Another Amazing Weekend!

A bit tardy in posting but we threw a surprise pre-birthday party for our pal Leroy Jones February 15 in New Orleans weekend. Totally shocked him!

He knew Kim Adkins was coming down to celebrate with him. What he didn't know was that I would be there, along with my good pal Jim Lee, along with Carol, Katy, Boz, Bill, Pat, Greg Stafford and a cast of assorted other NOLA characters would be there to greet him too! He arrived at 822 thinking he was picking up Kim to go out for dinner and out we sprang! It took him quite awhile to catch his breath.

Great dinner -- Boz cooked an amazing crawfish etoufee that he spent about five hours preparing. Oysters, appetizers, salad, birthday cake...the red confetti was especially delicious (another story that has to be explained). Only downer was Katy's dad passing out...first time we ever had an ambulance at 822. But it was only a scare...and he's doing fine.

Long story short...but the evening broke up at about 6:30 am when Lee, Katya, Kim, Bill and Pat headed home -- not sure I remember a night with more laughs per minute. Our sides literally hurt by the end.

Pics will follow -- a night for the ages!

Thursday night was spent at Vaughan's, 13, and Praline Connection -- Kermit was at a private but Steve Walker and Kid Chocolate put on a great show.

Friday day, before the big party, we visited the Wilson Charter School, our adopted school in Broadmoor. Another wonderful experience...the gratitude of the school for Ketchum's contribution could not have been greater. We left with a wish list of school needs, which we know our Ketchum team will fulfill.l

Saturday was Jon Boutte at DBA and Lee and Katja at Preservatio Hall. Both in fine, fine form. John greeted us with apologies for not joining us at dinner the night before...apparently even he had heard about the experience. Highlight was him thanking both Bill and Pat for their support...Pat, especially, for suggesting a new song to Paul Sanchez commemorating a very special memorial service in New Orleans last summer.

Sunday was a wonderful relaxing day at 13 with another hilarious dinner at Katja and Lee's house. See picture above!

A very, very special weekend of bonding and friendship, hilarity and, as always, great, great music.