tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63435708793874812392024-03-05T21:15:08.322-06:00The Adventures of Mot and NejRamblings of an Iowa NativeNejhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00982042722943000994noreply@blogger.comBlogger597125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343570879387481239.post-31979709452064112592014-01-17T14:38:00.000-06:002014-01-17T14:38:00.565-06:00Well......hey there! I'm finally going to get back into posting to this blog on a more regular basis. <br />
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But.....I'll be doing it at a different domain. Head on over to the below link. :-)<br />
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http://theadventuresofmotandnej.com/ Nejhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00982042722943000994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343570879387481239.post-58665603238449135172012-07-15T15:06:00.003-05:002012-07-15T15:06:40.917-05:00Our Tour of Wilson Sand Dune....er...I mean Wilson IslandLast summer was very wet. Very very very wet. <br />
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(photo by Larry Geiger, found online)<br />
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That, under the water, is Interstate 29. My parents had to drive quite a ways out of there way to get to work each day, on a highway that had flood waters lapping at the edges and was in danger of closing as well. <br />
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The state park near my home town, where I've countless weekends in my life, was completely under water. Up to 9+ feet in quite a few areas. <br />
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This weekend (July 14th), the <a href="http://friendsofwilsonisland.com/index.html" target="_blank">Friends of Wilson Island</a> hosted tours of the park. Members of the public were able to see, first hand, the power of mother nature....and were also able to understand why the park is still closed. <br />
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Chris, the park ranger, narrated the tours and answered questions along the way. <br />
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This was in the higher area of the park....flood waters were only around 3-4 foot deep here. <br />
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Trees are still falling daily. There was hope that more of them would live, after so many sprouted leaves this spring. But, as time goes on, the stress of last year's flood is proving to be too much for them to recover. <br />
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The park WILL be reopening. Sooner than I expected, actually. They estimate day use to be ready by this December, and it will possibly be open for camping next season. <br />
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The playground is half buried in silt and sand. <br />
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The sand dunes in the park are in a constant state of movement. At one time park staff dug a path to this restroom...and then scooped over 4 foot of silt and muck (by hand with shovels). As you can see, the sand is being blown back in. <br />
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Chris said he's measured up to 4 inches of sand shifting from one area to another within a weeks' time. <br />
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Portions of the park were completely buried under layer after layer of the stuff. <br />
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Heavy equipment was used to dig out the roads in certain sections of the campground. As we were driving along, every once and a while you could see the top of a fire grate or picnic table under all of the silt. <br />
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The main shower house didn't weather the storm nearly as well as the small "outhouse" latrines around the park. <br />
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Not only did the cabin get shifted around in the flood waters...but when the trees started falling, it was struck. <br />
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There are wooden markers on this power pole, showing previous year flood water levels. The bottom two markers are fairly recent (90's)....you can see the water line level from last year quite a ways above them. <br />
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Will the destruction was immense, I've seen this park recover from damage (both storm and flood water) with flying colors. I have no doubt it will do the same again. I can't wait to hike on the trails to see other changes we couldn't see from the roads. <br />
<br />Nejhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00982042722943000994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343570879387481239.post-71526744346091457622012-04-26T10:00:00.000-05:002012-04-26T10:00:55.173-05:00I feel so old!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yep, that's right. Brandon, has his permit. It doesn't seem like that long ago when I'd come home from a bad day at work, take him in my arms, and we'd sit in the rocking chair...rocking each other into a better mood. <br />
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Now my nephew is going to be behind the wheel!!!! <br />
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<br />Nejhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00982042722943000994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343570879387481239.post-17953503734394367842012-03-27T08:32:00.004-05:002012-03-27T08:54:44.744-05:00Good Dog!!!Sunday afternoon:<br /><br />Steve found out I was taking my new sewing machine for a test drive, so he stopped by to watch the <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotoptimizeforbrowser/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><s><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";">carnage ensue</span></s> action. <br /><br />At one point, before the sun had gone down, he was on the back deck....just finishing throwing the ball for Sam. I was inside messing around with a zipper. Mot was in the living room playing xBox. <br /><br />All of a sudden Sam starts woofing. Not barking...just woofing. Steve and I both turned to look at her at the same time. At once we noticed she wasn't looking at something on ground level. She was <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">FIXED</span> on something in our Maple trees. I get up from the dining room table to come out and see what has her so alert. <br /><br />Steve started laughing. <br /><br />"Nej, you need to see this. You have ducks in your trees."<br /><br />I went out, and sure enough, we had two good lookin' wood ducks sitting in our trees. They hadn't made a noise coming in....but Sam knew what they were. <br /><br />We have soooo many birds in our yard. Robins, this year in numbers I've never seen before. Bluejays, our pair of Cardinals are back, owls, doves, etc, etc. <br /><br />She could care less. They walk around the deck in front of her, they drink out of her water bowl, they bath in her swimming pool. She won't give them the time of day. <br /><br />BUT.......two random ducks fly into our trees and she's all over it. Alert the media! "Dad, get your gun!"<br /><br />Good girl!!!!!Nejhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00982042722943000994noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343570879387481239.post-57737974937176857452011-07-08T15:00:00.001-05:002011-07-08T15:08:49.452-05:00Our Day in Pictures: 06/26/11In case you haven't seen it on the news.....our region is experiencing something it's really never seen....to this scale...since 1952. The Missouri River is threatening (and has, in some cases, come through on it's threats). Sections of interstates are under water and closed. Entire towns are either under water, or WILL be under water soon. I've never seen so many sandbags in my life!!!!<br /><br />My original home town is practically empty. A town of 300, reduced to just a few families sticking around...holding down the fort, so to speak. Waiting for levees to fail and the water to arrive. The levees are going one by one. Hundreds...thousands of people have been forced to evacuate. Their homes under water until December....if not longer.<br /><br />My grandma still lives in my hometown. We emptied her house a few weeks ago, and she's staying with my sister and family. The somewhat larger town I moved to in second grade is also at risk. My parents still live there. They, fortunately, live on a hill. Unfortunately, all the routes in and out of town are slowly being eliminated and covered in water. I've never seen anything like it.<br /><br />The Missouri has a chain of 6 (?) major dams along it's route. The flooding we're experiencing is from rainfall upstream. Snow melt hasn't even become a factor yet. It's nuts!!!!!!<br /><br />Anyway, the last, and closest dam is about 3 hours north of Omaha...so the boys, Mot and I decided to road trip up to see it. They are pumping 164,000 cfs (cubic feet per second) through it's spillways right now.....and, from the sounds of it, could be increased again before this is all said and done.<br /><br />(Side note: To help wrap your head around the amount of water flowing from the dam right now.......Gavins Point is releasing at a rate of 160,000 cfs. The flow rate of Niagara Falls during the daylight hours of tourist season is 100,000 cfs...and 50,000 the rest of the year.)<br /><br />We stopped to eat breakfast at our favorite breakfast greasy spoon...then were on our way.<br /><br />A stop at Starbucks once we reached Yankton, SD was necessary!! :-)<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gZOGxTwUexM/ThdXyR2HIHI/AAAAAAAAF3M/209mhWBNbLw/s1600/P6260018.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gZOGxTwUexM/ThdXyR2HIHI/AAAAAAAAF3M/209mhWBNbLw/s400/P6260018.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627062780718162034" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DM58UyW1YM0/ThdXkihMIYI/AAAAAAAAF3E/phOt8IgFlRg/s1600/P6260019.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DM58UyW1YM0/ThdXkihMIYI/AAAAAAAAF3E/phOt8IgFlRg/s400/P6260019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627062544675643778" border="0" /></a><br />(The Starbucks was in HyVee. I really enjoy watching Curtis Stone on TV....but those HyVee commercials have GOT to go!!)<br /><br />After we got our caffeine fix, we headed out of town to the dam. <br /><br />The amount of people traveling to see it was amazing. License plates from everywhere were lined up along the roads.<br /><br />The road over the top of the dam is open on the weekends, so we headed to the Nebraska side first. <br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xVMp4z-1TV4/ThdXkSFXFWI/AAAAAAAAF28/nieq9S1RX44/s1600/P6260023.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xVMp4z-1TV4/ThdXkSFXFWI/AAAAAAAAF28/nieq9S1RX44/s400/P6260023.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627062540263953762" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-URBcFYLvmag/ThdXj7dd4fI/AAAAAAAAF20/7r72yxUaXlg/s1600/P6260021.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-URBcFYLvmag/ThdXj7dd4fI/AAAAAAAAF20/7r72yxUaXlg/s400/P6260021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627062534191047154" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We parked the car, walked around a little, took some pictures, then headed back across the dam to the South Dakota side. (I may or may not have had my arm well out of the car window, taking video of the water flowing below us as we drove back across. And Mot may or may not have had to yell "pole" every time a light pole would have taken my arm off.)<br /><br />Once on the South Dakota side again, we had to park quite a ways away. On our way up to the viewing area, we walked along the banks of the river.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2DerX996glY/ThdVriApa-I/AAAAAAAAF1k/_UH2JeQErM8/s1600/P6260047.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2DerX996glY/ThdVriApa-I/AAAAAAAAF1k/_UH2JeQErM8/s400/P6260047.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627060465774980066" border="0" /></a><br />(whoops)<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zRpGMK1YPfk/ThdXjlbPcRI/AAAAAAAAF2s/VJi3V8sxsmE/s1600/P6260030.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zRpGMK1YPfk/ThdXjlbPcRI/AAAAAAAAF2s/VJi3V8sxsmE/s400/P6260030.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627062528276132114" border="0" /></a><br />(Danny hangin' back, watching the show. It was quite a sight to see!!!)<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1c0BK4_CBTQ/ThdXK4DqUnI/AAAAAAAAF2k/k6-IP_1mhC0/s1600/P6260035.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1c0BK4_CBTQ/ThdXK4DqUnI/AAAAAAAAF2k/k6-IP_1mhC0/s400/P6260035.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627062103780774514" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X99CdCngZps/ThdXKfTJjLI/AAAAAAAAF2c/keMiL98Qh2o/s1600/P6260036.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X99CdCngZps/ThdXKfTJjLI/AAAAAAAAF2c/keMiL98Qh2o/s400/P6260036.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627062097134849202" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_QmxmyjhIqM/ThdXIasVLmI/AAAAAAAAF2U/yNX2Q6-qh3w/s1600/P6260042.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_QmxmyjhIqM/ThdXIasVLmI/AAAAAAAAF2U/yNX2Q6-qh3w/s400/P6260042.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627062061538553442" border="0" /></a><br />(Mot and I wasted no time getting up the front. He was taking pics on his phone, while I was alternating between my camera and my video camera.)<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R-UcwcJOBQQ/ThdXIIecqvI/AAAAAAAAF2M/XkwcN6NTGXc/s1600/P6260043.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R-UcwcJOBQQ/ThdXIIecqvI/AAAAAAAAF2M/XkwcN6NTGXc/s400/P6260043.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627062056648485618" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eT8B4C_vq4c/ThdUDIb2CeI/AAAAAAAAF1E/DPwRaUHOS78/s1600/IMG_0810.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eT8B4C_vq4c/ThdUDIb2CeI/AAAAAAAAF1E/DPwRaUHOS78/s400/IMG_0810.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627058672203336162" border="0" /></a><br />(We were pretty well soaked through by the time we left. That water was COLD!!!)<br /><br />Here is a video taken right in the splash zone of the spillway. It was impossible to get a video showing the power of what you see when you're there in person!!<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/t7luH64SfsQ" allowfullscreen="" width="560" frameborder="0" height="349"></iframe><br /><br />Just watching the water rush by was making us all (well, not Mot...but the rest of us) a little seasick. And, the sun sparkling against the white foam on the water made it look like a river of diamonds.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_KWdjuU9g38" allowfullscreen="" width="560" frameborder="0" height="349"></iframe><br /><br />And here is the last one taken while driving along the downtown street of my hometown of Missouri Valley. (The interstate is under water and detours from Omaha to the dam took us right near town.) Seeing the sandbags in front of all the stores, waiting to be placed, was a little creepy. The best part is McDonalds (about 2 min in).<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/i3bmKXLNG5I" allowfullscreen="" width="560" frameborder="0" height="349"></iframe><br /><br />So....after we left the dam, we went for lunch. <br /><br />It wasn't so good. Buffet, blah...oh well. <br /><br />But, while we were waiting for our table, I spied this flyer on the wall. <br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GJZyG5jgYEM/ThdVrdf2ymI/AAAAAAAAF1c/4JDM8e4qnZY/s1600/P6260048.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GJZyG5jgYEM/ThdVrdf2ymI/AAAAAAAAF1c/4JDM8e4qnZY/s400/P6260048.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627060464563702370" border="0" /></a><br />Your typical small town summer extravaganza.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X3KTK3AoldU/ThdVrCJSs9I/AAAAAAAAF1U/a1jMwWkbbEg/s1600/P6260049.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X3KTK3AoldU/ThdVrCJSs9I/AAAAAAAAF1U/a1jMwWkbbEg/s400/P6260049.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627060457221305298" border="0" /></a><br />Main attractions and activities.....beer pong and flippy cup. Niiiiiice!<br /><br />After lunch, and on our way home, we hit the visitor center.<br /><br />Danny spotted some Lewis and Clark dolls on a shelf.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cBsEYMYC6tY/ThdVqzK9SwI/AAAAAAAAF1M/myxobg3hTUg/s1600/P6260051.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cBsEYMYC6tY/ThdVqzK9SwI/AAAAAAAAF1M/myxobg3hTUg/s400/P6260051.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627060453201758978" border="0" /></a><br />Very lifelike and realistic....right down to the missing tooth???Nejhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00982042722943000994noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343570879387481239.post-10560607109615540242011-06-26T20:35:00.009-05:002011-06-26T21:02:22.682-05:00Our Day in Pictures: 06/24/11Hello blogosphere.....long time no see!! :-)<br /><br />I've made two new goals....<br />1) post about what we do....SOON after we do it...not six months later<br />2) get caught up on the days I've missed...you know, Jan - June :-)<br /><br />I'll, in most cases (especially for those updates from MONTHS ago)....use very little wordage. Pictures, pictures, and more pictures. Eventually, the goal is to get into the habit of posting more often....and I'll work my way up to words again. (giggle)<br /><br />As you can see from this first post....I'm failing at the "less words" thing already.<br /><br />You can take the girl from the words, but you can't take the words from this girl.<br /><br />(I have no idea what that means.)<br /><br />OK, so these first few posts are actually things that happened this weekend. Words are OK. :-)<br /><br />So, without further ado.....I give you Friday night golf league.<br /><br />I changed into my golf clothes at work. On the way out the door, my boss asked where I was headed. I told him I was taking my clubs out for their yearly game.<br /><br />(Last time I'd taken them out was Memorial Day weekend.....2010.)<br /><br />:-)<br /><br />The girls (Val and Dee) have standing tee times at a local country club. After weeks of inviting us, and schedules not matching up....we finally made it!!<br /><br />I was on a "team" with Frankie and Steve. Mot was on a "team" with Val and Dee.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lfmyp4ROagM/TgfhDTmhDYI/AAAAAAAAF0s/WAD4dS-HcSQ/s1600/P6240002.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lfmyp4ROagM/TgfhDTmhDYI/AAAAAAAAF0s/WAD4dS-HcSQ/s400/P6240002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622710106713034114" border="0" /></a><br />Friday was the first sunny, gorgeous day, in quite some time. The weather was perfect!!! No wind, not too hot. And the bugs stayed away until the sun went down on us. It was awesome!!!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I0EQi5zUivI/Tgfg3h-ePuI/AAAAAAAAF0U/vpuByal93ig/s1600/P6240006.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I0EQi5zUivI/Tgfg3h-ePuI/AAAAAAAAF0U/vpuByal93ig/s400/P6240006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622709904413179618" border="0" /></a><br />Elmwood is a gorgeous course in mid-town Omaha. Shakespeare on the Green was in progress on the UNO campus grounds that border the course. <br /><br />People kept walking across our fairways on the way to the show. <br /><br />At one point a dude walks onto the course in front of me, just as I was getting ready to take a shot. He was on his cell phone...walking in circles, in the midst of a very heated conversation. I waited for him to look up and realize where he was....but he never did.<br /><br />"DUDE ON THE CELL PHONE!!!!!!!"<br /><br />(he looked up at me)<br /><br />"FOUR!!!!"<br /><br />(he ran quickly)<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vcEg4g1YlAA/TgfhDMm3N9I/AAAAAAAAF0k/cqA0KhYVRjo/s1600/P6240003.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vcEg4g1YlAA/TgfhDMm3N9I/AAAAAAAAF0k/cqA0KhYVRjo/s400/P6240003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622710104835438546" border="0" /></a><br />Frank in his cart.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qPKNugu22Q0/Tgfg3dUCvyI/AAAAAAAAF0M/Mkv45cvXVRc/s1600/P6240008.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qPKNugu22Q0/Tgfg3dUCvyI/AAAAAAAAF0M/Mkv45cvXVRc/s400/P6240008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622709903161474850" border="0" /></a><br />Steve taking a shot.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8gYvF4Wzq64/Tgfg30k7hiI/AAAAAAAAF0c/K35JTIt47nk/s1600/P6240004.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8gYvF4Wzq64/Tgfg30k7hiI/AAAAAAAAF0c/K35JTIt47nk/s400/P6240004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622709909406320162" border="0" /></a><br />Val, Dee and Mot on the green ahead of us. <br /><br />(they are actually little dots in front of all those trees on the left...trust me, they're there)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p8xd3NKqUPE/TgfghR5V8QI/AAAAAAAAFz8/hRvbpAdPGBI/s1600/P6240011.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p8xd3NKqUPE/TgfghR5V8QI/AAAAAAAAFz8/hRvbpAdPGBI/s400/P6240011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622709522139574530" border="0" /></a><br />The sprinklers came on as we were finishing the 11th hole. We played 11 and 12 before calling it a night.