One would think....

That being cooped up in the house all weekend with a sore throat (save for a kickball game) would inspire me to write. One would be wrong. Instead of recapping the amazingness of the last week, I have been the laziest person alive, save for a couple of showers and a popsicle run. You'll just have to hold your breath* until such time as I decide to share my thoughts of the last ten days with you.

*I wouldn't actually hold your breath....it might be another couple of days.

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.

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.

My New Toy!!

No, it's not the kind you think, you dirty bird. I’m typing away on my brand spanking new laptop. I heart Apple. I’m an Apple whore. First they announce the iPhone 4, and then this comes. As soon as they release the second generation iPad, you can bet your sweet ass I’ll be buying that too. I’ve become a serious technology geek since I bought the iPhone 3G. I can hardly wait the mere two weeks till the new one comes out.

Another weekend in the Big Easy is under my belt. Friday was not supposed to be anything special, just a quick happy hour with a couple colleagues. We left at our apprised time, and went on our way. My car was still at the hotel and when I walked by, a couple of our chefs were outside. I started talking to the one I knew, and then my phone rang. I was going to ignore, as I assumed it was the next friend I was meeting up with, but I didn’t. It was my assistant. Her car had disappeared. After a few minutes of trying to figure out what happened, I took her to the impound lot.

Which was closed.

So, we drove back downtown to some office building where we were told that someone would be back in 20 minutes and she’d have to fill out some paperwork, pay a fine and then they’d give her a ride to her car. 45 minutes and $165 later, she had her car back. Is that cheaper than Minneapolis? I don’t remember what mine cost to get out of hock the two times it happened. Anyhow, we went back to my local bar, Finn McCool’s where we met up with a mutual friend.

I swear I try so hard to keep my life drama free. Apparently the universe has some issue with me. I LOVE attention don’t get me wrong. But I like to be the one to draw it to myself. I don’t like it when I want to be left alone. Which was all I wanted to do. Have a couple drinks with some friends and have a low-key night.

Now, on my first trip to this bar, my assistant claims that she was roofied and that it was meant for me. I have no doubt that she was roofied, and I believe her when she says it was likely meant for me. She’s married, and quite obvious about it. Typically I wouldn’t go back to a bar where I got roofied, but this one is right down the street, it’s Irish, and I’ll try almost anything twice. So back we went.

And I witnessed my first bar fight in NOLA. What is it with guys!? Grr. That’s it, I’m going home.

Saturday I woke up super early and found a local breakfast spot. If my stupid camera on the phone worked, I would have taken photos of the best pancakes I’ve ever had. Hell’s Kitchen lemon ricotta deliciousness on a plate can’t hold a candle to the magnificence that was the bread pudding pancakes. With a whiskey cream sauce. And bacon. Mmmmm. Salty magnificent bacon. Makes everything better.

I digress. After breakfast I lounged for a bit, napped, lounged, napped. Watched a car accident unfold (see?!? I'm a magnet!). Lazy, hot, perfect. My assistant came over at some point. Found a cute little Mexican joint, another Irish pub, called it a night.

Sunday was kickball day. Haddad picked me up and we hit up the fields. Sadly I missed the start of this league by a couple weeks, but I’m a shoe-in for fall league. There was a bar on the field. ON THE FIELD. If this doesn’t have my name written all over it, I don’t know what does. Until the games actually started. I’m all about trash talking, but when you’re talking about a kid’s playground game, there’s really no need to get all Yelly McYellerson. It’s a freaking game for crying out loud.

When I witnessed the second bar fight in three days, I contemplated just watching fall league. Seriously….what is it with boys and booze and competition?! Ugh. Anyway, went out for a while afterwards and was home in bed my 9. Now that’s a Sunday Funday I can get on board with.