Thelma & Louise Hit the Road

"Thelma: You said you 'n' me was gonna get out of town and for once just really let our hair down. Well darlin', look out 'cause my hair is comin' down! "

That's right my dears, Nicole (aka Thelma) is going to be hitting the road soon and it will be a good old-fashioned Tour de Delta. My side kick Telisa (aka Louise) has nicknamed our trip "Down With Love," since we are going sans men.

Yes, my dear egyptian flies the coop on Feb 5th, and just a little over week after that I have a business trip. (Did I mention a birthday?) Yes - my birthday is February 16th, and I am very fond of celebrations for everyone.. including myself. This year not only will I be alone, but I have to work. Yes - WORK. Our Research Reception is that evening.

You can imagine a week or so ago I thought the situation was hopeless,  that I would be lonely, no birthday cake or hug or presents AND I have to go to an adult science fair. Geez... Then I found out I have a business trip the very next day...

Hmmm.. That's President's Day weekend.. and guess who is off? My dearest friend for the past 27 years?? Yes - Telisa. Sooo.. she is hoping to drive up on my birthday or early the next morning and join me on this little trip down the coast.

I have meetings in Pensacola, Florida & Mobile, Alabama. THEN we are heading over to New Orleans on Friday and driving right back here on Saturday night.

I told Telisa - we need a theme. She came up with - "Down With Love" - and I added a Tour de Delta... and now.. an overall cast of characters of Thelma (the married one) and Louise (the free loving single girl) - and off we go!


The funny part is - we want a "Down With Love" scavenger hunt. Seriously. I made a joke about us being Thelma & Louise, and she said - sure  - if Brad Pitt is there. I said - that's it - we will find a Brad Pitt stand in and take a pic with him in NOLA... then the idea was born - a SCAVENGER HUNT.

So here is the itinerary:
Pensacola, Florida on Thursday - Mobile for 1/2 the day on Friday - New Orleans the rest of Friday- New Orleans on Saturday (and don't forget, we drive THRU Mississippi) and head back to Birmingham, AL. (She is coming from Georgia.) What I would LOVE - is ideas for the scavenger hunt - from YOU! What we plan to do is take the pictures in each location (as many as we can) and post each night - HERE.

YOU can help us go on this adventure.
What we need is crazy stuff (within reason) - like in New Orleans: Go to the Crescent City Brewhouse on Decatur Street and have your picture made underneath the 'Oyster Bar' sign. (Maybe add - eating an oyster or holding on...) Or even having a Hurricane at Pat O'Brien's (home of the first Hurricane.) Silly stuff like that.

Here is where we need ideas for:
Pensacola, Florida
Mobile, Alabama
Somewhere along I-10 in Mississippi
New Orleans, LA
Birmingham, AL

Come up with good stuff - or insane stuff like - filling out an employment application at a bowling alley, or finding the craziest hat... all of these to be documented through pictures.

How fun.. right?

I mean.. with all of the stress I am under.. if we don't have the scavenger hunt - it could very well end up like THIS. (Make sure to click that link.)

Send me your ideas in the comment section or email me!!

In the end .. it was the beingets.

In my last post, you witnessed an extremely exhausted Nicole.

Between the getting up super early, driving back to Birmingham from New Orleans, then standing in line at the DMV was just a bit much.

Today I thought I would share the highlights of my trip.

Granted, as you obviously know - there were some moments that almost pushed me over the edge, but for the most part, it was an excellent trip.

(If you are new to my blog, and just visiting - I have a large territory for work. Had to travel to Mobile, Pensacola - then for pleasure headed to New Orleans.)

Without further ado.. here is my list of "highlights" from my trip.

Drive Down:

1. The egyptian (my husband) and I got to spend some quality time together.
2. We jammed out to Kid Rock, John Legend and Evanescence. (odd mix, I know.)
3. I used the absolutely most terrifying drive (serious storm.. it was dark) as a great opportunity to teach him a little about driving in the rain.. in the dark.. on a highway.
4. I also used the opportunity to discuss tornadoes - and what those ominous clouds looked like.
5. GPS worked excellently in order to the find the B&B.
6. Had a lovely experience at the Berny Fly Bed & Breakfast.

Pensacola:

1. The drive over the long Mobile Bay Bridge was not as taxing as it was last time.

2. We were afforded the opportunity to see the oil sheen (a historical event :-( ).

3. We had a 1/2  second to roll down the windows and smell the fresh air. We learned something else - oil + water = dead fish every where. Smell was definitely not good.

