The thing is... Mardi Gras just won't be the same this year. You see, my very good friends recently bought a cute little house near the bayou, which is great for them. Perfect for walking their dog, and right near the park.
But they moved off of Saint Charles Avenue, away from the parade route. They have some wacky former-neighbors who will still let us use their bathroom, but this is the first time in seven years we won't be making a big deal about Mardi Gras.
No more smoked pig and giant crawfish boils, or late nights hanging out on their porch facing the Avenue, watching people stream toward and stagger away from the Quarter. No more cramming shoulder to shoulder with friends and strangers to fight over bits of shiny plastic and fluff. No more spending hundreds of dollars on food and drinks and supplies, of reeking of barbeque smoke all weekend. Of being so exhausted by Monday I need to stay home Tuesday just to recuperate. Lord, I need to rest just thinking of it. *fans self*
This year we're debating leaving town for the big weekend, but that doesn't mean YOU can't have Mardi Gras in your own town this year!
All you have to do is comment below and you'll be entered to win an awesome Carnival Prize package of beads, krewe throws and assorted N'awlins goodies. It's pretty sweet, if I do say so myself.
For additional entries:
Blog post +3
Tweet (up to five times for +5 entries) +1
Sidebar +2
Recommend me a good book to read instead of partying all weekend +1
For a grand possible total of 12 entries (i think. you math types can feel free to correct me)
I'll draw a winner on the morning of Friday the 17th, so check back here to see if you've won! And Happy Mardi Gras!
6 comments:
I'm excited! I missed out on the goody basket last year and I'm bummed because I wanted that chicory coffee :). Hmm, a good book...I'll pull from the random backlist of books I've read over my life. Black Swan Green by David Mitchell. Coming of age story in England in the 80's. The narrator is so cute and funny and heartbreaking, he's the kind of son I would want.
YAY!! Okay, maybe the third time's the charm for me. He he. I tweeted.
Read TANGLED TIDES by Karen Amanda Hooper. It's freaking fantastic!! :-)
It's sad that Mardis Gras will be different for you this year, but the rest can be nice! Or you might find other fun ways to celebrate. In either case, I always love that you share the fun with the rest of us.
Here's my Book Rec: I can't remember if you read THE SCORPIO RACES or not (I feel like yes), but I absolutely adored it. It was an instant 5 stars for me upon finishing.
I also really enjoyed the last book I finished, Brenna Yovanoff's THE SPACE BETWEEN. I loved THE REPLACEMENT (Mackie melts my heartlessness), but I was very iffy about the whole angel/demon set-up for this book. The blurb didn't do anything for me other than make me afraid the book would be a melodramatic angstfest. I should've known better. Brenna Yovanoff has a light hand with these things and uses just the right amount of angst to make you yearn with the characters. This is an angel/demon story done well!
Here's my tweet: https://twitter.com/#!/kangaru/status/166955617582456834
I feel your pain. My dad used to live within walking distance of the Metairie parade route. Then he moved to Slidell. Sigh. Mardi Gras has never been the same.
For a good read I recommend the Fever series by Karen M. Moning. It's a five book series starting with Darkfever. Best part is that all the books are published already so you won't have to wait to find out what happens next. :)
(whoa, spammy alert)
Oh, I'm sad for you not having the fab party crib on the route this year. How dare they move! ;)
Which reminds me, are y'all still house hunting? Or are you waiting a bit?
As for book recs, one of my fave recent YA reads doesn't come out until June, which is Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo. A very strong debut. I also enjoyed Froi of the Exiles, but that doesn't come out until May, I think. Anyway, keep your eye out for both of them, they're both worthy.
*crosses fingers* Maybe this will finally be my year to win some Mardi Gras goodies. :)
Have a fab weekend, whatever you guys decide to do.
Hugs,
Lola
Oh, and I tweeted/re-tweeted. And put you on my sidebar, aside from the book recs.
<3
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