Usually my December journal is dedicated to the Louisiana show and to all the holiday parties and family gatherings we attend. This journal would be no different, except that my wife had the new camera over the Thanksgiving holiday and into December so you get no pictures of LARF and like it!
I literally spent Thanksgiving day driving from Charlotte, NC to Hammond, Louisiana. Somewhere in E.B.F. Alabama I stopped for gas and saw a Shoney's open. I went in, sat down by myself, and had their Thanksgiving buffet. YUM! I know it sounds pathetic but it was better than nothing. I pulled into LARF at about 8pm, parked the trailer, and then headed over to Jamie Haueser's house. She's on the local cast and many that travel to the area stay at her house during the run. She must be one of the most hospitable people I have ever met. Charming and generous, she always opens her home to everyone. Even in the wake of one of the nation's worst natural disasters. She had made a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner and treated me to awesome leftovers!
 Magic Mike and Bethany |
I only got to make one trip into the quarter this year. The damage to the surrounding areas is intense and widespread but Bourbon Street managed to stay intact. As a matter of fact, my favorite bar, Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop is in fine shape. It's one of the oldest pubs in the nation. I would have been sad to lose it. I got to spend an evening with our good friend Magic Mike. He's a Comedian/Magician/Entrepreneur. Like us he's good at turning what he enjoys doing into something that is profitable. I would have loved to stay out longer but there's still a 2am curfew due to all the looting that's been going on. I'm not sure if it's been lifted yet or not. I'm sure it'll be gone by Mardi Gras.
Anyway, the Hammond show went amazingly well. Many thought it would go under due to the storms and its proximity to New Orleans. But, we thought that with all the events that were already cancelled and all the displaced people that moved to the area, it couldn't do anything but get better. Let's face it - all these new people need entertainment too! Thank god we were right. Tips, DVD, T-shirt, Games, and Rose sales were all up!
When the Louisiana show ended we all beat a hasty retreat to our next destinations. This had been a very long season and we were ready to relax. Not to mention the fact that I hadn't seen my wife for four weeks! Until now we'd never gone more than ten days apart. I needed some lovin'!
The next couple of weeks are always spent at holiday parties. Let me tell ya, the passing years and new obligations have barely put a dent in our celebrations. Usually as the years go on, people tend to party less or at least less intensely. Not my friends! They always find a way!
 My Dad and Pat at Ceviche |
 Sharon enjoys a tapas snail |
OK, on to Party number one, Earl and Therese's Holiday Masquerade Ball. Every year Earl and Therese put on a holiday party where everyone dresses nicely and wears a mask. Later that night we judge the masks in different categories and give out prizes. There also is an optional Secret Santa gift exchange. If you bring a gift, you get a gift. This party usually has attendance similar to ours but with people from Therese's work and other friends of Earl's thrown in. They don't usually hang out too late with the "Big Dogs" like us. By 1 or 2 am it's down to the real drunks and the serious party kind. E and T's house is a little smaller than ours and Howie/Roberta's. So, late night we often find ourselves surfin' the net or just babbling about life. We have been drinking for 10 hours after all. The next morning we headed home just in time to beat the sun. We wouldn't want to turn into a pile of dust now, would we?
 Dogpile at Earl and Therese's |
 Sara, Bert, Therese, and Sharon at the Masquerade Ball |
 The gang at the Masquerade Ball |
We never know exactly what to expect at Howie and Bert's (as we call them). There are always party games, a Secret Santa gift exchange and plenty of Roberta's kick-your-ass shot concoctions. It's also the place we do all our real gift exchanges since it's closest to the holiday. It recent years we've even been visited by Santa himself! Come on... it's not Christmas unless you get to sit on Santa's lap!
This year H & B had a scavenger hunt. They had a list of questions about their home and you had to answer them. (eg, How many Gargoyles are in the house? Which room is the occupancy sign in?) It was a lot of fun but time consuming. Let me tell ya, once you've got a buzz on and Roberta's still wandering around pushing shots of "God knows what," you start to loose interest. I think Sharon and I finished almost the entire list. Granted we only got about half right.
Late that night we had a very special guest. No it wasn't Santa. This year it was the Grinch! That's right! The furry bastard himself paid us a visit and we got to sit on his lap! Howie's costume was awesome! He really put a lot of work into it. He pulled out his Naughty/Nice list and I actually made it on the nice side. The Grinch doesn't know me very well, does he?!
 Chillin' in Howie and Bert's black light room |
 The Grinch arrives |
 Gifts for Jef from The Grinch |
The next morning I went out to buy more alcohol and some videos. I returned with energy drinks, "The Incredibles" on DVD and a pineapple. Yes, a pineapple. I have no idea what I was thinking. But that pineapple followed me home and got infused with vodka for our New Years Eve party. But that's a story for next month.
I gonna leave you now. You'll have to wait 'till next month to hear about the last of the holiday party triad. Also in next months journal... more remodeling for the Hall household. Happy New year to all my Family, Friends, and Fans, may the new year bring happiness and laughter to you all.
