Post #166899 by Gigantalope on Sun, Jun 19, 2005 11:49 PM

When I was in College a freind of mine owed me quite a bit of money (half my pell grant)which I think he spent at the freelance pharmacy.

One day I borrowed his car before a big party. (which he assumed I was making a beer run for) filled it with a bunch of canned food I got from the food bank in exchange for volunteering, and I was off for the Mardi Gras.

I called him (at San Jose State) from Arizona and told him my scheem, about which he was not happy.

From "Travels With Charlie" I got the idea of heating cans of chili or soup over the exhaust using a coat hanger to keep it in place.

It seemed like it took forever to get there, but I remember being really excited when I past thru Texas into La.

I was feeling peckish at a town called Lake Charles, and pulled off the road to have a feed.

I went into a little store and bought a few things before I realized I was the only white person there, and nobody was happy about me.

I was getting lots of really nasty scowles when I thought I better just get the hell out...I was sort of in a hurry, but as I was leaving a three large fellows followed me out.

I had left the hood open, and my can of chili was there waiting on the side of the engine, nice and steamy...so as I got into the car, I grabed it and shut the hood...(or bonnet for Aussies) The chili was actually pretty friggin hot, and I started having to kind of toss the open can between my hands to keep from buring myself.

As I got in the car, my little fan club noticed the collection of crap I had with me...a Gorilla Suit, a plastic sword, a tuxedo coat... and as they saw me juggling the chili, they sort of went from being pugnacious to amuzed.

One guy actually started busting up and kind of making fun of me

They did inform me there were NO white people around and I should leave, but they were somewhat jokey about it.

The rest of the trip was quite fun...trying to sneek into the Loyola Dorms...the nuns there are like attack dogs. Huge breakfasts by sneeking into the Tulane Dining commons...Drunks, fights, flashed boobs, horrible beer, "Takee Outee" Wierd views of a strange city.

It's funny now as I'm middle aged to reflect on the jaunt. I have a decent job, I'm married to a woman who likes nice hotels (not borrowed Nissans) and I'm able to not live so hand to mouth as I did...Still, it was a splendid time.