IT'S GREAT TO BE A LSU TIGER! Mike the Tiger and I shake paws...

Mike the  Tiger taking a cat nap

Hello all. Lordy, have things been busy. I told you I would update you on our trip to Baton Rouge when we got back so here it is as promised.

Kyle and I flew out last Wednesday and of course, with an evening flight, I should have known we'd have a delay! Uuuugh! We were suppose to get in at 10:30 p.m. and then drive to Gonzales, La, and stay at a hotel there, which was half way between the airport and Baton Rouge. Well we had a delay during our layover in Tennessee and didn't arrive at the Nola airport until 11:45 p.m. and didn't pick up our rental car until after midnight, when we were suppose to pick that up at 10:45 p.m. Despite how late it was, we still drove to Gonzales, got to the hotel at 1 a.m. and were in bed by 1:30 a.m-ish but neither of us went to sleep until 2:30 a.m. since we both were incredibly wound up from the rush of things.

We both got up early the next morning since we were told traffic going into Baton Rouge would be horrendous. Needless to say we got ZERO sleep.

Kyle dropped me off at orientation and man did I feel like a freshman all over again, and I swear all the high school seniors there were definitely giving me the "she's way too old to be here look." I certainly remembered waaaay more from orientation and my campus tour this time around then I remember a lick from my first one. Orientation was fine, a little cheesier than I thought it was going to be, and our group's campus tour guide was great. Very relaxed, informative and kind.

After the tour concluded, I met my graduate assistantship supervisor for lunch and she took me to a restaurant just off campus, Chimes.

Chimes

I had an andouille crusted oyster poboy with a spicy cajun coleslaw and blue cheese on a french baguette. Lord have mercy, what a homecomin'. That was one of the most heavenly sandwiches this gal's ever had. I'm gonna be in serious trouble with this kind of luxury just steps from campus. I'll have to find a way to restrain myself or I'll put on that freshman 15 again in no time.

I absolutely LOOOOVE my supervisor. We are going to accomplish great things together I am sure. As a reminder, I have an assistantship with the Division of Student Life and Enrollment Services. I will work directly for the Marketing Director that oversees Greek Life, Career Services, Residential Housing, etc. I am so incredibly excited and between the energy she and I have together we are going to be a dream team.

After lunch, I met the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Research for the Manship School of Mass Communication, my home for the next two years.

Manship School of Mass Comm - aka- Home

That went equally as spectacular and I received a very warm welcome from her and the other woman I had been corresponding with for nearly a year on this journey to graduate school. We immediately exchanged hugs as if we were old friends. Gotta love the South, they're all huggers!

After all the meet and greet was over with, Kyle picked me up from campus and we went house hunting. I'll spare you the long drawn out details of that and just get to the good stuff. After three days of looking, we found a place that is iiiiiiiideal! It's a little more than we wanted to pay but man is it pretty much perfect. It's just shy of 2 miles from campus, a hop skip and a jump from the city golf course, half a block from a dog park, just across the street from the city park and literally steps away from the LSU bus stop. I mean to tell you folks, just absolutely perfect. Two bedroom, two full bath, a little yard for Nola and a front porch and covered car garage. 

Magnolia Drive

I am so excited to move and get settled in, have bbq's and beers out on the patio, let Nola run in the park and work off some of the weight she's put on and get ready for game-day Saturdays. Man, life is gonna be good.

I told you Kyle had an interview on Thursday while I was at campus. And yes, he did get a job! I am just so darn proud of him. He really has a knack for the hospitality industry, not surprising to me what so ever since he's from the city of hospitality, but either way he got a great job I think he's going to be really happy with and he'll also be bringin' home the bacon while mama's at school.

While on our trip, Kyle and I had the opportunity to dine at two ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE restaurants! I don't think I've ever had food quite like it. Let's just be honest here, one can probably say that about any restaurant in the southeastern Louisiana area really. One of the places was Mike Anderson's Seafood, which was the restaurant that is connected to the hotel Kyle and I stayed out and one of the most famous restaurants in the area. People come from far and wide to eat there. Simply marvelous Louisiana food made with family love. The wait staff was lovely, the service fast and the ambiance just the right balance between I can wear a pair of heals and chandelier earrings and feel not too dressed up but relaxed enough that I wasn't going to drop an appendage or two when the bill came. We also ate at Stroubes Chophouse. This place was located in the heart of Downtown Baton Rouge and I know for certain we'll be visiting again. Again, tasteful ambiance, the waiter was kind of a tool, but the food was divine as were the drinks.... well worth the expense. I'm a pretty firm believer that the dining experience needs to be just as good as the fare and a three and a half hour dinner of great food, atmosphere and company is far better than a rushed meal and a movie.

Well, I guess that's about it. Cheer's to one great trip! See ya'll after 4th of July.