These things have a way of working themselves out

Earlier in the week I got a call from the company in texas city wishing to reschedule. I can't really refuse this for strictly personal reasons, so it got pushed back to mid may. That means I have to drive to Lafayette in a straight shot. 400 miles. This trip looked alot better when there was an overnighter on the gulf coast to break up those 400 miles. So right now I am in Lafayette after completing those 400 miles. I actually took a detour somewhere around mile 310, took a less traveled road and contrary to the Frostism, it did not make all the difference. Hey, it probably was better than I-10, but not enough to justify the extra 30 miles and 70 minutes to get to the hotel. I'm in Acadian aka cajun country. But its not nearly as acadian as the Acadia I saw in Nova Scotia last fall. (it would be great if I could like that last line to pics of that trip, but alas I am lazy and do not have pancookery.com up. Hopefully before the end of Q3 we'll have something respectable up). But they do have their own culture going strong by american standards. Heck, there were four older guys playing some french language creole music at dinner tonight, and it wasn't for the tourists either. The real deal.
Along the drive this afternoon I got a call from the texas city enduser, saying he wanted to change the date of the training yet again. Only now he wants it to be this coming tuesday. Again, the calender is open so I agreed. Then I thought about it. Holy Crap! I'm gonna be in Houston (near texas city) on sunday afternoon. Is it worth it to drive to austin on sunday night only to either drive back out here or most likely fly out to houston on monday? I don't think so. So after the ball game sunday afternoon, I'm headed down to the coast! Not only does this mean I don't do the New Orleans-to-Austin-with-pitstop-in-Houston-for-ballgame drive in one day, but it also means I spend TWO (2) nights on the gulf coast. Sweet.
Ate at one of the better Lafayette eateries tonight, had a decent smoked duck and andouille gumbo, along with a house salad with more ranch dressing than I've ever seen on one salad (rendering most of it inedible) and a boring baked stuffed shrimp dish. I loves me creole/cajun food, I honestly think its the best cuisine (french backbone, spanish and african influences, with an unpresumptious ala french peasant approach) but theres lots of refined carbs on that menu. Also, my dirty rice is not dirty. Not now that I've eaten some dirty rice.

Crawdaddy's with Dan in Nawlins manana. Laissez le bon temps rouler!

Git yer Louisiana music on here.

This Week
Off to Texas City for a one day training on weds. I was planning on driving from Austin early in the morning, but its nearly a 4 hour drive, and having to drive around Houston its very possible it could be well over 4 with traffic. So I'll drive down on Tuesday afternoon, being sure to get there after the evening rush in Houston. After this job I have to be in New Orleans on Thursday afternoon, so I can choose to either check out Galveston/Gulf coast area, meander through Louisiana cajun country, or head straight into Nawlins. Probably choose the meadering route to get some good creole cuisine. Decent article in this weeks Chronicle on making the drive from austin to new orleans, perfect for me! I have to drop in on a customer site Thursday and work a full day there on Friday and possibly saturday, but other than that I'm free to enjoy some of the world famous jazzfestover the weekend. That my buddy Dan will be there is a bonus. Provided the job gets complete by saturday, I'll probably head out of new orleans early on sunday (with or without hangover) and check out the astros-cubbies game at Minute Maid park. Although Nomah won't be playing, it should be quite a pitchers duel as the 'Stros Roy Oswalt goes up against Carlos Zambrano.
One last thing, how 'bout the sox crowd at Tropicana field? I had no idea there were that many members of RSN in Tampa Bay.