The great pilgrimage has begun.

The Husbear and I are on our way to New Orleans for Southern Decadence. Where we spend a week spending money in a city that, 5 years after Katrina, still needs assistance in many places.

We’re taking the long, leisurely drive from where we live in NW Arkansas to the Big Easy, via the scenic route. We should really call it the “Back Roads and Banjo Music Tour”. I will admit: the scenery off the beaten path is nice. But I wouldn’t care to break down anywhere out here.

We drove about 9 hours today, which put us in Alexandria, Louisiana for the night.

Tomorrow, we’ll be getting up and heading down to the Lake Charles area, where some of the Husbear’s family is from, and then we’ll drive across over to NOLA following the coastline as we can.

And I leave you with this picture the Husbear took of me tonight. He was attempting to be sneaky.

… as if being decadent needed a special occasion!

There are 20 days until Southern Decadence in New Orleans, depending on when you arrive that is.

I usually enjoy my time when I’m there, but this is probably the first time in many, many years I’m actually looking forward to going. I’m not sure why either. I have this thing about crowds that always seems to make me stressed before I go. So far, it hasn’t started this year. I’m not decadently wired for some reason. Alcohol sometimes loosens my shell a little, but not often.

If you’ve never been, you should at least go to NOLA once when it’s all crazy outside of Mardi Gras. Although I’ve been told by natives that Decadence is pretty much just as crazy. And a lot more topless. Men.

We usually stay at the Omni Royal with the Decadent Ducks, but this year the Husbear wanted to stay at a different hotel to “try something new”. We will miss hanging by the pool at the Omni with the regular Ducks, but we will get to at least see them out on the streets.

I’ve taken a bunch of pictures at Decadence over the years that we have been there. You can check them out on flickr if you are so inclined.

Any of my readers going to be in NOLA for Decadence this year?

For my Husbear, my closest friend:

What we have is a beautiful partnership. We’re a team, you and I.
The kind of love and friendship we share doesn’t come from just wishing.
It comes from being together 365 days a year, through good times and bad and everything in between.
You are my closest friend, my partner in life… the one I can count on and who can count on me.
Today and every day, I love having you in my life and in my heart.

After all these 4,748 days, I’m still in love with you.
Happy 13th Anniversary baby.
I love you so much.

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Us, Xmas 2001.

Today begins (or ends, rather) my 37th trip around Sol.

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee………………..

Hopefully there won’t be as much puking this next trip around. At least not by me.

(Did anyone get this post’s title reference?)

Today, May 4, is the annual anniversary of the day the Husbear was expelled from the womb of his mother-unit.

I’d appreciate it if everyone would please wish him a Happy Birthday, either in a comment here on my blog, or better yet: post something on his Facebook wall or send him a message there. Or maybe all of the above!

The Husbear (click to see it on flickr)

And to my Husbear:

Happy Birthday, Husbear. You’re just as young to me today as the day we met almost 13 years ago. I love you so much!