Good Job Obama... Now what?

Ok, so, i like Obama, a whole lot! I also like Hillary a whole lot... I have really been hating these debates.. they are so jerry springer like. That was just to put it on the record. I would also like to put it on the record that i hope John Edwards becomes the democratic running mate. Enough of my political opinions!!!

Now for some social opinions: what i am writing this about is the $19 Million that Obama raised in January. So Congrats! I think it would be awesome if you became president... but, $19 million in one month! that is crazy! that is a lot of money! I understand you have like...8 more months of campaigning, if you get the nomination, and that is expensive... real expensive. But how much money do you need to win? ok, say you get $10 Million a month from here on out, and maybe a little more that last month before elections. Do you really need all of that money to tell the world how great you are? I am pretty sure everyone is getting the picture. I am not asking in any way, shape or form that you stop campaigning. I am just thinking that it would be a freaking awesome move in your campaign to donate some of that money, to something that really really needs it, not that this country doesn't really really need you... but that is a lot of money. do you know what $19 million could do here in Biloxi?

alright, well, i hope you win, and i hope you funnel some money down to the coast if you have any left over! That is all i am asking.

Politics and Planning are getting heated

There is a political battle brewing here on the gulf coast, between the famous New Urbanist Andres Duany, and Biloxi's mayor A. J. Holloway

From: New Urbanist praises Gulfport's patience
Biloxi a 'suicide,' he says
By RYAN LaFONTAINE

'New Urbanism guru Andres Duany said Gulfport's patience since Hurricane Katrina will pay off, unlike neighboring Biloxi, which has committed "urban suicide."'

read the full article here


Here is what our Mayor Halloway says:

Holloway: Planner should be more respectful to Biloxi residents

Mayor A.J. Holloway says he takes exception to insensitive comments made by New Urbanist Andres Duany in a one-source story that appears in today’s Sun Herald.

Duany, who spent two weeks in Biloxi during the governor’s post-Katrina charettes, is quoted as having said the community has “basically committed suicide” with big, bland and boxy buildings.

“These are insensitive comments,” Holloway said, “and they are a slap in the face to the more than 200 Biloxi residents who for months worked on drafting Reviving the Renaissance, a plan of action that is addressing the quality-of-life issues important to our residents.”

Holloway said that Reviving the Renaissance committees considered Duany’s ideas and that the city welcomes private developers who embrace the New Urbanism concepts, but he agreed with residents who preferred a doable and realistic plan that was affordable.

“The economies and circumstances are different in Biloxi and Gulfport,” Holloway said. “Gulfport has been given 90 acres of land at the closed Veterans Administration site, and if they feel there is a market for a high-end Seaside-type resort development that’s their decision. I frankly couldn’t see paying hundreds of thousands of tax dollars to Mr. Duany, as well as his traveling chef and his other requirements, but, regardless, I would hope he could rein in his arrogance and be more respectful as he goes about his work.”

Holloway plans to address many of the community’s post-Katrina recovery accomplishments in his State of the City address on Feb. 11.

Wow...I am glad it was my birthday yesterday

So, yesterday was a great day. Not only did i turn 26, but everyone seemed happy about it. Just kidding, i am not that much of an asshole. Basically, i celebrated my birthday really well yesterday.
I went to lunch with my office mates at Kim Longs, and worked my booty off. i got a lot done yesterday at work and it was a great birthday present to my self.

I ran home to feed miss deloris, then i headed to the project lounge to meet up with Caitlyn. I ate one their famous "best burger on the coast" burgers and the bartender made me a carrot cake shot. One of the folks from sweets came in and he also bought me a beer. Off to a good start i say.

After i filled my belly, Caitlyn and I headed off to watch the lady Liberty basketball game, coached by my awesome roommates. They lost, but they did score a point. That kind of sounds sarcastic i know, but it is not meant to be. The other team was like a foot taller on average, and had a lot more experience playing i think.

I ran home to put on my birthday dress, then headed for the grocery. I walked in, and there were so many of my friends there. It was awesome... and even better, my bad ass roomies made me a pretty freakin awesome card.

I was also given a bunch of tatoos by my friends.. and a few more beers and maybe a few more shots. Basically, it was a wonderful day.

My awesome Roomies with their awesome shirts and who were responsible for making me an awesome card

Trinh, me, Vince, Sarah, and Mark

Chris, Me, Caitlyn, and another Chris!

Happy Birthday to ME!!!!

Hi, its my birthday! I am now 26.
Here is what i looked like on my last day of being 25!

YEAH! good day so far, good day ahead

All in the same boat!!!

