Of Cabbages, Brides, and Bachelorettes

Visits from family always seem to turn into sleepless, gluttonous, every-moment-filled affairs. Even so, I must admit that I had a ball this weekend, although I currently feel about 50 creaky years older than my chronological age.

Yesterday afternoon, after I prepared brunch and the last carload headed north, I actually curled up on the couch under a blanket with 2/3 of the dogs and watched a movie I've already seen because I didn't have the energy to search for a new one. Then we ate yummy leftover "Moogielettas" (my beefless spin on the iconic New Orleans Muffaletta) and leftover-from-brunch fruit salad for dinner while watching "The Pacific," the other-side-of-the-world version of "Band of Brothers."

Today I'm tackling the laundry generated by six twenty-something houseguests.

It was fun. After an afternoon in the Quarter, I did a shrimp boil dinner party on Friday night with the Bachelorettes and quite a number of the groom-to-be's lady relatives, including both grandmothers, 2 aunts, and 2 cousins! I skipped the evening adventure in the Quarter that prominently featured "Huge Ass Beers" and other gallivanting.

That chapter ended via cab ride at roughly 3:30 Saturday morning, with both daughters awakening us to complain about the other -- and it seems that their Daddy had texted the 29-year-old Bride-to-be at 3:00 or so to inform her that she was out entirely too late. I think he may be getting pre-wedding Daddy-nutsies. When The Son got married 12 years ago -- literally on the day before the wedding -- Pepper impulsively bought a bright red Mazda Miata convertible for the then-15 year old Younger Daughter. I'm almost afraid to think about what will join the household when Elder Daughter approaches the aisle.

Saturday was the Irish Channel St. Patty's Day parade. Quite a few male members of SIL#1-to-be's very Irish family march in that parade, decked out in tuxedoes and distributing flowers, garters and other Gaelic treasures (such as lacy green underwear!) in exchange for kisses from the recipients. They "prepare" for the march for several hours in advance in various taverns and a last-minute Mass. Such a hoot -- and we did acquire quite a bit of groceries! Who knew Moogie could be so adept at catching cabbages, carrots, and potatoes!

Don't you love the cabbage-bedecked wrought iron fence on Magazine Street? I snapped that shot while picking up Elder Daughter after her post-parade visit to the the fire station, a gathering place for her future extended family (several of them are firefighters). Have you ever tried to locate a cute young blonde wearing a green tee shirt on Magazine Street after a St. Patrick's Day parade? Picture it!

Saturday night was pretty much a recovery period for the bachelorettes, except for "That One," a funny, multi-talented young woman -- one of the single-lady Bridesmaids.

See, there was a huge convention in town -- 35,000+ orthopedic surgeons and all those folks who would like to teach them and sell them things. One of that number met That One during the Friday night Huge Ass Beers Quarter adventure and pursued her all Saturday via text messages, entreating her to join him for dinner. What could I do -- she's legal and has her own money!

Unfortunately, she had very little luck with the cab companies, so -- after checking out the destination and a little more info -- I offered to drive her downtown, on the condition that I meet the young man.

Fortunately, everything turned out to be legit and she arrived back at Moogie's Mansion before midnight via taxi, but that encounter became a story that stands all on its own. Suffice it to say that this Girls' Trip to New Orleans has now been nicknamed "The Trip Where 'That One' Went Out With A Guido From Jersey Shore!"

I don't have much time to recover. The Son and a friend -- Pepper's first aide de camp! -- are heading this way on Saturday after a bird hunt with Pepper and Bouie.

But they won't generate quite as much laundry. Will they?

Ehhh-- who cares!