<br /><br />Or was it 12 and 13?<br /><br />I forget. :-)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mmT_O01By8I/TgfghGaXrmI/AAAAAAAAFz0/I8ysix9xMEs/s1600/P6240010.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mmT_O01By8I/TgfghGaXrmI/AAAAAAAAFz0/I8ysix9xMEs/s400/P6240010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622709519056875106" border="0" /></a><br />Steve playing "speed putt before you get soaked" on the last hole.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9JiyB1-zfRs/Tgfgh5-FQqI/AAAAAAAAF0E/pY-b9URZ46Q/s1600/P6240009.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9JiyB1-zfRs/Tgfgh5-FQqI/AAAAAAAAF0E/pY-b9URZ46Q/s400/P6240009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622709532896871074" border="0" /></a><br />Val's zoo of club covers.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pfBzJbg0HvM/TgfgMweF9gI/AAAAAAAAFzc/pkZCLjV3P0c/s1600/P6240016.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pfBzJbg0HvM/TgfgMweF9gI/AAAAAAAAFzc/pkZCLjV3P0c/s400/P6240016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622709169569527298" border="0" /></a><br />We may or may not have agreed to collect the pins for the country club on the way in to the clubhouse. And we may or may not have been jousting with them on the way back.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TLKUBWFF4v0/TgfgNlNqAsI/AAAAAAAAFzs/cdulDmHUPX8/s1600/P6240013.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TLKUBWFF4v0/TgfgNlNqAsI/AAAAAAAAFzs/cdulDmHUPX8/s400/P6240013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622709183727665858" border="0" /></a><br />Val and Mot<br /><br />After we finished up, we headed to a pub just down the street to get dinner. It was about 9:45, and we were all pretty hungry.<br /><br />(Side Note: If you want an AWESOME black and bleu burger....Clancy's on 72nd and Pacific is a rockin' place to go!!!!!)<br /><br />We watched the last million or so innings of the South Carolina/Virginia CWS game. <br /><br />It ended badly. I was hoping the pretty orange jerseys would win.<br /><br />(kidding)<br /><br />(kinda)<br /><br />(I mean, I would never pick a favorite based on jersey color. That's such a girlie thing to do.)<br /><br />:-)<br /><br />After that we said our goodbyes and headed home.Nejhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00982042722943000994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343570879387481239.post-45993407417894673072011-06-14T08:39:00.001-05:002011-06-14T08:39:44.732-05:00Awwwwwww!!!!!Mot's birthday is today. <br /><br />I can always remember what day Flag Day is because of him.<br /><br />(giggle)<br /><br />As I'm picking up flotsam and jetsam from the coffee table this morning, I find this.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nZq8QWkmWO0/Tfdj3VFv8EI/AAAAAAAAFxk/EsiYq8Fg0wI/s1600/love%2Bnote.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nZq8QWkmWO0/Tfdj3VFv8EI/AAAAAAAAFxk/EsiYq8Fg0wI/s400/love%2Bnote.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618068862373195842" border="0" /></a><br />"To my amazing wife. I love you! Just thought you should know. Your hubby, Mot"<br /><br />Happy birthday babe!!!!!<br />NejNejhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00982042722943000994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343570879387481239.post-57073028476050171782011-04-27T08:00:00.002-05:002011-04-27T08:00:12.465-05:00Mostly Wordless Wednesday: Tornado AlleyOn 03/22 (or thereabouts), a spring tornado or two hit the area.<br /><br />With the tornadoes, came large hail.<br /><br />On our way to a movie later in the evening, I notice up ahead of us, a car that had something odd going on. <br /><br />Mot sped up to investigate. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zFcNxNp-UWE/Taiaz18OyAI/AAAAAAAAFms/9HROizKs_7M/s1600/P3220019.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zFcNxNp-UWE/Taiaz18OyAI/AAAAAAAAFms/9HROizKs_7M/s400/P3220019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595892752451553282" border="0" /></a><br />I could see that the back window was smashed and missing. Shards of glass sparkled on the trunk. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vMMAXPxxA3A/TaiazjympeI/AAAAAAAAFmk/vXZpXt_y_IY/s1600/P3220018.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vMMAXPxxA3A/TaiazjympeI/AAAAAAAAFmk/vXZpXt_y_IY/s400/P3220018.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595892747579336162" border="0" /></a><br />As we got closer, I noticed the front window was completely shattered, but still in place. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-efGW0eTqaFw/Taia0PbcnpI/AAAAAAAAFm0/wfmU5OYlacw/s1600/P3220020.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-efGW0eTqaFw/Taia0PbcnpI/AAAAAAAAFm0/wfmU5OYlacw/s400/P3220020.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595892759293370002" border="0" /></a><br />Once we got closer, I started noticing dirt and corn stalks, and debris stuck to the sides. (this picture didn't do it justice)<br /><br />The passenger in the car spotted us taking pictures, so they sped up and pulled away. <br /><br />:-)Nejhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00982042722943000994noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343570879387481239.post-69419440445155971092011-04-20T08:00:00.002-05:002011-04-20T08:00:00.266-05:00Happy Anniversary Babe!!!!Love you Mot!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XFeNxmMleT0/TaifcamZHAI/AAAAAAAAFm8/edgdkF0MJpo/s1600/Weaver%2BWedding%2B2000_04_20.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 390px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XFeNxmMleT0/TaifcamZHAI/AAAAAAAAFm8/edgdkF0MJpo/s400/Weaver%2BWedding%2B2000_04_20.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595897847533345794" border="0" /></a><br />04/20/2000<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o8tkVMViqCU/TaifcvBo-dI/AAAAAAAAFnE/oQl8SvFDp4k/s1600/PA230119.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o8tkVMViqCU/TaifcvBo-dI/AAAAAAAAFnE/oQl8SvFDp4k/s400/PA230119.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595897853016340946" border="0" /></a><br />Oct 2010Nejhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00982042722943000994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343570879387481239.post-21736678712866618552011-04-15T10:31:00.009-05:002011-04-15T14:10:31.055-05:00The Weekend of Food...or....Why I Run (in pictures)Welcome folks, to the weekend of.....um......holy smoke, February 18-20th.<br /><br />Ah, I remember it like it was yesterday.<br /><br />OK, not really...but luckily I always have a camera or two (literally) with me at all times. :-)<br /><br />First up, Friday night the 18th<br /><br />The college hockey team we have season tickets for (the UNO Mavericks) were out of town....but Steve scored us some rockin' awesome, first row on the ice, seats to the local USHL hockey team, the <a href="http://www.lancers.com/leagues/front_pageLancers.cfm?leagueID=4581&clientID=1996&link=Lancers">Omaha Lancers</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5jG9d03HzSA/TZSj5N9p88I/AAAAAAAAFmE/3WeuyOmtBUM/s1600/P2180206.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5jG9d03HzSA/TZSj5N9p88I/AAAAAAAAFmE/3WeuyOmtBUM/s400/P2180206.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590273240869761986" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I didn't have much trouble talking mom into coming along. She even wore orange special for the night. :-)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ajbKMzvk3bw/TZSj43_dpcI/AAAAAAAAFl8/78bdE398Ngg/s1600/P2180209.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ajbKMzvk3bw/TZSj43_dpcI/AAAAAAAAFl8/78bdE398Ngg/s400/P2180209.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590273234971764162" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TlLOTfEqJdQ/TZSj4n1aWQI/AAAAAAAAFl0/5SUOTYFvsBg/s1600/P2180213.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TlLOTfEqJdQ/TZSj4n1aWQI/AAAAAAAAFl0/5SUOTYFvsBg/s400/P2180213.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590273230634637570" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u34INpnvSEA/TZSj4Vzy-6I/AAAAAAAAFls/YMs7FsIXO40/s1600/P2180214.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u34INpnvSEA/TZSj4Vzy-6I/AAAAAAAAFls/YMs7FsIXO40/s400/P2180214.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590273225796025250" border="0" /></a><br />Mmmmm....crunch. (please see title of this post)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ySj684rbfOM/TZSjPhwc3AI/AAAAAAAAFlk/zYsz68po6Ps/s1600/P2180216.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ySj684rbfOM/TZSjPhwc3AI/AAAAAAAAFlk/zYsz68po6Ps/s400/P2180216.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590272524628581378" border="0" /></a><br />It was train safety night. Everyone got wooden train whistles.<br /><br />Including the birthday party of 5 little 6 year old girls sitting immediately behind us. Ugh!<br /><br />But have no fear, I stole one of their foam rubber hockey pucks.<br /><br />Just kidding.<br /><br />Or not. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_TXkcvqWxEE/TZSjPAgfY_I/AAAAAAAAFlc/2BPDIzBjhz8/s1600/P2180218.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_TXkcvqWxEE/TZSjPAgfY_I/AAAAAAAAFlc/2BPDIzBjhz8/s400/P2180218.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590272515703268338" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FFKpSaiDAtY/TZSjOzQDwyI/AAAAAAAAFlU/Q5kgozmlXfA/s1600/P2180219.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FFKpSaiDAtY/TZSjOzQDwyI/AAAAAAAAFlU/Q5kgozmlXfA/s400/P2180219.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590272512144687906" border="0" /></a><br />Sadly, the Lancers lost.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fa-n32Hb6fA/TZSjOyXI_mI/AAAAAAAAFlM/KTi7H7JJgVA/s1600/P2180221.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fa-n32Hb6fA/TZSjOyXI_mI/AAAAAAAAFlM/KTi7H7JJgVA/s400/P2180221.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590272511905955426" border="0" /></a><br />But never fear...we headed to <a href="http://www.odining.com/">O Dining</a> for dinner.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CWqHmr4tpqI/TZSiYccOE6I/AAAAAAAAFlE/XpHSJqN22oQ/s1600/P2180223.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CWqHmr4tpqI/TZSiYccOE6I/AAAAAAAAFlE/XpHSJqN22oQ/s400/P2180223.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590271578308744098" border="0" /></a><br />Steve got himself a very (VERY) sweet drink.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sye-4tYXiv4/TZSiYJ8do8I/AAAAAAAAFk8/XCGgOdipnIM/s1600/P2180225.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sye-4tYXiv4/TZSiYJ8do8I/AAAAAAAAFk8/XCGgOdipnIM/s400/P2180225.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590271573343708098" border="0" /></a><br />Mom didn't seem to mind the tart.<br /><br />I was the DD...so no drinking for me. :-)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rUML2F0XriU/TZSiX5XXRcI/AAAAAAAAFk0/HrR3_zLaZp8/s1600/P2180228.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rUML2F0XriU/TZSiX5XXRcI/AAAAAAAAFk0/HrR3_zLaZp8/s400/P2180228.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590271568893134274" border="0" /></a><br />The two of them tried some sushi dishes....while I may or may not have feasted on an entire order of crab rangoon by myself. (please see title of this post)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v4Owj_7nIlM/TZSiXlq2jrI/AAAAAAAAFks/DathzquraFw/s1600/P2180229.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v4Owj_7nIlM/TZSiXlq2jrI/AAAAAAAAFks/DathzquraFw/s400/P2180229.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590271563606167218" border="0" /></a><br />After dinner, we split a dessert. (please see title of this post)<br /><br />02/19<br /><br />Saturday was a run around day. Mot and I headed to Mo. Valley for a stop at our vet's office. Then back to Omaha for lunch. We had a coupon for a Greek place we'd never been to, and wanted to try it out.<br /><br />They weren't open yet.<br /><br />We decided to go to a new pub we'd seen a few weeks before and wanted to try out. A good greasy pub burger sounded great!! (please see title of this post)<br /><br />They weren't open yet.<br /><br />We thought we'd just stop at Jason's Deli for a light sandwich.<br /><br />The line was out the door.<br /><br />We remembered there was a Panera (snicker) across the street.<br /><br />They were so busy there weren't any open tables to be seen.<br /><br />B&G's is across the street. A loose meat sandwich sounded yummy.<br /><br />Again, no where to sit they were so busy.<br /><br />For the love of Pete!!!!<br /><br />By then, we'd worked our way down Dodge Street, and were really close to one of our favorites...an old haunt we used to visit every weekend.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9fquzE2iNE8/TZShqWnfT9I/AAAAAAAAFkk/6nsdfrS1C00/s1600/P2190233.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9fquzE2iNE8/TZShqWnfT9I/AAAAAAAAFkk/6nsdfrS1C00/s400/P2190233.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590270786471415762" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BGP1FVZmOFQ/TZShqE4Ng5I/AAAAAAAAFkc/4IGOA5HNVCI/s1600/P2190234.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BGP1FVZmOFQ/TZShqE4Ng5I/AAAAAAAAFkc/4IGOA5HNVCI/s400/P2190234.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590270781709714322" border="0" /></a><br />Finally...food!!!! (please see title of this post)<br /><br />If I remember correctly...we each had a bowl of cereal for dinner. Corn flakes...skim milk. Totally didn't fit in with the theme of the weekend, but oh well. :-)<br /><br />02/20<br />Sunday was Danny's birthday....and he wanted to meet at his new favorite breakfast place.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2FWh6SjI6Pg/TZShL1jrT9I/AAAAAAAAFkU/fYOy8YNmaWY/s1600/P2200235.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2FWh6SjI6Pg/TZShL1jrT9I/AAAAAAAAFkU/fYOy8YNmaWY/s400/P2200235.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590270262200979410" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mS4F1d4Vko0/TZShLocuUeI/AAAAAAAAFkM/iSgt7vR55Ag/s1600/P2200236.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mS4F1d4Vko0/TZShLocuUeI/AAAAAAAAFkM/iSgt7vR55Ag/s400/P2200236.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590270258682155490" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0YLrkummP-I/TZShLfnEeXI/AAAAAAAAFkE/9bq7AaeLRys/s1600/P2200238.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0YLrkummP-I/TZShLfnEeXI/AAAAAAAAFkE/9bq7AaeLRys/s400/P2200238.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590270256309631346" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Pancakes, hashbrowns, eggs, sausage.....<br /><br />(please see title of this post)<br /><br />After that, we went our separate ways....but ended up meeting for lunch.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ekbgnEZiDcc/TZSgYxEnQ5I/AAAAAAAAFj8/zV5fOi85JAY/s1600/P2200240.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ekbgnEZiDcc/TZSgYxEnQ5I/AAAAAAAAFj8/zV5fOi85JAY/s400/P2200240.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590269384823620498" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bp8Se8vS44E/TZSgYhB8HKI/AAAAAAAAFj0/K3TdQUcsMB0/s1600/P2200242.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bp8Se8vS44E/TZSgYhB8HKI/AAAAAAAAFj0/K3TdQUcsMB0/s400/P2200242.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590269380517436578" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EwkR8M2UpSE/TZSgYbQ_mvI/AAAAAAAAFjs/n6V0hvt4c-o/s1600/P2200243.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EwkR8M2UpSE/TZSgYbQ_mvI/AAAAAAAAFjs/n6V0hvt4c-o/s400/P2200243.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590269378969967346" border="0" /></a><br />I'm full just looking at this picture!!<br /><br />(please see title of this post)<br /><br />From there we went back to our place for cards.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HtnWQUeYsdI/TZSgYFbePfI/AAAAAAAAFjk/nYMx8uNsmcY/s1600/P2200247.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HtnWQUeYsdI/TZSgYFbePfI/AAAAAAAAFjk/nYMx8uNsmcY/s400/P2200247.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590269373108338162" border="0" /></a><br />Instead, we decided to try out a new board game.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZTl9VgA0pBs/TZSfgaImj7I/AAAAAAAAFjc/9PZjLZzMgLE/s1600/P2200251.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZTl9VgA0pBs/TZSfgaImj7I/AAAAAAAAFjc/9PZjLZzMgLE/s400/P2200251.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590268416593661874" border="0" /></a><br />We weren't so sure if we'd like it when we started....but have played it a number of times sense.<br /><br />And, from there the birthday boy wanted to hit The Worm for an early evening birthday drink.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Aty8W3JDJrY/TZSfgJX6c5I/AAAAAAAAFjU/RHaUR7XeaU4/s1600/P2200256.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Aty8W3JDJrY/TZSfgJX6c5I/AAAAAAAAFjU/RHaUR7XeaU4/s400/P2200256.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590268412094477202" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ibp2tZvnPUU/TZSffqvWRpI/AAAAAAAAFjM/rrkgPzyS5Go/s1600/P2200257.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ibp2tZvnPUU/TZSffqvWRpI/AAAAAAAAFjM/rrkgPzyS5Go/s400/P2200257.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590268403871270546" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QSFvCaJNgSY/TZSffXdLPhI/AAAAAAAAFjE/hIuxbg2MJIw/s1600/P2200258.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QSFvCaJNgSY/TZSffXdLPhI/AAAAAAAAFjE/hIuxbg2MJIw/s400/P2200258.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590268398694776338" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TnlC4bE-wdM/TZSfF3wXjOI/AAAAAAAAFi8/To-_vbMJf0o/s1600/P2200261.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TnlC4bE-wdM/TZSfF3wXjOI/AAAAAAAAFi8/To-_vbMJf0o/s400/P2200261.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590267960688610530" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eNVI7oVm_v4/TZSfFslEksI/AAAAAAAAFi0/QxDNvJhCbio/s1600/P2200269.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eNVI7oVm_v4/TZSfFslEksI/AAAAAAAAFi0/QxDNvJhCbio/s400/P2200269.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590267957688439490" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hqIqWUbLM0U/TZSfFUXvElI/AAAAAAAAFis/tOkT2zYkv3s/s1600/P2200274.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hqIqWUbLM0U/TZSfFUXvElI/AAAAAAAAFis/tOkT2zYkv3s/s400/P2200274.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590267951190053458" border="0" /></a><br />I may have had one drink.<br /><br />One bad thing (if you can call it that) about getting in shape and loosing all this weight. My alcohol tolerance is next to nothing.<br /><br />N.O.T.H.I.N.G.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sUxFpnVnncc/TZSfFJPL-vI/AAAAAAAAFik/QODeYjcRAn4/s1600/P2200277.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sUxFpnVnncc/TZSfFJPL-vI/AAAAAAAAFik/QODeYjcRAn4/s400/P2200277.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590267948201409266" border="0" /></a><br />"I have to get up in the morning and run. I have to get up in the morning and run. I have to get up in the morning......."<br /><br />You see, we'd once mentioned to Natalie that we really liked a couple bottles of tequila on her shelves. Yes, the bottles. Not necessarily the tequila inside. They are clear bottles...one with a red glass tiki man in it, and the other with blue.<br /><br />Anyway, we decided a lonnnnggggg ago that we were going to find a night when none of us had to work the next day, we'd bring cab money for the rides home, and have ourselves a Tiki Tequila Sunday night.<br /><br />I really wanted those bottles to go on my tequila bottle shelf at home. The little tiki men are so cute. And evil. All at the same time.<br /><br />Well...Danny, and Natalie, and Tom, and Steve, decided it would be a good night to do it.<br /><br />Granted, two of us had to work, one of us wasn't drinking tequila that night, and one of us wasn't drinking at all.<br /><br />Somehow (we may or may not have been buying shots for others in the bar to help with our progress) we ended up finishing off both bottles, and they now sit on my shelf at home.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HbIyb9hCwfw/TaiWAY58TxI/AAAAAAAAFmc/3puQMOPAJQw/s1600/voodoo-tiki-tequila.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 171px; height: 383px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HbIyb9hCwfw/TaiWAY58TxI/AAAAAAAAFmc/3puQMOPAJQw/s400/voodoo-tiki-tequila.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595887470437486354" border="0" /></a><br /> <a href="http://voodootiki.com/">Voodoo Tiki Tequila</a>Nejhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00982042722943000994noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343570879387481239.post-27442290031957884492011-03-24T08:00:00.004-05:002011-03-24T08:00:19.620-05:0001/21/11 - 01/23/11: Games, cards and snow.<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">01/21/11 - Friday</span><br /><br />We had the boys over Friday night for a little game night action. I'd found a number of board games on a garage sale a year or so ago.....but we'd never had the opportunity to try them out. It was colder than crap outside (which, I guess, really isn't that cold, if you think about it)...and hanging out inside sounded good.<br /><br />First up - Pazaz!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JWcbLSACs28/TYjzaOJJVjI/AAAAAAAAFhM/CMFJjR4oHig/s1600/P1210122.