New Orleans - wonderful and challenging

Day starts...................Dr's appt (no big deal - routine).  To work late - sorta fun and sorta stressful - swing by to see Wendy for a Baha Salad so i won't have to leave my desk (remember going to work late). 

Got there...........NO INTERNET!  What???  Hard to comprehend exactly what that means....rain - tropical depression or something dumping on us and power serge....NO INTERNET!  Ok, that's ok....oh wait  that isn't ok....what the hell do we do that doesn't involve Internet these days?  Nothing!  Exactly - Nothing.

Ok, eat the Baha - internet comin' soon (just gotta be).  IT to the rescue -aren't they the miracle workers?  YES - of course they are.  No biggie (it's lunch time anyway).  Sales team scatters to eat or do whatever you do in New Orleans at lunch when it's raining and you have no Internet. 

Saints game tonight.....some peeps just focused on that....ok.  

Go visit my friend (and hairdresser) Earl at Studio-e-salon in the hotel.  He Has a new Ferrari (red no less) blow dryer he's dying to try out.  He says - "can I blow out (now don't' go there) you hair?"  I say - "only if you shampoo first."  So I get a free shampoo and blow dry (with the Ferrai while on the clock - with no Internet).  Hair turns out great.  Say bye to Earl and head back to the office

No internet...............................

Hmmmmmmmmm

Ok go to the credit union to make a deposit.....walk 4 blocks....banking accomplished.......back to hotel...

No internet...............seriously???  Where is AT&T?  It's now 2:30pm.

Walk to my car and get dry cleaning that's been riding around with me for days......(I get free dry cleaning and yes that's a bigger perk than most anything).

Back to the office....No internet...............are you kidding??  What the hell are we supposed to do.  Team frustrated...standing around......really can't do anyting. 

Seriously what to do?  Obviously the only option is Happy Hour.  Yep still exists here (2 or 3 for 1 drinks and cheap food).  'Round 'em up and head 'em out..." we headed to Bourbon House across the street - Why the hell not!
'Saddle' up to the bar drinks all around.  It's Happy Hour, it's raining, we have no Internet and we're in New Orleans - I mean seriously - what were our choices?? 

Drinks.......some head to Saints tailgates.......

  The rest of us wander to Luke's Bar for .50 oysters and 1/2 price drinks.  These are good (no great) oysters...seriously fresh, today fresh. We each devour a dozen (it's easy really). 

6pm - head home.  Stop, fill up my tank - (my brother told me to) - tropical storm coming might need to the hell outta town.  Did the right thing!  Fill 'er' up! 

Guy comes over, asks for a couple bucks - hum.. lots of peeps ask for $ in New Orleans - but something seemed more desperate than "I just need a beer".  I see a small economy car at another pump.  I look, examine and quiz...  Why???

"Need to get back to Layfette - no money - wife and 3 year old in car."  I question - not gonna buy beer, drugs, etc?  "No really just need gas."  

I walk over to chat with wife and sure enough sweet little girl in the car about 3.  Wife has the 'please, I'm not beggin - but help us' look.  I asked her story - again just need to get home........sometimes situations are complicated and who am I to judge. 

I ask does your child need anything?  "Maybe apple juice".  I think, apple juice for a 3 year old can't I (who is blessed beyond compare) do this?

I go into the store and watch as they watch anxiously from the car.  I get juice and a couple of waters (the least I can do right?) and go to the register.  I tell the cashier "$20 on pump 11" and pay.  I tell cashier - "I'm buying gas for someone I don't know"....he says 'hope it's the right thing' and I seriously quesion myself...but then think...and say "sometimes life is difficult"  and he agrees.

I walk to the pump - hand over the drinks (wife almost cries) and say pump $20.  They thank me - and I say to them.."thank you for asking for help" - and I really mean this.  Because sometimes when you reallly need help - it's hard to ask.  They thank me again.

That's life in New Orleans.  Lots of people in need - just like everywhere.  I've come to the conclusion - when the spirit moves to help someone I will not question.  I will give and I will trust the Universe to take care of the rest. 

I'm happy to be here and blessed enough to give without judgement. 

I challenge you - go ahead, give without judgement....leave that to the Universe.

Go Saints...............did I say that?  Yep and I mean it too!  "Saints" are everywhere so might as well say ...."GO"