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 Overall, Mardi Gras was very fun this year. We kicked it off with Krewe du Vieux, which was great! I don’t remember last year very well, but that’s another story… I think it’s the best way to start Mardi Gras. It gets you in the mood for the real focus of Mardi Gras which is to have fun and laugh at who we are.
 Barkus was better this year than last year. Even though the theme really didn’t lend itself to a lot of creative costumes, Chloe was fenced in the float this year so we didn’t have to worry about her spazzing out. We had cool bowling shirts and a great breakfast at Keith and Jeff’s as usual. It was difficult because my friend Michael has been dealing with his father’s illness and death, but being with him and his family was very special.
 Sunday, Shirley, Shirley Jr, and I spent all day at Lee’s Circle with the Homans (minus Michael) and Keith and Jeff. We had plenty of food and chairs so we sat and talked and napped in between the parades. I took a lot of pictures of Mid-City for Michael. My brother was in Bacchus so we stayed for that. It was a huge disappointment. We will probably see KDV, Muses, and Cleopatra next year and skip all the other night parades. We have so much more fun during the day. Plus it’s kind of frustrating when you’ve staked out a spot for 12 hours and then some knuckleheads push their way in after it gets dark.
 Monday was spent on laundry and packing up beads for Barkus next year. We’re going to have a lot more than we did this year. Tuesday was perfect except that Michael wasn’t with us. We went to the quarter, ate beignets at Café Du Monde (didn’t see Minnie Driver this year), and then went on to Zulu. After Zulu, we went through the Quarter, stopped at the stage across from Jackson Square so that Shirley Jr could dance in front of the huge crowd! and rode the ferry back to the Westbank and took the Homans home. Not too busy, not too stressful, and we didn’t go to work too tired today.
Thinking about what I’ll give up for Lent….
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