New Orleans Day 1 April 26th, 2012 Finally back in my second home, I realized that I had forgotten some key things, so I took a walk through the "District" to Walgreens to fetch a razor and shaving cream, a belt and some floss. Walking through the streets of the city, I only remembered how special the city truly was. The mansions, vines, smell and the music I heard from peoples homes. I took a deep breath and I knew I had finally made it back. Shortly after my walk started I received a text from Jordan saying they were going to pick me up and head to Broadview, a wonderful seafood and Po-Boy spot on Broad, near the fair grounds. I arrived back at the house just short of the arrival of the guys. I had texted the girls and they were settling in nicely. I let them know of our plans and kindly invited them, thinking they wouldn't really tag along. Our first stop after returning to our favorite joint, was a new venue called "Istanbul", to see the legendary and amazing Leroy Jones. I made aware to the girls of the venue and told them to cab it over and meet us, as we would head to "East Side Daiquiri" to see the TBC brass band. We ventured in to the evening, to find the "Istanbul" where we'd find a musician that all of us only dreamed to be like. Once we arrived we quickly learned that Leroy was going to be starting a little late, as we ran in to his wife Katja. The wait, however, was well worth it. Leroy took to the stage, with his wife by his side, and proceeded to tear the roof of the joint. Playing his seamless lines and his twisting melodies, he navigated the changes unlike anyone I had ever heard. Somewhere in the 2nd or 3rd song, Karina and April showed up, and it was a welcomed and surprising sight as I didn't think that they would seriously tag along or want to hang out with us, let alone me. They were quickly captured by the live music they were hearing and were drawn like the rest of us. Soon there after the first set drew to a close and Jordan quickly suggested we head out to where TBC was playing, to which we all agreed. We all piled in to the mini van with two new companions as April and Karina joined us to venture in to the neighborhood and off the beaten path to hear one of the best and rawest brass bands around. Well on our way it was an adventure just trying to find the "club". Ben was driving with Roc in the shotgun directing the way, if thats what you can call it. As we rolled up to the club you could hear the trumpets blaring, the bass drum booming, and the tuba, screaming, this is what we were here for, this is what we lived for, this solidified that we were home... As quickly as our night had began, it had ended, but not with a little bit of secondline dancing in the club. Karina jumped right in and quickly was dancing with all the locals while April observed and swayed along with the beats, I know, they had never heard before. The two garnered much attention from some people, so much that a man by the name of Lionel asked April to sign his shirt for him. It was a really fun thing for us, in the band, to watch. With that we all piled back in to the van. The ride home was a comedy of errors as the daquiri's were hitting us all hard. Although there was much laughter in the back of the van, which was now +1 with the arrival of Matt Hanzelka, I felt for Ben as he had to decipher the jiberish we were all spouting off. We made it home safely and said our good nights to April and Karina as I walked them to the corner and pointed out their route home. Our first night had ended, and it couldn't have been better. I knew this trip was going to be special, I just didn't realize how special....