with spoken word during high school. I loved performing while in college. I can honestly say that I've fell out of love with the spoken word movement in recent years. Everyone speaks the same, talks about the same topics. It's become very gimmicky and I was not here for it. But, like everything else I love, it's become relevant again to me. I've found myself very intrigued by the Slam poetry competitions featuring young adults. This was posted in one of my Facebook groups. It touched a place deep within me. This little Black girl at heart has been smiling since I watched this. Get into this piece. It's entitled "To All The Little Black Girls With Big Names" by Sha'Condria, a fellow New Orleans native. Oh and I love the backdrop of her video. My city looking fabulous. 

Will Life Imitate Art?

Ray Nagin was the Mayor of New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. He served the city for two terms. From the beginning, I was never a fan of this man. He came across as oily and arrogant. Yesterday, he has been indicted on 21 different counts ranging from bribery to fraud. It has also been said that his actions stopped the rebuilding of the city after Katrina for up to 4 years. This man took trips and took money when he was supposed to be running a city. He is the worst kind of politician in my opinion. Louisiana has a history of corrupt politicians. It is actually one thing we are known for. This indictment has been years in the making. Nagin truly had this coming. I don't think there is anyone here who was surprised by this.

Nagin truly reminds me of a true life Clay Davis. For those of you who don't know who Davis is, let me explain. Davis was the slick as oil Senator from "The Wire." Davis had his hands in every illegal act he could while holding office. He was in bed with other politicians as well as the worst criminals in Baltimore. Everything about him was dirty, filthy. This, to me, is the exact representation of who Nagin is. I am interested in seeing how this plays out for Nagin. Because this is real life and not a scripted HBO drama. It is time for Nagin to reap what he sowed. He deserves to pay for his numerous crimes. And, this is why I will always be interested in politics. It is always like a real life soap opera. I will always be here for it.

Big Easy, Big Apple

Watching the devastation that Hurricane Sandy caused has been heartbreaking. It hits too close to home. It reminds me of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. I feel for the New Yorkers because I know what it feels like.I know the pain of not having electricity, not being able to go home, to seeing places that are no longer there. It hurts in a way nothing else has. If you have never lived through a natural disaster, you cannot truly get this. Hurricane Katrina showed me that people still have compassion for their fellow Americans. I met the best people who offered kind words, food and shelter and more. These people gave me hope. They helped me keep the faith. That is something that can not be measured. It is something that can only be felt in one's heart. I know that New Yorkers are experiencing that same feeling right now.

I follow a blog titled Nola Girl: With Love and she has started this Facebook page, From the Big Easy to the Big Apple, to show love from us to them. This is a wonderful idea. People in New York/New Jersey area need to know that we here in New Orleans are keeping them in our prayers. We know their pain, their struggle, their heartache. I love the sentiment behind this effort. There is a tumblr page dedicated to Sandy victims from Katrina victims. It's called SandyKatrina. There are pictures with words of encouragement from native NO Katrina survivors to Hurricane Sandy survivors. a kind word can take one a long way. I know this from experience. This is just something that warms my heart. It's a personal thing for me. I am still praying for everyone affected. So to all those in the affected areas of Sandy's wrath, it gets better. You rebuild and move on. It will be hard work but well worth it. Your lives were spared and this is the most important matter. Love from all the way down here in the Big Easy all the way to the Big Apple.

My Vernacular

We are all products of our environments. Our home towns are in us. Especially when it comes to the way we speak and the slang we use. It's always funny to me that I never realize what I say until someone points it out. It's just the way I speak. In the words of Lil Wayne, "If I had one guess, then I guess I'm just New Orleans!" My city is deeply inside of me. The way we speak, the music we like, it's all just me. When you're always surrounded with people who are from the same area as you are, you never catch it. It takes HIM to point out the little New Orleanian things I say. He finds it cute. I'm glad he does. Even if I tried, there are some things I couldn't shake if I wanted to. I am who I am. I decided to write down a few unique things that come out of my mouth. Don't blame me. It's just the N.O. in me.

° I don't say "pop" or "soda." I say "cold drink" because this is normal here.

° I say I'm "by" someone's house instead of "at."

° I "make groceries" instead of "buying food" or "food shopping."

