Feels like Fall

The Saints didn't come out on top this week, but I'm glad regular season football has started. We went up to J&J's, our little neighborhood haunt, to catch the game and eat some awesome tailgate party food.

The weather has been great this week. I'm sure it's just a taste and we'll still have a few more scorchers, but it's a reminder that my favorite season in the Big Easy is just around the corner. We'll be keeping our fingers crossed for the hometown Superbowl. WHO DAT! 

Post Isaac

Photo thanks to CNNmoney

Sorry it took so long for a post storm update, it's been a big job getting back to the way things were pre-storm both at home and at school. I was talking to a friend about how whenever people talk about the storm they're always referring to Katrina, but for the last week and for the next several weeks we'll be referring to Isaac, or maybe even having to specify. By November "the storm" will once again refer only to Katrina. So what happened after Isaac? We returned home on Labor day around 12pm. The house had cooled down because I left two window units on and the electricity had returned the night before. This storm brought 80 mph winds that lasted for a straight 30 hours, so the damage all around was more extensive than we had expected. There was little to no flooding in Orleans Parish, some of the more Southern and Eastern parishes were not so lucky. Here's the damage we came home to:

1. Our bedroom air conditioner was done: spitting water, not cooling, needed to be replaced ASAP
2. There is a large crack under the window unit that wasn't there before (hopefully a plaster issue and not structural, but we're not sure yet.
3. The refrigerator was disgusting. I had packed up all the meat and dairy and taken it with us, but I left all the vegetables (I really didn't think we would lose power). There was mold growing inside the refrigerator! Lesson learned: get everything out!
4. Now we come to the bathroom where the ceiling could be caving in as I type. There is extensive water damage and the sheet rock has started to separate. Unfortunately, many people had their roofs collapse and roofers are prioritizing. Hopefully they'll come soon.

I spent the entire day cleaning like I never have before and convincing Christian not to do anything because of his knee. He's recovering well, stitches were out on Friday. He's still limping a little, but less so than before the surgery. 

Returning to work Tuesday was nerve wracking because I was afraid the kids would be crazy after only 10 days in school before a 10 day break. But they seemed to revel in the structure and getting back to normal and so did I. 

Stuck Inside of Mobile

Still blogging from Mobile, still no power in Nola. We have been occupying our accidental vacation with much needed time with the Hardy family. We're returning tomorrow, power or not, so I can go back to work on Tuesday; I feel like a feral child being out of work this long. Here's what we've done so far on this holiday weekend:

Friday night we started with oysters, appetizers, and drinks at Wintzell's.

Oyster's at Wintzell's 

 

raw

charbroiled

fried green tomato

fried pickles

After dinner we headed off to watch a Baybear's Game, Mobile's minor league baseball team. 

Saturday we started off our day preparing for the zombie apocalypse at the shooting range (my first time). I was a pretty good shot, for a first timer and was able to knock off some cement blocks. It was less climactic and adrenaline pumping than I had anticipated and more relaxing. I'm still not convinced I want one though.

After destroying targets, we went over to Jeremy's house to watch the start of college football season and eat tacos.

Our nephew Jackson, looking so grown up

Jeremy and Patrick getting tacos ready 

Yummmmm...

After the game we headed to Dauphin Island to hang out with Christian's high school friend and groomsmen, Sanford. In the morning we went to Lighthouse Bakery for omelets, the place was full of grumpy bakers, but the crab omelet made up for it.

making bloody mary's at the beach