Day 904: Sunday Best
February 17, 2008 - Filed Under mardi gras, movies/tv, music, new orleans
On a Sunday morning sidewalk, I’m wishing, Lord, that I was stoned.
‘Cause there’s something in a Sunday that makes a body feel alone.
And there’s nothing short o’ dying that’s half as lonesome as the sound
Of the sleeping city sidewalk, and Sunday morning coming down.
Like Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson, I’ve never liked Sundays. There’s something simultaneously sluggish and urgent about this day, a feeling that lies somewhere between Man, I Should Just Turn On The TV And Go Back To Bed and Holy Crap, I Haven’t Yet Finished Running All Of These Errands. Never mind that on this particular Sunday, I have to prepare to leave for Houston on Wednesday and Jamaica next Sunday.
A certain aging diorama still needs to be taken down and put away:
Time to attack it before the next Mardi Gras sneaks up on us, huh?
Speaking of dioramas, check out this one at Richard’s. We need to create and dedicate a musical to this unsung comic of the NOLA blogosphere. Yes, Richard, I think you’re funny and you amuse me. But not like a clown. Don’t shoot me in the foot. Please.
Speaking of funny, thanks to the return of my seasonal allergies and attendant sneezing fits, I almost spewed whipped cream all over my laptop just now.
What else? Oh, yes:
- A sneak peek of the new Star Wars animated feature, The Clone Wars
- BBC News: Secret lives of badgers revealed
- Bills, Krewe du Vieux bills, C.R.A.P.S. internets work, taxes and the gym … all still sans alcohol.
It’s another Sunday coming down.
Sir Posey just informed me that my picture of the Uber-Fundy Christians and their List is the first one that comes up in a Flickr search of “new+orleans++mardi+gras+2008.” Don’t know how I should feel about this. 5 comments #
Day 894: Ash Wednesday
February 7, 2008 - Filed Under food & drink, mardi gras, new orleans, recovery
As much of a Christian I’m not, Lent has given me the following opportunity: Until Easter, I will not drink a drop of alcohol.
Self-discipline is something I’ve always struggled with, but also realize that my trouble is with starting. Once I’m past the threshold of inertia, I stay the course, finish the marathon, etc. In fact, New Orleans is the only city where I have been at my healthiest, but that was before Katrina. Between late 2003 and August 29, 2005, with the help of exercise and cutting out beer and way way way back on fried anything, I lost 25 pounds. (Yes, some have considered me the Antichrist for chucking that much weight in this city where even the water is buttered, smothered, sugary and deep-fried.) For the last 2.5 years, I’ve done alright, but not well enough by my doctor and me.
Lisa and I have discussed that the post-Katrina weight gain, but more importantly the post-Katrina inability to lose weight despite continuing to stay away from beer and certain foods, is due directly to stress and the lack of restful sleep. I mean, how much more food can someone not eat? It’s not just in the diet. Given the demands of living in this city, going to the gym, a run or for a leisurely stroll around the park and getting a full night’s rest is a luxury for most. We’re always running around doing something, something seemingly a lot more important than taking care of our bodies and minds. Unfortunately, this is a negative feedback loop. Not getting cardiovascular exercise on a regular basis and eating sporadically leads to fitful sleep, which in turn leads to a sluggish day and another night of useless sleep, gargle, spit, repeat. For many, add to the mix adult beverages, SSRIs and/or herbal supplements. This only helps stress hormones and body weight skyrocket, and eventually you end up on the wrong end of a nervous breakdown or in the hospital. What good are you now?
The cycle has to break somewhere. We’ve got to take care of ourselves.
So, out with the red wine for 40 days and back to the bicycle, gym and yoga for at least an hour, at least four days a week. The goal is to get back to my pre-K weight by Jazzfest. Go, go, Gadget cleanse!
Day 894: Recollections Of Mardi Gras Day
February 7, 2008 - Filed Under mardi gras, new orleans, photographs
My to-do list on Mardi Gras Day is simple:
1. Wake up at 6:30am and get into costume
2. Walk with the Krewe of Chartreuse to the Quarter
3. Catch as many costumed friends as possible
4. Avoid Bourbon St. at all costs
With a sprained shoulder and four hours of sleep, catching up with Chartreuse in the Uptown area was impossible, so the collision of costumed forces occurred right past Gallier Hall. From then on, the story is best told through pictures. (For the record, I crossed Bourbon only three times on Mardi Gras day and walked on it for the length of exactly two Quarter blocks. Mission sorta accomplished.)
08:30: The Krewe of Chartreuse hits Canal St.
09:00: Chartreuse meets Skeleton Krewe
09:30: Breakfast of scrumptious beignets at the Presbytere
10:00: Walk to Chartreuse meeting point (Photo by Howie Luvzus)
12:30: Cross Bourbon St. at St. Philip
13:00: Run into Bishop and colleagues
14:00: Find piratey husband (who managed to catch Zulu and Rex this year, but no coconuts).
We got home and hit the hay 30 minutes before the stroke of midnight. That’s the longest I’ve stayed out on Fat Tuesday.
