The Agrinautica

   Back in OC after a week living the dream in New Orleans.

   We got there through George Bush International Airport in Houston, TX. It was there taking a picture of George Bush Senior as a fashion model that I realized I'd forgotten the memory card for my camera. As new one's were 40 bucks (at least in the airport) I decided I'd rather go without than spend $40 on something I already had at home, so all the subsequent pictures were taken by Mark or at least with his camera.
   In New Orleans, or as the locals abbreviate it, Nola, Mark & I caught up with Aaron Aviv & his cousin Coralie (sp?) at Aaron's place in South Carrolton. (The four of us pictured at right). The trolley line right in front of Aaron's place down St Charles Ave had just reopened two days prior, providing us with very convenient transportation options.

   The first evening (Friday) we went to a bar called Cooter Brown near the St Charles / Carrolton intersection and I had a spicey alligator sausage "po boy" (Which is NewOrleansian for "sandwich" apparently). On other evenings we visited other bars and altogether played a lot of darts and pool and even some jenga (Also Mark was undefeatable at "connect-four," damn mormons and their family games nights!).
   We also went out to Bourbon Street several nights and it was always crazy out there. Even the first night, which should have been far enough from New Years to be more or less just a random night in December, it was wild out there like it would only be on a holiday in most towns. Every night the police had these mobile sniper nests set up at intersections on Bourbon Street. Also the police tended to lollygag about in groups of seven with their backs to the crowd and by all accounts are more or less useless. The place was always swarming with them though -- I think the city keeps thinking "man our police are useless, they need more money and men!" and throw money at them without ever actually making them more useful, so they just stand around in big gaggles. Also, and perhaps because of the uselessness of the police, apparently the military police STILL have jurisdiction in New Orleans and can often be seen driving around on patrol.

   Anyway, the first day, Saturday, we went down to the National WWII Museum and checked it out (hence the tank in the background of the above picture). And since I was wearing a Navy watchcap, Navy peacoat, and combat boots, my friends made me take a picture in front of a boat. (=
   Aaron had a 24 hour shift in some locked cryptological coastguard room from 8am Sunday to 8am Sunday so took the trolley down to the French Quarter and wandered about. That evening we walked down to the corner of St Charles & Carrolton again but all the sources of local faire were closed or super busy so we ended up having chinese food, which was alright. One of the quotes of the week came out of a fortune cookie there: "A bullet is a dream with a deadline" Cold! Actually it said "goal" not "bullet," but I misheard. Then we trolleyed ourselves downtown.

   Monday, New Years Eve, we spent the day wandering the French Quarter again. That evening we ate at this Louisiana Pizza Kitchen (which was really just ordinary Italian food, but delicious!), also at the intersection of St Charles & Carrolton. I had a pizza w/ pepperoni, sausage, & fresh basil and omg it was delicious.
   For New Years Eve evening we decided to truly live it up and went to a club called "Ampersand" (&) with Aaron's roommate Jeremiah and former roommate Jeff. There we caught up with Aaron's friends Pierce & Pierce's Boyfriend who happened to have a VIP booth that they smuggled us all into, so we were feeling really hoity toity for the new year. I also befriended this girl Amanda from the next booth over. Good times ensued.
   Tuesday I believe we went down to the French Quarter and wandered again. That night we went to trivia night at an Irish Pub between two FEMA trailers and won a plate of potatoes. Also the owners heaped beer on us for some reason (bottles of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, I'd a rather had guinness though).

   Wednesday we went across the longest bridge in the world, 28 miles seriously, right across the middle of lake Punch-a-train to Mandeville to visit my 96-year-old great-aunt Iseult. There we ate at a nice restuarant she recommended and experienced turtle soup. We also ordered mint juleps to heighten the southern experience, and, enforcing our southern stereotypes, our waittress had a black eye like she'd been hit in the face. d=
   Also all the buildings in Mandeville are on really high stilts.

