Category Archives: Travel

Art, Bokeh, Michelle, Still Life, Street Photography, Tenderloining, Travel, Work

New Orleans Food Adventure – Day 5

July 21, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

Bokeh Picture of the Week coming up!

She’s a charmer!

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Time to share the food I knocked down on my work trip to New Orleans. This time I ate breakfast and it was so amazing that I wish I had eaten breakfast every, single day! So freakin’ good. I also ate lunch with Michelle at a food truck across the street from the Convention Center. Then I tried to eat supper at the Computer Mine Sales Team party but the food was just the worst thing ever. Hard to describe how terrible it was. So I ended up knocking down a street dog on Bourbon Street. No regrets there. One of the best hot dogs I’ve ever eaten!

I got the Breakfast Burrito with sausage.

You can’t get a good chocolate milk outside of Iowa, but this wasn’t bad.

I could have licked the plate, it was so good!

I got the Smoked Sausage.

It was pretty good.

But what Michelle got was better.

Sales “party”.

I was so excited for the fried okra, but you can’t serve fried foods like this!

This was the most serviceable food there.

Gross. But free at least.

A dang good Bourbon Street hot dog!

Jimmy J’s Cafe is one of my favorite restaurants I’ve ever been to. In fact, I went there for breakfast again the next day. Oh my, I’ve said too much.

So I haven’t been great about updating my quest to live healthier. But this is what I can say. I’m currently 3.8 pounds from my ultimate goal weight. And this week I earned a new FitBit Badge:

WooHoo me! I did a better job of getting steps in this week and I ate better… well until the weekend. I ate lots of Fair food. But that is okay. Not every day can be nutritional winners!

Art, Bokeh, Michelle, Still Life, Tenderloining, Travel, Work

New Orleans Food Adventure – Day 4

July 14, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

Another Bokeh Picture of the Week? You got it!

On Friday Bokeh went in for her final set of puppy vaccines. She now weighs 35 pounds. This picture is of her waiting on me to pump some gas.

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Time to share the food I knocked down on Day 4 of my work trip to New Orleans. I didn’t eat breakfast again. I ate lunch at the convention center concession stand, which was a mistake. Then got tricked into going to supper with the sales team by Michelle, but it was worth it. The Butcher was one of the best meals I had on my trip.

Shrimp Po’ Boy from the Concession Stand.

It was not good, but at least I got outside.

I got the Moroccan Spiced Lamb.

With marinated brussel sprouts.

Michelle’s meal.

The Butcher definitely made up for the Po’ Boy. It was a great meal!

Still 3 days left of New Orleans meals to share. Well 2.333333.

Bokeh, Still Life, Tenderloining, Travel

New Orleans Food Adventure – Day 3

July 7, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

Another Bokeh Picture of the Week? You got it!

Most of the other pictures I have of are still being considered for my submission for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. This one is of her going for a little car ride.

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Time to share the food I knocked down on Day 3 of my trip to New Orleans. I actually didn’t eat that much on that day. I had some pastries in our training meeting. I completely skipped lunch. So the only real meal of any interest was my supper. Here are the pictures:

A King Cake, but no baby in it.

The hotel was giving out free jambalaya. It wasn’t great.

I had never had a Muffaletta, but now I wish there was a place around here to get one!

Unfortunately, they served Coke.

The fries were only, okay.

But the sandwich was outstanding!

But you have to like olives!

Which I do!

With tip, it cost me $31.67.

Next Sunday will be more food from New Orleans, but I might pick up the pace a bit.

As for the health journey. I was pretty terrible with tracking again this week, but I can say that I’m currently 5.4 pounds from my first ultimate goal. I’ll do better this week.

Bokeh, FNSC, Jay, Kim, Michelle, Tenderloining, Travel, Willy

New Orleans Food Adventure – Day 2

June 30, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

Last week I skipped some stuff cause I was short on time, but I wanted to make sure I definitely included a Bokeh Picture of the Week this week:

Just making herself home at FNSC!

