I’m not doing July’s updates right now ‘cause I’d have to upload the pics and make the slideshow and everything, and I’m just not feelin’ that bored right now (my apologies to Cousin Nina for the horrible grammar in the preceding sentence).

SPEAKING OF COUSIN NINA, I have neglected to mention that she now has a blog, A Sort of Notebook. While you are free to bookmark it, I have also added it to my “Read” column, as I try to read it every day. As with all of my cousins, she is very witty and insightful, much more than myself. If you enjoy her blog, you’ll also enjoy her book, 50 Hikes in Louisiana: Walks, Hikes, and Backpacks in the Bayou State. Even if you don’t enjoy her blog (which you will), her book is awesome. Buy it.

Despite my 20 years of hearing them, “Your Mama” jokes still make me giggle, but usually it’s the circumstances and context in which they’re used. Ellen thinks this one is funny, but I find it a little sad.

Cast: Me, my mother
Setting: In my apartment, chatting on my cell phone about my semester project for Impacts of Technology.

SCENE

ME: Yeah, my project is going to be so easy.
MY MOM: Yeah, well… your mom’s easy.
ME: Wha?!?…. Mom, I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Straight from the horses’ mouth, yo. I've learned to laugh at it, mainly in shame.

I think we all know that I’m not going to update this before the weekend, so I’ll let you know my good news now: I’M GOING TO NEW ORLEANS ON THURSDAY!!! I am soooo incredibly stoked. My second oldest cousin, Cousin Jennifer (Cousin Stacey’s big sissy), is getting married on Saturday to her boyfriend of 10 years (shotgun wedding, apparently). Besides getting to see my cousin’s big day, I get to see both of my aunties, all of my uncles, my mama daddy and some of my favorite cousins-- including Baby Cousin Danielle. SWEEEET. And on top of all that, I get to do it all in one of my absolute favorite cities. Life is good.

Interesting sidenote: As I was growing up, an impressionable young doe in New Orleans, I secretly idolized Cousin Jennifer, mimicking pretty much her every move. When she graduated from high school, I overheard my mom and another adult discussing Jennifer's choice to not jump into college right out of high school. I, at the ripe old age of 6(?), thought this was brilliant-- why pay for school, I thought... that's ridiculous! Little did I know that one day an institution would own me after matriculation (Jennifer did go to school and is now a paralegal in N.O., if I'm not mistaken). A few years later, in a different state and a different decade, I was going shopping for school clothes for my first day of 4th grade. I saw a Guns 'N Roses shirt on a rack (I think they were trying to make a comeback) and I was like "Oh yeah, Jennifer used to be really into them!" I seriously contemplated getting the shirt, but my mom would not allow it (thankfully). There are various other little tales, but I'm sure you don't care. But that's how the soon-to-be Mrs. Taulli influenced my education and fashion in the first 10 years of my life. Luckily, I won't be mimicking her trip down the aisle any time soon.