Annunciation | NOLA

Happy Mardi Gras!

Almost everywhere else today is another Tuesday. People are at work, going to school, doing their usual thing. Of course here, it’s Mardi Gras Day, the last hurrah of the Carnival season, which started on 12th night and ends tonight at Midnight. Why? Because tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. I’m not Catholic but when in Rome… Most people are spending one last decadent day at the parades, catching beads and things, drinking. Or maybe in costume in the Marigny, drinking. Or if you are tourist, on Bourbon street, drinking. I’ve spent the last 5 days at parades, hanging out with friends and complete strangers, catching beads and drinking. I am partied out. So how are we spending Mardi Gras day? How are we being decadent? By doing absolutely nothing. A normal day off Greg would be working on the house, I would be cleaning, doing laundry or running errands. But so far today I’ve read the paper, took a shower, laid on the couch for several hours finishing up a good novel. Then rode my bike over to Popeye’s so we could dine on hot, spicy, greasy fried chicken. Mmmmm so decadent. Why aren’t we out with everyone else? Because next month, there will be St. Patrick & St. Joseph Day parades, with more beads, costumes and drinking. April will bring Easter parades and festivals of all shape and size. May is Jazz Fest. I think you get the picture. There is no shortage of festivities to be had. So tomorrow, I’ll try to -- no I will -- restart that diet and exercise routine I said I’d start back on January 1. I’ll be extra good the next 30 days with everyone else observing Lent. And what do you know… just after 30 days have past, we can all cut loose for St. Patrick’s Day.

So if you'll excuse me, I think I'll go take a nap now.