Life 2.1

My brother came to visit this weekend, partly to see me but his trip conveniently coincided with Mardi Gras!

He took a red-eye flight Wednesday night/Thursday morning, so I picked him up before work, gave him the grand tour of my place, handed him a pile of blankets and a pillow and told him there was lunch meat in the fridge and that I would be back later.

After work, we went to a local bar and snacked on some food while the Budweiser Girls asked if we wanted airbrush tattoos of a fleur-de-lis with the BudLite logo underneath. We passed, but Joe did manage to get some Mardi Gras beads with the BudLite logo on them for Bubba. We met up with B² since I have not seen her in ages. We kept it low-key since I had to work the next day.

Joe got rested up on Friday before we headed downtown to meet up with John-John and his Marine buddies. We met them on Bourbon and headed to one of my accounts for a quick pizza before going to the balcony party on Bourbon.

The streets were crowded, but manageable as we made our way to the Royal Sonesta Hotel. After a quick stop at a daiquiri shop, where I turned down an offer from a daiquiri girl to take a shot from a test tube, we made it to the hotel. We flashed VIP passes to get in the door, because you know, that’s how we roll, and up to the balcony we went, where we all got to throw beads to the party-goers below and met up with a couple of my friends from work. We also took the time to snap a couple of pictures for the scrapbook, of course.

That is the daiquiri girl who was selling shots but clearly Joe was already good in the drink department

JJ and John-John in their bead glory

Me and Kristen on the balcony

Joe and me on the balcony

John-John and Joe tossing beads

Somehow during the course of the night, Joe and I got separated, as he and the guys went off exploring. I met back up with him later and we headed home. We did, however, get to see just how the city deals with the ahem remnants of Mardi Gras. They literally bring in bulldozers to scoop up the garbage. No joke. We were driving down Canal at the intersection of Bourbon and it may or may not have been in the wee hours of the morning and we saw multiple bulldozers scooping up trash and dumping it into the garbage truck. Then we also got the pleasure of seeing them powerwash the streets with a horrific perfume-scented spray that proceeded to make me sneeze incessantly.

I was never so excited to go home. Plus, we needed to rest up for Saturday, which started off with a trip to a po’ boy shop for Linner (around 4pm). After Linner, we went back to my place to get cleaned up for Saturday festivities.

I would like to take a moment to describe the weather conditions as of late. In a word, freezing. Yet somehow, I thought it was necessary to wear cute going-out clothes and heels on Friday. That, I learned, was an epic fail. I quickly rectified that on Saturday when I wore my (f)UGGS and a long-sleeved t-shirt layered on top of another long-sleeved t-shirt and a coat over that. And one glove, thanks to Brooke, for my drinking hand. Hey, adult beverages over ice are cold! That was a much smarter route.

Saturday was also Endymion. That is the parade that was going on and we happened to arrive right as it was ending. That translates to hoards of people. We were all crowding onto Bourbon and it was the most atrocious experience of my life. Joe and I were ready to tun around and go home. My dad would have moo-ed like he was in a herd of cattle multiple times. It was THAT bad. We finally met up with John-John and the first words out of his mouth were in frustration. I believe it went something like “I have wanted to punch about 10 people in the last 10 minutes.”

We agreed. I personally had wanted to punch about 20 people, including the pint-size hooligan who thought howling at me would endear me to him. Really, he was the inspiration for the Pants on the Ground song, so odds weren’t in his favor.

As we headed back to the balcony party, I saw someone I worked with and we all rolled in together. I had never been so grateful to be above the madness. John-John ended up retiring for the evening early, but Joe and I lived it up on the balcony with all my work friends. Saturday was definitely a solid night.

In fact, (L-Boogie this is for you) Saturday was a top night….*top* night! (Side note, if you haven’t seen The Wedding Date, you totally should.)

