Parties and more sparkly shoes

Last night I tailgated for the parades with the gal who recently turned 30 and threw the most jealousy-inspiring birthday party I've ever been to. Somehow I may have implied that I don't think karaoke is cool. I just want to say I think karaoke is the king of cool. They should have a karaoke parade! And bring back the karaoke cab that was supposedly around here before the storm.

Sometimes I write dumb stuff. In fact, I pretty much always do.

But look at the awesome stuff I caught in the parades last night:

The bananas are "for scale"

Buddy! got his own Muses fish that he used as a pillow last night.
There are more parades tonight but we may only catch the tail-end, which is fine with me. It's exhausting to yell at masked strangers ten feet above you and get pelted with plastic things. Add in the whole bottle of wine I drank (thanks!) and I'm getting tired just thinking about another parade.

But we have costumes for Mardi Gras day and wait 'til yo see 'em! I'm not going to tell you what they are but here's a hint: they involve a sport and a catchy tune.

This is what it's all about

Beads and boobs. Just kidding!

But seriously there are parades out the wazoo now and WE GOT BEADS! And some cups. We decorated the porch:

Cute, but I totally copied this idea from everyone else

Sunday we walked in the Krewe of Barkus. Yes, Elbow and I were in a parade! Here is (me!) Dorothy and her little dog, too:

My hair ribbons are actually slivers of old scrubs

Since this is my first Mardi Gras as a non-tourist, here's what I've learned so far.

1. People really do construct those carts-on-top-of-ladders things and then set their children up there.
2. Dogs aren't allowed to watch the parades on the routes (unless a.) it's Barkus or b.) the cop who sees you just loves little dogs so he actually wants to stand with you and chat about them for ten minutes
3. Kids get all the good beads. If you want something, don't stand near any of the little greedy boogers.
4. Ditto with college chicks.
5. If you sign up to be in a parade then don't forget to bring something to throw (Elbow and I picked up discarded beads from the ground so we can re-throw them)

It's a short list above but we're just getting started. There's still Muses, Endymion and that one where they throw cabbages and then the one with pineapples or whatever.

I just have to say -- It's pretty fun-tastic to live in New Orleans!
Come visit!

Toto wants you to visit!