birthday pre-game

The TCC's Prodigal Son Comes Home

So instead of IATU's semiformal, and the Dirty Coast fashion show/concert at Tipitina's, I decided to put my money toward a good cause. The Catholic Center sponsors a gala every year for Covenant House, a clinic/shelter/orphanage of sorts for homeless youth. I'm a little embarassed to say this is the first year I've attended, but the amount of food and alcohol was well worth the ticket. I forgot that Zea brewed beer, but I would never have guessed that Covington, LA has an official brew. A bunch of familiar faces were there, either attending or volunteering. Fathers Jose and Carl (who would have loved the title of this section) were nowhere in sight, but the other Fathers and Misses who frequent the center were around. There was an appearance by THEM, "Tulane's only performance a cappella group," and four songs and a highly demanded encore. Awesome as always. Some of the members stuck around and mingled afterward.

Barhopping. Just a little

Leah, her visiting friend Courtney, Whitney, her visiting friend Puja, and I all met up and went to Bruno's. Whitney and I did a little flashdancing. Leah and I recruited Courtney and Puja to join Team Cleavage V.2.0 for Photo Hunt. We wound up at The Palms.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

I know I (reverse-?)drunk-dialed you at midnight, but happy birthday again anyway. I love you.

It's not a marathon; it's a sprint.

We set a new record, I think? Shannon and I had a fun, brief mall excursion and then she treated me to an early birthday lunch since she'll be missing the festivities tonight. She also brought me some Louisiana strawberries fresh from Strawberry Fest. We went to Oki Nago, which is a massive Japanese/Asian buffet. (And it's probably the best one I've been to.) So cross that off the to-eat list from 4/10. After getting directions from Stephanie, we weren't sure where to find it "behind Lone Star" but recognized it immediately. It looked like we were approaching Kitchen Stadium from Iron Chef. Huge blown-up photographs of food. Pillars. Bridge. Water. Asian architecture. Etc. We were pressured on time though, so we hurried. But we made it worth it and would both go back in the future. I haven't eaten a similar heap of food in a similar limited amount of time since... The Tchoupitoulas Challenge? We're not sure whether to be enticed or disgusted by the idea they have even more food at dinner.

Mardi Gras '07: part one

H.R.M. Queen of Oshun '07

big-ass unicorn float at Pygmalion

decidedly my new favorite picture of Whitney and me

Maids of Sparta

H.R.M. King Pegasus '07

Miss Molly and me at New Bruno's

Esteban and his bull's-eye

roommates - and everyone over our shoulders

Nicole, Mike, and the gold people at One Eyed Jacks

Hermes float and riders

other people's pictures

Krewe du Vieux with Shan - photo courtesy of Gabriela Molina Schleusz

Miss Molly's after-party for Sparta and Pegasus - photo courtesy of Katie Austin

girls on shoulders get more stuff - photo courtesy of Brooke Hansen

with a perhaps (yet unlikely) sober Lizzie - photo courtesy of Meredith Robinson

Peter, Cosmin, and I lookin' tough - photo courtesy of Paul Murphy

Carter's departure - photo courtesy of Will Southerland

5:48 a.m. on Mardi Gras - photo courtesy of Reshelle Smith

"Stop getting drunk..."

"...and let me finish my damn story! Pardon my French."

That's just one of the choice quotes from Miss Molly this fine evening.

So my friends and I planned to watch the evening parades (Sparta and Pegasus) from The Columns again, but we overshot and drove too far. (I knew Stephanie and I couldn't have both been wrong about where to turn.) So we wound up at McDonald's.

After the parades I went to Miss Molly's Mardi Gras Party, where there was a MAS(A) reunion. I've missed Grandma and Gramps, aka Maureen and Steven. (Adrianne unfortunately wasn't in attendance). Good times.

Then the few people left who closed out the party went over to Bruno's. Guess who knew more people at Bruno's than Steven and I (i) combined? MISS MOLLY.

We got there and half a dozen girls (former students) immediately pulled her to sit with them, and when we went over to play darts, another girl leaned over to me and said "Oh my God, is that Mrs. Kenan? I love her!"

Ditto.

'tis the season

This is by far the longest entry I've written a while. Mad props and a little extra holiday cheer if you get through it all.

Wednesday night Rachel (Kinks/Prudence Rachel) and Wes convinced me to take a study break from my last final and go to Celebration Under The Oaks in City Park with them, Tara, Alison, and some other friends.

