I am so ready for some football!!!!!

OMG! Football season is finally here!!!! And, guess what? My first game of the season was the FIRST game of the season!! Let's start at the beginning, shall we? I started looking for jobs towards the end of 2009. I had found a couple that I wanted, but wasn't super serious about finding a new job. I mean, I had a great Monday through Friday gig that paid me well and I had the most amazing boss I think I've ever had in my life. Who'd want to give that up?!

So I moved the job hunt to the back burner and got through the holiday season. I kind of kept looking, here and there when I had a free minute at work. I found a dream job, but when I went back to post for it, it was gone. After the first of the year, I was going through some personal crap and just said eff it. The winter sucked the life out of me and I decided that when I got back from Mexico, the first thing I was going to do was re-dedicate myself to finding something, anything that wasn't in the state of MN. At this point I didn't care if it was Cambodia or Columbus. I just needed to leave. And then this job almost jumped out of the website at me. New Orleans? Could I live there? Could I deal with the humidity and the crime and the (gasp) hurricanes? In typical me fashion, I walked into my boss' office and asked if she cared if I posted for it. She said no, so I did.

Obviously I got the job, or I wouldn't be here. Somewhere during the interview process, the NFL released it's 2010 schedule. Lo and behold, the first game of the season is at the Superdome. On a Thursday. Against the Vikings. In the process of the job hunt, I wasn't super sold on NoLA, but once I saw this, I figured there was something else going on and I had to go. I wanted to be at this game. I needed to be at this game. So, job taken, and the hunt for tickets was on.

Fast forward to last week. I've said it before and I'll say it again, it's not what you know, it's who you know. I'd been badgering my friend all summer to come down for the game, and wouldn't you know it, my friend Chris was the lucky guest of honor along with a couple of his friends. They all happen to have a friend that works for the Vikings. A friend that hooked us up with tickets to the game, gratis. And somehow finagled on field passes for the pre-game!! Are you effing kidding me? I'm seriously one of the luckiest girls on the planet.

They all arrived Wednesday, we went out to dinner and hit Bourbon Street (of course!). Had an awesome time as always with them; it's easy because they're awesome. Thursday was the big day. I met up with them at their hotel and pre-gamed for a bit, then hopped in a cab to the Superdome. I'm not gonna lie, it's pretty impressive. I've driven by it countless times, but when you're standing on the street next to it, wow. We found our way in and found our way to the field. I had goosebumps and a smile the size of Texas when we walked out on that field.

There really isn't any way to describe the feeling of walking out on an NFL field before the game. In the industry I'm in, I've been around my fair share of famous people, including countless athletes, and I'm generally not one to get star struck. But seriously, this was different. There was the Thursday night game crew that included Tony Dungy, Brett Favre was on the field, Roger Goddell, Chris Paul. I was in heaven. I even got to catch an NFL football pass from Chris. I really can't describe it. It was one of those amazing once in a lifetime things.

About a half hour before kickoff, they booted us from the sidelines and up to our seats we went. All the way up. Literally. Last row in the upper level. We were on about the 45 yard line, so they weren't too bad, and there was a restroom literally right behind our seats (awesome). The crowd was super fun and didn't give us too much crap about being Vikings fans. There were a couple guys from MN near us, so I shared a Surly with them (duh! of course I snuck one in!). All in all, it was a great night with seriously kick ass people. Thanks to Ryan for the tickets and to Chris, Ryan and Andy for coming down and letting me be a part of the fun. You guys rock and hopefully we'll have drinks when I'm back in the 612 in November.

Recap...

The last week has been somewhat of a blur....all starting with Thursday night.

Thursday was our last regular season kickball team. I caught wind of this team from one of my Krav instructors, he said the team was pretty cool, it was on Thursday nights, there's lots of flip cup, so I looked into it! Unfortunately, the minute I signed up for it, I jacked my knee and missed the first four games. In the last four games, I was 3-4 at the plate, made one catch, assisted on another, and FINALLY scored in our last game. Well, we have playoffs next weekend, but the regular season is over.

It's surprising how sad I am about it. Yesterday just didn't feel the same without the carolina blue shirt and tutu. Granted, we had our fantasy draft yesterday and I wouldn't have been able to play anyway, but I missed it. I missed the camaraderie and the adrenaline. I digress....after our last game we had our flip cup playoffs. I never actually participated in the competitive flipping, just a cheerleader, so I can't take credit for the three-peat. Yes, our team is the three time flip cup champs. You can see how this would turn into a long night.

