Goodbye Shreveport

Kev's work in Louisiana appears to be over. Here are some things I'll miss about Shreveport.

1. Shreveport is a city full of friendly people from a variety of backgrounds. Unfortunately, it appears to have an identity crisis. It's not really big enough to be a big city, but it's much bigger than a big town. I guess it's a small city. It's in the corner of Louisiana, with some Cajun-ness, but also a lot of Southern and Texan personality thrown in. I guess that's why it's doubled as so many cities in movies.
2. needing to use my Southern dialect versus my Redneck/Hick dialect in order to be understood, which I'm proficient at thanks to a father from Pine Bluff, Arkansas. . .
3. seeing Washaterias. My father always called laundry mats washaterias, but I've never seen them called that elsewhere. . .
4. The food: steaks at Saltgrass (amazing!!), burgers at Whattaburger (yummy!), breakfast with *free* entertainment at Waffle House (including the guy with the money safety-pinned to his apron. . .), and various seafood munchies thrown in. [sigh]
5. The hair cut lady at the mall. Her name is Kamey, and she cut my hair, Kev's hair, and Kyler's hair, and did a phenomenal job each time.
6. listening to books on tape. I never do this at home, but it's such an easy way to entertain on the road.
7. shopping. Believe it or not, I actually enjoyed buying things for me and the kids when we were in Louisiana.
8. The sales people at Cavendar's Western Wear. . . story forthcoming, I promise.

What I won't miss about Shreveport. . .

1. The sales people at Cavendar's Western Wear. . .see above.
2. the lack of family entertainment. We're not casino people, and there's not a lot for kids to do in Shreveport.
3. educating my son on the ways of the world, which are significantly absent or at least well hidden in Paradise. . .
4. The drive.
5. especially if driven with 2 tired, cranky kids. . .
6. Enough Said.

Soon enough, we'll be on to our next adventure. Who knows where Kev will be working next, so be on the lookout for our wild bunch in a city near you. (OH, the horror! Can you imagine seeing our bunch in your neighborhood blue giant store? I can assure you that we're every bit as loud and crazy in person. . .)