The Big Easy Made Me Do It

Hey, guys!  So I made it here to New Orleans.  And I have not stressed out very much at all.  Even when I had to sit next to my supervisor on the plane (she was coming down for something unrelated to my meeting, and I knew she was also coming today, but I did NOT know she was going to be on my flight), and she was wearing her business clothes and I was wearing my brown Old Navy fleece pants and a North Face zip-up.  We had a nice chat.  It was actually kind of nice. 

Holy cow, this whole "relax" thing really works!

BTW, do you guys think it's weird that I refer to nice, work appropriate clothing as "business clothes"?  What else should they be called?  I refer to my "business" pants on occassion, meaning the 5 pairs of pants (three brown, two black) that I wear to work every day, such as, "Crap!  I have to do the laundry tonight because all my business pants are dirty and I have nothing to wear to work tomorrow".  Every time I saw that, Joel breaks down laughing and starts asking me what kind of biz-naz I'm planning on doing.  Work pants?  The pants I wear to work every day?  The pants I wear on days other than Casual Friday? What do you call them?

Anyway, after we landed, I met up with another person from my office (who was there to work with my supervisor, I'm here solo on my project) at the baggage claim, and he asked me if I wanted to share a cab.  I said, sure!  Don't mind me while I just call the woman I'm supposed to meet here later, who is Kind of Crazy and I really, really didn't want to wait around for anyway, and make up a little white lie about all the work I have to get done in my hotel room.

So... that's what I did.  And then I went walking around the French Quarter instead of doing any work.  Because I also told her I would not be available until 6pm -- honestly, the things she wanted my "help" with are TOTALLY not part of my job and she is a very manipulative person, so I am glad I had the guts to "stand up" to her.  By leaving a message on her voicemail.  A message that was a total lie.  yes, that is what I call Standing Up To Someone.

Kind of like when I "stood up" to the vet by agreeing to not get Henry neutered for 6 months and then just secretly taking him to another vet. 

Anyway, I don't really know what I expected, but New Orleans is differnt than I thought it would be.  What I love is the Old South feeling I get just walking around.  I've never really been to "The South", and I feel like I'm walking through antebellum movie for some reason.  I love it.

What I do not love, and what I was not ready for, is The Dirty.  As I was walking around, I decided to walk on Bourbon Street, since that is the famous street, the only street I've ever really heard of.   Oh. My. God.  It smelled like horse poo.  There were Margarita stands, next to take out beer stands, next to Larry Flint's Barely Legal club.  On every block, people were wheeling kegs in and out of storefronts, and old people were walking around with giant cups of beer in their hands.  All this, at 2 in the afternoon.  I could practically see Mardi Gras taking place all around me, and that's probably why it made me feel uneasy.  Crowds scare the crap out of me.  Drunken crowds are my just worst.  Drunken crowds with pictures of alligators all over the place is pretty much my worst nightmare.

But!  Once I got off Bourbon Street, I liked the city much better.  Thanks to Janet's suggestions, I made my way to Jackson Square, which was gorgeous.

I stopped at Cafe du Monde for a cafe au laite and beignets.  I was all, "Oh, I'm only going to have one of these things because I really don't need three!  That would just be gluttonous"

And then I had one bite, and I thought, "Well, this is my lunch".

And when they were gone, I wondered if I could get another order without looking like a total pig.

(I didn't.  But I really wanted to)

And then, I had grand plans to ride the street car and see the Garden District, but then I got distracted by the Evil Coach Store.

Um, I have been wanting a Coach wallet ever since my wallet got stolen in December.  I've been looking on Ebay, and when we went to Chicago we stopped in the Coach store on Michigan Avenue so I could see them in person... and I fell in love with this bag.  I was really contemplating buying it, but I decided to think about it and come back later.  When we went back later, it was gone.  They didn't have any more. 

So when I walked into this Coach store, I looked around for it.  I didn't see it. So I asked the store employees.  They weren't sure they had what I wanted.  I gave up, and decided to just look around.  And then I found it in a corner.  The last one they had.

And I bought it.

I feel sort of sick about how much money it cost, and sort of giddy about how much I love this bag. 

And now, dear Internet, I have to actually go do some work to make some money to pay for the designer bag I just bought.

Comments

[angela]

Hmmm... it looks big enough to fit a laptop. You should expense it.

[janet]

sorry I forgot to mention the dirty part. But glad you're having fun nonetheless. And beignets.....HOW I MISS THEM! Yum!

PS Awesome bag, don't feel guilty at all, you are in a city where that is not allowed!

[Mom]

I love the bag ...

[Isabel]

I am sick about how freakin' cute that bag is. Screw a little Coach wallet, you found the mother lode.

And now I want one.

Hooray for your trip!

[-R-]

The bag is cute.

I say "work clothes" and "work pants." Now that I think about it, that sounds like I work on a construction site or something. "Business pants" makes me smile.

[Jemima]

OHMIGOD THAT BAG IS SO AWESOME! Seriously! Coveting! So fancy, so big, so starlet!

Aren't beignets like the most delicious thing ever. Mmmm...deleeeecious. I've heard Bourbon St is nasty too, and is only for a ten second visit to say you've been there.

As far as "business pants," I hear you, but it's still funny. Like you're givin somebody the business. And of course, "pants" in Brist-speak are underpants, so telling your flatmate you'd love to go out but need to go throw on some pants is just TMI. They love that about us.

[Alyndabear]

Oooh - what is a beignet? They look mighty yummy!