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Now to start Day 2 of my food adventures in New Orleans. I didn’t eat anything for breakfast. Tony and I went to an Italian place across the street from the Convention Center for lunch. Then I went out to eat with Kim, Gina, and Michelle for supper. Then Gina, Michelle, and I ended up at Cafe du Monde for beignets.

Here are the pictures:

It was pretty good pizza!

Cost: $26.36

Kim packed some pretty good snacks this year.

I went with the Catfish Napoleon for supper.

Brussel sprouts!

It was an okay meal.

And it cost me nothing. So there is that.

I also freeloaded here.

An okay chocolate milk.

So much powdered sugar!

All in all, it was another pretty good day of eating!

Last week I didn’t report on my quest to live healthier. The last two weeks have went okay, but I’ve been really bad a tracking things, so it is sufficient to say for now, things are still trending well. I just need to get back at tracking and I need to get back to walking more!

Kim, Still Life, Tenderloining, Travel

New Orleans Food Adventure – Day 1

June 23, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

I ate a lot of food while is New Orleans. Here is just the food I ate on Day 1 of my trip.

On the flight from Des Moines to Saint Louis.

Not bad.

Water on the flight from Saint Louis to New Orleans.

Another bag of these.

Tony and I got lunch at Mambo’s.

I got the Cajun Jambalaya Pasta.

It was pretty darn good and I’m not really a pasta person.

We split an order of the Jalapeno Hush Puppies.

Also, very good.

$38.04 with tip.

Kim and I ate supper at the Acme Oyster House.

Kim’s signature drink.

My supper.

It was mostly kind of fair.

Jambalaya.

Kim’s supper was much better.

$30.37 with tip.

Too bad I don’t like oysters.

The trip was off to a good start!

Art, Football, Night, Self-Portrait, Still Life, Street Photography, Travel, Work

The Big Easy – Day 7 Phone Pictures

June 11, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

Day 7 in New Orleans was supposed to be relatively short. Tony and I had a 10:20 flight. So we would leave for the airport a little after 8. We would grab a connecting flight in Denver and be back in the Cyclone State by 3:30. But the best laid plans of mice and men…

Here are the pictures from Day 7. The final day.

I got up early to take one last stroll around. Saw this banner. I level of petty I can get behind.

About the time I was going to order an Uber we got a message from Southwest Airlines. Our flight had been delayed until noon! We decided to delay our trip to the airport until 10. That gave me time to go down and try to see the famous Saint Louis Cemetery No. 1. I didn’t get to see it because you have to pay for a tour, which is fine, but the tour lasted too long for me to take it. Anyways, saw this sticker. Enjoyed it.

On the way to the airport we got a text from Southwest that our flight had been moved back to its original flight time. Meaning that we missed our flight. Southwest was less than helpful. They told me to run and I might make the flight. Yeah, this was the security line. While waiting in it (this is TSA Pre-Check) Southwest sent me a message that my flight had left. Thanks!

I had to go back and get booked on a flight that wouldn’t leave until after 6. The fortunate thing for me was that they had checked my bags in. So I could go into the airport. They hadn’t checked Tony’s bag in, so he couldn’t go into the airport until 4 hours before the flight.

Not a fan of Southwest.

Another look at the security lines. This is the one that isn’t TSA Pre-Check.

Waited with Tony for a bit before going in.

Thanks airport.

NASA display.

Southerners love their Moon Pies!

Airport art.

Southerners love their Moon Pies!

Southerners love their moon pies!

Not in the mood for this toy at this time.

No lies detected.

For the Swifties that also love crawdads!

I know a big fan of the Golden Girls.

Southerners love their moon pies.

Finally in the air!

Bellisimo!

Landed in the home of Toasted Ravioli!

This sign made me so happy!

Goodbye Land of Toasted Ravioli.

Tony and Shannon dropped me off at my doorstep a little after midnight. It was a long, boring day. It was good to be home. 2 days later I would be welcoming Bokeh into my life and this trip feels like such a distant memory, even though it was only a month ago.

At some point I’ll begin sharing the pictures I took of New Orleans with the real camera!

