Happy Katrina Mardi Gras: Fat Tuesday costumes

My Mardi Gras started out in the Bywater where I was supposed to join up with friends to march in the Krewe of St. Anne. I never found my friends, but as is always the case on Mardi Gras, I ran into lots of other friends, had incredible, serendipitous reunions with friends and acquaintances I haven't seen in years, and even ran into friends who left town but were back in New Orleans to celebrate -- and, I made some new friends.

That's the Mardi Gras I like to celebrate -- with friends and family. Did I get drunk? No -- it's not necessary. I had a mimosa, a bloody mary, and a beer for the entire day.

There were many fewer people in the French Quarter than in years past, but it was still crowded. Some years it's impossible to even move through some streets (like Bourbon Street).

The mood was the best I've ever experienced -- everyone was remarkably friendly and conversational -- and other people I ran into made the same comment.

I only wish there were more satirical political costumes, but like me, people have probably just been too busy to get their costumes together.

Me? I wore a tyvek suit that said "Make levees! Not war!" and a blue roof which had written on one side "F: The president," and on the other side "'Whatever the cost': 1) Full compensation to all owners and tenants for damages. 2) Coastal restoration now. 3) Cat 5 storm protection now." I didn't get a photo of my costume, so if anyone out there got one, I'd appreciate if you'd send it to me.

My initial idea was to wear a bead-throwing penis, wear a prison-striped tyvek suit, and wear a sign that said "Blow to impeach." Well, after three iterations of the penis cannon, I could only get the smallest beads launched about ten feet on a good attempt, so I gave up the idea. Later, I found a bubble gun and thought that would have been even cuter, but the damn thing didn't work. Then I considered that if one of those national cameras caught my costume, I'd much rather they broadcast the message about what New Orleanians are demanding from Washington, than that I be able to launch beads or bubbles from a penis cannon.

Happy Katrina Mardi Gras!











More at Yahoo photos.