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JWcbLSACs28/TYjzaOJJVjI/AAAAAAAAFhM/CMFJjR4oHig/s400/P1210122.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586982969551705650" border="0" /></a><br />Based on the cheese-factor of the cover art, we were in for a treat.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-30X1V6x_08M/TYjzZhsDAjI/AAAAAAAAFhE/kaevATCQzQ0/s1600/P1210123.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-30X1V6x_08M/TYjzZhsDAjI/AAAAAAAAFhE/kaevATCQzQ0/s400/P1210123.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586982957618496050" border="0" /></a><br />Steve read the rules.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YXzAnhhkpP8/TYjzZWm5-iI/AAAAAAAAFg8/2Ls1-wtfoGQ/s1600/P1210124.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YXzAnhhkpP8/TYjzZWm5-iI/AAAAAAAAFg8/2Ls1-wtfoGQ/s400/P1210124.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586982954644142626" border="0" /></a><br />We assembled the playing surface (along with snacks).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J1WdcOg-txY/TYjzYz_RhBI/AAAAAAAAFg0/r8HNPhWwIbI/s1600/P1210126.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J1WdcOg-txY/TYjzYz_RhBI/AAAAAAAAFg0/r8HNPhWwIbI/s400/P1210126.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586982945351107602" border="0" /></a><br />I shuffled the cards. (Kinda looks like I'm "up" to something here...hmmmmmm.)<br /><br />Pizaz was actually really fun! I'd say it was 50 cents well spent.<br /><br />We played a couple games....the moved on.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1S2X6oav0fc/TYjy-4vQlhI/AAAAAAAAFgs/7EG9MFb8U9o/s1600/P1210133.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1S2X6oav0fc/TYjy-4vQlhI/AAAAAAAAFgs/7EG9MFb8U9o/s400/P1210133.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586982499949516306" border="0" /></a><br />Parcheesi!<br /><br />I've, of course, heard of it but have never played it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b6MbLGExEvg/TYjy-jvlN9I/AAAAAAAAFgk/yE2o3ErIBqM/s1600/P1210134.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b6MbLGExEvg/TYjy-jvlN9I/AAAAAAAAFgk/yE2o3ErIBqM/s400/P1210134.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586982494313723858" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZTb4o-9mMzM/TYjy-c8O01I/AAAAAAAAFgc/ncK7WDQg6W8/s1600/P1210138.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZTb4o-9mMzM/TYjy-c8O01I/AAAAAAAAFgc/ncK7WDQg6W8/s400/P1210138.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586982492487734098" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kT_pWtB070E/TYjy-CvR1ZI/AAAAAAAAFgU/wABfWBxLuuo/s1600/P1210142.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kT_pWtB070E/TYjy-CvR1ZI/AAAAAAAAFgU/wABfWBxLuuo/s400/P1210142.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586982485454083474" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After a couple games of Parcheesi, we decided to call it a night.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aA9d5o8OTxQ/TYjylF8ZHLI/AAAAAAAAFgM/AsK9YxR7BW0/s1600/P1210152.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aA9d5o8OTxQ/TYjylF8ZHLI/AAAAAAAAFgM/AsK9YxR7BW0/s400/P1210152.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586982056817663154" border="0" /></a><br />Now....please pay close attention. In this picture you will see Danny is talking to Mot (not pictured). I'm not sure what he was saying (as it was two months ago).....but whatever it was, it must have been good. Steve is trying to contain himself....and it ended up like this......<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wTBof7ZxwCo/TYjyk0nZixI/AAAAAAAAFgE/jwjEvrrETvU/s1600/P1210145.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wTBof7ZxwCo/TYjyk0nZixI/AAAAAAAAFgE/jwjEvrrETvU/s400/P1210145.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586982052166208274" border="0" /></a><br />Notice snowball in Mot's hand. Notice Danny trying to hold the door closed. (Notice Sam just wanting to go outside with Danny.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NQVpKBfc2Oo/TYjykj23iTI/AAAAAAAAFf8/DoXrFmv8iZE/s1600/P1210146.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NQVpKBfc2Oo/TYjykj23iTI/AAAAAAAAFf8/DoXrFmv8iZE/s400/P1210146.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586982047667685682" border="0" /></a><br />Notice Danny cowering in the corner of our front porch. Notice Mot putting snowball down Danny's shirt. (Notice Sam staring out the door, waiting for someone to let her out.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--o9YiuWFSYg/TYjyj8FRgOI/AAAAAAAAFf0/R-IrjmdoPo0/s1600/P1210151.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--o9YiuWFSYg/TYjyj8FRgOI/AAAAAAAAFf0/R-IrjmdoPo0/s400/P1210151.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586982036990689506" border="0" /></a><br />Notice Danny running back through the house, into the bathroom......with the four of us (Sam included) not far behind. His shirt was FULL of snow!<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">01/22/11 - Saturday</span><br /><br />We, again, had the boys over to our house. You see, it was card night at Val and Dee's (the girls) place, and I needed a refresher on how to play <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euchre">Euchre</a>. I haven't played it since high school...and couldn't for the life of me remember how.<br /><br />After a quick lesson, we decided to drive around town, wasting time and running errands.<br /><br />One of our stops was Canfields - an outdoor, sporting goods, military surplus store.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4bL8tyDZCC4/TYjyH_dq6kI/AAAAAAAAFfk/Qp-6pB3OTBM/s1600/P1220154.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4bL8tyDZCC4/TYjyH_dq6kI/AAAAAAAAFfk/Qp-6pB3OTBM/s400/P1220154.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586981556861987394" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EWmthhdbO8M/TYjyHXHSlSI/AAAAAAAAFfc/s2Z71qVtank/s1600/P1220155.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EWmthhdbO8M/TYjyHXHSlSI/AAAAAAAAFfc/s2Z71qVtank/s400/P1220155.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586981546030699810" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--Ei-Zkh3O4U/TYjyHGG8TeI/AAAAAAAAFfU/ceUBpZ7AKj8/s1600/P1220156.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--Ei-Zkh3O4U/TYjyHGG8TeI/AAAAAAAAFfU/ceUBpZ7AKj8/s400/P1220156.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586981541465837026" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uZz9MOExpLg/TYjxqjrY_KI/AAAAAAAAFfM/6lFraTzbJHU/s1600/P1220157.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uZz9MOExpLg/TYjxqjrY_KI/AAAAAAAAFfM/6lFraTzbJHU/s400/P1220157.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586981051187133602" border="0" /></a><br /><br />When it got a little later into the evening, we headed to the girls' place for tamales and cards. While in Canfields, the forecasted blizzard had finally begun.<br /><br />Roads were getting slick, and the snow was starting to accumulate on the streets slightly. But a little weather won't keep us from tamales!!<br /><br />I mean, won't keep us from cards with friends! (giggle)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_LEiAo7DnYQ/TYjxpmslqcI/AAAAAAAAFe8/bNLo_cmiBss/s1600/P1220159.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_LEiAo7DnYQ/TYjxpmslqcI/AAAAAAAAFe8/bNLo_cmiBss/s400/P1220159.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586981034817595842" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AedfaMLT3x0/TYjxpTjYYmI/AAAAAAAAFe0/b9eW1sBr5rg/s1600/P1220161.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AedfaMLT3x0/TYjxpTjYYmI/AAAAAAAAFe0/b9eW1sBr5rg/s400/P1220161.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586981029678703202" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8WDWn-PjvAk/TYjuTw9hboI/AAAAAAAAFes/I-8dl0GBmlg/s1600/P1220162.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8WDWn-PjvAk/TYjuTw9hboI/AAAAAAAAFes/I-8dl0GBmlg/s400/P1220162.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586977361080970882" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l0CKLCN1Fws/TYjuTqkTaUI/AAAAAAAAFek/Z7Dvo6IbMGU/s1600/P1220163.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l0CKLCN1Fws/TYjuTqkTaUI/AAAAAAAAFek/Z7Dvo6IbMGU/s400/P1220163.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586977359364581698" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rPkMQCYaa_0/TYjuTL0m2CI/AAAAAAAAFec/BvuPN-g2mOw/s1600/P1220164.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rPkMQCYaa_0/TYjuTL0m2CI/AAAAAAAAFec/BvuPN-g2mOw/s400/P1220164.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586977351111464994" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fLO6LG_zRsE/TYjuSyuJ5LI/AAAAAAAAFeU/cMNbbFEaQkw/s1600/P1230166.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fLO6LG_zRsE/TYjuSyuJ5LI/AAAAAAAAFeU/cMNbbFEaQkw/s400/P1230166.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586977344373515442" border="0" /></a><br /><br />When we got to the party, there wasn't much snow on the ground.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bu0dcIkCjHA/TYjxqOH-cMI/AAAAAAAAFfE/f3V22p5i6mk/s1600/P1220158.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bu0dcIkCjHA/TYjxqOH-cMI/AAAAAAAAFfE/f3V22p5i6mk/s400/P1220158.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586981045401448642" border="0" /></a><br />When we left the party, it looked like this.....<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">01/23/11 - Sunday</span><br /><br />Not only do Mot and I love the snow....but our dogs absolutely adore it!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sAf0bGyK2Sc/TYjnyoh5fZI/AAAAAAAAFeM/IXsrkG0d_xk/s1600/P1230167.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sAf0bGyK2Sc/TYjnyoh5fZI/AAAAAAAAFeM/IXsrkG0d_xk/s400/P1230167.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586970194812173714" border="0" /></a><br />It was so deep, we needed to walk through the yard and make a path for Isaac and his short old man legs.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qh1-_lHU_7E/TYjnybKOv4I/AAAAAAAAFeE/E2t9seXozvw/s1600/P1230174.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qh1-_lHU_7E/TYjnybKOv4I/AAAAAAAAFeE/E2t9seXozvw/s400/P1230174.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586970191223242626" border="0" /></a><br />Sam hiding behind our snow fence.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iNhqf9MVVnY/TYjnx2fbgDI/AAAAAAAAFd8/Y7FtwTkPSJU/s1600/P1230176.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iNhqf9MVVnY/TYjnx2fbgDI/AAAAAAAAFd8/Y7FtwTkPSJU/s400/P1230176.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586970181380046898" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g1rt4Zj901w/TYjnAbaS3GI/AAAAAAAAFds/rZPJWf8u2OU/s1600/P1230178.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g1rt4Zj901w/TYjnAbaS3GI/AAAAAAAAFds/rZPJWf8u2OU/s400/P1230178.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586969332297161826" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i7DcyiiPjNg/TYjnAEZ0-KI/AAAAAAAAFdk/B2XRIUkOA48/s1600/P1230185.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i7DcyiiPjNg/TYjnAEZ0-KI/AAAAAAAAFdk/B2XRIUkOA48/s400/P1230185.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586969326121187490" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MyQf0wI7pPw/TYjm_0_lOWI/AAAAAAAAFdc/UY3cAgrceFM/s1600/P1230187.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MyQf0wI7pPw/TYjm_0_lOWI/AAAAAAAAFdc/UY3cAgrceFM/s400/P1230187.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586969321984571746" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vbvsDMGSUtk/TYjm_ngWkQI/AAAAAAAAFdU/YkVlEaBaf5k/s1600/P1230191.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vbvsDMGSUtk/TYjm_ngWkQI/AAAAAAAAFdU/YkVlEaBaf5k/s400/P1230191.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586969318363926786" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s3-DNBDrpqo/TYjnxjK3opI/AAAAAAAAFd0/dwbwP966DkE/s1600/P1230177.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s3-DNBDrpqo/TYjnxjK3opI/AAAAAAAAFd0/dwbwP966DkE/s400/P1230177.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586970176193536658" border="0" /></a><br />Mmmmm....frozen dog slobber.<br /><br />Now, compare this picture of January 2011...to a picture I took in December 2009. She's grown up a little in the last year, hasn't she?<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xrUdMeUj5mg/TYj6zGeNnjI/AAAAAAAAFhU/WSt9_DbWer8/s1600/sam%2B1.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xrUdMeUj5mg/TYj6zGeNnjI/AAAAAAAAFhU/WSt9_DbWer8/s400/sam%2B1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586991093570706994" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UFFT3pldzwo/TYj6zSSjf-I/AAAAAAAAFhc/TLCPwbAjuUE/s1600/P1080027.JPG"><br /></a>Nejhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00982042722943000994noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343570879387481239.post-55918460993948306542011-03-23T08:00:00.002-05:002011-03-23T08:00:00.751-05:00Mostly Wordless Wednesday: Redroom<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bu4Yu-3Ml3s/TYjeinxONeI/AAAAAAAAFdM/-hH7Kc1Chl8/s1600/redrum.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bu4Yu-3Ml3s/TYjeinxONeI/AAAAAAAAFdM/-hH7Kc1Chl8/s400/redrum.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586960024125453794" border="0" /></a><br />Redrum, redrum!!!!!<br /><br />Restroom at one of the local movie theaters. <br /><br />I had the place to myself, so took the opportunity to snap a pic. I'm nearly blinded every time I walk in the door.Nejhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00982042722943000994noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343570879387481239.post-25818277029537855522011-03-22T10:17:00.024-05:002011-03-22T12:31:22.928-05:00Christmas 2010<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">12/24/2010 - Christmas Eve</span><br /><br />My sister hosted Christmas Eve at her place this year.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vqTqTqHw02M/TYjDW_NuFBI/AAAAAAAAFaU/sQxefuRRjKY/s1600/IMG_1611.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vqTqTqHw02M/TYjDW_NuFBI/AAAAAAAAFaU/sQxefuRRjKY/s400/IMG_1611.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586930137446618130" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Actually, she hosted it last year as well.....and we had a blizzard....and her garage door didn't get shut.....and they woke up to a garage completely full of snow.<br /><br />This year there was less snow....but more cold. Frigid is more like it. Brrrrr!!!<br /><br />But you won't find any weather that stops us from getting together. :-)<br /><br />Mom and dad brought dinner....the rest of us brought snacks.<br /><br />It was a fun day!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zyA3ch7K36E/TYjC03WKLCI/AAAAAAAAFaM/GWpf4cBuO8Y/s1600/IMG_1612.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zyA3ch7K36E/TYjC03WKLCI/AAAAAAAAFaM/GWpf4cBuO8Y/s400/IMG_1612.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586929551218977826" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oqB8NnEVW6M/TYjC0uM3nBI/AAAAAAAAFaE/s5R29n2kOk4/s1600/IMG_1616.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oqB8NnEVW6M/TYjC0uM3nBI/AAAAAAAAFaE/s5R29n2kOk4/s400/IMG_1616.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586929548764093458" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_atoRgsQW1s/TYjC0XcquvI/AAAAAAAAFZ8/cRaeUb10uqA/s1600/IMG_1624.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_atoRgsQW1s/TYjC0XcquvI/AAAAAAAAFZ8/cRaeUb10uqA/s400/IMG_1624.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586929542656342770" border="0" /></a><br />Apparently hosting the festivities was more than she could handle. :-)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dKlZHjCQ5wI/TYjCeWEAPpI/AAAAAAAAFZ0/nesGegHvNfY/s1600/IMG_1626.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dKlZHjCQ5wI/TYjCeWEAPpI/AAAAAAAAFZ0/nesGegHvNfY/s400/IMG_1626.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586929164327337618" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GCVUqf0G1Cs/TYjCeI5bzgI/AAAAAAAAFZs/p2W6xb7Oep0/s1600/IMG_1629.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GCVUqf0G1Cs/TYjCeI5bzgI/AAAAAAAAFZs/p2W6xb7Oep0/s400/IMG_1629.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586929160793345538" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5Vsqg-kW2MI/TYjCd_I6wtI/AAAAAAAAFZk/tIkGKOqtbLg/s1600/IMG_1630.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5Vsqg-kW2MI/TYjCd_I6wtI/AAAAAAAAFZk/tIkGKOqtbLg/s400/IMG_1630.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586929158173934290" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l5E89QzxOgc/TYjA42kEocI/AAAAAAAAFZc/9kqjoFj3RRY/s1600/IMG_1631.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l5E89QzxOgc/TYjA42kEocI/AAAAAAAAFZc/9kqjoFj3RRY/s400/IMG_1631.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586927420705120706" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XlBW1a9loRY/TYjA4ShOIBI/AAAAAAAAFZU/EgZ7kJFL4KU/s1600/IMG_1637.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XlBW1a9loRY/TYjA4ShOIBI/AAAAAAAAFZU/EgZ7kJFL4KU/s400/IMG_1637.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586927411029483538" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F6DjTfE7vhg/TYjA4KPJGmI/AAAAAAAAFZM/fLbrdldb218/s1600/IMG_1663.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F6DjTfE7vhg/TYjA4KPJGmI/AAAAAAAAFZM/fLbrdldb218/s400/IMG_1663.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586927408806173282" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X0kyiA2vgt8/TYjAhgxLhnI/AAAAAAAAFZE/sNxxp7Y9gK0/s1600/IMG_1665.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X0kyiA2vgt8/TYjAhgxLhnI/AAAAAAAAFZE/sNxxp7Y9gK0/s400/IMG_1665.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586927019717527154" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cmot799YOAo/TYjAg1g0nVI/AAAAAAAAFY8/NMhEk8aBsnc/s1600/IMG_1660.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cmot799YOAo/TYjAg1g0nVI/AAAAAAAAFY8/NMhEk8aBsnc/s400/IMG_1660.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586927008106192210" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hQV10f2GbOY/TYjAgovd8aI/AAAAAAAAFY0/z1X5Ed169Rk/s1600/IMG_1674.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hQV10f2GbOY/TYjAgovd8aI/AAAAAAAAFY0/z1X5Ed169Rk/s400/IMG_1674.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586927004677960098" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Mot's gift from the kids was "<a href="http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2009/02/17/toy-fair-duck-hunter.html">Duck Hunter</a>."<br /><br />Doug teaches at the high school right down the block from their house....so we went to the only wide open space (without below zero temps) we could think of.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OZAell1GSgk/TYjAC-RnT3I/AAAAAAAAFYk/Ov0-RHPyUKo/s1600/IMG_1645.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OZAell1GSgk/TYjAC-RnT3I/AAAAAAAAFYk/Ov0-RHPyUKo/s400/IMG_1645.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586926495062249330" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CrYv2zEKxPA/TYjADITUpzI/AAAAAAAAFYs/JH-S-vSl7sY/s1600/IMG_1641.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CrYv2zEKxPA/TYjADITUpzI/AAAAAAAAFYs/JH-S-vSl7sY/s400/IMG_1641.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586926497753769778" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We were completely and totally surprised by this toy!!! It flies high, it flies for a long time.....heck, we were impressed it was flying at all. It takes 10 seconds to charge it up on the "gun", then you turn it on and let it go.<br /><br />You have to "shoot" it three times before it comes down. Each time you shoot it, the wings pause, and it drops a little...then starts flying again.<br /><br />And when you've hit it for the third time....it stops flying and GENTLY comes down for a landing.<br /><br />We were all blown away!!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lCbxZU1nNj4/TYi_qOJACtI/AAAAAAAAFYU/naYLfyk9UEk/s1600/IMG_1649.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lCbxZU1nNj4/TYi_qOJACtI/AAAAAAAAFYU/naYLfyk9UEk/s400/IMG_1649.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586926069824359122" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fSrK_z7j3w4/TYjAClZIykI/AAAAAAAAFYc/HYzP76Gg_Tc/s1600/IMG_1648.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fSrK_z7j3w4/TYjAClZIykI/AAAAAAAAFYc/HYzP76Gg_Tc/s400/IMG_1648.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586926488382917186" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2mgqNOXtFfw/TYi_plJiyYI/AAAAAAAAFYM/YLntmh6hW5k/s1600/IMG_1653.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2mgqNOXtFfw/TYi_plJiyYI/AAAAAAAAFYM/YLntmh6hW5k/s400/IMG_1653.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586926058820782466" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I took quite a few videos on my phone....but until I can figure out how to get them off my phone and onto my blog...you'll just have to use your imagination.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mnmRfVrWTdY/TYi_pdYnaiI/AAAAAAAAFYE/DaWpoW2TpX8/s1600/IMG_1658.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mnmRfVrWTdY/TYi_pdYnaiI/AAAAAAAAFYE/DaWpoW2TpX8/s400/IMG_1658.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586926056736516642" border="0" /></a><br />The "hunters" on their way back to the house.<br /><br />When we got back, Mot and I packed up our loot, and headed to his parent's house for Christmas Eve dinner.<br /><br />Yummy!!!!!!