Friday I watched the Saints game with a colleague and her brother, had a few margaritas, checked out the 5th Child CD release at the Banks Street Bar and went to bed early. Saturday was the Monday night kickball playoffs. I had planned on stopping by and watching a few of the games and my friend Karen was in town, and she was cool with checking it out. Sadly, it was a super rainy day, and I wasn't dressed to give the slip 'n slide a go. We managed to watch one game, and then went to Felipe's for lunch.

We both had different events to go to - her a fundraiser for the Make it Right foundation, and me, an Abita beer sponsored grub crawl. It was a bit disorganized, but the food was good, and the beers were paired perfectly. We reconnected at Howl at the Moon later and I eventually had to call it a night. We met up for lunch on Sunday and I gave her a ride to the airport. It's so wonderful having good friends come visit me; in the last few days, I've had two more friends confirm visits here. Please keep coming, it's an amazing city that has so much to offer. Plus, tourism is our main industry here, and being that I'm in it, I'd like to be able to keep working. :)

Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, I didn't really do much of anything. Wednesday I went out with the guys from the Krav studio - it's so interesting to see people out of the normal environment that you see them. These are the guys that yell and scream and push me harder than anyone ever has before, and yet seeing them out and about, they're big teddy bears that wrestle each other, listen to live music, scarf pizza at 2am. People absolutely fascinate me, watching how we interact with one another, the life choices we all make....funny the way it is.

Saturday, part deux....

At some point during the aforementioned Red Dress Run, I (or a caring kickball teammate) decided that I'd had enough to drink. It's happened before, and I'm sure it'll happen again. It's just the way life is. Given that I was in no shape to drive, another caring kickballer was kind enough to give me a ride home, even though it was completely the opposite direction. Mad props to Paul - have a great trip up to the midwest.

After several minutes, or what seemed like it, I was able to get my front door open, my AC turned on, my feet washed (they were covered in "French Quarter Goo" as one of my co-workers so eloquently put it), and crumpled into a heap on my bed. I had arranged with another co-worker for her to pick me up and get me back to my car at some point.

She picked me up around 8, and we went down to Cajun Mike's, our local hotel bar. My friend Cory was going out in the quarter with a couple of his friends, celebrating (though that may not be the right word) a divorce. Or as my friend put it, a reverse bachelor party. I knew what they were trying to get into over the course of the evening, and I wasn't intending to get drunk twice in one day, but these things happen. There was a trip to Coyote Ugly (which was incredibly lame and I need a new black strapless bra), Ryan's Pub, Pat O'Brians, more daiquiris, more dancing, and more laughing.

After a trip to Bourbon Cowboy, with the intention of riding the mechanical bull (which I KNOW is a bad idea), we all decided to head back to the hotel. I swiped a blanket and pillow from one of the beds, and curled up on the floor. What?! It was either that or the bathtub, and I didn't necessarily want to be woken up to any unpleasantness in the morning. After the boys got some wrestling out of their systems, they headed back out. I think one of them wanted to go to a strip club....I'm not really sure....a bit fuzzy by this point.

All in all, it was a super Saturday, one which will not easily be topped. My buddy Shawn, who absolutely loathes the city, said he had a great time and would definitely do it again. I don't loathe the city, but I will definitely be doing it again. Good times in the Big Easy.

Red Dress Run....

Wow. I'm pretty sure that's the only way to describe the train wreck that is the Red Dress Run. It's an event put on by the New Orleans Hashers, a running club with a drinking problem. Or is it the other way around? Either way, it was a blast.

6,000 plus people bar hopping down Bourbon Street, all in red dresses. Male, female, older, younger....everyone. It was pretty cool to see all the dresses and how creative people were with their outfits. I loved the sparkly shoes and the miniature hats, the stripper like outfits on guys that shouldn't be wearing them, and the banana hammock.

There were Everclear soaked cherries, daiquiris galore and plenty of free beer. There was dancing, there was laughter, there was bonding, probably some stripping and a whole lot of photos taken. The best part? Last year they donated $93,000 to various charities around the city. $93,000!!!!! Based on a quick calculation, they should easily be able to donate $150K this year. This city most definitely needs the charity dollars and they go to great local causes.

I'm happy to have been a part of it, and will definitely be back for it next year. My limit on cherries however will be one and not two. I shall also stay away from the daiquiris, though the mudslide/white russian combo is a thing of beauty.

