It's Carnival season once again in New Orleans and Mardi Gras is only a few short days away. I've been to four parades this year, and I have to say, I'm just not feelin' it this year. I got a few beads, but I wasn't even into trying. Last year was a lot of fun, but it was still new, a novelty for me. My mom got to be here for a few parades and we had fun going together, but this year all the excitement of it seems to be gone. Because the super krewes roll this weekend, more and more tourists are here and driving is a nightmare.

Out-of-towners don't seem to grasp the u-turn etiquette and yesterday one stopped on the neutral ground, right across the trolley tracks. I had followed her into the intersection thinking (as anyone who drives here regularly would) that she would continue to cross, even if the light turned yellow or red. But no, she stopped both of us right acorss the tracks through an entire light cycle.

It was then that I made my final determiniation: I am not staying in New Orleans for Mardi Gras. It would drive me nuts to be stuck in my house all day but going out is not an option. It will be a bit too chilly to spend a day at the beach in Pensacola (3 hours away) and Baton Rouge is likely not far enough away from all the action.

I am spending today working on a plan and location for my escape Tuesday. The rules are that it not be more than 3 hours away (since it's a day trip), it can't cost more than a tank of gas and one or two meals and it can't be anywhere that has anything to do with beads, crowds or alcohol. So, I've got my work cut out for me.

I'm currently leaning toward a park in Mississippi that has more than 40 waterfalls and some decent hiking. There is also a national forest in Mississippi that is a possibility. I'll be sure to post photos of my final destination.

As the time to continue driving legally was coming to a close these last weeks of February, I finally made the early morning commitment to standing in a long line at the DMV. I was a little worried that I had gotten there too late (7:20) but I was still the 10th person in line when it opened at 8.

I was also concerned that I needed to do something else before I would be able to switch my stuff over. I took my Iowa title, proof of insurance and LA license in hopes that would be what I needed. See, the website is pretty much unusable and didn't help at all, so really, it was a total shot in the dark.

But, once I got inside they assigned me a number and within 10 minutes I was already being helped and what I had was all I needed. I was done by 8:25, which was nothing short of amazing. My next challenge was to get brake tags. In some states there is emissions testing, but here they make you go and get tags to prove that all your lights, wipers and horn work.

The first stop was a bust because for some reason they were closed for the day. The second was a bit of a drive and after waiting anxiously in line it was my turn. Things were going well until she went around to the back of the car and don't you know I had a burned out tail light! So now I have a "rejected" sticker on my windshield.

Fortunately, I have a spare bulb and will only have to pay once. The "rejected" sticker keeps me from getting a ticket and gives me 30 days to fix the problem and return to have it reinspected, with no additional charge. I felt pretty dumb that my stuff wasn't all in working order, but at least I now have almost everything I need to be a fully legal Louisiana driver.

Except, perhaps, any memory of the good driving skills I was taught in driver's ed....

Two weeks ago we had another installment of "Old Guys" vs. "Young Guys" football. This time the "Old Guys" had held at least one practice that I know of and had ordered themselves shirts. Well hey, at least they looked good, right?

I was on the sidelines generally close to what was going on to get the shots I needed and ended the day with a bruise the size of my fist on my upper thigh from the place where one of the guys cleats met my leg. For not being in the game, I'd say it was a rather impressive, and very painful injury. I spent most of that night and the next night with ice on it. Two weeks later it doesn't really hurt anymore, but the bruise is still very much there and I'm glad it's not warm enough for shorts just yet.

As an aside, I will be in Des Moines February 27 - March 4, for the EFCA's Central District Conference at Valley Church. If I have not already let you know that I wanted to pass the info along. I'd love to see as many people as I can while I'm back because I didn't get there during Christmas. I'll be at Valley all morning Sunday, March 1, and may have some free time between conference events. Please let me know if you'll be around and we'll catch up!

Last Saturday Anthonika and I had a joint party to celebrate our 27th birthdays. Her's was February 4 and mine was January 31.

We had most of the UIM staff, some TouchGlobal friends and church members there and it was great to have things split between our two apartments. I don't know where I would have put 20+ people if it was only at my place.

I decided that I wanted to do pulled pork, but I realized after I sent out the e-mail that I had no idea how to make it so I called my uncle David to ask for some expert advice. I went to the store like I knew what I was doing, but felt totally out of place. I cooked it all day with a recipe that I'll never be able to duplicate because I'm not really sure what I used or in what amount. But it turned out very well and people liked it. Not to mention that I had plenty of leftovers.

Laura and I went birthday shoe shopping for most of the day and I came home with a great pair of red pumps that will always be a little uncomfortable, but will always be cute, and sometimes that's all that matters.

Terry and Sarah brought Evie and I have to say that this is the best photo I got all evening, and perhaps it's the best one I've taken in a long time. She makes this face all the time, but I finally caught it on film and it really speaks for itself.

It was a great birthday filled with food, fun and friends. It was hard to be away from home and know that I wouldn't see my family on or near my birthday, but I'm looking forward to a trip to Iowa at the end of the month when I'll get to see them for a very belated birthday celebration.