al, ms, la & tx

we havn't updated you since sunday, so there's a lot to go over, and not much time, before we get moving on the next leg of our journey.

we got up on monday, had a light breakfast in huntsville, then started south and west.  our first stop was in tuscaloosa to see alabama's campus, the football stadium, and to try the bbq at a place called dreamland's.  the bbq was good (though we both thought the potato salad and baked beans were the best part of it...sorry lacy!) the stadium was impressive, and the campus was beautiful.  it makes me a little jealous of all the friends i have who went there.  definitely looks like a good time.

from tuscaloosa we continued southwest through mississippi...not much there...so...yea, thanks mississippi...

after mississippi we landed in new orleans to see how much bourbon street was celebrating mlk day.  the answer: lots of drunk 20-somethings were definitely celebrating something, with booze, booze and more booze.  and yelling.  lots of yelling.  we met up for dinner and a little stroll down bourbon with our friend alison who was originally from n.o, moved to dc several years back and then recently moved back to n.o.  it was good to have a native walk and talk us through some of the history of the area.  eventually she had to take off, though, to get ready for work the next day, so casey and i walked around some more, had some hurricanes, went to a piano bar but ultimately made it a relatively early night.

the next morning we got up early, went and had some biegnets for breakfast, packed our things and were on our way.  on the way out of town we stopped by the site of this year's super bowl, the superdome, and saw the preparations that were underway for the upcoming confluence of mardi gras with the harbaugh-bowl.  it looks like the city is ready to go nuts, no matter what happens in the game.

from new orleans we hopped on 10-W toward texas, stopping only in baton rouge at parrain's for the crawfish etouffe (REALLY good) and to take a drive through LSU's campus.  another SEC school, another place i could picture myself going in another life.  the rest of the day took us into texas to our eventual destination in houston.

finally we were in a place that i knew, having spent the better part of 2011 here with work.  we checked into the hotel, then spent the rest of the daylight hours driving around seeing the sights.  the houses, the shops, the restaurants - casey wasn't sure how i didn't like this city more than i did while i was working here.  we were also able to stop into the office where i had worked, so it was good for her to see the fruits of my labor.  a light sushi dinner, a few drinks, and a hookah bar to end the night finished our less-than-24-hour adventure in houston.

this makes the perfect time to wrap it up, as casey is finishing getting herself ready to head out the door - next stop: austin, tx, and casey's cousin, sarah.  it's a pretty quick drive, so we should get the better part of the day to enjoy the city before driving through west texas and new mexico after that, so wish us luck!

we'll check in again soon

c+w