Fat Tuesday

I had such a nice, relaxing day and I got a lot accomplished, too! Other than having to pick-up T from school due to an upset stomach (she came home from lax practice last night and said her stomach was bothering her and being the mean mom that I am, I made her go to school this morning!), it was one of those rare days where I didn't have plans during the day. I feel a little bit more caught up. I updated my calendar, filed some papers, worked on my spiffy new office (former "sneaky spot"), mopped the bathroom floor, mopped the kitchen floor, vaccummed the first floor and did some laundry. Chris's lax practice was cancelled due to impending inclement weather, T wasn't going to dance due to her stomach and KJ said she wanted to work on her Expo project and didn't want to go to her dance class. She actually ended up doing her reading work very early in the afternoon and will take a bath tonight and go to bed early. I think today was just one of those mental health days we all need sometimes.

"Laissez les bons temps rouler!"

"It has been said that a Scotchman has not seen the world until he has seen Edinburgh; and I think that I may say that an American has not seen the United States until he as seen Mardi-Gras in New Orleans." -- Letter to Pamela Moffett, March 1859

Happy Fat Tuesday! Mardi Gras always reminds me of the one and only trip I've taken to New Orleans. We went in the fall '04 and had a great time (pre-Katrina). Chris had a business meeting and we stayed one night at a really cute boutique hotel (The Omni Royal Crescent -- we actually recently remodeled our bathroom based on the beautiful bathroom at the hotel). The next 2 nights we stayed at the friend of a friend's little "love shack." She's an artist who owns a shotgun house a few blocks off Bourbon Street and has a little studio/cottage in her courtyard that she rents to people she knows or who are recommended to her. It was very romantic. French doors opened to her courtyard where she had a big fountain w/ a little cafe set to have a bottle of wine after dinner. The studio had an exposed brick wall , a little kitchenette, small washer & dryer, and a small bathroom. It was perfect for a romantic weekend get away. While Chris was in his meeting I spent the entire day by myself walking the French Quarter. I had a mani & a pedi first thing in the morning and I spent the rest of the day exploring the French Quarter. I walked all around Jackson Square, the waterfront, went to the Imax movie, discovered some antique shops, etc. I had one of the most relaxing, wonderful days of my life. Chris & I met up w/ my cousins, Tommy & Arianne and had a blast w/ them. We went to some dumpy bar and had way too many Hurricanes. The next day we had beignets at Cafe du Monde and met up w/ Tommy & Arianne for one of those cemetary tours.

It rained the whole weekend we were there but that just added to the fun. Stomping in puddles on Bourbon Street, wearing flip-flops so I wouldn't ruin my good shoes, etc. Chris went back after Katrina for a lax tournament and he said I would have cried my eyes out seeing all the devestation. I guess that was 6 or 7 months after the floods and he said there was debris and garbage everywhere. Buildings boarded up, homeless people wandering around, very depressing and horrifying.




What is Mardi Gras? Literally, it means "Fat Tuesday," the day before the season of Lent begins. For centuries, people around the globe have sowed their wild oats in preparation for the Christian season of fasting and repentance prior to Easter.

What are krewes? Krewes are private social groups that put on parades throughout Mardi Gras. Here are some of the names:
Krewe of Bacchus
Krewe of Lake Pontchartrain
Krewe of Zulu
Mardi Gras Indians

The first Mardi Gras parade was held in New Orleans on Feb. 24, 1857. The Krewe of Comus began the tradition of presenting parade floats followed by a masquerade ball for the krewe and their guests. A century and a half before, in 1699, French explorer Iberville threw a celebration on "Mardi Gras Island" near New Orleans.

The "king cake" is another Mardi Gras tradition. The cake is named for "les trois rois" or three kings and the feast, Epiphany, that is celebrated on Jan. 6. The cakes are a party staple for the duration of the Carnival season. The person who finds the plastic baby inside the cake (a bean was once the "prize" placed in the cake, but the dolls are more popular now) is crowned king, and custom says they have to buy the next cake and/or host the next gathering.

