Power Goal Worksheet – Don’t leave home without it because we all need to get organized

The Power Goals worksheet

Organization is the key to saving time, having a productive day on the job and getting things done.  People depend on our organizational  skills at home and at work.    It is often assumed that people with good organizational skills are better leaders and those with poor organizational skills are better followers.  Because perception is everything, an organized person appears more responsible and professional.

Since we all have a natural tendency to forget, especially when we are stressed and lacking sleep having a calendar or somewhere to store our personal list is key to remembering things that are important. But how about those things that can’t all fit in our calendars, or on our smart phone apps?

I created a “Power Goals” worksheet to help me organize my life on a daily basis.  This is not just a form with list.  There are categories that are customized according to my needs of that week.  I add as many things on this list as possible and check them off when the task (or goal) has been accomplished.  At mid-week  I start off with fresh goals and ideas.  I keep the Power Goal Worksheets in my computer bag, portable folder or in my purse.  Since I have a digital version, I can also keep them stored on my computer.  The benefit of having a paper version is its portability.

If I am working  on a film set, I can create a worksheet that is geared towards those goals, same for school and other specified functions.  This is really handy, because now I won’t forget.  The time it takes me to organize my thoughts actually helps me to remember more than I would have normally.  I once created categories for books I read or needed to read or purchase for  research I was doing at the time.

Seeing my progress also allows me to honestly determine how well I am progressing.  Can’t make any excuses for procrastinations or forgetting to do something.   It’s time to get things done!
Getting organized is always a good thing in my book.

Update

Since posting this article and form many new gadgets have  come into the marketplace to make organizing portable, easy and accessible.    The iPad is a good start as well as free apps. 
Forbes list has an article titled "5 Best Apps for Getting and Staying Organized" that is worth reading.  Do keep in mind that not all apps are free, and technology can't always solve the problem of good old fashion organizing.   Calendars are great reminders, but there is noting wrong with seeing the big picture on one page. 

This might seem like over kill, but I also have a huge white dry-board  I use to strategize.   When important bills and dates come up at home, I write these things down immediately before jumping to technology, which takes more time to access.   Check out the free app "Evernote" it was recommended by a relative of mine.    It's free, however there is a paid version as well with more features I presume.

The goal here is to come up with the best strategy that fits your personal needs.
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 Your feed-back is also welcomed.

The losing battle to keep New Orleans' Historic Architectural style

94 French Market Place, Photographed by Cara Harpole April 23, 2008                                                  

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The losing battle to keep New Orleans' Historic Architectural style

Written by Cara Harpole, a New Orleans Native

New Orleans is a culturally rich city known for its food, history and architecture.  The cobble stone streets in the French Quarters, or the opulent Garden District homes distinguishes this city from the rest.   The "Shot Gun" houses and the Victorian styled homes in the Garden district are a part of the city's identity.   Many envision a distinctive mysterious city trapped in time.  The old world environment is why so many movies are filmed here and keep tourist  coming.   These things are all important to those who hold New Orleans dear.  Unfortunately,  which is so important to its cultural identity  is losing its hold.  This  type of architecture theory is a method of construction  which takes into account local resources and traditions reflecting the environmental, cultural and historical context. 

Imagine a pot of figurative Gumbo,  fusing Spanish, French, American, African  and Creole blends, with a sprinkle of Native American.   That's the the essence of the city.  A little bit of this, and a little bit of that–making it easily recognized as truly New Orleans in photos, film  or any digital imagery. 

Photographed by Cara Harpole

We natives hold  those positive attributes  dear.  The historical societies  have fought for over 100 years to preserve the rich heritage of the city.   Sadly,  changing times are bring on changing attitudes and new challenges.

Part New Orleans' unique old world charm is slowly fading.  This transition has actually taken place in the past 60 or more years starting with the tearing town of beautiful architecture wonders of various eras.  One  such building that disappeared was the grand old French Opera House.    

The Old French Opera House

It was known as a cultural treasure for the French speaking Creole population.  It was built in 1859, burned down in 1919 and never rebuilt to its original grandeur.  The towering old Masonic Temple, built in a neo-Gothic style was another marvel.  ( I have never seen a Gothic style building of this magnitude in New Orleans)  It was replaced by another building no where near the same splendor as the first.  

