While having dinner with Sarah's parents one November evening, the topic of New Orleans found its way into our conversation and it was quickly revealed that I had never been before. Upon learning this, Sarah's parents immediately started talking about all of the great restaurants that one simply must visit when they go, leading them to reminisce on the time that they themselves had spent in the city. Before I knew it, the decision was made that it had been too long since their last visit and that Sarah and I should join them for a return trip sometime soon. After glancing over a calender...

Going on a cruise had long been a dream of mine and I finally got the chance to make that dream a reality courtesy of a gift from my father in May of 2008. As a reward for graduating from high school in 2007, my family and I sailed aboard the Carnival Ecstasy for five days in the Caribbean. We departed Corpus Christi, TX aboard a tour bus that shuttled our group to Galveston, TX, our ship's "Port of Call." Once in Galveston, we boarded the boat and wandered around, fascinated at just how massive it really was. There were auditoriums, stores, restaurants, a casino, and even a mini-golf course...