John-John and Joe on Night 2

Joe and me on Night 2

I think this girl’s name was Zeta or something. During Mardi Gras a friend of a friend of a friend becomes your friend.

Some of my work crew

Beads beads and more beads

Joe and one of my work friends tossing beads

More of my work crew

Proof of our time on Bourbon Street

That is a huge pile of beads just on the street waiting for the bulldozer

Saturday was capped off with Joe winning big at the casino, which prompted him to ask if his feet were evening touching the ground he was so pleased. I can’t blame the kid. It was a solid night all around.

Sunday was spent primarily on the couch, since we were exhausted from the night(s) before. We ordered a pizza, watched tv then had a late dinner at Acme Oyster House where we dined on chargrilled oysters, seafood gumbo and friend shrimp. After returning home we rented a movie and watched it before getting up before dawn to get Joe to the airport.

For our first Mardi Gras, I have to say it was a pretty decent one. Though we’re both unsure as to how people do this for a week straight. Not to mention the extra few days thrown in for the Saints Superbowl victory and parade. They clearly have livers of steel.

Cheers to Mardi Gras 2010!

I can’t even begin to describe the atmosphere in the City of New Orleans yesterday and today (and probably tomorrow, right on through til Mardi Gras!) Since the Saints win over the Colts yesterday, there’s been a sense of euphoria throughout the city. The general consensus is that this tops even Mardi Gras as far as crowds and celebrating goes.

Me and the girls from work

I spent the Super Bowl in the French Quarter, which was a wise choice. I work with Blond Colleen (I’m Brunette Colleen obvi) and her boyf and his buddies rented out the entire second story of Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville for a huge Super Bowl party. We all threw in and that got us all we can eat, along with an open bar. It was, by far, the way to go. Not too crowded but definitely full and Blond Colleen’s mom and step dad staked out a table front and center of one of the huge flat screen TVs so we all had a great view of the win.

Mid-Who Dat chant

The game was so fun to watch with everyone. It’s easy to make friends when everyone is a Saint’s fan! It was clear (in our minds) after the pick-six that the Saints had won the Super Bowl and the place erupted in hugs, fist pumps, and in some cases, tears of joy. I don’t think I have ever hugged so many strangers in all my life! People were just hugging anyone near them and jumping up and down!

I met these people at the party

When it became clear that the Saints were going to emerge victorious, I took a little video (after I did my fair share of jumping up and down and high-fiving, that is)

New Orleans Saints win Super Bowl XLIV

Celebratory fist pumps

Blond Colleen and her step dad celebrate the win

After the hugging wound down, we headed to the balcony to see the celebrations going on below. Margaritaville is actually on Decatur so I wasn’t technically on Bourbon (I was about 3 blocks from it). There were cars parading down the street blasting music, horns honking, good-spirited mayhem and everyone was celebrating.

New Orleans Saints win Super Bowl XLIV

Brooke and me on the balcony

It gave new meaning to the song "Dancin' In the Streets"

We did end up heading to Bourbon and the walk among everyone was worth putting up with the crowds. The scene was something I won’t ever forget…walking past people and they want to high-five you at random. People cheering and screaming at random, pockets of people starting Who Dat chants…it was most definitely an experience! The city was full on Black and Gold…as illustrated in the picture of the statue below:

Getting up on the statue was the easy part but I have no idea how they were getting down

Brooke and me heading to the madness that was Bourbon

And now might also be the appropriate time to tell you that on Facebook, there are people who have listed “Drew Breesus” as their religious affiliation. They are hardcore fans.

They call him Drew Breesus

THIS was Bourbon!

I have to say, the Saints win was truly an amazing moment.

I (kinda) had my first Napa visitors this past weekend. I say kinda because a couple friends of my dad came last weekend so I guess that kinda counts because I took them to do tourist-y things but it was not planned until they actually arrived in the Boot.

