25 February 2009
i survived mardi gras!
but was there any doubt that i could?
meaning to wake up early early on friday morning, i slept through my alarm and woke up to a text message at 9:30am (i wanted to leave before 8). all i can say is that i blame karaoke, really cheap drinks and a 3 am last call. anyway, savannah, josh, evan, mike and kate c. showed me a hell of a good time in georgia.
one ibuprofen and big gulp of mountain dew later, i was heading down I-95 to Jacksonville, FL and then hours and hours on I-10 through the panhandle. my excitement at finally getting to see alabama and mississippi was quickly diminished by a traffic jam in mobile that had me sitting stationary on a bridge for an hour. once through, i was only a short drive (because drive time has become so relative) from my destination of new orleans. after getting directed rather directly to the parade route (text message from katherine: park at napolean and st. charles. i'm wasted) i knew i was really in the midst of my first mardi gras.
after marching directly with the parade to meet my newest dear friend, kathering buras, i was greeted with a strong hug and given a beer immediately. i can't say i caught any beads that night, but i was given many in the spirit of true southern hospitality. one hour and several BK nuggets later, Katherine was asleep on her sofa and her college friends were making fun of her.
the next morning we made our way downtown to the hotel room which katherine's family has occupied every mardi gras in recent memory. sitting atop st. charles street, the second floor balcony made the perfect perch to watch all the parades and catch more beads than i even knew existed. as kate's family- uncles, aunts, cousins- buzzed around us, the day seemed to melt into exactly what new orleans is; as the creoles say: laissez les bons temps rouler.
kate's aunt convinced us to take a nap in between parades, and i drifted into dreams of that scene in gone with the wind when all the girls go upstairs to rest. i woke up two hours later, head starting to throb and still sleepy. i told myself i must need another beer, and went into the bathroom to grab one from the tub.
the next few days are sortof a blur. wake up early, head hurting, beer in hand, carrying ice chests and lawn chairs and catching more beads and beer cozies and stuffed animals and then crashing into bed to start again the next day. on monday after watching orpheus (i think) uptown we went home, all thinking that we were still on the trajectory to "go out". i made a phone call, and when i emerged from the house, the crew had collected food orders for Burger King and started a fire on katherine's front patio. we made smores, drank beer and ate nuggets and fries. i was the first out, around 11pm, but was still outdone on Mardi Gras day, when kate and her friend lauren were up before me around 8am.
yesterday, mardi gras day, was rather anti-climactic. we watched zulu, a traditionally african american parade in which the people wear black face, grass skirts and throw coconuts (eeesh, right?). we finished by watching the truck parade, which as melanie put it "give's everybody a headache. all you hear is apple bottom jeeaans- BRRRRRRPT (truck horn)- boots with the BRRRRRRRRT"
we all had a feeling that it will take several days to wear this holiday off, but what a time it was. katherine was a gracious host and i can now say that i have been to mardi gras! thanks new orleans.
meaning to wake up early early on friday morning, i slept through my alarm and woke up to a text message at 9:30am (i wanted to leave before 8). all i can say is that i blame karaoke, really cheap drinks and a 3 am last call. anyway, savannah, josh, evan, mike and kate c. showed me a hell of a good time in georgia.
one ibuprofen and big gulp of mountain dew later, i was heading down I-95 to Jacksonville, FL and then hours and hours on I-10 through the panhandle. my excitement at finally getting to see alabama and mississippi was quickly diminished by a traffic jam in mobile that had me sitting stationary on a bridge for an hour. once through, i was only a short drive (because drive time has become so relative) from my destination of new orleans. after getting directed rather directly to the parade route (text message from katherine: park at napolean and st. charles. i'm wasted) i knew i was really in the midst of my first mardi gras.
after marching directly with the parade to meet my newest dear friend, kathering buras, i was greeted with a strong hug and given a beer immediately. i can't say i caught any beads that night, but i was given many in the spirit of true southern hospitality. one hour and several BK nuggets later, Katherine was asleep on her sofa and her college friends were making fun of her.