Whew.

I have just arrived home from my first official big catering function - a family reunion for about 100 people. Overall it went well - the client was extremely happy....but there were a couple of bumps in the road that I will address with the appropriate personnel.

The last couple weeks have been an absolute blast. I had a couple of super downer moments, none of which I will get into here. Yet. You like reading about the fun stuff anyway. I'll roll back to a couple Tuesdays ago, when I was greeted with my first Minnesota faces. My friend Angel was here for a conference and brought her friend Karen with. It was sooooooo unbelievably nice to have some familiarity in my life. We met up for dinner and a stroll down Bourbon. Hit up the Funky Pirate Bar to see Big Al Carson - who's AWESOME! TONS of laughs were had and I'm super sad they're gone now.

My Thursday plans got switched to Wednesday...we were going to check out this super cool wine bar, but decided on a night in front of the TV instead. It's a place called W.I.N.O - Wine Institute of New Orleans. You buy a card or start a tab, and you're able to sample 1, 2 or 4 oz. pours of 120 different wines. They have an amazing cheese selection and the hummus is To. Die. For. I'm blanking on what I did that Thursday...when it comes to me I shall recap it.

Friday was back to the Quarter. My friends were still in town, so we met at my hotel, had a couple drinks and apps, gave them a tour and then embarked on our evening. The original plan was to meander down Royal Street, stopping at whatever struck our fancy for an app and a drink. Of course, we detoured off our plan, and right into a Pimm's Cup at some hotel bar. Not just any hotel bar, but a rotating hotel bar. Yes, it's kitschy, but it was pretty cool. I had been there previously with a friend, and while it took some getting used to, overall it was a pretty cool experience. We were going to hit up an Irish Pub down the street, but ended up grabbing Mexican food at Felipe's. It's like Chipotle, only better and cheaper. We were going to try to avoid Bourbon street, but we ended up meeting some other friends of theirs at the Cat's Meow. I believe I've recapped the rest of this evening in a previous post....

Saturday I picked up the girls at their hotel and we went out to a local (to me) bar to watch soccer and grab lunch. After recapping their week, we called a cab and they headed to the airport. I napped most of the rest of the afternoon (much needed) and had resigned myself to an evening home alone. Welcome to Loserville, population Me. Around 10 in the evening, a colleague called asking if I had any interest in going out with some new people at work. Let me check my calendar....um....YES! We met at Rendezvous bar (fitting, no?), and from there to Balcony Bar (where the infamous kickball drinkoff took place the week prior). From there we were whisked away to Monkey Hill where they had a decent band playing and then finished up that portion of the evening at Philips.

I'm used to going out for happy hour, and being home, in bed, asleep by 10 at night usually. Even on weekend. Here however, no one really goes out until late (like 11), and since the bars don't really close, they stay out until the sun comes up. This does not make for any sort of rational sleeping habits, I tell you. Anyway, I met up with the girl I was supposed to live with when I moved here and we played Apples to Apples with some of her friends until the wee hours of the morning. It was super fun, and great to meet some new people. Sunday I slept in, was a horribly lazy bum, and eventually made it out to the kickball fields. Joined a friend for ice cream and had an early night.

This past week has absolutely flown by. Actually, the two months I've been here have been an absolute blur. Last week was filled with kickball and doctors appointments and soccer and cocktails. I was sadly unable to play the first week of kickball this week - hopefully next week I'll be back to normal. My team is super fun as is the whole league. It's in a different part of town than I normally hang out, so it's nice to see a new part of the city. Had a massive heart to heart with a colleague who I hope I can trust, took a trip back to being a kid and watched Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and had a bunch of ice cream and pastries. I really need to watch what I'm eating around here...all this rich food has the potential to result in not so happy things for me.

All in all, its been another amazing couple of weeks. This weekend is filled with the Running of the Bulls, soccer, kickball, more soccer and perhaps even Despicable Me. My knee is getting better by the hour (though that could be the painkillers my orthopedist gave me), so hopefully I'll be back in the Krav studio by Tuesday and contributing to our kickball team in some other way that beer drinking and clapping.

Did I mention the "Slap Cuzzies"??? If not, they're awesome on many, many levels.

I know you’re all dying to know…

What happened to the knee. Let’s start with a PSA: Tequila is fine. Mechanical Bulls are fine. Tequila + Mechanical Bull + Old Skiing Injury = Recipe for Disaster.