Neo-Gothic Style Masonic Temple

We have witnessed the commercialization of the French Quarters in more recent times.  It might be hard to image the degree of  depopulation  of the French Quarters.  Ask any old timer and they will tell you that the French

Quarters was heavily populated with residents of the city.   It was not as touristy as it is today. 

In the rush to to "cleanse"  the city from landladies and prostitutes the mansions of the notorious sinful Storyville were leveled and replaced with a massively ordinary brick housing project.  (The city tried its best to bury the history of Storyville). 

Old Storyville Mansions were replaced by Housing projects

The Rivergate Convention Center, once a historical landmark and architecture marvel was replaced with Harris Casino, which sits like a sore thumb in the city's business district near the river.    

Rivergate Convention Center

Each decade represented a lost in the true essence of the old city.  Some were natural progressions and others were at the hands of people with little cultural investment in the city,  intellect or vision.  Politicians held on to the commercialization of the French Quarters to attract tourist as a  mechanism for  revenues.   Others saw change as progress into a new era.  Some of the changes cost New Orleans her cultural identity.  

In the Post Hurricane Katrina era there was a rush to rebuild the city.  Many historic homes were torn down only to be replaced by the most atrocious modern day architectural styles.  I am sure these designers  had good intentions, but there is no excuse for the lack of cultural integrity  of the out of touch monstrosities they built.

Gone was the vernacular architectural style of New Orleans, the old creole cottages with the wooden shutters and French doors,  Caribbean style doubles, galleried shotgun, four-bay shotgun, camel backs, or the 9th Ward Victorians.   In with the Lead certified modern-cracker-jack-boxed homes with the single shed roofs, with no style, no cultural blending–just plain ugly.  

Example of raised home - poor design  - Cara Harpole

Excellent example of Vernacular Architecture, good redesign - 

Photographed by Cara Harpole

Another trend in the 7th Ward (Gentilly area) stemmed around the idea of lifting homes to the heavens.   These homes on stilts were what you would find in a fishing village.  They stood out like sore thumbs in the neighborhood.  Other mixed matched styles could be found in the area.   The architects who designed these houses-of-Frankenstein should be forced to live in them.  It does not end here.

The most painful change post Katrina (in my opinion) was the commercializing of the Old French market.   

Currently, just another tourist trap, the old market is history

 

This market had been in continuous operation for over 100 years.  I remember my mother taking me to the French Market to purchase fresh sugar cane and fruit.  The men would call out their little ditty to get customers.  I can recall seeing sugar  cane stacked to the ceilings.  The pre-cut canes were neatly partially covered in foil.  Oh how I miss those days.

Today the market is a tourist trap–nothing different, nothing uniquely New Orleans.  An entire century of history has been lost and unfortunately the citizens of New Orleans never really had a voice in the matter.

These changes inspired me to return to school and study Architecture and Engineering Computer Aided Design.  My own home remains as it was post Hurricane Katrina.   I developed a love and appreciation for architecture after seeing my beloved city under water for 2 weeks.   I was modified at the thought of the shear lost.  All of the things I took for granted for so many years became dear to me.  I will now join the fight to preserve New Orleans architecture heritage, but at the same time not fear new ideas that enhances what we hold dear. 

Architecture - St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Historic 6th Ward, Houston, Texas

St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Historic 6th Ward, Houston, Texas

St. Joseph's Catholic Church, is a Romanesque revival structure, designed by Patrick S. Rabbit and built in 1901 replacing an earlier sanctuary destroyed in the 1900 storm. It features a basilica plan, extensive corbelled detailing and decorative brickwork.
In architecture a corbel is a bracket of stone, wood or brick projecting out of a wall to support any superincumbent weight, like a cornice or arch. 

I love the style and God given skills of the craftsmen of that era. The brick work alone is something to marvel over. It is not over the top, yet has a simple elegance. This historic church is located in the Historic 6th Ward district of Houston, Texas at 1505 Kane St. (Not much is known about the architect).

Look at the wheel of life symbol in the front of the church. You will find this reoccurring symbolism incorporated in many catholic structures.   The wheel represents a spiritual “steering wheel” which helps you navigate life through your beliefs in God. This is a more simplistic understanding of the symbol. Have not been able to find much about this esoteric symbol found on many Catholic churches.

A world you probably have not seen - Louisiana's in the Atchafalaya Basinswam,

Ernest Couret, tour guide

             

By Cara Harpole

If more Americans knew about the natural wonders of the Atchafalaya Basin, I believe the shear numbers of tourist would put Henderson Swamp on the map.    This place is a gold mine.   Many have passed this magnificent  natural wonder while traveling East  (from Texas) on the I-10 freeway.    The short glimpse on the over-pass does not come close to the awesome spectacular hidden beautiful and mystery of the swamp. 

