The Count Down to NOLA Begins...

Did I mention I was going to New Orleans this week? I did? Oh sorry. Don't mean to rub it in.

I'M JUST SO DARNED EXCITED!!!

I went to school in New Orleans. While I was there I fell in love with the city. I used to go back fairly regularly (helps that I was dating someone who lived there), but since getting married and having kids my trips have been limited and always for work.

Like the rest of America, I was devasted by the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. I have friends who still live there and I worried about them, listened to their stories and of course followed it all in the news. A part of me that was a little afraid to go back, but I know the soul of the city I adore could never be destroyed.

There are no words to describe what it is about New Orleans. I just think you have to experience it for yourself. And not just the French Quarter. New Orleans is so much more than that. It's the people, it's the food, it's the architecture, it's the food, it's the way of life, it's the food, it's the scenery, it's the food, it's the history. It's all so different from the rest of the country--so uniquely New Orleans. Oh and did I mention the good food? If I were to call any of my college friends right now to brag about my trip the first question they would ask is, "where are you eating?".

We have reservations Thursday night at Commander's Palace. I think we're going to try to get into Galatoire's and I definitely want to hit Mother's. Other than that, we're winging it, which is easy to do since it's hard to have a bad meal in the city.

The folks get here tomorrow for their long weekend with the grandbabies. I'm a little concerned about how exhausted they're going to be after chasing three boys around for five days, but they survived their five children (by the skin of their teeth) so I think they'll be fine. The boys can't wait for them to arrive. Their joy only slightly diminished by the fact that Winston, my dog-brother, won't be along on this trip. Mr. 4 loves him so much he has a framed picture of him on the nightstand next to his bed.

In just forty-eight hours, Shakey on I will be sipping drinks and strolling the Quarter with nobody to get to bed but each other.

Crap, I better drag myself away from the computer and finish cleaning. It's the game I play with myself every time my parents come. Like they don't know what a slob I am when they're not here. Ha!!