I learned at the ripe age of 18 that trying to impress people was silly. Well, let’s modify that. It’s not silly. It’s silly to try and impress someone when you know nothing about them. I speak from experience here. I was skiing after class one afternoon, and noticed a rather cute boy on the slopes with me. After several times down the hill, we ended up on the chair lift together. Conversation was had, badgering me to go of the jumps took place and eventually, wanting to impress cute boy, I acquiesced. The first two times down the hill went rather breezily. The third times the charm, right? Only the wrong charm. Fast forward to me falling rather ungracefully, and ending up in the hospital with him.

Only to find out he had a girlfriend.

Fast forward to the present, and we’re sitting here, knee ace-wrapped and covered in ice. I’ve been popping Advil like it’s going out of style. I’ve been through this before, many times, either due to my wicked dance moves or Whiskey Tree with ‘The Fetus’ (NOT my name for him). And usually all is well in a couple of days.

I’ve been on a mechanical bull once or twice in my life, so when it was suggested, I was up for it. I mainly wanted to see my friend on it, and the only way she was going was if I went first. Apparently it didn’t matter that she’d already done it earlier in the week. So, after barhopping around Royal Street and dinner at Felipe’s, we met up with some friends at the Cat’s Meow. We’re all having one of the best nights of our life and finally decide to have our way with the bull. After a pit stop at a tequila bar, we sauntered into our destination. I wasn’t intimidated in the slightest.

We got signed up, grabbed a drink and got in line. I was trying not to watch the other girls on the bull, mainly because I didn’t want any of them to intimidate me. I think I’m pretty kick ass, but I know there are MUCH hotter chicks on the planet and since I’m not one of them, they intimidate me. Anyhow, we’re chatting, laughing, trying to figure out where to go after this, because really, how can you top a mechanical bull on Bourbon Street?!

(Un)lucky for us, we didn’t have to figure that out. I was on the bull so long, I eventually got bored with it. So I asked the guy to flip me off. The whole time, telling myself to fall off to the left. To the LEFT!! Why would that happen? That would be too easy! Well, I went off to the right, and the moonwalk-ness of the padding didn’t make for a solid landing. And my knee buckled. I had to haul myself off the mat with a basically useless right leg and somehow stand up without anyone being the wiser. I don’t think anyone was, which gives me some satisfaction (ah, the retention of even a little bit of dignity makes all the difference).

My gimpiness pretty much sealed the fate of the evening unfortunately. We were having such a good time! I stayed off it as much as I could over the weekend, thinking that it would be better in the morning, just like it always has been. Monday morning rolled around, and it felt almost worse. Off to the urgent care facility for me. Nothing is broken, thankfully, but there is something floating around in there, and some sort of arthritis is developing. Christ, I’m 29, not 79! How the eff can I have ‘some sort of arthritis’?! Anyhow, an appointment has been made with an orthopedist, and an MRI will hopefully be taken. I’ve known for a long time that surgery was in my future….I was just hoping it would be after the age of 30 and not before.

Send good thoughts to my knee. And for the love of god, don’t mix bad knees, tequila and mechanical bulls. All are fine separately, but the three together are just asking for trouble.

Sorry...

It's been a while since the last update....though I have a feeling I'll about to have more time on my hands....a silly little skiing accident years ago has re-insterted itself into my life. I spent this morning today sleeping in and searching for the nearest urgent care facility. I have a date with an MRI this week. More to follow on that.

The last 10 or so days have been wonderful - with the exception of a few ill advised moments on Friday night, most notably the dismount. Anyhow, I've been exploring and tour guiding and kickball observing and enjoying fleeting moments and stealing glances and savoring memories and receiving perfect planning scores and so many other things that I'm unable to recall at the moment.

I'll get into the details of the previous week later, but I'll recap the holiday weekend while it's fresh in my brain. It's going to be a superlightningquick recap, so don't blink or you might miss it. Friday I left work early to watch the soccer game. I was still high from my first survey from a client (Excellent, mind you!). There wasn't a lot to do in the office, and all of my clients in house were ecstatic. Instead of soccer, I took a detour for ice cream with a friend. Had an amazing chat, incredible ice cream, and just in general enjoyed the company. After that, I headed home, showered and got ready to meet A and K - my first official visitors!! Well, A was here for a conference, so it wasn't entirely for me. We met at the restaurant in my hotel, where our amazing bartender wowed the ladies with his cocktail making abilities. We quickly decided we didn't want to do Bourbon Street. Suffice to say we ended up there. Saturday I slept in, picked up the girls, watched soccer, took a nap, went out in Uptown and cleaned up at Apples to Apples. Sunday - slept in (finally! two days in a row!), watched kickball, watched exploding fireworks (BEST. FIREWORKS. EVER.) and napped on my colleague's porch. Today, urgent care, laziness, pizza and Willy Wonka.

