If you’re new to this blog (and I know some of you are), you’ve just learned the hardest lesson about keeping up with me here: I’m not good at putting things up on a regular basis. But I generally do get there. I promise. Just keep my RSS feed in your reader and you will be rewarded with bursts of creativity, days of posts and even pictures from time to time.

Speaking of pictures from time to time, here’s my vacation pictures from my annual trip to the deep south for the Annual McBride Crawfish Boil. This year it was just me making the trip down South as my traveling companions from last year were busy with various and sundry activities like work and having a 2-week old baby. Next year, we all plan to return with a few extra folks in tow as well.

Alabama 2009

It was a great time regardless, especially because I got to spend so much quality time with my sisters Nina and Lisa. Although we didn’t grow up with each other (they’re older and from other parental combinations than me) we’ve become pretty close in adulthood and definitely have a tight bond that feels great to renew at least annually. I also had the opportunity to re-connect with some of my more spread out family, start talking about a giant family ski trip next year and to meet some really extended family in the form of by brother in law’s immediate families. I know there’s no blood relations there, but when your sister marries someone as amazing as Mike McBride, it’s pretty apparent that his family is also going to be full of good people and you’d be nuts not to call them family too.

Speaking of family, it’s time to head to my father in law’s to celebrate father’s day. Strange to now have to celebrate this holiday every year after never being able to earlier in life.

Y’all might remember when I went down to Alabama last year for my sister’s annual crawfish cookout? I’m back again this year, though without the entourage of my wife, two friends and Godson. It’s just me this time which makes for a very different kind of trip. For instance, yesterday I actually had the chance to do nothing, all day long. Nothing. Sweet.

The actual cookout is Saturday, but the party started last night when friends from up North (everything is from up north from South Alabama) started arriving and the drinking got started in earnest (I guess this doesn’t count the five beers that got poured down my throat on Wednesday night, but I digress).

Anyway, in the midst of last night’s festivities, we got to talking about my sister’s trademarked Mint Juleps which are apparently really good. And her husband, in true Southern fashion, told a story about her Juleps that cemented their reputation as “dick in the dirt” drinks.

I love the South.

As some of you know, I spent much of the first week of June in Alabama at my sister Nina’s house. Yes, Alabama. It’s probably a state you’ve never thought of visiting. Your loss.

Nina and her family (Husband: Mike; sons: Win and Jack; dog: Petey; cats: Emily and Tux) live in south Alabama outside of Loxley which itself is outside Mobile. It’s a beautiful, flat part of the state in a county which used to be covered in farms but now seems to be slowly getting covered with housing developments.

The reason I went down with my wife and our friends Penny and Bradley and their son (our godson) Eli was to finally attend Nina’s annual crawfish cookout. They’ve held it every year on the first Saturday in June for the last seven or eight years and this year, finally, was the year I could go.

I am so glad I did. First and foremost, getting to spend that much time with my family (including my sister Lisa and her oldest son Ben) was a treat that can’t be described. These two women are my sisters thanks to my father’s first marriage. Because he passed away when I was six, having a connection with Nina and Lisa and their families is extraordinarily important to me.

Second, this was one of the most vacationy vacations I have ever taken. The entire time was fun, relaxing and entertaining. The five of us got along famously, enjoyed sitting on the pure white beaches of the “Redneck Riviera” together and loved tooling around New Orleans as well. We all got to know a bunch of my sisters’ oldest and dearest friends and loved them all. It was just stupendous.

And then there were the crawfish. This annual party is no sedate affair. 100 people. 328 pounds of crawfish. 1 band. Tons of beer. It was unreal and the food was so good. I wish I could have shared a sample with you all. The best I can do is this video. Enjoy.