Lemme tell ya sumpin else about Mardi Gras

[Dr. Strangelove]

it ain't nuttin if you ain't got the stupid aspect.

Ridiculously stupid. Absurd doesn't count. Stupid does, and it has to be obviously funny.

Now for girls, pretty princess ballerina cowgirl sexy is just fine, but funny stupid (and clever) always trumps anything else. Irreverent and political satire is fine; but again, can we say it together? Can I get an Amen? STUPID Trumps that too.

And with that in mind I give to you The 610 Stompers, named after the interstate bypass that cuts through New Orleans and connects I 10 with I 10 within the city limits.

The 610 Stompers are an absolute favorite in the parades and they march and do their dances along the route of those parades lucky enough to have them. There is now a female counterpart to them called the Pussyfooters. You must be invited to join. And of course the appropriate anatomy.

So, here is the link to the Stompers website. The videos are not that good and not representative how the bring the whole house down when they appear, but the performance at The Pussyfooters Ball is closest. I am sure YouTube will have new routines in a few days. They have been busy.

http://www.610stompers.com/videos-2010-2011/

The performances at the Buddy D parade, the one with the natural sound, not the canned music, gives a bit of an idea, BUT this was their debut a year ago (this was the parade where men wore dresses, remember that? This place has history and tradition coming out the wazoo), so their performance is rudimentary to what they do now after a whole year of practicing.

Quintessential stuff for New Orleans, transcends every class/gender/race/religion line. Maybe you won't "get it, " because here, there is OFTEN nothing to "get" other than the sheer enjoyment of living, found here and there, in teaspoons and cups and buckets and pools.

Today is Lundi Gras. The city has been party central since Friday, with half of Saturday interrupted by weather. Damn You, Rain Gods! Tomorrow--and that would be Mardi, is the BIG day. Many of the tourists, including many of the Spring Breakers who often think the only goal is to get as drunk as possible, have gone and we, the natives, can enjoy the city that we all know and care for and protect and defend and criticize (like a dysfunctional brother, a crazy sister, ne'er do well nephew), we can do that all by ourselves. A million or so people partying on what promises to be a perfect spring day, sunny and high 60's low 70s.

Of course you're invited. We've got room.

John

[iowabeakster]

Thanks for sharing Doc.

I just watched the pussyfooters ball video. That is purest joy. Love it. If that is stupid, count me in.

I discovered an free MP3 downloading app for my phone 2 days ago. I started downloading some of my favorite happy music. Some people call them "guilty pleasures". I have not a shred of guilt about them. By strange coincidence, the Billy Idol and MJ (techinally J5) songs were the first two songs I searched and saved.

Hearing MJ, still makes my eyes tear up.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Well the weather report changed between when I wrote that and the evening before the day. On tap was rain by 830 am and storms, big storms, tornado storms by late afternoon.

So, what did the city do? Well, it was considered the prudent thing to do, and New Orleanians are nothing if not prudent, to get out early! Beat the rain! The show MUST go on!
So, people were out early, like by 10am, lots of people, the show went on, and the rains did not happen (until dawn today) so by 1pm the party was full on and it was fun. It was a good Mardi Gras.

so...here's a link to some pictures and a video I made with a few hundred thousand of my best friends...enjoy.

http://jld2.smugmug.com/MardiGras/2011/ ... 4716_36Coo

John

[Sunbeemer]

Great music with that vid...Sure were some VERY happy people there!
Wonder if they'll remember it in the morning?