Send good thoughts to my brother and his amazing family. After giving birth to their second handsome son, my brothers girlfriend was admitted to the hospital (on his birthday no less!). I believe she is home now, recovering...I'm sad I can't be there for them. It's the moments like these that you don't think about when you pack up your life. The people in my life that I love the most are so far away, and I can't be there for them. I can't wait to see everyone in August and hug them and tell them how much I care and miss them.

While I am having a wonderful experience in this city, there are certainly the downsides. So, if anyone out there wants to build one of those Star Trek transporter thingys, I'll be your first customer.

Woo hoo!

Yet another fabulous weekend is in the history books. Friday may have been the first day that I didn't feel like a 90 year old. I am ridiculously out of shape, it would appear. I felt completely normal on Saturday, but Friday was great. Productive day at work, LOTS of laughs had...all in all a great day at the office. We left around 4 for HH.....and what was supposed to be two at Cajun Mikes turned into four. Then we made tracks to the Bulldog (closer to home for both my counterpart and I), where one turned into four. Analytical conversations interspersed with dirty jokes is a wonderful way to end the long week. I was supposed to meet up with a friend I met at the concert, but it turns out my body had a different agenda. As I laid down to read the newspaper, I let my eyes rest......and four missed calls and two texts later, it's 1AM. Guess I wasn't going out further.

Saturday I woke up super early....like 7AM early. After forcing myself back to sleep for a couple hours, I grabbed a cup of coffee and waited for my couches to arrive. I HAVE COUCHES! Plural! And they're SUPER nice. Soft, comfy black leather. I really only have room for one of them, but the pair was about half of what I paid for my previous couch. Singular. They're my first "official" pieces of furniture (the clothing racks and air mattress don't count). I had some time to kill before the USA v. England soccer match, so I caught up on the most recent Wine Spectator.

The destination for the soccer game was the Bulldog, and I went a bit early to secure a table. There were only a few left when I got there, none of which were in the bar area, but I call it a success. It was absolutely packed after an hour....like to the point of not being able to move. Beers were drank, laughs were had, friendships started. I had intended to meet up with my friend Rob, but by the time I got home, the furthest I was going was McCools. I wanted to check to see who my team in their pool is (Italy....and if they win it all, I win $300) and there were a few people I knew sitting outside. Stayed for a couple drinks and called it an early night.

I really thought people were lying to me when they said there's a festival here every weekend. There literally is. And when I saw the Creole Tomato Festival, I thought I had died and gone to heaven. I woke up super early again on Sunday, grabbed breakfast and finally was able to meet up with Rob for this festival. And it was super lame. The highlight of it was the creole tomato bloody mary mix. We stopped into Margaritaville to bask in the air conditioner, ate alligator and then found Ryan's pub for the Germany v. Australia game. The rest of the afternoon slash early evening carried on like that - something good at one bar, something good at another bar.....The best was the Pimm's Cup at the Carousel bar though. The bar itself was odd at first....spinning around took some getting used to, as well as the kitsch factor of the place. Lots of old people. And cougars. Overall worth the experience though.

Should be another good week this week....I have my first client lunch today, I'm going to the gym Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Tuesday a few of us are going to check out Cochon and Friday there's another great concert. Seems that I am taking to this city after all.

First weekend in the Big Sleaze...

And there was nothing sleazy about it. Friday after work, we were in need of cocktails, so my assistant and I headed to the local. We sat around chatting for a while when the douche from the previous evening waltzed in. Wearing a backwards hat. Sweet, sweet vindication. I love when I make good decisions.

A good friend of mine mentioned that he had another friend that just moved here. We had tried getting together the during the week, but couldn't connect. Anyhow, he said he'd meet us at the bar. In the meantime, another couple of guys had come into the bar, one of whom was also from Minnesota! Finally!! Backup for me!! I wasn't outnumbered by Saints fans!! The five of us laughed and drank and then departed. My assistant needed to get home, so C and I dropped her off. Then he decided he wanted to try his hand at being a "tour guide". So I capitulated and agreed to let him drag me down Bourbon Street. I had been there on a Wednesday, but that was nothing compared to a Friday night in the Quarter.

