I should be in New Orleans right now, but instead I'm sitting at home counting down the clock until I have to head out and do something in the outside world.
My friends invited my along to their weekend away from Austin to take New Orleans by storm and enjoy the city. It would have been my second visit to the town. I unfortunately did not get my day off request approved because two others had already gotten their own requests approved and that brought the team to a number that left us backlogged all day long.
Yes, work did stink this week, and I am so glad I'm not there right now.
The last time I visited New Orleans was when we decided to head out on a Saturday night and spend some time through the week there. I car pooled with my friend Seth, his wife, and my friend Emory. We hit the road after I got done with my serving shift and traveled the dark road throughout the night. 55 took us all the way there, and there were some interesting side trips that were seen.
Late night White Castle, late night gas stations that looked run down and barely open. I swear that one of the gas stations was recently re-opened after being abandoned for months, and the only update they made was hanging an open sign up. I've never seen bathroom graffiti so dark and outright hateful.
I think I stayed up for all of the drive save for some nodding in and out. Seth drove the whole time. As we went down the highway and the sun was rising, I remember seeing a deer walk on to the road after we passed it, and a fox hanging around the side of the road.
I think we headed out when we first got there. I don't remember because sleep wasn't happening for me. But the sites and sounds, and the tales of drunken tomfoolery. I realize that these tales of drunken times are about as interesting as hearing someone describe a dream, but I'm going to get to some of the highlights.
It really was the first time I woke up and someone shoved a beer in my face. The idea of drinks in the morning wasn't sitting with me, but that is what the event called for. I will say that I had a hangover on that first day, and it was terrible.
For some idiotic reason, I decided that wearing sunglasses at night would be the way to go. Yeah, I was stupid.
There was some good food had. I did try a bunch of seafood, something that I didn't eat much of. Call me weird, but if it came in from the sea and was frozen then I don't want it. Give me the fresh stuff. This was pre-oil spill in the city, so I ate a lot of good food. Crawfish poboys, oysters, and other delights sizzled my taste buds. As did Arby's. For some reason, that made a good hangover breakfast. Hey, I wasn't that smart years ago, but roast beef in the morning was delightful.
We did Bourbon street and hung out at some of the oldest bars in the country. Bars that were only lit up by candlelight and only took cash. There was one bar we went to and they only served good beer. As in, if you ordered bud light or miller, they would refuse to serve you. I was obviously drunk when trying to order, and the bartender clearly wanted nothing to do with me when I tried to order something domestic. It was like being served by a hipster before hipsters were a thing.
I got to see the Mississippi river and watch the waters a bit. We walked around to the area near our hotel and walked down neighborhood streets. I sat on a trolley and had some fantastic foods at cafes everywhere.
If I'm jealous about anything with my friends there now and me not being there, it is that I can't enjoy the food that is everywhere that oozes deliciousness. The drinking would have gotten out of hand, and my wallet really wouldn't like me. So instead I'll hang around this town and be envious of all the photos and videos that I'm seeing them upload.
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