Art, Cathie, Kim, Street Photography, Travel, Work

The Big Easy – Day 4, 5, & 6 Phone Pictures

June 4, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett 5 Comments

Time to share the cell phone pictures I took on Day 4 and Day 5 and Day 6 of my trip to New Orleans for the Big Meeting. I didn’t take many cell phone pictures on these days. Maybe not that many in general.

Day 4 is the worst day of the trip. It is over a 12 hour work day. And the last few hours is standing in the booth doing nothing because it is the “Big Meeting” Party”. So people flock to the booths that hand out free booze. We are not one of those. So nobody comes to our booth. Actually, now I think about it, that part is kind of amazing.

Here are pictures from Day 4:

Some street art from a morning walk.

I hope they find their fish!

I ate here for breakfast, but not on Day 4.

I like gumbo, but I prefer the version of this that references ice cream.

Getting ready to take on the day.

So Instagrammable!

The thing of nightmares.

I’d like a word with the designer.

It is almost like you are in New Orleans!

The convention center food court. More on this in a later post on my New Orleans food adventures.

Gina and I went down and had these made for Lowell and Leah.

I’m sure they get a ton of wear out of them.

On to Day 5. A sticker I enjoyed.

I took hardly any pictures on Day 5 that weren’t related to food I ate.

The statue in Lafayette Square is not of Lafayette. It is Henry Clay.

No lies detected.

Chicken & Daquiris. Pralines. Warm Boobies. That is Bourbon Street.

Day 6 – I also took hardly any pictures. And you are, like really pretty.

A Computer Mine competitor for people that don’t own adult computers.

They stole a few of our good chairs in Chicago.

The Big Meeting is over.

Now we wait for our crates.

Another Computer Mine competitor. Known for not wantING to give up their customer’s data.

Back at the hotel. This sign that explains what a fire alarm sounds like makes my head hurt.

Kim really wanted this picture taken.

Day 7. My final day in New Orleans. Tony and I had a 10:20 AM flight. We were going to be back in the Cyclone State by 4 PM. Sounds like an easy day.

The Big Easy – Day 2 & 3 Phone Pictures

May 28, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett Leave a comment

Today is my mother-in-law Colleen’s birthday, so I need to wish her a happy birthday.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

I hope your birthday is magical!

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I didn’t take many phone pictures on Day 2 and Day 3 in New Orleans, so I’m combining them into one post. Day 2 is when the work begins on setting up for The Big Meeting. Day 3 involves a “training” session and then finishing off setup. But I had sometime to explore on those days.

Here are the pictures:

I started Day 2 with a leftover beignet from Cafe Du Monde.

Then I took a walk up to Jackson Square to see if it was open. It wasn’t.

But got a nice view of the Saint Louis Cathedral.

Then I walked down the river walk and found this cool collection of love locks.

I would love to know this story.

Preach.

Tony and I got to the Convention Center while they were still putting the booth together.

This is by far and I mean by FAR the fastest internet we’ve ever had in a booth.

These snacks were delicious!

The booth put together.

Back at the hotel. I’m kind of a connoisseur of southern mayonnaise. This one has ALL the yolks.

One of my goals was to ride the trolley.

They stopped the trolley so this girl could take a graduation photo with it.

Inside trolley.

Pralines!

That night I had supper with Kim, Michelle, Diane and Gina. Afterwards I ended back up at Jackson Square.

This is the New Orleans Holocaust Memorial.

Final picture I took before going back to the hotel.

Day 3 starts with a 4 hour training session that feels like 8 hours.

Back to the Convention Center.

Got done early enough that I could see the inside of the Saint Louis Cathedral.

They took credit cards.

It is pretty in there.

The altar.

I didn’t take a horse and carriage ride. But I wish I had.

Best name for a restaurant. Ever!

The Rolling Stones played the Jazz Festival the night before.

Taking the trolley to the Garden District.

This guy openly boozed on the trolley. Was super friendly.

Nood Fountain in Audubon Park.

Back on Canal Street. Maybe my favorite graffiti ever.

Last cell phone picture of Day 3.

Still 4 more days of cell phone pictures left to share.