Anyway, back to the matter at hand. My mom, my aunt and two of my good friends came to visit and this was planned way back in December when I was home so I consider them my first Cali visitors. Little did I know that the weekend before Mardi Gras is just as insane with parades. I had no idea. If this “pre-Mardi Gras weekend” is this crazy, I’m outright scared for Mardi Gras! Which doesn’t really matter because we have a four-game home stand so really, I will be practically sleeping in the press box.

But this weekend we did LOTS of stuff. I should take a moment to let everyone know that I make a mean itinerary. As in, I’m very hardcore about planning. I can’t help it. A couple years of Build a Better Burger will do that to a girl. And I learned from the best event planner ever, so needless to say, there was a lot on the agenda.

After a very hectic travel day in which LAX let me down (shock) by not having their planes take off on time, in turn making my lady crew’s connection in Houston late, and therefor eliminating the chance to see my place of employment and meeting my coworkers, the girls finally arrived.

We all got cleaned up and after a short tour of a part of the city that was definitely NOT on the agenda, we found our way to Impastato’s in Metairie (a suburb of New Orleans). It was delicious probably the best meal we ate. It did not hurt that Mr. Joe gave us all roses. I like roses. Roses don’t make me sneeze and I felt fancy. Thus, the following prom-esque picture was taken.

This reminds me of prom minus boys

By the time I got home, it was close to midnight and I was exhausted and full. I think we had six courses. No joke. It reminded me of the gourmet dinner the football coaches and by football coaches I mean their wives made us a couple years ago…wine was flowing and food just kept coming. When we heard the desserts, we each took one and rotated to the right so we could all enjoy them. And enjoy them we did. Though I don’t know how we fit it all in. I was impressed with my eating efforts that night.

On Friday (the 13th) we took a VooDoo Cemetery tour and our guide was very informative. His name was Ernie and he was a wealth of New Orleans knowledge. He is also good at calling you out for removing yourself from the group to talk on your cell phone while he is explaining the meaning behind neutral ground and he doesn’t care that you might be talking to your boss.

As we were talking back from the tour, we were on a side street in the quarter, trying to figure out our next move when all of a sudden, I stop dead in my tracks and shout in a very Ann-Hathaway-just-finds-out-she’s-a-princess sorta way, ’shut up‘ and promptly scurry up to the next doorway ahead of me.

Wanna know who was standing inside of it?

My old boss from the winery and the winery chef, who I had spent a great deal of time with one summer doing a tour.

Crazy, right? I know. I was shocked. My mom took a pic of me with the two, because B-Dub was dressed in costume as the Grand Marshall of the Krewe of Corks parade that was taking place later that day. Hilariously awesome. Also, Mom, that is your cue to upload your pictures to the computer. Then send them to me. Or I will tell you how to add them to Shutterfly. It’s easy. Just don’t leave them on the camera. Thank you.

After our run in, we figured we needed to eat again, despite having sworn off food for weeks after the delicious-yet-filling dinner we’d had the night before. For lunch, I took the group to Central Grocery for muffalettas, which were a quick favorite and I can’t blame them for appreciating deliciousness.

In the afternoon, we went on a plantation tour to Oak Alley, which was beautiful but was out in the boondocks. We cut through swamps and learned about the Cajuns. Word on the street is that they were the criminals, prostitutes and other outcasts from Europe who were not suitable for society so they were banished to the swamps, thus becoming known as the Cajuns. Not sure if that is accurate but we’ll go with it for now.

The story of Oak Alley

The oaks of Oak Alley

Then because we were in the sticks, the tour bus got caught in I-10/Pre-Mardi Gras Friday night traffic on the way back, which made me want to gouge my eyes out because we all know how I feel about traffic. And the two loud obnoxious men who kept trying to convince the driver to drop them off first didn’t help my cause. It was at this point that I reaffirmed my decision to not even get on I-10 to see Christ ride a bicycle.