The majestic natural raw beauty of Louisiana's  swamp wetlands is often like a buried treasure in the abyss.  Many, (including natives)  have not ventured off into the heart of the Atchafalaya Basin.  After living in Louisiana for so many years, even I,  a person who has traveled all around the world, had no idea of the affect the swamp would have on me. 

Read the entire article here: 

http://caraharpole.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=896&action=edit

 (See: Roger Stouff, the last traditional Chitimacha chief http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7zd8akzv_0)

I couldn't leave town without having a Po boy

http://www.couretsswamptours.com/

Habitat For Humanity Summer project 

Last summer I had the pleasure of working with Habitat for Humanity building homes.  I actually photographed the process from start to finish.  This was a tremendous experience and I would highly recommend anyone to experience the joy of seeing a needy family, final  have a place of their own.

As some of you might recall, Austin experienced a hellish summer with high heat indexes and droughts the entire period.   I was pleasantly surprised to meet a couple in their 70's working side by side together  in temperatures in over 100 degrees!   I asked the gentleman how can he stand to work in so much heat like that.  He told me he grew up on a farm in the Texas panhandle in a time when where were no air conditioners. 

This house was built with love and the generosity of the volunteers with Habitat For Humanity.   I actually first heard about this organization many years ago on  soap opera (Days of Our Lives).  I had always wanted to volunteer.  I first volunteered for the New Orleans branch of Habitat For Humanity prior to Hurricane Katrina.

What gave me pride and joy was to see the The Geveremariyam family on the day of the grand opening of their home at the dedication ceremony. 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/austinhabitat/sets/72157627186162974/with/5936572930/

Storyville, a Legendary Story of Two Famous Sites

 

Storyville 

Legendary Story of Two famous sites, 

Krauss Department Store and

Storyville –a previous legal Red Light district 

of New Orleans

If you asked any New Orleans born resident about a place called "Storyville,"  I would bet only a small select group could tell you about this notorious red light district.  Let me make one distinction before moving on.   The famous Krauss Department store is in no way connected to Storyville.  In fact, Krauss was a famous landmark in its own right.  

Krauss was the store my mother dragged me to, to get my first bra.  It was the only store I can recall where the sale people really took care of their customers  – the old fashion way.  These ladies were in their 40's through 60's – many of which had been working at Krauss department store for over 25 years.  It was the store on Canal Street where most of the African Americans kids I knew purchased their high school photographs.   It was the store your grandmother went to for a girdle,  and if you were "big boned" your mother probably wanted you to get  sized up as well.  No self respecting high schooler would think of wearing a girdle –  wiggles & jiggles or not.  

Unfortunately, in 1997 this iconic store closed its doors forever.  It was a sad day in New Orleans history.  Krauss was one of the last independent department stores in operations for nearly a century.    Gus Mayer was another iconic store founded in 1900 and located near Krauss on Canal Street.  

What we did not know about Krauss after all of these years was that it was actually located at the site of one of the most controversial districts in New Orleans – Storyville.  Storeville was a free prostitution zone ironically named after a political leader who fought tooth and nail against  prostitution in the city, but compromised by establishing a 38 block prostitution zone on the other side of Basin which is now the Ibverville public housing project. The old Krauss building is now an upscale hotel.

The city has done a good job of quietly tucking away this park of New Orleans history through out the years.  I asked a friend today if he knew anything about Storyville and he answered by saying, yes, its in City Park.  I went on to tell him about the history of this notorious red light district, with the famous madames and even famous jazz artist like Jelly Roll Morton to his amazement.   

Some of the most fabulous buildings were located in this section.  All were torn down in an effort to erase this time in history.

 

An amazing perspective angle, shot in the French Quarters (New Orleans)

French Quarters

This photo was shot at an amazing perspective angle in New Orleans (French Quarters).   I love the French Quarters not for the entertainment aspect, but for its unique historic presence.  Walking through the French Quarters reminds you of a time long past.  This  remarkable small piece of (previous) Spanish, French, Native American real estate  is like no other city in America.  Of course not all of its history is grand and there are surely some aspects of the French Quarters that some might call decadent and down right naughty by nature, but it is what it is–a peace of American history.