"Keep On Keepin' On!!!"

Hey y’all… My sincerest apologies for waiting so long to update you all on my homecoming. It just felt so good to spend all of my time with family and friends.

Arriving home on Christmas Eve was a great treat! We had some GOOD food. It was great to eat gumbo that I didn’t have to cook!! Haha I got to see my dad’s side of the family later that night.. My Maw-Maw Terry and Paw-Paw Gene, Nanny Kim and Uncle Dale, Aunt Ada and Uncle Lonnie, and all the cousins, too: Elliot, Ethan, Tyler and Hunter. And of course, Mom and Dad. It was a very nice, CALM Christmas Eve…for a change. You never know what’s gonna happen with the Legendres. It was probably more calm than usual because I was passed out on the sofa, mainly due to jet lag, which, by the way, plagued me for about a week! We were supposed to go to midnight mass, but I was EXHAUSTED!

We went to Christmas mass the next morning on Christmas day, the day we spend with my Mom’s side of the family. Maw-Maw Rita, Nanny Mary and Uncle Charles, Nanny Pam and her cute little puppy, Uncle Jeff and Aunt Vivian, and the many, many, MANY cousins: Levi, Joe (we always call him Jo-Jo, haha) and Jennifer, Valerie and Dave, and Brad (Meah couldn’t make it because she was working at the hospital, which sucked, because we have a BLAST together!) Then MORE cousins: Dylan, Hope, Jacob, Brandon, and Alaina. We had a full house of family and a full house of FOOD!

After a fun-filled day, we decided to head home. Of course, when my Dad and I are together, things can get crazy… We had a little situation on the ride home, so I went to my best friend, Sunnie’s house to hang out for the rest of the night. By the end of the night, Daddy and I had both calmed down and made up. Which is how it usually goes.

The thing about my Dad and I is that I am EXACTLY like him. I’m stubborn, I talk too much, and I am ALWAYS right about EVERYTHING. So, now you see how this can cause some problems! The good thing about being away is that it taught me to just let things go, for the sake of ending the argument. It’s going to be rough living at home again, especially since I haven’t lived with my parents since I was 18. But with a little effort, it’ll work. And it’s really nice being home. Comforting.

So after everyone settled down from Christmas, it was time for some catching up!!

My first go-round was meeting the girls at Chili’s. Victoria, Stacie, Kacey, Kalli, Michelle, and I spent 2 or 3 hours catching up with some MUCH-NEEDED girltalk...

Once again, I ended my night early because I was still jet-lagged. But we had a blast, and I’m so glad I got to see them!

Then there was DOWNTOWN THIBODAUX, which I have truly missed SO MUCH. Especially Rene’s.

My first night downtown was A BLAST!!

All of my nights downtown so far have been a blast…

New Year’s was also one for the books! I got ready with Marnie, then headed to a get together at Holly’s and then after I went downtown… Legendary…enough said.

The days following New Year’s were pretty great too..

And then I left for the Rockies for a winter vacation. 

Unfortunately, it was cut short. It’s a day I will remember for the REST of my life.

I got a phone call from my best friend, Sunnie. I missed the call and also received a voice mail and text. I knew something bad had happened. When I called her back, she gave me news I thought I would NEVER have to hear: our dearest friend Dylan passed away in his sleep in his apartment. At that moment, I changed my flight to come home as soon as possible.

A million thoughts were going through my head; questions, concerns, memories… It still doesn’t seem true to me.

The next few days away from home were quite hard, but I made it and got home safely.

It was so hard seeing Mrs. Mona, Mr. Red, Cody, and Miles. There weren’t words to describe how ANY of us felt during that week.

Our group of friends got together to make photo collages, tee shirts, scrapbooks, message boards, and many other numerous things. As Sunnie was Dylan’s very best friend, she was commissioned to read a eulogy. She and I worked on it together for a few days until we had it just right. What sucked was that there was so much more to say about Dylan than those words on that paper.

Dylan was an AMAZING individual. He was loving, kind, compassionate, funny, driven, humble, smart, and most importantly, he was an amazing son, brother, cousin, nephew, grandson, and best friend to so many people.

