11) GUTTING ACTUALLY IS (UNSKILLED LABOR)
Wow, anybody can do this stuff. 10 minutes of dos and donts and yer ready to break some shit. I mean, dont get me wrong, its incredibly tiring and completely exhausting, but wow, just breaking stuff for 9 hours, pretty much anybody can do. Not to mention, occasionally it feels great.

12) IM A PRETTY DEXTEROUS DUDE
My newest claim to fame is that at the Musicians Village the other day, I made the (Skilled Labor Truck) Hollla!!! I probably couldnt install cabinetry or lay the foundation of a house, but I can frame out a sidewalk, build a window frame a door frame and I can pound the crap out of a nail. And now, I can install a sprinkler system. Can we say, Fall Back Job?

13) MOST NEW ORLEANIANS KNOW AS LITTLE ABOUT GEOGRAPHIC NEW ORLEANS AS I DO
I was shocked to learn over the last month and change that none of the people that I knew and my mom knew growing up here had been to any of the neighborhoods that Im working in. I have to show THEM on the map where I am. I had guilt tripped myself for ages about not knowing the city. Little did I know, that no one else did either.

14) I LIKE AMERICANS A LOT MORE THAN I THOUGHT
Wow, after living in New York for 8 years, I was convinced that all Republicans burned children for recreation and had Satan on speed dial. I also thought that the majority of Americans were kinda miserable, unless they were from Chicago, San Francisco, Philly, Boston, New Orleans, Austin, Albuquerque, etc. Well, I could not have been more wrong. I have been working side by side with folks from towns Ive never heard of in States Ive never wanted to visit. And they are, on the whole, excellent people. They are kind and generous and clever and just good people. It has been very refreshing to meet so many wonderful Americans.

15) VOLUNTEERING IS COOL
I thought the only reason anyone every volunteered was to make their college application more impressive. I mean, why the hell else would you ever do it? Miserable work. For people you dont know. For free? I mean, could it get any worse than that? Apparently. I have had a blast meeting, helping and living with strangers. The work has been hugely rewarding and I would certainly do it again. I mean why not? I have so much. The least I could do is pitch back in.

16) I REALLY DONT LIKE BEING IDOL, UNLESS IM RECUPERATING FROM A BITCHIN PARTY
I get in to a place and I need to shake a leg. Doesnt really matter what it is, as long as Im engaged and can do it fully. Theatre? Sure. Demo? Sure. The time sitting really still works for me is times like this Sunday when I was recuperating from one of the most epic weddings ever. (Can you say Moshing Brides?) Shades drawn, flat Coke and a fist full of Advil. That works for me.

17) EVERYONE IN NEW ORLEANS KNOWS ONE ANOTHER
Its freaking unbelievable! First I get sighted because I look like my Mom and then we start chatting and we know everyone of the same people. We went to camp together, or school or something, and just when it gets too weird, someone else chimes in and it happens all over again. That happens minimum once a day to me.

18) I LOVE THE SAINTS
I guess I have always know this, ever since I was born in Jefferson Parish with a head of hair that resembled a Saints helmet (not really, but that would be amazing) its just all been reinvigorated over the last 5 weeks. Each game, I where Saints pajamas, my Hollywood Joe horn jersey and a fake LSU helmet. Its tha bees knees.

19) CHURCH IS COOL
In New York, to put it lightly, is an anti-religious vibe. Everyone that comes to mind that I have gotten to know there over the last 8 years, not only does not go to church, but has very strong very negative feelings about it. And truth be told, I have agreed with them for the last 8 years even though I was raised as a church goer from day one. I was baptized, confirmed and was even an alter boy for 2 years, yet they turned me on to all the fanatical sides of religion that just makes me want to scrap the whole lot. Yet, down here. I feel completely different. I have been to church every Sunday since here and its been great. I think Ill keep going.

20) SUNSCREEN IS COOLER
Im not sure why kids go through a phase where sun block blows so hard, but thankfully I have grown out of that. I put it on each morning and it saves my little Irish ass everyday. It is mad hot here and the sun dont give a monkeys ass if you think your cool for going bare skin to (work yo tan).