on my way out, i saw your music list, and saw you mention soul train... so, that deserves an extra "gift" for your birthday (now, i'm not a huge fan of the show... but i love a lot of the acts that used to appear on the show) so, here ya go...
"Until next time... Peace, love, and sooouuulll!!!"
New Orleanians take to the streets for Mardi Gras On this day in 1827, a group of masked and costumed students dance through the streets of New Orleans, Louisiana, marking the beginning of the city's famous Mardi Gras celebrations.
The celebration of Carnival--or the weeks between Twelfth Night on January 6 and Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Christian period of Lent--spread from Rome across Europe and later to the Americas. Nowhere in the United States is Carnival celebrated as grandly as in New Orleans, famous for its over-the-top parades and parties for Mardi Gras (or Fat Tuesday), the last day of the Carnival season.
Though early French settlers brought the tradition of Mardi Gras to Louisiana at the end of the 17th century, Spanish governors of the province later banned the celebrations. After Louisiana became part of the United States in 1803, New Orleanians managed to convince the city council to lift the ban on wearing masks and partying in the streets. The city's new Mardi Gras tradition began in 1827 when the group of students, inspired by their experiences studying in Paris, donned masks and jester costumes and staged their own Fat Tuesday festivities.
The parties grew more and more popular, and in 1833 a rich plantation owner named Bernard Xavier de Marigny de Mandeville raised money to fund an official Mardi Gras celebration. After rowdy revelers began to get violent during the 1850s, a secret society called the Mistick Krewe of Comus staged the first large-scale, well-organized Mardi Gras parade in 1857.
Over time, hundreds of krewes formed, building elaborate and colorful floats for parades held over the two weeks leading up to Fat Tuesday. Riders on the floats are usually local citizens who toss "throws" at passersby, including metal coins, stuffed toys or those now-infamous strands of beads. Though many tourists mistakenly believe Bourbon Street and the historic French Quarter are the heart of Mardi Gras festivities, none of the major parades have been allowed to enter the area since 1979 because of its narrow streets.
In February 2006, New Orleans held its Mardi Gras celebrations despite the fact that Hurricane Katrina had devastated much of the city with massive flooding the previous August. Attendance was at only 60-70 percent of the 300,000-400,000 visitors who usually attend Mardi Gras, but the celebration marked an important step in the recovery of the city, which counts on hospitality and tourism as its single largest industry.
Regardless of the dollar's value dropping, it's still better to move the job to Canada. The reason is the starting pay seems to be less at their sites up there, and more importantly because they don't have to pay for the employee's benefits. At least that's the picture I've gotten. I'm sure there's more to it than that though.
As for what we do, to simplify matters we handle service agreements and warranties. We set them up (but don't sell them), and research warranty/contract issues for customers whose coverage is not showing in the system when they call in for service. I'm hoping I can get someone in another department to extend my contract, or get hired permanently there. Not sure how likely it is, but I'm trying to get my resume out there anyway. At least I have until April before the contract's over.
Yeah, Tualatin is right outside Portland. I'm trying to remember if I've been to Tacoma. I'm sure I have. Isn't it close to Seattle?
A treadmill would be cool! Although I'd feel silly spending money on one, like "why don't I just go outside and walk?" Heh. But it's true, some days you just really don't want to, especially when it's rainy and yucky 65% of the year. Plus, with a treadmill, you can still satisfy your couch-potato leanings by watching TV while working out. Heh. Always a plus.
Congrats on the job! That's great. I'm going to have to start looking for one myself soon, since my contract will be ending in the spring, and I just found out they for sure won't be extending it. They're moving my whole group to Canada. *shakes fist northward* Damn you Canada! Heh. (Just kidding)
My New Years resolution this year is kind of just a vague goal of improving myself and trying to move my life forward in some way. I tend to be the kind of person who gets in a rut, life-wise, and doesn't go after changing things. I changed jobs last year, which was a good step, but I want to try to go back to school, learn to drive, or make some new friends (or even date!) possibly. And lose weight. That too. Surely not too overambitious, right? Heh. Really I don't expect everything in my life to change; I just want to feel like some things in my life are changing/moving, and that I'm not just standing still.
Christmas was good for me too. Little lonelier/different these days since my closest friends moved away (not to mention some family), but still good. My immediate family on my Mom's side is still in town, so I spent the holidays with them (Mom, sister, nephew, etc).