The memories are countless.

Dylan used to wear these fake hillbilly teeth and call himself “Prudence”. He would make random, funny videos, talking in a British accent; Thank God we have those videos. We are truly blessed for the chance to get to hear his voice and see him in action in those videos, whenever we feel like watching.

He was SO involved: student council, national honor society, BESE board, student of the year, prom committee, and the list goes on and on and on….

The hardest part about the whole thing for me was knowing that he tried visiting me for the Christmas holidays, but we kept missing each other. I wish I could have seen him just one more time to tell him how much I loved him and how proud he made me.

Even in this time of sorrow, there was light. Dylan got to visit all of his family members when he came down for Christmas. They got to see him, talk to him, and realize how good he was doing. One of the MOST important things that come of this, is that Dylan brought all of our friends together again. From that point on, we all made a promise to each other than no matter what happened, we would make time to hang out as a group, just like we all used to do in high school. And we are sticking to it.

Dylan touched so many lives and made such a difference in this world, and he hasn’t stopped. His memory will live on FOREVER, because in our eyes, HE IS A LEGEND. And just like in his words, he will “keep on keepin’ on.”

Rest in peace, my dear prudence. You may be gone, but you will never be forgotten. I truly love you with all of my heart, and I will never stop loving you.

After it seemed like everything settled down a little, the normal routines kicked back in. School, work, and the rest of our everyday tasks…

But luckily, I got something a little extra!

I got to meet our exchange students from France and serve as their liason, especially the MBA students from ESCE. I must say they fit right in. I’m so happy that they will get to experience the place I call home and see exactly why I love it so much. There are SO many adventures to come in the next year. We didn’t waste any time…J

As much as I can ramble, there are plenty of things I need to get done (homework, yuck.)

So until next time,

Later gators,

Kristen

Paris, Meet Cassie, and AU REVOIR from ME

Yes, y'all, I'm finally home; but first, a little recap of my last week in Paris.

Cassie made it to Paris safe and sound! I was a little late picking her up from the airport because I saw COLDPLAY in concert the night before and then went to the Joyce (surprise!) I woke up a little late, but I made it, and I cried when I saw her because I missed all my friends so much. After rushing Cassie to the apartment, luggage and all, I went to school to take my French final, and I think I FAILED. I hope not, but I don't think it went very well. :(

Her luggage sticker got stuck to my booty! It's magnetic, what can I say?

Even so, it meant I was FINISHED!! Cassie and I celebrated with a nice bottle of Bordeaux and some Champagne.

We basically farted around all afternoon and then it was time: Cassie NEEDED to be introduced to the most important man in my life-- The James Joyce Pub. We got a little dolled up...

And of course, I wanted her to meet my wonderful bartenders, Stephen, Will, Ernest, and Kevin. That night she was lucky enough to get to meet Will and Stephen. Lemme tell ya, she LOVES the irishmen, AND SO DO I!

We had an ABSOLUTE BLAST! 

We met a British man and he bought ALL of our drinks ALL night. He was hilarious, and his thousand euro tab was more ridiculous than he was! Yikes!

During that night, I was sitting at the bar with Cassie, taking an Irish car bomb, and a HOT irish guy yells at me from across the bar, "Still doing the same thing after 3 months, I see!" I'm thinking to myself, "Who the hell is this cat? But he OBVIOUSLY must know me. HOW?"

I walk over and ask him how he knows me. Turns out, 3 months previously, he and some of his Irish friends were going backpacking through Europe and we hung out in the James Joyce and he remembered me! How sweet? haha

Anyway, Cassie and I slept in after out IMMENSE night of partying on day one. Will joined us for lunch at Chez Clement, where we had an ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS MEAL. A meal that put us right to sleep.

After our LONG naps, we went out on the town with Will and Stephen.

