New Orleans

I'm sorry that it has taken me so long to post since I've been back. I've just been so exhausted from work that I just end up coming home and relaxing.

Anyway, my trip was great. I really wished that I could've stayed longer especially since its so warm there. Steven is doing well, he doesn't really like his job that much, but he knows that it will get better soon.

His apartment was really nice too, and I have to say its nicer than the one that he had here! I also finally got to meet his mom and his sister. His mom is very sweet, she took me to lunch before dropping me off at the airport. I didn't get to talk to his sister that much because she had a bunch of her friends around her when we were at all of the parades, so I hope that next time I will be able to.

Speaking of the parades, they were so much fun. The floats were so clever and creative, and the costumes were pretty cool. It wasn't too crowded either which made it even better. We also went down to the French Quarter which was a lot of fun too. Bourbon St was crazy, but it was all in good fun.

As for the damage of the city, where Steven lives its totally intact, and so is the French Quarter and the parts of downtown that I saw. We didn't drive around the really bad parts because I really didn't want to see anything depressing. But when you fly over the city you can see miles of blue roofs, its sad. Not to mention the highway that we were on driving from the airport to Steven's was completely underwater at one point. On the walls that divide the highways you could see a faint line showing how high the water was. I thought that was so scary.

I also have to say that the people of New Orleans have really turned their sadness into hope, and humor. This one parade totally made fun FEMA, the mayor, Katrina, and everything that they went through. I know that its wrong to make fun of it, but some of these people have been through SO MUCH that if humor helps them heal their pain, than I support it.

Leaving was so emotional for me. I cried the day that I left, especially since Steven couldn't take me to the airport because he had to go back to work. This trip has made me do a lot of thinking, and I've come to the conclusion that I don't want to stay in Chicago without Steven.

I love this city, but I love Steven more and more every day and I hate being far away from him. I've cried every day since I got back. If there's one thing that I've learned while being with him there its that true love and happiness are the most important things in life. Everything else just falls into place.

So thats that. Oh and yes, I got a TON of beads, but no I didn't flash anyone to get them!!