Jackson

Mississippi has the nicest welcome center/ rest area I have ever visited. I stopped shortly after crossing into Mississippi. The building was like a log cabin and it smelled like a Cracker Barrel. They even had workers to answer my questions, give me a map, and a free root beer before I got back on the road. New Jersey could take lessons from these people.

As for Jackson, it is my kind of town. A girl could get into some trouble in a town like this. I definitely think another trip to Jackson with some good friends is in order. Don't get me wrong, I couldn't live here but I could have fun here for a little while. I went to some of the places Jill Connor Brown talks about in the Sweet Potato Queen books. First, I went to Lemuria Books - a very cool independent bookstore. I ended up getting a novella by Eudora Welty. Eudora Welty was a Jackson native in addition to being a Pulitzer prize winner. Then, I went to Hal & Mal's for a shrimp po-boy, as instructed by the Queens in their books. It was delicious! As were the fries. Definitely the best food I've had so far. Hal & Mal's was a fun place and it was easy to see how things could get out of hand there. It was also easy to see how much fun it would be around parade time. Seriously girls, road trip!

Now, I'm sitting in a nice hotel in New Orleans, just having caught up with my friend Ed. He's Ed of impendingslackerdom.blogspot fame in case you want to read all about where he's been this summer. We're planning on going to dinner - someplace where I can get crawfish etouffee - and then going out drinking. We are in New Orleans, after all.