Where is my mind?

I signed up with a team for the Tough Mudder in September. I don't know why! I can run about a mile right now... at least it'll give me incentive to get it going?

Freezin for a Reason

Madison's Polar Plunge was last weekend and, for some crazy reason, I decided to join the MBA team to do it. Luckily it was a gorgeous day out! Almost 40 degrees, sunny.

People lining up to torture themselves

  

A number of people brought out their costume A Game. The first year supply chain ladies dressed up as a Viking team.

Still happy and dry 

Unfortunately the ice had gotten thin by the afternoon so we couldn't all go together.

Therese, Nhien, and Claire 

 Hannah and I questioning our decision far, far too late.

It was cold. The fur was heavy wet.

It was ridiculously fun!

NOLA

Initial impressions were that "it smells like pee" and "I haven't seen anyone normal yet."

We were staying at the Holiday Inn on King Street which I was a bit disappointed about because 1) I wanted a cute boutique hotel but the Chase points site was being a b**ch about what was available and 2) based on the map I thought it was going to be kind of out of the way. Everything in the French Quarter is really close together though, so concern #2 wasn't an issue. Night 1 we wandered around and of course stumbled onto Bourbon Street. It's hard to miss - loud and people-ful! It was exactly as I was expecting, just a mess of drinking. I can't imagine what a disaster Mardi Gras is... In two off-season days we saw a girl flash for a hot dog, flashing for beads of course, sidewalk peeing of course, a guy get punched out by a bouncer and left on the sidewalk (very near to horse crap too, ick. Note: don't wear open shoes on Bourbon St). One of the best was a police horse freaking out about something and (literally) butting into a guy. He acted like he was going to start something for a second but then decided that "it's cool." Not sure what he thought he was going to do in the first place?? The horse will crush you. All of this is I'm sure completely standard and tame compared to what goes down most of the time.

From this it probably seems like I didn't enjoy New Orleans which is not the case. I really liked it a lot. The people watching is great! The scent gets better after the streets are powerwashed. The thing I really liked, and not in a drunk way, was that you could walk around with drinks at any time. It was nice to get a drink then continue sightseeing without trouble.

During the day we did the standard French Quarter touring as well as drove over to the Garden District to see the historic mansions. People were starting to decorate for Mardi Gras which I really enjoyed. The colors are so much fun! I might start decorating for it myself. We didn't get to do everything we wanted to do - the WWII museum and film were reported to be excellent but the timing was bad - but we will get back eventually. We ate some beignet, muffaletta, gumbo, jambalaya, red beans, crawfish, king cake... I gained like 5 pounds... We went to the Sazerac Bar in the Roosevelt Hotel where mixed drinks were supposedly invented. Sazeracs aren't really my thing...

Overall it was a great relaxing stay. I think I love NOLA :)

Delicious!

Also delicious! One of our tour guides insisted we get some King Cake as it was now in season.

Misc. French Quarter pic

Masks, beignet mix and stuffed alligators. Apparently all are standard purchases.

I would love a horse to tie to the horse horse-tie-up!

Florida Gulf Coast

Every time I try to start this one I get overwhelmed by picture selection and give up - there are too many! So I pretty much did a mini scan and that's what is here.

This was my first time in the Florida panhandle and their beaches. I was surprised at how white they all are! They feel very nice on the toes, even if the water was very chilly. Like Lake Michigan really, maybe softer. Definitely not shelly like on the Atlantic coast. We stopped at quite a few places along the way; Bald Point State Park, Carabelle, Apalachicola, Panama City, Destin along with some that I don't know the name of. Highway 98 is a really beautiful drive. It actually went faster and was along more water than I was expecting. I definitely recommend it if you have some time!

Of the "Panama City" section Destin was our favorite. The beach was as beautiful as the main drag but was quieter (we're all old and stuff now), didn't have porn outfits in the t-shirt shops and no broken bottles in the walkway up to the beach.

Panama City Beach

And the reason I will never go on season......

We were thinking we'd get a chance to sit and watch the sunset at Bald Point State Park but it was facing the wrong way so we just wandered a bit. If you're in the area Alligator Alley is a fun jaunt from the main road. There are some really cool stilt houses and the road is like driving into the ocean

Shells, but no sunset

Alligator Alley



We were sure we wouldn't find a good sunset spot when this oasis appeared! Not only was it perfect timing, the old school picnic overhangs were amazing! (what are they 50s? 60s? I'm terrible with architecture). An added bit of fun, it was a WWII D-Day training site in the 40s.

I've never seen so much pink before! The sky was pink, the water was pink. The flamingos should consider hanging out here.

Now that the sun was down it was time to stop for the night because what's the point of driving along the Gulf if you can't see it? Crossed a giant bridge and saw this seriously cute hotel (though it was dark at the time) and went no further. Gibson Inn in Apalachicola was built in 1907 and is supposedly haunted. (I saw nothing. I'm sure I'm happy about that.) The room was seriously cute and coffee on the porch in the morning was a great way to start the day!

Say no more! I'm in.

They.Were.Delicious.

Apalachicola oysters are rumored to be the best in the world so obviously I had to eat some. I was not disappointed! I want some right now... Ryan wasn't a fan, but he's crazy and that meant more for me :) This trip also made me a really big fan of Gumbo which I hadn't really enjoyed before. If anyone knows of a good place up here please tell me where!

Not a part of Florida, but we also stopped in Mobile on the way to New Orleans. It was cute though we didn't stay long. Bienville Square has SO MANY squirrels. People feed them so they come right up to you. It's a little freaky - I do not need a squirrel jumping on me because it thinks I have some snacks... 

No snacks here!

This doesn't really do it justice...