It's all really fuzzy, but suffice to say, we had some decent beers at the BeerHouse (I think that was the name of it), a Hurricane at Pat O'Briens (during which I NEEDED to call Andi and share the news with her, even though it was 1:30 in the morning and she was DYING to hear from me at this time), bought a "wish stick" at a voodoo shop, and then ended up a a blues bar. The last place was pretty cool. We were testing the theory of bars never closing around here, but only lasted until sometime after 4:30....what can I say, there were cocktails involved?! Suffice to say, I didn't really move out of my bed on Saturday. I ventured out for a bloody at Jean Lafitte's Old Absinthe House, and a gyro, and that was about it. Until 4 or so, when my assistant called again.

She was my tour guide for the afternoon/evening, and let's just say it was a MUCH different tour. We drove around in the Quarter, the Marigny, Mid-City, Bayou St. John and a couple other places. I showed her the house I was looking at and she agreed that it was adorable (more on that in a future post). It happens to be just a few blocks from THE Irish pub in NO - Finn McCool's. Irish as in, owned by Irish peeps right off the boat. A few pints of Guinness were had, and then it started...the whiskey drinking.

I do not generally drink whiskey. I do not generally do anything with whiskey except look at it with disdain. Or pour it out. I strongly dislike the flavor. In the last couple of years, I have been ok with drinking Jameson when it is the only thing in the house, or bar, or garage. I rarely enjoy it. However, when a "nice"* Irish guy that reminds you of Ireland buys Red Breast whiskey (which apparently is pretty good stuff), you drink it. And then you return the favor. And before you know it, you're extremely jealous of your sister, who happens to be a certified whiskey taster.

*in yet another future post, I will explain further the quotes surrounding the whiskey buyer.

Another friend had made an introduction to one of his friends, so I cleared with my assistant that it was cool for me to take off. Plus, I figured she was in good hands. So, off we went to Mick's for karaoke. Drinks were had, bad music was listened to, some good music was listened to and eventually I just needed to sleep....called a cab and made it safely to the confines of my bed, Sunday was pretty much a repeat of Saturday - minus the bloody. I did drink about three gallons of Gatorade though, and was still thirsty. Ordered a pizza for dinner, took a long, hot bath, and watched a ton of chick flicks. Of all the places to have a Sunday Funday, this is the place for it....I just wasn't having it yesterday. There will be many more opportunities, I'm sure.

Tonight will be another low key night. Hopefully picking up keys for my new apartment(!!!) and then watching the season (and series) finale of 24. Have a packed week of training at work, volunteering at work, and still figuring out exactly how I fit in around here. I'll get there. And then I hope all of you do too.

P.S. I WILL be at the Vikes/Saints game 9/9/10. It's official. My buddy bought two tickets and I have my name on the other one now. So, my offer still stands....I'm going to buy 4 tickets - first peeps to send me flight confirmations have first rights to purchase said tickets from me. I'll sell them for what I paid....though the one I'm going on is just south of $200. Do with that info what you wish!

Apartment Hunting....

Well, I looked at my first apartment over lunch today. A 1 bedroom in the Quarter. Just shy of $800, including all utilities, a block off of Bourbon Street. While I don't know that this is the best idea ever, considering my social (re: partying) ways, I've never been much of a tourist, and cannot fathom spending another minute on Bourbon Street. I will to appease my friends, if and when they visit, but other than that, I will avoid at all costs. I may be a bit of a party girl (understatement of the decade?), but Bourbon Street just doesn't appeal to me. (I need an abbreviation for Bourbon Street....B.S. is just not going to work.)

It certainly wasn't the nicest apartment I've ever seen, but it would afford me the ability to sell my car, and walk or bike to work. It's a ten or so minute walk. However, I feel that the "touristy-ness" of the area might drive me a little crazy. There's a cute little courtyard in the back, where I could bask in the sun and read, and considering the location, it's surprisingly quiet. The one thing that's holding me back is the lack of laundry options. There are no machines in the complex, and no hookups even if I wanted to buy something. I'm willing to relax a lot of standards (see the Miller Lite I was drinking earlier in the week), but I just don't think I can bring myself to use a laundromat.

