Full Moon over the Other Vancouver

I'm in Vancouver Washington, and the Full Moon tonight looked almost reddish in colour due to the high heat and smoke, or high level of ozone, in the atmosphere.

It was kind of eerie looking.

Work trip

I just got back from a 2 day whirlwind trip to Portland, OR and Vancouver, WA for work. I managed to get some great photos from the plane...
The ferry terminal, and Roberts Bank, with Point Roberts...

Mt. Baker, with Mt. Rainier in the background...

and Mt. St. Helens...

Heading Home

I headed home early this morning, and while I had a great time, I was very tired and very sore (from all the walking) and very glad that I was home. Here are just a few more pics of my trip...

Louisiana Day Five

Today, was breakfast of beignets at the Café du Monde. And keeping with the "I can't get a cup of tea around here" theme - I ordered a café au lait...

We toured Jackson Square...

The oldest cathedral in North America...

Bourbon street during the day...

Had a muffaletta sandwich with beans and rice on the side for lunch...

And wandered around looking at the sights, the city, and the Mississippi...

It was a long day full of walking and eating and more walking. But, I'm so glad we got to see all that we did.

Louisiana Day Four

Today was work in the morning, and then myself and two coworkers headed down to New Orleans for the weekend. Because it was all the rental agency had, we dubbed this part of the trip "3 girls in a mini-van"!
We checked into the hotel, got our bearings, and went for a walk before dinner...

Then we went to Muriel's for dinner... It's in the French Quarter near Jackson Square, and is in a very old house. The décor and food was great...

The company fantastic...

Then it was a trip down Bourbon Street...

And a stop at the Carousel Bar, Hotel Monteleone, for drinks and some jazz...

And a chance to meet some really cool people!

 It's been a long, eventful day!

Louisiana Day Three

Today, we worked. It was a long day of meetings, and talking, and presentations, and a group dinner. Things to note:
- I had jambalaya and pastalaya for lunch today. Jambalaya is the traditional jambalaya that everyone knows with rice and seafood. Pastalaya is just jambalaya made with pasta instead of rice. I tried both, but I liked the pasta version better! I even went back for seconds!
- I can't get a decent cup of tea here. The hotel doesn't have tea that isn't flavoured or herbal. The office doesn't have one single tea drinker that could lend me a tea bag. I think I might have to become a coffee drinker! Or I did until one of my co-workers took me to Starbuck's this morning! (Hello Earl Grey!!) I even purchased a couple of extra tea bags for when I needed them.
- I haven't seen this group of people that I work with for over a year. They come from all over the country, and we only get together once a year. I realized two things today -- one: that everyone I work for is really smart and professional. And two: I really like them! Everyone is so nice!

Louisiana Day Two

The hotel I'm staying at has the most comfortable bed ever!

But the room looks like it's trying to be too "European" with all the straight lines and modular look and odd colour scheme...

But, it is clean, comfortable, and close to the outlet mall. And (bonus), I had some time this morning to be able to check out the mall, and do a bit of shopping before I had to show up at the office for meetings. I am now the proud owner of a new Coach bag, and a bunch of new clothes that I have no idea how I'm going to cram into my suitcase to get them home!

Louisiana, Day One

Today, I had the opportunity to fly into Louisiana for work. I've been to the Louisiana office before, but that trip, I flew into Baton Rouge. This was my first time to New Orleans. A co-worker picked us up at the airport, and took us an hour north to Gonzales, we were to stay for the week.
I couldn't get over the overpasses, highways, and "bridges" that went on for miles over marshland, and waterways...

With a glimpse of lake pontchartrain on the right... (kind of looks like the ocean, it's so big!)

 

Once we checked in, we went out for dinner close to the hotel. We shared a bunch of appetizers, including alligator...

And charbroiled oysters...3 of which were "normal" and 3 of which were "jacked up" (prepared with hot sauce)...

For dinner, I had shrimp etouffée. I've never had alligator or etouffée before,  So, it was a day of "firsts" for me all around.

Going to New Orleans

At the end of February, I'm travelling to Louisiana for work. On the first weekend in March, I'm stopping in New Orleans for a few days. I'm staying with 2 of my friends from work (one from Houston, and one from South Carolina). We planned our trip today, and booked our flights and hotels. I can't wait!

Chicago

I had a whirlwind trip to Chicago this week. I flew in on Tuesday, had a bunch of meetings, and flew out Wednesday night. I only saw the airport, the office and the hotel. I've been to the Chicago airport 4 other times, but each trip was basically the same. So, I haven't seen the actual city... except from the air...

The hotel was really nice though...

And this was Vancouver as we flew out Tuesday morning. The air was so smokey that you couldn't see anything. It was like flying in a thick fog bank...

Houston

Tonight, after our meetings at work, we got to go for dinner at "The Houston Club" -- an exclusive dinner club on the 49th floor of a building in downtown Houston. The views were fantastic! The sunset was spectacular. And the food was really good too. (I had the prime rib, and cheesecake for dessert).