I have one running shoe. I have no idea where the other one is. I’ve been wearing the lone shoe for about an hour and have finally given up. I even wore the one out to the car to look for its mate, but no shoe. Found 3 scarves, 2 hats and various other stuff I brought in with me that’s been living in my back seat. Sure possibly I could wear my cross trainers and go for a run, but it’s just not the same. And now I’ve run out of time, he’s on his way over to make dinner. Hopefully after dinner we’ll go for a walk – it’s sooo beautiful – and I’m sure I have some walking shoes around here somewhere.

I called my mom looking for my shoe. My dad had me do a foot count to make sure I didn’t have an extra foot instead of a missing shoe. My mom thoroughly searched my old room. Nada. So while I had her on the phone I told her Jonathan and I were going to Nashville next weekend for his birthday. And I said it kind of feels strange that I’m going away with someone they haven’t met yet (doesn’t really feel strange – that was just strategy). Well she says, as we’ve learned from your brother-in-law it doesn’t really matter if we like him or not, only if you do. That’s pretty forward thinking for June Cleaver...and a testament to how we’ve resigned ourselves to the fact my brother-in-law will forever be an idiot.

She was more concerned that I’d eaten meat today on Ash Wednesday. Accidentally!....I said. That’s what you said last year...she replied. I recounted my lunch angst about making my lean cuisine no preservative microwave meal of chicken marsala and how it took 10 minutes and 30 seconds on 50% power (which I had to ask someone how to do) and then it was terrible! She told me it was God punishing me for trying to eat meat. I told her apparently I didn’t get the message because I ended up making a chicken sandwich. When she reminded my dad this morning he called her a big mouth and was still bitching about having no meat - he had to bring a cheese sandwich to the golf course and they had pancakes and eggs for dinner - which means he’s just grumbling because everyone knows breakfast for dinner rocks.

I told her I survived Mardi Gras and how surprised everyone was that my mom was encouraging me to get beads. She really did tell me to get lots of beads...to use in grab bags for the parish kids during their festival. I need beads for the parish kids because my mom says so. It made us all laugh.

Mardi Gras was a lot of fun and I was not an easy sell. When we layered up and starting walking to breakfast, it was cold. Cold! I was bundled in my new cold weather gear. I was in REI Friday and the check out guys said....glove liners, hat, hand warmers....uh mardi gras? I said...how’d you know...do I have dumb ass stamped on my forehead?

Within the first couple of blocks John commented that it was a little quiet – where was the debauchery he’d heard so much about? He’s not from around here and it was his first Mardi Gras. About a minute later a car load of drunk girls drove by yelling...woooooo Mardi Gras. It was 9 a.m. From then on we got to say fun things like....look, there’s a pirate! And ah that jester is creepy.

I’ve become a fan of the bloody mary...and I’ve discovered my favorite so far is at Soulard Coffee Garden...and not just because it had a red pepper shaped like a flower stuck to it – however the esthetics didn’t hurt. I figured I might as well start warming up from the inside out. When we finally got to the bus – wow! You St. Charlesans really know how to do Mardi Gras in style! It was totally posh, warm and filled with friends and liquor. I’m not normally a keg drinker, but viva la Mardi Gras. I was fine, it kept me warm and happy. And I even used the port-a-potty, which I stressed was a major breakthrough. It was a banner day for the anti-crowd squeamish one. Makes me think maybe even camping is possible if you drink enough...and wear a feather boa. Amy wondered if people would be flashing the floats for beads...it is really cold. I said, if people are dumb enough to show their boobs when the weather is warm, they’re dumb enough to do it when it’s cold.

The day went really quickly. Beads were caught, stripper pole on the bus was enjoyed, photographic evidence was taken, and then we walked up into the crowds to see Dave’s band play. It was fun, hadn’t heard them in a while – actually this was a different band from his usual and apparently the back up drummer is a small child...or the drummer’s son was standing next to him watching...one of those two things is true. They did some originals which I liked because they sounded like songs you thought you should know – I thought that was a good sign - and then your usual good time festival/bar songs – everyone had a great time. There was dancing...it was 3 p.m....it was a good day.

After that we parted from the bus riders and started walking back home through the crowds. When we got to a clearing, we stopped to take some pictures of the all the people, and then we kissed...a guy passed by and said...well I would say get a room, but it’s mardi gras...enjoy! That about sums it up.