Here it is…Christmas time again, and I didn't think we were going anywhere. I had no time off, the S.O. had just wrapped up some surgery last month, and we
weren't exactly overflowing with cash, if you know what I mean (and I think you do). I figured we'd just stay home and chill with the cats. Nothing major, just a
quiet little "family" holiday.
So then, imagine my surprise when a fortuitous turn of events transpired: we made a goal that my boss put us up to, and suddenly, I had half of Christmas Eve
off, plus the two days afterward, for a total of five and a half days. We also got some Christmas cash from family, and a little bonus from the boss. The S.O. had
talked about going someplace warm. We couldn't really go home; her family's in Oregon; mine is mostly still in California. I had talked of the Gulf Coast, having
been stationed there years ago…and suddenly, we were making plans to go to the Big Easy.…
Tuesday, December 24:
Right on time…half an hour early. The S.O. wants to shove off as quickly as possible; snow is coming. I can't leave until I have at least had lunch. I have already
changed: A blue long sleeve T-shirt from Talbot's covering a white cotton 36c bra, navy slacks over my black panties, white socks and shoes, black belt. Jewelry:
Liz Claiborne Star necklace and matching brooch, clear and darkblue beads. Makeup: Brown/Black mascara, clear lipstick and lipgloss, nails in a clear coat as
well…with a touch of Liz Claiborne on my pulse points. She hands me a bag of Taco Bell, and out comes a crunchy taco and a 7-layer burrito. Down the hatch, a
quick touch-up, and away we go.
We drive as far as Marion, AL., about 10 miles out of Memphis. It is cold out…really cold. My Princess butt is freezing; but the good news…no snow. We did run
into some in the bootheel of Missouri, but the further south we went the less there was which is fine by me. Dinner is at a KFC/Taco Bell combo; we were blessed
to find it open as everything else had closed down there by 3 PM. That meal was a joke unto itself: When we came in, a man was waiting for an order. We ordered,
ate, and were cleaning our table when his order finally popped up. I tried to talk the S.O. into driving past Graceland, but she wants no part of that. There is football
on tonight, and she is cold and tired. So back to the room we went, and eventually called it a night.
Wednesday, December 25:
Merry Christmas, I guess. I mean, come on. We had opened all our presents before we left, and I knew we'd be on the road all day. How exciting can that be?
However, we do have to get moving, so: pink panties, a white 36c bra, a blue and white stripe Elisabeth 3/4 sleeve T, and my Christmas Flannel over that. Navy
Slacks, white socks and Shoes, the Claiborne Star necklace, and clear and black beads. My makeup is the same as yesterday…mascara, lipstick and gloss,
perfume, and a quick check of my nails shows I need to file one down a little. We take off, and I am playing with one of my Christmas gifts: a new portable CD
player. It's really nice, and plays both CD-R and CD-W/R discs.
From Marion, we drive past Memphis, and then head into Mississippi, talking over lots of things: My past, my time in the service, my history on the Gulf Coast,
some talk of my femininity and how some of our friends may have responded to this. We finally do stop for lunch: a sub sandwich in a rest area. There was a
cat there that was really friendly, it looked like it belonged to the security guard. After lunch, we drive on, crossing into Louisiana. We are both getting tired and
a little crabby; there really isn't much to look at for miles. We check into our hotel and she is almost immediately apologizing: this is NOT the "Mark Hopkins".
Hey-it's warm, secure…and considering the part of town we are in, I'll take that.
Dinner was at the 5 Happiness Chinese restaurant. They are quite good and did a great business Christmas day. Afterward, we retire back to our room; there
was a little interlude that I won't share…but after that, we rested up for the adventures that tomorrow would bring us. Besides…there was this football game on….
Thursday, December 26:
MMMmmmm…time to get up, I guess. Now, if we could just turn down the cheery people on the Weather Channel, I might be okay. Today we get to go out in
the cold (well, cold by New Orleans standards, at least) and check out the town. So, after shaving, I chose the clothes: Gray panties, white regular 36c bra, lt.
blue socks, a teal blue top from Crazy Horse, Navy slacks,the Star pin and necklace, and a Claiborne bracelet with three different types of blue stones. After
fixing my makeup (mascara, perfume, lipstick), we were off to the Riverwalk.
Lots of neat stores in the Riverwalk, including shops that deals in Mardi Gras junk stuff, souvenirs, and The Tabasco Country Store. (There were several other
pepper shops, but Tabasco has long been a staple in my house.) And, after spending way too much on stuff there, we headed over to the old Jax Brewery, where
there were more neat shops, and lunch. We had Po Boys from C's Po Boy's, and some Beignets as well. Waddling into the French Quarter from there, we
wandered around, past Preservation Hall, and just all over. We were both amazed at how…mmm…well, run down New Orleans is, especially in the French Quarter.