I'm looking at a place in Mid-City this evening. It's further away than I'd like to be ideally, but it's only a couple of blocks from the Canal street car and I can use that to get to work. It looks like a really cute house, so hopefully it'll be nice. I'm also looking at a place on St. Charles on Saturday morning - a SUPER cute building with lots of options for apartments. The only issue with this is that they're all studio apartments. I really feel like I'm past the point in my life where a studio is an acceptable living environment, but like I said, I'm into the relaxing of standards lately. Standards, not morals, mind you.

I'll use most of the rest of the day Saturday to drive around and hopefully find something. Our bartender suggested the Marigny district; not a lot of public transportation options, but certainly a bikeable distance. Though I'm not sure how badly I'll want to be biking with 100% humidity through most of August and September.

I've baffled quite a few of my colleagues with my disdain for driving to work, especially considering we get free parking. I don't know....I just don't care to drive for the most part. I've put less than 20K miles on my car in the last three years, and I really don't see the point. It's not a lazy thing, or a green thing, it's just a thing. One of many that make me a weird circus freak. Albeit one with pretty great legs.

One last thing. The local hotel bar has what is quite possibly the best Cuban sandwich on the planet. Last night we put bacon in it. Was. Amazing. Next quest? Wrapping it in bacon and somehow creating a Monte Cristo-like Cuban. I hope they name it after me. It is now my life goal to have a sandwich named after me. Ah, the little things in life.

Wa wa wee wa!

Hey hey!! For the first time in my entire life, I've moved away from home. I don't count the year I spent at Mankato State as being away from home (mainly because I was home every stinkin weekend), so this is quite the jump. I had a dream of moving to the Big Apple and instead I'm in the Big Easy. I will still get to Manhattan, but for now, I'm good here. I'll share the chronicles of the drive down, and everything leading up to it in future posts, but I'll give my first impressions of the city that's below sea level today. Once my computer arrives in a couple of weeks, I'll have more of an opportunity to be a regular poster and contributer.

My first night here was Wednesday. I checked into my new hotel and had dinner in the bar. After talking to Sam for a while, I decided to check out this thing called Bourbon Street. You may have heard of it. I certainly had, and it was everything I expected and more. I only walked a few blocks down, past a bunch of gentlemen's clubs, and found a bar with a live band and 3-for-1's! Seriously? Granted my Red Bull/Vodka was $16, but still....it was huge! And I'm not normally a size queen. The band was pretty good too. I made friends with an older couple (George and Susie, you're absolutely adorable!!), and a few guys that were in town doing some contracting work of some sort. We found an Irish pub (I'm a complete sucker for a good Irish pub) and played pool and then I headed back home.

Thursday I slept in, ordered room service, and met my new co-workers. They seemed really nice and I think I'm going to fit in just wonderfully. A friend of a friend picked me up and toured me around the city a bit. I really like the Uptown area. This weekend I'll do more driving around as I don't generally like sleeping while I work (or having the pen dipped in the company ink). Just makes me too accessible.

Friday I had some loose ends to tie up in Minneapolis so I went back for the weekend. Yesterday marked the first day on the job - touring around the building, meeting some of my new colleagues, an all afternoon meeting and a quick reception. I'd been hearing nothing but wonderful things about the Cuban sandwich at Cajun Mikes, and since I was unable to get one on Sunday (stupid wonderful crawfish boil!), I went back Monday. And it was wonderful. So were the people I was sitting next to. So wonderful, in fact, that I ended up staying way past my bedtime (completely missing my date with Jack Bauer), and laughed and laughed and laughed. Also, I will be back on Wednesday to try said Cuban sandwich with bacon. Bacon makes everything better, I say.

All in all, the first few days have been wonderful, and I'm excited to discover all this city has to offer in the coming years. That's right, I plan on being here at least three years. C'mon, I want to be at a Super Bowl dammit!! And hopefully the Vikings will be in it. There are a lot of things I will adopt about this city - po' boys, crawfish, jambalya, gumbo, Mardi Gras, Jazzfest, all the other Fests - but the Saints are NOT one of them. This girl is a Viking fan for life. Please don't beat me up because of it.

Lastly, I don't care what anyone says, Minnesota Nice is a farce. I was born and raised there, and it's a load of crap. It's more like Minnesota Passive-Agressive. Southern Hospitality is where it's at. Thanks for being so welcoming so far. I truly cannot wait to fall in love with this city and the people here.