The big easy. Cajun country. The city of sin. Yep, New Orleans was all those things and a whole lot more. It's a crazy place for sure. Where to begin? Of course, we indulged in the evil night of drink, the night of sex clubs (or was that the same night?), covering territory that would make the insomnia guy proud. We also did all the touristy tours, bought the cheap-ass boas and beads (I must admit I did not earn any of them), tried to dine at the local haunts for the best food (this was a crap shoot--Mother's lived up to it's name, as did Koops, but Rita's was a little pricier than advertised), found ourselves in some of the scarier neighborhoods en route to other noted spots outside the French Quarter, but the thing I liked best was the fact we were not here, in Baltimore--not a terribly bad place on the whole (it has served me well over the years). In New Orleans we were able to be different people with a different set of expectations. Sometimes this is not a good thing (as I found out there), but as I navigate through the comfort zone of my life, I realize that perhaps the person I am currently---the outlook I practice---may not be conductive to my leading an emotionally happy life. From now on, I am no longer Baltimore--I am New Orleans. More later---