That being said, I share your sentiments about New Orleans. The people here always exclaim how much to do there is here in NOLA; however, when I ask for suggestions besides getting drunk or going out to eat, they act a little addled, as if one shouldn’t need anything else.

The Jazz Fest is fun, but comes once a year. There are small clubs on Frenchmen and one on Oak Street, but all the music seems to be in the same vein. I could find similar jazz at the Green Mill on any given Friday in Chicago.

The NOMA considers Renaissance to be modern art. lol. The WWII museum is very good and comprehensive.

The architecture on St. Charles is good, but again it seems to all be cut from the same cloth.

New Orleans IS boring. Unless youre from there. Or you like doing the same things over and over again.

As someone with a MFA that doesn’t get used anymore, I feel the pull to make everything myself; but as a working mother, I have to face the fact that it is not possible. I wouldn’t say that I’m trying to make a statement to others about how much I love my daughter or compete with other parents. I would say that I’ve found a way to bring creativity back into my life now that I’m a parent with less time and money to make my own work. My priorities have shifted from making work for myself to making something for my child, which feels like a win win at the moment. I hope it makes HER feel special, but I don’t really have control over that; all I can do is keep her interests and age in mind; and hope she has fun.

I think it is easy to frown upon what other people do for (or to) their kids when you don’t have your own. I do think you’d feel differently if you had a child, especially if you are a working mother. I can’t speak for all working moms, but I never feel like I get enough time with my child, and I always feel guilty about the fact that I can’t afford to stay home with her to watch every milestone. So, I find ways to share the things I’m best at with her as much as I can. I wouldn’t call it a competition; if anything, I’d call it mother’s guilt. I agree that she probably won’t remember this birthday; but as a photographer, we will always have those photographs to refer back to when she’s older; and that is one of the ways memories are made.