HIPPO BIRDY 2 U

Happy birthday to you. Happy BIRTHday TO You. Happy BIRTHDAY DEAR Linda... HAPPY BIRTHday TO YOU!!

Yep, it's that time of year again. Linda is once again two years my senior (at least for 13 days).

The ride on Thursday was great! We made it to New Orleans in less than 6 hours again. Listened to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone on the way. Got in fairly early and had an outstanding supper of homemade tacos and tostadas at our daughter's house. Her husband is an incredible cook, and he enjoys doing it. His guacamole dip is, as they say, "to die for"!!

Friday we went to the Covington Craft Fair, in Covington, LA., on the North Shore. It was good to see that almost all the vendors were there, and the crowds were excellent, in spite of Katrina. We went with our daughter and her husband, and our good friends Mickey and Beverly and had a really nice time. We started the morning off with hot chocolate and funnel cakes for breakfast. Funnel cakes with cinnamon and chocolate syrup are killer!! After wandering up and down the aisles and in and out of tents we stopped for lunch. Polish sausage on a bun with onions, and fresh fried potatoe chips. Delicious. Finally, around 2PM we wrapped up our day by buying our annual fudge and kettle corn. Then a trip home across the Causeway and the day was done. Almost.

Hearing that China Doll restaurant had reopened, we met again, this time Mick and Bev, and our daughter and grandkids for Chinese. The limited menu still had enough options for everyone to find something they liked. We shared all the dishes among us and had a great time. The dinner was followed by our traditional "after dinner coffee" with Mick and Bev at a newly opened coffee shop on Manhattan Blvd called Tapioca and Coffee (something like that) where we burned a table or two between us.

Saturday dawned warm and bright. Mickey D's provided breakfast, we showed one of our apartments to a potential renter who decided against it (too bad, she was HOT!!) and struggled with the remains of our metal garage trying to finish dismantling it to have it hauled away. Hopefully number 2 son will be able to get it finished next weekend.

We leave again for Memphis tomorrow afternoon. A cold week is predicted. Poor Maynard. He really hates that crispy, crunchy frosted grass in the mornings.

As we begin the second week of Advent, may you continue to look forward to the coming of our Lord with love, faith, and hope. God bless. - Dean