It put me in the holiday spirit! We roamed around Storyland with all the fairy tales, bedtime stories, and nursery rhymes and took pictures like we were little kids.

They had all sorts of fun including Christmas trees decorated with ornaments schoolchildren made, a Cajun night before Christmas, a living nativity scene (that we missed), rides, Santa, and a laser light show. And if you like little light-up villages, you'd love the miniature New Orleans city, with distinct neighborhoods and streetcars even.

Thursday morning I took my last exam of the semester. Freedom!

To celebrate, Rachel, Tara, Becky and I went to Nirvana and over-ate as usual. Well, Becky didn't but whatever.

That night I got to see Alifun for the second night in the row! (But not in her actual home of course.) Since her boyfriend Frazer was getting kicked out by his landlord for no good reason, she decided to host her graduation shindig there... aka "The Loudest Party EVER" and give that landlord a good reason. Alison... always stickin' it to the man.

After that I met up with Shannon AND Jenna to celebrate J's last Thurs before she graduates college. We hit up Bruno's and Miss Mae's. I'm glad Jenna takes the "calcium" - She must have meant vitamin C. - in her screwdrivers so seriously.

Then those two decided to go home and talk to/about their long-distance boyfriends or something, so I stayed out and hit up Grits (ugh, very briefly) and then F&M's with Audrey, Aurell, and Dalia. A blast from the past, Jason "Delt" Talley, was kind enough to give me a lift home. (We ran into each other outside F&M's.)

Friday I got up by sheer will power alone (and David surely would've woken me had I not) to go with him to Dunbar's for some serious artery clogging. We both got gumbo, red beans and rice, and their perfected fried chicken. That was entirely too much. We went to Winn-Dixie right after, so he could pick up the applesauce and sour cream for Lizzie's Christmakkuh Party. It was hard to walk.

Back on campus, while David entered cholesterol-induced-hibernation, I went to wish Tara happy holidays since she was leaving early the next morning. I miss my JigglyJuggs already. It was SO hard to walk the two blocks to her office.

That evening was the Christmakkuh party! Lizzie decorated her apartment with lights, two-dimensional-tree, faux-fire, and blue stockings. She also served her guests latkes and kugel. Delicious. There were also several kinds of holiday cookies, chocolate coins, and a butter/cheese/caramel popcorn tub.

Drinks were not lacking either. My contribution was hot apple cider, and Chris' was eggnog. And... there was Manischewitz. Then for some reason Rachel (Virginia Rachel) suggested we play Drinking Dreidel. (I abbreviated it to "Drinkel.") And for some other reason, David and I thought it would be a great idea! The three of us (with just a little help from Jon and Graham, who each played 5-10 minutes of the game) finished two battles of Mani.

Drink(ing Dreid)el was not a good idea. And neither was the rum that followed when I decided to meet up with Conrad, Ben, and Katy. But hey, I had to see them before they left for Christmas.

Saturday I was actually productive and cleaned my room and some of the apartment. Miss Molly called me in the afternoon to tell me about her Catholic Center Christmas Party at her house and how I HAD "to bring Whitney!" It made my afternoon.

Too bad Whitney left the other day. The party was still fun. Lots of friends and some friendly, familiar faces. A million kinds of cheese with crackers, jellies, and vegetables. Bottle beers and fine wines. Some amazing chili with sides of rice, corn, salad, coleslaw, and rolls. And too many desserts (if there is such a thing).

I love family parties because meeting people's parents, children, siblings, and other relatives is one of my favorite things.

An assortment of pastors, both past and present, were there too. As I was leaving, Fr. John said "God bless you," Fr. Jose said "Be good," and Fr. Carl said "You must be going to another party with maybe food but surely drink." Which do you think knows me best?

I went to "Welcome back Dooner, Cya Later Brandi" (in reality spelled "Brandie" with an E) at the Nashville House to celebrate Dooner's homecoming and Brandie's departure.

And besides those two parties I managed to go to Snake & Jake's Christmas Club Lounge with Lauren and Sarah. (Decorated for Yule all year but Lauren had never been and Sarah and I thought it a perfect time to go.) And somehow some of the Nashville House die-hards and I went to Bruno's before calling it a night an hour or so ago.

Sunday. It is SO time for bed.