27 Weeks Ago

Fat Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Emailed from Averil. No text, just the attachment.

What the hell was I thinking?!? What a day that was. What a week it was going to be.

Charlie caught a coconut

We threw together the costume this morning about 7:30 and made it out by 9am, just in time to catch Zulu since they are notoriously late.


And I was a Zulu coconut, the prize throw on Mardi Gras Day, and was a complete hit along the route. I got thumbs up from men and women alike. Everyone wanted to know when he was coming (Today?) and had to have their picture taken with III.

Kids were in awe, especially when Charlie explained it was a beer belly! And so many people commented they thought it wasn't real at first. More than one woman commented on how brave I was for bearing it today. Hey, it's Mardi Gras. How can I not.

We only took an handful of photos and I wish I had gotten one with more of a profile shot so you can truly appreciate this "coconut" of mine.


We called it a day around lunch time, headed back Uptown for some pizza, and now a long nap is on the agenda.

I hope all the Mardi Gras drunks clear out of the hospital before Freddie starts into action to make his appearance tonight... if only.

Lundi Gras: Operation Free Freddie in Affect

It is a picture perfect day in New Orleans..sunshine, low humidity, cool temperatures, and the streets and restaurants are filled with people drunk with happiness and excitement. I'm feeling a little too rundown to be that high on the Lundi Gras spirit right about now. I have a little business to attend to.

Operation Free Freddie (aka Push da Kid Outta There) is moving forward. Rather than heading out to find an restaurant with outdoor seating, Charlie brought home some SPICY, salty crawfish and boiled shrimp. I imagine I'll be a blimp later tonight because of the sodium. I sucked on the heads and ate as many tails as I could get down.

Don't ask how much the cost, just enjoy them! he says.

Not yet in season, crawfish are $5 a pound.

Now I am pulling items from the costume box trying to figure out something for tomorrow...just in case we lace up our walking shoes, put in a 5 mile walk at 7am, and make it to Jackson Avenue for Zulu. I had abandoned my original costume idea with the intention of going a bit simpler.


Too bad this damn black tutu is a size x-small! Not sure how I'm going to handle this and whether it's worth the trouble of getting it all together tonight considering I may hit snooze in the morning and pass on this phase of the plan. Decisions.

It's Carnival Time

Muses, on of our favorites, passing right by the house

It's that time of year around here. Some people take advantage of the time off work and school and head out of town, but not us. We love it around here during Carnival. But this year is going to be low key, in case you hadn't come to that conclusion from reading the last 9 months of posts.

Sipping a cold beer was we wait

It does feel a bit weird to not be rushing around, getting last minute costume supplies, packing up the cooler, dusting off the party wagon. We're enjoying the festivities none the less, especially since some of our favorite parades have new routes along Magazine Street, so we're able to walk a few houses down to the corner rather than 4 blocks to Napoleon.

Need to learn how to take some night photos!
This flambeaux was loving the attention and the
cash the crowd was tossing.

FCS was very active last night at the parade. I think he must have been cold and wanted me to cover my belly. He also got down when the bands played. I didn't take many photos because the camera hanging on my belly wasn't comfy and seemed to irritate the boy as well.

St. Aug's Marching 100

I will be heading out this afternoon to get a few costume supplies for Tuesday, just in case. Charlie's pretty convinced we'll be out and about on Tuesday morning with the rest of the city so we must be prepared. Either way, I'm pretty sure this will be a memorable Mardi Gras for us.

The life of a king cake on Bordeaux

9:05 am, Saturday, We can't even get home from the bakery before cutting a piece.


Noon, Saturday:


8 pm, Saturday:


8 am, Sunday, What there's really one piece left still???


8:05 am, Sunday:


10:05, Sunday, this one is from the French bakery!