° My favorite N.O. words have to be "baby," "beaucoup," and "

° Bounce & 2nd line music are embedded in my molecular makeup.

° I eat sno-balls, muffelettas, po-boys (dressed) & I know that I can't get them anywhere else.

° If you ask me, I'll tell you I'm from New Orleans or the N.O. or the 504. But, never N'Awlins. We don't say that.

° We have canals and neutral grounds and street cars.

I can't speak of other cities. But, I would not trade growing up here for anything. My childhood growing up in this city was magical in a sense. There is nothing better than that. I also hate that some associate the way Southerners speak with stupidity. I may talk slow but trust me I'm anything but. We have funny sayings that some call country. It's just our way of life. I'm from the Big Easy where we take things easy. No one is in a rush to live life here. Southerners are just a different breed of folks. Not better or worse, just different. I'm also fascinated with the way people from up North speak as well. They sound country to me. It's just personal perception. I have an accent...or so I've been told. I personally do not hear it. My vernacular may be a little funny. But, again, I'm just me. Just so New Orleans.

N.O. Bounce

New Orleans is known for many things. Music being one of the top ones. Music in the N.O. means one thing to me: Bounce. Bounce music is hard to describe. But, it's a feeling. I am speaking more to the Bounce music of the 90's. I do not really care for this new age Bounce music. Maybe it's because it's so drastically different. Either way, I was feeling nostalgic last week and decided to look up this old tracks. Listening to these songs instantly brighten my mood. I started remembering so many things when I heard specific songs. I was in my own musical euphoria!

These songs literally framed my teenage years. From the age of 12 to about 21, this was my life. Even now, if I here any of the songs below, I have to dance. I cannot help it. They bring back so many good memories. So many dances, parties, clubs, and bar nights. I really had a great time growing up. So carefree and fun. My friends and I always had the most fun when we got together and went out. We were the party, always. The N.O. Bounce scene has drastically changed and it doesn't seem as fun as it was when I was a kid. I am loving YouTube for the simple fact that I was able to find so many of my favorite tracks. If you're from the NO and are of a certain age, these songs will be everything to you. If you aren't from the N.O., take a walk down memory lane with me. Enjoy!!

Get Into It: Bouché

I just discovered the perfect spot in my city. It is a very unique wine bar/cigar lounge named "Bouché." From the moment we actually found it (we passed it a few times), I was sold. We were seated in the front of Bouché on these cute sofas and chairs in front of a huge picture window. It was dimly lit. The art on the walls were interesting and conversation pieces. The wine was flowing as was the conversation. The Celtics/Heat game was on the tv at the bar. I was just thoroughly impressed with everything that my eyes saw. I cannot wait to go back there.



Their wine list is impressive. We drank a few bottles of Giani Doglia Moscato d'Asti. Which by the way was sweet and delicious. The food is impeccable. The cost is reasonable. And, the most important part is that the ambiance is enticing. It's a nice spot to just chill. It's located on the same block as Emeril's but can go unnoticed. The outside of the building is very unassuming. But, once inside the doors, you are transported to another place. There are the cutest booths with curtains that can be closed for privacy. There are a few banquet rooms and a cigar lounge. It also has a full bar and kitchen that is slightly opened to the patrons viewing. I was just very impressed with it all. The service was amazing too. If you get a chance, you should also check Bouche' out. Go ahead and get into it!!!

The Katrina Effect

I will never forget this date. Never forget that hurricane. The images & feelings are embedded into my DNA now. Five years ago, my entire existence was forever altered. I never thought I'd awake in Galveston to scenes of my city underwater. It was surreal. Sort of akin to having an out of body experience. I couldn't believe that I could not go home. That it wasn't even an option. My family was safe, thank God. I didn't lose anyone personally in the waters of Katrina. We were all spread all over the southern U.S. I ached for home, for family, for familiarity. I got nothing in return. I suffered from anxiety about rain & water. I missed everything that was New Orleans...good, bad & indifferent. It was the place that made me me. I will never forget it. I just want my city to be better than before, to flourish & continue to rise above. I came home because I was heartsick & homesick. But, I think I've been cured of that. Nothing will ever remove that period from my life. Everyone here always refers to tings as post & pre-Katrina. That will forever be the case for my generation.