<br /><br />We gave their dogs, Bo and Jake, the same chew toys we gave our dogs, and my sister's dogs. All of the animals seemed to enjoy their holiday ducks and geese.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PWyYhe9TGXg/TYi_Ql8VSyI/AAAAAAAAFX8/qv-8vkGuvYw/s1600/IMG_1689.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PWyYhe9TGXg/TYi_Ql8VSyI/AAAAAAAAFX8/qv-8vkGuvYw/s400/IMG_1689.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586925629537078050" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eSj67IJT3qE/TYi_PlTje4I/AAAAAAAAFX0/kOzBm0WdJZ8/s1600/IMG_1690.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eSj67IJT3qE/TYi_PlTje4I/AAAAAAAAFX0/kOzBm0WdJZ8/s400/IMG_1690.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586925612186172290" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3hd4B-yxH-Q/TYi_PSeBcmI/AAAAAAAAFXs/9r_ISVIJnlk/s1600/IMG_1695.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3hd4B-yxH-Q/TYi_PSeBcmI/AAAAAAAAFXs/9r_ISVIJnlk/s400/IMG_1695.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586925607129805410" border="0" /></a><br />Mot's brother in Portland, OR gave grandma a call on Skype that evening. It was nice getting to see them on the holiday!!!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">12/25/2010 - Christmas Day</span><br /><br />The boys invited us to their place xmas day morning for breakfast.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-egyIMLkdlHk/TYjI8R1FL0I/AAAAAAAAFc0/Loj6mAWLpFk/s1600/IMG_1699.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-egyIMLkdlHk/TYjI8R1FL0I/AAAAAAAAFc0/Loj6mAWLpFk/s400/IMG_1699.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586936275656847170" border="0" /></a><br />The fireplace was roaring when we arrived. :-)<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vbmEkTPojAY/TYjIjenCPUI/AAAAAAAAFcs/zMmZ9Iv2OvI/s1600/IMG_1703.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vbmEkTPojAY/TYjIjenCPUI/AAAAAAAAFcs/zMmZ9Iv2OvI/s400/IMG_1703.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586935849590865218" border="0" /></a><br />French toast....yum!<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kPRrWN_SEOM/TYjIjFakE-I/AAAAAAAAFck/kDLzD2rgh8E/s1600/IMG_1704.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kPRrWN_SEOM/TYjIjFakE-I/AAAAAAAAFck/kDLzD2rgh8E/s400/IMG_1704.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586935842827670498" border="0" /></a><br />Mimosas before breakfast.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nygb8KrLMR0/TYjIizLgXAI/AAAAAAAAFcc/m7wqEpCuXi4/s1600/IMG_1705.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nygb8KrLMR0/TYjIizLgXAI/AAAAAAAAFcc/m7wqEpCuXi4/s400/IMG_1705.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586935837932674050" border="0" /></a><br />Chocolate milk and board games after.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WfMYrA4q394/TYjIin_xGKI/AAAAAAAAFcU/7i0ALqdYaxE/s1600/IMG_1707.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WfMYrA4q394/TYjIin_xGKI/AAAAAAAAFcU/7i0ALqdYaxE/s400/IMG_1707.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586935834930649250" border="0" /></a><br />13 Dead End Drive - Danny found this one at a garage sale, and we just had to get it out to play. <br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z0IkNfEhc3U/TYjILAIxF7I/AAAAAAAAFcM/FMJUGOOvd_Y/s1600/IMG_1712.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z0IkNfEhc3U/TYjILAIxF7I/AAAAAAAAFcM/FMJUGOOvd_Y/s400/IMG_1712.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586935429093988274" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ULHnBx4Twq8/TYjIKq4VF4I/AAAAAAAAFcE/HQosNGDH2p0/s1600/IMG_1714.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ULHnBx4Twq8/TYjIKq4VF4I/AAAAAAAAFcE/HQosNGDH2p0/s400/IMG_1714.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586935423387899778" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5BmlKs8pBYg/TYjIKO6mGpI/AAAAAAAAFb8/Ylhvat2WYWA/s1600/IMG_1715.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5BmlKs8pBYg/TYjIKO6mGpI/AAAAAAAAFb8/Ylhvat2WYWA/s400/IMG_1715.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586935415881210514" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jA2lpYqHGvI/TYjIJ3yTPnI/AAAAAAAAFb0/w8eN4Elm26A/s1600/IMG_1720.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jA2lpYqHGvI/TYjIJ3yTPnI/AAAAAAAAFb0/w8eN4Elm26A/s400/IMG_1720.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586935409672404594" border="0" /></a><br />Box o' chips. to snack on while we played. <br /><br />Pretty sure, once we'd finished the games, Mot and I went home....we watched tv, movies and slept the day away. Felt great!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">12/26/10 - Day after Christmas</span><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KSZGqtyYdnw/TYjHocZRbJI/AAAAAAAAFbk/_91tlSvioqg/s1600/PC260058.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KSZGqtyYdnw/TYjHocZRbJI/AAAAAAAAFbk/_91tlSvioqg/s400/PC260058.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586934835383987346" border="0" /></a><br />Breakfast at Amatos with the boys.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WYJIX9IJq5w/TYjHosCSQ4I/AAAAAAAAFbs/Q6PTZB7KGlE/s1600/PC260056.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WYJIX9IJq5w/TYjHosCSQ4I/AAAAAAAAFbs/Q6PTZB7KGlE/s400/PC260056.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586934839582540674" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Now, this is where not posting for months and months is annoying. I can't for the life of me remember what we did between breakfast.....<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rKIz8MiOeI8/TYjHoJxP5TI/AAAAAAAAFbc/oy5SW0y5KOk/s1600/PC260059.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rKIz8MiOeI8/TYjHoJxP5TI/AAAAAAAAFbc/oy5SW0y5KOk/s400/PC260059.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586934830384276786" border="0" /></a><br />...and the Worm.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XLzB_TrkdIE/TYjHImFvdKI/AAAAAAAAFbU/SrGfUIAaMc8/s1600/PC260063.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XLzB_TrkdIE/TYjHImFvdKI/AAAAAAAAFbU/SrGfUIAaMc8/s400/PC260063.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586934288230610082" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Og934B5vf7E/TYjHIXZkmoI/AAAAAAAAFbM/0l9EjDkdVnI/s1600/PC260067.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Og934B5vf7E/TYjHIXZkmoI/AAAAAAAAFbM/0l9EjDkdVnI/s400/PC260067.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586934284287253122" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SIGqkz3FAls/TYjHH6hT4yI/AAAAAAAAFbE/GX_kqqPliR0/s1600/PC260069.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SIGqkz3FAls/TYjHH6hT4yI/AAAAAAAAFbE/GX_kqqPliR0/s400/PC260069.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586934276535083810" border="0" /></a><br />Empanadas to try out before being placed on the menu permanently. <br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1HkQR_zortk/TYjHH-n_ZoI/AAAAAAAAFa8/OdEM7CANgKU/s1600/PC260071.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1HkQR_zortk/TYjHH-n_ZoI/AAAAAAAAFa8/OdEM7CANgKU/s400/PC260071.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586934277636843138" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TCAHuwVZ9Rw/TYjGxGW_wGI/AAAAAAAAFa0/Mdm5oTja9ns/s1600/PC260073.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TCAHuwVZ9Rw/TYjGxGW_wGI/AAAAAAAAFa0/Mdm5oTja9ns/s400/PC260073.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586933884576055394" border="0" /></a><br />That mustache is a corkscrew!<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hWMWc9f53CQ/TYjGw-Tr0CI/AAAAAAAAFas/Z0ju-_gPGWE/s1600/PC260074.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hWMWc9f53CQ/TYjGw-Tr0CI/AAAAAAAAFas/Z0ju-_gPGWE/s400/PC260074.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586933882414682146" border="0" /></a><br />Cheers! Happy Holidays!<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DmiDIk5VaqU/TYjGv1c8WPI/AAAAAAAAFak/EDWfd-1DFIw/s1600/PC260075.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DmiDIk5VaqU/TYjGv1c8WPI/AAAAAAAAFak/EDWfd-1DFIw/s400/PC260075.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586933862857726194" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WwBrtwtLqp4/TYjGvtIMsLI/AAAAAAAAFac/eoYQ5bnbXjU/s1600/PC260081.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WwBrtwtLqp4/TYjGvtIMsLI/AAAAAAAAFac/eoYQ5bnbXjU/s400/PC260081.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586933860623233202" border="0" /></a><br />Our designated driver...drinking Starbucks double shots. :-)Nejhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00982042722943000994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343570879387481239.post-581522316512774862011-02-22T08:00:00.004-06:002011-02-22T08:52:52.430-06:00Thanksgiving 2010 (part 2)After our 5K, Mot and I went back to the hotel, and Kent, Linda and Amanda went back to their place. We were all in need of a shower. :-)<br /><br />After we were all squeaky clean, Mot and I went back to their house to enjoy the rest of our day inside. Where it was warm and dry.<br /><br />You see, Mot and I had arrived in Chesterfield (just outside St Louis proper) on Wednesday. Over the course of the day it rained and rained and rained. And then that night, there were tornado warnings.<br /><br />On the day before Thanksgiving.<br /><br />Anyway.....on Thanksgiving it rained (lightly)...then sleeted....then snowed.<br /><br />When we left that night to go to the hotel, we couldn't get the car doors open. They were frozen shut. :-)<br /><br />Anyway.....after our showers, it was only sleeting....but getting inside the warm house was comforting.<br /><br />Not long after, my sister and her family arrived on the scene, and the cooking began.<br /><br />(Well, what was left that is. Quite allot of the cooking had been done by Amanda the night before!!!!)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nLa6ZSBEGws/TV2JJG2MihI/AAAAAAAAFSk/z8KSJC32n8k/s1600/IMG_1564.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nLa6ZSBEGws/TV2JJG2MihI/AAAAAAAAFSk/z8KSJC32n8k/s400/IMG_1564.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574762703304296978" border="0" /></a><br />Brandon and Amanda discussing gravy and sweet potatoes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K4MOzl3u3zw/TV2JI0LA3VI/AAAAAAAAFSc/-10CWRHP404/s1600/IMG_1565.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K4MOzl3u3zw/TV2JI0LA3VI/AAAAAAAAFSc/-10CWRHP404/s400/IMG_1565.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574762698291338578" border="0" /></a><br />Linda checking a recipe online.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SZMOJtZPqDo/TV2JI7gAjEI/AAAAAAAAFSU/LIVQTmo9gb8/s1600/IMG_1582.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SZMOJtZPqDo/TV2JI7gAjEI/AAAAAAAAFSU/LIVQTmo9gb8/s400/IMG_1582.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574762700258446402" border="0" /></a><br />Lauren and Amanda getting the fresh green beans ready for cooking.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CZgvAtgIK34/TV2I2KXwJPI/AAAAAAAAFSM/zayRBAnd-5g/s1600/IMG_1583.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CZgvAtgIK34/TV2I2KXwJPI/AAAAAAAAFSM/zayRBAnd-5g/s400/IMG_1583.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574762377832834290" border="0" /></a><br />Brandon taking a second look at the recipe.....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0qGCA_8FwyE/TV2I10cLfiI/AAAAAAAAFSE/7QwLG3w9k0w/s1600/IMG_1584.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0qGCA_8FwyE/TV2I10cLfiI/AAAAAAAAFSE/7QwLG3w9k0w/s400/IMG_1584.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574762371945823778" border="0" /></a><br />...before adding EXACTLY enough vanilla.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n2b2n_dX6Dc/TV2I1iVljjI/AAAAAAAAFR8/A77hql1Kt-o/s1600/IMG_1590.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n2b2n_dX6Dc/TV2I1iVljjI/AAAAAAAAFR8/A77hql1Kt-o/s400/IMG_1590.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574762367086333490" border="0" /></a><br />The meal getting laid out and ready for eating!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j-dBsKwdGfk/TV2H9qoBrcI/AAAAAAAAFR0/N-DlINxTIW0/s1600/IMG_1592.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j-dBsKwdGfk/TV2H9qoBrcI/AAAAAAAAFR0/N-DlINxTIW0/s400/IMG_1592.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574761407238483394" border="0" /></a><br />Dishing up the chow. :-)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hxKCUrYC-Vg/TV2H9RU67XI/AAAAAAAAFRs/ZcKsk9bo6C8/s1600/IMG_1595.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hxKCUrYC-Vg/TV2H9RU67XI/AAAAAAAAFRs/ZcKsk9bo6C8/s400/IMG_1595.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574761400447462770" border="0" /></a><br />Sitting at the table.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NTXVGmh7IUs/TV2H9Hvt8NI/AAAAAAAAFRk/bp4_LIkgbcU/s1600/IMG_1566.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NTXVGmh7IUs/TV2H9Hvt8NI/AAAAAAAAFRk/bp4_LIkgbcU/s400/IMG_1566.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574761397875503314" border="0" /></a><br />Mot checking out the dessert table.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KDS3oaUA97o/TV2HmBNzJmI/AAAAAAAAFRc/SL8NDYe1GDE/s1600/IMG_1587.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KDS3oaUA97o/TV2HmBNzJmI/AAAAAAAAFRc/SL8NDYe1GDE/s400/IMG_1587.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574761000985634402" border="0" /></a><br />Mot trying out some of the mulled wine on the end of the dessert table.<br />(nice photo bomb Inny!!!)<br /><br />Once dinner was over, and the kitchen was clean...we all hung out in the living room for a while.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YUm3Oh_A8R0/TV2HlyuTcEI/AAAAAAAAFRU/qKXVJMsKrzw/s1600/IMG_1561.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YUm3Oh_A8R0/TV2HlyuTcEI/AAAAAAAAFRU/qKXVJMsKrzw/s400/IMG_1561.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574760997095436354" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_w5dLzrNXZA/TV2HljQEaQI/AAAAAAAAFRM/dwvt_V2ajys/s1600/IMG_1562.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_w5dLzrNXZA/TV2HljQEaQI/AAAAAAAAFRM/dwvt_V2ajys/s400/IMG_1562.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574760992942090498" border="0" /></a><br />Checking holiday ads online.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OytUK8WfKoM/TV2HSoKmU7I/AAAAAAAAFRE/-fIkRKqMo0Y/s1600/IMG_1567.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OytUK8WfKoM/TV2HSoKmU7I/AAAAAAAAFRE/-fIkRKqMo0Y/s400/IMG_1567.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574760667843810226" border="0" /></a><br />Snuggling up to watch TV.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UEGRoRlRRCU/TV2HSfwRWBI/AAAAAAAAFQ8/_hO5F1c3zY8/s1600/IMG_1568.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UEGRoRlRRCU/TV2HSfwRWBI/AAAAAAAAFQ8/_hO5F1c3zY8/s400/IMG_1568.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574760665585899538" border="0" /></a><br />Shooing away the paparazzi.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--nmqG1-ytvE/TV2HSEsatsI/AAAAAAAAFQ0/qHUM1Ia860Q/s1600/IMG_1574.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--nmqG1-ytvE/TV2HSEsatsI/AAAAAAAAFQ0/qHUM1Ia860Q/s400/IMG_1574.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574760658321979074" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3kwC-Q4_Oyw/TV2G-2g8NbI/AAAAAAAAFQs/ttVJHftArr4/s1600/IMG_1586.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3kwC-Q4_Oyw/TV2G-2g8NbI/AAAAAAAAFQs/ttVJHftArr4/s400/IMG_1586.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574760328098231730" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fGEQz0jOdYo/TV2G-dbpzXI/AAAAAAAAFQk/gAhg19177tI/s1600/IMG_1572.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fGEQz0jOdYo/TV2G-dbpzXI/AAAAAAAAFQk/gAhg19177tI/s400/IMG_1572.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574760321365167474" border="0" /></a><br />Checking the sale ads.<br /><br />This was going to be the first year in quite some time that Inny and I didn't participate in Black Friday.<br /><br />Or so we thought. :-)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FpKjnlO-ydM/TV2G-IBUIeI/AAAAAAAAFQc/tHdZmEKAxh8/s1600/IMG_1597.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FpKjnlO-ydM/TV2G-IBUIeI/AAAAAAAAFQc/tHdZmEKAxh8/s400/IMG_1597.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574760315617550818" border="0" /></a><br />You know when you go to a person's house, there is always something strange sitting around.<br /><br />Linda cut her finger while cooking the day before.....and she just happened to have these in her medicine cabinet.<br /><br />Talk about healing powers!! :-)<br /><br />The kids also took some time to get out the train set.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mXpcQhwo69o/TV2GorM8zlI/AAAAAAAAFQU/WbuiHebrWg0/s1600/IMG_1598.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mXpcQhwo69o/TV2GorM8zlI/AAAAAAAAFQU/WbuiHebrWg0/s400/IMG_1598.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574759947104472658" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BXPDYDFqBaY/TV2GoSNOPaI/AAAAAAAAFQM/x7Ej7Y3o6IA/s1600/IMG_1599.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BXPDYDFqBaY/TV2GoSNOPaI/AAAAAAAAFQM/x7Ej7Y3o6IA/s400/IMG_1599.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574759940394728866" border="0" /></a><br /><br />While the adults played Rummy-O at the dining room table.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MDEdGoar_UQ/TV2GoLlYRpI/AAAAAAAAFQE/qzZpX_ioIgI/s1600/IMG_1603.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MDEdGoar_UQ/TV2GoLlYRpI/AAAAAAAAFQE/qzZpX_ioIgI/s400/IMG_1603.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574759938617001618" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CdA-T3XnDIk/TV2F_4mjSuI/AAAAAAAAFP8/RbGZhvVpVXw/s1600/IMG_1604.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CdA-T3XnDIk/TV2F_4mjSuI/AAAAAAAAFP8/RbGZhvVpVXw/s400/IMG_1604.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574759246326876898" border="0" /></a><br />What to play, what to play....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h9O9dQkKF2g/TV2F_juIYII/AAAAAAAAFP0/l48GW1OzN9I/s1600/IMG_1605.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h9O9dQkKF2g/TV2F_juIYII/AAAAAAAAFP0/l48GW1OzN9I/s400/IMG_1605.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574759240721522818" border="0" /></a><br />Mot, posing for the camera. As usual.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v65srkxSCO4/TV2F_eeuUxI/AAAAAAAAFPs/tTw4_yk-Rns/s1600/IMG_1607.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v65srkxSCO4/TV2F_eeuUxI/AAAAAAAAFPs/tTw4_yk-Rns/s400/IMG_1607.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574759239314723602" border="0" /></a><br />Deep in thought.<br /><br />So......as I mentioned earlier.....we THOUGHT this was going to be a non Black Friday year. But Kent and Linda found a washer and dryer in one of the ads with a price they couldn't ignore.<br /><br />So, the four gals got up horribly early the next morning to stand in line. :-)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-izW8jpexah4/TV2AVMJ6OsI/AAAAAAAAFO0/U-Ja2rWOKcQ/s1600/PB260018.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-izW8jpexah4/TV2AVMJ6OsI/AAAAAAAAFO0/U-Ja2rWOKcQ/s400/PB260018.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574753015282940610" border="0" /></a><br />Inny, Amanda, and Linda in line.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PpDPFyeWFnw/TV2AU67e2vI/AAAAAAAAFOs/6_rtzfoo_Vs/s1600/PB260019.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PpDPFyeWFnw/TV2AU67e2vI/AAAAAAAAFOs/6_rtzfoo_Vs/s400/PB260019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574753010659023602" border="0" /></a><br />The Red Bull car arrived on the scene...handing out Red Bull shots to those waiting in line. Sweet!!!!<br /><br />Now, in our past Black Friday shopping excursions we've come across pushing, shoving, fighting, yelling, cussing......the works.<br /><br />In Chesterfield, it was quite the opposite. Everyone stood in line, and when the doors opened, everyone single filed into the building. At snail speed.<br /><br />Inny and I thought a little "Omaha" needed brought to the mix....so we went cutting through the store....at a mild run.....while others just watched.<br /><br />Hello folks...it's Black Friday...let's get into the spirit of things!!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1reYJgZsGes/TV1-oXFyw-I/AAAAAAAAFOk/AQGcIvhfgU4/s1600/PB260020.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1reYJgZsGes/TV1-oXFyw-I/AAAAAAAAFOk/AQGcIvhfgU4/s400/PB260020.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574751145612723170" border="0" /></a><br />Larry, the sales guy (wasn't that his name? Inny? Linda?) didn't know what to do when Inny draped herself across the target, while I took pictures. :-)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fib-rRIrnhY/TV1-oHSUsFI/AAAAAAAAFOc/Iw31NsPD2pc/s1600/PB260021.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fib-rRIrnhY/TV1-oHSUsFI/AAAAAAAAFOc/Iw31NsPD2pc/s400/PB260021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574751141370310738" border="0" /></a><br />While we were waiting for the financial transaction to be made...Inny and I jumped on the some fitness equipment to pass the time.<br /><br />From Sears, we headed next door to Macy's.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_mBA7g7Ro2Y/TV1-oOOAHII/AAAAAAAAFOU/TlXjNamV0Q0/s1600/PB260022.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_mBA7g7Ro2Y/TV1-oOOAHII/AAAAAAAAFOU/TlXjNamV0Q0/s400/PB260022.