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February 22, 2007
Boulevard of broken beads
Mardi Gras afternoon, the Perfessor and I, in our matching stripey PJs:
are crashed out on the couches in my living room, drinking beer, listening to a Treme CD and discussing which is harder to give up for Lent, caffeine or starring in gay porn. My feet are bloody stumps, my belly is full, I'm having my fifth sugar crash of the day, and I say to him, "Man, this was maybe the best Mardi Gras ever". And he looks at me and thinks and says, "Yeah, it definitely ranks."
I had a 100% Uptown Carnival this year. I don't think I ever made it past Gen. Taylor. All week the routine was pick the kids up from school, eat a quick dinner, and walk down to the parades. Endymion was suckier than I remember, just because this was my first Endymion in almost 15 years and thus my first relatively non-mobile one. Y'all are right, the Endymion crowds are obnoxious. Bacchus was nicer, camped out at Napoleon & Prytania. Must remember: neutral ground sucks. Sidewalk side rules.
And it was a Mardi Gras of firsts. My first Krewe du Vieux. My first Muses. My first Chaos, first d'Etat, first Barkus. Really, my first Mardi Gras as both an adult and a local. A Mardi Gras full of family:
and friends:
and kids:
and lots and lots of food. Of which there are no pictures, because it is all in my belly.
And after it was all done and the crowds went home, I sat on my front porch and put my feet up and gazed out at the lovely mess:
until the OPP came and took it all away, while I contemplated 40 days of not seeing Ashley do any gay porn.
Easter promises to be an interesting time.
Posted by ray at February 22, 2007 8:23 AM | Permalink
Categories: [new orleans ]
Comments
That's a pretty good mess. Last year I met a guy who works for Pasadena Sanitation, and he told me about cleaning up after the Rose Parade. It looks pretty similar. And it's a big job.
Posted by: Stan at February 22, 2007 10:18 AM
Thanks again, Ray. It was a blast. And I implore both you and the Big Mon: no gay porn, please...
Posted by: Adrastos at February 22, 2007 12:51 PM
I have Mardi Gras envy. Serious envy.
discussing which is harder to give up for Lent, caffeine or starring in gay porn
Caffeine gets my vote!
Posted by: darkneuro at February 22, 2007 1:23 PM
My favorite Ray line on Tuesday: "Man, I love trading food".
This was after giving the rib guy some of that rockin gumbo.
Oh, and no gay porn features yet, but it's a long lent.
Posted by: ashley Morris at February 22, 2007 1:45 PM
The rib man liked my costume; especially the addition of the pun. I blessed his BBQ and he gave me some ribs. Being faux clergy rocks.
Posted by: Adrastos at February 22, 2007 1:50 PM
Pun? I meant hat...I'm still recovering.
Posted by: Adrastos at February 22, 2007 1:54 PM
Ray, is it that you're giving up caffeine and Ashley is giving up gay porn? I hope that's the case, 'cause I'd hate to contemplate forty days of No Ray Gay Porn.
Posted by: Carol Elaine at February 22, 2007 2:16 PM
If I do gay porn while detoxing from caffeine it'll be some pretty savage BDSM, 'cause I am a mean motherfucker if I don't have my coffee.
I'm pretty sure I want to come back to this same spot on the neutral ground next year and bring more food to trade. I only got the last half a rib.
I like that the rib guy gets it about potato salad in your gumbo. It sounds weird but once you try it you're hooked.
Posted by: Ray at February 22, 2007 4:11 PM
Uhhh, y'all need to stay away from the gay porn PERIOD, knowing what y'all look like with your clothes ON.
Caffeine is tougher, because caffeine is evereee-where, except in my in-laws' house...
Posted by: liprap at February 22, 2007 7:22 PM
Maaaaaan, don't make me get out the naked sushi pics.
Posted by: Ray at February 22, 2007 7:38 PM
I've been waiting for the photos. Glad it was a good time. You all deserve it.
Posted by: Miss Syl at February 22, 2007 8:46 PM
It was an excellent Mardi Gras. (Even if I did bail to go to Frenchmen after lunch.) Thanks for having the party.
Posted by: candice at February 22, 2007 8:52 PM
i was actually suprised NOT to see you out. usually i have been running into you guys at some point! however we never stuck to one area for parades....everyday it was a new spot is seemed.
Posted by: stacey at February 23, 2007 7:23 AM
Hey Ray, any chance you'll divulge that etouffee recipe Ashley speaks so highly of?
Posted by: Jimbo at February 23, 2007 7:47 AM
My parents really whooped it up this Mardi Gras season. They did the whole Uptown scene too, seeing as they are just off Magazine.
Mama encountered some really rude tourists on the neutral ground...not letting people through on the street, who LIVE there and need to get home (on foot, of course).
If I'd known my folks were going to go all out this Carnival, I'd have come home! (glum)
Well I'll be there for Jazz Fest. I won't get any King Cake, but I will get my Rose Mint Tea and my cannolis from Brocato's on Carrollton (where I used to work).
(last night I was in a restaurant in NE Georgia, our waiter was a Chalmatian who is planning on moving back. It was so great to hear his voice)
Posted by: Celeste at February 24, 2007 4:32 PM
lovely writing, as always, ray. thanks for the smile.
Posted by: sarah at February 24, 2007 10:46 PM
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