Bam!

[chestnutcurls]

Hello! I'm back! My trip was good. You can see a small photo album here. Since it was the shortest conference yet, it was relatively painless. I also had a little free time, which I spent eating beignets and buying a lot of jewelry at the French Market. When I go to New Orleans I don't feel like a tourist- more like I'm visiting a former home. I was born in Louisiana, but I think it's more due to the fact that I've been there so many times. On our mission trip there in 2001, Ryan and I and a couple of other friends spent three days just wandering the French Quarter, so I know it extremely well. In May, Em will graduate and move to Washington, and I will no longer have a (non-work) reason to visit New Orleans. I'll have to come up with a new one.

Like most work conferences, this trip was mainly characterized by food. On our first night we went to the historic Court of Two Sisters, where I had lobster etouffee. On Monday night we had a steak dinner at a wax museum (don't ask). On Tuesday night, I went with one of the regions I support to a six-course meal at Emeril's. It was an experience to remember. The courses included: crab meat with caviar; broiled trout with succotash (my favorite course); quail; London broil steak with mashed potatoes and onions; a cheese course; and a plum tart with whipped cream and ice cream. I also had a mango iced tea that was as good as the food. Okay, now I'm hungry.

Anyway, I had a good time but missed Evan immensely. We had to drive my car to the airport, so I left him the keys while I was gone. To surprise me, he gave the car a complete cleaning- washed it, waxed it, vacuumed it out, dusted, Windexed, etc. Then he filled it up! He is so thoughtful and wonderful. When I exclaimed about it he said, "Well, I know cleanliness makes you happy." Does he know me or what? Sometimes when I look at him I can hardly see him for all the cartoon hearts. :)

Since it wasn't a stressful trip, I didn't think I'd be tired today, but I am. My head still feels weird from the plane ride. Also, I had scary nightmares about atomic bombs. I dreamed someone dropped three bombs on Memphis, which is when I should have known it was a dream, because who would waste three bombs on Memphis? Anyway, apparently they were lower-key bombs or something, because I witnessed all of them blowing up (from a basement) and still survived. Then I panicked because Evan hadn't been in the basement with me, so I went to look for him, and then I rescued the cat and the bunny and gathered my belongings, because apparently I was going to be living in the basement, even though I could walk around freely in the post-bomb environment. Also, my dad was out doing lawn work or something, and I started yelling at him to go back in the house before he got sick. It's kind of funny writing it all out, but it was very, very scary. All that to say, I feel like I didn't sleep at all last night. The end.

What's new with all of you?

Comments

[thetenthshadow.livejournal.com]

The Brend is Back! :)

I used to have dreams like that all the time when I was young, but then, the cold war was still on, and it seemed all too feasible to happen. Not a happy time to be a worry wart!

Re:

[chestnutcurls.livejournal.com]

Yeah. My nuclear war phobia started in the seventh grade when we read Fahrenheit 451. I was blessedly ignorant before then. Of course, this happened to be during the first Gulf war, with all the talk about missiles, so needless to say I was pretty paranoid.

Re:

[thetenthshadow.livejournal.com]

For my part, my mother (who also made me watch "Night of the Living Dead" when I was 5) sat me down in front of movies like "The Day After" and "Threads." And that did it to me, let me tell ya...no wonder I turned out so well!

[glass-of-gold.livejournal.com]

Have you ever heard of a restaurant called Petunia's? My parents and I ate there when we visited. :)

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[chestnutcurls.livejournal.com]

No, I haven't! Is it in the French Quarter? All I know is that and the garden district. :)

[calypsobard.livejournal.com]

welcome back home!
I hope you didn't bring no mess :)

Re:

[chestnutcurls.livejournal.com]

Thanks. :)

[anulyra.livejournal.com]

Missed you. I think I missed the entry that said you were going (while I was away).

Emeril's huh? How spicy was it on a scale of 1 to 10.
1 being like real cinnamon
5 being like taco beel nacho cheese sauce
10 being like fire

Re:

[chestnutcurls.livejournal.com]

:)

It actually wasn't spicy at all. Like a 2. I was surprised. Of course, there weren't traditionally spicy dishes in our dinner, either.

[jmcphers.livejournal.com]

Hey, glad you're back, and I really enjoyed looking at the pictures. (-:

Re:

[chestnutcurls.livejournal.com]

I am glad to be back, and glad you liked them. :)

[stacye13.livejournal.com]

"I dreamed someone dropped three bombs on Memphis, which is when I should have known it was a dream, because who would waste three bombs on Memphis?"

To make sure they got it all!!! ;)

Re:

[chestnutcurls.livejournal.com]

LOL!!!!

Yeah, in the dream the first one fell on Hickory Hill and I thought "Oh, there goes my high school." So maybe you have a point. :)

[dakoda.livejournal.com]

Emeril's! Josh and I envy you. lol It's funny, had I gone on the cruise, I would have probably been in the same area at the time you were. Missy said we would have all gone to Emeril's once we got back, but she and her friend didn't get to go due to weather.

I'm glad you're back! I always forget when my LJ friends say they're going out of town, and I just start wondering why they haven't been posting as much. :)

[balalaika.livejournal.com]

New Orleans is absolutely one of my favorite places to visit. David and I went there in May of 2003 for our 14th anniversary. It was my second time there and his first. We decided to go there on my recommendation since I loved it so much the first time around and still had things I wanted to see.

We stayed at the Provincial Hotel in the French Quarter. It was absolutely lovely.

We went through the Aquarium of the America's, the Cabildo, the Presbytere, the Old Ursuline Convent, and did a walking tour in the Garden District.

None of the restaurants we ate at were extremely expensive but all very good: The Napolean House, Acme Oyster House, Rita's, La Madeleine, Pat O'Brien's, and Cafe Biegnet to name a few. The flaming water fountain at Pat O'Brien's made for a wonderful atmosphere.

In my bedroom here at home I have two large framed pieces of art of the French Quarter...one of them is called "Royal Street 1890". I'm a bit of a French Quarter fanatic and I loved reading about your trip. So glad I found your journal!

[nova-wylde.livejournal.com]

All that talk about food is making me hungry! =9

I dunno if you saw my LJ entry yet from the other day or not, but I got your CD in the mail on Monday, and I really like it! Thanks again! *hugs* ^^

[jazzypoet.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad that you had an enjoyable trip, girlie! :-)