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574751143231233154" border="0" /></a><br />On the way in the store, we got behind these people. Apparently pajama pants tucked into Uggs, and a fanny pack worn as messenger bag were the hottest of style trends...in the 90's...in St. Louis.<br /><br />I had the three gals pose like I was taking their pic (that's Inny's arm on the right)....when I was really taking a picture of the style offender.<br /><br />After our stop at Macy's, we headed out for breakfast.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eJd4Dd4g6DY/TV1-nzCBmPI/AAAAAAAAFOM/yS-tz1ACczY/s1600/PB260023.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eJd4Dd4g6DY/TV1-nzCBmPI/AAAAAAAAFOM/yS-tz1ACczY/s400/PB260023.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574751135933241586" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Where the waitress spilled my chocolate milk all over the table. Then, instead of cleaning it up...she literally THREW a pile of napkins at me, and walked away.<br /><br />Hmmmmm....she must have been upset about having to work on Black Friday. I bet there was a smokin' deal somewhere that she was missing. :-)<br /><br />After breakfast we all went back to our hotels and beds for a couple hours, before reconvening at Kent and Linda's.<br /><br />My sis and family were staying a couple more days, while we were going to be heading home. Before we left, everyone loaded up in their vehicles and we went to Fleet Feet to look around. I was in heaven. A running store, with an awesome selection of gear. What is there not to love??????<br /><br />From there, Mot and I set the GPS for home and we left.<br /><br />It was a great holiday!!!!!!!!Nejhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00982042722943000994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343570879387481239.post-26181816166728747002011-02-21T08:00:00.000-06:002011-02-21T08:00:18.520-06:00Thanksgiving 2010 (part 1)<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">(reprint from my running blog)</span></span><br /><br />Mot and I drove down to St. Louis over Thanksgiving to spend the holiday with family.<br /><br />Thursday morning, the 5 of us got up and participated in the local 5K race. Chesterfield, MO Turkey Trot 2010<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TPP-mh_tAgI/AAAAAAAAExA/XDDgdgLjXtU/s1600/PB250008.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TPP-mh_tAgI/AAAAAAAAExA/XDDgdgLjXtU/s400/PB250008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545055504137257474" border="0" /></a><br />Linda, Amanda and Kent before the race. It was rainy, misty and chilly...awesome running weather!!!!<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TPP-lbue1yI/AAAAAAAAEww/uyPnXr_h-Iw/s1600/PB250010.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TPP-lbue1yI/AAAAAAAAEww/uyPnXr_h-Iw/s400/PB250010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545055485274543906" border="0" /></a><br />We signed Mot up at the last minute, since everyone else was going to be running. Not sure how excited he was about it....but he had fun.<br /><br />Whether he admits it or not! :-)<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TPP-DdrzC2I/AAAAAAAAEwo/Gkrx7HsWgPk/s1600/PB250011.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TPP-DdrzC2I/AAAAAAAAEwo/Gkrx7HsWgPk/s400/PB250011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545054901684603746" border="0" /></a><br />All 5 of us before the start.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TPP-C_7CK5I/AAAAAAAAEwg/sRMl199J1rY/s1600/PB250012.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TPP-C_7CK5I/AAAAAAAAEwg/sRMl199J1rY/s400/PB250012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545054893695445906" border="0" /></a><br />Not sure on the exact number of people that showed up...but it was over 2000.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TPP-lkYqC6I/AAAAAAAAEw4/kgSD1lhrve8/s1600/PB250009.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TPP-lkYqC6I/AAAAAAAAEw4/kgSD1lhrve8/s400/PB250009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545055487598922658" border="0" /></a><br />The two boys stuck together......while we three ladies split up.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TPP-Cv3VujI/AAAAAAAAEwY/R_4SZKeK1VM/s1600/PB250013.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TPP-Cv3VujI/AAAAAAAAEwY/R_4SZKeK1VM/s400/PB250013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545054889384983090" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The run was fun. It wasn't a flat course, but it wasn't mountain climbing either. I took off at the start, like I always do. Too fast.<br /><br />My Nike sportband says I ran the first mile in just over 5 minutes....pretty sure it was delusional. I don't think I could run that fast.....on roller skates...with a jet pack. :-)<br /><br />I did end up taking a couple of walk breaks, at the top of a couple of hills....but ran for nearly all of it.<br /><br />Still trying to figure out how to dress for cooler weather running. I was stripping layers as I ran, and was still pretty warm. I'll get it figured out...in time for summer to come around again. :-)<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TPP9u3ysKmI/AAAAAAAAEwQ/XaWcclTuhSQ/s1600/PB250014.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TPP9u3ysKmI/AAAAAAAAEwQ/XaWcclTuhSQ/s400/PB250014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545054547915582050" border="0" /></a><br />OK...I know this shot is blurry, but I was taking pictures on the run, give me a break. See the two in the middle (she's wearing shorts)? She lives about a mile from me. They happened to be talking about Omaha weather when they ran by, and I chimed in.<br /><br />How funny to be 7 hours away from home, and then end up running with someone who lives almost in your backyard!!! :-)<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TPP9uUXN8gI/AAAAAAAAEwI/ybSjsclNjUI/s1600/PB250016.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TPP9uUXN8gI/AAAAAAAAEwI/ybSjsclNjUI/s400/PB250016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545054538405114370" border="0" /></a><br />There were quite a few dogs on the route. This black lab reminded me quite a bit of Sam. I can't wait for Sam to be old enough to run with me!!!!!!!<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TPP9tn0AGuI/AAAAAAAAEwA/4_ZnD30i4fU/s1600/PB250017.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TPP9tn0AGuI/AAAAAAAAEwA/4_ZnD30i4fU/s400/PB250017.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545054526446246626" border="0" /></a><br />After the race....still all smiles!!!!!<br /><br />(3.1 miles, 10:00 pace)<br /><br />(to be cont)Nejhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00982042722943000994noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343570879387481239.post-63903028566842958772011-02-18T08:00:00.003-06:002011-02-18T08:00:16.953-06:00Halloween Shopping DayIn my post <a href="http://kayaknej.blogspot.com/2011/02/halloween-at-girls-2010.html">yesterday</a>, I mentioned the shopping trip Danny and I went on to get our Halloween costumes. Well, in looking through my pictures, I found some shots from the day. :-)<br /><br />He called the night before wanting to make sure that I took my hockey jersey with me the next day. He had a "surprise" for me.<br /><br />With Danny, you never know what to expect.<br /><br />And I love that!!!!<br /><br />He picked me up that next morning, and we were off.<br /><br />It turns out that the University of Nebraska at Omaha was having their homecoming weekend that day. The first 100 fans that arrived to the after parade party showing their team spirit rec'd a free hot dog, drink and chips.<br /><br />Sweet! Free food, homecoming parade, on a gorgeous day. Can't complain about that!!!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fqWyJxCghKE/TV2CRGSwQuI/AAAAAAAAFPk/XnBo1ri3V5o/s1600/2010-10-02_09-42-19_400.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fqWyJxCghKE/TV2CRGSwQuI/AAAAAAAAFPk/XnBo1ri3V5o/s400/2010-10-02_09-42-19_400.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574755144013202146" border="0" /></a><br />License plate in the parking lot of the university. School mascot is the Maverick...a cow/bull.<br /><br />I believe it said somewhere in the paper that this was only the 2nd or 3rd year of the parade.<br /><br />What did it look like?<br /><br />Well...it was a college parade, thrown by college students.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mkAOS7GAqZo/TV2B9KfYlXI/AAAAAAAAFPM/p63inIYrGxo/s1600/2010-10-02_10-24-14_176.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mkAOS7GAqZo/TV2B9KfYlXI/AAAAAAAAFPM/p63inIYrGxo/s400/2010-10-02_10-24-14_176.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574754801542534514" border="0" /></a><br />Marching Band.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hflllMTTe8I/TV2B9bzTl1I/AAAAAAAAFPU/6DMmgzBfNSQ/s1600/2010-10-02_10-20-35_443.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hflllMTTe8I/TV2B9bzTl1I/AAAAAAAAFPU/6DMmgzBfNSQ/s400/2010-10-02_10-20-35_443.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574754806189496146" border="0" /></a><br />Football mascot.<br /><br />And then maybe a dozen floats decorated and driven by the misc fraternities and sororities.<br /><br />Half dressed men and women, throwing 5 or 6 pieces (total) of candy....on floats decorated to represent the "Las Vegas" theme of the homecoming season.<br /><br />Pretty lame...but fun at the same time. :-)<br /><br />From there we went to get lunch, then start our Halloween costume shopping.<br /><br />I didn't take many pics while shopping, surprisingly. We were having a good time, and it never really occurred to me. Getting the pieces we needed was important business.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7jh3Va9rr0Q/TV2CQ_RuYuI/AAAAAAAAFPc/3CDtTJA9sbM/s1600/2010-10-02_11-16-57_480.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7jh3Va9rr0Q/TV2CQ_RuYuI/AAAAAAAAFPc/3CDtTJA9sbM/s400/2010-10-02_11-16-57_480.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574755142129836770" border="0" /></a><br />That is...until Danny started trying on wedding dresses as possible dresses for Nell (Steve) to wear. :-)<br /><br />After we'd gotten all the pieces we thought we'd need....we stopped by the fire station to show Mot what we'd found....went to our houses to unload our crap....then headed downtown for the first hockey game of the season!!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1DyxBEtIJwo/TV2B88YLYCI/AAAAAAAAFPE/xM0zR-gFLxc/s1600/2010-10-02_18-58-44_447.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1DyxBEtIJwo/TV2B88YLYCI/AAAAAAAAFPE/xM0zR-gFLxc/s400/2010-10-02_18-58-44_447.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574754797754212386" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After the game we went to the Worm.<br /><br />Then we left the Worm and headed in the direction of home.<br /><br />With a stop at T's tavern for another drink and my very first Keno game.....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XTpX7-cp4H4/TV2B8ijXdLI/AAAAAAAAFO8/dMNNy567mdg/s1600/2010-10-03_00-20-06_409.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XTpX7-cp4H4/TV2B8ijXdLI/AAAAAAAAFO8/dMNNy567mdg/s400/2010-10-03_00-20-06_409.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574754790821819570" border="0" /></a><br />...then Village Inn for an early (really early) morning breakfast.<br /><br />We sat and ate....while watching all the high school homecoming kids all dressed up, making fools of themselves like only high schoolers can do.<br /><br />Eventually the kids left, so we finished breakfast and he dropped me off at home.<br /><br />A great day!!!!!Nejhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00982042722943000994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343570879387481239.post-59598901261916996392011-02-17T10:10:00.012-06:002011-02-17T10:40:46.677-06:00Halloween at the Girls': 2010<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u8uN51zTzfM/TV1Mi4AL6YI/AAAAAAAAFNU/H1eWxNnqscI/s1600/PA300207.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u8uN51zTzfM/TV1Mi4AL6YI/AAAAAAAAFNU/H1eWxNnqscI/s400/PA300207.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574696075786971522" border="0" /></a><br />Val and Dee throw a big Halloween party at their place every year....they've been doing it for quite a while. <br /><br />Mot and I have been lucky enough to be invited the last couple of years! He's had to work both years, and hasn't been able to go....but the boys have taken me along as a third wheel....and boy am I glad they have!!!!!<br /><br />Last year's theme was <a href="http://kayaknej.blogspot.com/2009/11/weekend-update-36-its-most-wonderful.html">Dead Celebrities</a>....and I went as Amelia Earhart (sadly, I've not been able to find a picture of me at the party).<br /><br />I drank a full bottle of pre-mixed margaritas (with half a bottle of good tequila added to it)....and remember very little of the evening. (whoops)<br /><br />This year's theme was cartoon characters.<br /><br />The three of us decided to go as Dudley Do-Right, Nell and Snidely Whiplash.<br /><br />Danny and I went shopping for the pieces of our costumes a few weekends before, and because Steve wasn't along.....we voted (it was unanimous) that he'd be Nell. :-)<br /><br />He took the information in stride!!!<br /><br />So, the day of the party had finally arrived!!!! I had everything I needed, but the spirit gum to keep my mustache firmly on my face.<br /><br />Yep, I was going to be Snidely!!! <br /><br />Danny and I found the MOST AWESOME knee length black "fur" coat at Goodwill......it was perfect!!<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JneFL7mv09U/TV1MioESCsI/AAAAAAAAFNM/gS23ZtMVJR4/s1600/PA300210.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JneFL7mv09U/TV1MioESCsI/AAAAAAAAFNM/gS23ZtMVJR4/s400/PA300210.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574696071509183170" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HkOKcLsHrNE/TV1NWLOECOI/AAAAAAAAFOE/umk6PoE_gRw/s1600/2010-10-30_18-36-29_182.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HkOKcLsHrNE/TV1NWLOECOI/AAAAAAAAFOE/umk6PoE_gRw/s400/2010-10-30_18-36-29_182.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574696957118777570" border="0" /></a><br />Mot finds this picture of me horribly disturbing!! :-)<br /><br />The party was full of friends we've made during our bowling league....and was as fun as ever!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cPupGWtXbuU/TV1NQ4P0vWI/AAAAAAAAFN8/w9scuDHxtlA/s1600/PA300197.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cPupGWtXbuU/TV1NQ4P0vWI/AAAAAAAAFN8/w9scuDHxtlA/s400/PA300197.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574696866126544226" border="0" /></a><br />Popeye and Olive Oyl<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q09c8H3l0aw/TV1NQh5XOiI/AAAAAAAAFN0/-zflAGkLm94/s1600/PA300198.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q09c8H3l0aw/TV1NQh5XOiI/AAAAAAAAFN0/-zflAGkLm94/s400/PA300198.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574696860126755362" border="0" /></a><br />Scooby and Shaggy<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5X_FS37N5Ds/TV1NQbwF5RI/AAAAAAAAFNs/3h7stMqNX_I/s1600/PA300202.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5X_FS37N5Ds/TV1NQbwF5RI/AAAAAAAAFNs/3h7stMqNX_I/s400/PA300202.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574696858477258002" border="0" /></a><br />Batman and Robin<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HGu296_DC3k/TV1LSSZ9u9I/AAAAAAAAFM8/N0_3imn3rrg/s1600/PA300212.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HGu296_DC3k/TV1LSSZ9u9I/AAAAAAAAFM8/N0_3imn3rrg/s400/PA300212.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574694691305012178" border="0" /></a><br />Scooby and the Cat in the Hat<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C1jRk0b5wpk/TV1LSIJZXiI/AAAAAAAAFM0/J8b3v4OmEr8/s1600/PA300215.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C1jRk0b5wpk/TV1LSIJZXiI/AAAAAAAAFM0/J8b3v4OmEr8/s400/PA300215.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574694688551165474" border="0" /></a><br />Carl and Ellie from UP<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cyO-Bo47sUU/TV1LRYWdQ9I/AAAAAAAAFMk/BxocnDi68N0/s1600/PA300217.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cyO-Bo47sUU/TV1LRYWdQ9I/AAAAAAAAFMk/BxocnDi68N0/s400/PA300217.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574694675721044946" border="0" /></a><br />The Swedish Chef<br /><br />And many, many, many other misc characters!!!!<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MQd36qSXDoQ/TV1NQB1tdqI/AAAAAAAAFNk/yovS29D57aM/s1600/PA300203.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MQd36qSXDoQ/TV1NQB1tdqI/AAAAAAAAFNk/yovS29D57aM/s400/PA300203.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574696851521500834" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JrITfw3ycvE/TV1Mib-UmHI/AAAAAAAAFNE/LQug80EBvho/s1600/PA300211.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JrITfw3ycvE/TV1Mib-UmHI/AAAAAAAAFNE/LQug80EBvho/s400/PA300211.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574696068262959218" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bnt_vw9CPN0/TV1MjAstJiI/AAAAAAAAFNc/o460S-w_gLw/s1600/PA300205.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bnt_vw9CPN0/TV1MjAstJiI/AAAAAAAAFNc/o460S-w_gLw/s400/PA300205.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574696078121182754" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l_GaPppV8GA/TV1LR_usKSI/AAAAAAAAFMs/luGxUFgNvpw/s1600/PA300216.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l_GaPppV8GA/TV1LR_usKSI/AAAAAAAAFMs/luGxUFgNvpw/s400/PA300216.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574694686291667234" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2jGlFH9bPks/TV1K5Rl9XMI/AAAAAAAAFMc/vpNa_qArPnQ/s1600/PA300219.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2jGlFH9bPks/TV1K5Rl9XMI/AAAAAAAAFMc/vpNa_qArPnQ/s400/PA300219.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574694261590154434" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xKhS2SNoa8w/TV1K4700xLI/AAAAAAAAFMU/UvGwg2mvDJo/s1600/PA300226.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xKhS2SNoa8w/TV1K4700xLI/AAAAAAAAFMU/UvGwg2mvDJo/s400/PA300226.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574694255746925746" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-niODWwixVlc/TV1K4oN2kII/AAAAAAAAFMM/lLTEqy99Jvc/s1600/PA300238.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-niODWwixVlc/TV1K4oN2kII/AAAAAAAAFMM/lLTEqy99Jvc/s400/PA300238.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574694250483191938" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w2YbsKm0srY/TV1K4T13kDI/AAAAAAAAFME/2J_94ZM1vyk/s1600/PA300241.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w2YbsKm0srY/TV1K4T13kDI/AAAAAAAAFME/2J_94ZM1vyk/s400/PA300241.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574694245013884978" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />We all spent the night dancing away on their back deck.....laughing, talking.....and making quite a lot of noise. :-)<br /><br />The next morning, Mot met the three of us for donuts and a recap of the previous nights adventures. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z5tyvzRtLxQ/TV1KejjkEHI/AAAAAAAAFL8/25C6x_86k0o/s1600/2010-10-31_08-00-22_223.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z5tyvzRtLxQ/TV1KejjkEHI/AAAAAAAAFL8/25C6x_86k0o/s400/2010-10-31_08-00-22_223.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574693802555478130" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MFXrflkJufs/TV1KeXoGygI/AAAAAAAAFL0/CqkxqMzH58o/s1600/2010-10-31_08-00-46_232.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MFXrflkJufs/TV1KeXoGygI/AAAAAAAAFL0/CqkxqMzH58o/s400/2010-10-31_08-00-46_232.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574693799353305602" border="0" /></a>Nejhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00982042722943000994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343570879387481239.post-60817075289486898472011-01-26T08:17:00.004-06:002011-01-26T08:20:58.117-06:00Mostly Wordless Wednesday: Wrong WayWe walked into the church across the street to vote last night. <br /><br />We'd never been in this church, and didn't know where they set up for voting. <br /><br />There weren't any signs....at least, no signs we saw right away.<br /><br />This one was LITERALLY 3 feet in front of us. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TUAtDpcuy2I/AAAAAAAAFKs/PGg2GZJ37oQ/s1600/polling.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TUAtDpcuy2I/AAAAAAAAFKs/PGg2GZJ37oQ/s400/polling.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566498680119151458" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Apparently they didn't have any signs with the arrow pointing the right way....so they put it upside down. <br /><br />What?<br /><br />I'm trying to give them the benefit of the doubt here. :-)Nejhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00982042722943000994noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343570879387481239.post-27470744249431367752011-01-19T08:00:00.001-06:002011-01-19T08:00:09.878-06:00New Orleans in October - part 410/24/10<br /><br />We got up the next morning (not so early) and headed to the cemetery not too far from the hotel.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCjOJ58JpI/AAAAAAAAE70/KlLEnejIeSg/s1600/IMG_1515.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCjOJ58JpI/AAAAAAAAE70/KlLEnejIeSg/s400/IMG_1515.