#breakfastwithdad

Those are always the best mornings for me- a HK style breakfast with my dad. He gets eggs, breakfast sausage & toast/ HK style French toast (depending on where we go), with a bowl of satay beef noodle soup alongside a milk tea. I would usually get a chicken mushroom omelette, & if they don't have whole wheat toast I'd give my starch to my Dad/ take it to go. Then alongside my meal I'd order hot lemon water. At times (or fine, most of the time) I have a bit of my dad's noodle soup as my carb. However if I was serious about my diet I shouldn't be doing that. It's always tempting, especially when you eat out- you always want to eat things you don't usually eat at home.

Eating breakfast with my Dad is not only all about the yummy food, but it's definitely more about the conversations I have with my dear Dad. He's wise, knowledgable, smart, skilled, and knows the right things to say. He also loves food, like me haha. He's hilarious too, but not on purpose- anyone that has a Chinese Dad would possibly know what I mean.. :)

Sometimes I tend to feel bad. Because I my diet, I'm so much more picky with my meals. In the picture above, I was eating regular plain toast (as the café charges 50 cents extra for whole wheat). However for months, I've always felt like a burden when I go out to eat with ANYONE. Whole wheat, dressing on the side, no butter, less oil... However I am always anxious, and really get concerned and worry about what others think of me.

"Alright," I said to my reflection, thinking how different of a person I'll be when this is all done.  Whether it be only for a little or I come back 2 years from now, I won't be the same person.  I'm ok with that but it's hard to think about from day to day when life constantly changes you. Yet in big life events like these people rarely just take time to realize how drastic that change will happen all at once.  I took one last look at myself, grabbed the last of my stuff, and went down stairs to say goodbye. 

When I got down stairs my dad offered to make me breakfast, which I knew was a stall but would probably be our last meal together for a while.  He made me an omelet with cheese, bacon, tomato and onion, and for the first time he asked me about my trip.  He said he was proud of me and thought I needed to do this.  I know he'll worry and that's his job, but I'm glad he finally accepts and supports the fact that I'm actually doing it. 

When I left Memphis the sky was flurrying the smallest snowflakes. It was freezing but as I drove south through Mississippi the skies cleared and the temperature got warmer, at least warm enough not to produce snowflakes.  I saw the muddy waters and banks of red clay in the rivers below the concrete railings.  I saw the swamps dappled with water lilies and lined with fluffy cattails.  I saw LOTS of empty, nothing lands of farm and cattle.  I stopped in Jackson Mississippi for a little. The Capitol and center of the state, Jackson like Jacksonville was named after Andrew Jackson, honored for his Battle of New Orleans in the War of 1812.  Jackson's slogan is 'the city with soul,' prominently known for musical influences with blues and jazz. 

After winning the War of 1812, it was reported that Andrew Jackson rode in one of the many parades at Mardi Gras in New Orleans.  Fat Tuesday, known as the French term Mardi Gras, is a 'holiday' which celebrates the final party before the Catholic religion's Ash Wednesday which marks the beginning Lent.  Since 1730 Mardi Gras has been openly celebrated by the public in New Orleans, yet was known as a ball/ masquerade.  Around the early to mid 1800's the celebration had evolved to the streets and started the tradition of decorating horse carriages, eventually leading  to the first 'throw' in the late 1800's.  Today Mardi Gras is one of the biggest and longest occurring parties of the South.  Parades usually start a few weeks before Fat Tuesday, but the drinking and eating begin far before that. New Orleans is one of few cities that allow open containers or public alcohol consumption.  Each year almost 1.5 million people visit the city to enjoy parades of beads, topless girls, crazy costumes, amazing food, and strong drinks, including the local famous made hand grenade.  Bourbon Street in the French Quarter is one of the most popular and wildest place for partiers to go. A must do on the giant bucket list of America.  Even if just for the city's rich culture and Cajun spiced, southern food, New Orleans offers much more than a good party.  Other notable sites: the French Market out looking the Mississippi River. Tomb of Marie Laveau: Voodoo Queen  which is covered in many 'XXX''s.