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Happy Mardi Gras. I was going to try to come up with something witty about lesbians and the Friday lent dinner, but really couldn’t come up with anything funny.
I just noticed Zimmo has a great history on Mardi Gras on their website. Be sure to check it out, it’s actually pretty thorough.
Just to start out, no I did not loose either of my girls, Lady and Molly are just fine. I have a very close buddy of mine, a wonderful little poodle that was put down today “because she was getting too mean”. I’m filled with sorrow, anger and a thousand other emotions. I don’t agree with the decision that was made today, and frankly, I’m really pissed off. I’m also disapointed with the people who made this very poor decision. I’m just not happy all around…
I’m a firm believer that pets are family. I can’t see someone doing that to their grandma just because she’s become a crotchity old woman (I’m not describing my grandma’s). Pets are family, and if people decide to keep a pet, they need to understand they make a lifelong commitment to their pets. Pets are not disposable property that they can get rid of because they are not convenient anymore…
I’m just a little upset tonight. The dog was not mine, but I’ve always treated Roni as one of my own, and she was always my buddy. Today’s decision is actually going to put a chasim in my relationship with my family. I hope this post starts to help me get through this actually difficult time.Â
A Little Dog Angel
High up in the courts of heaven today
a little dog angel waits;
with the other angels he will not play,
but he sits alone at the gates.
“For I know my master will come” says he,
“and when he comes he will call for me.”
The other angels pass him by
As they hurry toward the throne,
And he watches them with a wistful eye
as he sits at the gates alone.
“But I know if I just wait patiently
that someday my master will call for me.”
And his master, down on earth below,
as he sits in his easy chair,
forgets sometimes, and whispers low
to the dog who is not there.
And the little dog angel cocks his ears
and dreams that his master’s voice he hears.
And when at last his master waits
outside in the dark and cold,
for the hand of death to open the door,
that leads to those courts of gold,
he will hear a sound through the gathering dark,
a little dog angel’s bark.
Noah M. Holland
I’ll try to dig some pictures of Roni up.
Mardi 
Gras day in 2006 is February 28. In 2006, there are about 8 days (held in the city of New Orleans) of parades leading up to Mardi Gras Day. Mardi Gras Day (which is also Fat Tuesday) is the last day of the Mardi Gras Carnival season. Mardi Gras day falls on a different day each year. It is always 46 days before Easter.
If you are having your own Mardi Gras party this week, be sure to check this site for some great recipes, or their guide to throwing a Mardi Gras party.
Here are some basic definitions to get you started:
Mardi Gras is French for “Fat Tuesday” which is the day before Ash Wednesday.
Ash Wednesday is the seventh Wednesday before Easter and the first day of Lent, on which many Christians receive a mark of ashes on the forehead as a token of penitence and mortality.
Lent is the 40 weekdays from Ash Wednesday until Easter observed by Christians as a season of fasting and penitence in preparation for Easter.
Carnival is a festival marked by merrymaking and feasting during the season just before Lent.
| Top Ten Mardi Gras Tips | |
| 10. | Cram as many people in your hotel room as allowed by law. Most hotels jack up the prices for Mardi Gras, so the more people in your room, the less each person pays. Also, many hotels have wristbands (or something similar) to regulate the number of guests per room. Officially, I’ll tell you this is a good thing due to fire codes and general safety, but a clever person can easily get around this. |
| 9. | Watch where you park your car. The parade routes change several times a day! You might have a great parking spot at 11:00 in the morning, but your car could be towed for the afternoon parade. This is especially important if you don’t have the luxury of a hotel room and are living in your car. |
| 8. | Don’t get thrown in jail. The rumor I heard is that there are only two ways to get put in jail during Mardi Gras: (1) Public urination, and (2) Crossing a parade barricade. I wouldn’t risk it if I were you! |
| 7. | Drink a Hurricane at Pat O’Brien’s. And keep the souvenir glass. |
| 6. | Don’t Drink the WATER! Now, maybe I just have a weak digestive system, but I got really, really sick in 1993 after drinking only water. If you’re going to throw up, you might as well have a good time at Pat O’Brien’s first. |
| 5. | Head to Cafe Du Monde for beignets and coffee. Like Mr. Jimmy Buffett says, “The coffee’s strong at the Cafe Du Monde, the Doughnuts are too hot to touch.” And speaking of Jimmy Buffett, if you’re a parrot-head, stop by Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville for an A+ margarita. |
| 4. | Have your fortune read in Jackson Square. The best psychics are there! If you’re lucky, Dracula will be there reading palms. |
| 3. | Stake out your parade viewing spot early. Become familiar with the parade schedule and learn the routes – every parade has a different route. If you bring a big cooler you can fill it up with adult beverages to make the wait less tedious – and then stand on it to have a great view. |
| 2. | Wear a costume on Fat Tuesday. It’s the difference between being a Mardi Gras PARTICIPANT and a Mardi Gras OBSERVER. Plus, you didn’t have to expose yourself to get good beads when you wear a costume. |
| 1. | EXPOSE YOURSELF! It’s how you get the BEST beads! Hell, no one is going to recognize you! But watch for cameras – you don’t want your enemies (or your friends!) blackmailing you when you get home. |
I’m back home. Tired. Glad to be back home. I’ll come up with something witty over the weekend. I promise.
