Day Nine Hundred and Fifty-Six

The Swamp People

Welcome to the swamp. 

Where alligators are friends and chickens are delicacies. 

We took an airboat your through the bayou. We're true Lousianians now.

Our guide taught us all about an allugatuh's favorite meal: marshmallows. Fitting, I'd say. 

Adam petted one of these boys. If petting is the word you'd use? And calling the gator a boy is a bit presumptuous too....

Because fact: you can't tell the sex of a gator without sticking your finger up some hole in their body. Truth. I'm not being gross. 

This dude is 6 months. 

His unassuming look is dangerous. He'll snap hold of your fingers if you're not careful. That's why Adam was holding his neck. 

Alligator whisperer? 

And all this time I thought he wanted a dog?

This is a nutria rat. They're indigenous to South Africa. NOT Louisiana. Quickly, these nasty beaver-looking rats are destroying Louisiana vegetation, levees, and bridges. They're also, as I finally discovered yesterday, the mascot of the Zephyrs. And they really do have orange teeth. Uh.

Truth about these critters: Louisiana will give you FIVE DOLLARS per nutria rat tail (to get the tail, you have to kill the rat). And in March, we were invited to join the swamp people for a week of shotgunning and whack-a-moling these pests for money. Let's get us some rat tails! 

Happy happy swampy Conleys. 

Day Nine Hundred and Thirty-Eight

The Rebuilding Phase

I learned a lot yesterday about Louisiana and how to carry concealed...extra properly. The two go hand in hand people. Me and Barnes & Noble had a great date while Adam was at the game. I needed a break from baseball for the day. 

Worshipping together for the first time in 7 weeks! SOOO happy! We found this church through a website called The Gospel Coalition...which is how we find area churches in the cities we're placed. This 165-year-old church building is now home to a young and new congregation that makes up Canal Street Church. And my goodness, what stunning architecture! Pair it with a church family that loves Jesus and preaches from the Bible and…I think we might've found our church home for the next…well…I don't know how many Sundays!

Also, just as a shocking side note:

Exactly where I'm standing in this photo is about 3 feet above street level. Maybe 4, but I'm just guessing. The pastor was telling us that when Katrina hit, the water level in this building was more than half-way up the pews. So like, two feet. That's anywhere from 5 to 6 FEET OF WATER from street level. Even more shocking is the fact that 5-6 feet wasn't even half as much water as some other places in New Orleans got. Unbelievable. Before moving here, I never really understood just how damaging the storm really was or how radically it changed this city and it's people. Being so far removed from the event, it was just a really sad and terrifying news story to me in high school. I had no ability to relate to it. But now that we're here, it's become a new reality to us as we're able to see the destruction, meet the survivors and hear their stories, and witness the rebuilding phase of this community. We're excited to be here in New Orleans and already have a heart for this city. 

Day Nine Hundred and Thirty-Four

The Lady Zephyrs

To kick of the 2014 season, the Zephyrs girls went out for a night on the town! We had dinner and drinks on Magazine Street in the Uptown District of New Orleans before heading back to the stadium at 9 to pick up our men. It's officially time for some baseball!! 

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Opening night is tonight (Thursday) and Adam is scheduled to throw on Saturday!

Day Nine Hundred and Thirty-Three

The Street

Bourbon Street.

We got a taste of it yesterday. 

I'd compare it to escargot.

You'd eat it once, just to say you ate it…but then never again.

There's something to say about a place where two cowboys, a miniature horse, and a llama aren't even remotely close to the strangest thing you'll see. 

While one visit is plenty enough for the both of us, there were two upsides to this street.

One: we enjoyed a drink at the oldest bar in America.

Two: we enjoyed (thoroughly) the glorious taste of our very first beignet! People, when something is described by Food Network as "The Best Thing I Ever Ate," you know you're in the right place. Oh my word, INCREDIBLE!

Day Nine Hundred and Thirty-One

The Sights of the South

768 miles. I got this.

Well actually, we got this.

Just three wives on the open road.

Who needs husbands anyways? Ok, I do. Me me me!

Here's a little virtual tour of our trip from South Florida to New Orleans, Louisiana.

Fun fact: I just learned how to spell Louisiana yesterday.

I pole vaulted higher than that. Sucka.

Well?

Yes. He. Is.

Home! Oh wait…

Straight shooters.

If you're mean, do they kick you out? I say yes.

Sweet Home Alabama.

Mud Water Mississippi.

No, really…mud water.

Can I get some mittens?

Who Dat?!

Lane changing masterminds.

Home #6.

Officially a Louisianian (or is it Louisianite? Louisian? Louse? Ew. I hate lice.)

We can't wait to explore!

Meanwhile, back in Florida...

I knew we forgot something.

Darnit.

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We're here. We're safe. And we're in apartment #6 officially! Adam's flight landed just as we arrived in NOLA and we pulled into the hotel parking lot right after the boys' bus did. Couldn't have timed it any better! Hello and goodnight from Louisiana!