Day 893: Proteus & Orpheus Monday
February 6, 2008 - Filed Under mardi gras, new orleans, photographs
Proteus
Most of the riders were either drunk, not ready for the parade, unconcerned, a bunch of cheapos or all of the above. K got a blinking seahorse, but that’s the nicest thing anyone caught off any float. The floats themselves were eerily enchanting, however, as per the Proteus theme.
Orpheus
Salt-n-Pepa’s here and they’re gorgeous! Lisa tells me that at some point, the ladies had no beads left so were taking the leaves off the float and signing them. Bet the floatmakers loved that! Anyone know if Spinderella joined Salt and Pepa?
Speaking of missing celebrities, where was Kevin Meaney? Or Lance Bass for that matter?
I can use some help identifying the folks in both of the above photos.
Leviathan is the best mythological creature and the best float! Long live Leviathan!
Day 893: Thoth & Bacchus Sunday
February 6, 2008 - Filed Under football, mardi gras, new orleans, photographs
Thoth
A number of friends rode in Thoth, so I was rested and dressed to match another beautiful day which graced New Orleans.
One of Dangerblond’s albino alligators made it out to the Sunday parades, while Mom stayed at home to study for the bar exam. Since Blondie’s little white dog is named Georgina, I christened the white gator Dickie. We had a blast adorning him with beads, feathers and flowers.
Some very nice float concepts, but this one made me raise an eyebrow. India’s? Indian? Bueller? At least Diwali is gaining more attention as a world holiday.
The Crescent City Cowboys Riding Club confused me with their mixed message. On the one hand, a big sign above their float read “Stop The Crime.” On the other, their PA system blared a hip-hop tune that advocates hitting your bitch. Commit domestic violence, no wait, don’t, but popular culture says … oh, whatever. Worst was the kids on the float and the street dancing to the song. We’re such contradictory creatures, humans.
Bacchus
It was quite by accident that I saw the king’s float with Hulk Hogan high atop it. Emerging from another check of the Giants-Patriots score, I looked up and there he was. Just at that instant, he reached into his bag, turned back around to face me and threw me not one, not two, but seven doubloons! Uhhh, not what I was expecting. It isn’t fair, is it, Varg?
For having appeared to the world as a blond with little substance, the Hulkster surprised me by really getting into his role as Bacchus XL and engaging the crowd. It also happens that he was very gracious at the ceremony at Children’s Hospital - see, I like stuff like that. So, not only did he join the ranks of such celluloid greats as Jean Claude van Damme, Steve Guttenberg and Alan Thicke (ok, ok, and John Ritter), Hulk Hogan was an all-around good guy to New Orleans and to me.
To top it all off, the Cheatriots lost! What else is left to say?
Day 893: Endymion Saturday
February 6, 2008 - Filed Under culture-society-history, mardi gras, new orleans, photographs
First post in a series leading up to Ash Wednesday.
Friday duly sacrificed to the goddesses of the pantheon, i.e. Divas and Muses, I woke up late on Saturday and got out to St. Charles Ave. just to see the last Tucks float roll by. Never fear, D was on hand to capture pictures and, more importantly, throws jettisoned by friends in the parade. I seem to have quite the impressive Tucks toilet paper collection now. Anyone know why their plungers smell like kerosene/naphtha/mothballs?
Saturday afternoon was gorgeous, so Steve, D and I wandered down the parade route to the Quarter. On our way to a great meal of fried pickles, fried crawfish tails and fried chicken at Fiorella’s, we crossed Jackson Square and ran into them. The Jesus fanatics. A pity that it was such narrow-minded folks that Jesus is said to have railed against himself. As we took pictures, I passive-aggressively mumbled to myself that they don’t make Jews like Jesus any more and that I was born right the first time thankyouverymuch. Hey, if you think that’s bad, you should hear one of my colleagues with her booming chants of “So many right-wing Christians, so few lions.”
While it is against my personal policy to converse with proselytizers all the way from Hare Krishnas to the aforementioned, I have a proposition for those that preach the word of their version of Christian God in the French Quarter: If one of them can prove that he does not relish, for even one second, the “abominations” of New Orleans, I can guarantee him a spot in heaven. ‘Cuz you just don’t want to get to the Pearly Gates and find out that you missed the fine print about hypocrisy.
They may have the Homo’s, Pagan’s, Thieve’s and High Fullutent on notice, but at least the Fundy Christians left us Hindoooos out of the mix. Just watch, next year’s list will include Pollie-theeist’s as well as Speeling & Grammar Nazi’s.
Although I wanted to watch Kevin Costner pass through this erstwhile Waterworld, there was no Endymion for us this year. Stomachs full, eyes blurry, D and I crawled back Uptown and into our bed. Good night.
Day 890: Carnival In Pictures
February 3, 2008 - Filed Under mardi gras, new orleans, photographs
Several Mardi Gras posts forming in my head, especially one on my first experience with the Divas. Today, two days before the grandest culmination that is Fat Tuesday, this is all the energy I have to post.
The marching bands rule this year!
Maitri and Liprap during Druids
It’s DIVA Day (Susan, Heather, Maitri, Dangerblond and Amy)!
Suspicious Minds - Priscilla with her Elvis
The coveted Muses shoe - this year in Packer colors (thanks, K!)
Three years in a row, baby!
Stay with Maitri’s VatulBlog for more. HAPPY CARNIVAL!
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