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562125003374995090" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCjDmQRY_I/AAAAAAAAE7s/PwA8_fTAFRs/s1600/IMG_1517.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCjDmQRY_I/AAAAAAAAE7s/PwA8_fTAFRs/s400/IMG_1517.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562124822006293490" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCjDcDJ8II/AAAAAAAAE7k/N2b_beFriyQ/s1600/IMG_1519.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCjDcDJ8II/AAAAAAAAE7k/N2b_beFriyQ/s400/IMG_1519.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562124819266924674" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCjC_QvOWI/AAAAAAAAE7c/avxV5KxE34U/s1600/IMG_1520.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCjC_QvOWI/AAAAAAAAE7c/avxV5KxE34U/s400/IMG_1520.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562124811539265890" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTChHydurqI/AAAAAAAAE7U/LqAnqpSXcVc/s1600/IMG_1522.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTChHydurqI/AAAAAAAAE7U/LqAnqpSXcVc/s400/IMG_1522.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562122694980185762" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This was one of the places I was really looking forward to walking around. We didn't stay as long as we would have liked, but the weather wasn't going to cooperate with us, and I didn't want to get soaked while carrying my DLSR.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTChHmoDUyI/AAAAAAAAE7M/L5x98Bfxvlo/s1600/IMG_1523.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTChHmoDUyI/AAAAAAAAE7M/L5x98Bfxvlo/s400/IMG_1523.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562122691802256162" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTChHfQ55oI/AAAAAAAAE7E/8Gipkrn42oA/s1600/IMG_1524.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTChHfQ55oI/AAAAAAAAE7E/8Gipkrn42oA/s400/IMG_1524.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562122689826121346" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCfvO2YE4I/AAAAAAAAE68/CIlZZMllpJI/s1600/IMG_1525.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCfvO2YE4I/AAAAAAAAE68/CIlZZMllpJI/s400/IMG_1525.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562121173591397250" border="0" /></a><br />The alleged grave of Marie Laveau, the "Voodoo Queen."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCfu5C2IXI/AAAAAAAAE60/qQCxFH4LOis/s1600/IMG_1526.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCfu5C2IXI/AAAAAAAAE60/qQCxFH4LOis/s400/IMG_1526.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562121167738118514" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCfuQx4gXI/AAAAAAAAE6s/AfaT42GYvBw/s1600/IMG_1527.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCfuQx4gXI/AAAAAAAAE6s/AfaT42GYvBw/s400/IMG_1527.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562121156929552754" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCfXhET0QI/AAAAAAAAE6k/UyoZKP8_x1U/s1600/IMG_1528.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCfXhET0QI/AAAAAAAAE6k/UyoZKP8_x1U/s400/IMG_1528.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562120766164816130" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCfXA3TARI/AAAAAAAAE6c/wH_LKmMt6jE/s1600/IMG_1529.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCfXA3TARI/AAAAAAAAE6c/wH_LKmMt6jE/s400/IMG_1529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562120757520302354" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCfW0jcM6I/AAAAAAAAE6U/3Bwkrp8jf18/s1600/IMG_1530.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCfW0jcM6I/AAAAAAAAE6U/3Bwkrp8jf18/s400/IMG_1530.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562120754215793570" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCe4HKBBpI/AAAAAAAAE6M/4G2SDKGkgo0/s1600/IMG_1531.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCe4HKBBpI/AAAAAAAAE6M/4G2SDKGkgo0/s400/IMG_1531.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562120226633483922" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCe39Z_PzI/AAAAAAAAE6E/ARwOQVccdN0/s1600/IMG_1532.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCe39Z_PzI/AAAAAAAAE6E/ARwOQVccdN0/s400/IMG_1532.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562120224016121650" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCe3UCZxTI/AAAAAAAAE58/YBW737gz6iM/s1600/IMG_1537.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCe3UCZxTI/AAAAAAAAE58/YBW737gz6iM/s400/IMG_1537.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562120212911342898" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCeiY3iJyI/AAAAAAAAE50/ddRasPqZNAE/s1600/IMG_1539.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCeiY3iJyI/AAAAAAAAE50/ddRasPqZNAE/s400/IMG_1539.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562119853430679330" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCeiBIIRJI/AAAAAAAAE5s/fPzx8ifJqz4/s1600/IMG_1541.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCeiBIIRJI/AAAAAAAAE5s/fPzx8ifJqz4/s400/IMG_1541.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562119847057835154" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCeh3D_IBI/AAAAAAAAE5k/92XbvLVLnhE/s1600/IMG_1543.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCeh3D_IBI/AAAAAAAAE5k/92XbvLVLnhE/s400/IMG_1543.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562119844356104210" border="0" /></a><br />Not sure who this one belonged to.<br /><br />From the cemetery, we walked to the <a href="http://www.houseofblues.com/venues/clubvenues/neworleans/">House of Blues</a> for a Sunday gospel brunch.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCdDp3wqBI/AAAAAAAAE5E/9gn7CcBAslY/s1600/IMG_1553.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCdDp3wqBI/AAAAAAAAE5E/9gn7CcBAslY/s400/IMG_1553.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562118225907460114" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCdCePRpaI/AAAAAAAAE48/VJTiMhhU188/s1600/IMG_1552.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCdCePRpaI/AAAAAAAAE48/VJTiMhhU188/s400/IMG_1552.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562118205604996514" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCcx_8MbfI/AAAAAAAAE40/b50KeGj61VY/s1600/IMG_1555.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCcx_8MbfI/AAAAAAAAE40/b50KeGj61VY/s400/IMG_1555.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562117922593992178" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCcxih-vkI/AAAAAAAAE4s/edRidYP1Ci0/s1600/IMG_1556.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCcxih-vkI/AAAAAAAAE4s/edRidYP1Ci0/s400/IMG_1556.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562117914699415106" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCcxBj7ElI/AAAAAAAAE4k/_MpFD9uUD2U/s1600/IMG_1557.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCcxBj7ElI/AAAAAAAAE4k/_MpFD9uUD2U/s400/IMG_1557.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562117905849193042" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCccWKz7vI/AAAAAAAAE4c/PXHR1BlCjmA/s1600/IMG_1558.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCccWKz7vI/AAAAAAAAE4c/PXHR1BlCjmA/s400/IMG_1558.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562117550603759346" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I didn't get any pictures inside. There were signs everywhere prohibiting photography.<br /><br />Although a somewhat annoying British dude sat across the table from us, and took pictures and video throughout the entire show. :-)<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCccC5BiCI/AAAAAAAAE4U/zkkfndNVXPw/s1600/PA240145.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCccC5BiCI/AAAAAAAAE4U/zkkfndNVXPw/s400/PA240145.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562117545428879394" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The clouds opened up on us for a while.....and made the city extremely muggy when it stopped. Up until then we had been really lucky with the weather, so I'm not complaining!!!!<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCcbx20KDI/AAAAAAAAE4M/ii_9dEM2hio/s1600/PA240146.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCcbx20KDI/AAAAAAAAE4M/ii_9dEM2hio/s400/PA240146.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562117540856211506" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We didn't have any more plans for the day, so did some more walking. Checking out shops, stopping to watch the street performers....<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCcGyGlT3I/AAAAAAAAE4E/fBFyOO53_8U/s1600/PA240147.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCcGyGlT3I/AAAAAAAAE4E/fBFyOO53_8U/s400/PA240147.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562117180145094514" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCcGrOp_RI/AAAAAAAAE38/r_H3TjQohdc/s1600/PA240148.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCcGrOp_RI/AAAAAAAAE38/r_H3TjQohdc/s400/PA240148.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562117178299907346" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And Steve and I stopped to get our cards read. <br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCcGToZnqI/AAAAAAAAE30/2R-bbbFMpzI/s1600/PA240158.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCcGToZnqI/AAAAAAAAE30/2R-bbbFMpzI/s400/PA240158.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562117171965435554" border="0" /></a><br />What? We were in New Orleans. It's a requirement!!!! :-)<br /><br />From there we went to <a href="http://www.patobriens.com/patobriens/">Pat O'Briens</a> for the authentic New Orleans Hurricane. <br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCb087HdrI/AAAAAAAAE3s/Od8HC9yd-yc/s1600/PA240156.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCb087HdrI/AAAAAAAAE3s/Od8HC9yd-yc/s400/PA240156.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562116873812145842" border="0" /></a><br />It went straight to Mot's head!! :-)<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCb0sbHKWI/AAAAAAAAE3k/1EXQHTKiBEU/s1600/PA240159.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCb0sbHKWI/AAAAAAAAE3k/1EXQHTKiBEU/s400/PA240159.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562116869382941026" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCb0X0zdII/AAAAAAAAE3c/JzSD7nmryVQ/s1600/PA240160.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCb0X0zdII/AAAAAAAAE3c/JzSD7nmryVQ/s400/PA240160.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562116863853556866" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We walked over to Jackson square (the park itself had been closed the day before for a wedding, but the gates were open this afternoon).<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCbiosRcnI/AAAAAAAAE3U/_-pvHaNgjRg/s1600/PA240163.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCbiosRcnI/AAAAAAAAE3U/_-pvHaNgjRg/s400/PA240163.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562116559143531122" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCbiTT0S2I/AAAAAAAAE3M/voktAiC2yrY/s1600/PA240166.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCbiTT0S2I/AAAAAAAAE3M/voktAiC2yrY/s400/PA240166.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562116553403812706" border="0" /></a><br /><br />From there we walked BACK to Pat O'Briens for more hurricanes. <br /><br />By then, they had started going to my head as well. <br /><br />Yummo!!!!!!<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCbMes9XsI/AAAAAAAAE28/yUcls_pzw6Y/s1600/PA240171.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCbMes9XsI/AAAAAAAAE28/yUcls_pzw6Y/s400/PA240171.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562116178504933058" border="0" /></a><br />I totally fell in love with the corn stalk fence. <br /><br />What? I'm an Iowa girl!! :-)<br /><br />We stopped at a couple favorite hangouts of the boys...and from the balcony of Good Friends, I saw this......<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCbiNrknRI/AAAAAAAAE3E/YQmYhrf9j-Y/s1600/PA230133.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCbiNrknRI/AAAAAAAAE3E/YQmYhrf9j-Y/s400/PA230133.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562116551892835602" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Oh yeah.....we had to go in. The food was really good!!!<br /><br />Then we.....(all together now)...wandered around the Quarter some more. :-)<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCbLxmUDFI/AAAAAAAAE20/rQBWlTRL1vg/s1600/PA240185.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCbLxmUDFI/AAAAAAAAE20/rQBWlTRL1vg/s400/PA240185.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562116166397463634" border="0" /></a><br />Steve wanted to go into a Christmas store to look around. <br /><br />And......about two hours later, we stopped here for lunch.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCbLtm0oZI/AAAAAAAAE2s/VcBW3ENK1JE/s1600/PA240155.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCbLtm0oZI/AAAAAAAAE2s/VcBW3ENK1JE/s400/PA240155.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562116165325857170" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Yes, we had just eaten....for the 14th time that day.....but we had Groupons, and wanted to check the place out. <br /><br />The four of us almost wish we hadn't. The service was horrible, the food was horrible.....but they had a really cool chandelier hanging inside! <br /><br />Yep, the cool chandelier and Steve's french fries were the highlights of the place.<br /><br />And then the waiter messed up our bill....couldn't figure out how to cancel it. Had to call his boss...couldn't find his boss....ran down to the bar around the corner that his boss owned. Still couldn't find him.....eventually did something that may or may not have fixed his error....and we left. :-)<br /><br />From there we headed to the hotel.<br /><br />We got up the next morning, and got a cab to the airport.Nejhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00982042722943000994noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343570879387481239.post-66710521146708861192011-01-18T08:00:00.003-06:002011-01-18T08:00:13.858-06:00New Orleans in October - part 310/23/10<br /><br />We got up the next morning and headed to <a href="http://www.cafedumonde.com/">Cafe Du Monde</a> for breakfast. They serve coffee and beignets.<br /><br />Great coffee and even greater beignets!!!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCo_HuTTNI/AAAAAAAAFBs/Lxld0uT4ndE/s1600/PA230081.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCo_HuTTNI/AAAAAAAAFBs/Lxld0uT4ndE/s400/PA230081.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562131342161038546" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCo-4oJfDI/AAAAAAAAFBk/kA7ncXeOZjA/s1600/PA230082.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCo-4oJfDI/AAAAAAAAFBk/kA7ncXeOZjA/s400/PA230082.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562131338108697650" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCo-oFbMkI/AAAAAAAAFBc/jOiNNA000X8/s1600/PA230083.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCo-oFbMkI/AAAAAAAAFBc/jOiNNA000X8/s400/PA230083.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562131333668090434" border="0" /></a><br />Serenaded while we ate.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCovYRQwtI/AAAAAAAAFBU/4QVkxPFMvTM/s1600/PA230085.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCovYRQwtI/AAAAAAAAFBU/4QVkxPFMvTM/s400/PA230085.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562131071724733138" border="0" /></a><br />Not a diet food.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCou0T98CI/AAAAAAAAFBM/wJe3Q8GaPWU/s1600/PA230087.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCou0T98CI/AAAAAAAAFBM/wJe3Q8GaPWU/s400/PA230087.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562131062072406050" border="0" /></a><br />I call this picture....Bliss.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCoukUlx3I/AAAAAAAAFBE/Yl-ohtj7oew/s1600/PA230092.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCoukUlx3I/AAAAAAAAFBE/Yl-ohtj7oew/s400/PA230092.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562131057780049778" border="0" /></a><br />From there we walked to the Saturday morning flea market area.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCocdfOhaI/AAAAAAAAFA8/gQihfTDD2_0/s1600/PA230093.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCocdfOhaI/AAAAAAAAFA8/gQihfTDD2_0/s400/PA230093.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562130746707969442" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Then wandered around the French Quarter (are you seeing a theme to this trip yet) to find lunch.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC2jCh1RPI/AAAAAAAAFIM/2HVmD7JkPHw/s1600/PA220055.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC2jCh1RPI/AAAAAAAAFIM/2HVmD7JkPHw/s400/PA220055.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562146252893013234" border="0" /></a><br />We wanted to go here. <a href="http://www.vertimarte.com/default.asp">Verti Marte</a>. Apparently they'd had a fire and weren't open yet.<br /><br />The boys say they have the best sandwiches...ever.<br /><br />Now we HAVE to go back! :-)<br /><br />We eventually ended up at the Magnolia Grill for lunch.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCocNZfdhI/AAAAAAAAFA0/XqHIaC2rDW0/s1600/PA230094.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCocNZfdhI/AAAAAAAAFA0/XqHIaC2rDW0/s400/PA230094.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562130742388946450" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCob0Vr7UI/AAAAAAAAFAs/swW9dOGIlb8/s1600/PA230095.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCob0Vr7UI/AAAAAAAAFAs/swW9dOGIlb8/s400/PA230095.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562130735662099778" border="0" /></a><br />Tom found his newest beer love there.<br /><br />After lunch, we walked around <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackson_Square,_New_Orleans">Jackson Square</a>....and nearly bought quite a bit of art. :-)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCmzmtXDaI/AAAAAAAAE_c/DKnvBxk38rE/s1600/PA230101.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCmzmtXDaI/AAAAAAAAE_c/DKnvBxk38rE/s400/PA230101.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562128945296903586" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCmy8l750I/AAAAAAAAE_U/ZspKW7j0Buc/s1600/PA230102.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCmy8l750I/AAAAAAAAE_U/ZspKW7j0Buc/s400/PA230102.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562128933991475010" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCmyZtnZ4I/AAAAAAAAE_M/oUr34nov2LA/s1600/PA230103.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCmyZtnZ4I/AAAAAAAAE_M/oUr34nov2LA/s400/PA230103.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562128924628445058" border="0" /></a><br /><br />From there we walked down Royal Street, stopping at the art galleries and stores.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCmfFqpkBI/AAAAAAAAE_E/Z7OPyFPMDbk/s1600/PA230108.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCmfFqpkBI/AAAAAAAAE_E/Z7OPyFPMDbk/s400/PA230108.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562128592829779986" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCme5QrmRI/AAAAAAAAE-8/oq2W_i0p_TY/s1600/PA230110.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCme5QrmRI/AAAAAAAAE-8/oq2W_i0p_TY/s400/PA230110.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562128589499635986" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCmevbi0mI/AAAAAAAAE-0/WfvMw8Vhb_8/s1600/PA230111.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCmevbi0mI/AAAAAAAAE-0/WfvMw8Vhb_8/s400/PA230111.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562128586860843618" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The French Quarter always has street performers. Some horrible (I swear one gentleman had purchased his trombone at a thrift store earlier in the week, took some time to learn...kinda learn....the theme song from Sanford and Sons...and then proceeded to serenade us with it the entire trip).....<br /><br />And some are wonderful!!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCmDfg1jGI/AAAAAAAAE-s/9qwEkYDxvZE/s1600/PA230115.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCmDfg1jGI/AAAAAAAAE-s/9qwEkYDxvZE/s400/PA230115.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562128118731607138" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.tanyahuang.com/">Tanya and Dorise</a>.<br /><br />We sat on the curb and listened to them for over an hour.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCmDJEPQMI/AAAAAAAAE-k/Mh3jNYpC0rE/s1600/PA230119.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCmDJEPQMI/AAAAAAAAE-k/Mh3jNYpC0rE/s400/PA230119.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562128112706076866" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Between the four of us, I think we bought all but one of their CD's.<br /><br />I want to hire them to play during our next backyard summer party.<br /><br />Wow!<br /><br />On our way back to the hotel, we FINALLY we able to go into the hat store next door to our hotel. (It was usually well past closing time when we passed by.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCmDMLw0TI/AAAAAAAAE-c/Yr6tEWEbT4E/s1600/IMG_1509.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCmDMLw0TI/AAAAAAAAE-c/Yr6tEWEbT4E/s400/IMG_1509.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562128113542943026" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The place was awesome!!!