FINALLY we got back to the hotel but because of parades, we ended up not doing dinner at Acme and the ladies had to forgo their first charbroiled oyster experience. We went to some place in the Quarter called Oceania or something and watching our very gay waiter get hit on by two very drunk women. Post-dinner, we went to Pat O’s to check out the Piano Bar, which I think was a good French Quarter experience for the group.

Check us out, having a night on the town (yes, I am wearing my Mets hat. It’s almost baseball season and need I remind everyone that I heart David Wright?):

The ladies at the piano bar

On Saturday, we started the morning out right well, it was more like afternoon by the time our waiter brought them out to us with some beignets from Cafe Du Monde then spent the day walking around the French Market. I got the latest Janet Evanovich book for only two dollars. I literally LOL when I read her books so two dollars was a steal of a deal. I also got a charm for my charm bracelet, which is officially at capacity.

Post-shopping, I headed back to my house to get ready for our House of Blues concert. We went to see Corey Smith and I have to say, I was disappointed in the HOB as a venue. They had no chairs and no benches but it wasn’t exactly a dancing venue either so….standing was cool. In a Borat voice NOT!

Then there were annoying drunk girls who I wanted to slap because they kept prancing/stumbling around making idiots of themselves in front of the opening act band, who had planted themselves near our post.

I will go into my disappointment in the venue in another blog post but let’s just say that I will not be going back. It has to be someone I really want to see for me to deal with that crap again.

On Sunday, our last day before an early Monday AM flight, I had to go to baseball practice for a little bit and my mom and my aunt wanted to come visit Uptown instead of going on the swamp tour. I would have liked to have gone on a swamp tour but felt better when a member of the baseball team told me he and the guys would take me on my own personal swamp tour whenever I wanted. I trust them to not feed me to the alligators, since I have become a potential source of sunflower seeds, so I will take them up on it sometime.

After the swamp tour, we met at a restaurant for a quick lunch (mine consisted of bread pudding because I had a subway sandwich for brunch earlier) then we boarded the Steamboat Natchez for a paddleboat cruise on the Mississippi River. It was a very relaxing tour and I got some good pictures. It was very Disneyland without the sugarcoating.

Mom and me on Steamboat Natchez

Confirmation that the boat was paddleboat powered

At one point, a fellow cruiser who had begun chatting us up agreed to ambush Cindy, who had passed on the cruise. I gave him my camera and he made a video, pretending to interview Cindy about her trip, without her knowing we had put him up to it. It was spectacular. We got her so good.

After the Natchez, we got cleaned up for dinner and ate at the Rib Room at the hotel. I naturally had a steak. We had some great wine and then headed to Bourbon for a quick photo op. I was so exhausted and knew I had a big week and they had an early flight so we literally made the trip to Bourbon, took a couple pics an then headed back.

It was a great visit but a whirlwind trip. I’m still catching up on sleep…which I need to do before Friday, which doubles as opening day for my baseball season.

Let the good times roll! Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez!

I moved here to avoid cold. Just for the record.

So imagine my surprise when I woke up and didn’t bother looking outside or watching the news for weather, and finding this:

That is my car, from my front door

The funny thing that is that I woke up this morning and got all the way ready to go and walk out the door but then thought, as I looked down at my open-toed heels, that maybe open-toed wasn’t quite the way to go, since, you know, it might still be wet from yesterday.

Geez, good thing I changed!

Who says that palm trees are tropical?

Naturally, once I arrived at work, some of us walked out to the baseball field to take pictures. I couldn’t really feel my fingers at this point so I snapped and ran. Well, walked, since I was in heels and didn’t want to sleep on the snow.

Yep, we play baseball on here

Props to Anne, Patrick and Tommy for their snowman efforts. This is a seriously snowman. Not just a “3-inch, pile up every ounce of snow you can find to attempt to make a snowman” snowman, but this guy is legit!

This snowman is actually about my height

I invite others to send me their snow pics and I will post them on the blog later. Bean, this means you.