NOLA Week, Part 1: Whistling Winn-Dixie

I was not too pleased with the way my morning started.. But then again, I rarely am when I have to get up before 6am. Having to fight my Hello Kitty suitcase for what seemed an eternity didn't help matters either. At the airport I played dumb and checked-in at the Paper Ticket Counter.. (huh?? what????). After a small reprimand, I ended up at the short security checkpoint at the end of the terminal. Huzzah! A power-hungry TSA agent insisted I carry my laptop IN HAND and consolidate my handbag and my laptop bag because I had too many carry-ons. Excuse me ma'm, which airline do YOU work for? Oh none? I see. Orange Level Security at its best. (So far the best part of my morning is D getting me to the airport in most excellent time. I would say it was the joke he cracked about the army, and bugles, what WAS the joke exactly? But it was 5:45am... nothing is cute at 5:45am.)

Flight to LA consisted of a toddler crying HIS HEAD OFF on the plane. Mother and son were a good 6 rows ahead of me and there was some hullaboo about being seated in an emergency exit row. The child was already crying like a hellcat. But then some "helpful" person in the seat in front of me volunteered to trade seats. WTF???? I was THIS tempted to say .. "Actually, I rather you not." But I held my tongue and suffered the next 55 minutes for it.

ENOUGH of that. Anyway...by the time I arrived at Louis Armstrong International Airport, I had a full set of Louis Vuitton luggage under my eyes. ... Can I volunteer sufficiently in a zombie-like state?... Seems I have arrived on a nice low-humidity day; so things are looking up.

Driving through the Garden District to get to the condo, I am in awe of all the amazing homes here. Each and every one an architectural wonder. I have a roomie here in NO, James, who has so generously offered to drive me around. From Burbank, he's a Claims Resolution Specialist who's been here not long after Katrina hit. He's giving me some good scoops. He even takes me out to dinner at Felix's Uptown(Original French Quarter location shuttered by Katrina) where we gorge on oysters é raw, Rockefeller, Bienville, and grilled. YUM. Aside: methinks James has taken me under his wing as he calls me "sweetie" when I drop my Winn-Dixie bag only to find my grape jelly has broken. Before I meet with the director of Relief Spark tomorrow morning, he's taking me for my first cup of chicory coffee.

Can't quite get a gauge of the overall "mood" of the City yet.. but the few people James has introduced me to today(as a volunteer) have showered me with hugs and "God Blesses". They had me at "Would you like a Mojito?..."

A bit bleary eyed from the travel and the sights; I never even took my camera out. But I intend to have a full days worth of pictures to share tomorrow