This is so New Orleans...

You can't go anywhere without meeting new people here!

Today I walked into the post office to mail a package, which is right down the bayou from my house (I just like saying "down the bayou") and I started talking to a girl about my age about how hot it was. I happened to mention that I had moved down from New England and wasn't used to the heat, and then another woman nearby piped in that "it's not usually 95 this time of year." They both agreed that October/November and April are the most beautiful times of year in Louisiana, so it looks like I have something to look forward to! Anyway, this other woman mentioned that she had a daughter at NYU studying philosophy and dramatic literature, and I told her that I had just graduated from Vassar with a degree in drama. I asked her if she knew of the NOLA Project, a local theater group started by a bunch of NYU Tisch kids from my year, and she said yes, she'd seen a bunch of their shows and knew an actor who was in their production of "Get This Lake Off My House," their version of the Tempest that they performed last year on the shore of Lake Pontchartrain. Long story short, we kept talking and she said her name was Jan Barry and to give her a call if I needed anything. Perfect example of the kind of town this is: a total stranger takes the time to talk to me and offer her support, and happens to be connected to people I know. It is a SMALL WORLD down here. Everyone knows everyone else by three degrees of separation or less.

Speaking of the NOLA Project, they had done a piece back in June as part of the LakeviewS project that Jan Gilbert was involved in. It happened that most of the NOLA Project kids went JYA with Jon Bock, so we ended up hanging out and getting drinks after the show. Last night Phil, Joanna and I went to see a play-reading festival at Le Chat Noir and met (again, for me) Andrew Larimer, the artistic director of the NOLA Project, and NOLA Project members James, Sean and AJ, as well as their playwright friend Gabrielle who runs a performance space called the Alamo Underground. It was really refreshing to be around theater people our age again.

Other highlights of the last 24 hours:
-The New Orleans Public Library (unlike the closer branch library I visited the other day, it has more than five books.)
-Beignets! I forgot to mention that all of the plays at the new plays festival were set at the Cafe Du Monde, which I guess is a kind of famous beignet and coffee place
in the French Quarter. None of us had ever had beignets, so we went there after the show to try this New Orleans specialty. Basically they're small pieces of deep fried dough covered in powdered sugar (I've heard them referred to as French doughnuts.) It brought back memories of eating fried dough and watching the Celtics get creamed at the Boston Garden.
-Sitting for an hour at the Sewage and Water Board. Blech.
-Hearing about the Saints CONSTANTLY 24-7. They lost, in case anyone was wondering. Yesterday I actually had to ask someone if the Saints were a football team. They looked at me like I was from outer space.

Today I got a job offer, but I'll wait to elaborate until I decide whether to take it. I have a couple more interviews on Monday. Phil started working this week as a teaching assistant at a Catholic school. We've been reading a lot about the public school system here (which includes a fair number of charter schools). Apparently this hot new superintendant Paul Vallas just stepped in, yet only 40 percent of registerred students showed up to the first day of class this week. New Orleans has a history of terrible public schools. Obviously Phil isn't working in that system, but I'll be interested in hearing about his experiences.

Good news: My camera is on the way back! Photos coming soon!