The official Mardi Gras colors are purple, green and gold. These colors were instituted by Rex, King of Carnival, in 1872. The colors have meaning: purple -- justice, green -- faith and gold -- power.

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“Please, mister! Please, mister!”

"N'Awlinz: Dis, Dat or d'Udda"

Best of Both Worlds

KJ & I saw the Miley Cyrus / Hannah Montanna movie tonight w/ friends and had so much fun! The theater encouraged the kids to dance and sing in their seats and also told the kids they could dance up front near the screen. Of course, that's where KJ & Lauren spent most of the show. Lauren's 5th grade brother, Drew, came w/ us. Poor fella. Not sure he knew what was going on. That Miley Cyrus is so talented, I hope she can keep her shit together better than Brit-Brit. KJ wore the Miley Cyrus t-shirt her Godmother sent her from the live show in Cincy and she wore her guitar pick bracelet, a Hannah Montanna secret star sweatband and a secret star guitar band (like one of those yellow Livestrong bands). She also wore her Hannah Montanna cowboy boots from Payless. Not sure if she had on Hannah/Miley undies. I wanted to wear the guitar pick bracelet but KJ wasn't sharing. I thought she was going to wear her Hannah Montanna wig but she said it itches her. I'm glad she didn't wear it because you know she would have last 5 minutes w/ that thing on her head and I would have ended up carrying it all night in my purse. Anyway, except for Drew, it was a definate GNO (for those of you not in the know, that's a Girls Night Out).

Sicko Monday

A single question can be more influential than a thousand statements. --Bo Bennett

Anything else you're interested in is not going to happen if you can't breathe the air and drink the water. Don't sit this one out. Do something. You are by accident of fate alive at an absolutely critical moment in the history of our planet. --Carl Sagan

Good morning.

Set short term goals and you'll win games.

Set long term goals and you'll win championships!

To have no set purpose in one's life is the harlotry of the will.
God is Love,

Rev Run

Yes, I'm sick. I have head cold, chest congestion, a headache, body aches, etc. After Chris & the girls left the house this morning I found a sub to cover for me at school and took a couple Tylenol cold & cough tablets. They knocked me out and I slept for about an hour and a half. I need to make myself another cup of tea and I feel like an english muffin. I also love to drink ginger ale when I'm sick.

So the Giants won the Super Bowl. I'm glad for NY, I really didn't think Eli had it in him. Peyton is my favorite Manning and always will be. I think Tom Brady had too much Giselle on his mind. I asked Chris: football or Giselle? He wisely answered "football." I think I had a sharp, pointy object in my hand at the time. Good answer Chris. Good answer. I thought he was going to be a smart aleck and say something like, "playing football WITH Giselle."

We now accept the fact that learning is a lifelong process of keeping abreast of change. And the most pressing task is to teach people how to learn. --Peter Drucker

To dare is to lose one's footing momentarily. Not to dare is to lose oneself. --Soren Kierkegaard

I take it all back . . .

I take back everything bad I ever said about that stupid, dumb-looking Eli Manning. I just wish he would learn to play football w/ out his mouth hanging open. He looks like a moron. But hey!!! Go Giants!

FINALLY

the giants scored!!! Whoppiee!!! Bet my Aunt Debbie and my brother-in-law Ted are crazed w/ excitement!

3rd Quarter

KJ laxing' & relaxin'!!!

Chris couldn't resist taking the above pic for his favorite Mother-In-Law!!

Giants are down 7-3. Told ya' Eli can't hang w/ the big boys. I may end up eating my words at the end of the game but I doubt it.

T is at a Super Bowl party, I took a little nappie on the couch earlier this afternoon, KJ had a friend over most the afternoon. Just a gray, rainy, cold afternoon. My kind of Sunday.

KJ & I have tixs to see the Hannah Montanna/Miley Cyrus 3-d movie Monday night w/ friends. Just found out this same little friend is going to be on KJ's softball team. This poor coach has no idea what he's in for.

Our understanding of the world is now shaped not just by the newspapers and television, but also by each other. --Citizen Media: An Introduction

Take care of your body. It's the only place you have to live. --Jim Rohn