the next morning we made our way downtown to the hotel room which katherine's family has occupied every mardi gras in recent memory. sitting atop st. charles street, the second floor balcony made the perfect perch to watch all the parades and catch more beads than i even knew existed. as kate's family- uncles, aunts, cousins- buzzed around us, the day seemed to melt into exactly what new orleans is; as the creoles say: laissez les bons temps rouler.
kate's aunt convinced us to take a nap in between parades, and i drifted into dreams of that scene in gone with the wind when all the girls go upstairs to rest. i woke up two hours later, head starting to throb and still sleepy. i told myself i must need another beer, and went into the bathroom to grab one from the tub.
the next few days are sortof a blur. wake up early, head hurting, beer in hand, carrying ice chests and lawn chairs and catching more beads and beer cozies and stuffed animals and then crashing into bed to start again the next day. on monday after watching orpheus (i think) uptown we went home, all thinking that we were still on the trajectory to "go out". i made a phone call, and when i emerged from the house, the crew had collected food orders for Burger King and started a fire on katherine's front patio. we made smores, drank beer and ate nuggets and fries. i was the first out, around 11pm, but was still outdone on Mardi Gras day, when kate and her friend lauren were up before me around 8am.
yesterday, mardi gras day, was rather anti-climactic. we watched zulu, a traditionally african american parade in which the people wear black face, grass skirts and throw coconuts (eeesh, right?). we finished by watching the truck parade, which as melanie put it "give's everybody a headache. all you hear is apple bottom jeeaans- BRRRRRRPT (truck horn)- boots with the BRRRRRRRRT"
we all had a feeling that it will take several days to wear this holiday off, but what a time it was. katherine was a gracious host and i can now say that i have been to mardi gras! thanks new orleans.
18 February 2009
georgia
i've said it before and i'll say it again-- i love the south. i love the south.
i've spent the past few days in savannah, ga, and here are several examples of why it rocks:
.spanish moss on every tree
.a continued dedication to the fallen south, including lore of the terrible things the union army did to the city
.many many many parks and squares, which create interesting traffic circles
.the founding of the girl scouts
.being greeted by every person i pass on the street
.pirate stories, ballast stone paved streets, nautical romanticism
.piggly wiggly
.cheap cigarettes
today i went to charleston and spent a few hours just walking around, trying to not look like a tourist. the city is absolutely gorgeous, and every corned i turned opened a new avenue of colonial facades and a sense of history and beauty. there is something rather sleepy about the streets i've been walking, and it's very comforting.
i've spent the past few days in savannah, ga, and here are several examples of why it rocks:
.spanish moss on every tree
.a continued dedication to the fallen south, including lore of the terrible things the union army did to the city
.many many many parks and squares, which create interesting traffic circles
.the founding of the girl scouts
.being greeted by every person i pass on the street
.pirate stories, ballast stone paved streets, nautical romanticism
.piggly wiggly
.cheap cigarettes
today i went to charleston and spent a few hours just walking around, trying to not look like a tourist. the city is absolutely gorgeous, and every corned i turned opened a new avenue of colonial facades and a sense of history and beauty. there is something rather sleepy about the streets i've been walking, and it's very comforting.
14 February 2009
le chattanooga choo choo
for the past few days i've been crashing the lovely home of julie, a friend from ocean city. the visit started with an entertaining trip to a mexican joint called las margaritas where we met a filipino waiter who we later christened Rufio after his strong resemblence to the character of the same name from the film Hook. Some highlights from the night: Rufio sits down with us at the booth, hits on Julie's roommate Bekah, then bites the cotton candy tattoo of her friend Elisa. seemed like a good start. the next day i attended a Systematic Theology class with Julie, learned about Christology and got a little lesson on Vatican II and the term ex-cathedral. I was happy to note that Julie's professor, also the Dean of the School of Religion, knew the correct definition of immaculate conception, which refers to the Catholic principle that Mary was born without original sin.... but I digress. After thrifting, going to Sonic twice in one day and eating at a Five Guys (they have those here!), we had thoroughly exhausted Cleveland, Tennessee.
