Feb. 26 2011

Hello. Just a short chat to catch you up. Our daughter came in for the weekend. So, we've been doing the family thing. We all meet at a local Mexican restaurant Friday evening for dinner. We have a large family only a few [12] were able to make dinner. Always fun to sit eat and be merry with your family. Takes you back to Sunday dinners at grandmas. 
Saturday we made our way to the island to celebrate 100 years of Mardi Gras.This is the first weekend of parades. We have had good weather the last few weeks and everyone is ready to get outside and play. What better way than to have a street party. The prime real estate along the beach is staked out days in advance. People parked their RV'S, large trucks, cars and trailer beds with BBQ pits along the parade route.The noon parade heads down the seawall with 60 floats,the many white convertible cars carrying the King and Queen, preceded with the Queens court, marching high school bands, pep squads. The impatiently crowd standing shoulder to shoulder lined both sides the seawall. As the sirens get closer and the motor cops clear the streets you hear the chants, throw me something Mister. The revelers stretch their arms to catch that precious 99 cent beads. These cheap strands of plastic beads not made in America make people crazy. All the kids waving their hands in the air. Scramble to the ground to snatch up the throws. All to soon the street sweepers show up and you know the party is over. I do want to brag on the crowd. Very well behaved. No rowdiness all polite and fun.     
We did not do to shabby collecting made in China trinkets. A fun afternoon with grand kids. We decided Mario's Pizza was needed to fuel our tummy's.  A lot of hard work catching beads.
Tomorrow being Sunday we shall all go to church and spend the day together.
And with that said I must get ready for bed. Good night neighbors.
XOXOX
Juju