(no subject)
I am sitting down and it is quiet...................ahhhhh deep breath, relax...............
It isn't over yet, but part of my vanilla life, biological family, and distant friends reunion is nearing completion - but my sanity leaves something to debate!
I will try to fill in later but I want to try to jot things down and fill in with the details later.
On the 14th my friends came into the NOLA Int'l Airport in the evening. We visited briefly with my son, Steven and soon to be daughter in law over Voo Doo BBQ and then back to Baton Rouge. I gave my bed to R & J, sis on Little A's bed and we slept on sofas.
The 15th Little A worked so we hung around the house, relaxed, picked up Little A and we had ate at Popeye's as R's favorite food .................. Popeye's Red Beans and Rice! What a way to begin our visit - with gas! R & J in my bed, sis in Little A's bed and we are on the sofas.
The 16th I worked, Little A worked and had school and R, J, & S went siteseeing. Let's go to a place where I had a very good Muffaletta and we get there and sign on door - closed on Monday's until further notice so dinner at Cafe Americain - all you can eat shrimp and R put a definate bite into their all-you-can-eat budget! We loved the sweet potato hushpuppies. Same senerio for bedtime.
The 17th was St. Patty's Day and I worked! R & J & Little A went to NOLA to pick up R's sister. I had a couple hours withcrazierdiamond at the club after work and then we met the 'nillas for Muffetta's at Pocorello's. Little bit of tension on my part regarding communication and changing of plans by the 'nilla people but I wolfed down my sandwich with a let's go now sort of feeling. Coffeetime @ CC's thank gawd. Little A now giving up her room to R's sister S and so Little A and I are now in the living room! (Thank goodness for the futon loan - we have more seating and bed)
Mom & my neice were arriving in the early afternoon on Wednesday, so we headed to New Orleans again! After the pick up we headed to the soon to be newlyweds house and had a potty stop, visit and told them all goodbye! Little A and C (my niece) stayed behind to go out with all the girls (mini bachelorette party) and hit the French Quarter. Mom and I returned to Baton Rouge, met the rest of my 'nilla friends then hit Chimes East! BBQ Shrimp, Red Beans, Seafood Gumbo, Fried Shrimp & Spinach/Artichoke Dip on the menu! Mom and I are on the two sofas to sleep!
All out of towners are feeling very good with the cultural food at this point and I am needing a break!
Along comes the 19th, beginning of wedding things! We all head to NOLA again for rehearsal. Go to St Rose for 5:00 p.m. and to the plantation at 6 p.m. My friends is performing the ceremony, three standing for the bride, one standing for Steven. We do the rehearsal, take a look at the bridal suite / bed & breakfast room, look at the reception hall, check the time and find that the sun is setting quite well at 7:30 p.m. Bride wants the twinkle lights to be pretty! After the rehearsal was dinner at Landry's on Pontchartrain Lake and it was very good - lots of pictures (coming soon to a journal near you)! At about midnight we head (all of us) back to BR. Sleeping arrangements are two more in living room and kitchen on blowups....we are wall to wall bed in the living room!
Friday the 20th was relax day, but not to much relaxing with 5 extra 'nilla people. R, J, & sis head with neice to St. Francisville area to sitesee with the information that we are going to Pat's at Henderson, LA for dinner. Little A worked so we headed to Pat's at about 6:25, the others are still site seeing and I have no contact. Begin trip to Hendreson and get the call that they are still an hour away from dinner. My most patient and loving friends were there waiting and they had to do this for nearly an hour for all of us to get there. More cajun food!
Saturday I spent an hour or so with crazierdiamond and then head to the zoo! Never got a chance to relax before hitting the roads. We arrive at NOLA and spend time with my #1 son, get last minute requests to do things, son goes to in-laws to dress as we begin to also dress. Wedding at 7 (pics to follow) and wow it was fabulous! I only cried little bits. Had pictures taken with all my kids; step-daughter, son, & Little A, then with mom too. Saturday night at son's & WIFE's home, people all over the house this time..on air mattresses and beds. We were all content at bedtime.
Sunday to cruise line with my son and new daughter-in-law. Back to St. Rose to pick up all the rest of the crew and head to Metairie to the Irish Italian Parade and caught lots of beads, cabbage, carrots, potatoes and other assorted crap!
At approx. 5 p.m. the cruise ship was going to leave with the newlyweds. This time I got them all to myself with my family, Mom, Little A and me. I didn't want to go down there - I don't care much about NOLA downtown. But it was worth it. The kids went to the rear of the ship and we went to the front of Riverwalk and we could see each other. We talked on the phone and they told me all they had explored on the ship that day. We then tried hollaring and we could actually converse! Then the ship began to move. I had been told sort of where their balcony room was on the port side (I think) so when the ship turned around we would see their side of the ship. So we waited. When the ship was turned the kids went inside the ship. Again the phone rings to tell me they are headed to their room to see if we still could see each other and YES we did. They came out and we all were waving and acting like bafoons! It was wonderful, I was a happy mom.
Monday is work again and I left at 2:30 to take my neice to the NOLA airport. 'nilla friends and sis are in NOLA garden district for this week and I will see them a couple more times before they leave next Monday. Tuesday heading to NOLA after work to stay at son's to take mom to airport at 6 a.m. Wednesday. Sunday is munch and funeral and then taking the grand pup back to his mommy and daddy.
