Guess who just got back today?
Those wild-eyed boys that had been away
Havent changed, havent much to say
But man, I still think those cats are great

"If you don't have fun here, you've got issues" New Orleans native

Well we survived. The Convention in New Orleans was fantastic. The election went well and everyone had a great time. So as they say, "Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez".
The trip started Wednesday morning as Chris and I entered the Albany airport. Already checking in for the same flight was the man himself, "Mr Second", Dick Boland. Our district director and his wife were also on the same plane with us. The first bump we hit was in Tampa when our connecting flight was delayed a few minutes, but soon we were in the air again and landing in the crescent city. Chris and I were staying at the Marriott on Canal St. as were the players, fans and officials for the Arena Football Super Bowl. Oh yeah, the cheerleaders too.
The first night festivities started with the Icebreaker. A buffet of jambalaya, white rice and beans, and many other New Orlean's favorites. My cousin Keri, who lives in New Orleans, joined us after the icebreaker the group hit the hospitality rooms. Walking into the New York room we ran into an old friend from Saratoga, our own division brother, Kevin MacKrell. Kevin was entertaining all week in the New York room. We went on a pub crawl that any geography teacher would have loved. We went to Michigan, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, a room that represented Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC. We didn't make the Ohio room until the next night. The Southern room, (The Carolin as, Georgia and Florida) was serving great bbq sandwiches. But we were in New Orleans, we needed to go to "the Quarter" and we had Keri as a guide. Our first stop was One Eyed Jacks, closed, then on to Burbon St. For those of you that have never been to Burbon St, one, it's seedy, really seedy and two, it's narrow. I always thought it would be bigger than life but in reality it's a 300 year old street that would be hard pressed to have two cars pass each other. That problem is solved by the police as they stop all traffic at night. I can't tell you about all the bars we went to, not because I was too drunk to remember but we all pledged the oath, what happens in New Orleans stays in New Orleans, but I assure you it was fun. We did got to Pat O'Brians and Keri talked the bouncer into letting us in for a very quick Hurricane as they were about to close. It really didn't have to be quick for in New Orleans you can walk down the street drinking. Every bar in the city has plastic cups on the bar in case you want to leave, pour it in plastic and off you go. I love the signs that say, drinks to go. They have these daiquiris bars that serve frozen drinks for take out. It's kind of like slushies with booze. Wednesday night ended around 3:45, this might sound early to most Burbon St visitors but with the time change it was really like 4:45 to us and we had gotten up at 5 am the day before to get to the airport, it was a long day.
Day two started for Chris and I with a walk into the Quarter and having breakfast. The place we ate in was very good and they have a guy out front drumming up business by saying, Mimosas' and Bloody Mary's to go. In the afternoon, Dick, Brian, Chris and I hit Burbon St. again for Brian's birthday. Around 7 we went to Harrah's Casino for a Hibernian night. Open bar and buffet with a band and, oh yeah, a casino. Harrah's lost money on me as I won playing craps. Harrahs lost a lot more on Dick as he drank as much of the free 15 year old Chevis as he could in three hours. Back to the Sheraton to gather up a couple of more people and off we went to Parasolsls (http://www.parasols.com/ ), Keri works there and we had a ball. What a great little neighborhood bar. We stayed there a couple of hours then back to the hospitality rooms.
Day three had us on a two hour tour of the city. Very interesting but no drinks. Back to the convention for the New York caucus. We made sure we all had our voting credentials and voted on the New York State endorsements of the candidates. Friday night I skipped the dinner and went out on my own. The boys went to the dinner so you will have to talk to them about it. I won't say much about my night except that one of the locals that we had met and spent some time with took me to a bar that was well off the beaten track. When we went in I recognized a few of the street performers sitting at the bar and the barmaid was more of a tender then maid.
It was like drinking backstage at the circus, I loved it. One note, every traval show about New Orleans shows the strip club on Burbon St with the feet coming out of the wall. I had to go in, now I know where old strippers go to die. Back to the Sheradon and met up with the gang for the rounds again.
Day four. The vote. All convention business on Saturday is the vote, once that is done you are on your own. Chris and I went and had something to eat then went souvenir shopping (and drinking). We finished in time to watch the Yankee/Red Sox game before the banquet. The main ballroom was decked out in New Orlean 's splendor as we enjoyed the open bar. the boys were dressed to impress and my date, Keri, looked fabulous. We went to our tables, somehow they decided to break up this group and Keri and I were at a different table from the rest. As we were eating our salad a siren wet off and two NOPD motorcycles entered the ballroom lights flashing and sirens blaring as we were treated to our own Mardi Gras parade in July. A brass jazz band led and floats with the President and Vice Presidents of the AOH and LAOH made there way through the ballroom. Behind the floats marched all the newly elected officers all tossing beads into the crowd. It was great fun and just an other example of the great job the Louisiana Hibernians did at this convention. As usual the night ended late in the hospitality rooms.
Check out. Chris and I were booked on a flight out of New Orleans at 12:30, we got to the airport in time for a bite to eat and found we were travelling with New York State AOH President Matt Nelligan and his father. Boarded the plane on time and we were off. First stop Birmingham Alabama. The plane arrived in Alabama 30 minutes early. As we waited for the next group of travelers to board we, I got to know one of the flight attendants. When the take off time came they tried to get everyone seated quickly telling us there were storms in Baltimore and we wanted to beat them. We didn't make it. "Sorry folks, nothing is landing or taking off in Baltimore, we're grounded for about 30 minutes." They opened the door and you could get up and walk off if you wanted. After 30 minutes they told us it would be an other hour. I got off the plane and called Sean. We were trying to meet up during my two hour layover in Baltimore. We finally took off for Baltimore after two hours on the tarmac still in time for our connecting flight. The flight to Albany was delayed about a half an hour but Sean and Sara had already gone home so we didn't get to see each other. We arrived in Albany about an hour later than we expected, not too bad for the day we had. Murph and Dick were delayed in New Orleans, re routed to Nashville then Tampa where they had to run to get to the connecting flight, that they were holding for them and then off to Albany. They held the flight for them but they didn't wait for there luggage. They arrived in Albany with out there luggage.
If you would like to see some photos from the trip click here, more photos will follow when Brian and Chris send me some. http://picasaweb.google.com/saratogairish/NewOrleans