...

Author: Patrick Rhone

Some really interesting, and infrequently discussed, data about homelessness (shared with me by my wife):

  • Within 18 months of emancipation 40-50% of foster youth become homeless.

  • Nationally, 50% of the homeless population spent time in foster care.

More here.

Related, my wife and I were struck by how few unhoused folks we saw in New Orleans.

Home for Good New Orleans is a community-wide effort to achieve low to no unsheltered homelessness in New Orleans by the end of 2025.

How? Give them a place to live.

Seems to be working.

You Should Do The Work

You do the work because the work is worth doing. There may be many reasons why doing the work to get something or somewhere you want wont get you the results you were hoping for. But, this is not a reason for not doing the work. The work is worth doing because it makes you smarter. The work is worth doing because it gives you experience. The work is worth doing so that not doing the work is not a reason you fall short of the goal.

There will be insurmountable challenges to meeting many of your goals in life. Try anyway. Try because the challenge is worth meeting. Try because it may make the next opportunity surmountable. Try because it will make you better and smarter and stronger. You may fall short for many reasons, don’t let the work be one of them.

The work is how you grow and that makes the work worth doing every time.

Things I’m Looking Froward to in NOLA

“There are a lot of places I like, but I like New Orleans better.” — Bob Dylan

Homeward bound for New Orleans in less than 48 hours. Here’s what I’m excited for in no particular order…

  • Time spent with my wife and daughter on the way down.
  • Seeing my sister.
  • Our many NOLA trip traditions.
  • Shimp Po-Boy (Dressed).
  • Brass bands on Frenchman Street.
  • Superior Seafood & Oyster Bar for a couple dozen and a Frozen French 75.
  • Friends asking “Where y’at?
  • Three martini lunch at Commander’s.
  • Nightbloom Bar (just a few steps from where we stay)
  • The Friendly Bar (another neighborhood bar we love)
  • Beignets (Du Monde are the best but will get Morning Call if in Mid City to avoid the tourists).
  • Touring Tulane with Beatrix (It is her top choice).
  • Muffuletta from Central (Thanks for the reminder, AJ. )

(I may be adding to this list as I think of more things.)

Execupundit.com: The Thanksgiving Pie Debate

There is the standard pumpkin pie: a true essential for Thanksgiving.

But then things become trickier: pecan, apple, chocolate cream, cherry, lemon, coconut cream, and some more exotic flavors such as Key Lime.

Shockingly, Mr. Wade leaves Sweet Potato completely off the list. The only worthy competition for which is Pumpkin.

Call this native born Black Southerner flummoxed.

Empty – annie’s blog

As we round the curve, he clears his throat and tells me, with no preamble, that he thinks we’re not in love, maybe he’s never been in love, or actually loved me.

Almost 30 years ago, my first wife said almost exactly these same words to me. In a similar out of the blue fashion.

It took another decade to finally feel like I was worthy of love — any love — again. And when that happened, I found it.