today we awoke, watched a few episodes of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and headed down to Chattanooga, where i was able to see the sign for the Choo Choo from the highway. after crossing the pedestrian bridge, we shopped and then ate some delicious ice cream at Clumpie's Ice Cream Co; i had apple cinnamon. then we walked through the art district, admiring a sculpture of a horse made out of wood, or what was actually metal made to look like wood. after a continued strolling, we ate calzones the size of our heads at Lupi's, which besides offering wondering pizza options, also has one of the widest beer selections i have ever seen.
here are a few photo opportunities:
love and kisses,
also, happy VD!
today we awoke, watched a few episodes of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and headed down to Chattanooga, where i was able to see the sign for the Choo Choo from the highway. after crossing the pedestrian bridge, we shopped and then ate some delicious ice cream at Clumpie's Ice Cream Co; i had apple cinnamon. then we walked through the art district, admiring a sculpture of a horse made out of wood, or what was actually metal made to look like wood. after a continued strolling, we ate calzones the size of our heads at Lupi's, which besides offering wondering pizza options, also has one of the widest beer selections i have ever seen.
here are a few photo opportunities:
love and kisses,also, happy VD!
12 February 2009
goucher college/first leg
a photo diary of the beginning (and preamble) of the trip:
72 degrees on sunday in oc: mom birdwatching at the inlet
packing
feelin it in emily's goucher dorm room
as i was leaving to start the drive to tennessee, i found these well wishing words on the steps to the parking lot; it does in fact say "ayy" at the end...
06 February 2009
playlist selections
although i'm not scheduled to leave until, well, monday-ish, i seem to keep thinking of things i want to share with the world (see previous post inspired by h&m online shopping). today while driving to salisbury i felt inspired to spread this tidbit a little farther--
mother mother, just about my favorite thing to ever come out of canada, will be supplying much of my musical entertainment on the trip. their wacky and tightly constructed first album, touch up, fell into my hands as a sophomore working at wvau. i was in love. it featurs songs about spying on neighbors, maintaining masculinity while cross dressing, and moving to the country:
"I choppin' firewood choppin' firewood (Chop! chop! chop!)
Just like a country boy should be chopping wood (I country)
My kindling sticks are the perfect little width (Kindling sticks)
Get gone from a dirty town"
this past fall they released their second cd jam packed with the kind of hits that creep into the back of your brain and wait for several days until they gradually turn themselves up; then you're left wondering...what is that song?
and so it's no surprise that once i settle myself in to drive, this is what i want to hear-- especially this single, Hay Loft, which will have you singing "My daddy's got a gun, g-g-g-g-gun!!"
enjoy.
mother mother, just about my favorite thing to ever come out of canada, will be supplying much of my musical entertainment on the trip. their wacky and tightly constructed first album, touch up, fell into my hands as a sophomore working at wvau. i was in love. it featurs songs about spying on neighbors, maintaining masculinity while cross dressing, and moving to the country:
"I choppin' firewood choppin' firewood (Chop! chop! chop!)
Just like a country boy should be chopping wood (I country)
My kindling sticks are the perfect little width (Kindling sticks)
Get gone from a dirty town"
this past fall they released their second cd jam packed with the kind of hits that creep into the back of your brain and wait for several days until they gradually turn themselves up; then you're left wondering...what is that song?
and so it's no surprise that once i settle myself in to drive, this is what i want to hear-- especially this single, Hay Loft, which will have you singing "My daddy's got a gun, g-g-g-g-gun!!"
enjoy.
04 February 2009
02 February 2009
god bless the u.s. post
i got to go to the post office on 71st street twice today because sometimes the people authorized to help you apply for a passport need you to provide the instructions for them. just saying, at least the weather was warm enough that i could smell the salt in the air. ocean city is really pretty sometimes.
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