Is anyone else tired yet? I am!
It isn't over yet, but part of my vanilla life, biological family, and distant friends reunion is nearing completion - but my sanity leaves something to debate!
I will try to fill in later but I want to try to jot things down and fill in with the details later.
On the 14th my friends came into the NOLA Int'l Airport in the evening. We visited briefly with my son, Steven and soon to be daughter in law over Voo Doo BBQ and then back to Baton Rouge. I gave my bed to R & J, sis on Little A's bed and we slept on sofas.
The 15th Little A worked so we hung around the house, relaxed, picked up Little A and we had ate at Popeye's as R's favorite food .................. Popeye's Red Beans and Rice! What a way to begin our visit - with gas! R & J in my bed, sis in Little A's bed and we are on the sofas.
The 16th I worked, Little A worked and had school and R, J, & S went siteseeing. Let's go to a place where I had a very good Muffaletta and we get there and sign on door - closed on Monday's until further notice so dinner at Cafe Americain - all you can eat shrimp and R put a definate bite into their all-you-can-eat budget! We loved the sweet potato hushpuppies. Same senerio for bedtime.
The 17th was St. Patty's Day and I worked! R & J & Little A went to NOLA to pick up R's sister. I had a couple hours withcrazierdiamond at the club after work and then we met the 'nillas for Muffetta's at Pocorello's. Little bit of tension on my part regarding communication and changing of plans by the 'nilla people but I wolfed down my sandwich with a let's go now sort of feeling. Coffeetime @ CC's thank gawd. Little A now giving up her room to R's sister S and so Little A and I are now in the living room! (Thank goodness for the futon loan - we have more seating and bed)
Mom & my neice were arriving in the early afternoon on Wednesday, so we headed to New Orleans again! After the pick up we headed to the soon to be newlyweds house and had a potty stop, visit and told them all goodbye! Little A and C (my niece) stayed behind to go out with all the girls (mini bachelorette party) and hit the French Quarter. Mom and I returned to Baton Rouge, met the rest of my 'nilla friends then hit Chimes East! BBQ Shrimp, Red Beans, Seafood Gumbo, Fried Shrimp & Spinach/Artichoke Dip on the menu! Mom and I are on the two sofas to sleep!
All out of towners are feeling very good with the cultural food at this point and I am needing a break!
Along comes the 19th, beginning of wedding things! We all head to NOLA again for rehearsal. Go to St Rose for 5:00 p.m. and to the plantation at 6 p.m. My friends is performing the ceremony, three standing for the bride, one standing for Steven. We do the rehearsal, take a look at the bridal suite / bed & breakfast room, look at the reception hall, check the time and find that the sun is setting quite well at 7:30 p.m. Bride wants the twinkle lights to be pretty! After the rehearsal was dinner at Landry's on Pontchartrain Lake and it was very good - lots of pictures (coming soon to a journal near you)! At about midnight we head (all of us) back to BR. Sleeping arrangements are two more in living room and kitchen on blowups....we are wall to wall bed in the living room!
Friday the 20th was relax day, but not to much relaxing with 5 extra 'nilla people. R, J, & sis head with neice to St. Francisville area to sitesee with the information that we are going to Pat's at Henderson, LA for dinner. Little A worked so we headed to Pat's at about 6:25, the others are still site seeing and I have no contact. Begin trip to Hendreson and get the call that they are still an hour away from dinner. My most patient and loving friends were there waiting and they had to do this for nearly an hour for all of us to get there. More cajun food!
Saturday I spent an hour or so with crazierdiamond and then head to the zoo! Never got a chance to relax before hitting the roads. We arrive at NOLA and spend time with my #1 son, get last minute requests to do things, son goes to in-laws to dress as we begin to also dress. Wedding at 7 (pics to follow) and wow it was fabulous! I only cried little bits. Had pictures taken with all my kids; step-daughter, son, & Little A, then with mom too. Saturday night at son's & WIFE's home, people all over the house this time..on air mattresses and beds. We were all content at bedtime.
Sunday to cruise line with my son and new daughter-in-law. Back to St. Rose to pick up all the rest of the crew and head to Metairie to the Irish Italian Parade and caught lots of beads, cabbage, carrots, potatoes and other assorted crap!
At approx. 5 p.m. the cruise ship was going to leave with the newlyweds. This time I got them all to myself with my family, Mom, Little A and me. I didn't want to go down there - I don't care much about NOLA downtown. But it was worth it. The kids went to the rear of the ship and we went to the front of Riverwalk and we could see each other. We talked on the phone and they told me all they had explored on the ship that day. We then tried hollaring and we could actually converse! Then the ship began to move. I had been told sort of where their balcony room was on the port side (I think) so when the ship turned around we would see their side of the ship. So we waited. When the ship was turned the kids went inside the ship. Again the phone rings to tell me they are headed to their room to see if we still could see each other and YES we did. They came out and we all were waving and acting like bafoons! It was wonderful, I was a happy mom.
Monday is work again and I left at 2:30 to take my neice to the NOLA airport. 'nilla friends and sis are in NOLA garden district for this week and I will see them a couple more times before they leave next Monday. Tuesday heading to NOLA after work to stay at son's to take mom to airport at 6 a.m. Wednesday. Sunday is munch and funeral and then taking the grand pup back to his mommy and daddy.
Is anyone else tired yet? I am!