MISSISSIPPI!

On Thursday, Tom picked me up at the Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans and we drove to Long Beach, where we picked up Ben at his after school program and then met Annie at their home. It was so great to see everyone.

Thursday night we went to a school function of Ben's and then went out for Chinese food. Ben picked a great restaurant.

On Friday, Tom went to work and Ben and Annie had school. I decided to hit the beach...

...which was quite chilly. Needless to say I did not get in the water.

I drove to Biloxi and with Tom's recommendation, ate a crab meat po-boy at the Ole Biloxi Schooner. It was fantastic.

Friday afternoon was spent with Ben and Annie playing outside...let's just say they are much better than me at soccer...MUCH better.

My only request for Tom...SHRIMP!

It was VERY good.

Friday night, Annie and I got our hands on two things:

1) a straightener

2) Ben's hair

His hair looked so good...but, I think we agreed that his curls look much better on him.

Saturday we went to Pensacola Beach!!!

Although conditions were not ideal (it was freezing!!), it was fun to be around the water and sand.

I had to take a picture of what I always thought was the coolest vehicle in the world, which is now an antique.

...a little taste of the big easy

I recently traveled to New Orleans and Mississippi...New Orleans on business and Mississippi for pleasure.

While in New Orleans, I stayed at the Hotel Monteleone, one of the last family owned hotels operating in New Orleans. Since 1886, four generations of Monteleone's have dedicated themselves to operating the hotel.

The conference I was attending was also taking place at the Hotel Moneteleone.

After arriving in New Orleans Monday afternoon, Kristin (a grantee from Sitka, AK) and I met up and took a stroll around downtown.

I was craving something creole, so we stopped for some tasty crawfish at The Market Cafe. With jazz music in our ears, this spot definitely made us feel like we were experiencing New Orleans for what it is.

The conference was Tuesday and Wednesday. Hosted by the Health Education Council, the conference emphasized a Promising Practices approach to "achieving health and social equity in tobacco control." Alaska was well represented with approximately 10 attendees.

Both afternoons and evenings were spent walking around the French Quarter, getting a glimpse of a culture that is not typically seen in Anchorage...

For dinner on Tuesday night we went to the Original French Market Restaurant. I shared The Bayou Platter, which was pretty much everything New Orleans, including Red Beans and Rice, Shrimp Creole, and Jambalaya.

It was delicious.

Tuesday night, while out on the town, we ran into this man...who is a famous actor. Well, famous enough to have a show on HBO...I think. They film in N.O. We later saw his actor chair at the film site.

More images of New Orleans...

YUM!!!!

I loved this house...

Jackson Square

On Thursday, the streets became much more busy due to the Jazz Festival.

These two could REALLY dance.

While waiting for my uncle Tom to pick me up, I ate lunch at the Gumbo Shop.

I ordered Chicken Gumbo and it too was mighty fine.