nola weekend

exhausted.

day one: awoke at 5:00 am, decided to pack camera, took train and bus to airport, barely caught flight, flew in at 11:00 am, took cab from airport, drove past superdome, spied workers on the roof, listened to hurricane statistics rattled off by driver, arrived at one of the city's oldest african-american churches in central city where i'd be staying, dropped off gear, ate pb&j on white bread, met becca & alyssa, drove to the elementary school, donned safety gear (suits, goggles, respirators), SWEAT, gutted school, SWEAT, gutted school, SWEAT, met tiffany, returned to church, showered, took cab to quarter, ate catfish, drank beer, ate beignets, took cab home, fell asleep in bunk, was awoken at 2:30 by bunkmate snoring, slept more.

day two: awoke at 6:00 am to steely dan, ate golden grahams without milk, explored the garden district, took pictures, drank sweet tea, attended two hour-long church service, sang "amazing grace", shook hands, held hands, cried, ate pb&j on a bagel, planted sunflowers, painted signs, napped, read "a confederacy of dunces", ate spaghetti and ice cream, attended community meeting, signed up for kitchen duty, spent two and a half hours helping to scrub industrial-sized pots, played a brief game of scrabble, chatted with ladies, fell asleep in bunk.

day three: awoke at 6:00 am to bob marley, ate golden grahams without milk, said goodbye to alyssa, shared cab with becca to airport, bought treats to bring home (coffee with chicory, a single praline for my bro, hurricane mix for the top tier, creole seasoning), boarded the plane, read "a confederacy of dunces", ate carrots, drank coffee, listened to kcrw's "good food" podcast, touched down in newark, said goodbye to becca, hopped bus to manhattan, got off on 42nd and lex, walked south, bought broccoli and tempeh, arrived home, made dinner, uploaded pictures.

exhausted.