This program is brought to you by... the letter U

I am the U-turn queen. I am here in New Orleans, and I am the sole driver of a Dodge 15-passenger van. Whose brakes didn't work so hot. And whose alignment is off. And the ball joints are shot. And the roads are incredibly uneven because of the hurricane. What fun. But don't worry, the brakes are fine now, I learned how to adjust the steering wheel so I don't have to drive it like a bus, and I am going slower over the bumps (much to the relief of the backseat people).

The hurricane washed away some of the street signs, making difficult to find the street you want, and thus the gazillion U-turns I have made. I don't know if I've ever made this many. We make probably at least 2 each unfamiliar place we go. Once we know where we're going, we make fewer, but as I will rant about in a momnet- this city is confusing. Turning around a 15-passenger is just *so* fun.

Mr. Barbour asked me before I left if I would ever live in the south. Because I had only been here for a week prior to this trip, I said that I honestly didn't know. I now have my answer: no. A Resounding NO. Whoever set up the street system of New Orleans should be jailed. One-way streets, huge grassy medians... who does that?? Let me tell you, I am going to be extremely thankful for straight-forwared California roads and freeways.
Oh, and the Huey P. Long bridge is the bane of my existence (for a long time I thought it was sweeping, but now I'm positive it's the bridge). The lanes are so narrow that it is difficult to pass anyone, and being scared of heights... well, looking straight off the side into the Mississippi River isn't my cup of tea. I have to look straight ahead, and NOT look off; if I do, I get slightly dizzy and nauceous.
But all in all, I don't mind driving. I'm much more comfortable driving than letting others because I've driven vans a lot- heck, I learned to drive on one. The biggest adjustments are the extra length in the back that we don't have, and the crazy alignment. And the way everyone cuts you off- all. the. time. ARG!

Anyway, we have helped people clean their yard in order to sell it, helped fix up another house to sell, and gutted a house. We gutted today, and holy cow was it hot! I was soaked with sweat everywhere. Pants, shirt, feet trapped in rubber boots... oh man. It sure feels good to be clean... oh, the bliss!

We were able to visit the French Quarter on Sunday. We drove down Bourbon St (which we could smell a couple blocks prior), and walked downtown. Downtown anywhere is so fun, and New Orleans has such a neat... I dunno... personality, I guess, to it. Some of the oldest buildings in the nation are there; the street performers were pretty good (though one was rather rude); and... it was just cool! Unfortunately, the city is definitely dark spiritually. I read and saw so many things I would prefer to have not.

Oh, weird story!
So we were standing outside Cafe du Monde, waiting to fight the crowds and go in... when I look up and who do I see but James Kilcup and his friend Tiffany. Of all the places! The French Quarter in New Orleans! Anyway, they were down for a mission trip as well, though they are only here for a week. It was just really weird to see someone I know, especially when they live in a different state that I do.

I wish I could write in a more entertaining fashion. Vocabulary and sentence structure are failing me at the moment. Well, it always does, but now in particular. =)