I’ve been so busy the last couple of days, I missed this. Zimmo has all the summer dates on their blog. Just think of these dates as dates I would venture to guess I am not allowed to drink Tequila on. Below are dates of importance:
August 8, 2006 – Verizon Wireless Music Center – Indianapolis, IN
On sale Monday, March 13@ 10AM
June 8, 2006 – Riverbend Amphitheater – Cincinnati, OH
On sale Saturday, March 11@ 10AM
August 3, 2006 – Nissan Pavilion – Bristow, VA
On sale Saturday, March 11@ 10AMÂ
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Above is a panorama of pictures off the balcony of my room at the hotel. I’ve been playing around with Auto-pano-shift (creates the reference points and stuff), as well as hugin (image stitcher program that imports the file from auto-pano). I believe both are free, as in beer (open source software?). Find them though Google, cause I’m too tired to find the links for you. If you click on the picture, you can see more detail. One of these years, I’ll figure how to have it auto-adjust the colors for me as well. I know the software can do that too. Picture was taken with my Canon S2 IS.
How many of you would have guessed that JB currently resides in Nashville, TN?
Yesterday morining recieved a call to pack my bags and head to Nashville, TN to work on a project. After checking with the LW (Lovely Wife), I pack and hit the road. TBear lives a few minutes north of Nashville, so I was able to suprise her and take her out to dinner. It was a very nice change, and I had a great time, up until I dropped her off back at home, and her dog bit me. Her little Min-Pin never liked me. I don’t understand, as I’m quite the dog person (I hate cats, unless they are cooked in butter with a little garlic, salt and pepper). It’s actually a very cute little dog, maybe she’ll post some picts when she the puppies show up later this week (did I mention the dog was having puppies?). Regardless of the dog, I really enjoyed my time with TBear, even though it was just a quick dinner before I had to get to work.
I’m staying at the Opryland Hotel, in the Delta section, overlooking the riverboat company dock. After checking into the room, I opened the balcony, and while unpacking, I heard a loud, clear turkey calling. As the Delta has a river in it, along with ducks and other critters, hearing a turkey was not a stretch. I walked out on the balcony, and spotted a very large bird roosting near the convention area, with alot of people standing around looking at it. Come to find out, the National Wild Turkey Federation is having their annual convention and sports show at the hotel (it was a stuffed bird for display and they were having a turkey calling contest). I’ll post some pictures later tonight, as some of their displays are incredible.
While at the Indianapolis Boat, Sport and Travel Show over the weekend with Rich, I got a chance to chat with a Coast Guard Officer for a little bit. He gave me a couple of handouts that answered my long running question of what safety stuff I need on my boat (legally) and what other stuff would be recomended. I’ve created a page that lists these items. You can find the link on the sidebar (or click here), be sure to check it out, as you may be suprised. I just found out last summer that I needed to carry a type IV throwable personal flotation device (PFD), basically a white floatation seat cushon, and only found that out after getting pulled over for an equipment check (or was it for a drunk check?).
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This sign was leaning up next to a boat at the show. I’m almost sure it was a message that Julie left for Rich.
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Ya know what pisses this pirate off? I’ve been working with Tanner for weeks trying to get her to walk. Closest she comes looks like a bi-peg-legged pirate walking on a sugar sand beach. She’s constantly falling, not even able to take a single step unless she has a table (or couch, chair, etc.) to hang onto.Â
Fast forward to this week, she went to Grandma and Grandpa Z’s house and started walking. Daddy didn’t even get to see it, AND had to hear from it from Zimmo’s blog…
The Rum Runner just came home today. It’s now wearing a custom bow and cockpit covers. They look great, and I had no issues trailering with the covers. Now to convince Momma to trailer it down to Florida next month when we go.
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Ain’t she pretty? I also had the bottom acid washed, as well as some warranty work taken care of. If I’m gonna drop it in the big pond, I’m gonna need to add GPS, a marine VHF radio and get some charts. I think it’d be approporate for a trip down Hawk Channel all the way to Key West, though I think it is probably too small for a run to Bimni from Miami. Maybe a few years ago when I was younger (dumber?). What would actually be a blast would be a run from Ft. Myers or Naples down to Key West across the Gulf, but again, that is REALLY pushing it for a boat like this (though probably more doable than the Bahamas run, with the right setup).
Speaking of a good setup, what are the legally required equipment for a boat for island hopping in Florida?  As I am not one for just getting the minimum stuff, what else should one carry on their boat for island hopping?Â