Mardi Gras 2009
New Orleans, LA
February 24, 2009
Mardi Gras 2009
It was another fantastic, fabulous "Fat Tuesday" along Napoleon Avenue!!!!!
My family and I had a great time. I just wish everyone in New Orleans could say the same.
Once upon a time, certain events in NOLA were considered "sacred" and even the violent factions of the city stayed away from those events.
Jazz Fest and Mardi Gras were two of those "events". Times have changed and not for the better.
Twelve people were shot, on Fat Tuesday this year. Unheard of , appalling and unforgivable (in my opinion). What kind of person shoots into a crowd of women, children, men, senior citizens? What kind of person does that?
I know we've always been lucky. Afterall, it's not easy providing security for a crowd of 1 million plus people spread throughout an entire city and surrounding cities.
Kudos to the NOPD, the Harbor Police and all the other police departments in the state of Louisiana who pull Mardi Gras duty!
Hopefully, next year's Carnival Season will go back to the days of old ~ the violence free days.
*end of speech*
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Here are some videos from the big day/the main event! It is STILL the greatest free show on earth!!!!
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What we do while waiting for the parades to start (well, some of what we do *wink*)
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The Navy and Marines always start The REX parade!
(Don't listen to my sister. I so did not knock down any drinks! Nope, not one!)
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Here comes the King of Carnival himself, REX!!!
(Little Bo Peep me received a thumbs up and a "good job"!)
(And lots of waves too! ;)
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Rex's band(wagon) and some more marching!
(Bre makes an appearance!)
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Champagne trouble, The House of Shock truck float, Mike's "catch o'the day" and lots of happy, happy people!
(Everyone makes an appearance!)
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We LOVE Rock~N~Roll!
(Bre goes mobile! My sheep makes a cameo appearance!)
(Everyone else went mobile long before the truck parades started ~ as you can see at the end of the video. Yes, I did some backwards editing!)
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St. Aug Marching Band ~ marching during REX:
(one of the best marching bands in the world!)
(Plus a little taste o'Scotland!)
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And finally, some still shots set to the beat of Jimmy Bang's "Boots"!
Umm~hmmm!
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I hope you all enjoyed the show!
See ya'll next year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can't wait!
*big smile*
Hugs and Much Love,
6/Wendy
