Labor Day Weekend in The Woodlands, TX

Friday: I left work early and headed to New Orleans. No shock to me Baton Rouge was a parking lot. I took Nicholson to Gonzales and then the interstate was fine. New Orleans airport was a mess. Parking was horrible and the lines were very long. I probably should have given myself more time, but I didn't. I barely made it to my plane. After boarding all was well. The flight attendant was a twin of Susan Sarandon--looks, voice, firey personality. It was Southwest Airlines version of Bull Durham. This is one of the reasons I absolutely love flying Southwest Airlines. They crack me up. Flight took exactly one hour from gate to gate...another plus for Southwest. Luggage arrived--plus. (Don't you find it sad that we get excited when airlines do what they are supposed to do?)
Great News!!! Mike didn't forget to pick me up. He was waiting for me. We headed north on I-45. Both of us in serious need of food and drink...especially drink.
Dinner at Kobe Japanese restaurant. We had a four course hibachi grill meal of onion soup, salad with a spicy horseradish dressing, shrimp appetizers and a beef meal with vegetables and rice. Dinner was great. Time to drink!! So Mike took me his favorite bar called Side Street. I got to meet all his friends there and I will say I like them a lot. I would probably be friends with these people also if I live in Houston.


Saturday: We slept late; both hurting from the night before. Did you know when you do a shot in Texas you are supposed to toast, then hit the bottom of the glass on the bar before you drink. It's a Texas tradition and since I want to be Zane Lamprey the host of Three Sheets I thought I would share with you. Lunch was at Potbelly's. Really great sandwich shop. We shopped for a little while; hitting some of the stores in The Woodlands Mall and then off to Sam Moons! No trip to Houston is complete without a visit to Sam Moons. (Yes Julie, I'm hooked!) Afterwards we headed back to Mike's to just chill out. We watched the Alabama game and then the LSU game. Much improvements to be made.
Sunday: Booze Cruise Day! We hit all Mike's favorite spots and had a drink at each. This is his Sunday tradition, so when in Rome! First stop Side Street (Mike's favorite hang out), Crush (Wine Bar with a balcony), Baker's Street (London Mystery theme), Americas (very elegant and chic), the Gooses Acre (authentic Irish Pub that was disassembled, shipped to the US and then reassembled) and then back to Side Street. We had a lot of fun and really got to catch up with one another. It was a very relaxing day. Mike accused me of being wasted...I wasn't. What happened was he talks so much and so fast that my brain reached an overload and it shuts down. Trust me I could have drank a lot more.

Monday: Labor Day We drove through some neighborhoods. Mike showed me where some people we know from back home lived. In this neighborhood, they have deer in their front yards, along the road, drinking out of their ponds. It was unbelievable to see how many deer were in that neighborhood. Afterwards we were off to Lake Conroe. We had lunch at a BBQ place and then we just enjoyed the lake and the scenery the rest of the afternoon. It was a relaxing day, but it was very hot.


Tuesday: My last day in Houston, so we decided to go out to lunch before Mike brought me to the airport. After several minutes of debating where we should go. Mike picked Tommy Bahamas. Needless to say I was super impressed. I had never been to a Tommy's before. We each got the three course meal special with a Blue Hawaiian. It was a Top Chef caliber meal. My first course was a crab cake on a bed of Asian cole slaw and a tuna cheviche and guacamole napoleon. My main course was a macadamia nut crusted chicken breast stuffed with cream cheese and roasted red peppers in a roasted red pepper sauce, and for dessert I had the Pina Colada cake. Awesome!!!
Then it was off to the airport. Not knowing how bad the Houston traffic would be Mike dropped me off really early. So as I was sitting in the airport I decided to post on Facebook that I was waiting on my plane. Next I get an email from my friends Jamie and Randy wanting to know if I'm flying back to New Orleans. "Yes!" Well so are they. "Cool but I'm in Hobby airport not Bush." Well so are they. Since we were flying Southwest we all got to sit together for the ride home.


It was a perfect weekend. Beautiful weather! Mike and I did not argue! Had a lot of fun! Can't wait for my next visit.