(On the other hand, when millions of people descend on your neighborhood every year for the world's biggest block party…you don't want to fix things up too much,
either, I guess. Still, a lot of places were up for sale…)
We took a break at the Shops on Canal Street, wandered through the huge casino, and decided we wanted to take dinner back to the hotel. We chose Bubba
Gump's. (Yes, I know it's a chain. It also had no line to wait to get in, and we were both tired, cold, and getting cranky.) We took our dinner back to our room,
locked the door, and ate. And, yes-there was a football gameon the tube....
Friday, December 27:
OOoooohhhhh, am I one stiff little Princess this morning. Too much walking in the cold, I guess. Got up, got dressed: Pink striped panties, white regular 36c bra,
white socks, the teal blue top, Navy slacks, the Star pin and necklace, and the Claiborne bracelet. Do the makeup thing: mascara, lipstick and gloss, and perfume.
After breakfast in our hotel, load the car and head out of town.
Part of this trip is kind of a homecoming of sorts: I left the Greater Mississippi Coast in 1987 when Uncle Sam sent me home from his Canoe Club. I had not been
back since, and frankly, had no desire to go. There was nothing--and I repeat, NOTHING!!!--there, even if you had wheels, which I didn't. It was a sleepy little area,
kind of stuck in its own history. Since the time that I left, however, gambling was made legal. Oh, my…have there been changes. Big ones.
We went into Gulfport, and was greeted by an outlet mall that had only been there about 5 or 6 years. Did some shopping, then went by the Seabee base where I
had finished. Took a pic of the front and kept moving. Down to the beach road, then over toward Biloxi. Casinos all over the waterfront. The sole caveat is that they
must float, so they build these huge, honking casinos on old barges and anchor them. Went past Beauvoir (Jefferson Davis' home) and took some pix, as well as
the Air Force Base where they discovered that I was Epileptic. I can say for sure that gambling has changed these areas, and not necessarily for the best.
Pascagoula, on the other hand…well, the shipyard I'd been in was three times the size that I remembered. Thunder's was still there (a bar and dance club), but now
it has a restaurant, too. And some culture finally came to town: a Japanese restaurant on the main drag…Sakura! J (With a name like that, it better be good!) It
has grown, alright…for the better.
Off we went from there to Foley, AL. Why go there, you ask? More outlets, and Lambert's for a very late lunch or somewhat early dinner. (Enroute to Foley, we
changed our reservations to a closer hotel…we knew we couldn't possibly drive 4 hours to the one we booked…) I am not going to try to explain Lambert's. You
have to experience one. I hope you can catch; they throw rolls at you. (Yes, I catch like a girl. So?) The outlet mall just down a little allowed us to walk off our meal
some: Bought 2 Liz Claiborne Turtlenecks, a LizGolf Polo, and a Claiborne Long sleeve T-shirt…cheap. Couldn't shop forever, though…we still had a 3 hour drive to
our hotel! Fill the tank, and push on towards Montgomery. We stayed just south of Montgomery, arriving late, and essentially crashing. The S.O. only watched a little
bit of football recaps…I fell asleep pretty quick. Too many miles, too many memories.
Saturday, December 28:
We are driving just a few hours today…as far as Nashville, and there to stop, do some shopping, and just chill out. Today, we wear: Blue panties, white regular 36c
bra, white socks, the New Liz Claiborne top I just bought, Navy slacks, the Star pin and necklace, and the Claiborne bracelet. Makeup thing: mascara, lipstick and
gloss, and just a touch of perfume. There's not much to tell about the drive from here into town-lunch was at a Steak `n Shake-but once we hit the hotel, we unloaded
stuff and lit out for Opry Mills. Bought another top from the Claiborne outlet there (I just love her stuff!). From there, we went to a disappointing little mall with nearly
nothing in it. Just a few shops and some kids who looked at me a little odd. I wonder why? After that, though, we went in search of Dinner. Ended up at the Fifth
Quarter, a delightful little place with good food and lots of it. After dinner, we went back to the hotel and just crashed. The S.O. didn't even catch the NFL scores!
Sunday, December 29:
The final day of our trip, we decided to sleep in just a bit. It's a good thing, really. Since we are moving further north, warmer clothing is called for: grey panties, a
white 36c bra, the blue and white striped Elisibeth 3/4 sleeve T, and my White Stag flannel over that. Navy Slacks, white socks and Shoes, my Celtic Loveknot
necklace, my Tara Irish brooch, my Celtic ring, and clear and brown beads. My makeup is the same as always: mascara, lipstick and gloss, perfume. All the Celtic
stuff is because we are traveling through Louisville, and thus we had to have lunch at Molly Malone's . There is nothing better on a cold day than Leek and Potato soup,
and they have some of the best in the area. We got some food to take home for dinner, then pointed the nose cone for home. It was good to get there, too. I love to travel--
especially mostly en femme--but it is always good to come home, too.
Once home, however, we were warmly welcomed--and then promptly ignored--by the cats.This is nothing new, however.
