FMX Motocross!

This weekend we ventured over to New Orleans to attend the FMX Motocross.  Santa Claus gave both TomTom and myself tickets to the even for Christmas.  I thought the show started for 7 and the print outs I found online said doors opened for 6:30 PM.  We were on a very limited budget for the evening.  Thomas went with seventeen dollars, an accumulation from his Paw Paw and the tooth fairy.  I went with twenty in cash.  According to online information parking would only be ten dollars so with that amount I figured we would have to make a night of it.

We went to Texas Roadhouse in Covington for dinner and used the gift card I received from Santa for Christmas.  It is one of our most favorite restaurants in the area.  I love the Grilled Chicken Salad, and Thomas likes the steak bites (and that they offer applesauce as a side dish).  We both sing songs of joy when they give us the fresh baked bread and cinnamon honey butter.  We think we have both died and gone to heaven as we finish off every bit of it before our meal comes.  It was at the table that I got a really good view of the new missing tooth.  Tooth #3!  Thank goodness, now Tooth #2 has room to finish growing in!

With stuffed bellies we journeyed across the Causeway bridge to the big city and got to watch the sun set on the way over.  It was beautiful with all the pretty colors, the clouds, and the still water.  I think the Causeway is one of the better places to catch a sunset in New Orleans.



We made it to the Superdome parking Garage by 6:15 and started walking up to the New Orleans arena.  As usual I am the last one to know the event is sold out.  There is a huge line forming at the downstairs door and upstairs door waiting to get into the arena.  We got in the line that stretched over the bridge and wrapped around the Superdome.  We made it inside by 6:50.  TomTom decided he wanted to spend his money before the show started and we found the nearest stand and freaked out because of the prices.  There were no shirts under $20 for boys.  They had useless stuff for $5 and $10, nothing he was interested in and they didn't have checkered flags this year, only pirate flags????  He settled for a FMX beanie with a skull on it (his latest trend) that was $20.  He paid ten and I gave him the other ten I had on me.  He wore the hat all night.

We made it to our seats at about five to seven and I looked at the tickets again and saw the show didn't start until 7:30.  We decided next time we need to bring binoculars so we can people watch while we wait in our seats.  The show came, and by the end there were a few scares that the guys were going to fall off their bikes and slide across the pavement.  Luckily no one was harmed, even after one or two slips, and the show was a success. 

Thomas wanted to wait for autographs.  We went to stand in another line.  After about thirty minutes of waiting the guys came out and they each signed a promotional booklet and the beanie.  We left the arena and I realized we were the only ones out there walking to our car in an empty parking garage.  I freaked out inside my mind.  When I am out having a good time in the city at all hours in the night I am never stressed out, but involve my kid in a possibly scenario when he can be hurt, and I turn into Nervous Nellie.  I decide inside my head we will never wait for autographs again unless we have a larger group with us.  There were a few family members walking about a half a block ahead of us and I grabbed my sons hand and walked at full speed ahead.  Soon they were in the garage and we were walking the streets alone and I realize we have to go in and down to the first level of the garage.  I also realized that there were hardly any cars in the garage.  We headed straight to the car at top speed and I had my keys out ready to get in and lock doors.  I knew TomTom knew I was freaking out about something but I kept it to myself for later conversation.  We got in, locked doors, started the car and took a deep breath because we were home free!  I explained to TomTom that we were a bit careless in our city safety and the many reasons we should have not waited for the autographs and many scenarios we could have put ourselves in, etc. 

We stopped by Micky D's for late night snacks and the bathroom in Metairie.  It was 10 minutes to 11 PM.  I spent the rest of the money we had on that gift card and had to put up some cash to finish off the totals.  As usual with every Micky D's I go to lately, there are no shakes or ice cream available... what is up with that??????  Then after waiting too long for our order I got to witness the manager tell the cook not to give us the blackened and burnt burger patty that had been on the heater for too long.  She demanded he make us a new one and he couldn't understand why??  After fussing at the cook for this and that I think she asked him where his mouth was because he wasn't responding... some times I just miss Metairie, right?  After we got our order and made our drinks I went back to the counter to ask for ketchup.  One of the male employees walked behind the counter from one end to the other, made eye contact with me, and was smiling at me as I asked "Can we get some ketchup?"  Yes, ladies and gentleman, after smiling and making eye contact, he just continued to walk out of view as if I didn't even exist.  The lady next to me heard me, and I heard me, I wasn't sure what he heard??????  Finally the manger lady came back and she heard me ask and got me the ketchup!  Amazing!

Finally we were back on the Causeway, and after two minutes of singing to the radio and getting into that toll-bridge-zone I heard silence in the back seat.  My son was completely passed out and hunched over his seat belt. 

Can you see the signatures on the beanie???

Sweet Lil man, he's still just a baby, ya know???  He is 3/4 of my length and lugging what the scale says is 60 lbs (I say it is closer to 80 lbs dead weight) out of the car and into his bed was the final ending to my Saturday night.  He slept so hard he didn't even sneak into my bed later that night.