Utopian Gustav

Since arriving here in America, from the very first jet lagged soaked days right up until now and I'm sure until I depart I have noticed the overt utopian nature of advertising.

Apparently if I shop at radioshack and buy one little insignificant item, the fact that I bought it at Radioshack will bring my neighbourhood - full of ballerinas and harley davidson bike riders - into a utopian bliss that harmoniously operates around...me.

If I get car insurance 'x' I'll feel 'animated' and will jump around through a cartoon nature with rabbits and bears.

I've also noticed the messages of transactional friendship in family soaps - Yank equivalents of Neighbors/Home and Away. 'I was hoping that if I told you a little about me - so that you'd tell me about you'. Blah.

Seeing this through the lens of Mark Sayers new book 'The Trouble with Paris' I'm reminded of this quote:

The more we try and ground our identities in external posessions or triumphs, the more we plaster our names on everything we can accumulate, the more we cling to surface and style, the less we find underneath.

Quite cutting really. The more energy you put to the phantom pursuits, the more faux substance found there - consequently the less energy found in depth. In the end they are only just phantom pursuits. Vanities. You can move one step closer and it gets one step further.

Now to some other news. Hurricane Gustav is hovering around Jamaica (man) right now. Projected computer models show it hitting the Gulf of Mexico by Saturday and then from there - who knows.

Put it in perspective: Tomorrow is the 3 year anniversary of hurricane Katrina. At Sam's club and Home depot (giant generic get-anything-you-want-as-big-as-you-want supermarket and the yank equivalent of Bunnings Warehouse) people were rampant buying water, gas cans, propane tanks, charcoal and batteries. This is a city on edge.

The storm may dissipate or turn west - who knows? (Carl Arrendondo from wwl 4 eye witness news is sure loving the limelight lately though - Lord that boy can talk).

Hopefully Mr Gustav decides get lost and steers clear - for now we wait and watch more of the Democratic National Convention (ha!).

P.S Geauxbama.

The Mania...Just Goes On.

Things have been quite eclectic lately - I love it.

After Portland I took a 4 day period of silence. I didn't talk (unless it was necessary) or listen to my iPod or use my computer. It was...difficult yet, very freeing and productive.

On Monday - the coffee house that we spend time at most Mondays and Fridays allowed a friend (Adam) and I to play a gig. It was fun. Followed by a sing-a-long type night with another performer who busted out such hilarious tunes as R Kelly's Ignition Remix.

Then, a new family joined us - a big welcome to the Chapmans! We emptied their moving van just outside of an hour - we hustled. And this week hails a city wide influx of college students and people return to their schools, colleges and jobs. Also the same for members of our community.

Thursday night I was taught the easy way that 3rd graders are taught calculus - seriously, by the end of 3rd grade they are differentiating (jaw drops). From high fructose corn syrup to calculus and grammar - you gotta love Ms. Rona.

Saturday we literally mowed through 6 yards and I further perfected my spaghetti sauce when cooking for a house of rowdy teenage boys (could it be on par with Mum's? Or even perhaps surpassing the saucy goodness she passed on to me?). And Andrew turned 6(!!!) - an evening full of cheese pizza, vanilla ice cream and ketchup and probably Star Wars.

So, as the Louisiana judicial system makes sure I have no felonies in this state (so I can hang out at the school and learn more calculus) and as we catch the edges of tropical storm fay - after is hovered over Florida like a stink - we all anticipate a new week with new people and new tasks.

Portland Ahoy.

So, last week was week was the CRM US national conference in Portland.

Firstly, in New Orleans for the past week it was just the singles. The families were doing donor meetings and seeing family. So this reunion at the conference was the first time in a 1-2 weeks that we had seen these guys.

It was great to see all the gang again - and also to meet and see some of those coming to join or thinking about joining Communitas New Orleans.

It was like a big family moment. One of our cabins 'D5' became the social hub of the camp. We were the 'rebels'. But I think it would be more accurate to say that everyone wanted to be like us.

I got a chance to go into Portland's CBD - beautiful city. Whilst there I went briefly into the world's largest book store (drools). Another day I also got to go out to the Columbia Gorge and Multnomah Falls - tre' pretty.

After the week of being out and about - it's nice to be back home.

The book I chew through on the plane rides was Chris Rose's '1 dead in attic'. It's a great book - it's a collection of articles he wrote covering New Orleans and his personal life Post Katrina. It really shone the light on aspects of the city that I have experienced but not yet processed. He really highlights the amazing culture here.

Now that I'm back in New Orleans - I'm going to be silent for 4 days. I'm sure that will be an interesting experience - I think not talking won't annoy me as much as no music!

That's pretty much all for now.

Peace.