Art, Bill, Elainie, History, Nora, Railroad, Road Trip, Still Life, Travel

Omaha, Somewhere in Middle America

May 25, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett 4 Comments

We are officially a week from my birthday, so I am no longer accepting happy birthday wishes. If you failed to meet the deadline, better luck wishing next year.

I did have a pretty great birthday though. Mostly it was just hanging out with Bokeh and the chaos she brings. But at night, there was a Movie Night in the Union Street Theater. As it was my birthday month, I got to select the movies. I chose 1975 for the “theme” of the movies. For the B movie I selected LISZTOMANIA. Which deliver on everything that a MOVIE NIGHT movie should. For the feature, I selected SHAMPOO. Which was a bit of a dud. Maybe it was funnier or more revolutionary in its day. It was worth watching and a disappointment at the same time.

My favorite birthday present I received was Nora planting a flower in my honor at her school. My favorite birthday wish came from Elainie as it combined wishing me a happy birthday with my disdain and hatred for Facebook:

Happy Birthday Uncle Chris!! Sabas & I posted on fb earlier, but I know you don’t get on often. We hope you have had a wonderful day!

It wasn’t perfect. Shouldn’t have posted birthday wishes on Facebook at all, but it is good enough for me.

I also got an amazing letter in the mail wishing me a happy birthday from Harrison Gorshe. It 100% made my day! It basically wished me a happy birthday and let me know he was glad I got a dog. I need to take Bokeh over there to meet the Gorshes at some point. I haven’t taken her to meet a lot of people. Really I haven’t taken her to meet many people yet. Elizabeth, Kim, and Ron at the Computer Mine. She has met plenty of people that have come to the house to meet her though. Andy, Anders, Alexis, Kanoa, Anela, Logan, Jonah, Greyson, Dahlia, Amanda, Jesse, Willy, Jay, Jason, Monica, Graham, and Teresa. Plus several neighbors have come over to meet her. Her dance card has been pretty full. She might be the Diamond of the Season. (Reference for my BRIDGERTON peeps out there. I’m still pretty sad that my 2 favorite characters (Eloise and Penelope) aren’t friends any longer. I’m sure it will work out.)

But I digress. Thanks again for all the birthday wishes that came through in person visits, text messages, phone calls, Snapchat… Teams, yeah I guess we will count Teams. It was a good enough birthday!

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I spent the night at Bill’s swanky bachelor pad after going to see Brandi Carlile. It was so amazingly hot those days. The heat index was well into triple digits. Before I headed back to the Cyclone State Bill and I did some minor exploring of Omaha. We went to Union Station, which is now a museum.

Here are some pictures:

Still a couple more collection of images from my day with Bill left to share!

Art, Christianity, Kim, Still Life, Street Photography, Travel, Work

The Big Easy – Day 1 Phone Pictures – Beta

May 22, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett 1 Comment

When we last checked in on Day 1 of my trip to New Orleans for work I was just about to get on the plane in Saint Louis to finish the trip to New Orleans.

Goodbye Saint Louis!

Thanks Southwest! I’m sure I won’t hate you by the end of this trip.

Southwest! The last of the great romantics!

Well, what is yours?

Getting close!

On the ground!

And they didn’t even lose my luggage!

We have to find our own transportation from the airport to the hotel now. Like commoners!

View from our room. Not bad!

So this is Bourbon Street.

My church is getting new shirts. I’ll just say this idea was shot down.

“So I lay prostrate before the LORD for these forty days and forty nights, because the LORD had said he would destroy you.”

I don’t get why this is such a popular combination in New Orleans, but it is.

Kim!

I wish I would have had some Fat Boy’s Pizza on this trip.

I know a few.

Seems like the kind of church that has credit card swipers in the sanctuary.

Never had any ice cream on this trip either.

Best shirt I saw in New Orleans.

Trolley!

3rd best shirt I saw in New Orleans.

Most of Day 1 was spent resting in the hotel and wandering around Bourbon Street and the Jackson Square area. This was by far the day I took the most cell phone pictures. However, there are plenty more pictures to share from the rest of the trip.