Fourth in the Quarter

Yesterday was the Fourth of July and, after a full day of being dedicated NEA members and being all about the business, we relaxed on the roof-top terrace of our hotel in the French Quarter. JoAn's daughter Amy and I swam for a while and we then watched the fireworks over the Mississippi River. After the fireworks, Amy, Turner, and I took a brief stroll on Bourbon St. which, was unfortunately packed with middle and high school age youngsters and thus we did not stay long.

On our way back to the hotel, we stopped by our friend Royal Rick's restaurant. After visiting with him for a while, we called it a night.

Today will be a very long day. We have 89 new business items to debate and vote on in the next two days and it's going to be brutal. I definitely need to get some sleep but I really don't see that happening.

Yes, I'm still alive!

Well, its been a busy few days down in New Orleans but I am now sitting in a meeting and have time for an update.

On Wednesday, I did eventually arrive at Louis Armstrong Airport . . . about 5 and a half hours later than expected. When I arrived, my roommate and good friend JoAn took me over to a great little cajun restaurant, Royal House Restaurant. The food was great, we've been back several times, and are now friends with many of staff members including manager Royal Rick.

After dinner, we headed down to Bourbon Street which fortunately/unfortunately is only one block from our hotel. I say fortunately because it's really cool to be that close. I say unfortunately because being that close to cheap booze and entertainment can endanger one's ability to get one's rear out of bed this in the morning. Bourbon St. was different than I expected. The road is closed to traffic and people just walk up and down the street, chatting and going in and out of establishments. In addition to watering holes and gentlemen's clubs, there are establishments with banks of slushy machines in a variety of flavors. Of course these slushies contain some type of strong alcohol. One can also get a frozen hurricane at these shops. I sampled several of these beverages, met new friends from Texas and Toronto and got in late.

The next day, JoAn and I headed back to Royal House for a late lunch. Eventually, my friend Mike Turner also arrived after a long drive from Monroe City, IN (see picture left). In the early evening, we attended a reception for all convention attendees from Indiana. Afterwards, we walked down to Jackson Park and St. Louis Cathedral. Eventually, our group again found ourselves on Bourbon Street. Many hours, new friends from Maryland, Arizona, the Essence Festival, and the military, and several beverages later, we turned in for the night.

Friday was a take it easy day/I cannot go to Bourbon St again day where I just relaxed, spent time at the pool, and ate more delicious food at Royal House. Saturday was a fun-killer. Oops, I meant Saturday is when the meetings started. We were in meetings from 7 a.m. until about 5:30 p.m.. We decided to just stick around the hotel and spent a large portion of evening on the roof of the hotel enjoying the evening and the nice breeze.

Today is another day of meetings followed by fireworks viewing from the roof of the hotel in the evening. We may also meet up with some of our new friends.