4. GPS was excellent again - found the bus stop for the egyptian to make it to the National Naval Aviation Museum to see the Blue Angels.

5. Met some excellent new media contacts - Renee at Lamar, Rick at the Independent News, Greg at the Pensacola News Journal, Dana at CAT Country FM, Kathy at WEAR ABC.

6. Had lunch at McGuires's Irish pub (famous apparently.)

7. Had dinner with the egyptian on Pensacola Beach at a restaurant called: Crabs. Highly recommend it. The seating overlooked the Gulf of Mexico (outside.)

8. Listened to a guy and his guitar pound out beach melodies like Buffet and James Taylor.

8. Watched the sunset over the 3 mile bridge back into Pensacola from the beach.

9. Has a relaxing swim and soak in a Jacuzzi (alone) back at the B&B.

10. Finally got to see the last episode of True Blood.

Mobile:

1. Had an excellent breakfast at the B&B with the owner and my egyptian. Fascinating conversation.

2. Met excellent media contacts in Mobile: Kyle & Ta'mara at FOX, Randy at the Mobile Press Register, Kristen at NBC, and Vinny D with Cumulus Broadcasting,

3. Had lunch in a tiny- adorable- historic home called "Courtland's." Best ceasar salad in a long time.

4. Visited the USS Alabama. That's a mighty big battleship from WWII.

5. Actually visited a submarine also.

New Orleans:

1. Went over half a dozen LARGE bridges on I-10. Helping break my fear of personally driving over them. I love bridges. I just don't like to be the one driving over them.

2. Checked into a hotel that would have been a lovely experience (the building itself is excellent - the hotel staff and their system sucks.) Chateau Bourbon.

3. Walked a million blocks and sweated out any calories I may have incurred on this trip.

4. Watched as the egyptian was amazed at the sites and sounds. I have never seen someone sooooo excited to be somewhere.

5. Had dinner and watched an amazing blues band on Bourbon street.

6. Ended the night at cafe du monde.. because.. it was all about me getting my frozen cafe au lait and my beingets. A long way to go.. I know.. but I got what I came for.

Mobile Trip - Collection of Video

As you know, I took a work-trip to Mobile & Pensacola.

Instead of posting 5 million videos - I thought I would add the collection here.

This is mainly for friends and family to view - of my little excursion.

So - disregard if you must!

My verision of my little trip!

The drive.






My room



Other side of my room.


View outside of my room.

Berney Fly Bed & Breakfast



My poolside bungalo



Downtown Mobile



Dinner!!




Drive into Pensacola





Pensacola, Florida - Home of the Blue Angels!



Heading Back to Mobile - over Mobile Bay







The End!

Unwinding.. in general

My home - for the next four days - is Mobile, Alabama. I am here on a "work trip" - but man oh man... it feels more like a a mini-break. Well, a mini-break from 6 -9am and then again from 5 - midnight. (Which is basically my waking hours.)

I am sitting alone in my little poolside bungalow at the Berney Fly Bed & Breakfast. It is adorable. The inn-keepers - simply entertaining and adorably friendly.

My meetings today went very well. I met with the local staff, and enjoyed a delightful lunch at Macaroni Grill. Yes - it is a chain, and typically I am against chains, but I have to admit - it was good and yes, it was the first time I have ever eaten there. (Again - anti-chain girl.)

My meeting with the local tv and radio station went very well. All of the work "stuff" ended around 4pm. I darted over and found my little home away from home. Beautiful area, and cozy bungalow. The inn-keepers did a wonderful job of showing me maps and familiarizing me with the all of the inside scoop on various restaurants, etc.

I ended up going for a little drive and discovered the downtown "new orleans-esque" architecture. I came upon a little soul food dive and decided to indulge (all for under $14.) I had bbq chicken, baked beans and mac & cheese - topped off with banana pudding. Yumm.. but full.. and i think I gained 500 pounds. lol.

The other awesome thing - I don't have to do anything for anyone. I can eat what I want, watch what I want and not feel as if I am supposed to be doing something else. I forgot what it is like to live alone..

I feel a bit free.

Hence - a mini-vacay.

I promised to upload pics tomorrow. I am tooo sleepy tonight.

Off to la la land while watching "Confessions of a Shopaholic."