Whirlwind of a Month

Since my last post, we've survived Mardi Gras, cruised to Mexico, and spent a weekend back home in Tennessee. For those who follow the NOLA (New Orleans LA) celebration: Yes we went to Zulu (amongst many others). Yes, we got a coconut (we had to trade for it). No, we didn't see the shooting, but yes, we had parked nearby and arrived back to our car on bikes only to be detoured by crime scene tape. Yes, it was a blast. No, we didn't mean to try to kill my parents with the parade schedule. Yes, it almost killed us. Bags of beads have travelled back to friends in TN and if anyone else needs some please let me know. I am now understanding the joke about extra girders in the attic to support bags of beads!

After Fat Tuesday had come and gone we took advantage of the kid's week off from school and made good on Santa's big family gift this year. A quick cruise to Cozumel out of New Orleans. Kids had an absolute blast! One of Ellie's soccer team friends was aboard with her grandparents, so we had immediate friends. Ellie brought home a trophy the first night rewarding her ability to 'Do the Twist' on the dancefloor. I think I lost 3 inches in 5 minutes twisting with her. What a great workout! Kids ate like there was no tomorrow. Paul and I tried not to follow suit, but did enjoy the leisurely pace and the boat drinks on deck. I slept like a dead person with the boat engines humming beneath me. It was relaxing. Cozumel was fabulous. The trip down the Mississippi and seeing the oil platforms in the Gulf was so very cool. I'd be okay with flying the next time. One of the highlights was the aroma of New Orleans food when we got off the boat on Monday morning. While regaining the ability to walk on solid ground, I could almost taste the cafe au lait and beignets, garlic and onions. The kids were back at school and I was at work by 10:30 Monday morning, but my computer screen kept rocking back and forth throughout the day.

We had just over 48 hours in TN last weekend to see friends and family, clean the aquarium, tidy the yard and enjoy all the barbeque we could find. We loved every second of seeing our buddies and we picked a few spring turnip greens to enjoy back in LA. Ellie cried for the first hour of the trip back to LA. It's tough having friends and family in two places, especially when you're 9 years old. On the other hand, it's hard at my age (not disclosed! :)) as well. I've lost some good friends lately as the grim reaper has had a field day with some old friends in my world. Just another reminder to live every day and hug our kids again and again and again, even if they do sometimes act embarassed.

Azaleas are all blooming and frogs are croaking everywhere. I've learned that alligators don't have any 'upward' power in their jaws, so if I encounter one I should step on it's snout. I hope I don't need to use that advice, but I'm headed on my first field trip for work this next week. I'll be wearing my steel-toed shoes and I will use any and all handrails while I stomp on their snouts (for all my Jacobs Enineering friends). The locals make fun of our accents, but that's ok. It's springtime and the windows are open. I reckon we don't have long before the heat hits. In the meantime, I'm enjoying the long evenings and cussin' the dark mornings like everyone else knowing all the while that I am blessed to be here.