<br /><br />(this picture was taken one night, after it had closed....it wasn't dark when we stopped in)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTClx8N5X2I/AAAAAAAAE-U/Q6qzQQIdt9M/s1600/PA230124.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTClx8N5X2I/AAAAAAAAE-U/Q6qzQQIdt9M/s400/PA230124.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562127817199148898" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Floor to ceiling (literally) hats.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTClxl78gWI/AAAAAAAAE-M/qqrnCdeJ1nY/s1600/PA230122.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTClxl78gWI/AAAAAAAAE-M/qqrnCdeJ1nY/s400/PA230122.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562127811218276706" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTClxfUGs4I/AAAAAAAAE-E/gMkrNUZnJ1I/s1600/PA230123.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTClxfUGs4I/AAAAAAAAE-E/gMkrNUZnJ1I/s400/PA230123.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562127809440560002" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We were probably in there at least 45 minutes or an hour, trying on different styles, colors, etc. Eventually I had Danny take Mot back to the hotel....and when they left, I bought Mot his Christmas gift. :-)<br /><br />After checking out (and having them ship the gift hat to my work place)....Steve and I joined the other two at the hotel. Steve crashed on the pull out, I fell face first into bed.......while the two of us snored away, Danny went down to Fedex to ship some artwork he'd purchased...and Mot took advantage of the hotel hot tub.<br /><br />After Mot returned from the hot tub...and Danny returned from his "experience" at Fedex....the four of us headed out for dinner.<br /><br />We took a streetcar down through the garden district, on our way to the.....uh.....college district.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTClX69KMpI/AAAAAAAAE98/ipbdRqsqQws/s1600/IMG_1477.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTClX69KMpI/AAAAAAAAE98/ipbdRqsqQws/s400/IMG_1477.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562127370183914130" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTClXmn6U6I/AAAAAAAAE90/e-sNb9CaVhM/s1600/IMG_1459.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTClXmn6U6I/AAAAAAAAE90/e-sNb9CaVhM/s400/IMG_1459.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562127364726084514" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTClIbFckFI/AAAAAAAAE9s/SvR60BEP2g0/s1600/IMG_1460.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTClIbFckFI/AAAAAAAAE9s/SvR60BEP2g0/s400/IMG_1460.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562127103930699858" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTClIPwSJQI/AAAAAAAAE9k/92b2ASB3GSU/s1600/IMG_1462.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTClIPwSJQI/AAAAAAAAE9k/92b2ASB3GSU/s400/IMG_1462.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562127100889146626" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTClH8_YwVI/AAAAAAAAE9c/Anl2uRlxG1A/s1600/IMG_1469.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTClH8_YwVI/AAAAAAAAE9c/Anl2uRlxG1A/s400/IMG_1469.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562127095852220754" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCkvsmJ2xI/AAAAAAAAE9U/CZXb2rWJQeI/s1600/IMG_1472.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCkvsmJ2xI/AAAAAAAAE9U/CZXb2rWJQeI/s400/IMG_1472.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562126679134558994" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We ended up at Doors Pub.<br /><br />All of the tables, the bar and the paneling on the interior were old doors.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCkvcXkC5I/AAAAAAAAE9M/Tiuatg9uOIY/s1600/IMG_1479.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCkvcXkC5I/AAAAAAAAE9M/Tiuatg9uOIY/s400/IMG_1479.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562126674778393490" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCkvIhVoSI/AAAAAAAAE9E/GCpUdeODvrU/s1600/PA230131.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCkvIhVoSI/AAAAAAAAE9E/GCpUdeODvrU/s400/PA230131.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562126669450682658" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCkbHsTSMI/AAAAAAAAE88/1zfUdC-BNU4/s1600/PA230132.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCkbHsTSMI/AAAAAAAAE88/1zfUdC-BNU4/s400/PA230132.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562126325630847170" border="0" /></a><br />We ordered a carnivores dream pizza.....including alligator.<br /><br />Then we jumped on another cable car to head back to the Quarter.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCka5UtqsI/AAAAAAAAE80/CNvX_dQ0NdI/s1600/PA230128.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCka5UtqsI/AAAAAAAAE80/CNvX_dQ0NdI/s400/PA230128.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562126321773816514" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCka4F2-nI/AAAAAAAAE8s/14V_3N6pmV8/s1600/PA230129.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCka4F2-nI/AAAAAAAAE8s/14V_3N6pmV8/s400/PA230129.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562126321443076722" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCkGvxnmgI/AAAAAAAAE8k/IujQJFII1cE/s1600/IMG_1482.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCkGvxnmgI/AAAAAAAAE8k/IujQJFII1cE/s400/IMG_1482.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562125975613315586" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCkGWDjbiI/AAAAAAAAE8c/Eytck9zGD-M/s1600/IMG_1497.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCkGWDjbiI/AAAAAAAAE8c/Eytck9zGD-M/s400/IMG_1497.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562125968709217826" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCkGMH2qiI/AAAAAAAAE8U/e7gs8wmdvhM/s1600/PA230138.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCkGMH2qiI/AAAAAAAAE8U/e7gs8wmdvhM/s400/PA230138.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562125966042901026" border="0" /></a><br /><br />No, we didn't go "straight" to the clover grill. We had walked around for quite a while.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCjo6-3hKI/AAAAAAAAE8M/jXEQIgZ6jdQ/s1600/PA230135.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCjo6-3hKI/AAAAAAAAE8M/jXEQIgZ6jdQ/s400/PA230135.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562125463225599138" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It was late, and smell of grease was too much to ignore.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCjogkmVNI/AAAAAAAAE8E/GnX-Lf_KcNs/s1600/PA230134.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCjogkmVNI/AAAAAAAAE8E/GnX-Lf_KcNs/s400/PA230134.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562125456136099026" border="0" /></a><br />The chefs name was Andrew. A polite and quite college kid, stuck working 11 hour shifts. He only had an hour left that night, and we tried to keep him as entertained as possible.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCjoQeYObI/AAAAAAAAE78/gl-E3h7zP-o/s1600/PA230140.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCjoQeYObI/AAAAAAAAE78/gl-E3h7zP-o/s400/PA230140.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562125451815041458" border="0" /></a><br />On the way back to the hotel, I took a picture of touchdown Jesus.<br /><br />Sorry, made me giggle every time I saw it. :-)<br /><br />Good night New Orleans.<br /><br />(to be cont)Nejhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00982042722943000994noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343570879387481239.post-10864170018797147342011-01-17T08:00:00.013-06:002011-01-17T08:15:28.937-06:00New Orleans in October - part 210/22/10<br /><br />We woke up nice and early and headed out to find breakfast.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC2jdIUeqI/AAAAAAAAFIU/uQdKFvxyUt8/s1600/PA220049.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC2jdIUeqI/AAAAAAAAFIU/uQdKFvxyUt8/s400/PA220049.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562146260033764002" border="0" /></a><br /><br />There was an awesome little diner right around the corner, and the food was magnificent!!!!!<br /><br />After breakfast we walked to pick up our rental car. We'd decided to spend our second day in New Orleans driving around the area....checking out the old plantations and such.<br /><br />On our way out of town, we drove by a few fun places.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC2P4Hmb0I/AAAAAAAAFIE/iOrSrNcsIn8/s1600/IMG_1262.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC2P4Hmb0I/AAAAAAAAFIE/iOrSrNcsIn8/s400/IMG_1262.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562145923681120066" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.annerice.com/NewOrleans-SaintElizabeths.html">St. Elizabeth's</a> is a small (47,000 sq feet) house on Napoleon Street...owned my Ann Rice. It takes up an entire city block...and used to house an orphanage.<br /><br />It's recently been sold, and is undergoing modifications....I think they are making it into condos. (sigh)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC2PmbmF_I/AAAAAAAAFH8/9p-pbbZ_RA0/s1600/IMG_1255.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC2PmbmF_I/AAAAAAAAFH8/9p-pbbZ_RA0/s400/IMG_1255.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562145918933145586" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC2O6OrzjI/AAAAAAAAFH0/Fw03x3Sqq24/s1600/IMG_1257.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC2O6OrzjI/AAAAAAAAFH0/Fw03x3Sqq24/s400/IMG_1257.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562145907067833906" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC10RJlkII/AAAAAAAAFHs/Xn4Rxt_2lJM/s1600/IMG_1260.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC10RJlkII/AAAAAAAAFHs/Xn4Rxt_2lJM/s400/IMG_1260.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562145449364000898" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We also drove past the places the Boys resided while they lived in New Orleans.<br /><br />Actually....New Orleans is where they met. How fun, huh???<br /><br />After a little driving, we arrived at the San Francisco Plantation.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC10JqBhCI/AAAAAAAAFHk/4KiiIXpVbMI/s1600/IMG_1266.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC10JqBhCI/AAAAAAAAFHk/4KiiIXpVbMI/s400/IMG_1266.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562145447352566818" border="0" /></a><br />It was surrounded by a HUGE ugly chain link fence....and had signs about photography being prohibited everywhere outside. (We walked around the grounds until a lady came out "politely" told us to pay or else...then we left.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC1zlHRMoI/AAAAAAAAFHc/B45a3EH3QMU/s1600/IMG_1267.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC1zlHRMoI/AAAAAAAAFHc/B45a3EH3QMU/s400/IMG_1267.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562145437543117442" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC1GF0gByI/AAAAAAAAFHU/C_ysHO9Gp-I/s1600/IMG_1268.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC1GF0gByI/AAAAAAAAFHU/C_ysHO9Gp-I/s400/IMG_1268.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562144656048785186" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC1Fm27t4I/AAAAAAAAFHM/3TxlXoxhPgg/s1600/IMG_1270.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC1Fm27t4I/AAAAAAAAFHM/3TxlXoxhPgg/s400/IMG_1270.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562144647737489282" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC1FTHRQhI/AAAAAAAAFHE/Go8dtXa3k2U/s1600/IMG_1274.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC1FTHRQhI/AAAAAAAAFHE/Go8dtXa3k2U/s400/IMG_1274.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562144642437300754" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCzo4eC2yI/AAAAAAAAFG8/Gp84xm7_bf4/s1600/IMG_1279.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCzo4eC2yI/AAAAAAAAFG8/Gp84xm7_bf4/s400/IMG_1279.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562143054737103650" border="0" /></a><br /><br />From there we headed to the other side of the river....where the plantations were more remote, and not surrounded by chain link.<br /><br />But first...we had to drive over this bridge.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCzopgcCiI/AAAAAAAAFG0/LddHvEJQIhY/s1600/IMG_1280.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCzopgcCiI/AAAAAAAAFG0/LddHvEJQIhY/s400/IMG_1280.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562143050720610850" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Steve was driving.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCzobs3MoI/AAAAAAAAFGs/2fOdHve2s0Q/s1600/IMG_1281.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCzobs3MoI/AAAAAAAAFGs/2fOdHve2s0Q/s400/IMG_1281.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562143047014625922" border="0" /></a><br /><br />He HATES bridges.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCyzbzUsbI/AAAAAAAAFGk/UU327w34oY0/s1600/IMG_1282.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCyzbzUsbI/AAAAAAAAFGk/UU327w34oY0/s400/IMG_1282.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562142136508658098" border="0" /></a><br /><br />:-)<br /><br />We drove past a few plantations, until I yelled "stop" in front of this one.....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCyzBEV9-I/AAAAAAAAFGc/1Jk7JwC3WaE/s1600/IMG_1296.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCyzBEV9-I/AAAAAAAAFGc/1Jk7JwC3WaE/s400/IMG_1296.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562142129332287458" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.oakalleyplantation.com/">Oak Alley</a><br /><br />We got out of our car (on the other side of the highway)...climbed the river berm...and took a few minutes to stare in awe.<br /><br />I've seen this place in books, on TV and in movies...but they just don't do it justice!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCyy576ksI/AAAAAAAAFGU/jjn4T_8Eqck/s1600/IMG_1300.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCyy576ksI/AAAAAAAAFGU/jjn4T_8Eqck/s400/IMG_1300.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562142127417889474" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It was unanimous...we were going to pay the money to get the full tour. No way we could pass it up!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCxaM9kkVI/AAAAAAAAFF8/YyHOW3snH80/s1600/IMG_1319.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCxaM9kkVI/AAAAAAAAFF8/YyHOW3snH80/s400/IMG_1319.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562140603516752210" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCxogFUVTI/AAAAAAAAFGM/6aIrMnluckM/s1600/IMG_1398.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCxogFUVTI/AAAAAAAAFGM/6aIrMnluckM/s400/IMG_1398.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562140849167684914" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCxLu1SUCI/AAAAAAAAFF0/Mi-FfHq4jkk/s1600/IMG_1321.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCxLu1SUCI/AAAAAAAAFF0/Mi-FfHq4jkk/s400/IMG_1321.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562140354910769186" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCxLazgHvI/AAAAAAAAFFs/Y10_sKhuDG0/s1600/IMG_1309.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCxLazgHvI/AAAAAAAAFFs/Y10_sKhuDG0/s400/IMG_1309.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562140349534576370" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCxLNBQ90I/AAAAAAAAFFk/oPy-CFEIAxs/s1600/IMG_1314.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCxLNBQ90I/AAAAAAAAFFk/oPy-CFEIAxs/s400/IMG_1314.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562140345834207042" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCw0E0RMfI/AAAAAAAAFFc/vkRCvgpIF5Q/s1600/IMG_1322.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCw0E0RMfI/AAAAAAAAFFc/vkRCvgpIF5Q/s400/IMG_1322.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562139948495221234" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCwz3rFikI/AAAAAAAAFFU/q4bD11VdfEY/s1600/IMG_1332.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCwz3rFikI/AAAAAAAAFFU/q4bD11VdfEY/s400/IMG_1332.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562139944967047746" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCwzf2XsoI/AAAAAAAAFFM/R3SyJmdKBT4/s1600/IMG_1334.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCwzf2XsoI/AAAAAAAAFFM/R3SyJmdKBT4/s400/IMG_1334.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562139938571924098" border="0" /></a><br />"Quick!! Pretend like you're having a casual conversation out on the veranda"<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCwGYpRbPI/AAAAAAAAFFE/lR0CjgbD31I/s1600/IMG_1335.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCwGYpRbPI/AAAAAAAAFFE/lR0CjgbD31I/s400/IMG_1335.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562139163543825650" border="0" /></a><br />"OK! I got it, you can stop!"<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCwFWM5S6I/AAAAAAAAFE8/F_hEZQGd3hw/s1600/IMG_1339.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCwFWM5S6I/AAAAAAAAFE8/F_hEZQGd3hw/s400/IMG_1339.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562139145708063650" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCwFKA0ViI/AAAAAAAAFE0/TEMQq6ZK5co/s1600/IMG_1342.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCwFKA0ViI/AAAAAAAAFE0/TEMQq6ZK5co/s400/IMG_1342.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562139142436181538" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCvbwp6gJI/AAAAAAAAFEs/91C8s5QgBXc/s1600/IMG_1352.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCvbwp6gJI/AAAAAAAAFEs/91C8s5QgBXc/s400/IMG_1352.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562138431254593682" border="0" /></a><br />"OK! look grown up and smile for the camera!"<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCvbnB5HBI/AAAAAAAAFEk/h5g68LBCYA0/s1600/IMG_1355.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCvbnB5HBI/AAAAAAAAFEk/h5g68LBCYA0/s400/IMG_1355.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562138428670811154" border="0" /></a><br />well...they tried!!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCvbJMD2vI/AAAAAAAAFEc/eAz99BLoGWY/s1600/IMG_1358.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCvbJMD2vI/AAAAAAAAFEc/eAz99BLoGWY/s400/IMG_1358.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562138420660394738" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCu60PjwmI/AAAAAAAAFEU/6jTb09lxx3Y/s1600/IMG_1389.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCu60PjwmI/AAAAAAAAFEU/6jTb09lxx3Y/s400/IMG_1389.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562137865282110050" border="0" /></a><br />One of the famous oaks was struck by lightning...it had finally fallen three months earlier.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCu6vapMQI/AAAAAAAAFEM/rqmX1j97I4A/s1600/IMG_1360.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCu6vapMQI/AAAAAAAAFEM/rqmX1j97I4A/s400/IMG_1360.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562137863986426114" border="0" /></a><br />When my hard drive crashed...the video that explains what Danny is doing in this picture was lost forever. A little "Gone with the Wind" reenactment . Classic!!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCu6CRTH3I/AAAAAAAAFEE/56CWYv-u8bc/s1600/IMG_1394.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCu6CRTH3I/AAAAAAAAFEE/56CWYv-u8bc/s400/IMG_1394.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562137851867635570" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We weren't allowed to take pictures inside the house....but we could take some upstairs on the balcony.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCtKPIH6CI/AAAAAAAAFD8/3fEpdZ-Gn8s/s1600/IMG_1407.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCtKPIH6CI/AAAAAAAAFD8/3fEpdZ-Gn8s/s400/IMG_1407.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562135931173464098" border="0" /></a><br />This was our tour guide Thomas. He didn't seem like the most cheerful guy at first. But once the tour was done and I asked if I could take his picture, he INSISTED that I be in it. Then he spent the next hour answering all of our questions, and telling us MUCH more of the house's history. The fun stuff that wasn't on the tour. #1 best tour guide ever!!!!!<br /><br />After we left Oak Alley, we had to stop at this tiny little brick building along side the road. Linda - how would you like to be transferred here????<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCtJ8kPtAI/AAAAAAAAFD0/ragATL-IN-c/s1600/IMG_1416.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCtJ8kPtAI/AAAAAAAAFD0/ragATL-IN-c/s400/IMG_1416.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562135926191141890" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCtJXMFblI/AAAAAAAAFDs/r3CROYdkwq0/s1600/IMG_1418.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCtJXMFblI/AAAAAAAAFDs/r3CROYdkwq0/s400/IMG_1418.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562135916157693522" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After we left the small church....we had to stop again another mile or so down the road.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCskDxDqHI/AAAAAAAAFDk/lZ1jcq5QhMM/s1600/IMG_1419.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCskDxDqHI/AAAAAAAAFDk/lZ1jcq5QhMM/s400/IMG_1419.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562135275288897650" border="0" /></a><br /><br />There are miles and miles and fields and fields of sugar cane wherever you look. I was looking for the perfect row...just like this...and we finally found one!!! I wanted our picture in the middle of the row.