USAV Nationals -- New Orleans

I spent the long holiday weekend in New Orleans at the U.S. Open National Volleyball tournament. There are so many things to talk about, I know I'm going to have a hard time narrowing them all down. I will however, share a couple of stories/insights, then give a list of highlights...


Cafe du Monde Beignets!
As soon as I heard that Nationals was going to be in New Orleans last year, I immediately starting dreaming of hot, fresh beignets! On Friday, that dream was realized with a trip to Cafe du Monde with some of my favorite people on the planet: Jesse & Steph, the Brothers Weaver, Sally Bellargeon and Mike Walton, and the trio of Stacey, Paula & Danelle. If you've never before enjoyed a beignet, three things. 1) You must. 2) You must have them hot and fresh. 3) You must have them directly from Cafe du Monde -- the original coffee shop that opened in the French Quarter in 1862. That's right... nearly 150 years ago! It was a treat to be able to have them there on our trip -- and to be able to share that first time with so many friends. I'm not going to lie and say we didn't have more throughout the week. I blame John.


Bourbon Street -- and other Adult Adventures
Of course we spent a lot of time on Bourbon Street taking in what people typically think of when they think "New Orleans" (save only now, people also think "Hurricane Katrina -- more on that later). Let's just say the adult beverage and entertainment industries are alive and thriving! I cannot confess to getting too crazy while in New Orleans, but will admit to one heckuva good time! I especially enjoyed hanging out with so many good friends from Seattle, including one other men's team (SAC), and four women's teams (No Limit, Mary Open Bottom's, Moxie Tigers/Gamecocks, and Moxie-TMobile), not to mention our women's U-Volley team.

Given that smoking indoors is legal in New Orleans (thank God for Seattle and New York City!), it's nice to be able to get a drink and walk outside up, down, and around the city. You're not confined to one place this way -- and always have something to do with your hands! We danced at a few places, belted out Jon Bon Jovi songs at another, hollered at folks from the balconies of the clubs, and generally engaged in the right about of good, clean fun (what happened in New Orleans stays in New Orleans!).

What I will say is this... as opposed to hurricanes, pina coladas and mojitos, John and I spent most of our time on the Captain's Ship! I am SO thankful that JDub is also a fan. Cheers to you, John Weaver. And cheers to the Captain, our Captain.


Post-Katrina New Orleans
One of the biggest factors and constant reminders of being in New Orleans for the week was the fact that it had been bashed by Hurricane Katrina nine months ago (late August 2006). We stayed on the river at the SW edge of the French quarter. Our week was not one filled with images of devastation. Sure, there were plenty of missing trees and downed street lights, but the only real visible effects from our vantage were numerous boarded-up windows, closed shops and empty streets...

...and that was just it. Independent of not seeing the severe damage, what was most striking to me about New Orleans was its sheer and pervasive emptiness. The city didn't feel defeated; it felt dead. A lot of people there said it still wasn't "normal" again -- which begged the question of basic normalcy. What we did learn was that restaurants, hotels, business in general were simply short-staffed. We had hard time finding places to eat at night; a lot of businesses were set to return, but not until after the 2006 hurricane season (which started 6/1, by the way). Even eight years ago when I was there, it was a bustling city with a lot of people and art and music. This time around, those very things were the rare sights. Bottom-line, it'll take New Orleans a very long time to regain even a glimmer of its former self... if ever. Ultimately, I was glad to have gone and glad to have been there. In some selfish way, I felt proud that USAV in general and my friends were doing their part to revitalize the New Orleans economy, even in that small of a way.


Volleyball
OK, so now onto the reason I was in New Orleans to begin with: the U.S.Open National Volleyball Championships!

I joined my Seattle men's team for the tournament this year -- we played Men's 'A' and while we didn't fare too well, we fared about as well as expected given it was our third time playing together all year. Good times!

The Results:
Pool Play (2-4; 6th seed)
0-2 vs. Head Blade (26-28, 15-25) -- 3rd overall
2-1 vs. Still Hangin' (25-27, 25-21, 18-16)
1-2 vs. Pimpin' Ain't Easy (24-26, 25-20, 17-19)
1-2 vs. Off in the Woods (25-22, 20-25, 13-15) -- T-7th overall
2-1 vs. Metropolis (22-25, 26-24, 18-16) -- T-13th overall
1-2 vs. TheGreek.com (21-25, 25-23, 16-18)

Bronze/Copper Challenge Bracket
2-1 vs.
1-2 vs. Slime Devils

Copper Tournament
2-0 vs. Lincoln Savings Bank (25-23, 25-21)
0-2 vs. Chicago Coast North (11-25, 22-25)

At the end of the day, you can tell we were able to compete with every team -- we just couldn't close out wins or would let others pull them from us. It was a great time altogether, though, and it felt awesome to be back on the court again. Unfortunately, my bad back reared its butt-ugly head throughout the tournament and I was not playing to the level I had personally wanted, but thought I did "fine", if you were to ask me.

It was awesome to be able to watch other teams play as well, including all of those teams I mentioned above. We got a little rowdy during a couple of their matches, but it always ends up in good fun. Afterall, it's adult volleyball... there are no cancers to be cured, no hurricanes to stop. Puppies will still lick our faces and the sun will still rise. Perspective (and adult beverages) is a good thing!


Highlights
As promised, there were too, too many fun things that happened over the weekend and I thought I'd capture a few here. Some may be inside stories; some sappy; all awesome (to me):

The Countdown to New Orleans -- knowing I'd soon see my Seattle posse again
The New Orleans Touchdown -- knowing the above was even closer!
My first Bourbon Street Pina Colada -- and the bartender who served it (remember her, Jay?)
Retracing steps from RoadTrip 1998 with Jeremy Hendon
New friends and room to dance at Bourbon Bar with Angie, Rhonda, Megan and Jay
Mis-poking John
Mike Walton: P.I.M.P.
Bringing "I'm going to punch you in the neck" to my Seattle gang
Getting to spend time with characters!
The Clapper! The Clapper!
Tracy and I meeting the Clapper!
Captain Morgan
Swinging Alyssa at Mulate's
Finding out she works with Ken Gloria -- significant blast from my past!
That first bite of beignet
The second bite of beignet
The last bite of beignet
Police officers on mopeds
The Coin Toss Game at Jackson Square
Finding Air Conditioning
Eating frog legs and alligator meat (both taste like chicken)
S.Y.N.
The No Limit Superman underoos
Watching Mike Walton make the Player Party First-Team All-Dance Team
The "LIVE" show with the Queen Latifah look-alike
Getting some serious time with JP
Getting some serious time with JW
Getting to know Mike Walton better and being a part of his BIG news!
The re-enactment of Stacey and I bonking heads on the dance floor
Finding religious iconography at the French Market
Unexpected D.C.Bombs and those to come
Having a DTRT with John because he let me take an ECU photo with something in my teeth. I'm still pissed.
Getting my birthday gift from JW and Amy -- a Buzz Lightyear Watch! (Thanks Amy! See, John, I'm still pissed!)
Reliving all the memories as I spent the morning blogging about the trip altogether!

All in all, it was an awesome long weekend. One in which I got to spend a LOT of time with very close friends. One in which I got to play the sport I love and always have. One in which I got to enjoy more than my share of adult beverages and have an awesome time in a fun and safe environment. One in which I did my macro-economic part for an ailing community. One in which I take away an entire collection of memories that I can cherish now and in the future.

Here's to more outstanding adventures -- whereever they happen to be and whereever they happen to lead me!

My best to you!