Well, we got here....finally....

Up early, brighteyed, bushytailed; pick up Gumbo and off to Bradley for our 8am flight. Congrats to Gumbo for making the "come over here, we want to ask you a few questions" list. I assumed they just wanted his autograph, but not the case. Everything was cool. Got to Hotlanta, where, thanks to Gumbo's smooth scheduling, we had a 3 hour layover. They allow smoking in the bars- it sucks. We finally settled into a sports bar where, I think, the striped-shirted waitesses were in training to be NBA/NFL officials. I could be wrong, though. Anyway, $550 later we are off to NOLA, getting the very LAST row in the plane! Nice.

Staybridge Suites welcomed us by saying they were upgrading us from two rooms (each with bedrooms/bath, kitchens, living rooms) to one suite with two bedrooms/bath, one kitchen, one living room. I don't think so, we said. They finally agreed.

Marcia Ball sighting across the street at Mother's (401 Poydras St. at Tchoupitoulas, CBD). From gumbopages.com: "Many call it the best po-boy joint in town, home of the "Ferdi Special": piled high with their baked ham (the best anywhere), roast beef, gravy, and roast beef "debris" (the little tiny bits that fall off the roast beef and float in the gravy as it cooks). Fantastic breakfasts (try the ham biscuits), jambalayas and gumbos, and the best turtle soup in town (better than Galatoire's). Worth the wait in line, anytime." Marcia didn't have to wait in line.


Off to Ryan's Pub to drink some beers, play some pool. Mark/Barry absolutely giddy over beating us to 'avenge' their humiliating defeat last year.

We met Bobby (at left with JG, girlfriend and Sebastian), harmonica player with the Little Freddie King Blues Band, who just finished a gig at the Louisiana Music Factory and who will play at Jazzfest on Friday.