Good at Being Uncomfortable: We've Got a Plan

*Fiona Apple

After weeks of indecision, uncertainty and frustration, Nora and I have a plan. Thursday, we are flying to a new life in Seattle. We have jobs in a work/trade program for a hostel in downtown. And it sounds like a really cool set-up. Especially the part about having access to a game room, movie room, hot tub and outside garden. They even have sustainable projects going on - rooftop garden, chicken coop, bee hives - that I hope are up and running at some point while we're there. I would love to learn about some of that stuff. I could put my beekeeping class from college to use.

Good at Being Uncomfortable: Where I've Been

*Fiona Apple

I spent a total of three months in New Orleans, rebuilding houses and working on an urban community farm. I had the time of my life. I made friends with people from 12 different countries. Most of them are back home by now, but some are still in New Orleans. And part of me still sometimes thinks about going back and joining them.

Nora and I left New Orleans two days before Christmas. We spent the holiday with my family, my friend Joshua, and our friend Jongwon from South Korea. Four days later we headed south. Charleston. Jacksonville. And Miami for New Year's...That was an adventure.

We arrived in South Beach with a reservation for a hostel. When we got there, the guy at the desk says, "two of our rooms are broken so we're having to send some reservations to other places." We were one of those reservations. They sent us to a hotel, where we had our own room and kitchenette. On top of that, they gave us the difference in CASH. Our hotel room, accessed through a gate and courtyard, was on a street that was having a party with all the restaurants. We met up with the Germans for dinner, then headed down to the beach to see fireworks. We ended up just outside a beach concert put on by Ludacris, Jason Derulo, Ne-yo and like a million other famous people. It was pretty awesome.

The next morning, Nora and I went into the water - following a tradition her mom does every New Year's Day - and laid on the sand. We didn't want to leave, but we were headed to Key West.

That part of the trip wasn't our favorite. I got a cold, and on the drive down, developed hives on my arms and legs. I never figured out what I was allergic to. After three days of sleeping on and off all day, I felt better. Probably because I passed all the sickness onto Nora. She was still sick when we left a week after our arrival. We were down there to see about moving. The universe said it was not for us.

On the way back up, we made the same stops, and got the opportunity to spend two nights with my friends Mendy and Kurt. We made awesome fish tacos, and saw some of the sights around historic Charleston. It was so nice and relaxing.

We're back in Raleigh, trying to get a plan together for our next move. We're thinking Seattle.

Girl in New Orleans: My Goodbye (aka Lower Nine Day 45)

*Sammi Smith

We stayed out until 2am last night. Then Nora and I woke up at 6 to go see the sunrise at the levee. It was cloudy, so we couldn't see the sun. But we had a nice walk, and a nice talk. And we made it back for breakfast.

But now I'm exhausted again.

Nora asked for house duty today so that we could spend the last couple of hours together. I ruined it by falling asleep on the couch in the living room. I woke up at 11 and had to go finish packing. Not all of it fit. I had to leave some things for Nora to use after I'm gone.

When it was time to go, I got my round of hugs, feeling pretty ok. I had reconciled with the fact that I was leaving. I almost felt ready for it. But then Nora was standing on the front steps. When I hugged her we both teared up. So I ran to the truck and Graham drove me to the airport, where I'm crying in the terminal. I don't want to get on that plane. I want to catch a cab back to the house.

Girl in New Orleans: Lower Nine Day 44

*Sammi Smith

I haven't finished packing. But I've done all of that I wanted to do today. It was too sad.

I am happy that I got to do a sort of exit interview/Facebook consultation today with Robin. She's a volunteer, but works mostly in the office. I gave her suggestions, and promised to help with Facebook once I got home if they needed some extra information. It was nice to sit with her and talk. She's one of the few people in the house who doesn't make me feel like an old lady. Three of our volunteers are on a gap year between high school and college.

Tonight, we're going down to the levee one last time. We went last night for Linda's farewell. It was fun. We lit a fire and she sang songs with her guitar. I put in a special request for the zombie song she wrote, and my night was complete after that. Tonight's trip will be much more low key. Half of the volunteers when on a camping trip with Common Ground - another volunteer organization down here - to help plant marsh grass at a swamp two hours away. So there's not much activity in the house tonight.