The Dynamic Duo Goes to the Coast and Give the Admiral a Proper Sendoff In The Big Easy.......April 2003

Well, I must say 2003 was DEFINITELY our most prolific travel year! More updates on that phenomenon later. Anyway, not long at all after our spring break flirting with insanity in Atlanta in late March 2003, Me and Jay took a impromptu trip to the Mississippi Gulf Coast and New Orleans because Jay's previous plans were suddenly cancelled for a reason that cannot be disclosed for personal reasons (like we don't all already know). Anyway, Jay came to Hattiesburg on Saturday, and we wasted no time heading down U.S. Highway 49 down through the great state of Mississippi until we got to the city of Gulfport. Here is where we stopped at my favorite restaurant I never get to eat at, T.G.I. Friday's. Being the moron I am, I had four DIFFERENT drinks topped off by a Vodka and Sprite. At this point, Jay was put behind the wheel. From there, we made the short trek over to Biloxi where we first went to the Imperial Palace casino, which was picked just due to it's blue collar nature and not being one of the more "expensive casinos" however, we quickly left after my embarassing losing streak due to my current mental state, so we then started to head to one of the most magnificent hotel/casinos in the United States, Beau Rivage. What transpired next, is nothing short of amazing taking into account my impaired state. Being still young to gambling, I had not yet grown the nuts to head to the table games, so we both very bitchfully headed over to the quarter slots. It's amazing when you start winning money how fast your drunken state can wear off. Well, I must say first that I had to piss, and after leaving the bathroom, I uttered my famous line, "come on let's go gamble". After a rather slow start, and after Jay was told to put his black and mild out because we weren't in a "smoking section" (like that's possible in a casino). However, after a slow start, I began to catch fire even landing a bonus spin that netted me another $24. Impressed by my drunken success, 5-jay then goes "SHIT! I'm gambling now!". After I felt my luck was running out, we decided for Pigott to go get his quarters cashed. I was so impaired, however, that while we were STILL waiting in line, I was gambling with the quarters out of my cup into the machines next to the line. However, I was very pleased with my day's work. I walked into the casino with $9 and left with $20. For the math majors out there, that's a net gain of $11, and was my gas money back to Hattiesburg. After a quick tour of the largest man made beach in the world, deciding against going to Mobile, drinking free beer at Casino Magic!,and hollering drunk obscenities and fart noises out my window, we decided to call it a night because the next day held big, big things. However, when we returned back in Hattiesburg, we were hungry....again and took part in random tradition #13 (which will be revealed later). The next day's destination: The city of New Orleans, Louisiana to see the New Orleans Hornets play the San Antonio Spurs. However, there was more significance to this game then meets the eye. The Spurs, who would be the eventual NBA World Champions that season, were also in the middle of a legend's swan song. That legend was David Robinson who had announced his retirement at the beginning of the season. We met the day with much anticipation, but were thwarted by the ridiculous awful traffic on the I-59 bridge over Lake Ponchatrain in Louisiana- a great place to be stuck. However, we still arrived in New Orleans in time to have a "really good experience". We immediately went to find food and after a scrumptuous meal at Mike Anderson's in the Riverwalk, we headed to Bourbon Street to enjoy some "pre-game". After walking around and hearing stories about a certain unamed person complaining, we finally settled in at Club 753 where we both enjoyed some very stout drinks and a great mid afternoon showing of Jackass:The Movie (please note- this movie will NOT be in General Pigott's "random movie review" section, so don't expect it). After getting good and liquored up, we made our way to New Orleans Arena to witness NBA Basketball at it's finest. The game featured the Sportscenter top play of the week when Hornets guard Baron Davis made maybe the sickets spin move I've ever seen on Bruce Bowen. Doing our ritual handshake, we both cheered on the Admiral and his teammates and joined the New Orleans crowd in standing to our feet in honoring the Admiral David Robinson. In his last appearance in Louisiana, the Hornets were no match for the eventual World Champions. In a sudden revelation, I made the suggestion to Jay that we should go to Bourbon Street again and stay there all night. Seeing my boyish excitement evident, Jay calmly said "No, Pigott, I have to go to work tomorrow." Though I was dismayed, this didn't put a damper on my trip, because this trip was made worth it just by Jay hollering on the window on the way out of town as loud as he could "HATS THE SHIT OFF TO THE BIG FUCKING EASY!!!!!". I don't know about you, but that's words I take comfort in. Because I knew this wouldn't be our last trip to land where the beer flows freely and dreams are made. Because that night, in my little piece of shit Sunfire listening to Elton John's version of "High Flying Bird", we realized our dream, indeed, had come true. What was that dream you might ask? We made it through the whole weekend and we both spent less then $50- now that's what I call a dream come true.