Laissez le Bon Temps Roulez

Happy Mardi Gras day Mes Amis!

Even though I've decided that I won't be sad that once again, I'm somewhere besides Mobile or New Orleans on this day, I have decided that a celebration is in order no matter where we're located, n'est-ce pas?  I'm thawing out the ham hock so I can get the red beans and rice going along with the creole chicken for later.  In the meantime, here's a little taste of Tipitina's own Neville Brothers to tide you over:

So, dance like you're in a parade, maybe throw some candy, moon pies or beads to your loved ones and enjoy the blowout party before Lent sets in.

Postcard from the fringe

Happy New Year! Ha, bet you didn't expect that did you?  Well, things have been kinda crazy 'round these parts which means I'm probably the mayor of Crazytown. It was Mardi Gras earlier this week and I managed to survive being away yet ANOTHER year :(.  Could be worse, right? I could've been trapped in Connecticut with that 40 inches of snow, so I won't complain out loud.  But don't worry too much--I kept it interesting on Tuesday by saying "hey mister, THROW me something" at random times during the day.  It's the small things that make me happy :)

Speaking of things that make me happy, I thought I'd share a picture of the flowers my godchild gave me for my birthday.

I'll come back later to post something more interesting, relevant, funny, writing-related, whatever...

Enjoy your day!

Happy Mardi Gras Day

I know that my grandparents are probably in heaven having a good laugh over the fact that my two sons have never been to Mardi Gras. What, never you say? Never had the experience of scouring the street for candy and treats and scurrying between the legs of strangers to get as much as they can? No yelling, "hey mister throw me something!" at the top of their lungs? No chasing after the floats or dancing along with the marching bands? No wearing all their beads around their neck all at the same time? No? Never? That's right, never.

Fat Tuesday always finds me a little bit sad every year since moving here to Chicago. And even though many fine establishments here in the Windy City celebrate Mardi Gras on a micro scale, it's not quite the same. The difference was made plain to me long ago, right after I'd arrived. Some of my friends invited me to Venetian Nights with the selling point that it was "just like Mardi Gras only with boats on the lakefront." Well, of course, I was excited and approached the event with great anticipation. So great was my anticipation that I fear I wasn't quite fair to Venetian Night or my poor friends who were stuck with me in my misery that fateful night. After watching what for me, was a boat show, the loud complaints began. "This is NOTHING like Mardi Gras.Why aren't the boats decorated? What's the theme? Why aren't they throwing candy/trinkets/booze/something/anything? Where are the marching bands? Where are the urchins stealing candy right outta your hand?" Well, as you've probably figured out by now, the night went south pretty quickly after all that whining from me. My friends were only too happy to put me in a cab home, all alone, lol. Lessons learned: never assume something is "like" something else unless the describing party has actually been to the other event; also don't whine too much or too loudly to your friends or they'll ditch you. Anyway....

In honor of Mardi Gras day, I've already made red beans and rice and I'll probably have to make my own King cake. Here's Professor Longhair singing Go To the Mardi Gras to get you in the mood:

Enjoy!