We may have sailed in different ships, but we are all in the same boat now! - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.


Well, it is Dr Martin Luther King Jr. day, and in Biloxi, that is a big deal. Everyone.... I mean Everyone in East Biloxi comes out to throw down and celebrate that amazing man, and what he has given our country.

It was a pretty amazing day. I rode my bike into work, checked on one thing, got another, and then headed off to the Parade. I was pretty excited that i was asked to be in the parade with Hands On (even if my roomie,Kendall, was the one to invite me) . They do so much to help the community, in both their building projects, but also their community outreach projects. They rock! And to add to it, Not only was i helping to represent a pretty awesome organization, but i also got my first Hands On Tshirt... but even better, i got one with a bad ass stencil of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. that was made by my roomie Anne! Oh.. and i cannot forget to mention that as we were parading down main street, The sweet lady from D'Vines (the best soul food restaurant in Biloxi) came out and gave us some fried chicken, and it was amazing.

During the parade i got a call from Dan, the guy managing construction at the shrimp house, and there was a bit of an emergency. They were getting ready to dig, and they realized that the soil was pretty soft. After the parade, i went over there to check it out, and man... it is super soft (we dont generally get soil tests here in Biloxi) so we decided to to use piles... which means i am about to have to redraw those drawings in a second, so they are ready in the morning to take to the permit office, first thing to get them approved.

So, after i took care of that little emergency, i rode my bike over to Judge-Sekul Street to help Anne, my other roomie paint a mural. It turned out super awesome. I will post pictures. It is not completely done, but, we got pretty far on it. It was fun to do that....Anne was pretty good about taking the inhabition out of what i was doing. It was nice.

After that, i tried to catch the Soul Patrol, a dance team here in Biloxi, but they had already finished so i rode my bike home.

So i need to wash the dishes, and cook some dinner, i just needed to give my legs a break from riding over that bridge, because it kinda hurt.

On the docket for tonight: finish 2 drawings for work, and maybe sit around a camp fire and drink beer. Yeah... i think that sounds about perfect.

Happy Dr. Martin Luther King Day again!!!!

WTF?!?!!?!?!?!?

Alright, i dont believe this??!?! Not only is it raining again on Ocean Springs's Mardi Gras, but there is a wintery mix? Really? I mean... is this possible on the coast? Really?

Hogs Head Cheese and a Great Bike Ride

Last night at Sweets was a really weird conversation happening. There was a group of some of my regulars, aka the round table group (the table is rectangular, they just buy rounds for each other)
anyway, they were talking about who made the best hogs head cheese in the mississippi gulf coast. This might not sound important to you, but i thought it was pretty awesome.... a bunch of folks arguing about some nasty ass food and they were comparing people way back to the 1940's. It was pretty incredible.

The other new worthy note is that today i broke the law. I rode my bike to work, which means i rode over the Biloxi Bay Bridge, and that is illegal, but i did it anyways. To quote Brandon, the construction manager here at my office, if we didnt break some of those rules
Picture from mojai1

One Stop Shop for Fun

I have lived in the Wisteria Estates for 18 days now, and it has been amazing! My two roommates are so much fun, and have kept me laughing and smiling the entire time.

First i would like to introduce you to them:

This is Anne:
She is from Chicago, and she currently works at the George Ohr Museum teaching art to kids, and she teaches art to Adolescence Offenders. She is probably one of the happiest people i have ever met, and super hard working(like non stop). She also does not like the Patriots, she likes the Cubs, or the underdogs. She played me the wagon wheel song this morning, which made me super happy!

This is Kendall:
Kendall is a case worker at Hands On, and is one of the many people i know from Boston. She does like the Patriots, and the Red Sox. She talks real fast, and is super funny. She is really thoughtful, and is always ready to cheer someone up. She likes to do the supa-man dance, and has brought back the word "Killer", meaning 'cool'.

So... Wisteria Estates = One Stop Shop for Fun...
Proof:


Our first party: the Wisteria Estates Warming/ First Monthly Crawfish Boil

Our First Breakfast, we have had 4 of these now....
This might be our second breakfast...

Our first Dinner Party:


So yeah, we have had 6 overnight guests, 1 dinner party, 1 family dinner, 4 or so family breakfasts, and 1 crawfish boil. in 17 days... i think we are off to a good start.

FEMA CHECK SONG

A whirl wind

This weekend has been a fun packed, excitement packed, crazy one. I guess this weekend started thursday!

My new roomies, Anne and Kendall, and I arrived at the Wisteria Estates (code name for our new house) on thursday. We moved all of our stuff in..(i have too much) and we are happily living in our new house now! more updates soon.