Fat Tuesday.

I went to Mardi Gras once. A couple friends and I decided on the spur of the moment to go. We gathered some clothes and money and took off. It took 31 hours to drive non-stop to New Orleans. Jerry and I did all the driving because the car had a 454 cubic inch engine with a stick shift and we didn't trust Rick behind the wheel.

We had no reservations but found a hotel room for a couple days before the big crowds came into town. When that happened, we slept on the floor of a motel room of a couple girls we knew that also made the trek down to N'awlins. That was a fun time (six people sharing one room and bathroom - anyway, we survived.)

The cops down there don't like Northerners and a couple times we almost got thrown in the hoosegow: seemingly our only sin was being a Yankee. (We talked our way out of most of the situations.)

We visited many bars - some good, some bad, some risky for our well being, some gay, some redneck. Being young and invincible, we had a great time at them all. We drank lots of beer and ate tons of beans and rice while seeing some excellent music performed.

I still have my souvenir Hurricane glass and a couple strands of beads. I do regret the girls in the crowds didn't have the "Girls Gone Wild" mentality in relation to baring themselves that seems to be the norm these days...

Neville Brothers, Yellow Moon:

Dr John, Right Place, Wrong Time:

The Neville Brothers and The Meters, Fire on the Bayou:

Moon.

I didn't have a working lens good enough to catch a better picture of the moon. This was the best I could do.

Lit up is my after work play area for Cubbie. I hit him softballs every night for about a half hour. Except when there is alot of snow. Obviously not now.

I have a portable light in the lawn chair. The garage is on the right with my radio playing . The table in front of the tree holds a drink and a flashlight for errant balls. Squirrel feeder doubles as an ashtray and a dog slobber rag holder. Aluminum bats lean on the tree year round. The clothesline pole is on the left and of course the moon is the moon.

Stupid thing I did getting ready to take this: I walked two steps forward to get a closer view of the moon. (like that matters. ha) Then I thought about and laughed. It's like a quarter of a million miles away? What was I thinking?

Neville Brothers:

Kiko and the lavender moon out playing

Makes believe nobody can see

And then he waits

And then he fakes

And then he bends

And then he shakes

He plays and plays

Still playing till he

Goes off to sleep


Kiko and the lavender moon

Out dancing making faces at

A big black cat and then he flies

Up to the wall

Stands on one foot

Doesn't even fall

Dance and dance

Still dancing till

He goes off to sleep


He always sleeps

'Til the sun goes down

He never wakes

Till no one's around

He never stops

Can't catch his breath

It's always there

Scares him to death


Kiko and the lavender moon

Out dreaming 'bout green shoes

Haircuts and cake

And then he wishes

The world away

And then he kneels

As if to pray

He dreams and dreams

Kiko and the lavender moon