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCsj0soXcI/AAAAAAAAFDc/XXcplNBRHfk/s1600/IMG_1422.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCsj0soXcI/AAAAAAAAFDc/XXcplNBRHfk/s400/IMG_1422.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562135271243800002" border="0" /></a><br />Nice photo bomb, Steve!!!!!! LOL!!!!!!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCsjinYdCI/AAAAAAAAFDU/AnUxXrXTurU/s1600/IMG_1427.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCsjinYdCI/AAAAAAAAFDU/AnUxXrXTurU/s400/IMG_1427.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562135266389947426" border="0" /></a><br />I had no idea the plan was to become a totem pole.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCsCB_aPGI/AAAAAAAAFDM/gFq1lpcwyTw/s1600/IMG_1431.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCsCB_aPGI/AAAAAAAAFDM/gFq1lpcwyTw/s400/IMG_1431.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562134690696674402" border="0" /></a><br />The filled me in, and I joined the fun.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCsB86NRLI/AAAAAAAAFDE/u_qZGez1L9g/s1600/IMG_1437.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCsB86NRLI/AAAAAAAAFDE/u_qZGez1L9g/s400/IMG_1437.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562134689332675762" border="0" /></a><br />You should have seen the spider bites I got my taking this picture. My arm itches just thinking about it!!!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCsBnZY4DI/AAAAAAAAFC8/cezeYKmOeEQ/s1600/IMG_1440.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCsBnZY4DI/AAAAAAAAFC8/cezeYKmOeEQ/s400/IMG_1440.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562134683557879858" border="0" /></a><br />Our little off road trip was a little dusty. :-)<br /><br />A little further down the road was a church. This church was the church the owners of Oak Alley attended. They insisted their slaves become part of the church, so they could be buried with them, and not in the slave mass graves.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCrjEA2crI/AAAAAAAAFC0/YoSds7eYpSI/s1600/IMG_1444.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCrjEA2crI/AAAAAAAAFC0/YoSds7eYpSI/s400/IMG_1444.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562134158663643826" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCrioEIYFI/AAAAAAAAFCs/fMo1s-owers/s1600/IMG_1446.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCrioEIYFI/AAAAAAAAFCs/fMo1s-owers/s400/IMG_1446.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562134151161208914" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCriclrHhI/AAAAAAAAFCk/xdY4Y0o-kb4/s1600/IMG_1452.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCriclrHhI/AAAAAAAAFCk/xdY4Y0o-kb4/s400/IMG_1452.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562134148080672274" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Once we finally got back into the city, we turned our car back in.....and headed into the French Quarter for dinner.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCqzpYhzZI/AAAAAAAAFCU/eM02DhO4y1g/s1600/PA220056.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCqzpYhzZI/AAAAAAAAFCU/eM02DhO4y1g/s400/PA220056.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562133344061345170" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCqzm6kDzI/AAAAAAAAFCM/a1ZjZM-Urj0/s1600/PA220057.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCqzm6kDzI/AAAAAAAAFCM/a1ZjZM-Urj0/s400/PA220057.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562133343398793010" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Awesome, insane, wonderful Italian food. My mouth still waters at the thought of it!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCqQ8PiHYI/AAAAAAAAFCE/1IqbHB5pErw/s1600/PA220060.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCqQ8PiHYI/AAAAAAAAFCE/1IqbHB5pErw/s400/PA220060.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562132747828469122" border="0" /></a><br />Mot apparently doesn't enjoy Cannoli.<br /><br />After we left the restaurant, we wandered the Quarter a little more......<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCqQlsPixI/AAAAAAAAFB8/-eWB799uclE/s1600/PA220064.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCqQlsPixI/AAAAAAAAFB8/-eWB799uclE/s400/PA220064.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562132741774871314" border="0" /></a><br />This is where the boys met.<br /><br />......then headed back to the hotel for bed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCqQaThnmI/AAAAAAAAFB0/3xo0gIJqd5w/s1600/PA220069.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTCqQaThnmI/AAAAAAAAFB0/3xo0gIJqd5w/s400/PA220069.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562132738718408290" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Good night New Orleans.<br /><br />(to be cont)Nejhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00982042722943000994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343570879387481239.post-33796581319143674232011-01-14T15:00:00.005-06:002011-01-16T16:07:09.104-06:00New Orleans In October - part 1OK...I couldn't wait until Monday...I'm posting the first part of our New Orleans trip today!!!!!!<br /><br /><br />10/20/10<br /><br />So far, October had been a busy month. Springbook, the Des Moines Half Marathon.....and the third weekend was NEW ORLEANS!!!!!!!!!!<br /><br />We left Thursday morning.....but started our vacation Wednesday night.<br /><br />Where?<br /><br />The Worm of course!!!!<br /><br />Natalie was hosting a mezcal tasting. None of us are really mezcal fans, but we were still game to give it a try.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC5rL2dxXI/AAAAAAAAFKU/rKv_LM7VPJ4/s1600/PA200004.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC5rL2dxXI/AAAAAAAAFKU/rKv_LM7VPJ4/s400/PA200004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562149691369309554" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC5q-_2voI/AAAAAAAAFKM/DLGql7-8dBs/s1600/PA200006.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC5q-_2voI/AAAAAAAAFKM/DLGql7-8dBs/s400/PA200006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562149687919033986" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC5qoMvX4I/AAAAAAAAFKE/gFO8G0IaBXQ/s1600/PA200009.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC5qoMvX4I/AAAAAAAAFKE/gFO8G0IaBXQ/s400/PA200009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562149681799061378" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The food was marvelous.<br /><br />But none of us have changed our minds about mezcal. :-)<br /><br />10/21/10<br /><br />Thursday morning the boys stopped to pick us up, and we headed to the airport.<br /><br />Getting through security took a little longer than usual.<br /><br />I was standing there, waiting for my camera bag to come through the xray machine.<br /><br />Waiting...and waiting...and waiting.<br /><br />Finally, the grouchy looking TSA lady came over and asked me "Is this your bag?"<br /><br />I smiled, "Yep."<br /><br />She frowned.<br /><br />Uh oh.<br /><br />"Is <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">THIS</span> yours too?"<br /><br />I started laughing at what she held up and yelled over at Mot, who was coming through the metal detector "Honey!!! They found it!!!!!!"<br /><br />Now that I think back, what I said probably didn't sound the best.<br /><br />What I meant was "Honey, you know that pocket knife I lost two years ago...that we looked and looked and looked for? It was in my camera bag and they found it!!!!"<br /><br />It was about then I realized that as quickly as they had found it, they were going to take it away.<br /><br />NNNNooooooo!!!!!!<br /><br />I asked the nice looking TSA man if we could have it, he said no (I had to ask).<br /><br />So Mot took it, and was led back through security, ran up to the bookstore, found the most inappropriate greeting card he could, and mailed it home....then came running back down to security.<br /><br />We all waited patiently.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC5YGxFBPI/AAAAAAAAFJ8/u2-0DwqrJjI/s1600/PA210016.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC5YGxFBPI/AAAAAAAAFJ8/u2-0DwqrJjI/s400/PA210016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562149363587024114" border="0" /></a><br /><br />:-)<br /><br />The flight was late.....delayed for some sort of mechanical issue. But we eventually (with a layover in St. Louis) made it to New Orleans.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC5XhCM1KI/AAAAAAAAFJ0/dFtCE6y1-cE/s1600/PA210017.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC5XhCM1KI/AAAAAAAAFJ0/dFtCE6y1-cE/s400/PA210017.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562149353458291874" border="0" /></a><br />My first ever taxi ride. :-)<br /><br />Our hotel was within walking distance of the French Quarter. Not a short walk, but a nice walk.<br /><br />We arrived at the front desk, told them our names and got "the look" from the front desk attendant.<br /><br />Uh oh.<br /><br />It seems there was a problem with our reserved two-bedroom suite.<br /><br />British Petroleum (BP) was still in town cleaning up a little mess they'd made earlier in the year (sigh)...and our hotel had over booked the suite.<br /><br />We were told we had rooms at another hotel waiting for us.<br /><br />Back into the taxi.<br /><br />The second taxi guy was only driving a car, not a mini van...and his trunk was FULL of flats of soda, a guitar case, lots of garbage, and misc papers.<br /><br />4 of us, all of our luggage, and every personal possession this guy owns had to fit.<br /><br />(sigh)<br /><br />Once we reached our second hotel (this one directly across the street from the French Quarter), we were handed our second round of bad news.<br /><br />Apparently they had one room for us....not two.<br /><br />A king size bed, and a pull out couch.<br /><br />For the 4 of us.<br /><br />For 4 days.<br /><br />Every hotel in the city was booked (overbooked actually), and that was all there was.<br /><br />Hmmmmm........<br /><br />We unloaded our luggage in our ONE room, and immediately left. :-)<br /><br />All four of us were starving so we stopped at the Gumbo Shop for a late lunch/early dinner.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC5XZsZl1I/AAAAAAAAFJs/idJ-OiU4-C8/s1600/PA210018.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC5XZsZl1I/AAAAAAAAFJs/idJ-OiU4-C8/s400/PA210018.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562149351487805266" border="0" /></a><br /><br />From there we walked up and down Bourbon Street for a while....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC5XDTFwTI/AAAAAAAAFJk/sZU2K9ZrTcM/s1600/PA210020.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC5XDTFwTI/AAAAAAAAFJk/sZU2K9ZrTcM/s400/PA210020.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562149345476067634" border="0" /></a><br />...headed over to check out the river.....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC4-YQ_IYI/AAAAAAAAFJc/diP_0nhVIHo/s1600/PA210022.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC4-YQ_IYI/AAAAAAAAFJc/diP_0nhVIHo/s400/PA210022.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562148921607659906" border="0" /></a><br />...walked down some other misc streets in the Quarter.....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC4951OnCI/AAAAAAAAFJM/Tre0_C5BFnI/s1600/PA210028.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC4951OnCI/AAAAAAAAFJM/Tre0_C5BFnI/s400/PA210028.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562148913438170146" border="0" /></a><br />...stopped for a Hurricane dacquiri.....<br /><br />....checked in at a few blues bars.....did a little window shopping.......and ultimately ended up at <a href="http://www.fritzelsjazz.net/">Fritzels European Jazz Club</a>.<br /><br />What a riot!!!!<br /><br />I took a video that night, but am having technical difficulties and am unable to upload. But after doing some looking on YouTube, I found <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3S2OLyJ3B4">this video</a> filmed the NIGHT WE WERE THERE!!!! I knew it existed...I watched the lady film it. It's of the piano player.....crazy good. Plus, the piano they were using had 4 or 5 keys that weren't operational, so I can only imagine what it would have sounded like on a fully functional instrument.<br /><br />Every single person in the ensemble was insane!!! The piano player was a younger guy in a goofy hat...huge grin.....mad piano playing skills....and a great (and unique) voice.<br /><br />The clarinet player was a typical clarinet player. Awesome skills....and an eccentric personality. Definitely the leader of the group.<br /><br />The drum player didn't look like he went with the rest of the group....but boy could he play...and sing!!!!<br /><br />The upright bass player was a cutey patutey.....who not only was a great musician...but a great performer.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC4VwMQjuI/AAAAAAAAFI8/bHFKPoaaBgQ/s1600/PA210031.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC4VwMQjuI/AAAAAAAAFI8/bHFKPoaaBgQ/s400/PA210031.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562148223655644898" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC4Vs9oSpI/AAAAAAAAFI0/71ooYAy_TpI/s1600/PA210037.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC4Vs9oSpI/AAAAAAAAFI0/71ooYAy_TpI/s400/PA210037.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562148222788979346" border="0" /></a><br />This was taken just before Mot leaned back and knocked over the drink of the lady sitting there behind him. :-)<br /><br />In his defense....they had 10 of us sitting around a table for 6. The place was more than packed.<br /><br />After the show, we wandered around the Quarter some more.......<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC3sLfg5XI/AAAAAAAAFIs/YjfX-7u1wwQ/s1600/PA210040.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC3sLfg5XI/AAAAAAAAFIs/YjfX-7u1wwQ/s400/PA210040.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562147509429658994" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC3r41kCpI/AAAAAAAAFIk/6eY5u12XNw8/s1600/PA210041.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC3r41kCpI/AAAAAAAAFIk/6eY5u12XNw8/s400/PA210041.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562147504421866130" border="0" /></a><br /><br />...then headed back to the hotel for bed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC3rlt3F9I/AAAAAAAAFIc/EKbiaLj89_Y/s1600/PA210042.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4u5GN_sabZo/TTC3rlt3F9I/AAAAAAAAFIc/EKbiaLj89_Y/s400/PA210042.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562147499289286610" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I got very little sleep. All three of the boys are snorers. :-)<br /><br />Good night New Orleans!!<br /><br />(to be cont)Nejhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00982042722943000994noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343570879387481239.post-38848623540103522642011-01-14T12:44:00.005-06:002011-01-14T12:49:40.797-06:00Bless Me Bloggers......For I Have Sinned.........it's been over one month since my last post.<br /><br />And that one really doesn't even count. <br /><br />My hard drive crashed. It crashed hard. <br /><br />All pictures taken since I'd last backed it up......<br /><br />....gone.<br /><br />When was that, you ask??<br /><br />October.<br /><br />No wait...that's not the worst part.<br /><br />October 2009.<br /><br />(sigh)<br /><br />So....pictures for one full year are gone.<br /><br />Unless I want to pay this data retrieval company $600 to get them back for me.<br /><br />Yeah, that's allot of money. <br /><br />I think I'll pass.<br /><br />Until I win the lottery, that is. <br /><br />(or unless any of you out there are master data retrievers....or have one on retainer)<br /><br />So......the good news is that I DO have pics from October 2010 to current on a flash drive. <br /><br />So...starting Monday......I'm going to get you all up to date on what Mot and Nej have been up to for the last 4 months. <br /><br />Hotel bed jumping, New Orleans, super heroes, turkey trots, snow storms.......<br /><br />Stay tuned!!!Nejhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00982042722943000994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343570879387481239.post-81760711166774168912010-12-02T13:22:00.006-06:002010-12-02T13:32:44.193-06:00Houston, We Have a ProblemSo...I've been a slacker the last month (OK, two months). I have a Halloween post to do, I have a Thanksgiving post to do, and I also have a trip to New Orleans to write about. Plus assorted other misc weekends thrown in there in between. <br /><br />Now that I'm finally able to find the time to do compose....my computer has died. <br /><br />My home computer is currently in surgery, in the trusty and skilled hands of my work IT hero, Paul. <br /><br />He's a skilled surgeon....but the prognosis is not good. <br /><br />"But Nej, you're obviously able to post from another computer, what's the hold up?"<br /><br />All of my pictures are on my laptop. ALL. OF. MY. PICTURES.<br /><br />And you all know how many pictures I take. <br /><br />"Don't you back up your pictures? When's the last time you've done it. There can't be that many missing, right??"<br /><br />(mumbling) I last backed it up this summer sometime...or maybe it was this spring. <br /><br />Crap, I don't even remember when it was. :-)<br /><br />Yes, yes...I know. How stupid could I be??? I've just been busy, and haven't thought about doing it. And now....well....I'm screwed. <br /><br />I do, although, have a handy little flash drive at home, that MAY just have some of those missing pictures on it. (please keep your fingers crossed for me)<br /><br />So....until I can get home and find out....I'm in mourning. <br /><br />Actually, I'll still be in mourning if the pics ARE on a little flash drive....because there are many pictures I've taken between this summer and October. <br /><br />(sigh)<br /><br />Paul tells me to stop being so negative, and that not all hope is lost....but I'm asking all of my readers to please light a candle - heck, light a whole box of 'em if you can. (birthday candles in the junk drawer totally count!!)<br /><br />As of the last report, the hard drive fixer upper program he's running will be complete in 3633 hours and 14 minutes. <br /><br />(shaking my head)Nejhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00982042722943000994noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6343570879387481239.post-66415326649930862512010-11-22T14:19:00.003-06:002010-11-22T14:39:58.739-06:00Epic FailDid you know that if you roll a lime (while putting pressure on it) along your table or counter, you break up the insides and make it juicier? <br /><br />My hands smelled fruity, and I had almost a cup of lime juice. <br /><br />"Had" being the key word there.<br /><br />One minute, I'm picking up the container holding the freshly squeezed juice...and the next second.....it's gone. <br /><br />Well...not gone, exactly. I knew exactly where it had gone. <br /><br />It covered the front of the oven, the front of the fridge, the front of the dishwasher.....it was dripping off the cabinet doors under the sink and the floor was a limey river. <br /><br />Sam, our black lab puppy was <span style="font-weight: bold;">sliding</span> across the floor....paws covered with the green juice. <br /><br />I'm not sure what happened. I don't know how it went from the counter to where it ended up. It all happened so fast. <br /><br />I spent 30 minutes slopping it all up, wiping down every open surface.....but the kitchen still smelled of limes. <br /><br />I got 3 more limes from the bowl and started over. (sigh)<br /><br />This time, the juice made it to the pot on the stove. <br /><br />I cooked the eggs and sugar and other ingredients until they were pudding like. I added the mixture to the room temperature 8 oz of cream cheese in the mixer bowl. <br /><br />Oh crap!!!! 8 ounces??? I'm supposed to use 16 ounces. <br /><br />I grabbed another 8 oz package from the fridge and added it to the contents of the bowl. <br /><br />Oh crap!!! That second package wasn't room temperature. <br /><br />It curdles slightly. <br /><br />F%#&&@%$^&(*$<br /><br />I took the contents out of the mixer and put them in the food processor to smooth back out. All is not lost. <br /><br />Once all is mixed, I put it in the fridge to chill and I started making the crust. <br /><br />No matter what I did, I couldn't make a graham cracker crust. How hard could it be? I'd done it a million times. But nothing I did worked. It was either too dry, or way too moist. I ended up with a sticky cement like mess. <br /><br />What was my problem?????<br /><br />It was about then I decided to go for a run. I needed a little stress relief, and I needed it stat!!!!<br /><br />When I got back from my run, I put egg whites in the mixer and turned it on. Once the whites were forming stiff peaks, I dumped them into the chilled bowl of lime "pudding". <br /><br />I stuck the spatula in the bowl and started folding in the whites.<br /><br />Oh crap!!!! What the h&$@???? Half of the whites were still "snotty". Really, really snotty...and I'd just started mixing them in. <br /><br />The whole process is toast. <br /><br />I stood there, with my head on the cold granite counter top....fighting back tears of frustration. <br /><br />I heard a noise, raised my head, and looked to my left. <br /><br />Sam had her paws on the counter, and half of the crust was gone. <br /><br />I quit.Nejhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00982042722943000994noreply@blogger.com6