Ninja's blog: "This and that"

This summer has been epic and insane.

My return here was May 12th.

May 20th marked my official 2nd year being happily single.

August 16th marked my one year anniversary of quitting smoking.

Literally kicked off the summer with my sister landing herself in jail Memorial Day Weekend. The drama that has ensued since then has been enough to turn even more of my hair grey. (Yes it is true, I dye my hair because I have been going grey since I was 17. Shit happens.) She decided that shoplifting at KMart was more important than spending the weekend with her son. There's enough of a backstory on this one to write a novel, so I'm going to leave further explaination for another blog.

I did, however, have an amazing summer anyway. I am allergic to nature (people look at me stupid when I say this, but it is true).  I attempted a few outings and always eved up with some semi-serious eye injury from getting pollen and such in my eyes and ridiculous sun burn. There was also Louis's birthday party that there was a good 6 hours or so that I have absolutely no recollection of. Woke up with my clothes on, so that's a good thing, but I was missing a ball to one of my nipple rings, had 4 mystery bruises and scratches on my cornea. Just note, they call it Whoop Juice for a reason.

I made a lot of new friends this year both on fu and off that I wouldn't trade for anything. Yeah, some of them are quite unexpected, but amazing nonetheless. I found out just how much I let some unworthy people influence decisions made the first time around on here that I shouldn't have. it's all just par for the course, though, because it brought me to where I am today, and brought them into my life when I was open to receive them.

I reconnected with some old friends too. I didn't realize just how much I missed them until, by chance, we ran into each other.

New ink. Love new ink. Can't wait for more.

Work insanity. Post- Oil spill in the seafood industry is a roller-coaster in itself. To top it off, the government took over payments that BP finally got schedules for and put us all behind again. Got to love the government. Putting all the pieces in place to start my own business, and thinking lately I must be insane for wanting to stay in this business. But, then again, I am born and raised in New Orleans, and if there's one thing we know, it's survival, well that and seafood.

My new nephew made his appearance. By far the biggest little newborn I have ever seen. Born at 10 lbs 14 oz, and a mere month later, is pushing 13 lbs. I think there's a little linebacker in our family. He's the newest little member of the Who Dat Nation!  Days later, his big sister turned 3 and I accompished a major feat by making the most awesome cake ever! She has yet to stop talking about it.

Had the honor of being recognized for my culinary prowess by being asked to develop some new items for a company to market. My meeting on that is later this month. I'd say cross your fingers for me, but I am a pretty freakin amazing cook. And since the products have already been field tested in a few select restaurants, it's just going to be how much they are willing to offer me for the rights to market the items.

And summer winding down marks the opening of football season. I will preemptively apologize for the shit talk now. I know I can be pretty bad. But I am now and will always be a Who Dat! My voice will be probably permanently hoarse by week 3, and I will be emotionally unavailable during game times. So if it's a Saturday (college), Sunday (NFL), Monday (yeah) and sometimes on Thursday (depending on who is playing), I'm probably yelling at a TV over a call.

So everyone, enjoy your long weekend. Enjoy the last little moments before your return to the fall. I for one am glad it's over. I am looking forward to cool fronts, no pollen, wasps dying (I am allergic to those flying bastards), less rain, more football, and of course, the period from Halloween until Thanksgiving that I celebrate my birthday!

I think I will use this blog to also post some of my writing. I used to write a lot, and have since slacked off a bit, but I think it's time to start again. So stay turned.

Farewell Summer 2010. I leave you with the most fond memories and the most amazing people I have the honor to call friends.