   Wednesday evening I checked out the Camellia Grill (at the usual intersection of St Charles & Carrolton), which apparently is famous enough to have a wikipedia page but it really didn't seem that exciting so I ate across the street at the Italian place again, which once again was totally delicious. From there Amanda and I caught up with Mark & Aaron where they were playing trivia at this packed bar called The Bulldog. Good times were had.

   Thursday Mark & I returned to OC. This morning (Friday) Mark left for Portland, and I'm catching a train in three hours for Flagstaff, Arizona, to experience some snow and search for a silver pinecone.

   Thursday evening after French class, Aimee from my French class and I caught up with Aaron, Gabi, and Aaron's friends Mark and Jeff at the Lazy Dog Cafe in Huntington Beach. Then we proceeded to Mark's house, where we hung out, played some Cranium, and started watching Blades of Glory. Maybe its because I'm quickly becoming a crochety old man, but these silly slapstick comedies really don't do anything for me (as opposed to hilarious British productions like Hot Fuzz which are brilliant).


   Friday morning I passed the state pesticide Applicator exam, officially giving me a License to Kill!
   Spent the rest of the day studying for the LSAT (I've got work off until after the LSAT this upcoming Saturday)
   Friday Evening Gabi and Aaron were visiting Tatooine Riverside County over the mountains east of OC, so I just hung out with Mark. We went to the legendary only-dive-bar-in-South-County, called Muggs Away or something (famous for mass mooning of the Amtrak train that passes by, on a specific day every year). It was.. divey. Full of drunk old people really.. I'm not sure but I think my old track coach was there..
   Then we went to Hennessey's bar in Dana Point. I'd been hearing about it for awhile but never actually been there. It seemed pretty cool.. really big and with everything from a room for dancing to the latest beats to a outdoor patio with firepits and another room with a live band.. so whatever you're in the mood for they got a place. Unfortunately, however, drinks were outragiously expensive. I'm told its the only bar in South County actually worth going to though.


   Saturday was pool party time, despite the rain. Mark's parents have a big house they've been trying to sell with no luck (the real estate brochures call it an "equestrian estate"), so Aaron, Gabi, Mark, Aimee and I, later joined by Jeff and Aaron's little brother gathered there for swimming and hot tubbing, grilling hamburgers, and such. Apparently I am inherently awesome at Wii golf, kicking everyone's ass (I still think "wii" is the most unfortunate name ever conceived for any object).
   The highlight of the evening, however, turned out to be hide and seek, which we played from abour 12:30am to 3:00am. We played with all the lights out, except the fire, which was the start/finish point. As the house was almost entirely devoid of furniture or personal possessions, one had free range of closets and nooks and didn't have to worry about breaking things while running around. The goal was to make it back to the fireplace before the seeker (who starts there) finds and/or tags you; so one would hide as best the could until the seeker had missed them and moved to another part of the house, and then make a mad dash for it. It was brilliant fun and I strongly recommend it as a party game whenever feasible.


   Sunday I drove Gabi up to LAX in the morning, then went to the memorial for Joey Hanzich. He died last week unexpectedly in his sleep due to myocarditis, a heart condition which accounts for 20% of sudden deaths among young adults, apparently. Hanzich had graduated from Harvard and Cambridge and was now attending Yale Law. To say we expected him to be extremely successful is an understatement.
   Since I've graduated, three people I went to school with have died. One of a motorcycle accident (whom I barely knew), and two now suddenly in their sleep of previously unknown causes (the other being David Allweiss, leukemia no one knew he had, he had just gotten married). While obviously these people aren't a statistically significant representation of causes of death, its scary to think that the overwhelming majority of people in the samplegroup I belong to die unexpectedly in their sleep. )=

   It was excellent, however, to see everyone from HS again, some 70+ of whom turned out for the memorial. Seems like everyone with a poli sci degree works for a non-profit now.
   Anyway, from there I joined Alex Hughes in feeding ducks with her niece.


   This morning (Monday) I picked up Alex Majcher from the airport. I'm just an airport shuttle apparently. (=