and I would drive 500(0) miles... and i would drive 500(0) more!!

I cant believe it... our once brand new baby has already been tortured through 5000 hard miles of towing "The Moment".  More amazingly perhaps is that by the end of this, she is bound to have far more than 3x that many!!

In spite of its reputation, I am proud to announce we managed to visit and see all the sights in New Orleans and depart without Hep C! We shacked up in the Big Easy with the grooms parents, Bob and Gale.  Talk about a diamond in the rough discovery!! We spent each evening sitting in the back yard, sipping on cold beer and learning embarrassing stories about Brice (like space camp!). As natives, they were able to guide us towards the true dont miss sights to see, but maybe more importantly they offered us an insiders view to the Katrina hot topic.

Although I am sure both my mother and grand mother will be reading this, I am still going to admit the following transgression.  Before we arrived in NoLa I had heard from people that you can a) get drinks to go, and b) you can get booze at a DRIVE THRU!! Yeah like in a car... BEHIND THE WHEEL!  So naturally we had to test both rumors.  Turns out they are both true.  (I will pause while you comprehend this)

At Gale's recommendation we checked out the patio at "Pat O's" to try their famous Hurricanes.  Unsure if we would like them we originally ordered one to split.  After the jury returned a delicious verdict, we decided to get a second one, but this time take it and continue our exploration of the French Quarter. And so there we went, walking down Bourbon street, doing our best to avoid the hookers, with a drink in hand!

Then next day we started with a swamp tour, and quite honestly observed the locals nearly as much as we observed the wildlife.  Cels got to see gators, which was her 1 goal for the state of Louisiana.  Our tour guide even fed one a hot dog off of a stick! And we got to see all sorts birds, turtles, snakes, you know, swamp life.

Since we were only 30 minutes from my old house (3rd grade) and therefore my FAVORITE place to get crawfish, we decided it was worth the trip!  Unfortunately, we arrived only to find it was closed.  So to lift our spirits before embarking on a drive over the worlds longest bridge, we decided we needed a daiquiri, from a DRIVE THRU!! Yum!

And since those devious days, we have spent our time beach hopping.  We started on the pristine white beaches in Panama City on the Gulf of Mexico, and have made our way around to Fernandina Beach on the Atlantic side.

Which is where our story makes its triumphant return to food.  Staying with my grandmother (Mom mom) is basically like taking a trip to visit your very own professional chef.  We have had fresh EVERYTHING! Fried chicken. Shrimp salad. Crab cakes. Pies. Cookies. Brownies. You get the idea.  And while I failed to add steamed crab to the menu, by getting skunked on my crabbing expedition, it was everything we could have ever dreamed of.  As the days passed we basically sat on the beach and just watched the waves come in, and subsequently return to the sea.  Its tough I know.

And in the morning we are off to Savannah, so now its good bye from Florida.  The journey north BEGINS!