Just a Girl Named Cate

I don't think I've ever partied as hard as I have these past 24 hours. I am not sure when was the last time I ate, if I've slept at all or why I am wearing clothes that I'm not even sure is mine. Still .... it doesn't matter because the city of New Orleans, and probably the whole state of Louisiana, is upside down right now in celebration of the Saints. Bourbon street was as packed at 9:30 this morning as it was at 9:30 last night following the game. It's been non-stop. If you looked up the word crazy in the dictionary, there's be a picture of New Orleans.

And if that weren't great enough, I just got the biggest surprise ever! My BFF in the whole world flew in from Jersey to celebrate with me, and he's staying with me through Mardi Gras!!!!! I haven't seen Vic since before summer, and I just know we're going to have an amazing time this week.

My boss will be back tomorrow but I don't imagine the gallery will be open as we'll be too busy still partying and getting ready for the victory parade. OMG, I am so excited. This has been the most amazing experience ever, and I know it's just going to get better. I love my Saints and I love New Orleans. Who Dat, baby!!!!!!

I am heading out to my first ever Super Bowl party to cheer on the New Orleans Saints to victory. It's hard to believe that I was never much of a football fan until this year. This has been an incredible year - in more ways than one - and it's been so exciting to follow the Saints ... my Saints ... all the way to the Super Bowl.

This whole Super Bowl fever has been incredible and surreal. I think it's crazy that just last Spring I was still living up in Pennsylvania and how fate brought me back home to New Orleans just in time to be a part of this magic. I never really followed and understood football when I lived here before, and I remember thinking how Super Bowl parties and tailgating and all that was so silly. Well, I guess I was wrong.

I can feel my heart rate rise as I write this. Just the thought of watching my team take the field gives me goose bumps. I can't stop smiling and I almost feel like crying because I am so happy and excited. I am so thrilled how this has all played out, and with Mardi Gras coming up, it's going to be even more amazing. I think the best way to say it is .... WHO DAT?

GEAUX SAINTS!!!!!!!!

So it's been a while since I take some time to blog, but I have a good reason. Things at work have been sensational, and I am very, very excited about the new project I'm working on. Although I can't get into any details at this time, I can say I am working on something I've always dreamed of doing. 2010 is going to be great, and I promise I will be able to provide more details soon.

I can't believe this year is almost over, and what a year it's been. When I think about where I was this time last year and where I am now - and more specifically everything that happened for me to get here - I am reminded of a quote one of my friends would always tell me. "We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the life that is waiting for us." I don't know if the life I was living was something I ever planned, but I love going into this new year with a plan of what I want to do and who I want to be. I don't ever recall feeling this excited about a brand new year, and it's such a great feeling to have. Perhaps my friend Vic is right ..... I am finally growing up.

Happy New Year, everyone!!!

I love my days off. I love being able to sleep in and take my time in the morning. I love sitting out on the porch in my jammies, drinking coffee and reading the paper. This morning was warm and humid (not exactly my favorite), but it was nice watching the people walk by on their way to work or school.

I don't know what I am going to do today. I may venture uptown or to the Garden District. It feels like forever since I go that way. There are a couple of books that have been staring at me from my nightstand. Maybe I'll take some time to crack one of them open.

It's funny because you would think that with a day off there'd be less stress. However, trying to figure out what to do instead of just sticking to the normal routine is pressure enough. Should I do this? Maybe I'll go do that. Or maybe I just won't do anything at all today. I'm still in my PJ's and my bed is so very comfy. Hmmmm......

Wow. Has it really been over a month since I post something? I really need to do a better job of trying to keep my blog current, but having this new job keeps me busy and I am finding I have a lot less time on my hands than I did before. It's not overly crazy, and I really love what I am doing. It's just that when I wrap up work, I grab a bite somewhere in the Quarter (I love, love, love the Redfish grill), come home and just crash. I feel like I barely have time for Facebook and stuff like that. Still, I am very happy with how things are going.

Well, that's not entirely true. I mean, I am happy and I never would have guessed I'd find myself here. Still, I've been a little down lately. It's so silly when you think about it, but life is silly that way. I was hanging out with some friends down by the Riverwalk and one of the people in our group mentioned she's going on an Elvis cruise. I thought this was peculiar and it got me thinking about when I visited Graceland this summer. Of course, it also got me thinking about who I was with when I went to Graceland and how I have not seen nor heard from this person in quite some time. I hadn't really thought about him too much since I moved back home, but when I do it's kinda' sad. I try to live my life without any regrets, but when I look back on a lot of things, especially what happened this summer, I can't help but think what if.

I hope he's doing okay and deep down inside I wish he knew I was thinking of him.

So I've got my first full week of work in at the gallery. It's been a good experience but it's not exactly what I was thinking it was going to be. I was hoping to do more with customers and artists, but I am mostly working in the back doing admin stuff, simple book keeping and lots and lots of cleaning. Oh well, I guess it's a start.

It is nice, however, to have something to occupy my days. We also have famous people stop by the gallery from time to time, and that's always pretty neat. Still, I hope things pick up in terms of me learning more about the actual business of running a gallery and meeting several of the artists who have their works on display with us.

With the job and football season right around the corner, things are very exciting. GEAUX SAINTS!!

Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! All I can say is Yeah!!!!

I got the call today and I got the art gallery job I interviewed for last week. This is so great because I can finally hang up the waitress apron and start doing something I love. I will be working all day with and surrounded by art! How awesome is that?

I am really excited and this really feels like a new beginning for me. It's funny because lord knows what I would be doing if I were still in Levittown. The thought of that just makes me shudder. I miss some of my PA friends, but I know being home in New Orleans is where I need to be right now.

I am looking forward to saving up some more money so I can go pick up the stuff I left back in Levittown and then, hopefully, get into my own place. But one step at a time for now.