June 21, 2006 | Filed under: big easy, misadventures
We ain’t moving. And that’s that. Why? Why? Why not move into a giant, lovely house that oozes potential and is currently hemorrhaging money? Why stay in NYC in my cramped apartment snidely nicknamed “The Shoebox”? Because, dammit, it’s dangerous in New Orleans, that’s why! The freakin’ National Guard have been called back! There have been 54 murders (six this week!) and a section of a New Orleans neighborhood has been dubbed “The Triangle of Death“! I’ve lived in New York City my whole life and there’s NEVER been a neighborhood saddled with a nickname like that.
About week before I left to return to NYC we found a posting in our local coffee haunt: a full typed page list of local crimes. Two weeks…one full typed page. And these weren’t just little crimes. These weren’t purse-snatchings. These were desperate, vicious and frightening. Stabbings, dogs being swiped from yards, people getting robbed at gunpoint, people getting robbed at knifepoint, people getting robbed at knifepoint on their own front porches, break-ins–one house got broken into twice in one week! On that single typed page there were three seperate attacks on pedestrians by a gang of young men brandishing a lead pipe wrapped in a towel. Three! In two weeks! They weren’t even out for anyone’s wallet–they’re just out to bust heads. I don’t have any idea why they bother with the towel…perhaps bonking people in the head with a naked pipe is too noisy. All of this occcured within 5 square blocks of the house within two weeks.
All that and hurricanes, too? Nope.
Deciding not to move was not an easy decision. Brian has a long history with New Orleans, and a lot of emotion wrapped up in that house. I don’t have any ties to it, but I really like New Orleans. I love its funky charm and it’s balls-out weirdness. I like that it’s all rickety-looking and battle-scarred and slow and sultry and hot. I like the people. I love that our neighborhood reaction to the crime includes a sidewalk ceremony held in the name of Ogou Achade, The Voodoo Patron of Iron And The Forge**, although I’d rather people felt comfortable calling the police, instead. I hate the giant insects, but I figured I could learn to live with the idea of them once we’d hermetically sealed the house as best we could. I thought it would be a good idea for me–a lifelong New York City gal with a rock-solid, impenetrable, liberal, Northern, East Coast backround to spend some time in The South for a change of pace. And every day…no, really every hour after we made the decision to leave something charming and singularly New Orleans-ish would makes us pause and reconsider…until that ol’ lead pipe story would creep back into our heads to bonk us back into reality.
In this instance, it was a raspberry Sno-Ball enjoyed in Audobon Park.
**You think I can make this stuff up? Hardly.
June 21, 2006
@ 3:59 pm
I agree with Brian. DON’T STAY! I don’t want to see you get hurt!
http://beccavlog.blogspot.com
June 21, 2006
@ 4:43 pm
Moving is always bitter sweet!
June 21, 2006
@ 5:56 pm
okay, i don’t know either you or brian, but for the love of aunt fannie, i want you both to remain safe!
by the way, bekah, your t-shirt will be sent tomorrow!
June 21, 2006
@ 7:07 pm
With all those crimes, it wouldn’t be difficult to make that decision.
And I wonder, where is the police? Where is the government?
Isn’t the US supposed to be the richest and best country in the world?
Well, apparently not.
June 21, 2006
@ 10:09 pm
Once you return to NY City, don’t even think of letting your guard down.
June 21, 2006
@ 11:17 pm
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June 22, 2006
@ 12:50 am
stay in astooooria!! :-()
June 22, 2006
@ 1:29 am
Don’t stay!!!
June 22, 2006
@ 8:56 am
You can always move to SLC, Utah. Cheap housing, safe streets and all the green jello you can eat.
The only catch is that you have to live with the Mormons. They aren’t so bad once you get used to singing, “I am a child of God.”
June 22, 2006
@ 2:33 pm
Your description says you aren’t moving and the video says you are. I have no clue which one to comment on and I feel like an idiot. Maybe use bold text on your final decision just for the retards like me. haha. Best of luck, whatever your decision is.
Evan (http://e-vlog.blogspot.com)
June 22, 2006
@ 6:03 pm
You’re going to let a little thing like the “triangle of death” scare you……bah!! I say……random violence is great!…… I kid of course…..I’m a smart ass what can I say…..although “Triangle of Death” is a pretty cool name you gotta admit..it’s like some really cool “bad” horror flick name……”2 love birds on a vacation in a tropical paridise…but every 100 years this paradise turns into the “Triangle of Death”…….
June 22, 2006
@ 10:48 pm
You know it’s bad when NY is safer than someplace else.
