Grave Concerns

Normally I wouldn't encourage such behavior. Something a little too creepy and odd about spending an afternoon tromping through a cemetery. But when one has just consumed large amounts of fried chicken with vegetables cooked in pork and salt then I guess I'd make an exception. AND when said cemetery contains graves of those dating back to the 1700's filled with soldiers from the civil war, and even sprinkled with a few immigrants from England then I might bend the rules even more. 

If you're even in Bama come on by and first we'll take you to fill up on large amounts of fried.....anything and then we can take a historical tour through a local cemetery. Fun right? This time it actually was. Thanks family for stopping by.

Good News

Sometimes the things that make the blog aren't very.....uplifting or very 'give yourself a pat on the back' South. But today is a new day. 

Just had to give a shout out to our Congress Woman Terri Sewell. Alabama's first African-American woman elected to Congress in Alabama. She is running for her third term and previously beat her opponent with 76% of the vote. Go Terri!

Have you?

Have you ever driven in a parking deck?

How about pushed a buggy?

I'm sure you've had your picture made. 

Translation....

Parking garage, shopping cart and having your picture taken. 

Now I bet you have done all those things. 

Enneagram truths

Recently I read a blog post about Enneagram types related to blogging. If you haven't heard of the Enneagram you should check it out. It is pretty spot on, at least for my husband and I, and has offered lots of insight into other folks in our lives. Don't you just love to analyze? No? 

Well, then you many not be a number 5. 

Anywho the point of this post is to discuss my spurts of blogging or rather the silence that falls in between the spurts. This gal (her blog post here) does an exceptional job of explaining just how I feel about sharing my life with you through the setting of a blog.

If you don't have time to read her post just know that I really do love sharing with you but sometimes I'm zapped, tapped and void of any extra emotional/creative energy that 5s feel you readers deserve in a post. 

But don't fear, as I'm sure you've learned, I'm never gone for long. 

Does this seem odd to you?

Never a dull moment in Bama, although many risky ones.

Reason #4

Are you a history buff? Me either but even though I can't quote you names and dates I still enjoy seeing what I can see.

Reason #3

Reason #3 New Orleans is worth a visit is enjoying the city with my husband. Okay, maybe you can't enjoy it with MY husband but I'm sure you can find someone to do the following with...

Sample and then buy a praline- now before you get carried away and mispronounce this word, praline, let me tell you how it should sound. Praaaa (think of opening your mouth up for the doctor) lean. We double checked with the locals and sure enough there is no 'y' is praline (pra-lean). 

But there is a lot of yumminess in them.

Ride the streetcar. Make sure you don't call it a trolley- those are in San Francisco. Here in the south they call them streetcars. For $3 you can get an all day pass and ride all over, a great way to see and experience the city. And I promise it isn't just for tourists. We saw several people use it for their transportation to work. 

And last, but certainly not least, you really have to walk the streets to get the right vibe. Artists, music, food, people, shops, history and architecture all can be found on the streets, streets that only a crazy person would try to drive. 

Hoping you find someone to share the city with!

Reason #2

Another reason to love New Orleans is the architecture. So much history and care and expression went into the homes and buildings downtown. It really can't be described, it has to be lived. 

Just like most cities there are different districts, the business district, the garden district, the french quarter (ok, not every town has a french quarter). What's unique about New Orleans is that the new and the old are build right next each other, as well as the beautiful and the not so beautiful. 

This is right across the street from the Mississippi River (also H&M and Urban Outfitters)

One of my favorites, yellow is such a happy color

See what I mean but old and new together. The shorter building is from 1890, something tells me the taller one isn't quite that old. 

A feast for the eyes, look no further than downtown New Orleans.

Wish you were there? Here is a little drive by video for you.

Mardi Gras

What happens when you visit New Orleans the weekend after Fat Tuesday? We did miss all the parades and the chaos that goes along with them but we did get to see the aftermath. 

Maybe someday we'll go for the actual event but for now a few days after was good enough for us.

We did get to ride in the streetcar on the parade route, does that count?

New Orleans

We spent the weekend in New Orleans, or should I say Nolans (said with a Louisiana accent). It was refreshing to be in a city. I'm not usually one for big crowds, loud noises and lots of smells but I am learning to appreciate the diversity that comes with city life. 

I often feel like the odd man out in our current city, it's a little.....well not so diverse. But New Orleans is everything but the same. Maybe our next move will be to the 'big easy'. 

New Orleans, how I appreciate you. Reason #1

Entertainment

Around every corner, there is someone ready to entertain you with tricks, hula hoops and music.

Music could be heard for a block or two and just as the sound began to fade another musician appears. What's not to love?