indecent proposal

One story I realized I didn't tell was quite the story. Our last full day there we went to a fancy lunch at Galatoire's which was a block away from our hotel. While we were there two older guys sat down at their table which was next to ours. They were being so loud and crazy at this really nice restaurant. It was pretty clear they were pretty drunk already. As we were walking around that day we happened to see them 2 other times.

We decided we wanted to go to the Carousel Bar one more time before we left, so we went and drank mimosas. Well guess who walked in and walked over to us to talk? Those crazy drunk guys! They started talking to us and we found out almost immediately that one of them had won $97,000 playing black jack the night before. We didn't believe him, and then he showed us this:

He then started ordering us more rounds and throwing hundreds at the waitresses. Not literally, although another couple hours later into his drinking I'm sure he would have. Well he sat down next to me and he asked what I did for a living. When I told  him he said, "Do you need money? Teachers don't get paid anything. Do you want $1,000? I'll give you $1,000. I gave my friend $10,000 for coming down here last night."

Of course I started laughing and said, yeah I want $1,000. He got distracted because a waitress walked by and apparently he hadn't had enough to drink. His friend then started asking me to marry him. My response? "Is there a ring store nearby? Because I love $10,000 rings!" He thought that was really funny. I was only half kidding. He then started reenacting the last scene of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, doing all of the voices. It was pretty impressive.

This was right after proposing to me.

The big winner who sadly was too drunk and distracted to remember he was going to give me $1,0000.

We hung out with these guys until they were ready to head back to the casino. Sadly I didn't get $1,000. But we did get a lot of free drinks.

laissez les bons temps rouler

For the past few years my teacher friends and I have been talking about taking a trip to New Orleans. (One of them is from there and has been wanting to take us and show us the city.) We finally made the plan and went this past weekend! The last time I was there I was 3. Since I don't remember that trip, this trip should just count as my first time there. We left Thursday and came back Sunday, the perfect amount of time. 

I knew some things to expect, like lots of drinking. But holy cow, I wasn't really expecting what happened. The first thing we did when we got to our hotel was head to the Carousel Bar inside our hotel for a drink. The main bar area was a circle and spun like a carousel! It was really cool.

One things I loved there were the old buildings and how cool and colorful all the doors were. We walked everywhere, getting tours by Heather and a mule drawn carriage we rode. I don't remember the last time I went on vacation and didn't get in a car once to drive somewhere. It was really nice being so close to everything.

Our second night there we went to a bar called the Blue Nile to hear Kermit Ruffins, an awesome jazz musician. (If any of you watch Treme, he is all over that show.) Apparently this guy usually plays at this bar in Treme and when he takes a break halfway through his set he cooks and serves BBQ outside to everyone listening to him play. (The Blue Nile isn't in Treme, this is another bar he plays in pretty often.) He put on a really great show!

At one point people started jumping on stage and singing with him and a girl I was talking to while there pulled me up with her. At one point Kermit put the mic on me and we sang together. He clearly knew who the most awesome person up there was.

(Sorry it's sideways. I couldn't get it to straighten out.)

Heather and I talked with him for awhile during his break. He totally loved us!

The drummer, Derrick also loved me.

We ate a ton of great food, heard a lot of amazing jazz music, and had the best time ever!

We've already started talking about and planning our trip for next year! Although next year I think I will just fly instead of drive for 9 hours.

i'm confused

I saw this in a magazine and was confused.

Do you think this was an ad for mascara or a pregnancy test? If you said mascara, you are wrong. Why are they comparing the two? The curve of my mascara does not make me confident of not poking my eye out. When the time comes and I use a pregnancy test, I can't imagine a curved handle will make me feel more confident. But what do I know.

I still don't understand this stupid ad.

"husbin" help

Towards the end of the year two of my girls started asking more questions about my dating life. No matter what is going on I always laugh and ask for their advice because they always seem so knowledgeable. One of the girls kept telling me I needed to marry a rich man even if I didn't like him. When I asked the other one how I can find a husband she immediately said, "Go on match.com. Duh Ms. Ewing!" She told me! These two kept asking me questions and giving me advice, so I told them since they knew everything they should write a book for me. The very next day one of the girls came in with this.

The arrow is pointing to an ad for match.com. Please note the two girls added in as bridesmaids at the bottom left. I sure look pretty!

First...

Second...

Next...

Finally...

Her mom emailed me and said she couldn't stop laughing at everything she had written and that she was very focused for most of the night working on it. I'm hoping she will continue to write books for me even though she's not going to be in my class next year.

For those of you that might need even more advice, look back at Claire's advice for me. (She's currently working on a fashion book for me. See below for a sneak peek. I feel I should put a disclaimer on here for Heather. She has not edited the book at all, and hadn't even looked at it until we both got a sneak peek. I can't wait for the entire thing!)

Good luck finding that husbin of yours ladies!

costco

I had heard about Costco from my sister, food, toilets and caskets oh my! But I finally experienced it for myself. Man, that place is intense! I came across this bottle of hot sauce and called my dad immediately. 

Look at how huge that bottle is! And it was only $2.25!! I was going to buy it for my dad but he said he didn't want it. What a waste! Maybe I'll go back and buy it for him for Father's Day. I'm sure he would love it.

painting 101

My friend Katie and I bought a Groupon not long ago for a 2.5 hour long painting class. Last weekend it finally happened! I loved all of the art classes I took in high school, and was excited to paint again. (Now I'm not saying I was ever good, it was just something I loved.) We recreated a Van Gough painting, getting the chance to change colors, shapes of flowers, whatever while we worked.

The blank canvas, with a copy of the picture we were going to trace on the canvas and then paint. You can see underneath it the Van Gough picture we were making.

About halfway through. Look at how awesomely I mixed those colors! I know, I'm a pro.

Katie working on hers.

Katie's final piece.

My final piece.

I can't wait to paint again! I will have to get all of my painting stuff next time I'm in Houston and bring it home. Maybe I can convince Katie to come over again and paint with me! We did rock it pretty hard.