June 22, 2006
@ 11:08 pm
that was super cute
June 23, 2006
@ 1:27 pm
Very cute.. and I’m sorry that New Orleans didn’t work out
However, I think you made the right decision! I wouldn’t want to live in a place that dangerous. So what if you’re cramped in a small apartment.. at least you are safe.. or safER 
June 23, 2006
@ 1:38 pm
But…but…it’s hurricane season again, and when the mother of all hurricanes, which makes Katrina look small, comes–you’ll miss it!
Where’s your sense of adventure?
Besides–who’s going to feed the cockroaches?
Quitters.
June 23, 2006
@ 9:05 pm
I realize the draw of sno-ball, shaved ices, what have you, is strong; like rabid german women breaking down the berlin wall to get to David Hasselhoff strong. I struggle with uprooting my fiancee and pets, leaving behind moderately paying jobs and all my friends for the chance to live in a town where I could get a Slurpee daily. But I don’t know if I’d go toe to toe with a junkie kid street hooligan weilding a lead pipe in a “I must kill Miss Scarlet” boardgame induced rage for a Slurpee. So, here’s some awkward internet ‘you made the right decision’ juju going your way. Man I am so hoped up on Capri-Suns right now…
June 24, 2006
@ 6:35 am
I think I sent some stuff to New Orleans…your way…hmmm…hope you get it, was sent like 10 days ago, I think…
June 24, 2006
@ 10:42 am
Hi MsB…though I might say hi instead of stalking your blog and not commenting.
U rock
My blog is kinda dying…but I’m trying to put more stuff up again…life is so bloody dull since we got home…
June 24, 2006
@ 4:08 pm
oooh that’s harrowing stuff. moving is always bittersweet, but in this case, a bit safer.
that sno-ball looked tasty.
effinfatpigeon.blogspot.com
(yes i have joined this vlogger party, har har.)
June 24, 2006
@ 5:51 pm
I’m sure it will take at least another year or two before it gets even close to how it was.
Haven’t been by in a while, I’ve been really busy this summer. Hopefully I’ll be posting a bit more soon, and another short film is on the way next month! woohoo!
June 24, 2006
@ 9:41 pm
Missb–you had me at the giant flying cockroach, a few weeks back. What’s a triangle of death OR a roving band of hoologans next to a giant flying cockroach?!? I am (selfishly) glad you’ll be almost a neighbor again.
(I’d say we should send Giuliani down to NOLA to sort things out?, but folks down there have been through way too much already.)
June 25, 2006
@ 8:15 am
It certainly is harsh down there now. New Orleans is going to give Detroit a run for its money this year with all the violence and other crime. Sorry you can’t go down there now. That really sucks.
verbalchameleon: Giuliani would just screw things up by making homelessness illegal and getting rid of the porn like he did in Times Square. Then where would NOLA be?
June 25, 2006
@ 4:42 pm
Be safe heading back to NYC. It really kind of sounded like things were starting to get back on track down in NOLA, but I guess not. Sorry you had to go, but I for one am looking forward to future cocktail-enhanced subway stories
June 25, 2006
@ 6:14 pm
That is sad but you have to listen to your inner self. Best of luck what ever you decide.:)
June 26, 2006
@ 7:59 am
Oh, MissB; This must have been such a hard decision for you both. It sounds to me like a very wise one, though…I haven’t watched the video yet, but will be back. Does this mean youa re going to stay in NYC?…and thanks for informing us of the situation in New Orleans. The mass media has abandoned it. I will read more…so sad, so frightening.
June 26, 2006
@ 10:11 am
“It’s sad, so sad.It’s a sad, sad
situation.” Elton John. :o)
June 26, 2006
@ 9:23 pm
WHy not move up to Toronto? We could always use two more cool people up here.
July 10, 2006
@ 2:11 pm
Ah, the decision is final. You told me at VloggerCon, and like then, I totally support you. I mean, not that you need my support, etc, but having just made a decision somewhat like yours about whether to say or move across the country (video about mine soon too!), I might be able to relate a little and think sometimes, staying seems like giving up but moving could mean losing so much more. I hope this is for the best and am happy that maybe you’ll still be close enough for a cup of coffee next time I’m in NYC!
August 26, 2006
@ 10:30 am
I feel silly when I join a comment string late, but hey, I just got here (kept seeing your comments on other vlogs and thought I’d check you out).
It’s such a shame what’s happening around New Orleans. It’s one of my favourite cities in the US.
Given the importance of the port for cargo and cruise ships, you’d think there would be more progress in restoring all communities (lower waged people have been integral to that economy – at least help them by restoring their neighbourhoods!).
It’s been a few years since I’ve been back, but my motto is “New Orleans in 2007”. If we flood the place with tourist dollars, hopefully some will trickle down.