Well, the holiday season is upon us. Lindsey and I just celebrated Thanksgiving, bought a Christmas tree, and are getting ready for the semester to wind down. The weather here is starting to feel like fall...it's actually been in the 40's and 50's but can still get up in the 70's on the nicer days. We'll be driving up to Minnesota for Christmas this year to spend about two weeks and then we're driving back down for Caitlins arrival a few days before New Years. Woohoo!

Emily and Lindz at Thanksgiving. We went to a classmate of Lindsey's who invited a lot of us over who don't have family nearby. It was a great Thanksgiving. I almost exploded I ate so much.

Mmm...cheap rolls...


A Chinese couple who used to live in our old apartment invited us over for a Chinese dinner. It was a a lot of fun to eat some great food and just hang out.

It was fun to have some of the same dishes we loved in China, but since the couple isn't from Sichuan, nothing was spicy enough!


Po Boy Fest! We went to the Po Boy Fest a week or so ago. Po Boy's are basically subs, but there on fresh baked french bread and you can get shrimp, alligator sausage, crawfish, and regular things like BBQ pork. There were a ton of restaurants from all over town. These are grilled oysters.



Shrimp Po Boy for Binzer! This one was the winner in our book.

Lindsey's post

Here's Bri learning how to devein shrimp. We have been eating so well!!! Mussels, shrimp, avocados, pomegranites, mangoes....ahh the food is just fabulous.
Our landlord had a homemade pizza dinner party this weekend which was awesome...We are so lucky to have her as a friend here and to have found this place-We call each other Soul Sista's-even though there is a 16 year difference with us...we basically have the same wardrobe and have had similar travels and experiences....
This is a picture from my recent trip to Galveston, Texas with Save the Children...nice hurricane damage, huh? We led psycho-social programing for faculty and adminstrators of schools there...everyone was so worn out and dealing with loss and a disaster...it was tough to hear, but good for them to have a chance to talk and laugh with colleagues.
Here's Tara and I-she works for Save the Children and is an Returned Peace Corps Volunteer from the Midwest. We had a nice walk on the beach and seafood!
This is so funny to me...in the South, they sell singles of beer at gas stations...they just passed a law making it illegal to be the passenger and drink in a vehicle-but it was legal before. What do they think this inspires???
These are pics from the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans. I am writing a paper comparing this neighborhood that has had so many struggles and really is struggling to rebuild, as compared to a very rich neighborhood that had the same amount of damage after Katrina. It's all so confusing and sad and thought provoking....learning about all these systems.
THroughout the city, they have about 70 of the most famous modern artists from around the world ...showing a piece throughout the city. This is the one that is in the Lower Ninth Ward.


This picture makes me happy...it's me and my Social Work friends watching Election Night! WE had so much fun and I couldn't stop crying tears of joy!

Happy Halloween

We had a great halloween this year, I dressed as a shark and Lindsey went as an alligator. We ended up going down to the French Quarter for a big parade.


The parade was a lot of fun, there were a couple really good bands, tons of really awesome floats, and some stilt walkers.


Ghost Horse!

Some of the floats were just great, the work and design that goes into them all is really cool to see. Can't wait for Mardi Gras. We also had a ton of fun trying to grab beads and things that people are throwing off the floats. It's all really kid friendly and just plain old fun, none of the perceptions about New Orleans Mardi Gras that you think.


Emily and her roomate Keri with boyfriend and a shark.

Two of my buddies from ol' Chittenango, they just moved down here about two months ago.

Another one of the floats.

Lindsey was looking for every instance of aligator signage for pose in front of.

The epic shark alligator battle caught on film!

Here's the main stage at Voodoo Fest, a huge concert that took place literally across the street from our house. It was in City Park, which is three blocks away.

I was pumped to catch NIN and TV on the Radio and Lindsey was able to see Wyclef.


Some morning glories in our backyard right on the fence


Here's our new little patio space in the backyard. We bought the table, a grill, and an umbrella off of craigslist