Sunday, February 18, 2007

We have arrived!

Thibodaux (don't pronounce the h - just say tea), Louisiana is a loooooong way from NY but we finally made it!!! It's not only where we'll be working on Habitat houses for the next two weeks, but is the home of the Venetian Bar & Donut Shop (why don't New Yorkers think of such creative food combos as donuts and Bud Light?!!!)

Today was Thibodaux's Mardi Gras parade and we managed to catch our fair share of "beads" which we trust will bring us good luck the rest of the trip. I can't imagine how many pounds of those things they must throw to the crowd. Folks bring BIG bags to carry home all the loot they're thrown. My question is what happens to it then?! This float was just one of 50 in just one small town. Apparently parties/parades have been going on all week with more to come through Tuesday. Guess we picked the right time to come.

Spring has started here. A few trees have leafed out and what looks like wild mustard is blooming. Stopped and bought freshly picked Louisiana strawberries from one of the roadside vendors. Crawfish are in season so we had freshly boiled ones for supper - messy but nice & spicy & sweet. We scoffed down 3 pounds of them with hardly a thought (the thought was then how to dispose of the shells & heads - NOT something one wants to sleep with in a camper all night. John found a dumpster far, far away...)

This is our first night to actually sleep in the "beast" which John has now decided to call Rambo (it has a Dodge Ram engine after all... and the name sounds so ridiculous it makes me laugh so...)
Do I dare tell you after all this we don't QUITE have water yet? John turned it on & it proceeded to spring a leak under the sink and give it a good soaking. I hear Home Depot calling after work tomorrow. Sweet dreams...