I lived in Shreveport, Louisiana for eight years and while there got hooked on Mardi Gras.  In Louisiana they could make a movie called The Santa Claus that Stole Mardi Gras.  You see in those parts, Mardi Gras decorations start going up before Christmas, and it's Santa that gets jealous.

Needless to say it hasn't been the same since I moved back to the midwest.  Nope, up here it is Valentine's Day decorations you see.  Down there Mardi Gras damn near blows Valentine's Day off of the map.  Oh yeah, February 14 is a big day for florists.  You better get your girl somethin or her paw might shoot ya.  But other than that one day, who cares?  It's Mardi Gras season.

Valentines day in the midwest now is another deal.  Here, as well as in Tennessee where I grew up, Valentines Day decorations will dominate the stores from now to the 14th.  There is no way I could expect Mardi Gras to dominate in the midwest in February.

Heck, if I were in Louisiana, I could have gone to a Mardi Gras parade this afternoon.

Krewe of Harambee Mardi Gras Parade

Municipal Auditorium
Monday January 15, 2007
705 Elvis Presley Ave
Shreveport, Louisiana

The parade began at the Municipal Auditorium, east on Milam Street, left on Edwards Street and left on Texas Street through downtown Shreveport and ended on Elvis Presley Avenue. The parade lined up 11 a.m. and began at 1 p.m.

Wow, I missed yelling, throw me somethin mistuh!  And I didn't get to wrestle with women for beads, even if it did turn out to be my wife that one time I was fighting with on the ground.

Let's see, here we are in the midwest in the middle of January with this Federal holiday that, no offense intended folks, just doesn't do that much for me.  Hmmm.  I think from now on, for me anyway, this will be Mardi Gras.  Happy Mardi Gras everyone!

http://www.sbctb.org/mardigras/#calendar

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http://www.shreveport-bossier-online-guide.com/gallery/mardi-gras/mardigras31.jpg

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