Shortly after our Metro ride, the night QUICKLY got interesting. We went to Corcoran's, another Irish pub with a few locations in Paris.. Cassie and I drank Jameson and diet coke ALL NIGHT..Things got crazy. We went to a cafe for an "early" breakfast, and when we got up to leave, Stephen spit on my face, so I slapped across the face, then decided that wasn't enough for me, so I punched him. I didn't remember, but Cassie and Will reminded me that I actually punched him quite a few times before he ran away like a drunk little squirrel. NO IDEA.

The next day Cassie and I went sight seeing. We did the Tuileries Garden, the Eiffel Tower, and the Christmas Market at Trocadero. It was ALL BEAUTIFUL!

St. Michel Fountain first stop

Then we played in the Tuileries Garden...

And now the Eiffel Tower!!

It started to rain, so we put our scarves on our heads, just like some hood rats...

After we were done with our sightseeing day,  we went to the pub to finish planning the rest of our days in Paris, and also we went to see Stephen's busted lip, which was PRICELESS! (Note to EVERYONE, don't spit on me.) After, we went home and I cooked a shrimp and corn bisque for Will and Cassie for dinner, and then I went to a party and got to see my friend RAPHAEL that just graduated from the Nicholls MBA program! I wish I would have gotten to see all my French friends from Nicholls, but we were all super busy :(

The next morning, Cassie, Will and I went to another Corcoran's for Irish Breakfast, which was quite delicious..

I think we tried for Sacre Couer, but got frustrated with the rain and the metro and what not, so we went home and went to the pub instead...

It ended up being a QUIET night at the pub, but not for us. We managed to do Michael Jackson dances and make TOTAL fools of ourselves. But it was fun.

The next morning we went for a little breakfast...

with our favorite Irishman, Will...

And then onto our long list of things to do, including the Louvre, Arc de Triumph, Sacre Couer, and some souvenir shopping...

Monday night we did dinner at Bofinger's, a really nice restaurant in Bastille. SUPER NICE. We got all fancy, had wine and dessert and all... I must say, we were looking FINE!

A little creme brûlée with my flame? Don't mind if I do!

Tuesday was a sad day.. We finished up souvenir shopping and packed up, then went to the pub for the last time. We also saw Stephen and Ernest for the last time because they were flying back to Ireland the next day. It was so sad. I cried. 

We had to wake up super early to bring Cassie to the airport (like 5am early)... It was sad to see her go, but exciting to know I would soon see her at home..

After getting home from the airport, I slept until 3 pm, then went to the pub to hang out with Will until he closed it for good for the holidays...

I think I took it easy after that, I was pretty down. 

My last night in Paris was one of the worst.  Unwanted guests in your apartment are exactly that, UNWANTED. I could elaborate on this story, but for my sake and the sake of the people involved in that entire situation, I will leave it alone. That is all.

Woke up super early for my flight home, had a crazy time at the airport, but FINALLY made it on the plane after a few hours and $120 of overweight bag charges.

My empty closet :(

I don't know how I managed to pack it all...

AU REVOIR PARIS!

Excited to be coming HOME!

Well, I pretty much slept through the 11 hour flight. They woke me up to eat, and then I was back asleep, haha. I had a 8 hour layover in Miami, which I must say, was quite fun.

And those would be the EVERGLADES

Put on the BRAKES, because "I'm in MIAMI, B**CH!"

Dolla, Dolla bills y'all! I love having DOLLARS!

This thing was MASSIVE!

Me and my shrimp cocktail and my BULLDOG margarita

YUM!

Miami Beach :)

I managed to make it back to the airport with enough time for a nap too! Then off to NEW ORLEANS! There was a plane that landed the same time we did, we we had to wait a while to get off the plane because there was only one ground crew. 

And I FINALLY SAW MY PARENTS! I saw my dad's big head first, and then my mom saw me, and she STARTED TO CRY IMMEDIATELY, as did I. It was the best feeling in the world to be HOME.

We all made it back to the house safely, and I got to sleep in my own bed.. the perfecting ending to SEVERAL LONG HOURS of traveling.

I know, I've been home for a few days now, but it's ALOT to write all in one blog, so I will catch everyone  up on my homecoming in the next post..

LATER GATORS!

Kris