New Orleans DAY 1

I am out in New Orleans for a few days…My work travel buddy, Craig Nielson (also a friend of John Olsen's family) and I, are out here for a National Court Conference. We are manning a booth for our company – hoping to drum up more business. We are also visiting a potential client and spending time with a current client here in New Orleans. Our primary objective ---Eat some good southern Cajun food!

This Lois Armstrong met us at the airport. He stands about 15 feet tall.

And this is the impressive mural that was behind Lois (I thought Jessica would like to see this). The city is proud of their musical heritage and shows where ever you go.

Our client works for the courts at Jefferson Parrish 24^th judicial court. The west has counties, the south has Parrishes. This is the statue in front of his building . It is a HOT and humid day here today. ( 90+ degrees and 85+% humidity). Who would enjoy living in this every year? Well, the food may be worth putting up with a little heat. Every time I went outside it felt like my underwear shrunk-wrapped to my body and I sealed it in with a layer of Mitch sweat.

This is our booth that we set up for Thursday's conference. Craig is the sales guy and I am…the stand up comedian…or the nice friendly face that draws them in.

there was another giant Lois Armstrong the Sheridan Hotel that was hosting the conference…He's everywhere.

We ended the evening with a stroll down Bourbon St. There was music blaring from every open door/window - the bars and resturants had mostly live bands, while the shops piped out recorded music. There were people trying to give you a 'coupon' to go into their establishment and I even had the luxury of a brief conversation with a 'lady of the night' (more like a man dressed like a lady). The whole street experience was like no other and is one that I will most likely never be experienced again. It is amazing that people 'want' to come here and their view of Bourbon St as a happy fun place. I can't even imagine what Mardi Gras is like. This is the down season and the street was alive with tourist.

The live music was an awesome and mostly positive experience, but not one worth everything else that surrounds it. The highlight of the street adventure was a brass band (10 or so teenage boys) playing some peppy jazz... an ending on a very positive note.