Short story writer Amy Hempel is on Tulane’s campus this week as the Zale-Kimmerling Writer in Residence, and today she came to my class to chat with my students and answer questions ranging from the writerly (How do I keep my own voice and also write for an audience?) to the mundane (Where have you eaten so far?). When asked what it takes to be a writer, she said she doesn’t really think it’s about talent–it’s about obsession and nerve. Continue reading
Tulane
The Vagina Monologues Closing Night at Tulane U.
I have to admit to a giant bonk today after a long weekend of excessive riding the new bike and the attendant excitement. Man, I was ti-red today, feeling hungover even though I haven’t (im)properly tied one on in quite a long time. The answer seemed to me to be water, lots and lots of water, so I spent my day sipping steadily out of my fancy new water bottle. This doesn’t mean, of course, that I stayed off the bike. Continue reading
Opening Night Reception for Ameriville at Southern Repertory Theater
Remember a couple of days ago, when I was waxing about how spring was clearly on the way, and how I was bragging about the sun heating up my back as I zipped around town in a tank top? Yeah. Well. Um. It’s winter again, which meant I piled on the layers for my ride downtown to volunteer as an usher at Southern Repertory Theater for opening night of Ameriville, by the theater company Universes. Continue reading
Frat Boys On Their Porch on Broadway
Yep, it was another beautiful day in New Orleans, and my bike took me up to campus to meet a friend for lunch. I was feeling a touch under the weather today, maybe from not enough sleep and too many weather changes, so the ride didn’t feel as good as yesterday. Continue reading
Blighted House at Peniston and Dryades
Today was the first day of school for the semester. And as I told my students, after my birthday and the first day of school, there’s simply no other day I like more. It’s so full of promise! Continue reading
Set Painting at Tulane’s Dixon Hall
I rode my bike to work this morning, pumping as fast as I could, clocking a quick 12 minutes. I was excited–tonight was our big program event that we’ve been planning for two months, and I was ready to put that baby to bed. I needed to get some things from the theater department for our performer, so I rode over to Dixon Hall after office hours. Continue reading
“Cyclists Dismount” Sign at Tulane University
This will be a blog about bikes and the need for proper places to ride. It’s not about New Orleans, rebuilding, broken levees, crumbling infrastructure, music, Mardi Gras, weather, neighborhoods, or anything else. It’s just going to be a rant about biking conditions in this town. Continue reading
St. Thomas Housing Development at Chippewa and St. Andrew
School in session has meant a whole lot more work. I fear my job is getting in the way of my mindless riding around town. Today, after my commute to and from work, I hopped back on the bike and tooled down to the Marigny for coffee and writing with S. I rode down Chippewa, through the St. Thomas Development. Continue reading
Agnes L. Bauduit Elementary School in Uptown
Today was the first day of school. I love the first day of school. It is so full of hope and promise. Nobody’s behind on the readings yet, you get to go to the bookstore and ogle the selection. You get to see who’s in your classes and say hi to old friends. Continue reading
Queen of the Ball at Oak and Carrollton
I forgot how rainy late summer is in New Orleans, but the sky is helpfully reminding me. I just missed the rain on my ride to work, where I had lunch with B., and we talked about where we’ve been in the last six weeks and where we’re going. I spent the day in my office, making photocopies and planning for next term and meeting my new building mates. Continue reading
What I Saw Riding My Bike Around Today 