I've eaten a lot of GUMBO

It's monday night and I've been in New Orleans for more than a week. This weekend I had to catch up on my Gumbo eating. Between Friday night, and sunday lunch I had 4 lage bowls. I had to take a break on Sunday night because the restaurant had Blackend Salmon (it was very good). I spent the weekend hanging out with my new friends from Los Alamos, NM. We went out on friday night after work to just spend time enjoying each others company. Saturday we headed to the French Quater. It was much like I remembered it form my prvious visit to the city. Our first stop was to get what I like to call a Frence Quater Donut. If you any knows the name of the fried dough with powdered sugar let me know, they were delicious. The we spent the rest of the day enjoying the tourist parts of the quater. It felt a little strange after spending the week cleaning up and seeing the level of destruction in the city that we would be enjoying ourselves as tourist afew miles from where we mucked out a house the day before. We finished the evening at Bubba Gump Shrimp. (Of course I got a bowl of Gumbo) On Sunday we went o Bethelehem Lutheran Church in New Orleans (ELCA). It is a small church with a big heart. We were welcomed with open arms, even though we were under dressed. Many of the members had on their Sunday Best. This was the kind of church I went to as a child. Many of the mebersvreminded me of people I went to church with as a child at Cheif Cornerstone MB Bapist church in Gary, IN. It was a goood service, with one unusual surprise. Early in the service one of the leaders on the congreagation (the Pastor was away on a trip) asked Pastor Bruce from Los Alamos if he would give the sermon. Most Pastors I know might have said no, but Pastor Bruce graciously acceoted the invitation. He gave a wonderful sermon and the congregation was pleased. I'm not sure Pastor was used to shouts of amen and uh huh from the congregation, but he did a fine job. After service one of the members took us to a great restarant for lunch, of course I had Gumbo again. I'll write more about that tomorrow. We spent the rest of the afternoon playing at a park just wasting time until it was time for their plane to leave.
I had areally good time with my new friends from Los Alamos. Thank you all for making me one of your group for the week. I will miss you all. Will, Dion, Zach, Rob, Christina, Dia, Jessie, Tiffany, Ashley, Samantha, thank you for putting up with me and all my questions. Matt, Bruce Nicole', Dean, Lori, Roland, and Beth thank you for sharing yurself with these young people, and giving them an experience that they will never forget. I've got to call it a night. I've got more MUCKING in the morning.

aaron